SYVUHS to hold day-long vow of silence

Santa Ynez

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Gay-Straight Alliance will be participating in the National Day of Silence April 25. The Day of Silence is meant to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and to show opposition to bias in schools.

This will be the third year the high school has participated in the silent protest.

The high school also will be holding a “Talk Back” at 2 p.m. April 25 at the Little Theater, where members of the GSA will break their silence and share their experiences.

For more information contact Jeff McKinnon, faculty advisor, at 688-6487 ext. 2361 or visit www.dayofsilence.org.

 

County agriculture production over $1 billion

SB County

The Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner, Bill Gillette, announced that the value of agriculture products grown in the county surpassed the $ 1 billion mark in 2007. 2007 is the second consecutive year that the county has kit the mark. According toSanta Barbara County Agricultural Production Report, the county’s agriculture production increased over $86 million from 2006.

Strawberries remained the county’s leading crop last year, grossing $312.8 million. Broccoli was the second leading produce in the county, grossing $131 million in 2006.

The harvest of wine grapes came in third, with a total of $99.9 million. “Santa Barbara County’s agricultural strength is due to our crop diversity,” Gillette said, in a press release.

Santa Barbara County is the ranked 14th in agricultural production in the State of California.

 

Lompoc resident arrested for selling meth

Lompoc

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Detectives arrested Arturo Mendez, 24, on April 9, for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sale and possession of a dangerous weapon, after detectives concluded an investigation that spanned over several weeks.

When serving a search warrant detective found 13-onces of methamphetamine, $30,000 in cash and several firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun. Mendez was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail without bail.

Multiple suspects arrested for robberies

Santa Barbara

Three suspects were arrested for multiple robberies April 14. The three suspects allegedly robbed three victims of their bicycles and other personal belongings. The first victim said the three suspects, Julio Hernandez, 35, Pedro Razo, 41, and Rogelio Manzanarez, 23, yanked him by his backpack and threatened him with a knife and demanded that he give them his bicycle. The second victim claimed he was beaten in the face and was robbed of his bicycle. While police were attending to the two victims, they received a report of a third victim, who said that the suspects broke his arm, but when officers arrived at the scene they ascertained that the supposed third victim actually was one of the suspects. Officers located the other suspects near the scene of the reported third incident. The victims positively identified the suspects. The suspects were booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail.

 

Vehicle catches fire on Highway 101

Nojoqui Park

Santa Barbara County fire fighters responded to a vehicle fire at Highway 101, southbound, just north of the Nojoqui Park exit at 4:27 p.m., April 11. Two engine companies responded. When fire fighters responded they found an 2006 Ford tow truck with a Lexus sedan in tow engulfed in flames. The fire also spread to an area of brush alongside the freeway.

Fire fighters knocked out the blaze in 10 minutes.

Though there were no injuries and the Lexus sedan was saved, there tow truck was a total loss.

The fire department reminds drivers to be careful when pulling off the road in rural areas because of the possibility of starting a vegetation fire.

 

George Shaw appointed to Los Alamos Cemetery District

Los Alamos

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors appointed George Shaw to the Los Alamos Cemetery District at its weekly board meeting April 15.