Tagged News

• Arrest made in Lompoc homicide

  May 31, 2012 9:25 PM

  Detectives have made an arrest in Wednesday's homicide in Lompoc. 23 year-old Phillip Joseph Johnson of Lompoc was arrested Thursday. It happened in the 1700 block of Calle Lindero, which is in the city's Mission Hills area. At about 10 PM Wednesday, dispatchers got a 911 hang up call.... more »

• Lompoc city leaders pass stricter sex offender ordinance Play Video

  April 18, 2012 3:22 AM

  The city of Lompoc is cracking down on sex offenders in the community,hoping to keep them farther away from children. City leaders unanimously passed a new ordinance at Tuesday night's city council meeting to clarify and expand Jessica's Law. The current law prohibits sex offenders from living within 2000... more »

• Local community speaks out against sexual violence Play Video

  April 3, 2012 2:52 AM

  April is "Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention" month. Monday night, a candlelight vigil in Lompoc aimed to focus attention on such violence in our communities. Dozens of people showed up to the 15th annual candlelight vigil put on by the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center. Community... more »

• Lompoc homeless shelter reopens Play Video

  January 25, 2012 10:25 PM

  The Marks House shelter in Lompoc is set to open its doors again. Money problems forced the shelter to close last week. The Lompoc shelter, which once housed homeless women and children, will now be a place where homeless families can stay. Marks House holds 19 beds for... more »

• Winter weather raises concerns about homeless shelter overcrowding

  January 19, 2012 9:50 PM

  The closure of two homeless shelters in Lompoc earlier this week could pose challenges for the Good Samaritan Shelter in Santa Maria. The Lompoc Housing Community Development Corporation closed the Marks House and the Bridgehouse shelters on Tuesday after running out of money to operate them. Now, the city... more »

• Woman killed over the weekend taught at Vandenberg Middle School

  September 19, 2011 10:42 PM

  Students and faculty returned to Vandenberg Middle School today without one of their beloved teachers, Karen Shumey. Her son allegedly shot and killed her over the weekend in San Luis Obispo. Shumey taught 8th Grade history and was the department chair at the school, where she had been since... more »

• Police: Love triangle motive behind fatal stabbing

  July 11, 2011 9:48 PM

  A 20-year-old Lompoc man is in jail tonight, accused of stabbing and killing a man over the weekend and we're learning more about a possible motive. It happened around 11:00 last night in an alleyway off the 200 block of North N street. Officers found the man lying near... more »

• Four people injured in three-car crash on Highway 246

  June 11, 2011 7:40 PM

  Two people are recovering from major injuries after a three-car crash on Highway 246 Saturday morning. It happened in front of Babcock Winery in Lompoc just after 10 a.m. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department says one person from extricated from their vehicle and airlifted to the hospital with... more »

• Policeman's daughter behind the wheel during fatal accident in Lompoc

  May 18, 2011 8:58 PM

  The teenage driver who struck and killed a 56-year old woman in Lompoc Friday night is the daughter of a Lompoc policeman. Officers say 18-year-old Lacey Strange is the daughter of Sergeant Chuck Strange. Investigators say she hit 56- year-old Rebecca Vegas, who was crossing the street near the intersection... more »

• Friends and family hold candlelight vigil for Lompoc woman hit and killed by a car

  May 16, 2011 12:34 AM

  It's been two days since 56-year-old Rebecca Vegas died, but those who knew her are still struggling to comprehend their loss. Dozens of people attended a candlelight vigil in her honor Sunday night. Vegas was hit by a car Friday night near the Ocean Avenue and J Street intersection.... more »

• 13 arrested in early morning gang crackdown

  May 3, 2011 9:28 PM

  Thirteen suspected members of two of the Central Coast's largest gangs are in jail tonight after an early morning FBI crackdown. Those suspects all face drug charges after a major gang sweep early this morning. Special agents from a multi-agency task force have been conducting a year long investigation... more »

• Ground breaking held for new homes in Lompoc

  April 26, 2011 9:21 PM

  It's a possible sign the economic climate on the Central Coast is starting to turn around. Robbins Reed Construction and Development is building 80 new single family homes in Lompoc. The company held a ground breaking today for a new community called "The Gardens at Briar Creek." The homes... more »

• Police searching for hotel flasher in Lompoc

  April 6, 2011 10:00 PM

  Lompoc Police need your help to find a man they say exposed himself at three local hotels. Officers say the suspect has flashed people on four different occasions, at three local hotels, all within the past month. The first incident occurred at the end of February at America's... more »

• Parents concerned about school safety after Lompoc stabbing

  March 30, 2011 1:43 PM

  The father of the teen stabbed Monday in a bathroom at Lompoc High School says his son is being moved out of intensive care today at Lompoc Valley Medical Center. Brandon Moorman, 17, underwent sugery Tuesday afternoon. Three juveniles have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and... more »

• Jawbone of Lompoc woman missing since 2001 found in rural SB Co.

  March 23, 2011 2:07 PM

  The Lompoc Police Department says it has found the jawbone of a woman who went missing nearly a decade ago. Dana McPeek went missing on May 3, 2001. Investigators then called her disappearance "suspicious." She was 33 years old at the time. Wednesday morning, officers from the Lompoc... more »

• Santa Ynez river floods at least 400 acres of farmland

  March 21, 2011 9:47 PM

  Some Lompoc farmers are calling for action after the Santa Ynez River overflowed, wiping out hundreds of acres of their crops. The water flooded farmland near Central and Douglass Avenue in Lompoc, but farmers say the farmers say the damage is preventable. It's a major loss for a handful... more »

• Santa Barbara considering a gang injunction

  March 15, 2011 12:55 PM

  Santa Barbara County leaders are discussing the possibility of starting a gang injunction in Santa Barbara. Recent gang activity in the city has renewed the push for an injunction. Currently, Santa Maria does not have a gang injunction. Lompoc has had an injunction since 2005. According to the American... more »

• Lompoc mother calling on community to find missing cat

  February 28, 2011 9:53 PM

  The mother of a teenager killed during a mobile home fire in Lompoc is asking the community to help her find the cat her daughter died trying to rescue. Jennifer Rodriguez's daughter, Alicia Van Wagenen, was involved in a mobile home fire in Lompoc on January 6th. The 19-year-old... more »

• Mom of teen killed in Lompoc fire searching for missing cat

  February 28, 2011 1:33 PM

  The mother of the 19-year-old girl killed in a mobile home fire in Lompoc while trying to save her cat is pleading for the community's help on Craigslist. Alicia van Wagenen died days after the January fire, after suffering smoke inhalation. Alicia's friend, 20-year-old Nicholas Perez, also died in... more »

• One person arrested during DUI checkpoint in Lompoc

  February 27, 2011 7:54 PM

  One person was arrested for driving under the influence during a DUI checkpoint in Lompoc overnight. Officers set up the checkpoint in the 300 block of East Pine Avenue for eastbound traffic. They cited 16 people for miscellaneous violations. One person was cited for driving without a license.... more »

• Investigators still looking for cause of early morning Lompoc fire

  February 18, 2011 9:13 PM

  Fire investigators are trying to figure out what sparked an early morning structure fire, near the La Purisima Mission. Firefighters were called out to the 1800 block of Mission Gate Drive in Lompoc just before 4 a.m. Friday. Fire officials found an 8,000 foot building engulfed in flames. They... more »

• Father reacts to sentencing in son's murder

  February 17, 2011 9:27 PM

  The Lompoc man who killed a four-year-old boy last year will spend the rest of his life behind bars. A jury convicted James Lujan in December for beating Diego Calles to death at a Budget Inn, in Lompoc in July of 2009. He was found guilty on four of... more »

• Lompoc man sentenced to 75 years to life in prison

  February 17, 2011 1:59 PM

  The Lompoc man convicted of murdering a four-year-old boy back in July 2009 will spend the rest of his life in prison. A judge sentenced James Lujan to 75 years to life in prison without parole Thursday morning inside a Santa Maria courtroom. Lujan, 30, beat Diego Calles to... more »

• Lompoc man convicted in 4-year-old's death to be sentenced

  February 17, 2011 12:49 PM

  The Lompoc man convicted of killing a four-year-old boy back in 2009 is expected to learn his fate Thursday morning. In December, James Lujan was convicted of beating Diego Calles to death back in July of 2009 at a Budget Inn in Lompoc. A jury found him guilty on... more »

• Youth organizations helping to lower gang crime

  February 16, 2011 10:03 PM

  Both Santa Maria and Lompoc police departments say they saw a drop in gang crime last year. Police in Lompoc say gang activity is down there by as much as 25 percent. According to an FBI, report violent crime dropped in Santa Maria in the first six months of... more »

• Lompoc and Santa Maria police report drop in gang activity

  February 16, 2011 1:14 PM

  Both the Santa Maria and Lompoc police departments say they saw gang crime drop last year. They attribute part of that drop to the success of youth programs in getting kids off the streets and out of a gang environment. Officers also say in a time of budget cuts,... more »

• Lompoc city leaders uphold Walmart appeal after five hour meeting

  January 19, 2011 10:16 PM

  A controversial plan to expand the Lompoc Walmart is one step closer to becoming reality. It was standing room only at city hall Tuesday night. After five hours of intense discussion, the Lompoc City Council voted unanimously to uphold Walmart's appeal. Council members certified the Environmental Impact Report, previously rejected... more »

• Community speaks out over proposed Walmart expansion

  January 19, 2011 2:38 AM

  Controversy over a proposal to expand Walmart took center stage tonight at the Lompoc City Council meeting. The 41,000 square foot expansion would turn the retail giant into a Supercenter , offering a full-service grocery department and an outdoor garden. The project hit a roadblock in October. That's when... more »

• Identity of Lompoc man involved in fatal crash released

  January 19, 2011 12:04 AM

  The identity of the Lompoc man who died this weekend after crashing a stolen car has been released. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department has identified him as 28-year-old Vang Xiong. Xiong was driving on Rucker Road in Lompoc on Saturday, just north of Purisima Road, when he crashed... more »

• Walmart appeals expansion project to Lompoc city council

  January 18, 2011 6:09 PM

  After the Lompoc Planning Commission denied Walmart's Environmental Impact Report for its expansion in October, the company is appealing the decision tonight before the Lompoc city council. Walmart wants to add 41,000 square feet to expand the existing store at 701 West Central Avenue, turning it into a Walmart... more »

• Man dies after crashing stolen car in Lompoc

  January 15, 2011 8:15 PM

  One person is dead after officers say he stole a car and then crashed it in Lompoc this morning. It happened on Rucker Road just north of Purisima Road. The California Highway Patrol says a 28-year-old Lompoc man was driving a stolen green Honda Civic when he crashed into... more »

• Five arrested during DUI checkpoint in Lompoc

  January 15, 2011 7:51 PM

  A DUI checkpoint overnight in Lompoc netted five arrests. Officers set up that checkpoint in the 1700 block of North H Street for northbound traffic. They screened more than 1700 vehicles. As a result one person was arrested for DUI, officers say the driver had a blood alcohol content twice... more »

• Hoarding poses challenges for rescuers in fatal fire

  January 6, 2011 10:48 PM

  A mobile home catches fire in Lompoc, killing a 20-year-old man and sending two others to the hospital. Lompoc fire has identified the man as Nicholas Perez of Lompoc. An electrical problem started the fire around 4:30 this morning at the Mountain View Mobile Home Park in the 700... more »

• Lompoc HS looking for first CIF Football Title since 2003

  December 10, 2010 9:35 PM

  After last year's lackluster 1-9 season, the Lompoc High School Football team had something to prove and they did. The football team is 10-3 after a magical turnaround. By the end of the night, players could be holding up a championship trophy. Students and staff packed the gym at... more »

• Excitement building in Lompoc for championship game

  December 10, 2010 12:46 PM

  Fans and students at Lompoc High School are gearing up for what they expect to be an exciting championship game. The football team has restored its winning tradition. Last season, the Braves only won a single game. Tonight, the team will play South from Torrance for the CIF... more »

• Community remembers former Santa Maria Police Chief

  December 6, 2010 9:52 PM

  Family, Friends, and colleagues from throughout California gathered to remember former Santa Maria Police Chief John Sterling. He passed away November 14th after complications with his liver. A memorial was held for him Monday afternoon at the Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Lompoc. Those who worked with Sterling... more »

• Former Santa Maria Police Chief remembered

  December 6, 2010 4:26 PM

  Family, friends, and colleagues paid their final respects to Former Santa Maria Police Chief John Sterling during a memorial service in Lompoc. Sterling, 60, passed away three weeks ago after suffering from liver complications. The Lompoc native was police chief from 1999-2003. Friends and co-workers say Sterling focused on... more »

• City sued over proposed development on farmland

  November 25, 2010 8:59 PM

  Some activists are suing the city of Lompoc because they don't want farmland replaced by houses and businesses. The Santa Barbara County Action Network filed the suit claiming the city broke the law by approving the environmental impact report on a new development. The city says the activists are... more »

• Lawsuit filed to preserve prime farmland

  November 22, 2010 1:06 PM

  A nonprofit law firm is suing the city of Lompoc. The group says it violated the California Environmental Quality Act by approving the Environmental Impact Report for the Lompoc's 2030 General Plan Update. The Environmental Defense Center is filing the lawsuit on behalf of the Santa Barbara County Action... more »

• Low-cost housing units raise concerns for neighbors

  November 18, 2010 9:55 PM

  Construction has begun on a controversial housing project in Santa Maria. The Rancho Hermosa Project will be located on the 100 block of East Inger Drive. It will provide 47 apartments for homeless, mentally ill and low- income tenants. Some people have expressed concerns about having the development in their... more »

• County leaders settle legal battle involving endangered salamander

  November 9, 2010 9:36 PM

  The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has reached a deal with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore a pond in Lompoc. It's all to protect an endangered species. The California Tiger Salamander has been on the federal endangered species list since 2000. In 2004, the county... more »

• Lompoc residents try "Walking-on-Water"

  November 6, 2010 8:00 PM

  Students of all ages were invited to put on their engineering caps at the Lompoc Aquatic Center Saturday as part of the first Walking-on-Water competition. The Lompoc Parks, Recreation & Urban Forestry Department sponsored the event as a way to promote ingenuity and creativity among city residents. Competitors... more »

• Planning Commision set to decide on Walmart expansion

  September 22, 2010 9:22 PM

  Lompoc leaders are expected to make a decision tonight about whether to let Walmart expand. The controversial project would add another 41-thousand square feet to the existing building. It would also turn it into a Walmart Supercenter, offering meat and produce. If approved by the planning commision, the expansion... more »

• Final decision on Walmart expansion could come tonight

  September 22, 2010 2:00 PM

  The Lompoc Planning Commission is expected to decide whether to approve the Walmart expansion. The retail giant plans to add about 41,000 square feet to its existing store. The city says it would bring about 85 full and part-time jobs. The city reviewed an urban case study and found only... more »

• Lompoc DUI Checkpoint nets two arrests

  September 18, 2010 10:47 PM

  Lompoc police officers arrested two people during a DUI checkpoint Friday night. The checkpoint was set up in the 13-hundred block of O Street. Around 350 people passed through it, but officers say no one was driving drunk. However one person was arrested for a previous DUI warrant. That driver... more »

• Lompoc Unified to take action against Cabrillo coach

  September 10, 2010 9:23 PM

  District officials for Lompoc Unified did not reach a decision today regarding whether to take disciplinary action against Cabrillo High School Basketball Coach Gary West. He has been on paid administrative leave since he got into a fight with a student on August 25th. Last week, the student returned... more »

• Cabrillo HS teachers return; District waiting on DA's Office

  September 3, 2010 8:49 PM

  It's a new day for Cabrillo High School. Teachers were back at work today after half of them skipped school. District officials say 29 teachers were no-shows yesterday in response to last week's fight between a student and the school's Head Basketball Coach Gary West. The Lompoc student involved... more »

• Hearing on Walmart Expansion project continued to unknown date

  August 26, 2010 1:30 AM

  People in Lompoc will have to wait to find out if the proposed Walmart expansion project will move forward. It was standing room only at City Hall as the Planning Commission reviewed the project's Final Environmental Impact Report and Development Plan. If approved the project would add more... more »

• Local firefighters battling the Crown Fire

  July 30, 2010 7:53 PM

  Crews from the Central Coast are lending a helping hand at the Crown Fire. A handful of firefighters from Santa Barbara County are already on the front lines. The Lompoc Fire Department just sent a brush rig and a dispatcher down south to help, and they were ready... more »

• Mobile farmers' market in Lompoc to receive $25,000 grant

  July 27, 2010 1:37 PM

  The Walmart Foundation will present a $25,000 grant to the Santa Barbara County Foodbank today. The money will benefit the Foodbank's mobile farmers' market in Lompoc, which brings fresh produce to under-served neighborhoods and rural areas throughout the County. "Their generous gift will provide local individuals, seniors, children and... more »

• Lompoc Youth Theater sets the stage for "Annie"

  July 26, 2010 9:30 PM

  Lompoc's Youth Theater group will put on one of Broadway's most cherished musicals this weekend. A cast of 35 kids from the group is performing Annie. They are all part of an intense three week summer day camp, where they learn singing, dancing, and acting from theater veterans. The... more »

• County SWAP program could help Lompoc jail

  July 20, 2010 10:02 PM

  The city of Lompoc could soon be partnering with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department to help with chores at its city jail. County jail overcrowding has led to earlier releases and it's left a smaller pool of inmates to help at the Lompoc city jail. Santa Barbara County... more »

• Walmart's expansion proposal could be decided by voters

  July 8, 2010 8:24 PM

  If history repeats itself, Walmart's controversial proposal to expand in Lompoc could be a decision made by voters. The Environmental Impact Report is in the process of being finalized. All of the information will be presented to the Lompoc Planning Commission in August. No matter which way the planning commission... more »

• Walmart's expansion proposal could be decided by voters

  July 8, 2010 6:53 PM

  Walmart's controversial proposal to expand in Lompoc could end up being a decision made by voters. The Environmental Impact report is in the process of being finalized. All of the information will be presented to the Lompoc Planning Commission in August. No matter which way the planning commission votes, it... more »

• New hospital seeks to improve patient care

  June 29, 2010 9:44 PM

  Lompoc has a new hospital tonight. Employees started transferring patients to the new 110,000 square foot Lompoc Valley Medical Center Hospital this morning from the old hospital on Hickory Avenue. The new facility cost $81 million and was funded through a community bond measure. It's day one for the... more »

• New hospital boasts better equipment to improve patient care

  June 29, 2010 5:17 PM

  The new $81 million dollar Lompoc Valley Medical Center opened its doors to the community on Tuesday. The 60-bed facility is located at the corner of East Ocean Avenue and Seventh Avenue in Lompoc. Patients were transported from the hospital on Hickory Avenue to the new facility on Tuesday... more »

• Flower Festival wraps up in Lompoc

  June 27, 2010 7:39 PM

  T he Lompoc Flower Festival has been going strong for more than 50 years now. It offers entertainment for the young and old alike, and it is a familiar place for people who call Lompoc home. For others, it serves as a reunion they would not miss for the... more »

• Medical assistant program could land you a job

  June 23, 2010 10:02 PM

  If you're looking for a job, listen up. Healthcare professionals say there is a high demand for medical assistants. This fall, Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria will bring back its medical assistant training program. If you want to join one of the fastest growing careers in the medical... more »

• Lompoc Police to make announcement about January murder case

  June 10, 2010 1:53 PM

  The Lompoc Police Department says it has an announcement about its investigation into a homicide that happened in January. Lompoc Police Captain Larry Ralston says there are major developments in the shooting murder of Ysidro Madera. That happened on January 20th, on the 200 blk. of North K St.... more »

• City council approves bond for new senior center

  June 2, 2010 10:12 PM

  Lompoc will be getting a new Community Senior Center. The city council approved an $8.5 million bond measure last night to help pay for the project. The senior center will go in next to the Vons off Ocean Avenue. The building is currently empty. "We'll be able to utilize... more »

• Kids consider future careers at Vandenberg Middle School

  June 2, 2010 10:07 PM

  Some local middle schoolers got a chance to think about their future careers. Four teachers at Vandenberg Middle School put on Career Day today. A couple hundred students got to hear from many in the workforce, including a Lompoc fireman, a prison warden, and ksby's own Ariel Wesler. They spoke... more »

• Lompoc DUI checkpoint nets six arrests

  May 24, 2010 4:10 PM

  Lompoc Police Officers say they arrested six people during a weekend DUI checkpoint. That checkpoint was held on Saturday, May 22nd on the 1000 blk. of E. Ocean Ave. Two people were arrested for driving without a license and four were arrested for driving on a suspended license. Fourteen... more »

• Powering through Proposition 16

  May 18, 2010 9:25 PM

  Tonight, we're shedding some light on Proposition 16. It's a controversial proposition surrounding whether the public should decide if a city or county can enter the power business. If Prop 16 passes, it would require a two-thirds majority vote from the public before starting or expanding electric service. So... more »

• Cities take up fight against Prop 16

  May 18, 2010 12:57 PM

  Tonight, we're taking a look at the controversial Proposition 16. It would require a 2/3 vote from the public before any city could enter the power business. PG&E is the primary driving force behind the proposition and has spent millions of dollars in advertising compared with the tens of... more »

• Armed robbery suspect turns himself in

  April 22, 2010 12:53 AM

  Nearly a month after a pair of armed robberies in Lompoc, police say one of the suspects has turned himself in. 18-year-old Kaleb Mickens was taken into custody at the Lompoc Police Department Tuesday. Officers believe he was involved in two armed robberies in the city back on... more »

• Sexual assault survivors rely on local crisis center

  April 14, 2010 9:39 PM

  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and local survivors are speaking out about the importance of the local crisis center. The North County Rape Crisis Center has been serving Santa Barbara County for more than 84 years. It provides free support and educational services to sexual assault survivors. This... more »

• Sexual assault Survivors speak about importance of local crisis center

  April 14, 2010 1:50 PM

  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the North County Rape Crisis Center is asking for your support to help keep its doors open. The center has offices in Santa Maria and Lompoc, where they help more than 15,000 people each year, offering free support, education, and prevention services. ... more »

• Lompoc student athletes injured in car accident

  April 10, 2010 10:28 PM

  Two student athletes are recovering after the truck they were driving in rolled down an embankment. Firefighters say it happened just north of Graciosa Road in Lompoc around 12:20 p.m. Friday. Lompoc High School baseball player Kyle Martin was thrown from the vehicle and had moderate injuries. ... more »

• Nick Jr. star Wubbzy helps Lompoc kids go green

  April 8, 2010 7:25 PM

  Hundreds of families in Lompoc got a lesson in going green from a Nick Jr. television star. Wubbzy made stops in Ryon Park and Thomspon Park in Lompoc on Thursday. He joined parents and kids of all ages as they planted trees. The event also included a... more »

• Woman accused of embezzling $300,000 from elderly Santa Barbara woman

  April 7, 2010 2:42 AM

  A Lompoc woman is accused of stealing more than $300,000 from an elderly Santa Barbara woman. Police say the investigation began last year, when 60-year-old Norma White was fired from her job at the Samarkand in Santa Barbara. Police say she lost her job because of accounting irregularities. They... more »

• Seat belt enforcement crackdown planned in Lompoc

  April 2, 2010 4:15 PM

  Click it, or ticket. The Lompoc Police Department says it plans to be out in full force this month searching for unbelted drivers and passengers. It's all part of the Click it or Ticket campaign that aims to keep the seat belt issue at the forefront of people's minds. Officers... more »

• Local church providing overnight shelter to homeless

  March 31, 2010 9:57 PM

  With more rain in the forecast, those without a home tonight can find shelter at the First United Methodist Church in Lompoc. The church is part of Santa Barbara County's Warming Shelter program. Organizers provide the homeless with a hot meal and a warm place to spend the night.... more »

• Armed robberies raise concerns about juvenile crime in Lompoc

  March 23, 2010 10:03 PM

  Police in Lompoc arrested two young people this morning in connection with two armed robberies overnight. Officers say the first robbery happened at 11:30 Monday night in the 500 block of West Barton Avenue. The second took place just an hour later in an alley near the 300 block... more »

• Lompoc police believe third juvenile involved in armed robberies

  March 23, 2010 6:31 PM

  Police in Lompoc arrested two juveniles this morning in connection to two armed robberies. Officers are now looking for a third juvenile they also believe is linked to the crimes. Police say both were individual street crimes and the suspects stole cell phones. The first alleged incident happened in... more »

• 3.1 magnitude earthquake hits offshore near Lompoc

  March 23, 2010 11:46 AM

  Some Santa Barbara county residents may have had a little added shake to their morning routine. The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 3.1 magnitude earthquake hit offshore at 6:51a.m. Tuesday. It was located about 16 miles west of Lompoc and about 32 miles southwest of Santa Maria. There... more »

• Two juveniles arrested in connection to armed robberies

  March 23, 2010 10:17 AM

  Police in Lompoc arrest two juveniles in connection to two armed robberies. The first alleged incident happened in the 500 block of West Barton Avenue late Monday night. The second happened in the 300 block of West Ocean early Tuesday morning. Police say the suspects pulled out a handgun... more »

• Surplus of H1N1 shots causes thousand to be tossed

  March 18, 2010 3:42 PM

  Remember the long lines to get swine flu vaccines? Health departments, nationwide and locally, are having the opposite problem. Demand for H1N1 shots has dropped so much, thousands of doses might have to be thrown away. Health department officials report, nationwide, about 20,000 doses are about to... more »

• Gang forum to be held Thursday night in Lompoc

  March 18, 2010 2:48 AM

  People in Lompoc are invited to a special forum to learn how to spot gang activity in their city. The forum will be hosted by the Santa Barbara County Probation Department Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lompoc City Hall Council Chambers. The information will... more »

• Missing Lompoc girl now safe at home

  March 17, 2010 1:50 AM

  Lompoc Police Officers say a 17-year-old girl who was reported missing on Monday is now safe at home. The parents of Sandra Velez say she did not return home from Cabrillo High School yesterday. Officers say she did not attend school that day either. On Tuesday, police say she... more »

• Police in Lompoc search for missing teen

  March 16, 2010 9:48 AM

  Police in Lompoc are looking for a 17-year-old girl that was reported missing Monday night. The parent's of Sandra Velez say she did not return home from Cabrillo High School. But, police say records show she did not attend school that day. Sandra is 5'3" and about 125... more »

• Child safe after attempted kidnapping in Lompoc

  February 26, 2010 8:36 PM

  Lompoc Police officers say a man allegedly tried to take a two-year-old child from a daycare provider this morning at a local park. He was unsuccessful. Officers responded to Ryon Park in the 800 block of Ocean Avenue. That's where the child's daycare provider says a man tried to... more »

• Several vehicles involved in crash near Lompoc

  February 25, 2010 10:17 AM

  The California Highway Patrol is responding to a crash involving several vehicles east of Lompoc. The CHP says about four or five vehicles may be involved in the crash on South Highway 246 at La Purisma Golf Course. Officers say one person may have been arrested for DUI, and... more »

• Tobacco sales to minors on the rise in parts of Santa Barbara County

  February 23, 2010 2:55 PM

  It is getting easier for minors to buy cigarettes in some parts of Santa Barbara County, according new data released by the County Public Health Department. Each year, the Sheriff's Department teams up with public health to conduct undercover buys, in which a minor decoy is sent in to... more »

• Judge upholds death sentence for man who killed former Lompoc cop

  February 8, 2010 2:18 PM

  The man who killed a former Lompoc police officer is sentenced to death Monday morning. A San Mateo County Superior Court judge this morning upheld a jury's recommendation to sentence 26-year-old Alberto Alvarez to death for killing former San Luis Obispo resident Richard May in 2006. May was... more »

• Neighbors fired up about Lompoc arsonist

  February 1, 2010 9:38 PM

  Lompoc fire investigators are on the lookout for a serial arsonist who may be linked to as many as 30 fires in the last two years. The most recent fire happened just before 3:30 Saturday morning in the 400 block of South "H" Street in Lompoc. A man... more »

• Officers say residents can help combat laundry room burglaries in Lompoc

  January 27, 2010 7:28 PM

  Investigators in Lompoc are looking into a recent spike in burglaries at coin-operated laundry facilities. Officers say they have seen at least 20 burglaries in the last two weeks, mostly at apartment complexes. The suspect, or suspects, are breaking into the laundry rooms and stealing coins from inside... more »

• Lompoc police to hold DUI checkpoints

  January 27, 2010 6:57 PM

  The Lompoc Police Department is holding two DUI checkpoints this week in an effort to crackdown on drunk drivers. The checkpoints will take place in Lompoc on Saturday, January 30 and Monday, February 1. Police will be stopping vehicles between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location... more »

• Lightning severely damages Lompoc home

  January 21, 2010 9:37 PM

  The damage caused by a single lightning strike can be truly amazing. The Streetman family from Lompoc has been without power since yesterday morning when lightning lit up their palm tree and the blast did even more. The amount of damage is shocking and it all happened almost instantly.... more »

• Lightning strikes Lompoc home

  January 21, 2010 1:05 PM

  Lightning strikes too close to home for one Lompoc woman and her family. Nita Streetman was reading early Wednesday morning when she heard the lightning slam into a palm tree near her home. She said at least five windows on her home were broken and the front door was... more »

• Elderly woman's caregiver accused of doing more taking than giving

  January 13, 2010 5:47 PM

  A caregiver was arrested Wednesday after Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies say she stole thousands of dollars from an 88-year-old Goleta woman. Sheriff's deputies say the victim's accountant reported 38-year-old Christina Dee Bailon of Lompoc may have been stealing from the elderly woman. After an investigation, detectives say... more »

• Aquatic center reopens after budget cuts

  January 12, 2010 10:06 PM

  The Lompoc Aquatic Center has kept from going under. It opened again this week, after budget cuts temporarily shut it down. The move displaced some local athletic teams and dedicated swimmers. Several employees were also furloughed. The center says in six weeks, it saved tens of thousands on personnel and... more »

• Aquatic center reopens in Lompoc

  January 12, 2010 1:13 PM

  The Lompoc Aquatic Center reopened its doors Monday after being closed for six weeks due to budget cuts and repairs. The closure created challenges for swim teams and employees, who had to find work elsewhere. The center will offer its first open swim to the community this weekend. We'll have... more »