County Lines for May 9, 2008 Los Angeles News-Press settles copyright suit The Santa Barbara News-Press and the weekly Santa Barbara Independent have settled a federal copyright infringement lawsuit over access to an unpublished News-Press article. The agreement ends a 1ð-year-old lawsuit filed by Ampersand Publishing, parent company of the News-Press, against the weekly rival for placing a link to the article on its Web site. Most terms were not disclosed, but under the agreement both sides were permitted to say that “the case has been settled to the parties' mutual satisfaction,” Barry Cappello, an attorney who represented the News-Press, said Wednesday. The same language was used by Independent publisher Randy Campbell for an article on the settlement published Tuesday. In 2006, the Independent placed a link to an unpublished News-Press article about the resignation of editor Jerry Roberts. Roberts was one of several top editors who quit that July, contending that owner Wendy McCaw improperly meddled with news coverage. Santa Maria Planners approve new Wienerschnitzel The Santa Maria Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a proposal to build a new combination Wienerschnitzel Tastee-Freez restaurant on East Main Street. To make way for the new 1,950-square-foot restaurant, the existing traditional A-frame Wienerschnitzel restaurant will be demolished, according to the written commission staff report. Pismo Beach Health advisory on pier lifted A health advisory posted 40 yards south of Pismo Pier Tuesday was lifted Thursday. Water samples taken on the south side of the pier Monday revealed higher than normal bacteria levels in the water, prompting the health advisory posting. The water was retested Tuesday and Wednesday, when the bacteria levels returned to within normal standards, according to San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health officials. Arroyo Grande AGHS Interact Club garage sale Saturday The Arroyo Grande High School Interact Club will host its annual garage sale fundraiser Saturday. This year, the members will be raising money for the Rotary Brazilian Water Project. The proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to purchase and install water purification and waste management systems in order to sanitize and purify the water of central Brazil. The garage sale will take place from 8 a.m. through the early afternoon in the staff parking lot on the Valley Road side of Arroyo Grande High School. San Luis Obispo Armed robbery suspect nabbed A real estate agent robbed of her purse at gunpoint at an open house last month helped San Luis Obispo police arrest a suspect Wednesday after spotting him outside a supermarket. Investigators believe the man, 64-year-old transient David Albertsen, may be responsible for as many as five robberies in the Five Cities and throughout the county, according to the Atascadero Police Department. Police said the woman, who was robbed April 27 while showing a house in Atascadero, saw the man while walking outside the San Luis Obispo grocery store and immediately called 9-1-1 on her cell phone. Albertsen was arrested and booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of felony robbery and weapons-related offenses, police said. The Atascadero crime was similar to four other robberies that occurred in recent weeks, including at a real estate office in Arroyo Grande and a hotel room in Pismo Beach. Investigators from Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Atascadero have been working together on leads in an effort to identify a suspect. Lompoc Police confirm ID of discovered body The Lompoc Police Department confirmed Thursday that the body found last week near Highway 1 and Highway 101 is that of missing Lompoc man Kenneth Sullivan. The body, found on a ranch property April 30, was taken that day by the Santa Barbara County Coroner's Office to make an official identification. Sullivan, 38, had last been seen alive by a family member on April 15. His car was found April 21 near the site where the body eventually was discovered about a week later. Santa Maria Conservation kits available to residents As part of Water Awareness month, the Santa Maria Utilities Department is offering free water conservation kits to city residents. The kits are available at the Utilities Department office at the city's regional landfill, 2065 E. Main St., or at the utility billing counter in City Hall, 110 E. Cook St. They include such promotional items as toilet tank banks, water hose and shower timers and brochures. This year's campaign theme is “Nice Save! Use Water Wisely!” For more information, call the utilities department at 925-0951, Ext. 7270. - From staff, wire reports |