I may be over winter, but winter clearly isn’t over us.
Those of us on Santa Barbara County’s South Coast woke up March 30 — aka Jan. 90 — to snow-dusted mountains. Again.
At least the Los Angeles Dodgers got the 2023 season off to a hot start. One win down, 161 — and 11 post-season — wins to go. Not that I’m greedy.
Noozhawk won an audience of 105,116 readers this past week, according to our Google Analytics.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading over the last seven days. And by “my take,” I mean this is my opinion column. It is not a news story.
1. Lake Los Carneros — Full Again — Is a Sight to Behold
Lake Los Carneros is one of Goleta’s not-so-hidden treasures. Now that the 2023 storms have filled it to the brim, it’s currently one of its biggest attractions.
Count our Tom Bolton among the throngs of people stopping by to check out the 150-year-old manmade lake between North La Patera Lane and the historic Stow House off North Los Carneros Road.
The 25-acre reservoir is at capacity, and spilling into its overflow pipe. The last time that happened was back in the 2011-2012 winter season.
The water level is also now covering a popular pathway along the concrete dam, and city Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces staff are conducting controlled releases to lower it.
The city would like to keep the lake as full as possible heading into the summer.
“Migratory birds, aquatic invertebrates, fish and other wildlife benefit from this treasured wetland,” George Thomson, Goleta’s parks and open space manger, told Tom.
“Wetland habitats at Lake Los Carneros depend on winter rains, and the prolonged drought was taking its toll on wildlife that don’t fare as well when water levels are low.
“It is great to see Lake Los Carneros at maximum capacity once again.”
2. 2 Firefighters Seriously Injured in Highway 101 Crash in Gaviota
First responders — and their loved ones — are well aware that they put their lives on the line with each emergency call. And yet they still answer it. Every time.
Two Santa Barbara County firefighters — a captain, an engineer — and a California Highway Patrol officer — all part of a contingent tending to an early morning rollover wreck on Highway 101 — became victims themselves March 29 when they were struck by an out-of-control minivan passing by the crash scene.
The two firefighters suffered serious injuries in the collision.
Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck told our Tom Bolton that the initial crash was reported around 5:15 a.m. off the right southbound shoulder of the highway near the Highway 1 exit ramp north of Gaviota.
In that incident, a southbound sedan appeared to drift into a left-turn lane before veering across the highway and off the right shoulder, where it flipped over.
Minor injuries were reported, Safechuck said.
CHP Officer Michael Griffith said first responders were working the crash scene when a Nissan Quest minivan approached “at an unsafe speed for roadway conditions.”
He said the driver — identified as 46-year-old Modesta Zaragoza of Santa Maria — lost control and her minivan drifted into a left-turn lane before veering across the highway and spinning onto the right shoulder.
Unfortunately, that’s where everyone was standing. After barreling through the crowd, the van overturned.
The fire captain and engineer — all from Station 31 in Buellton — were struck and injured, and a CHP officer was hurt when he dove out of the way.
The two firefighters were seriously injured. Safechuck said one was flown by a county Air Support Unit helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and the other was transported there by an American Medical Response ambulance.
The other injured parties — including one of Zaragoza’s passengers — were taken to Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Cottage hospitals and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria.
No identities were released, but Safechuck told Tom that the fire captain was in serious but stable condition in intensive-care units, and the fire engineer was recovering at home after being treated and released.
Griffith said Zaragoza had not been cited, but added that the investigation is ongoing.
The crashes and their aftermath kept the southbound lanes closed for nearly seven hours between Buellton and Highway 1.
It was a particularly brutal week for crashes along that stretch of Highway 101. The evening of March 29, a woman was injured when she spun off the northbound highway north of the Gaviota Tunnel. The night of March 27, a badly injured man had to be extricated from the wreckage after his northbound pickup truck crashed into creek in the same area.
3. Fatal Shooting Reported Outside Small Market in Orcutt
A 19-year-old Santa Maria man was shot and killed outside an Orcutt mini mart on March 25, but authorities have not yet revealed what they think happened and whether a suspect or suspects have been identified.
As our Janene Scully first reported, the shooting was reported around 8 p.m. in the parking lot at Melody Mini Market, at 130 E. Foster Road, just east of Highway 135/Orcutt Expressway and a few blocks west of Righetti High School.
Santa Barbara County sheriff’s Lt. Jarrett Morris told our Tom Bolton that emergency personnel found the victim — identified as Manuel Reyes Rios of Santa Maria — dead at the scene.
“Further investigation is being conducted to determine his cause and manner of death,” he said.
Morris had told Janene that an off-duty Santa Maria police officer was involved in the incident. No details were provided other than that the officer is on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases.
4. United 737 Jetliner Blows Tire Landing at Santa Barbara Airport
I’m not a pilot but I know that a good landing is one where you can use the plane again.
By that measure, passengers on a United Airlines flight had a good — if somewhat jarring — landing March 27 when their Boeing 737 blew a tire as it touched down at the Santa Barbara Airport.
No injuries were reported when the jetliner landed just before noon on a flight from San Francisco, airport spokeswoman Agni Daus told our Tom Bolton.
Because of the flat, she added, the disabled plane was unable to move from a taxiway near the main runway.
While pit crews changed the tire, three inbound flights and two departing flights were delayed.
Also delayed were the United passengers who were stuck on the plane for more than 90 minutes.
Peanuts? Cocktails? Have you seen this dog-eared copy of an-flight magazine with the crossword puzzle already completed in ink?
5. Woman Hospitalized After Being Bitten During Dog Fight in Santa Barbara
Two dogs got into a fight but a woman apparently got the worst of the March 28 confrontation in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara fire Capt. Matt Wilson told our Tom Bolton that the woman was bitten in the leg during the 6:15 p.m. dog fight in the 2500 block of De la Vina Street, near West Constance Avenue.
The woman was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to nearby Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Her identity was not disclosed and details on her medical condition were not available.
It’s not known what breeds of dog were involved in the brawl, but Santa Barbara police Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale said city Animal Control took custody of the alleged biter for quarantine.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories before you go:
» Santa Barbara Considers Pilot Project to Crack Down on Illegal Short-Term Vacation Rentals — Staff writer Josh Molina unpacks the Santa Barbara City Council’s latest bright idea to crack down on short-term rentals. Evidently, money is no object.
» Earl Warren Showgrounds Moves to Host Youth Sports, Adult Recreation — Josh provides an update on the longstanding community challenge that is Earl Warren Showgrounds. I’m just happy that the Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo will be back Aug. 3-6, and that Noozhawk will be sponsoring another mutton bustin’ rider.
» USS Santa Barbara Makes Stopover at Namesake Port Ahead of Commissioning — Executive editor Tom Bolton and Noozhawk reader Jay Farbman catch sight of a VIP vessel making a cruise-by visit to Santa Barbara.
» Gibraltar Road Remains Closed, Repairs Could Take a Year — Staff writer Serena Guentz is the bearer of bad news about dozens of storm-damaged roads throughout Santa Barbara County.
» State Water Allocations Get Major Boost After Recent Storms — Managing editor Giana Magnoli has the upside of California being awash in water.
» Joe Pasternack Agrees To Five-Year Contract Extension as UCSB Men’s Basketball Coach — Sports columnist Mark Patton keeps score as UC Santa Barbara’s men’s basketball program dunks on Cal.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Mother Convicted of Killing Newborn Sues Santa Maria Hospital After 2nd Baby Removed.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
I’m fired up about this: Fighting Fire with Fire in California.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
DO NUT pass up @rollingpin.camarillo for #bestofbillrecommendation doughnuts. The glaze of glory is in my Instagram feed.
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Watch It
This may be one of The Beatles’ few wooden performances.