Busy year for ‘sleepy' town

Events of past year ranged from historic to tragic

Staff report

Whatever remained of Santa Maria's sleepy-town reputation was obliterated in 2005, as the Michael Jackson case and a fatal Greyhound bus accident served as bookends to the city's centennial year.

Both events thrust the fast-growing city into the national media spotlight.

While local boosters trumpet housing growth, a unique form of barbecue and a strong agricultural heritage, most of the world still inevitably knows Santa Maria as the place where Michael Jackson walked free after a long trial on child-molestation charges.

But that didn't stop other dramatic stories from happening in 2005.

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The roads and highways of the Central Coast proved treacherous in 2005 as two separate traffic accidents claimed the lives of five local teenagers. Even those not driving were at risk, as a record six pedestrians were killed in 2005 in Santa Maria alone.

There were also local scandals and political turmoil, including the continuing troubles of Superior Court Judge Diana Hall, gridlock within Guadalupe's city government and alleged mismanagement of millions of construction dollars by the Santa Maria-Bonita School District.

In a year that saw a hurricane destroy parts of New Orleans and a mudslide kill 10 in the Ventura County hamlet of La Conchita, northern Santa Barbara County caught a break from Mother Nature. Though two deaths were attributed to flooding in Gaviota, the wildfire season was relatively subdued.

Elsewhere, the debate over whether Santa Barbara County should split raged on, and Vandenberg Air Force Base bid farewell to the historic Titan program.

Jackson walks free

Whether locals were amused or bemused, the Michael Jackson case left a large glove-print on Central Coast history.

Jackson, the pop star who was acquitted June 13 of molesting a boy at his Neverland Valley Ranch near Los Olivos, captivated the world with his eccentric behavior. Jury selection was delayed for several days in February while the singer checked into Marian Medical Center with flu-like symptoms.

Reportedly suffering from chronic back pain, Jackson often appeared distracted while in court and once appeared at trial while wearing pajama bottoms.

The five-month trial brought several celebrities to Santa Maria to appear as witnesses, including movie star Chris Tucker, “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno and comedian George Lopez.

The jury did not believe beyond a reasonable doubt the story of a Los Angeles boy who claimed he had been groped by Jackson while being held captive at Neverland. However, several on the panel later appeared on national television, claiming that they had been intimidated by other jurors into voting for the acquittal. Though several jurors signed book deals after the trial, at the end of the year no books appeared even close to being published.

Jackson is now living in the Persian Gulf. The future of Neverland and his career remain very much in question.

Bus crash kills 3

In sadder news, a Greyhound bus traveling from Los Angeles to San Francisco Nov. 27 skidded off Highway 101 and struck a tree near Betteravia Road. A pregnant Santa Maria woman, her 7-month-old fetus and a San Francisco man were killed.

Investigation into the crash continues, though the California Highway Patrol believes the bus's 63-year-old driver fell asleep at the wheel. Dozens of other passengers in the Thanksgiving-weekend wreck were treated at Marian Medical Center and two other local hospitals.

TurnKey

In the spring, Santa Maria-Bonita School District administrators confirmed that TurnKey Inc. had ceased construction at several of the district's schools and stopped paying subcontractors. The school district and Bank of America eventually initiated involuntary bankruptcy proceedings against TurnKey.

TurnKey designed, manufactured, built and installed modular school buildings for various school districts throughout California, including Santa Maria-Bonita. Cyndi Clark, district assistant superintendent of business, abruptly and quietly left the district in March. In legal documents, administrators allege a conspiracy between Clark and TurnKey's owner to embezzle funds, which Clark has denied.

School district officials failed to make sure that TurnKey had a performance bond, or had insurance, to guarantee completion of the construction. TurnKey had construction contracts with the district for $107 million. The district has settled 11 suits with subcontractors for $725,000, and spent millions more in fees to attorneys and other consultants who are helping to sort out what TurnKey left behind.

Santa Maria Centennial

Santa Marians celebrated a milestone in 2005 with the 100th anniversary of the city's incorporation.

The year-long celebration kicked off in September 2004 and went out with a bang with a fireworks show in September 2005. It featured many events throughout the 12 months, including a community barbecue, a centennial ball, and the opening and burying of time capsules.

The various events were planned by Santa Maria Centennial Committee and members of the Recreation and Parks Department.

To split or not to split

After 11 months of work, the Mission County Formation Review Commission finished its report in May, which analyzed the economic implications of splitting Santa Barbara County, a question that will go before voters in June 2006.

The report determined that 92 percent of the county's capital debt would remain with the South Coast because it would retain the majority of the county-owned assets.

The June election to determine whether Mission County would be formed from northern Santa Barbara County is expected to cost $907,000, and county officials have been working throughout the year to finalize details of where to draw new political and government boundaries within each county if voters approve the split.

Traffic deaths

As Santa Maria grows, so do its traffic fatalities. The 13 vehicle fatalities in 2005 were an all-time high. Six of those deaths were pedestrians killed on city roads, also a city record.

Two of those killed were pregnant women. Santa Maria has averaged 3.4 vehicle deaths since 1999.

All of the pedestrian deaths were during hours of darkness, and most involved pedestrians who were intoxicated and outside a marked crosswalk, police said.

In response, police and city staff have begun to put up signs and median fences around town. They have also put a flashing crosswalk light on West Cook Street, which may be the first of several if it is successful, and have begun discussing red-light cameras at intersections.

Teen tragedies

Accidents in Santa Maria and Lompoc killed five teenagers in October and November.

Michael Terrones and Brice Fabing of Lompoc died and Darrell Solorio remains seriously injured from a Halloween night accident, when the Lompoc High School football players blew past a stop sign in Lompoc at more than 60 mph and hit a power pole, police said.

Weeks later, three Santa Maria teens were killed when the car they were in crashed on Mahoney Road near the Tanglewood neighborhood west of Santa Maria. David Villarreal, 15, Daniel Villarreal, 16, and Brittney Neeley, 15, were killed, and Kayla Johnson, 15, was seriously injured.

Eighteen-year-old Louie Leon Jr. - Neeley's stepbrother - was charged with manslaughter and driving without a license. He remains in Santa Barbara County Jail.

Guadalupe turmoil

Despite filling its long-vacant fifth seat, Guadalupe's City Council rode out the last half of 2005 as tumultuously as it started.

After former Santa Maria firefighter John Sabedra was elected in June's special election, things seemed to be moving forward for the town, where many City Council votes had gone down to defeat in 2-2 deadlocks.

However, Guadalupe's honeymoon was short-lived.

The July removal of Planning Commissioner Manny Estorga was done illegally in closed session, violating state open meeting laws. Subsequently, the council approved a stringent resolution that spelled out when it's authorized to meet in secret, and Estorga was properly removed in open session.

No fire, but rain

Early 2005 continued a deluge of rain, including one massive downpour that turned a gentle stream into a raging river along Highway 101 at Gaviota.

A husband and wife from Tucson, Ariz., were killed in late March when their Toyota went off southbound Highway 101, just north of the Gaviota tunnel, and clipped another vehicle that had previously slid off the rain-slickened road.

The first three months of 2005 saw 10-plus inches soak Santa Maria and equally high amounts elsewhere, filling Central Coast reservoirs. From July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2005, 19.56 inches fell, well above a normal season of 14 inches.

Despite the rain, which prompted heavy growth of vegetation, firefighters battled no major blazes on the Central Coast in 2005.

Titanic era ends

In a departure both celebrated and mourned, the nation's final Titan rocket rumbled off its Vandenberg Air Force Base launch pad Oct. 19 carrying clandestine cargo - and half a century of history.

The 16-story-tall rocket climbed from Space Launch Complex-4 East as thousands watched with mixed emotions, knowing liftoff would be followed within a few days by 60-day layoff notices to 120 employees at Lockheed Martin on base. Another 110 employees remained to help close out the program, but most of those will be let go by mid-2006.

This was the 12th Titan 4 rocket to fly from Vandenberg, and the 200th overall for the Titan system that first came to Vandenberg as an intercontinental ballistic missile in the 1960s.

And in other stories of 2005:

Fire Station opens - In January, the Santa Maria Fire Department saw its first expansion in nearly 25 years with the dedication of Fire Station No. 4 on South College Drive.

Newspapers sold - Also in January, Lee Enterprises announced plans to buy Pulitzer Inc., publisher of the Santa Maria Times and more than 100 other newspapers across the country, for $1.46 billion. The sale, finalized in early June, meant new ownership for the Times, Lompoc Record, Times-Press-Recorder in Arroyo Grande, Adobe Press in Nipomo, El Tiempo in Santa Maria and the Santa Ynez Valley News in Solvang.

New chapter - Construction of the new Santa Maria Library parking structure started in March and reached its halfway point by summer. The $5.1 million, 55,000-square-foot parking structure should be done in early 2006 and will be followed by construction of the new 60,000-square-foot library itself.

All dried up - The last dairy in Santa Barbara County - and one of the few remaining on the Central Coast - milked its last cow Oct. 31 and sent its herd of about 400 into “retirement.” The DeBernardi Bros. Dairy, on East Main Street east of Pioneer Valley High School, has been owned by brothers Ed and Rob DeBernardi since 1980 and was started by their father, the late Gilio DeBernardi, in 1946.

Judge in trouble - A hearing to determine a possible punishment for Superior Court Judge Diana Hall was halted when one of the special masters appointed to supervise the case faced misconduct allegations of his own. Proceedings may begin anew in early 2006 for her alleged misconduct, including a drunken-driving conviction and an alleged attempt to disguise a campaign contribution from her domestic partner.

Cold case - The state offered a $50,000 reward in November for the 25-year-old unsolved murder of Robert “Bobby” Lopez, 20, who was fatally stabbed in August 1980. Police say they've long had a suspect but not enough evidence to make an arrest.

Guadalupe water tank - The city took a huge step forward in starting construction of a 1.6-million-gallon water tank that would dramatically improve Guadalupe's ability to fight fires.

Domestic violence - Vida Vistro, a local real estate agent, was found dead in her bedroom March 21. Her estranged husband, Ferdinand Vistro, 37, is charged with suffocating his wife, the mother of three children. He is scheduled for trial in June 2006.

Noise and neighbors - A battle between the Santa Maria Fairpark and some neighbors simmered until the fairpark agreed to cancel the remainder of the motocross season in August under threat of litigation. Fair officials conducted a pair of sound studies and declared that motocross and concerts don't violate noise ordinances. Neighbors declared the study's results to be bunk.

The rising toll - War claimed another life of a Marine with ties to the Santa Maria Valley. In April the family of Marine Cpl. Garry Wesley Tan Rimes learned of his death in Iraq. The 30-year-old Marine had immigrated from the Philippines and considered Santa Maria his home.

Wal-Mart - After dozens of public comments over more than two hours, the Santa Maria City Council unanimously denied land-use changes and municipal code alterations that would have paved the way for a Wal-Mart Super Center on 55 acres at West Betteravia Road and Blosser Road.

Grand jury - In May, the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury released its official report criticizing several aspects Santa Maria government, primarily concerning procedures of the City Council and the city manager.

Fresh Breeze - Commuting between Santa Maria, Lompoc and Vandenberg Air Force Base became easier in 2005 with the launch of The Breeze, a highly anticipated bus route, that has seen better than projected ridership in its inaugural year.

Fired up - Controversy followed revelations that a $171,000 barbecue pavilion in Guadalupe's Jack O'Connell Park had been built without City Council approval. In the fall, both City Administrator Carolyn Galloway-Cooper and City Engineer Ruben Moreno received strong censures from the council for their roles in the project.

Economic Development Association - After nearly 44 years in operation, the Santa Maria Valley Economic Development Association closed its doors April 30. The reason was “primarily financial,” due to the loss of the contract to do economic development work for the city of Santa Maria, EDA officials said. That contract was awarded to the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce in late 2004.

Guadalupe man honored - Jesus Saucedo, a longtime Guadalupe resident and community activist, was honored in September by Juan Carlos Romero Hicks, governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato.

Downtown - Santa Maria officials continue to gather public comment on the Downtown Specific Plan, which was released as a draft report in May. It maps out how to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, reduce truck traffic and create distinct downtown districts. The plan is expected to get further review by the Planning Commission and City Council in 2006.

Noriega sentenced - James Noriega, convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend and her young daughter in 2001 inside a Santa Maria motel, was sentenced Nov. 18 to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Greka faces lawsuit - Greka Energy continues to face a civil lawsuit and a federal investigation over alleged safety and environmental violations on its oil and gas leases in Santa Barbara County.

Groundwater lawsuit - A massive lawsuit over groundwater involving parties in the Santa Maria Valley settled in August, though lingering disagreements may still be decided at a scheduled February 2006 trial.

Roadwork - The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments began an aggressive effort to get voters to renew Measure D, a half-percent sales tax to support local roads and transportation projects, and choose a number of projects to be pursued within the next decade.

Jail time - Initial plans were completed for a $153 million North County Jail to alleviate years of severe overcrowding at the Santa Barbara County Jail near Goleta. The proposal calls for an 808-bed facility between Santa Maria and Guadalupe.

Oak trees - In July, a North County majority of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors authorized additional environmental review of the county's contentious Oak Tree Ordinance, which requires replanting when a large number of trees are removed.

Old Orcutt - Arguments developed over the direction of Old Town Orcutt's growth, as new parking regulations were instituted and Clark Avenue was reduced to two lanes to promote commercial growth in downtown.

New hospital - Marian Medical Center announced plans to begin a three-phase project to build a new, $140 million hospital by 2010, which included an expanded emergency room to be completed early in 2006.

Declining enrollment - For the first time in years, booming growth in local school enrollment slowed, and in some cases reversed itself. In the Santa Maria Valley in the fall, all but two public school districts had fewer students than a year ago.

Charter schools - Two local efforts to establish charter schools - Mark Twain Academies and Central Coast Charter Academy - received big boosts in the fall when they were awarded a $405,000 grant each for start-up costs.

Lucia Mar - Lucia Mar Unified School District Trustee Donna Mills settled her conflict-of-interest case with the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office in February, agreeing to pay a $7,000 fine and admit to “certain technical violations” of state law, but didn't have to resign, according to the civil settlement. The case stemmed from her votes on district construction contracts involving her husband's company, Mills-Koehler.

New president - In May, Hancock College trustees unanimously hired Dr. Jose Ortiz from Oakland to succeed Ann Foxworthy as president. Foxworthy retired after 13 years as president of Hancock.

Curtain falls - After five years as head of the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Michael Gros was suddenly let go in November. Reasons were never officially disclosed, but PCPA had trimmed the season's performance schedule because of funding shortfalls.

PVHS mold - By the fall, costs associated with mold at Pioneer Valley High School reached $1.8 million. Opened in fall 2004, the money was spent to monitor and test for mold, remove the mold and pursue mediation and litigation against various parties to permanently get rid of the mold.

Campus vandalism - Six Righetti High School seniors caught using master keys to enter campus buildings after school hours in April could not participate in their graduation ceremony June 15, and five sophomores had to complete community service over the summer. The students used master keys to enter campus facilities, writing messages on white boards, urinating in rooms and defecating in a first-aid kit.

Santa Maria Valley Railroad - After 80 years of family ownership, the descendants of Capt. G. Allan Hancock decided to sell the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, according to an Aug. 29 announcement. A buyer was expected to be named early in 2006.

Sunnyvale's loss, Central Coast's gain - The Base Realignment and Closure process meant a new mission and new positions for Vandenberg Air Force Base. BRAC will bring the closure of Onizuka Air Force Station in Sunnyvale, and some of that satellite-tracking role will move to Vandenberg. Overall, Vandenberg would gain some 145 new jobs.

New life for old launch pad - The storied Space Launch Complex-6 returned to the headlines with the pending blastoff of Boeing's new Delta 4 rocket. The south Vandenberg facility once was eyed for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory in the late 1960s and later for the space shuttle in the 1980s. Both programs were canceled. Plans for an early October blastoff of the West Coast's first Delta 4 rocket will wait until 2006 after technical troubles developed.

Boeing strike - A battle over retiree medical insurance for future hires saw some 100 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers at Vandenberg walk off the job, joining union brothers and sisters from other Boeing sites in California, Florida and Alabama. In all, some 1,500 workers are off the job, which is holding some launches in limbo.

Tranquillon Ridge - Plains Exploration and Production Co. and Sunset Exploration Inc. both have announced plans to seek the estimated 170 million to 200 million barrels of crude oil and 30 billion to 50 billion cubic feet of natural gas in Tranquillon Ridge, in state waters of the Santa Barbara Channel off Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Diamond's adult battle - Steve Diamond lost his court battle with the city of Grover Beach in June when a federal judge ruled the city's zoning ordinance prohibiting adult businesses in certain areas did not violate his First Amendment rights. Diamond appealed, and the process likely will continue in February. Complying with a court order, Diamond altered his business, renaming it Diamond Video World and featuring an inventory of fewer adult items.

Nipomo school - A new elementary school is finished in Nipomo. The Dorothea Lang campus was supposed to open for the 2005 school year, but heavy rains in 2004 caused a year-long delay.

Deadly December - Jerry “JR” Christensen, 25, was fatally stabbed Dec. 1 at South Depot and East Cook streets. Police have three suspects, two of whom they say have fled to Mexico. The following week, Michael Allen Christie, 36, died from a gunshot wound to the chest in the 900 block of South Russell Avenue. Police say they have a suspect but there have been no arrests.

January 1, 2006