County Lines for Feb. 8, 2007 Santa Maria Woman drowns snorkeling in Hawaii A Santa Maria woman drowned Monday while snorkeling off the area known as the North Shore on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Debra Appell, 53, was snorkeling around 4 p.m. at “Hideaways” Beach near the Prineville Hotel, which is located in the resort community on the North Shore, when she was swept out by a strong current and dangerous surf, said Brian Sullivan, a firefighter with Kauai County's Ocean Safety office. When Appell's husband, Louis Appell, saw his wife in distress, he swam out and brought her back to shore, Sullivan said. Bystanders and medical personnel performed CPR on Debra Appell at the scene, but were unsuccessful in resuscitating her, according to Sullivan. She was taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead, Sullivan said. Appell is the second person to die on the beaches of Kauai this year, he said. The first victim was North Shore resident Robert Martin, 23, who died Jan. 29 after a surfing accident at Wainiha Beach. Strong currents and rip tides are normal for this time of year, Sullivan added. San Luis Obispo County Judge upholds stay in Kristin Smart case A San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge upheld a stay related to the investigation into Cal Poly student Kristin Smart's disappearance, arguing that county Sheriff's Department documents would not be released to her family's lawyers. However, in the same ruling, the judge also said if there isn't “an unusual development” by the next review, set for Sept. 20, the stay will be lifted and the documents will be released. Judge Charles Crandall said in his ruling that the “investigation is still proceeding at a deliberate pace and has not grown cold.” Smart's family is in the process of pursuing a civil action against Paul Flores, the last known person to see her alive, and needs the department's documents to proceed. However, that case has been delayed, pending the documents' release. In May 1996, Smart, then 19, disappeared near Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo after she attended a party off campus and was walked by Flores, who told law enforcement that they parted ways near his dorm. Santa Maria Free installation of child safety seats Current and soon-to-be parents are invited to have their child's safety seat installed for free at 509 W. Morrison Ave. today. Starting at 10 a.m., the California Highway Patrol technicians will be on the spot to install safety seats. Free safety seats may be provided through a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety. Santa Maria Man hospitalized after stabbing A Santa Maria man remained hospitalized Wednesday after he was stabbed by a suspect who is still at large, police said. Santa Maria Police say Paulino Pommier, 21, of Santa Maria stabbed Santiago Escalante, 29, outside a convenience store in the 800 block of West Cook Street around 6 a.m. Wednesday. Pommier and Escalante reportedly began arguing inside the store and then went outside where a fight ensued, according to police. Escalante was stabbed in the abdomen and was taken to Marian Medical Center where he was in stable condition, a nursing supervisor said Wednesday night. Police searched for Pommier at his residence in the 300 block of East Newlove Drive but did not find him, according to police. Pommier is wanted on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Anyone with information is urged to call the SMPD at 928-3781 or the anonymous tip line, Crime Stoppers, at 1-877-800-9100. Los Padres National Forest Cleanup crew finds second oil leak A second oil leak was discovered by crews cleaning up a previous oil spill in an oil field northwest of Hopper Mountain in Ventura County. The leak spilled about 20 gallons of medium-weight oil mixed with about 80 gallons of ground water in a dry tributary of Tar Creek, according to forest service officials. The oil mixture traveled about 75 feet and did not reach the creek. The two leaks occurred in the same pipeline at a facility operated by Vintage Production California LLC. The initial break was reported Jan. 30 in a waste water line that apparently broke during the recent cold weather. Cleanup crews are working to keep the oil from spreading to areas where California condors are known to drink, officials said. Insects, frogs, a snake and a songbird have been found with oil. Orcutt Residents urged to beware of big cat Residents in areas that border open land are being advised to report wild animals if they pose a threat. Aggressive coyote activity was reported in the Oak Hills Country Estates area where coyotes were scavenging a deer carcass near a home Wednesday, a Santa Barbara County Sheriff's sergeant said. Deputies and a Department of Fish and Game warden also learned of mountain lion sightings in the area in the last several months, said Sgt. Erik Raney. It is not uncommon for mountain lions and other wild animals to feed in inhabited areas, according to Fish and Game. But the public is advised to report the animal when a fresh kill of domestic or wild animal is discovered because the mountain lion may still be near. Both agencies recommend residents: Be aware of surroundings and behavior of domestic animals Remove items that may attract wildlife, such as feeding bins Keep small pets indoors at night Not turn and run when spotting a mountain lion If you do face a wild animal, make yourself appear bigger Yell or make noises to startle animal Leave an escape route for the animal to run and get away from you For more information, go to www.dfg.ca.gov. Or to report a wild animal, call the Department of Fish and Game at 934-4692. Washington, D.C. Gallegly offers new immigration bills Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Thousand Oaks, continued his run of anti-illegal immigrant bills Tuesday with the introduction of two pieces of legislation. The first bill, Stop the Misuse of ITINs Act, would require the Internal Revenue Service to report suspected illegal immigrants who are working in the United States to the Department of Homeland Security. When the IRS receives employment information containing Individual Tax Identification Numbers, instead of Social Security numbers, those workers should be reported since ITINs can not be used to gain employment, according to a statement from Gallegly's office. The second bill, The IRS Illegal Immigration Information Act, would also prevent illegal immigrants from working and from receiving tax credit subsidies through Earned Income Tax Credits. This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to send the IRS an annual list of people whose work visas have expired and in turn the IRS would check its records and turn over names of people still working or receiving tax credits. This year Gallegly has introduced 11 bills dealing with illegal immigration. Santa Maria Police issue warning about shopper scam Police have learned of a “Secret Shopper” scam that invites people to cash counterfeit checks in return for money. Investigators are looking into a newspaper classified ad that reportedly invites people to work as a secret shopper, said Cpl. Stephen Best. After people call the number they are given a counterfeit check of about $3,000 and are instructed to cash and then purchase a Money Gram, he said. The gram is believed to be picked up outside the country. “It preys upon people's desire to make easy money,” he said. Best said they've received reports of two counterfeit checks and one that is still being investigated but none have been cashed. No one has been arrested but police encourage citizens to avoid the scam because, if caught, passing a forged check is considered assisting in international grand theft, he said. Anyone with information is asked to call the SMPD at 928-3781 or the anonymous tip line, Crime Stoppers, at 1-877-800-9100. Washington, D.C. Capps, others offer disaster relief bill Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, joined with other California legislators to introduce a disaster relief bill to provide emergency assistance to agricultural producers, manufacturers and workers harmed by the state's recent freeze. The bill was slated to be introduced Wednesday, according to officials in Capps' office. After the introduction, she planned to meet with Santa Ynez farmer Doug Mosebar who is also president of the California Farm Bureau. -- From staff reports |