Santa Maria
Three arrested for robbery of teen
Two teenage boys and a Santa Maria man have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a gang-related strong-armed robbery that happened Tuesday night.
Alvaro Venegas, 18, of Santa Maria and a 16-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy allegedly confronted a 14-year-old boy shortly before 7:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of West McElhaney Avenue, and robbed him of a cell phone.
The property was taken by force, Santa Maria police said, but no weapons were used.
The officers, having been given a description of the three suspects, found them a few blocks away and arrested them.
The victim, who is not involved in a gang, was not injured during the incident, police said.
Venegas was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail and the two minors were taken to juvenile hall.
Santa Maria
Women plead guilty to grand theft
Two Buellton women will not deny grand theft allegations involving their fraudulent use of a neighbor's credit card that was reported in late July.
Debra Mangino, 49, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria to felony grand theft, and was sentenced to 16 months in state prison, said Senior Deputy District Attorney John MacKinnon.
Mangino was ordered to pay $16,800 in restitution to the victim, he added.
The defendant had also been charged with possession of a fraudulently obtained credit card, and using the card in July 2008, MacKinnon said.
On Aug. 8, Mangino fled from the Santa Maria courthouse after Judge James Rigali let her go outside to call her bail bond company shortly before increasing her bond amount, MacKinnon said.
She was arrested by sheriff's deputies as she tried to enter her house two days later, he said.
Karen Peterson, 47, who was charged along with Mangino, pleaded no contest to felony grand theft and will be sentenced on Oct. 1., MacKinnon said.
He said that Mangino appeared to be the one primarily involved in the fraudulent activities.
Santa Maria
Boy hit by car after running into street
A 3-year-old boy was injured Tuesday night when he ran into the street in the 400 block of North Oakley Avenue and was hit by a car, according to Santa Maria police.
Adolfo Ruiz, 50, of Santa Maria was traveling southbound on North Oakley just before 6 p.m. when the boy ran into the roadway in front of a parked car, police said.
Ruiz applied the brakes but could not avoid hitting the child, police said.
The boy was taken to Marian Medical Center suffering from a fracture to his right foot and head trauma.
An update on the boy's condition was not available Wednesday.
Santa Barbara County
With a growing number of cases of Parvo virus being reported in North County, county Animal Services is reminding dog owners to vaccinate against the deadly disease.
Parvo, a virus that attacks the lining of the digestive system and prevents the dog from being able to properly absorb nutrients, is more common in puppies than in adult dogs. However, officials say any dog can be at risk. Unvaccinated dogs are at the highest risk.
Puppy owners should contact their veterinarian for a vaccination. Adult dogs should receive the vaccination as part of their annual shots.
San Luis Obispo County
New health officer to start work
San Luis Obispo County will have a new health officer starting Monday.
After an eight-month search to replace Dr. Greg Thomas, who left the position in January, Dr. Penny Borenstein has been hired at an annual salary about $275,000, according to the county.
Borenstein has more than 15 years experience working for various public health agencies. She was most recently the public health officer for Howard County in Maryland, according to the county.
Borenstein attended medical school at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Syracuse, and holds a master's degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, according to the county.
Pismo Beach
Man critical after head-on collision
A 63-year-old Pismo Beach man who suffered major injuries when his car reportedly crossed the double-yellow line on Los Osos Valley Road and hit another vehicle head-on was listed in critical condition Wednesday at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo in the Intensive Care Unit.
James Chipman was driving his 1983 Toyota westbound at about 55 mph shortly before noon Tuesday when for unknown reasons he allowed the car to drift into oncoming traffic, the California Highway Patrol has said.
Several vehicles swerved to avoid hitting Chipman, who collided with a 2000 Audi driven by 62-year-old Vicki Milledge of Los Osos, according to the CHP.
Both were taken to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center with major injuries.
Milledge was listed in serious but stable condition Wednesday.
Orcutt
New welcome signs set for Old Town
Four signs welcoming people to Old Town Orcutt are to be dedicated to individuals who gave their time and energy to the historic community.
The Old Town Orcutt Revitalization Association has planned to honor the community leaders by adding a dedication plaque to the monuments, which stand at the east and west boundary of Old Town Orcutt on West Clark Avenue and to the north and south of Broadway.
The group expects 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray to present the gifts at 1 p.m. Friday at the monument near the Loading Dock Restaurant on Broadway.
The plaques will honor the volunteer efforts of Rudy Molina and the now deceased Ebba Richards, Eddie Capitani and Fire Chief Ron Bennett.
Nipomo
Production to be limited at two wells
Production from two Blacklake wells will be limited to the amount of water Blacklake Division customers use under a policy approved Wednesday by Nipomo Community Services District directors.
During discussions of combining the Blacklake and Town water systems, some Blacklake residents alleged the No. 3 and No. 4 wells were providing the Town Division with water.
However, figures presented by district Manager Bruce Buel showed the Town Division actually supplied Blacklake with 64.09 acre-feet from October 2006, when a pipeline was installed between the two systems, to June 2008.
Because Blacklake's pressurization system failed, which required installing the pipeline, water from the two wells has been pumped into the Town system and then returned through the intertie.
To assure the wells do not provide water to the Town system, directors agreed to a policy limiting the wells' production.
“I think it's fair to say we should not be pumping more from Blacklake wells than Blacklake is using,” said board President Mike Winn.
Nipomo
Wastewater plant upgrade split
A project to upgrade Nipomo's Southland Wastewater Treatment Plant and find other methods for disposing of the treated effluent will be split into two phases in order to speed up the plant upgrade.
Nipomo Community Services District directors voted 4-0 Wednesday, with Larry Vierheilig absent, to split the project and to pay up to $52,400 to Boyle Engineering to compare wastewater disposal options.
District Manager Bruce Buel said the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is concerned the district is not moving fast enough on the plant upgrade, so splitting the project will allow that portion to be completed more quickly.
Boyle also will study at least 10 alternative disposal methods - even those directors already believe are not feasible or acceptable - to make sure all options have been exhausted.
The district needs to find alternatives to the current settling ponds because a recently discovered underground geological feature is preventing proper percolation of the treated effluent.
Alternatives range from additional ponds and subsurface systems at other locations to using treated water for irrigation of agriculture, golf courses and Highway 101 landscaping, as well as work to improve the permeability of the soil below the current ponds.
Santa Barbara County
West Nile virus found in crow
Santa Barbara County's first case of West Nile virus this year has been found.
A crow has tested positive for West Nile virus, county Health Department officials announced Wednesday. Residents are reminded to protect themselves against mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds.
Nipomo
Garbage franchise extended 15 years
An agreement with South County Sanitary Service to pick up trash and recyclables was approved for a 15-year period Wednesday by Nipomo Community Services District directors.
The longer franchise agreement will actually result in a
1 percent reduction in customers' trash pickup rates as well as additional services at a low cost to the district.
NCSD Director Ed Eby noted that not only are costs going down, but the company will pick up large accumulations of trash along public rights of way and on district properties for a nominal fee.
“It's so rare our customers see a price reduction,” Eby said, asking the staff to publicize the advantages of the longer-term contract.
Tom Martin, general manager of South County Sanitary Service in Grover Beach, said the 15-year contract with NCSD and other agencies will enable the company to borrow $9 million to extend the life of Cold Canyon Landfill another 30 years.
Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Pismo Beach are among the company's customers that have already approved the 15-year term, and Martin said only a few contracts remain to be finalized.
- From staff reports
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