Make Plans to Celebrate Mom! Everything Happening this Weekend on the Central Coast

KEYT on May 8, 2025

Alissa Orozco

If you’re looking for some activities following your Mother’s Day brunch this weekend, the Central Coast has got you covered. Here’s what’s going on this weekend near and far:

SANTA BARBARA – SOUTH COUNTY

Meet Me in Old Town Goleta ~ Thursday, May 8th in Goleta

📍Goleta Community Center

⏰ 5:00pm – 8:00pm

🪩 On the third Thursday of May, July, and August, the City of Goleta is hosting a community block party to highlight the charm of Old Town! Old Town businesses will participate with tastings and promotions, and each event will have a unique musical performance! Learn more here.

Community History Day ~ Saturday, May 10th in Santa Barbara

📍El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park

⏰ 11:00am – 2:00pm

🪩 This free, family-friendly event celebrates Santa Barbara’s unique and diverse history. Enjoy hands-on learning stations, arts & crafts tables, activity tables led by local organizations, historical walking tours and interactive exhibit experiences that highlight the layered histories of Santa Barbara’s Presidio Neighborhood over time. Learn more here.

Santa Barbara Cactus & Succulent Society Show and Sale ~ Saturday, May 10th in Santa Barbara

📍Santa Barbara Women’s Club

⏰ 10:00am – 3:00pm

🪩 This local plant society will be showing off and selling cacti, succulents, ceramic pots, and pottery. The society is also accepting plant donations to showcase, and the community can even put their own plants on display at the ‘Club Members” table. Learn more here.

Santa Barbara Community Yard Sale ~ Saturday, May 10th in Santa Barbara

📍Various Locations | Check digital map for locations

⏰ 8:00am – 2:00pm

🪩 Help the city of Santa Barbara reduce waste and repurpose items by shopping at the community-wide yard sale. Over 100 community members will be hosting yard sales at their homes, and you never know what you might find. Learn more here.

Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show 60th Anniversary ~ May 10th – 11th in Santa Barbara

📍E. Cabrillo Blvd

⏰ 10:00am – 6:00pm

🪩 The Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts show is held every weekend, but this upcoming weekend marks the 60th anniversary of the beloved community event. To celebrate the milestone, Participating artists will give away free commemorative tote bags while supplies last. Learn more here.

Breathe & Blossom: A Mother’s Day Celebration ~ Sunday, May 11th in Santa Barbara

📍Paseo Nuevo

⏰ 11:00am – 12:00pm

🪩 Bring the mom in your life to this relaxing event centered around her. Enjoy a 45-minute nourishing yoga class led by local confidence coach Itzy Canales, live music, a hands-on bouquet bar by Flora Divina, and warm beverages from Considered Coffee! Remember to bring a yoga mat, water, and anything your little one might need. Learn more here.

Wine Country Half Marathon ~ Saturday, May 10th in Solvang

📍Downtown Solvang

⏰ 7:00am

🪩 This marathon hosted in the heart of Santa Barbara Wine Country offers a one-of-a-kind trail through flower bedded vineyards and magical views. Celebrate the accomplishment with a wine festival with some of the best local wineries in Santa Ynez. Learn more here.

SANTA MARIA – NORTH COUNTY

7th Annual Santa Maria BBQ Festival ~ Saturday, May 10th in Santa Maria

📍Pioneer Park

⏰ 12:00pm – 4:00pm

🪩 This 21+ event features great BBQ from various BBQ masters, and cold beer from Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. You can shop from local vendors to make your own Santa Maria BBQ at home! The event supports a local non-profit’s Back-to-School Shopping Program! Learn more here.

3rd Annual Mother’s Day in the Garden ~ Sunday, May 11th in Nipomo

📍Birchwood Plant Shop & Beerery

⏰ 11:00am – 3:00pm

🪩 Celebrate Mom at Birchwood where they’ll have a variety of things to do. They’ll have great food, jewelry to shop from, photo opportunities, and more! Birchwood has a gorgeous garden that is perfect to walk through in this warmer weather. Learn more here.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

Photo: Downtown Paso Robles

Paso Robles Olive and Lavender Festival ~ Saturday, May 10th in Paso Robles

📍Downtown City Park

⏰ 10:00am – 4:00pm

🪩 Get a taste of some of Paso Robles’ rich offerings of olive oils and lavender products. The fresh scents will be hard to ignore as local farmers set up their displays of products and tastings! Plus unique jewelry, arts, and crafts! Learn more here.

Family Free Day: Faerie Festival ~ Sunday, May 11th in San Luis Obispo

📍San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden

⏰ 10:00am – 2:00pm

🪩 The SLO Botanical Garden is hosting their free Faerie Festival – perfect for all ages! You can make a one-of-a-kind wand, plant some seeds in the Children’s Garden, help create a beautiful faerie mural, and make & take home a mini faerie garden! Faerie attire is welcomed and encouraged. Learn more here.

Pacific Breeze Concerts ~ Sunday, May 11th in Shell Beach

📍Dinosaur Caves Park

⏰ 1:00pm – 4:00pm

🪩 The City of Pismo Beach is hosting some monthly concerts on the 2nd Sunday throughout the summer. Enjoy talented, regional musical group with an unbelievable view! There will also be special family activities and food available for purchase. Learn more here.

Law Enforcement Night ~ Thursday, May 8th in San Luis Obispo

📍Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market

⏰ 6:00pm – 8:00pm

🪩 Various law enforcement officers and departments will be at this week’s farmer’s market. The public can ask officers questions, engage in interactive demonstrations, test out equipment and vehicles, and more! Learn more here.

VENTURA COUNTY

El Festival de Mariachi regresa a Coachella este sábadoPhoto: KYMA

Findings Market Spring Fair ~ Saturday, May 10th in Ventura

📍 Findings Market

⏰ 10:00am – 5:00pm

🪩 If you’re still in need of a last minute Mother’s Day gift, this is just the event for you. You can choose from over 100 vendors and merchants and their handcrafted goods. There will be live music, delicious food and drinks, and fun activities for all ages. Learn more here.

Mother’s Day Market ~ May 10th – 11th in Ventura

📍Ventura Harbor Village

⏰ 11:00am – 6:00pm

🪩 Find a unique, ceramic gift this Mother’s Day at this market. Hosted by Ventura Pottery Gallery, you can find handcrafted mugs, vases, and sculptures you won’t find anywhere else! Learn more here.

Apricot Festival and Art Fair ~ Saturday, May 11th in Moorpark

📍Arroyo Vista Community Park

⏰ 11:00am – 5:00pm

🪩 Once named the apricot capital of the world, this fruit festival celebrates Moorpark’s rich history. It will be full of apricot-themed food, drinks, arts, and more! A full line up of performances are scheduled so get there early! Learn more here.

Mother’s Day Mariachi Festival ~ Saturday, May 10th in Oxnard

📍Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center

⏰ 2:00pm

🪩 The annual Mother’s Day Mariachi Festival is kicking off this weekend with performances from Mariachi Reyes Del Aserradero and Mariachi Reynas de Los Angeles (de Jose Hernandez). There will be some early pre-shows to the main show starting at 11:00am. Learn more here.

The Addams Family ~ May 8th – 11th in Oxnard

📍Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center

⏰ Various Showtimes

🪩 See this bizarre and iconic family LIVE in Thousand Oaks! Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family.  Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. Learn more here.

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Firefighters conduct prescribed burning on 145 acres northeast of La Pine

KTVZ on May 8, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: New photo, prescribed burning conducted)

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters on the Deschutes National Forest continued conducting prescribed burning operations Friday on 145 acres on the Thor Unit 7 Prescribed Burn, about five miles northeast of La Pine and north of Paulina Lake Road, near McKay Crossing Campground. 

Test firings were successful Friday morning, followed by ignitions. Smoke may be visible from Highway 97, La Pine, Sunriver and the surrounding area. Residents in Newberry Estates and La Pine are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts.

Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours. Smoke impacts are also possible across Highway 97 during ignitions, overnight and in the early morning hours. 

No road or trail closures are anticipated. 

Firefighters implement understory prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk to communities. Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within our fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation and restoring forest health while increasing public and firefighter safety. 

Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn.  

What does this mean for you? 

During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours.  

All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts. 

If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner. 

If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible. 

When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating. 

If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional. 

Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon and visit When Smoke is in the Air for more smoke preparedness resources. 

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/r06/deschutes. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts. 

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“Peace Be With You”: East Idaho Catholic community celebrates American Pope Leo XIV

KIFI on May 8, 2025

Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The eyes of the Catholic world were turned toward Vatican City Thursday, as the conclave announced the historic election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

“Peace be with you” were the first words spoken by new Pope Leo XIV to the watching world, and the East Idaho Catholic community watched as the first American pope, once considered impossible, became a reality.

Father Flores from Pope Saint John Paul II Parish in Idaho Falls recalls where he was when the white smoke was spotted over the Vatican.

“I had gone to a hospital call, and I was in my car. I was in the car for less than a minute when I heard on the Catholic station that the announcement was coming. So really, I got in my car. And 60 seconds later, I’m hearing the announcement of Robert Prevost as the pope,” said Father Flores.

Father Flores tells us the announcement of a new pope is very exciting, especially since “he’s an American to boot.”

The Parish will host a bilingual mass on Thursday night, May 8, at 7 p.m. at the Holy Rosary Church in Idaho Falls in celebration of the new pope. All are welcome to attend.

Regional religious leaders extend prayers to Pope Leo XIV

In response to Pope Leo XIV’s election, regional religious leaders have expressed their desire to work together toward following “the example of Jesus Christ.” The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement on Thursday, May 8, 2025:

“On behalf of the leaders and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we extend heartfelt prayers and greetings to Pope Leo XIV. This significant moment in time for the Catholic Church is a reminder of the enduring importance of faith to people everywhere.“As fellow followers of Jesus Christ, we look forward to continued opportunities to work together to bless the lives of God’s children everywhere. May we strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ to care for the poor and needy, become peacemakers and create a world where faith and goodness can flourish.”

– The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 

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“You don’t have to suffer alone”: Local veterans raise awareness of mental health resources

KIFI on May 8, 2025

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) —  May marks mental health awareness month, and local veterans are highlighting resources to help their fellow servicemen and women struggling with their mental health.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, those who have served in the armed forces are twice as likely to develop mental illness or commit suicide as civilians. Suicide is also the second leading cause of death for veterans under age 45.

Bannock County Veterans’ Services officers say there are resources for veterans living with mental illness.

“If you’re struggling, you don’t have to do it alone. There are things that we can do to help. Nobody has to suffer with mental illness by themselves,” said Veteran Service Officer Melissa Hartman.

Family or friends of veterans struggling with mental health issues or thoughts of suicide are being encouraged to call the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988. For more information on mental health resources for local veterans, click HERE.

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Timed reservation tickets for Lava River Cave become available Friday; cave opens in a week

KTVZ on May 8, 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Timed reservation tickets for Lava River Cave will be available starting Friday, May 9, for the 2025 season, the Deschutes National Forest said. Lava River Cave opens for the season in a week on Friday, May 16.

This season, Lava River Cave will be open to the public from mid-May through mid-September. 

On Friday, 50% of the Lava River Cave timed reservation tickets will be available on Recreation.gov on a rolling 7-day booking window, while the remaining 50% of timed reservation tickets will be available on a 24-hour booking window. 

Timed reservations are for a two-hour entry block each day that Lava River Cave is open. Every day, there will be six daily entry blocks, with a new entry block opening every hour, on the hour. If there are available tickets on any day, people at the site without a timed reservation will be able to make a reservation through Recreation.gov that day.

A timed reservation covers everyone in a vehicle. There is no per-person charge. A valid federal recreation pass is also required per vehicle. In addition, if visitors bike or walk to the site, they do not need a timed reservation. 

All reservations are made through Recreation.gov and can be made at 7 a.m. each day. Timed reservation tickets are free; however, Recreation.gov charges a $2 service fee per transaction for processing the reservation. Reservations also can be made by calling Recreation.gov at 1-877-444-6777.

The Recreation.gov call center is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. PST. People can either print the timed reservation ticket or download it to their mobile device to show to the attendant at the site. 

The change to a timed reservation system was made in 2022 in response to increasing visits to Lava River Cave, over 70,000 per year, that cannot be accommodated with the parking at the cave. In recent years, visitors have been parking along the roadways outside of the cave while waiting for a parking space to open, causing serious and increasing safety concerns for the public and the staff at the site. 

The goals of the timed reservation system are to increase public safety, reduce public frustration from waiting in line for unknown periods of time before getting into the site, and to spread out visits to the site to make the experience more enjoyable to visitors. 

For more information, please contact the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District at 541-383-5300. 

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Animal Shelter development to kickoff next week, opening now eyed for 2026

News-Press NOW on May 8, 2025

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — City leaders provided an update on the progress of a new animal shelter on South Belt Highway during Thursday’s budget work session.

Officials with the St. Joseph Health Department confirmed that internal demolition work is slated to begin next week. Construction crews with E.L. Crawford Construction are expected to ramp up exterior construction in July on the $5 million facility.

The tentative completion date for the shelter is now being eyed for 2026.

“Hopefully by this time next year or maybe just like mid-summer, we might be completed with the project and moving into a new animal shelter,” Assistant Health Director Kendra Bundy said.

The new shelter is designed with an additional 5,000 square feet of space, moving from the current 8,000-square-foot facility at 701 S.W. Lower Lake Road to an area by the St. Joseph Recycling Center at 3405 S. Belt Highway.

The proposed shelter is being designed with a vet clinic as part of the concept as well, a smaller suite capable of providing surgeries and other services carried out by shelter staff.

“I don’t know if it’s going to open as soon as the shelter will be. We’re still looking at what we needed for that,” Health Department Director Debra Bradley said during the meeting. “The Friends of the Animal Shelter has been instrumental in helping us with that.”

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El Paso community celebrates new pope

KVIA on May 8, 2025

Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The recent election of the new pope has generated excitement within the El Paso and Loretto Academy community.

Students eagerly tuned in to the live announcement, celebrating the moment by gathering outside the church to sing, pray, and ring the bells of the chapel.

The white smoke from the Vatican signaled a swift decision in the papal election, leaving many feeling hopeful about the future of the Catholic Church.

Sister Olive, a theology teacher at Loretto Academy, expressed her optimism for the new pope’s leadership. “We are praying for Pope Francis. He’s going to be praying for us because we know he’s going to become a saint. And we pray that he becomes a saint, and he’s going to pray for the new pope, too,” she said.

“I honestly hope for that same kind of connection, especially with the youth and different demographics in our world. My mom actually went to see the pope in Juarez, so that was a really cool experience to know that our pope was so close to us and truly strives for that connection with his community,” said Julianna Puentes, a junior at Loretto Academy.

Overall, the community is filled with anticipation and eagerness for the new pope’s impact.

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Remembering Grecia Nuñez, Rep. Gabe Vasquez pays tribute to former intern

KVIA on May 8, 2025

Nicole Ardila

This is a special report that will air Thursday, May 8 on ABC-7 at 10 p.m.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — Grecia Nuñez was an adventurous woman passionate about conservation, and a former intern for Rep. Gabe Vasquez, who he says “embodied the immigrant spirit of following the American dream.”

On January 11, she lost the battle against breast cancer at 32 years old.

“She was just a very adventurous soul I would say,” said Itzel Nuñez, Grecia’s younger sister. “Just that hunger to kind of see the world and the cultures and just be immersed in that, I think kind of drove her.”

ABC-7 spoke with her family, who remain inspired by Grecia’s adventurous and nomadic spirit, her dreams and ambitions, that later became reality.

In 2015, Grecia graduated from New Mexico State University, and started her passions by doing trail work. She then joined the Peace Corps, and served in Panama for three years.

“I think that just kind of opened her eyes to kind of everything that’s out there,” said her sister Itzel. “And she just never stopped.”

She also worked for New Mexico Wild, served as a Park Ranger at White Sands, volunteered in some of the nation’s parks, including Denali, Yellowstone, and Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as fought for water rights in Silver City, New Mexico for the Gila National Forest.

Grecia was a first-generation American and the first to go to college in her immediate family. She was the eldest sister of Itzel and Daisy, and daughter of immigrants from Chihuahua and Zacatecas, Mexico.

“She grew up in an environment where a lot of our family members didn’t have that opportunity, and just seeing my parents come here and build everything that we had and provide for us, I think that really helped drive that passion that she had,” Itzel said.

But one thing that always sustained Grecia throughout every aspect and moment in life, and made her stand out: Her faith.

“Every move that she made, every decision that she would make, it was always based on God and praying for direction,” said Virginia Herrera, cousin of the Nuñez sisters.

Herrera said Grecia was the kind of person known for praying for others — whether she was interning, at Congress, in a national park or during her cancer journey. After she passed, her family even found countless journal entries of prayer lists of everything, dating back to 2018.

“While she was so busy, while she was traveling, going to school, this and that, you know, she never forgot about everybody else,” said Itzel.

In February, Rep. Gabe Vasquez paid a heartfelt tribute on the U.S. House Floor in February, honoring Grecia’s life and legacy.

“Grecia’s warmth and enthusiasm affected everybody she worked with, and despite her own struggles, she arrived every day with the mindset to serve New Mexicans.” said Vasquez to his fellow Congresspeople. “I am grateful to have known her, as she continues to inspire me to fight to improve the lives of all New Mexicans.”

Vasquez said that he worked with Grecia while she was diagnosed, but wasn’t aware of it. He also said he was informed of her death after the fact.

“I think it took a lot of people by surprise,” said Vasquez. “But certainly hearing of her passing was a shock to many of us, considering how young she was, how passionate she was. And honestly, I was very distraught by hearing of of her passing,” he said.

His sister said they were grateful to Vasquez for honoring her, and her family who she says is a “close-knit Hispanic family,” felt immensely proud of everything she achieved with Vasquez.

“My first instinct was, to make sure her family was okay and to find a way to honor that drive in that spirit that I think inspired a lot of other people,” said the Las Cruces representative.

Grecia’s family continue to live by her principles, inspired by her quality of life, optimism throughout her challenges, and adventurous soul.

They remain in contact with Rep. Vasquez to potentially work on legislations for access to quality breast cancer care in Las Cruces.

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Lake Contrary area to see beginning of revival efforts

News-Press NOW on May 8, 2025

Chris Fortune

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As warmer weather arrives, so do efforts to revive a recreational lake on the south side of St. Joseph. 

A Buchanan County project to dredge Lake Contrary is gaining traction, with weed spraying estimated to begin at the end of the month. The county contracted an Oklahoma company for the job. 

“They’ll allow the chemical that goes on there to work its magic, and it’s going to kill the root ball,” Buchanan County Commissioner Ron Hook said. “Everything all the way down. It’s aquatic safe.”

Clearing the weeds is a crucial step toward dredging to prevent weeds from clogging dredging equipment. At a public meeting last August hosted by the county, officials discussed a plan to use an aquatic herbicide called Clearcast. 

It’s just the beginning of an effort to restore what was once a community asset. St. Joseph resident Steven Ball remembers visiting the lake with his family to swim, ride jet skis and go swimming. 

He said the water was not very deep back then, but still, he can’t believe how much the lake has changed since then.

“I can’t bring my kids down here now to go swimming or to have a picnic or to build sandcastles or do whatever, you know, there’s nothing here anymore,” he said.

Lake activities are more difficult to participate in as weeds protrude multiple feet above the lakebed.  Another Lake Contrary resident of nearly 30 years also remembers a livelier lake.

“We used to come boating down here a lot,” Dave Polley said. “I remember a lot of boats coming down here, but you don’t see that much anymore. And people used to go swimming down here a lot, but not that much anymore.”

Less water and more plants have taken away from the lake life. Cattails and other vegetation continue to grow quickly in the area.

“It’s almost desolate out here,” Ball said. “You don’t see nothing going on. It’s a tragedy.”

The contractor completed their survey of the lake, the land and the plants at Lake Contrary earlier this year. They believe all the plants that are alive will be easier to target and ready to spray by the end of May.

“We’re going to put out to all the public that live around this area the day that (the spraying is) going to be done when when we get it so they can do whatever they want to feel that they are safe,” Hook said.

Buchanan County would like to stay in the $6 million range to dredge the lake. Ball believes the project will boost the local economy and inject life into the community.

“It’s going to be a task, of course, but it’s going to put people to work too,” he said. “It’s going to create jobs to do this.”

Hook said the dredging project is important to him because he believes an area the size of Buchanan County needs to have a recreational lake.

One of the final hurdles to overcome before dredging is gaining the final permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. The decision on whether or not to provide a permit is expected any day.

“The county set aside some money to get it done, and we’re ready to move on it,” Hook said. “So just continued prayers.”

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Hiding pills where the sun don’t shine; Utah and Pocatello men sentenced in unrelated Fentanyl distribution cases

KIFI on May 8, 2025

Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Two men, one from Pocatello and the other from Utah, have been sentenced to several months in federal prison after being convicted in separate and unrelated cases involving fentanyl distribution in eastern Idaho.

Thursday, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced that 32-year-old David Erik Traversa, of Utah, and 38-year-old Casey Steven Evans, of Pocatello, were sentenced to 156 months and 60 months in federal prison, respectively, for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.

Traversa’s case began in May of 2024, when officers initiated a traffic stop and arrested an unnamed individual carrying 200 fentanyl pills, according to court documents. Police discovered two hotel room keys during the stop and subsequently applied for and were issued a search warrant to investigate the hotel rooms.

David Erik Traversa

Courtesy Bannock County Jail

According to court documents, in the search of the rooms, officers found Traversa overdosing, and immediately began lifesaving measures, transporting the 32-year-old by ambulance to a local hospital, where he received treatment for the nonfatal overdose.

Throughout their search, law enforcement discovered multiple fentanyl pills and drug paraphernalia used to package the drugs for distribution. While treating him, hospital staff also discovered a black drawstring bag holding over 500 fentanyl pills attached to Traversa’s genitals. According to court documents, including the drugs seized in the traffic stop, on his person, and in the hotel room, the 32-year-old possessed 84.42 grams.

Traversa pleaded guilty to the charge in November 2024. In this week’s sentencing, Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered the Utahn to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Casey Evan’s case also began in May of 2024, when law enforcement officers stopped a blue Range Rover.

Casey Steven Evans

Courtesy Bannock County Jail

During the traffic stop, the officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle and discovered a black metal safe in the trunk containing 107.94 grams of fentanyl pills and a loaded handgun, according to court documents. Upon further search of the vehicle, the officers found another loaded handgun on the front passenger floor.

The Pocatello man pleaded guilty to the charge in February 2025. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Evans to serve five years of supervised release following his 60-month prison sentence.

Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott praised the efforts of the BADGES Task Force, which is funded by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. This task force includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho State Police, the Pocatello Police Department, and the Chubbuck Police Department.

The information above comes from Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott.

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