Articles Tagged With ‘Santa Maria’




Company plans to house up to 600 farm workers near Santa Maria

Just weeks after an arsonist burned down a home being built to house farm workers in Nipomo, a Santa Maria company is proposing building 30 houses to accommodate up to 600 farm workers. Unlike the Nipomo project, plans call for... (Continue reading)

Two men convicted of pimping teen in Santa Maria

A Santa Barbara County jury convicted two men of pimping a 16-year-old girl whom they advertised on Craigslist as a 20-year-old. The victim had sex with customers, as well as with both of the defendants. Humberto Carranza, 24, met the... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria to target rowdy homeless at bus stops

The Santa Maria City Council voted unanimously for an ordinance that will allow rangers and officers to cite, fine and even arrest homeless people who sleep, loiter or cause disturbances at bus stops. City officials say they have received complaints... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria company plans to lay off 168 employees

By John Lindt, publisher of Sierra 2 the Sea Santa Maria’s largest private employer, French-owned Zodiac Aerospace, will lay off 168 workers on June 22, according to a state notice published this week. The company employs about 1,800 workers in... (Continue reading)

Gang member found dealing drugs in Pismo Beach hotel

Authorities arrested a Santa Maria gang member for dealing drugs out of a Pismo Beach hotel. A search of the man’s room reportedly produced more than 5 ounces of methamphetamine and more than 25 grams of heroin. The San Luis... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria Police chief testifies about criminal aliens

By KAREN VELIE Santa Maria Police Chief Ralph Martin said Thursday at a congressional hearing that the United States is running a catch and release program for criminal aliens that is putting the public at risk, during his testimony to... (Continue reading)

Man arrested for setting large Santa Maria apartment fire

Police have arrested a 19-year-old Southern California man for starting an apartment complex fire in Santa Maria last year that displaced 100 people and caused $1 million in damage. One person also had to be hospitalized after suffering burns due... (Continue reading)

6 arrested in equipment theft investigation

Following a five-month joint investigation, sheriff deputies from Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties arrested six people suspected of participating in an agriculture and construction equipment theft ring. Deputies investigated more than twenty different cases involving several farming and... (Continue reading)

Argument turns deadly at Toys “R” Us parking lot

An argument between a mother and daughter at the Santa Maria Toys “R” Us parking lot ended with one one dead and the other injured. Kimberly Wilson, 55, was sitting in the driver’s seat of her car and her daughter... (Continue reading)

Drunk driver traps pedestrian under car

A Santa Maria woman  was arrested Saturday after she drove over a pedestrian trapping the woman underneath her car. Rene Castro was charged with felony DUI and both possession of methamphetamine and illegal drug paraphernalia. Shortly after 4:30 p.m., firefighters... (Continue reading)