News
Roberts Beats McCaw, $900,000 - $0
News-Press owner will appeal arbitrator’s ruling in dispute with former editor. Read story.
Jesse James Hollywood Sentence Upheld
Judge Hill denies motion for new trial; victim's mother not allowed to address court. Read story.
Welcome Arrival
Sixty Direct Relief pallets filled with medical supplies make their way to Haiti, and will ... Read story.
Green Well’s Offering Spurned
El Puente High rejects new marijuana dispensary’s publicly proffered gift. Read story.
Lobster Loot
The Chinese New Year and recent weather have contributed to record market prices. Read story.
Law and Disorder 2-4
Michael Jon Helman, 47, was arrested on 2/1 after allegedly publicly masturbating, driving naked, evading arrest, and committing two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for reportedly trying to run over police officers with his car. A witness called 911 just past 1 p.m. to report a naked man standing in the street at Alamar and Foothill Road in the middle of a lewd and solo act. Authorities eventually located and arrested Helman on La Cumbre Hills Road. As of press time, Helman — who had been sentenced to 270 days in jail in 2007 for threatening a Ventura County prosecutor — was being held without bail. ••• As they wrapped up seven different drug investigations, narcotics detectives from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department arrested 23 people at various locations around the county last week. The largest score for detectives occurred in Summerland, where they arrested three people in possession of a pound of methamphetamine and $3,000 in cash. One of the arrestees was referred to U.S. Immigrations and Customs enforcement for immigration violations. ••• Following a 1/26 report to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department by a 17-year-old girl who said she had been molested when she was younger, deputies arrested a Goleta man. He was reportedly found to be in possession of graphic photos of his victim taken at the time specified in the report. The man was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of sexual abuse of a minor and possession of child pornography. ••• State and county law enforcement officials conducted an Automatic Prohibited Persons System (APPS) operation on 1/27 aimed at locating and contacting people listed in a database as being prohibited to own or possess firearms. Authorities contacted 17 people, confiscating eight firearms. The APPS database contains the names of people convicted of certain crimes — including firearm offenses — addicted to narcotics, or found by a court to have mental disabilities.
City 2-4
Green Well — a city-sanctioned medical marijuana dispensary — donated gardening supplies this week to El Puente Community School. Students of El Puente are reportedly in the planning stages of planting a flower and vegetable garden on campus but were unable to generate enough cash to finish the project. However, the County Education Office is now claiming that it was duped, saying that they did not know that the supplies were coming from a marijuana dispensary until the Green Well owners — along with a media contingent — showed up at El Puente’s campus to present the materials. Jay’s Landscaping, whose company truck was used to deliver the supplies, is also claiming to have to no knowledge of the donation’s origins and that it was similarly kept in the dark.
A Night of Art and Music to Benefit Haiti
With local musicians Khasy Modisette, Mark Renk, and Erland Wandberg, a silent art auction, and more. Proceeds benefit Direct Relief International's relief efforts in Haiti. February 9, 7 p.m., SOhO ($10)
Courthouse Sunken Garden Tour
Learn about the unique trees, palms, and rare plants surrounding a local landmark. February 20, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 1100 Anacapa St.
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