President Calvin Coolidge said, “The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”
On Memorial Day, we remember, reflect on and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice is not forgotten, and their courage lives on in the freedom we enjoy and must never take for granted.
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In the last two weeks, Noozhawk has covered a remarkable stretch of fast-moving emergency news — from one extreme end of Santa Barbara County to the other.
It’s the kind of reporting that requires experience, urgency and trusted local journalists ready for duty around the clock.
We’ve reported on the rescues of an injured hiker airlifted from the Gaviota Wind Caves trail, two people trapped by rising tides below the Isla Vista bluffs, a crashed paraglider in the Santa Ynez Valley and another one stranded on a More Mesa cliff west of Santa Barbara.
There was a gas-line break at a UC Santa Barbara apartment building, a vegetation fire in the Cuyama Valley and a suspected fireworks-caused brush fire — and quick arrest of a suspect — along Farren Road west of Goleta.
We’ve also been reporting almost daily on the devastating Santa Rosa Island Fire, which has burned a third of the famed “Cowboy Island,” forced evacuations and destroyed historic structures on what was once one of California’s most storied ranches.
This kind of local reporting doesn’t happen by accident. It takes time, resources and community support.
Our spring fundraising campaign helps pay for the professional journalism you rely on when important news breaks.
If Noozhawk’s coverage matters to you, I hope you’ll support us by making a one-time donation to Noozhawk or becoming a monthly Hawks Club supporter.
Driven by our breaking news, Noozhawk had an audience of 153,546 readers this past week, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my recap of the Top 5 stories you were reading, as tracked by our Google analytics.
This is my opinion column, by the way. It is not a news story.
1. Santa Rosa Island Fire Now 59% Contained as Weather Conditions Improve
Firefighters are continuing an aggressive push to protect Santa Rosa Island’s historic Vail & Vickers ranch complex, extremely rare Torrey pine grove and sensitive Chumash cultural sites as crews, equipment and supplies were ferried by boat to battle the wildfire.
As our Giana Magnoli, Janene Scully and Evelyn Spence have been reporting, the blaze ignited May 15 after a sailboat apparently ran aground near the island and caught fire.
The actual cause is under investigation, but authorities have walked back earlier statements linking it to distress flares fired by the stranded sailor.
The 67-year-old man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was later rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.
As of May 22, CalFire reported the blaze had scorched 18,379 acres — about 34% of the 53,195-acre island, 26 miles southwest of Santa Barbara. Containment was at 59%.
The fire has burned largely across the southern and eastern portions of the island, which is now part of Channel Islands National Park.
Officials said the blaze moved through the island’s rare Torrey pine area — one of only two natural Torrey pine habitats in the world — but initial assessments indicated the trees “remain largely intact.”
Firefighters have focused on preventing flames from reaching the Water Canyon Campground and the historic ranch complex, which remained threatened but undamaged.
The two-story ranch house, built in 1855, is thought to be the oldest wood frame house standing in Santa Barbara County
More than 135 personnel were assigned to the fire, with additional firefighters and equipment arriving by boat, including a crew from the Chumash Fire Department to help protect culturally significant Chumash sites.
Aircraft also joined suppression efforts after strong winds earlier hampered flights. Tankers and water-scooping aircraft made repeated drops using water and retardant near threatened structures.
Officials confirmed two unoccupied structures were destroyed, but the South Point light station survived.
At the opposite end of the county, the 904-acre Foothill Fire in the Cuyama Valley reached 75% containment as of May 22.
County Fire Department spokeswoman Karen Cruz-Orduña said crews continued strengthening containment lines and mopping up hot spots off Highway 166 east of New Cuyama.
About 275 personnel remained assigned to the blaze, focusing on heavy heat in juniper vegetation.
Evacuations were ordered and updated, and one structure was destroyed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
2. Police Release Name of Woman Found Dead on East Beach in Santa Barbara
Nearly two weeks after she was discovered dead on a Santa Barbara beach, 46-year-old Vesna Prepolec remains the subject of intense interest from Noozhawk readers.
As our Tom Bolton reported, Prepolec was found unresponsive on the beach in the 600 block of East Cabrillo Boulevard around 5:15 p.m. May 8.
Santa Barbara police Cmdr. Charles Katsapis said the cause and circumstances of her death remain under investigation.
Police have released no additional details.
Originally from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Prepolec apparently lived in Goleta and before that in Santa Maria.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she graduated from Oakland University in Michigan with a marketing degree and had worked professionally as an analyst and marketing manager.
A memorial is scheduled for June 26 at McCabe Funeral Home in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Memorial donations may be directed to the Michigan Humane Society or CARES of Farmington Hills.
3. Man, 19, Arrested for Allegedly Starting Vegetation Fire in Western Goleta
A dumbass allegedly setting off illegal fireworks in a high-risk wildfire area has been arrested on suspicion of sparking a May 19 brush blaze that was threatening enough to trigger evacuation warnings along Farren Road in western Goleta.
As our Evelyn Spence reported, a 19-year-old Goleta man was arrested as a suspect in the case.
Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Raquel Zick said Alex Karim Henin was booked into County Jail on suspicion of arson and possession of fireworks without a permit.
Santa Barbara County firefighters were dispatched around 8:25 p.m. to the 900 block of Farren Road on reports of a vegetation fire that quickly spread to roughly an acre, just west of the Rancho Embarcadero neighborhood.
After interviewing witnesses, Zick said, deputies stopped a vehicle seen leaving the area and allegedly found a package containing three illegal fireworks.
She said evidence indicated additional fireworks had already been removed from their packaging.
An evacuation warning issued for nearby residents was lifted around 9:30 p.m. after firefighters established containment lines and began mop-up operations.
Since even people old enough to know better apparently don’t, Zick issued a reminder that illegal fireworks pose a serious wildfire danger, especially in the dry vegetation conditions that are … all around us.
4. Santa Barbara County Issues Layoff Notices for 84 Positions
As Santa Barbara County prepares to adopt a reduced $1.64 billion budget for the coming fiscal year, officials have issued layoff notices to 84 county employees across four departments.
The notices, sent last week, would take effect June 30 unless employees are reassigned or other changes are made, county spokeswoman Kelsey Gerckens Buttitta told our Daniel Green.
The largest number of affected positions are in the Public Health Department, which received 47 notices, followed by 31 in Social Services, five in the Sheriff’s Department and one in the county Fire Department.
County officials said not all employees receiving notices necessarily will lose their jobs because some may transfer into other vacant county positions.
Laura Robinson, executive director of SEIU Local 620, said the layoffs’ impact will affect the most vulnerable in the county.
She added that laid-off government employees will not be able to provide for their own families.
“(Employees) have earned stability, they have earned respect and they have earned better than this,” she said.
County leaders cited economic concerns and declining state and federal funding as factors behind the smaller proposed budget.
Drilling down into the red ink, if only there were a source of untapped revenue sitting right under our feet …
5. Santa Barbara Golf Shop Employees Tee Up Arrest of Alleged Repeat Thief
What allegedly began as a sneaky attempt to slip high-end golf clubs out of a Santa Barbara sporting goods store hidden inside a pair of pants ended last weekend with a foot chase, a scuffle and an arrest.
Santa Barbara police arrested 33-year-old Jason Schnell on suspicion of second-degree robbery and providing a false name to officers after an alleged theft attempt at GolfMax, at 3313 State St., Suite A, in the inside dogleg of Loreto Plaza.
According to police Cmdr. Charles Katsapis and store owner Alex Bollag, Schnell had allegedly targeted the shop multiple times over the past several weeks, concealing expensive clubs under his clothing before somewhat stiffly walking out without paying.
“First time, it was $800 to $900 total,” Bollag told Daniel. “Second time was a little bit more, like $1,600.
“The third time, which was this last Saturday, we knew his face.”
When the suspect tried to putt one over on the store again on the afternoon of May 16, employees recognized him and immediately called police.
When confronted, Schnell allegedly ran out the door, pushing past an employee and customer who tried to stop him.
Bollag said employee Colt Roberts and customer Arief Norman helped pursue the suspect until officers located and arrested him on the back nine, over near Kyoto Japanese Restaurant across the street.
Police said Schnell was booked into County Jail. As of May 22, he remains there in the rough with bail set at $20,000.
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Good Reads
Check out these six stories before you go:
» Santa Barbara’s Proposed Rent Ordinance Could Cost City $2 Million Annually — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway is chronicling the Santa Barbara City Council’s evidence-free march toward utopian rent control — er, “stabilization.”
» Supervisors Select Jana Petersen of Colorado as New Santa Barbara County Executive Officer — Staff writer Daniel Green is on hand for the hiring of a new Santa Barbara County chief executive to succeed Mona Miyasato, who retires next month.
» New 8-Legged Hitchhiker Arrives in Santa Barbara County — Daniel discovers that the Joro spider’s world wide web just got a little smaller with what I hope is an isolated Santa Barbara spotting.
» Firefighters Rescue Pair Trapped Against Rocks on Isla Vista Shoreline — For the second weekend in a row, North County editor Janene Scully reports on a dramatic, successful rescue operation.
» Santa Barbara Man Gets 5-Year Prison Term in 2024 DUI Crash — South County editor Evelyn Spence has the details of an extensive punishment for a DUI conviction.
» Mayor Says Buellton Shows ‘What Big Things a Small City Can Do’ — Janene covers a state of the city report brimming with positive financial news for a change.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? 3 Dos Pueblos High School Students Killed in Vehicle Crash Sunday Night.
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What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
July 23 — In the second event of a series Noozhawk is hosting with Spotlight Santa Barbara, I’ll be moderating a discussion we’re calling “California’s Problems, Santa Barbara’s Choices.”
Our panelists are Kristen Miller, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce; UCLA economics professor Lee Ohanian; Pete Peterson, dean of Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy; and former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin.
We’ll be at the Lobero Theatre again so save the date.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Horning in on a bovid spa day: Here’s How the Smithsonian’s 70-Year-Old Bull Bison Got a Blow-Out.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
My Instagram feed is a bit of a meat-up this past week.
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Watch It
This is from a couple of weeks ago, but it’s still a whale of a tale. HT to Best of Bill reader Emilie Martin.
