Monday, June 23, 2003

Santa Maria

Stabbing suspect sought by police

Santa Maria police are looking for a man who allegedly stabbed a Santa Maria man during a fight Saturday at about 4:23 p.m. in the 700 block of South Western Avenue.

The suspect, Leonel Castro, allegedly walked up to 19-year-old Mariano Rodriguez, started a fight and stabbed him in the back once, police said. Rodriguez was taken to Marian Medical Center for treatment.

Castro is described as a Hispanic male in his early 20s, 5 feet, 9 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes.

Lompoc

Sheriffs make two drug arrests

Santa Barbara County Sheriffs arrested two Lompoc residents Friday on suspicion of possessing drugs for sale.

According to Sgt. Chris Pappas, narcotic detectives served a search warrant at a home in the 400 block of M Street. Anthony Best, 41, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance for sale. Harry Barnes, 54, was arrested on suspicion of being under a controlled substance. Both men were booked at the Santa Maria substation.

Earlier this month, Pappas said, a search warrant had been served at the same location. Detectives recovered a quarter pound of rock cocaine, Pappas said. Friday/s arrests involved prescription pills.

San Luis Obispo

Passenger killed in

Highway 101 accident

A 22-year-old unidentified man died early Sunday in a car accident on Highway 101, reported the California Highway Patrol.

At approximately 12:50 a.m. the unidentified Del Rey Oaks man was traveling southbound on the highway south of Stagecoach Road in a 1997 Hyundai, said the report. The unidentified 17-year-old female driver lost control of the vehicle, hit an embankment causing the car to overturn, he was not wearing a seatbelt, said the highway patrol.

The driver freed herself from the car and was picked up by a driver who took her to La Cuesta Inn in San Luis Obispo, where he called for help.

Santa Maria

SMHS alumni invited to barbecue dinner

Santa Maria High School alumni are calling on all classmates to attend the annual chicken barbecue dinner next month.

The event, which will be at 6 p.m. July 11 at the Eagles Hall, 688 S. College St., will honor all classes ending with the number "3." Any person who attended Santa Maria High is invited to come.

Cost of the dinner is ,15 per person.

For more information contact Jack Trefts at 934-4406 or Richard Vertrees at 922-3954.

Vandenberg AFB

Ordnance training

to come Tuesday

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit will conduct routine proficiency training on the EOD range at Vandenberg Air Force Base between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday.

There will be four detonations, the largest of which will involve approximately 250 pounds of ordnance, officials said. The concussion may be heard around the Lompoc and Santa Maria valleys.

Santa Maria

Award-winning wines at fair

Wizard/s Wine Cellar will showcase many of the award-winning wines during the Santa Barbara County Fair, from July 9 to 13.

From 3 to 7 p.m. daily, the wine cellar will offer tasting to the general public for ,1 for a single taste, or ,5 to taste each of the 10 to 12 wines available each day of the fair.

Wine judges from around the State converged at the Santa Maria Fairpark May 13 for the Second Annual Santa Barbara County Fair Commercial Wine Competition to confirm that some of the world/s greatest wines are grown right here in our own back yard. More than 200 wines, all grown within Santa Barbara County were entered with well over 100 wines being awarded bronze, silver, gold, double gold, and "Best of Show" medals.

7 From staff, wire reports