Santa Barbara

Crews searching for missing woman, 86

Crews in Santa Barbara are searching for a missing 86-year-old woman who left her Shoreline Drive home Wednesday night.

Clara Seed, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, was last seen by her husband around 6 p.m. Wednesday at their home in the 1200 block of Shoreline Drive, according to Santa Barbara Police.

When he went to check on her around 7 p.m., she was not in her bedroom and the police were summoned, officials said. A house-to-house search was conducted until 10 p.m. but she wasn't found.

Seed is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and about 130 pounds. She has gray hair and gray eyes and was last seen wearing a blue sweat suit.

Anyone who has seen Seed is asked to call the Santa Barbara Police Department at 897-2376.

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Santa Maria

Police: Vehicle in crash ran red light

The driver of a 1997 Ford van that police said ran a red light on Betteravia Road at A Street Thursday afternoon suffered minor injuries when the van crashed with a 2007 Toyota RAV4, which in turn struck a 1989 Chevrolet Suburban.

The male driver complained of pain to his thumb following the 2:45 p.m. crash, said Santa Maria Police Department Officer Shane Armstrong.

The van was traveling eastbound on Betteravia Road when it ran the red light and collided with the RAV4, which was southbound on A Street on a green light, Armstrong said.

The RAV4 began spinning, hitting the Suburban, which was in the left turn lane on northbound A Street, he said.

Only the driver of the van was injured, Armstrong said.

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Nipomo

Deputies looking at three burglaries

San Luis Obispo County sheriffs deputies are investigating three burglaries in Nipomo with a combined loss of $10,000.

The incidents occurred Wednesday between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Black Hawk Way, 100 block of Martha Lane and the 300 block of Pablo Lane, according to investigators.

Officials are unsure if the three burglaries are related. Taken from each of the homes were electronics and jewelry.

One witness told deputies that a compact car with “suspicious” young men was seen near one of the homes, but no other description of the men or car was provided.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 781-4550 or Crime Stoppers at 549-7867.

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San Luis Obispo

Students suspended for campus vandalism

What may have been thought of as a harmless prank has led to the suspension of five San Luis Obispo High School seniors, who also face felony charges for vandalizing the school campus.

Five male students admitted spray painting graffiti, shooting paint balls at the windows and zip-tying or duct taping doors shut, according to a San Luis Obispo Police Department statement.

Officials believe the vandalism occurred early Wednesday morning, and was discovered by a custodian by 7 a.m.

The boys reportedly admitted to spray painting at least 20 different surfaces with words such as “2008” and “Don't Hate '08,” and shooting a paint ball gun at least 100 times against doors and windows.

Police were unsure of the cost of the damage but say three school district employees took two days to clean it up, officers said.

The boys were suspended from school, police said, and felony vandalism charges are

expected to be submitted to the District Attorney's Office.

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Santa Maria

Peter Frampton will come alive at fair

Guitar legend Peter Frampton will perform July 12 during the 117th Annual Santa Barbara County Fair.

In 2007, Frampton's most successful album in almost two decades, “Fingerprints,” was up for Grammy Awards - Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Rock Instrumental Performance - for his cover of Soundgarden's “Black Hole Sun.” He took home the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

Frampton, who grew up in England, became popular in the 1970s with hits such as “Baby I Love Your Way,” “Lines On My Faces” and “Show Me the Way,” from the megahit double album “Frampton Comes Alive!”

With “Fingerprints,” he returned to his roots, achieving his lifelong dream of recording an instrumental album in the spirit of his musical heroes.

Frampton wraps up the 2008 fair's entertainment lineup, with Eddie Money performing on July 9; Little Anthony and The Imperials along with Chubby Checker and the Wildcats on July 10; and country artist Craig Morgan on July 11.

With a theme of “Rock Around the Clock,” the fair will take place July 9 through July 13.

For more information, call the Santa Maria Fairpark, 925-8824 or visit www.santamariafairpark.com.

- From staff reports