I’ve been writing these Best of Bill columns every Friday since very soon after Noozhawk was hatched on Oct. 16, 2007.
The concept is simple: I take the Top 5 stories that our analytics track as the most read over the last week, and I recap them in my own words and way.
It’s not a news story, because I’m not a reporter and I’ve never claimed — or pretended — otherwise.
It should be pretty obvious that it’s an opinion column, starting with my name in the headline as is Noozhawk’s practice for columns and commentaries.
For some readers, the obvious isn’t enough so, for at least the last five years, I’ve been adding a short disclaimer in the first part of every column.
Obviously, based on a few recent comments, other readers still don’t get it. Hence, this more explicit explanation.
As a news organization, Noozhawk doesn’t take editorial positions or make political endorsements, and our reporters are expected to keep their opinions out of their stories.
I’m proud to say that they do, which is not something that too many other news organizations can say.
As Noozhawk’s publisher, however, I have an obligation as a civic leader in this community to speak up on community issues.
With traditional Fossil Media disappearing from the face of the earth, it’s become even more of an imperative. I probably should do it more often.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns debacle, for example, there was no one else but me to publicly advocate for fellow small business owners.
Many of you remember my excoriation of the Santa Barbara Police Department over its astounding lack of transparency in the 2022 gang murder of Camarillo tourist Rob Gutierrez and Santa Barbara officials’ bizarre nonresponse.
And sometimes I just have an opinion.
Whether you agree with me or disagree with me — on any issue you choose — that’s your opinion. You’re always welcome to voice it through our weekly letters to the editor column.
Moving on, according to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk had an audience of 148,776 readers over the past week.
What follows is … well, I hope you know what’s coming next.
1. DUI Crash Victim’s Family Speaks About Loss That ‘Crushed All Our Hearts’
A Santa Maria drunken driver was sentenced to just six years in state prison on Aug. 27 for his Christmas Day head-on collision that killed 65-year-old Greg Dominguez of Guadalupe.
Our Janene Scully has been reporting on the story since the Dec. 25, 2023, wreck, and the heartbreak — and frustration from Dominguez’s family — won’t be abating anytime soon.
The driver, 28-year-old Bladamir Agustin Chavez, pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the 1:30 a.m. crash on West Main Street/Highway 166 east of Simas Road, between Santa Maria and Guadalupe.
According to the California Highway Patrol, he was driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.14% when he veered into oncoming traffic and his Toyota Camry slammed into Dominguez’s Infiniti sedan.
The CHP said Chavez didn’t have a license at the time of the crash, but he did have 11 empty Modelo beer bottles in his car.
During the sentencing, Dominguez’s family members delivered emotional statements, describing the devastating impact of their loss.
They spoke of him as a beloved father, grandfather and tireless community volunteer, highlighting his work with the Veterans Affairs Department and various local organizations, among them the Knights of Columbus, the Santa Maria Elks and Santa Maria Moose Lodge 719.
“From now on, every Christmas won’t be a holiday,” youngest daughter Jade Dominguez, told Chavez in Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Kristy Imel’s courtroom.
“It will be a reminder of the choice you made and the life we lost.”
The family also shared concerns about the lasting effects of Dominguez’s violent death on his grandchildren, including fear and anxiety.
Eldest daughter Sherree Dominguez described how she and her family can no longer ask her dad for advice. Instead, she said, they only can visit his grave.
“We go and talk to dirt,” she said. “That’s all we have.”
She and other relatives are disappointed at Chavez’s six-year prison sentence, saying it’s insufficient.
Other charges — including driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, driving with a blood-alcohol content above 0.08% and being an unlicensed driver — were dismissed.
2. Bill Macfadyen: Joe Biden Brings His Idle Passion to Santa Ynez Valley
What else can I say about President Joe Biden’s visit last week?
A month after he abruptly dropped his long-held dream and expectations of re-election, the 81-year-old Biden was in the Santa Ynez Valley for a vacation at a billionaire benefactor’s $37 million estate before it was on to the next one, this week at his own Delaware beach mansion.
To quote Marge Gunderson, “Well, that passed.”
3. President, First Lady to End Santa Ynez Valley Vacation Sunday
President Joe Biden remained largely out of sight during his five-day vacay in the Santa Ynez Valley, although he did attend afternoon Mass at Solvang’s Mission Santa Inés on Aug. 24.
Led by his wife, Jill, Biden’s clan — son Hunter, daughter Ashley and their families — made a couple of surgical visits around the valley, including a brief shopping excursion on Aug. 21.
To the delight of surprised locals, merchants and tourists, their stops included The Book Loft, the Solvang Farmers Market and Santa Ynez General.
As our Janene Scully reported, Biden arrived at the mission for the 5 p.m. Aug. 24 service amid a heavy law enforcement presence keeping onlookers away from the historic church at 1760 Mission Drive, just east of the busy Alisal Road intersection.
In the vicinity were pro-Palestine activists and supporters of President Donald Trump. While vigorous, the protests were largely peaceful.
Heading Back East, the entourage departed Vandenberg Space Force Base at 11:25 a.m. Aug. 25.
4. New Uses Cooked Up at Sites of Closed Eateries in Santa Maria
The Santa Maria Planning Commission has approved plans to revitalize a prominent four-acre site on South Bradley Road, replacing two closed restaurants with new businesses.
As our Janene Scully reported, the project at 1423 and 1431 S. Bradley Road includes a Quick Quack Car Wash, potentially the first in Santa Barbara County; a new Starbucks drive-through; and offices for Pacifica Commercial Realty.
To accommodate the development, the 7,070-square-foot former home of the Original Roadhouse Grill would be demolished.
In its place, a 2,300-square-foot Starbucks will include an outdoor patio and room for 17 vehicles in its drive-through lane.
The 3,596-square-foot car wash will feature 22 vacuum stalls and could handle up to 30 vehicles in its queue. Customers would remain in their vehicles the entire time and buy the services at a pay station.
In addition, the building that housed the now-defunct Hometown Buffet would be converted to Pacifica Commercial Realty’s new Santa Maria headquarters.
The Aug. 21 commission vote was 3-0, with chairman Tim Seifert and commissioners Robert Dickerson and Tom Lopez in favor, Esau Blanco absent and Yasameen Mohajer recused for a potential conflict of interest.
“You guys are good to go,” Seifert told the development team from Woodland-based Tower Investments after the vote.
The project aims to rejuvenate the underutilized property in the center of the bustling neighborhood between East Battles and East Stowell roads near Applebee’s Grill + Bar and Hobby Lobby.
5. Evacuation Warnings Issued for Vegetation Fire in Refugio Canyon
The Refugio Fire that broke out late on the night of Aug. 22 on the Gaviota coast was declared fully contained as of Aug. 26.
As our Tom Bolton was first to report, the wildfire ignited just after 11 p.m. in the 1400 block of Refugio Road, north of Refugio State Beach.
Amid blustery winds, evacuation orders were issued for homes and ranches in Refugio and Venadito canyons as more than 200 firefighters from multiple agencies converged on the rugged area.
By the evening of Aug. 23, firefighters had stopped the fire at 86 acres and the evacuations were canceled.
Despite 50 mph winds causing some flare-ups the night of Aug. 24, firefighters quickly extinguished them. On Aug. 26, full containment was announced.
No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation.
U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Madsen credited the successful containment to interagency cooperation and record-low August temperatures.
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Good Reads
Here are six more stories worth your time:
» Santa Barbara Talks Priorities If Voters OK Half-Cent Sales Tax Hike — Constituents may be shell-shocked at the last three years of escalating prices and reduced buying power, but Santa Barbara City Council members seem to think you can still pay more. South County editor Josh Molina reports on the sales tax hike mania sweeping City Hall — a wave that only ever flows in one direction: higher.
» Santa Barbara Woman Found Legally Insane in Attempted Murder Trial — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway returns with the next verdict in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court attempted murder trial of Cora Vides, who was convicted of trying to stab to death a former high school classmate.
» Figueroa Mountain Campground, Hiking Trails Still Closed After Lake Fire — Just in time for the Labor Day holiday, executive editor Giana Magnoli delivers some unfortunate news for Santa Barbara County backcountry enthusiasts.
» Santa Maria Airport, Agencies Reach Settlement Over Tiger Salamander Claims — North County editor Janene Scully pokes around in the weeds of a lawsuit over tiger salamanders.
» Big-Rig Crash Creates Crushed Red Bell Peppers, Reveals Bee Colony — It may not be that newsworthy, but you have to admit that the headline makes you want to read Janene’s story.
» SBART Luncheon: Local Fall Prep Sports Are Back in Action — Sports editor Diego Sandoval posts the lineup card for the new school year’s first Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table luncheon.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Heat Wave on the Way to Santa Barbara County.
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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.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
You can’t make up this insanity: Gov. Gavin Newsom to Decide If California Should Give Undocumented Immigrants Up to $150,000 to Help Buy Homes.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
My Instagram feed is still on a mission but has reached Faith, Hope and Charity at @oldmissionsb.
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Watch It
Sunset on Mars hits differently. HT to Best of Bill reader Jim Fuentes.
