No DUIs during

Vintners Festival

Local

Despite intense patrols by law enforcement during the Vintners Festival April 19-20, not one single driver was caught driving drunk.

“This is excellent news,” said Win Smith, a deputy with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.

The on-duty DUI task force that was on patrol during the festival included officers from Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Guadalupe and Santa Maria. The UCSB Police Department, sheriff’s deputies and park officers also leant a hand. There was an additional 22 officers on duty.

“It was better than last year,” said Jan Ford, public information director for the “Avoid the 12” campaign. “But we only got one last year, I’m very impressed with the zero number because it shows that people are being responsible and getting alternate transportation.

They are thinking well in advance.

 

So Cal Police Activities League hold soccer tourney

SB County

The Santa Barbara Police Department Activities League’s under-14 boys soccer team traveled to Anaheim to participate in the PAL state tournament April 19. This was the second time that the team participated in the tournament. They came home with a second place trophy. The under-12 boys soccer team also participated in the tournament and won fourth place in their division.

 

$5,000 reward

for missing woman

Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department still is looking for Victoria Anne Cotton.

Cotton is described as being a white female, approximately five feet seven inches tall, weighing 135 pounds with blond hair and green eyes. The Carole Sund Carrington Foundation posted a $5,000 reward for Cotton’s safe return. Cotton was reported missing in July of 2006. She was last seen in Goleta and was reportedly on her way to the farmers market on Calle Real.

Anyone with any information should contact the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department at (805) 681-4150.

 

SBPD partners with Community West Bank to fight identity theft

Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Police Department is teaming up with Community West Bank in Santa Barbara to educate the public about preventing identity theft. The team will be holding its semi-annual Identity Theft Protection Shredding event from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. April 29 at the Santa Barbara branch of the Community West Bank, located at 1501 State St. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to bring personal documents to be shredded free of charge.

This year’s event marks the fourth year anniversary. For more information contact the Santa Barbara branch of the Community West Bank at (805) 962-7420.

 

Sheriff’s department

needs your help

Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects who allegedly robbed a Blenders In the Grass in Goleta Jan. 7.

Sgt. Alex Tipolt, public information officer for the Sheriff’s department, said that one of the suspects first approached the counter and spoke with an employee, before grabbing the cash register, cords and all, and taking off.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Unit at (805) 681-4150.

 

Fire department warns

against phone scams

SB County

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department is warning people about telephone solicitors who impersonate firefighters in an attempt to scam people out of money. 

“Occasionally we receive calls from the public who have been contacted by so-called firefighters attempting to collect donations on behalf of the local fire department,” said Eli Iskow, public information officer for the county fire department.

“The county fire department does not and will not contact you soliciting donations,” he added.

If you are contacted by someone who claims to be a firefighter and are asked to donate money, Iskow said, the best thing to do is request contact information and report the call to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department or your local law enforcement agency.

 

County firefighters lend helping hand in Santa Anita fire

Santa Anita

A strike team of Santa Barbara County firefighters lent a helping hand to the firefighters battling the Santa Anita Fire in Riverside County April 27. The fire department dispatched team of 17 firefighters to the fire, which burned more than 500 acres and caused a mandatory evacuation of more than 1,000 residents.

The fire department also is reminding county residents that it will be conducting property inspections in rural and high fire hazard areas. State law requires that all structures in rural areas create and maintain 100 feet of defensible space year round.

For more information visti. www.sbfire.com.

 

Gray whale shield sought

The state legislature has voted to seek protection of the California Gray Whale by approving AJR 49, sponsored by Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara).

Nava said his bill, which asks the U.S. Congress, the President and the California Fish and Game Commission to take action to protect the whale species, passed on a bipartisan vote of 51 to 10.

AJR 49 requests the Congress and the President to call on the National Marine Fisheries Commission to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the California Gray Whale. It also seeks a change in the mammal’s status to endangered.

Nava is chairman of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and the Assembly’s representative on the California Ocean Protection Council.

 

Soccer registration

AYSO this week announced its soccer registration schedule for youngsters, as follows:

May 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Santa Ynez Soccer Fields.

May 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Vets Hall.

May 15, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Vets Hall.

May 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Vets Hall.

Parents are reminded to bring two signed copies of the online registration form. First time players need copies of their birth certificates.