Author: KEYT

Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) The 49th Mcnish Classic set sail off the coast of Oxnard.

It is now called the Mcnish Memorial Wooden Yacht Classic in memory of its founder Dick McNish.

McNish, the longtime owner of Errol Flynn”s classic yacht Cheerio II, died at the age of 98 in November.

His memorial race had 9 classic yachts competing from up and down the coast of California.

The race, hosted by the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club, started at noon off the coast of the Channel Islands harbor in Oxnard.

Sailors shared their thoughts about the special day.

“If we were over steering the boat he said the snake would be following us because you could see the trail and he said she is a Nice lady and you be gentle with her and she will take care of you,” said Cheerio II first mate and navigator Kevin Dickmann.

He sailed with a crew that included Dick McNish’s son and close friends.

Richard W. Dean is part of the race committee

“We are celebrating 50 years at the PCYC.”

Next year will be the club will host the 50th race.

“We were fortunate to actually meet dick mcnish we were hoping he would make it to the 50th which is next year but he passed away this year so it is very poignant but we are really delighted to participate,” said Chris Gorog, who sailed the Spirit of California from Los Angeles.

Kym Renga sailed a classic Morning Song that was built in Santa Barbara.

Before the race she said she bought the yacht with her late husband, Armand Renga.

She had a crew of relatives who raced in his honor, too.

“I sailed to Mexico with and even as I sail today he is in my head about how to things properly so I am very pleased to have him with me in my heart today,” said Renga.

People lined the jetty to watch the classic yachts.

CF Kohler’s classic yacht Sally of San Diego finished first.

He won his weight in champagne like McNish often did.

Paul Script’s Miramar from San Diego won the fastest and best elapsed time.

Cheerio II came in third in its Split Rig Class.

Congrats to all.

For more information visit https://www.pcyc.org

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Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) The 10th annual American Veterans United BBQ fundraiser took place at ‘olołkoy Beach Park.

The park formerly known as Oxnard Beach Park is named after the Chumash word for dolphins.

Veterans from as far away as Santa Maria and Orange County attended.

They enjoyed dancing, food and and a fundraising auction.

The nonprofit helps veterans with all kinds of things.

“We assist veterans family members and children entitled to benefits with their pension, compensation, survivors benefits, education benefits, we don’t charge anything, we operate out of San Luis [Obispo] County,  Santa Barbara County, Ventura County and Orange County,” said Frank Renteria, the AVU President.

The vets enjoyed the weather by the beach.

All the money raised will help veterans and their families.

For more information visit https://avuinc.org

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Caleb Nguyen

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – A fire broke out at the Santa Barbara County transfer station in Goleta just before 5:00 p.m. today, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The official cause of the fire that involved contents inside a trash trailer remains under investigation, as Your News Channel spoke to people at the scene.

The e-waste area of the station had a fire burning near it, and Your News Channel believes exploding lithium batteries may have caused the incident.

The trash trailer that needed its load dumped only sustained minor damage and fire crews quickly put out the flames, according to the SBCFD.

More information on the fire will be provided once available to Your News Channel.

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Alissa Orozco

OJAI, Calif. (KEYT) – The Ojai Library will be closing down for renovations starting July 31st. And while this won’t be the first time the branch will undergo a transformation, this new makeover was made possible thanks to the help of a special friend of the library.

For over 20 years, the late Ann Crozier served as Ojai’s librarian from 1975 to 1997. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Ann moved with her sister Susan and their husbands in 1967 – from then Susan says Ann fell in love with the Ojai valley, and a soft spot for the small town library made its way into her heart.

Throughout her time at the library, Ann played a crucial role in making it a space not only inviting to readers, but somewhere the community could gather, regardless of interest or age. Along with other devoted community members, Ann helped fundraise, design, and assist in the construction of the branch’s initial expansion in the 1980s – completely transforming it from the original 1920s look.

“She was 28 when she was hired, so she achieved her job dream at a very young age, and she was delighted by the history of this building,” said Ann’s sister, Susan Bee. “Everything about this library delighted her. She was eager to make it the best library in Ventura County, if not, California.”

Ann’s dedication continues to this day, even years after her passing. Thanks to a generous donation left behind from Ann, a nearing renovation project will improve and modernize the Ojai Library, particularly to revitalize the children’s and adult areas to give each group the space they deserve.

The library will be closed starting July 31st through Spring 2027, just short of the branch’s 100th year anniversary. Construction will include installation of new flooring, lighting and electrical work, fresh paint, updated shelving and furniture, a new hydration station, electric fireplaces, stronger lighting, and refurbished front doors.

While the community will undoubtedly be missing its local library, it’s a change that its current staff says will benefit them and the city of Ojai.

“The library, its been here since the 1920s… and it’s right here on the main drive, it’s right here on Ojai Avenue. So it’s got a real prominent placement in town,” said current Ojai librarian, Ron Solorzano. “So there’s a lot here that is just part of the essence of Ojai.”

During its closure, Solorzano says the community is encouraged to visit any of the other Ventura County library branches. A mobile library will also be coming once a week to host events such as story times and clubs, and residents can also stop by the mobile library at the weekly farmer’s market.

The overall goal of the renovation is to continue Ann’s vision of creating a welcoming and inviting space for everyone, so it can continue its lasting impact in the community that has touched generations.

“The library appeals to people of many different interests, and that’s what I think she [Ann] would want to be remembered by,” said Bee. “I think she would want to be remembered as she fostered that, and hopes that it continues.”

For more information, visit the County of Ventura Library page.

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Dave Alley

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (KEYT) – The California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) is much more than an annual summertime event for Jo Ann Switzer, it’s a lifelong tradition.

A native of Pozo, where her family has ranched cattle for more than 100 years, Switzer has attended every fair since its humble beginnings in 1946.

“I’ve been to all of them,” said Switzer. “It was just a very minor little fair.  I think it was 25 cents to get in, and there were about 20,000 people came. I started showing and have never missed a fair way or the other.”

Now 89-years-old, Switzer has been an instrumental part of the fair during her amazing life, which she has dedicated to the local livestock and agriculture industry.

All four of Switzer’s sons participated in the livestock program and today the tradition continues through four generations with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren following in her footsteps, raising and showing animals.

“I just can’t express the importance of the 4-H and FFA programs,” said Switzer. “Even if they don’t do anything when they get out of high school with their animals, they have learned responsibility. They have learned working together. They have learned finances and all of these things that are life lasting. That’s what’s very important to me. Plus, there’s tons of young people that go on to be big time leaders in the United States, so this is a very important program in my opinion.”

Switzer’s contributions extend well beyond exhibiting livestock. She served for many years as a member of the California Mid-State Fair Board, helping guide the fair’s growth while remaining a strong advocatef or agriculture and youth livestock programs.

Through her immense contributions to the local livestock and agriculture industry, as well as the fair itself, Switzer was named as the first woman to receive the prestigious Cattleman of the Year award in 1992, and was later inducted in the CMSF Hall of Fame in 2004.

At the very beginning, the fair was known as the San Luis Obispo County Fair before it was rebranded as the California Mid-State Fair in 1981.

“Originally we had the racetrack, we had lots of races,” said Switzer. “We had a nail driving contest and the kids used to be able to camp here as well. “Now, it’s one of the biggest and most prestigious fairs around. There’s not many like this. It has done nothing but grow in a positive way.”

As hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy another year of exhibits, concerts, carnival rides, and competition, Switzer continues to represent the enduring spirit of the fair, a reminder that while it has changed dramatically over the past 80 years, its heart remains rooted in the people who have helped build its legacy.

“Jo Ann is a special person for all of us at the fair,” said CMSF CEO Colleen Bojorquez. “We’re so excited to keep her in the livestock area, especially—that’s her passion. She loves it. She’s such a great ambassador for the fair and her family continues the tradition.”

As she prepares to celebrate her 90th birthday in a few weeks in early September, Switzer is looking forward to attending many more fairs in the future.

“Absolutely, I don’t think they can have a fair without me really,” Switzer said her legendary sense of humor.

The California Mid-State Fair concludes it 12-day run on Sunday, July 26.

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Mike Klan

WICHITA, Kansas. (KEYT) – Donovan LaSalle blasted a solo home run to end the game in the seventh inning as the Santa Barbara Foresters shutout the Great Bend Bat Cats of Kansas by mercy-rule 8-0 in a pool play game at the NBC World Series.

The 10-time National Baseball Congress World Series champion Foresters used a 5-run sixth inning to blow the game wide open.

Foresters pitcher Noah Waldeck pitched five scoreless innings and struck out five for the win.

The Foresters second game of pool play is Saturday night 10 p.m. PDT against the BTL Hornets.

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Scott Hennessee

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A week long rock band camp wrapped up with a concert in front of friends and family at a refurbished Jensen Music Lessons on De La Vina Street.

Teen students were led by a former student who took lessons at Jensen’s herself years ago. The group learned and played songs together on guitar, bass and drums.

The business changed last year when Chris Jensen retired after 52 years in Santa Barbara. They no longer sell instruments, but they do repair them.

Tompeet Frederiksen took charge of the lesson room and has turned it into a standalone business.

“We teach with love and we bring the community together with music,” Frederiksen said. “We have four fantastic teachers here, myself included. We all teach something different, and we’re just bringing joy to Santa Barbara.”

The walls are now decorated with album covers, and there’s a record player in the lounge.

Lessons are available in guitar, ukulele, bass, piano, violin and mandolin.

Jensen Music Lessons also hopes to hold more rock band camps during school breaks.

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Caleb Nguyen

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – SpaceX plans to open a launch window between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday for 24 Starlink satellites in support of a Falcon 9 Rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Central Coast residents may feel the sonic boom from the launch’s impact as the eighth flight for this first stage booster supporting that mission.

Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship in the Pacific Ocean.

Live webcasts of the mission will be available 10 minutes before liftoff on both the Space X website and social media page.

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Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ventura Police arrested a woman at the Ventura Bus Depot after she used a cane as a weapon during a fight just after 6:00 p.m. Thursday.

Two women fought near the restrooms at the Bus Depot before VPD officers arrived and detained both women.

The suspect approached the victim and forcibly took her cell phone before an argument turned physical, according to the VPD.

The suspect then hit the victim in the face, causing her to fall onto the ground before using a cane to hit her in the head for additional injuries, according to the VPD.

VPD officers returned the stolen cell phone to the victim before taking her to a hospital for minor injuries.

VPD officers then booked the suspect for charges of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Those with additional information on the case are asked to contact the VPD.

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Caleb Nguyen

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Multiple authorities are searching for Omar Briceno-Quijano after he went missing from the satellite camp near the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution.

Briceno-Quijano went missing around 4:00 p.m. Thursday and the United States Marshals Service, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies are aware of his disappearance.

Briceno-Quijano is 35 years old, weighs 197 pounds and stands 5’7 tall with brown hair and brown eyes.

Briceno-Quijano received a 168-month sentence in the District of Colorado for the following crimes:

knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate and agree, with interdependence to distribute and possess with intent to distribute substances, including 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine (schedule II controlled substance) 50 grams and more but less than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine (schedule II controlled substance) under 100 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin (schedule I controlled substance) conspiracy to commit money laundering

The FCI Lompoc II is a minimum security facility and those with information about Briceno-Quijano or his whereabouts are asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service.

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