Category: keyt-local-news

Jarrod Zinn

BUELLTON, Calif. (KEYT) – Members of Team Chumash and Veggie Rescue are calling for volunteers to join them at Shepherd Giving Farm located west of Buellton.

The teams were out this morning and will return on Thursday.

Volunteers planted new crops and harvested fresh produce.

“And then we’ve harvested, I think, close to 1,500 pounds of tomatoes and, and ambrosia melons,” says Tom Shepherd, a Santa Barbara County Organic Farmer. “Which are the best melon you’ve ever eaten.”

Shepherd Giving Farm is the newest program launched by Veggie Rescue, a nonprofit founded in 2010 to rescue surplus fresh food and deliver it free of charge across Santa Barbara County.

“The Chumash Foundation partners with a variety of nonprofits within the county, and Veggie Rescue is one of those,” says Mayra Terrazas, spokesperson for Team Chumash Santa Ynez. “And with Veggie Rescue, we’ve partnered through Team Chumash and the Shepherd Giving Farm.”

The teams want to expand to include weekends so more volunteers can participate, including families.

“People often are on their computers all day long inside, and that gives them a chance to get outside and have this therapeutic moment with nature and get their hands in the dirt,” says Shepherd.

All produce harvested at these events will go immediately and directly to local nonprofit partners, who serve individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

“If you go back two, three, four generations, there’s always a farmer in the family,” says Shepherd. “And so it gives you that genetic memory of that experience that your ancestors had, which I think is really valuable.”

Over their 16-year partnership, support from the Chumash Foundation has included providing operational grants, sponsoring fundraising events and donating and serving food at Veggie Rescue events.

“We think this is going to be a great way to sort of get us to that next level of food, to be able to get more food to more people in the county,” says David Roberts, Veggie Rescue’s program director.

Volunteers can sign up by clicking here to visit Veggie Rescue’s website.

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Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ventura Police arrested a felon for possessing a loaded firearm just past midnight Sunday morning.

A VPD officer noticed several people using inhalants illegally in an apartment complex parking lot at the 10000 block of Del Norte Street.

One person at the scene tried hiding his gun near a parked car as a VPD officer approached.

More VPD officers arrived and found out that a 32-year-old Ventura man had a loaded firearm and tried hiding it from the police.

The 32-year-old already had an active felony probation for firearms offenses and VPD officers arrested him on the following felony charges:

felon in possession of firearm felon in possession of ammunition carrying a loaded firearm in public

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Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ventura Police are investigating a fatal shooting that killed a man on August 4 as a homicide.

The shooting happened just after 1:00 a.m. on August 4th near West Ramona and Riverside Streets, according to Ventura Police.

VPD officers did not find a suspect but later found and helped a man who had life-threatening injuries from the shooting to the Ventura County Medical Center.

The victim sadly passed from his injuries on the night of August 8 and no arrests have been made at this time, according to VPD officers.

VPD detectives believe the shooting is an isolated incident and there does not appear to be a community threat.

The investigation remains ongoing, but those with information on the shooting are asked to contact the following number.

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Alissa Orozco

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – August 8th is National Pickleball Day, and lovers of the paddle game joined in on the fun, including right here on the Central Coast.

The Picklr just recently opened a location in Goleta, and it is the region’s first indoor pickleball facility. On Saturday, the Picklr hosted a ‘Courtside Bash,” offering free pickleball play all day. It gave newbies the chance to step foot on the court or for regulars to enjoy a free day of open play.

All day the game was in constant rotation, playing in teams of two, players put their paddles to the test against friends or even complete strangers. 

Club members say it was great to see how popular the sport has become. 

“Its very fun day. There’s so many different levels, and I think it’s so cool how everybody can come together, and I think it’s just gonna be a great day today. Lots of pickleball, lots of food and energy. It’ll be really fun,” said 14-year-old Madalena Flores.

Flores is a Santa Barbara native and Junior Pickleball State Champion, plus a partnered athlete with The Picklr.

“At first, when I heard pickleball I was like ‘I don’t wanna do this! I’m a big tennis player’ but once I did, it’s addicting. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover!” said Flores.

While every day can’t be free pickleball day, you can join The Pickler any time to join in on the fun.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – A two-motorcycle crash killed one person and injured another person just before 3:30 p.m. at the Highway 135 northbound on-ramp to Highway 1.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department crews declared one patient dead at the scene while the other person, a 60-year-old Huntington Beach man, needed a ground ambulance for major injuries.

The Santa Barbara Coroner’s Office released the identity of the deceased on Monday as Timothy Greene, a 64-year-old man from Corona.

Both highways remained open, but drivers are advised to use alternate routes due to heavy traffic and the presence of first responders at the scene, according to the SBCFD.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation, according to the SBCFD.

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Caleb Nguyen

SHANDON, Calif. (KEYT) – CAL FIRE SLO crews are battling a 2410-acre grass fire near the eastbound Highway 46 and Antelope Road.

The fire first broke out around 4:15 p.m. and reached two to three acres around 30 minutes later, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

The fire grew to 2410 acres Sunday afternoon and reached 70% containment as of Monday night.

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Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Fire crews are battling a 167-acre fire in Piru that first broke out just after 1:00 p.m. Saturday, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

The fire first reached 95 acres two hours after its initial burn, then jumped to 167 acres just before 4:30 p.m., according to CAL FIRE.

VCFD crews alongside several other agencies are performing helicopter air drops and ground work in efforts to contain the fire.

Forward progress of the fire stopped just before 5:30 p.m., according to the VCFD.

Evacuation orders were in place for several sections of the Piru area but have since been lifted.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara Police officers helped a pedestrian to the hospital after a car crash just before 1:00 a.m. early Saturday.

The crash happened at 600 Chapala Street, and SBPD officers, alongside paramedics, helped the person to Cottage Hospital for further medical treatment.

SBPD officers closed down the 600 and 700 blocks of Chapala Street during their investigation after finding the driver and the involved car in the crash.

As of 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning, the pedestrian remains in stable condition, though the investigation remains ongoing, according to the SBPD.

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Caleb Nguyen

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) – St. John’s Hospital in Oxnard went on lockdown after a bomb threat Friday night.

The lockdown initially began around 6:30 p.m. and ended around 9:00 p.m. when Oxnard Police couldn’t find any explosive devices.

No arrests were made and no injuries came from the false threat, according to St. John’s Medical Center.

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Caleb Nguyen

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – The City of Lompoc named Kevin Shay its new Fire Chief after serving as Interim Fire Chief since March 26th this year.

In those four months, Shay helped lead the LFD during organizational change while remaining focused on long-term improvements and reliable emergency response, according to the City of Lompoc.

Lompoc City Manager Dean Albro mentioned his excitement at the new appointment:

After careful consideration of all applicants, Kevin Shay was selected for the position. His extensive firefighting experience and years of service to the Lompoc community demonstrate both his commitment to public service and professionalism. Chief Shay’s dedicated leadership will benefit both our community and the Lompoc Fire Department. I look forward to working with Chief Kevin Shay in his new role as Lompoc Fire Department’s fire chief.

Dean Albro, Lompoc City Manager

Shay brings 20 years of experience in fire service, 18 of which he has spent in Lompoc through operational, training, EMS and administrative leadership roles, according to the City of Lompoc.

Alongside his work with the LFD, Shay also helps train future firefighters as a faculty member at Allan Hancock College, according to the City of Lompoc.

Shay mentioned his own gratitude, humility and responsibility in taking on the role of Fire Chief for the City:

“It is an incredible honor to serve as fire chief. This department has given me opportunities throughout my career that I will always be grateful for. I am humbled by the confidence the city has placed in me, and I look forward to continuing to serve alongside the men and women of this department. Our responsibility is to provide dependable service every day, regardless of the challenges we face,” Shay said. “That starts with taking care of our people, making informed decisions and keeping community needs at the center of what the department does. We have a great department, and I am excited about what we will accomplish for both our department and the city of Lompoc.”

Kevin Shay, Lompoc Fire Chief

Shay’s first official day in his new role is Saturday, August 8.

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