Santa Barbara County

Some areas may see sewer fees increase

Many homeowners, businesses and schools in the Santa Maria Valley will face a 7 percent increase in sewer-service rates if the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors gives final approval later this month.

The Laguna County Sanitation District, which provides services mainly to customers in unincorporated areas including Orcutt, would increase service rates by $31.59 per year for a single-family residence.

The supervisors, who gave initial approval Tuesday to the ordinance including the new fees, are set to give final approval to the matter May 27.

The staff report presented to the board explained that the rate and fee increases are necessary to maintain the level of service and comply with regulations, so connection and trunk-line fees for the Laguna County Sanitation District would also increase for customers.

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Santa Maria

Nominees appointed to cemetery board

Two Santa Maria residents were appointed to the Santa Maria Cemetery District board of trustees for four-year terms Tuesday.

Three-year Santa Barbara County grand jury member Fred Quigley and third-generation Santa Marian Wanda McDonald were nominated by Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joe Centeno after a two-week application and interview process.

McDonald and Quigley have been attending cemetery board meetings at the Santa Maria cemetery office at 1501 S. College Drive for about a year.

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Santa Barbara County

Supervisors back Proposition 99 over 98

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors decided to support Proposition 99 instead the dueling Proposition 98 in the statewide June 3 election.

Proposition 98 and 99 both attempt to reform the ability of a government to use “eminent domain” to take property from a private owner for public use and pay the owner fair market value of the property, but Proposition 98 also aims to phase out rent control.

The vote passed with one abstention, from Supervisor Joni Gray, who said she supported Prop. 99, but did not approve of telling constituents how to vote.

Prop. 98 was co-sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California Farm Bureau Federation and the California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights.

Prop. 99 was submitted by the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties and the California Redevelopment Association.

Pismo Beach

Lenthall fundraiser to feature actress

Jerry Lenthall, 3rd District supervisor in San Luis Obispo County, will host a re-election fundraiser Saturday featuring actress Bo Derek, according to Lenthall's campaign office.

The fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sea Venture, 100 Ocean View Ave. in Pismo Beach, will feature a full-course dinner and the opportunity for each guest to pose for a photograph with Derek.

To purchase tickets, which are limited, call Lenthall's campaign office at 471-7053 or e-mail amber@jerrylenthall.com.

Lenthall, a retired San Luis Obispo police sergeant, will face challenger Adam Hill, a Grover Beach resident and Cal Poly lecturer, in the June 3 election.

The 3rd District includes Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach and parts of San Luis Obispo.

Gaviota

Two injured

in crash near tunnel

Two people were injured in a crash early Tuesday morning off the side of southbound Highway 101 north of the Gaviota tunnel.

Just before 5 a.m., the vehicle the man and woman were in clipped a guardrail and went over the side off the highway, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The California Highway Patrol identified the occupants as Lance Lorien, 58, of Los Olivos and Marissa Weisbly, 21, of Los Osos.

Southbound commuters ahead of the vehicle heard the impact and doubled back, where they found the vehicle buried deep in brush toward the creek bottom.

County firefighters cut through the brush, and the victims were taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries.

Two dogs that had been in the vehicle - a Labrador and a poodle - were missing after the crash. The poodle was recovered without “a scratch on him” and was taken to the Humane Society, said California Highway Patrol Officer Dan Barba, but he didn't know the fate of the other dog.

Pismo Beach

Four hurt in

hit-and-run rollover

Four Santa Maria residents were injured Monday evening in a hit-and-run collision on southbound Highway 101 north of Mattie Road.

Ismael Ramirez Venegas, 19, Rosa Garcia, 19, and Emilia Garcia and Petrolina Garcia, whose ages were unavailable, were taken to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital after the 5:35 p.m. crash with injuries ranging from minor to moderate, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Venegas was driving a 1996 Ford Explorer southbound on Highway 101 at 75 mph when another vehicle made an unsafe lane change, the CHP said, and Venegas moved the Explorer out of the way.

Venegas lost control of the Explorer, and it rolled over and came to rest on its roof, according to the CHP.

The other vehicle, which left the scene, was not identified.

Santa Barbara County

Volunteers sought

to take in kittens

The county's Animal Services department is looking for volunteers to provide foster homes for the homeless, abandoned kittens that are coming into its three shelters.

Interested people are asked to attend a training program from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Santa Maria Animal Center, 548 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria.

Foster home providers are required to have a safe and secure environment and plenty of time to spend with the kittens, but do not need to make a long-term commitment to adopting the animals. Training is provided and families are encouraged to apply.

For people who can't provide a foster home but want to help, donations of wet or dry Nutro Max kitten food or Kitten Milk Replacer are also needed.

For more information, call the Santa Maria Animal Shelter at 934-6119.

San Luis Obispo

Driver cited after collision with cycle

A 56-year-old Santa Maria woman was cited for driving on a suspended license and failing to yield to approaching traffic Monday afternoon, San Luis Obispo police said, after she collided with a motorcycle in San Luis Obispo.

Rebecca Peter-Chmielnik was driving a 2002 Saturn northbound on South Higuera Street when she tried to turn left into the Department of Motor Vehicles parking lot at 3190 S. Higuera St., police said. At the same time, Robert Dyer, 68, of Keizer, Ore., was driving a 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcycle southbound on South Higuera, police said.

Peter-Chmielnik allegedly turned into the path of Dyer and the two collided, police said. Dyer was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered a lower leg injury. He was taken to French Hospital.

- From staff reports