Santa Maria
Police officer hurt in scuffle with teen
A Santa Maria police officer is doing well following an altercation Saturday that left him with a minor injury and resulted in a cut to the forehead of another victim, Santa Maria police said.
Two suspects stole some alcohol shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday from a store in the 500 block of North Broadway and began to flee the store, police said.
The store clerk confronted the suspects and tried to detain them, police reported. The clerk, Rami Rafoul, 21, of Santa Maria, reportedly detained one of the suspects who began to fight with him.
While the suspect was fighting with the clerk, the second suspect ran up and threw a bottle at the victim, police said.
The suspects fled on foot, and Officer Chuck Rylant caught one of the alleged assailants.
The suspect, a 16-year-old Santa Maria boy, began to fight with the officer.
Rylant suffered a minor injury in the fight, and Rafoul required stitches for the cut he suffered from the bottle hitting him.
The 16-year-old suspect was booked into juvenile hall.
The at-large suspect is described as a white or Hispanic man, about 18 or 19 years old, with a shaved head and a thin build, wearing black shorts and a sleeveless black T-shirt.
Central Coast
Amtrak rolling again after fatal crash
Amtrak train service traveling through the Central Coast was briefly interrupted due to the fatal Metrolink crash Friday in Chatsworth, but the Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight resumed full service Tuesday afternoon, Amtrak officials reported.
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains ordinarily operate between San Luis Obispo and San Diego, and the Amtrak Coast Starlight trains travel between Los Angeles and Seattle.
Service on these Amtrak trains was stopped because the tracks the trains use were closed following the Chatsworth collision, Amtrak officials said.
Amtrak Pacific Surfliners and their connecting Thruway Motorcoaches between Los Angeles and San Diego were not affected by the service interruption.
Passengers are urged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit
Amtrak.com for schedule information and train status updates.
Santa Maria
Police release name of suicide victim
Police have released the name of a Santa Maria woman found dead Sept. 4 of an apparent suicide in her Santa Maria home. The body of Ruth Riley, 44, was found around noon in her home in the 600 block of West Park Avenue with multiple cuts, stab marks and a fatal cut to her jugular vein, Santa Maria police Lt. Dan Ast has said.
Riley's death was initially considered suspicious. However, an autopsy revealed Riley's wounds were self-inflicted.
Arroyo Grande
Class to focus on help for arthritis
Information on the latest cutting-edge techniques to preserve joint cartilage and less invasive surgical solutions for people suffering from arthritis will be the focus of a free health-education class Saturday.
“Joint Pain, Back Pain and Arthritis; What Every Weekend Warrior Should Know” will start at 12:30 p.m. at Kennedy Club Fitness, 1299 James Way, Arroyo Grande
Dr. Thomas D. Ferro, a local orthopedic surgeon who specializes in joint replacements and joint resurfacing, will be the featured speaker. Bill Berkowitz will present information about manipulation, injections and nutricals and their role in the treatment of neck, back pain and arthritis, organizers said.
A question-and-answer period will be held after the presentations.
The event is free, but space is limited, and reservations are required. Call 473-7695 to reserve a space.
Oceano
Services board to discuss lease transfer
The Oceano Community Services District board of directors will hold a special meeting at 7 tonight to discuss the possible transfer of the Oceano Community Center's lease to the Lucia Mar Unified School District.
During its meeting last week, Lucia Mar's trustees voted to purchase the financially struggling Community Center for $1.7 million.
For the sale to become official, the OCSD board must consent to Lucia Mar taking over the lease from the district.
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors must also consent to the purchase.
It's unknown when the supervisors will hear the issue.
The Community Center sits at 19th and Wilmar streets and opened its doors in June 2006.
The OCSD board meets at 1655 Front St. in Oceano.
For more information, call the district office at 481-6730.
San Luis Obispo County
County Web site allows eatery checks
The county's Web site has a new tool that allows the public to look up the inspection history of their favorite restaurants, according to the Environmental Health Department.
Environmental Health regularly inspects about 1,600 food establishments throughout the county every year, and now the results of the inspections are posted on the county's Web site.
A link has been added to the Web site that allows the public to look up a restaurant's inspection history, which will list any health violations at the establishment and conformance with health codes.
Inspection results will be posted daily at: www.
slocounty.ca.gov.
Santa Maria
Football contest free for young fans
Young football fans will get the opportunity to test their passing, punting and place-kicking skills against their peers at the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Competition on Thursday.
This free event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hagerman Sports Complex, 3300 Skyway Drive.
The competition is open to youth ages 8 to 15. Registration takes place on-site, the day of the event, and boys and girls compete separately. Top competitors will receive awards and advance to the sectional competition to be held in October.
For information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at 925-0951, Ext. 260.
Santa Maria
Rec department offers fishing event
The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department invites boys and girls ages 6 to 12 to the second annual “Take Me Fishing” event Sunday at Jim May Park, 809 Stanford Drive.
Youngsters can learn the basics of fishing and take part in the casting contest, fish printing activities, GPS treasure hunt, and learn a little about lake life and boating safety. A limited number of loaner fishing poles will be available.
This free event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and no fishing experience is necessary.
The Santa Maria Valley Sportsmen's Association and Central Coast Salmon Enhancement are co-hosting the event.
Questions may be directed to the Recreation and Parks Department at 925-0951, Ext. 260.
Santa Maria
Council OKs ‘safe routes' school bid
A unanimous Santa Maria City Council approved a contract Tuesday night with G. Sosa Construction of Santa Maria for “Safe Routes to School” improvements at Alvin Avenue School and the surrounding area. The project is to enhance the safety of students who walk or bike to school.
The $268,641 project includes removal and reconstruction of 54 new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaint curb ramp approaches with detectable warning panels, improvements to nine alley approaches, installation of 1,105 linear feet of new concrete sidewalk and replacement of old Alvin School signs with new signs and hardware with vandalism protective coating.
The bid is more than $32,000 under the engineer's estimate of $301,132.10.
-- From staff reports
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