Santa Maria

AHC holding service for shooting victim

The athletic department at Allan Hancock College is holding a private memorial service today in remembrance of Tau Sudlow, the Hancock student who was shot and killed Friday night.

Tyrel Jordan of Santa Maria has been charged with murder in Sudlow's death.

Sudlow was a captain for the Bulldogs football team, and had recently signed a letter of intent to attend Tennessee State University.

Faculty and staff who knew Sudlow are invited to the service, which will take place at 4:15 p.m. in the school's Joe White Gym.

---

Advertisement

Grover Beach

Police to enforce seat belt use

The Grover Beach Police Department will aggressively enforce seat belt use beginning Monday through June 1 as part of the state's “Click It or Ticket” campaign, police said Wednesday.

“We want to make sure that all drivers and passengers buckle up; it saves lives,” Grover Police Chief Jim Copsey said. “We will not give you a warning. It's click it or ticket.”

California has a primary seat belt law that requires every passenger in the car, including the driver, to wear a seat belt at all times. Tickets for a first-time seat belt violation range from 480 to $91 for adults, and $330 to $401 for youths under 16.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign relies on heavy enforcement and public education as California tries to achieve the highest rate of seat belt use in the nation. The state now has the nation's fourth-highest rate at 94.6 percent.

---

Central Coast

Mail carriers part of food drive

Central Coast residents are being asked to leave non-perishable food next to their mailboxes Saturday as part of a nationwide food drive by letter carriers with the U.S. Postal Service.

Saturday marks the 16th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. Non-perishable food left near mailboxes will be collected by letter carriers and then taken to local foodbanks, organizers said.

Last year 70.7 million pounds of food was collected across the country.

---

Grover Beach

Capps honors local teacher

A Grover Heights Elementary School teacher received recognition Tuesday from Congresswoman Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, in honor of National Teacher Day.

Second-grade teacher Libby Anderson “is one of those gifted teachers with a truly unique way of igniting the interest of her students,” Capps said before Congress. “I've had the pleasure of visiting her classroom and am always amazed at the level of understanding and interest her students have for our government.”

Capps highlighted Anderson's classes' various community service efforts, including their efforts to raise $4,048.30 since 2006 for the continued restoration of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse.

---

Arroyo Grande

District interviewing principal candidates

The Lucia Mar Unified School District is well on its way to finding a new principal for two of its elementary schools.

Incoming Superintendent Jim Hogeboom has interviewed three candidates for the open positions at Dorothea Lange and Grover Beach Elementary schools.

It was not immediately clear whether the candidates were interviewed for one or both slots, but district officials said Hogeboom expects to make a hiring recommendation to the board later this month or in early June.

Dorothea Lange Principal Irene Iwan had planned to retire in February, but will stay on with the school until the district hires someone to take her place.

Grover Beach Principal Cynthia Fogarty will leave her post in October when she retires.

- From staff reports