Tweaker Report

North County crystal methamphetamine use has become such an epidemic that more than 80 percent of people arrestedfor any crimeare under its influence, according to Sheriff’s Deputy Sandra Brown, who spoke last week at a forum at Santa Barbara Junior High.

Board Rules

The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously last week to create a pilot program that will give skateboarders under 12 years old their own time at Skater’s Point park on the waterfront.

Lawsuit Landslide

Several lawsuits were filed last week against the County of Ventura and the La Conchita Ranch Company claiming a “breach of legal duties” leading up to last January’s fatal mudslide, including wrongful death, negligence, dangerous condition of public property, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Party Hits

Twenty-three-year-old Sean Cottrell is being held in county jail on suspicion of felony drunk driving and hit-and-run; he allegedly drove into a group of people listening to music on a sidewalk in Isla Vista last weekend.

Stop Thief!

The alleged State Street Bandit was apprehended this week while using free Internet service at the downtown Santa Barbara Public Library.

Good Night, Maleka

If she had worked her normal 11 p.m.-7 a.m. overnight shift at the Goleta postal annex last Monday night, Maleka Higgins would be alive today.

Good Dog and Good Luck

Sometimes you don’t have to go to Burger King to get fed a whopper. Sometimes the County Supervisors’ chambers will do just fine. I was only half paying attention last week when I heard Sheriff Jim Anderson announce that jail overcrowding had gotten so bad, his jailers were forced to release an inmate being held on $1 million bail.

A Return to Misery

It was just about a year ago that I stumbled out of the Santa Barbara Brewing Company blissfully starry-eyed on a cool October night. The street lights twinkled a particular shade of red and a gentle north wind blew at my back as a young man with a familiar look on his face and a Boston T-shirt came running at me.

Pointy-Petaled Beauties

Maybe just because most of the hype for orchid shows and sales is in the spring and summer we don’t normally associate orchids with fall. In fact there are wonderful, easy-to-grow orchids for Southern California that bloom all year long.

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