Happy birthday, America!
There’s nothing that can compare to the fun, fanfare and fireworks that will fuel the nation’s 249th Independence Day celebration. Except next year’s semiquincentennial marking our 250th.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves
Team Noozhawk will be all over Santa Barbara County on the Fourth of July to provide coverage of festivities featuring an explosion of stars, stripes and red, white and blue.
Click here for our Nick Forselles’ preview of the day’s activities, or check back with Noozhawk for our live reporting later in the day.
The last I checked, Noozhawk was pulling in an audience of 144,170 readers over the last week, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories that our Google Analytics says you were reading during that stretch.
This is my opinion column, by the way. It is not a news story.
1. Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by Vehicle on Calle Real in Goleta
A 42-year-old woman walking home from work was struck and killed by a car that had veered off Calle Real in western Goleta early on June 29.
As our Tom Bolton reported, the pedestrian — later identified as Jennifer Lynn Bradshaw of Goleta — was walking in the 7300 block of Calle Real near the 7-Eleven just before 1 a.m.
Santa Barbara County sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick said the driver, 68-year-old Jeselyn Invina of Goleta, told deputies that she was heading west when she looked away from the road because of bright headlights from an oncoming vehicle.
She said her car veered right, left the street and came to a stop in a nearby field.
Deputies investigating the crash found Bradshaw off the roadway about 300 feet from where Invina’s car ended up.
Emergency personnel rendered aid, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that Invina was unaware she had struck a pedestrian until deputies informed her at the scene,” Zick said.
The sheriff’s major accident response team is investigating the circumstances of the collision, but Zick said alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors.
Bradshaw was a popular bartender at Chili’s Bar & Grill in Camino Real Marketplace and, according to her family, “walked everywhere.”
“These walks were her time to reflect and enjoy her surroundings,” her sister, Heather Bradshaw, said in a GoFundMe post. “Never a complaint … It was a choice, not a burden.”
Heather Bradshaw said her sister’s “light uplifted and inspired countless people in her community, reminding them of their worth, strength and potential.”
Funeral services are pending but, as of July 4, the GoFundMe account established to assist the family with those expenses had raised more than $19,000. Click here to make an online donation.
2. Bodies of 2 Missing Men Found at Crash Site Off Highway 166
The chance sighting of a wrecked pickup truck off Highway 166 east of Santa Maria led to the bigger discovery of the remains of two men who had been missing for nearly three weeks.
As our Janene Scully reported, San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched June 25 to the scene of a rollover crash off the highway near Old Sierra Road, about 40 miles east of Highway 101.
A Caltrans worker on foot in the area had spotted the vehicle, a 1988 GMC pickup, overturned and concealed in heavy brush about 80 feet down an embankment in the remote location.
The two bodies found inside the truck were later identified as two brothers, 61 year-old James “Rick” Fuller and 60-year-old Eric Fuller.
Authorities do not suspect foul play, believing the crash was accidental.
According to their family, the men vanished June 6 after leaving New Cuyama en route to an afternoon doctor’s appointment in Santa Maria.
“This is highly unusual and completely out of character for both of them,” Krystle Scott, James Fuller’s daughter, said of their abrupt disappearance.
Family members conducted their own searches, but remained frustrated at the lack of support from authorities.
“For 21 long days, we searched tirelessly,” Scott said. “We hiked what we could, followed every lead, and even received a message from someone who said they saw the truck near a sharp turn.”
The family established a GoFundMe account to assist with funeral expenses. As of July 4, the site had raised nearly $4,000. Click here to make an online donation.
Funeral services are pending but are being handled by Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel in Grover Beach.
3. Operator of Popular Food Truck Named as Lompoc Crash Victim
The operator of a popular Lompoc food truck was killed July 2 in a single-vehicle rollover crash west of Lompoc.
As our Janene Scully reported, 32-year-old Joe Medina — known as “Big Joe” and the owner of The Birria Boyz taco truck — was identified as the sole victim in the 12:30 p.m. wreck.
California Highway Patrol Officer Arshdeep Dhanda said Medina’s westbound 2018 Chevy pickup truck went off the side of West Ocean Avenue and overturned into a dry concrete irrigation canal near Douglass Avenue.
Authorities say Medina was ejected from the truck and pronounced dead at the scene, despite lifesaving efforts by Lompoc firefighters and American Medical Response personnel.
Medina was described as “the heart and soul” behind The Birria Boyz, which served tacos throughout the Lompoc, Santa Maria and Santa Ynez valleys.
The food truck often appeared at local events and sometimes ventured as far afield as Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
“His tacos were famous, but even more so was the way he treated people, making everyone feel like family,” Robin Jennings, sister of Medina’s partner, Cassie Jennings, posted on a GoFundMe account established for the family.
“Whether you were a customer, friend or stranger, Joe welcomed you into his circle with open arms.”
Medina is survived by two daughters and was described as a “caring bonus dad” to Jennings’ three children.
As of July 4, more than $1,500 had been raised to assist the family with funeral expenses. Click here to make an online donation.
The CHP is investigating the circumstances of the crash.
4. Madre Fire Burns 52,500 Acres, Highway 166 Expected to Stay Closed
The Madre Fire burning in San Luis Obispo County northeast of Santa Maria had exploded to 52,500 acres by the afternoon of July 3, forcing hundreds of evacuations and closing Highway 166 to the Cuyama Valley and beyond.
As our Janene Scully reported, federal incident commanders described explosive growth after the blaze sparked around 1 p.m. July 2 east of Rock Front Ranch off Highway 166, about 20 miles northwest of New Cuyama.
Containment remained at just 10% as of nightfall July 3.
Authorities said approximately 200 people had been evacuated, with 50 structures threatened. Evacuation orders and warnings affected several hundred residents in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
The Bureau of Land Management closed all Carrizo Plain National Monument lands to the public.
Hot, dry conditions are fueling the wildfire’s aggressive behavior.
Temperatures in the area reached the mid- to upper 90s with humidity dropping to 20%, potentially falling to 12%-15%. Gusty afternoon winds of 20-25 mph further complicated suppression efforts.
The fire burned actively overnight through grass, oak woodland and chaparral, and officials expect continued extreme fire behavior with “high rates of spread with intense flame lengths.”
More than 300 firefighters are battling the blaze using 39 engines, four water tenders and two hand crews.
Air tankers operating from the Santa Maria Airport are continuing suppression flights when conditions allow.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
An incident command post has been established at the Santa Maria Elks/Unocal Event Center at 2325 Skyway Drive.
5. BizHawk: State-of-the-Art Car Wash Opens at Fuel Depot in Goleta
Entrepreneur John Price has reopened a state-of-the-art car wash in western Goleta, marking another boost for redevelopment in the vicinity of Hollister Avenue and Storke Road.
As our Josh Molina reported, the modern facility at 370 Storke Road features four self-serve bays, eight vacuums and a wide range of cleaning options, including wheel cleaner, bug remover, foam brush, wax and spot-free rinse.
Pricing starts at $5 for a five-minute wash and $2 for eight minutes of vacuuming, with both cash and credit cards accepted.
“We spared absolutely no expense building this,” Price told Josh, noting plans to add a fifth, automated bay.
The car wash joins the Fuel Depot gas station that opened last year, and Price plans to add a Point Market with drive-through coffee.
“It’s been a long time coming, and it has been very successful,” he added.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories before you go:
» Shelby Housing Project in Goleta to Move Forward Under Settlement with City — South County editor Josh Molina reports on a positive development for the Shelby property near Glen Annie Golf Club, which had been the focus of a long-running battle by the City of Goleta to thwart housing there.
» Cannabis Revenue Continues to Fall as County Adjusts to Lower Numbers — Staff writer Daniel Green attempts to check the math on Santa Barbara County’s elusive cannabis revenue windfall. It’s almost like the weed lot was just blowing smoke to dupe us all on dope.
» Santa Barbara County Agriculture Exceeds $2 Billion in Value for 2024 — Daniel notes that more traditional fruits and vegetables are continuing to pull their weight, with the exception of wine grapes.
» Jury Selection Begins in Murder Trial for 2022 Stearns Wharf Shooting — Daniel finally gets some news about the 2022 murder of Camarillo tourist Rob Gutierrez, who died in the crossfire of a gang gunfight at Stearns Wharf. Even though I’ve been informed that Santa Barbara doesn’t have gangs.
» Neal Graffy: Hotel Californian’s 11-Day Glory Before 1925 Earthquake Turned It Into Ruins — Author Neal Graffy recounts the ill-fated opening of the original Hotel Californian, one of the most iconic images from Santa Barbara’s 1925 earthquake.
» Mark Patton: Ajay Mitchell Plans to Keep Rolling with the Thunder After NBA Championship Season — Sports columnist Mark Patton catches up with former UC Santa Barbara basketball star Ajay Mitchell, who has now added “world champion” to his résumé.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Firefly Aerospace Alpha Rocket Poised for Fifth Flight at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
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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 4 — Apparently I’ve got pull because I’m judging the annual Independence Day tug of war between Cold Spring and Montecito Union schools at the Montecito Association’s Village Fourth at Lower Manning Park.
- Aug. 21 — The Cosmopolitan Club of Santa Barbara is looking for an update since my last appearance, some 15 years ago. We’ve come a long way. HT to my friend, Chris Tacelli, for getting me the invitation.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
The mold has likely been broken: Clayton Kershaw, a Throwback to Baseball’s Past, Could Be the Last to 3,000 Strikeouts.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
#C3K. @claytonkershaw puts the 3,000 Ks in Kershaw for my Instagram feed. He’s the greatest of his generation, and the second “Left Arm of God” — Sandy Koufax being the first, of course.
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Watch It
Bear with me as this cub scouts a sprinkler in Monrovia. HT to Best of Bill reader Margaret Benson.
