Category: keyt-local-news

Caleb Nguyen

TEMPLETON, Calif. (KEYT) – David Allen Leader, 71, pleaded guilty to felony vandalism and seven misdemeanor counts of disobeying court orders related to harassing his Templeton neighbors.

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against Leader, stemming from incidents that began in October 2024 from eight neighbors on Orchard Road in Templeton.

Leader damaged personal property exceeding $400 on Oct. 17, 2024 and repeatedly disobeyed a restraining order that came two months after the incident.

Source: SLOCDAO

More violations included Leader revving his engine loudly, driving on the wrong side of the road past speed limits, staring and making hand gestures at neighbors, slowing and stopping across from their homes, and shining lights at homes and cameras during the night, according to the SLOCDAO.

Leader pled guilty to the felony vandalism charge on Wednesday alongside the seven misdemeanors of disobeying a court order, according to the SLOCDAO.

A judge ordered Leader to spend 30 days in county jail and placed him on two years of formal felony probation. If Leader violates his probation, he could face up to two years in county jail.

Leader also agreed not to seek early termination of his probation and agreed that he would not drive an ATV, quad, or motorcycle on Orchard Road for the entire two-year term.

A court also ordered Leader to pay $684 of restitution to two individuals and more restitution for other parties, if necessary, who have yet to be determined.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Six writers with a range of ages have expressed their thoughts about Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days in a way to make them the top honorees in the first ever Fiesta Poetry Contest.

They gathered at the Santa Barbara Library downtown with their poems and thoughts about how they created their work.

Each reflected on the historic event as a whole or through the role of an individual engaging in Fiesta.

They all knew the event, now in its 103rd year, has deep roots in the city.

The pieces were a compiltion of community spirits, history and celebrations.

Father Larry Gosslin is this year’s Fiesta Poet Laureate. He said it was tough to pick winners with all the good work that came in.

“Poetry brings a longevity to an emotion or to an experience and we capture it in words and I think and that is what happened here  this is kind of a dream we put together and it is beautiful to see these people  writing such  beautiful poetry,” he said.

Winner Elise Swanson Ochoa said, “I really wanted to bring out the imagery of Fiesta. See the dancing.  Hear the music.The beauty of the the nature of our town of Santa Barbara.”

Justin Young wrote short sentences and brief bursts of words as his style.  “I think the line “come on shakers come on spirit” because  I feel like  dancing can be a very spiritual thing and a very grounding thing.” He is also a musician and songwriter.

“Ode to Old Spanish Days” BY ELISE SWANSON OCHOA+ El Pueblito de Santa Barbara is my home. Home to eyes that spy Santa Cruz Islandacross the calm grey blue ocean, slick, like the dolphins that live here, too. El pueblito de Santa Barbara tiene mi corazón. It has my heart, where the two chambers of my heritage meet. Here, my father’s great-grandparentscame from Sweden,in a time when a borderwas only something boats crossed over. Here, my mother’s parents came from Mexicoin a time when a border was only something trains crossed overHere, in our lindo pueblito, is where my Latina flameand my Scandinavian “hygge”hug themselves in a riviera of bougainvillea and sturdy oaks.Where the “Queen of the Missions bellsring-out over a rose garden splattered with colors, like a painter’s palette.Where the desert wind and marine later meet.Like the origins of California itself,Santa Barbara’s birth, and mine,a little Spanish, a little Mexicanand a little pioneer.El pueblito de Santa Barbara needs no introduction, but a little party will do.A Fiesta! An expression of lovewith trumpets, flamenco, Noches de Ronda, and fun.A tradition of goodwill to honor the cooks, priestsand gauchos that came before us. A tradition where even the horses come out to play! Let’s have a night (or two, or three) to celebrateour home, our community, together.Where my two halves meet, where we all greet each otherwith a smattering of eggshell and confetti in our hair. “Shakers” BY JUSTEN YOUNG+ Jacaranda,and the dawn wrinklingConcealThese smiles unfolding Violent and LilacNearer to me nowDancersShakersBlowBowInto the artBygoneCome on shakersCome on SpiritBe scarletBe bloodEffervescent “A Fiesta Day to Never Forget” BY MARCELO GONZALES + As I walked down the street, I could feel the beat:the music, the cheers, the beers clinking together. I see the confettifilling the air as I see people dance it in the street. I see peoplecrack an egg on their friends heads as I see the confetti blend into their hair. I see dancers light on their feet like a feather as the weather settles in. A sunny day with joy, music, and celebration. I see the sun’s glimmer shine on the sparkly, shiny, dancer’s clothes. I see shops and stands and shops with confetti eggs for miles and miles. I see a person with a cape, he twirls the capearound in an amazing motion but he looks grim because ofdancing in the heat. As I near the end of the paradeI stayed to see the parade a little bit longer. With the sun beating down on the dancers the dancers kept on dancing until the end. I saw a friend and he said hi. He said that his head was hurting with all the confetti eggs cracked onhis head, so I said bye. When the Parade was over people were sad, but even though this Fiesta was over, there will still be more to come, with more exciting music and dancing each time. “Olé” BY VIENNA CERVANTES+ Fiesta, what a glorious place to be,A celebration of traditions for all to see.As a fourth generation Santa Barbarian, our traditionsare really special to me.Flamenco dresses shine so bright,As dancers stomp with all their might.My tradition started at age five, Performing flamenco in the Sunken Gardens made me feel so alive.The parades bring people togetherAs they watch the performers go by. Confetti eggs fill the streets,Along with music, laughter, and treats.Celebrating all day leads to hungry bellies at night,With pozole, tamales, and corn cooked just right.After five days of fun with new friends and old,We hold on to the memories as we wait With excitement for the next Fiesta to unfold. “Blue” BY JULIA TEMLER+ Blue was born on a bright sunny day in theSanta Barbara Mountains.Its clothes are made from a bright colorful dancing dress.Her dream is to be on stage with her brightcolorful dress singing and dancing on the day of Fiesta.And every one cheering and clappingBlue takes dance classes for this big moment to come.And believes that this moment will finally come.And it did. Blue was happy and I was too.

The three winners went home with cash prizes, while the runner-ups received gift certificates. The winners are expected to read their pieces at multiple events throughout Fiesta weekend, Aug. 5-9.

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Nate Loop

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – An adorable boxer and her pups are ready and waiting to find their forever homes on the Central Coast.Dori Villalon of Santa Barbara Humane stopped by Your Morning News on Wednesday accompanied by Berry, a beautiful, three-year-old boxer. She was dropped off at a shelter in Bakersfield with seven puppies. Santa Barbara Humane is now taking excellent care of Berry and three of her pups: Mango, Pineapple and Blueberry. Villalon also took time to tell Morning News anchor Joey Vergilis about the reduced adoption fees for their abundance of black & white kittens, a car show fundraiser on Saturday in Santa Maria, and the big gala in Santa Barbara on September 19th.Watch the segment above to get a taste of Berry’s sweet personality. You can find more information at Santa Barbara Humane’s website.

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Jarrod Zinn

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – Cal Poly hosted the tenth annual ‘Strawberry Field Day’ today.

The event gives us a peak at the farming industry’s future.

More than 600 farmers, researchers, students, industry leaders and engineers gathered at the college’s strawberry center adjacent to technology park.

“It didn’t exist 12 years ago,” says Gerald Holmes, director of the Cal Poly Strawberry Center. “It was just an idea between Cal Poly and the Strawberry Commission. And now you see all of this activity, 650 people coming to a Field Day. It’s beyond my wildest imagination, really.”

Small portions of the crowd rotate through different stations and watch presentations.

“It’s to manage the traffic and make sure everybody has an opportunity to hear about everything the center is doing here on behalf of the industry,” says Chris Christian, vice president of market insights at the California Strawberry Commission.

To meet some of the agricultural industry’s greatest challenges, such as labor shortages, water resource constraints, shifting climates, and increasing production costs, innovators literally have a field day presenting the latest developments.

“Anything we can do to make labor less burdensome, less onerous, we want to do that,” says Holmes. “And we’re working on projects all the time that reduce the amount of manual labor that goes into strawberries.”

Officials say California produces 90 percent of the nation’s strawberries on 1 percent of the state’s farmland.

“And actually within about 2.5 hours driving distance of this campus, which makes our location really ideal for the work that we’re doing,” says Holmes.

And they won’t be going anywhere, any time soon.

“California Strawberry Commission and Cal Poly are in the process of extending our annual agreement, funding the center for the next five, six years and on into the future,” says Christian.

Items featured today included electric tractors, an unmanned crop sprayer and an autonomous bug vacuum.

“It doesn’t harm the plants,” says Christian. “When it sucks the bad bugs off, there are rotating blades inside the unit that kill those bugs.”

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Dave Alley

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – A new San Luis Obispo County report shows there has been a significant reduction in the number of people experiencing homelessness over a four-year period.

Results collected in the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count indicate there has been a 5% reduction in overall homeless since 2024 and a 22% reduction since 202

“These results show what is possible when local governments, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community partners work toward a common goal,” said Board Chair Jimmy Paulding said in a statement. “Reducing homelessness requires both compassion and accountability. While there is still much more work ahead, this report demonstrates that thoughtful investments of resources and data-driven decisions are helping us move the needle on this issue and improving the quality of life in communities throughout our county.”

Conducted on Jan. 26, 2026, the PIT showed there were 1,118 individuals experiencing homelessness on that day, 666 of those unsheltered.

Four years ago, the 2022 PIT Count identified therer were 1,156 living unsheltered in encampments and on the streets.

San Luis Obispo County also listed several other highlights from the 2026 PIT count including:

· Unsheltered homelessness declined 17 percent since 2024 and 42 percent since 2022.

· Shelter utilization increased, reflecting expanded emergency shelter and transitional housing capacity.

· Veteran homelessness declined by 47 percent since 2024.

· Twenty-five homeless service projects contributed data to the sheltered count.

At the same time, San Luis Obispo County is experiencing positive results in reducing homelessness, it also acknowledges there are still challenges in place that require improvement, such as chronic homelessness, behavioral health and the need for additional permanent supportive housing.

“Our work is far from complete,” said San Luis Obispo County Adult and Homeless Services Branch Deputy Director Linda Belch. “The data reminds us that while many individuals are successfully moving indoors, those remaining unsheltered often face the greatest barriers to housing, including chronic homelessness, serious behavioral health conditions, and complex medical needs. Continued collaboration and sustained investment remain essential.”

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Fresh produce from local farms is reaching more families across Santa Barbara County through a partnership that is also supporting area growers.

One year after launching the Farm to Foodbank program, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County has distributed more than 718,000 pounds of locally grown produce purchased directly from regional farms.

Workers are harvesting everything from tomatoes and watermelons to corn at Osario Family Farms in Carpinteria.

“It’s looking good,” farm worker Juan Osario said. “We do grow organically, so with the corn, when the tip is dry that means it’s most likely ready.”

Every harvest helps supply fresh fruits and vegetables to local families facing food insecurity.

“Harvest is going good,” Osario said. “We’re harvesting our watermelon, our tomatoes, and we have corn we’re going to get to harvesting this week.”

The program has returned more than $1 million to local farms while expanding access to fresh food throughout the county.

“We’ve been able to work with multiple farmers in our region,” Jesus Lopez, director of operations for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, said. “We’ve been able to help our local farming community, and at the same time we’re helping our neighbors with fresh produce.”

For Osario, the work is personal.

“It’s a good feeling knowing that I’m growing healthy food for my community,” he said. “Everyone that is getting it actually does enjoy it.”

The partnership has also created more stability for local growers.

“It helps create security because the Foodbank is constantly buying,” Osario said. “It pretty much ensures our produce will get sold, whether it’s tomatoes, peppers or corn.”

Today, about 80 percent of the Foodbank’s produce purchases come through the Farm to Foodbank program.

“Our hope is to keep growing the program, help more farmers, keep adding farmers to the program and continue raising awareness,” Lopez said.

The growing season continues, and so does the effort to bring fresh, locally grown food to families across Santa Barbara County.

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Andrew Gillies

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A Santa Barbara County jury convicted Jiram Tenorio-Ramon of first-degree murder in connection with the December 2022 shooting at Stearns Wharf that resulted in the death of uninvolved bystander Robert Gutierrez.

The three-week trial concluded with the jury deliberating for one day before reaching their final verdict that Tenorio-Ramon was guilty on all charged counts, his second trial in the case after his initial trial ended in a hung jury noted the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The jury also found true that Tenorio-Ramon committed the murder on behalf of the Westside gang and was intended to further the goals of the criminal street organization added the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office in a press release Wednesday.

On December 9, 2022, around 8:40 p.m., Tenorio-Ramon was a passenger in a vehicle that drove past a group of people walking on Stearns Wharf that the occupants in the vehicle believed to be members of a rival gang stated the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

As the vehicle drove by the group, an occupant of the vehicle flashed a Westside gang hand sign toward the group and Tenorio-Ramon then directed the driver to stop near the dolphin fountain at the end of Stearns Wharf detailed the local prosecutor’s office.

According to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, Tenorio-Ramon exited the vehicle armed with a semi-automatic 9mm pistol and ran towards the group before opening fire.

Robert D. Gutierrez, an uninvolved bystander walking alongside his wife towards a restaurant to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, was struck in the back by one round from a 9mm pistol, noted the prosecutor’s office.

He was pronounced dead on December 20.

Two-and-a-half weeks after the shooting, Tenorio-Ramon posted a self-produced rap vido on Instagram recounting details about the murder and bragged about the killing improving his reputation shared the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

Tenorio-Ramon was the last of eight people charged in connection with the shooting and one of three charged for discharging weapons at the scene and all eight have now been convicted on felony-level offenses noted the prosecutor’s office.

He is currently scheduled for sentencing on October 29, 2026 where he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole stated the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

“This case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences of gang violence. Robert Gutierrez was enjoying an evening with his wife on Stearns Wharf as they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. In an instant, his life was taken, his wife lost her husband, his children lost their father, and the community lost a kind, hardworking man who was deeply loved. Our thoughts remain with Robert’s family and everyone who continues to mourn his loss,” Santa Barbara County District Attorney Savrnoch shared. “I am grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence and for delivering justice in this case. This conviction is the result of years of tireless work, exceptional teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to justice. I want to recognize Senior Deputy District Attorneys Tate McCallister and Carl Barnes for their outstanding prosecution of this case; District Attorney Investigators Eric Davis and Chad Hunt, whose dedication throughout this lengthy investigation and prosecution was invaluable; Victim Witness Program Manager Megan Riker-Rheinschild and her team for the extraordinary compassion and support they provided to the Gutierrez family; and the Santa Barbara Police Department for its outstanding investigative work. I also want to thank the many investigators, Victim Witness advocates, legal office professionals, and support staff whose efforts behind the scenes were essential to achieving today’s outcome.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Tate McCallister called it the only wharf shooting in recent memory.

“I am extremely pleased with the jury’s verdict, today the family of Robert Gutierrez finally got the justice that they deserved, I am very pleased with our office for successfully prosecuting all 8 individuals involved in this crime, including the 3 that discharged their firearms on the wharf that night all 3 of them were convicted of homicide crimes including the defendant today,” said McCallister.

The victim was a longtime assisted living executive director and soccer and football fan.

Gutierrez’ Linkedin profile said he graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a degree in finance in 1992 and completed his Master of Public Health at UCLA in 2020.

According to https://conejomountain.com Gutierrez is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Camarillo Mayor and former Ventura County Chief Deputy David Tennessen said justice was served by the investigation, the prosecution, the courts and the jury.

Your News Channel will continue to follow the case.

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Beth Farnsworth

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Work crews and engineers are busy with the final phase of work on the west end or “downstream” portion of the De La Vina Street Bridge Over Mission Creek Replacement Project.

Final construction on Phase 1 is expected to wrap up by the end of summer or early fall, according to Adam Ziets, Project Engineer. That will include paving De La Vina Street and switching one-way traffic over to the right side of the street. Once complete, that will trigger the start of Phase 2.

People passing by the work zone on De La Vina Street these days will notice the newly constructed sidewalk, concrete railing and creek walls on that half of the project. Also complete and not necessarily noticeable are sewer, water and gas infrastructures that are now in place.

Ziets said crews are now busy installing underground “dry” utilities. He stressed an important reminder for the community: All businesses along this stretch of the De La Vina Street corridor and other businesses near the construction zone remain open.

“We have been impacted by the construction,” said Olivia, a Lead Vet Assistant with Urgent Veterinary Care of Santa Barbara. “We’re getting through it. It’s been a little tough for our clients to find parking.”

The clinic has parking off Vernon Street behind its facility. Other customers frequenting nearby businesses will find street parking throughout the neighborhood.

Phase 2 of the work will center on the east or “upstream” portion of the bridge replacement project near Handlebar Coffee. That work will be completed next year.

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Jarrod Zinn

ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) – A Central Coast treasure is going away soon, as Waller Park’s Pony Rides have to close down.

Their owner is moving away to receive treatment for cancer.

After more than 26 years of smiles, family memories and even personal milestones, Waller Park’s beloved Pony Rides is holding its final weekend this Saturday and Sunday because the ponies have to move.

The ponies’ owner Lisa Leonard says she recently received news about her cancer that has caused her to have to immediately relocate and she’s taking the ponies with her.

“They’ve got a humongous Oklahoma Cancer Research Center Institute out there that is going to be where I—I’m going from Mission Hope to there,” says Lisa Leonard, co-owner of Leonard’s Party Ponies.

They’ll be moving to her daughter’s ranch in Oklahoma, where Leonard says they hope to find a new home for their pony rides in the park.

“I’m going to take them to her and hand them over to her, and she’s going to try to make a go of it,” says Leonard.

Leonard and her ponies have provided rides in the Santa Maria Valley for decades, and they’ve been at Waller Park for more than a quarter century.

“I just remember me and my sister going on these horse rides and our parents being there, watching us as we were going around,” says Santa Maria resident Rick Gonzales. “And, you know, just really good times, good memories.”

Leonard says these rides and interactions with the ponies create strong, lasting memories, and she’s seen many of the kids grow up to bring their own children here.

“I just hope that that people come out and support her and give back to her as she has the community for all these decades,” says Gonzales.

Today is the final day of Leonard’s estate sale on Rice Ranch Road.

“It’s just a decision I have no choice to make,” says Leonard. “I am definitely going to focus on getting better. And hopefully come back someday and watch somebody else turning ponies around in that park. Jump in and help ‘em.”

Members of the rancher community are brainstorming how to help her meet her moving expenses, considering the creation of a GoFundMe.

“I don’t know how to do a GoFundMe because that would probably be a good idea, but she’s just trying to raise, not a lot of money, but enough to be able to transport her horses,” says Gonzales.

Leonard says that among her own favorite memories were shy kids who gained confidence after riding the ponies and learning to take care of them.

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Patricia Martellotti

ISLA VISTA, Calif. (KEYT) – A longtime senior community is preparing for a new chapter after finding the site for its future home.

Friendship Manor plans to relocate from its longtime Isla Vista campus to the former Capital Hardware and Building Supply property in Santa Barbara after spending decades searching for a place to build a new community.

“We have occupied our current site in Isla Vista since 1973,” Friendship Manor Board Member Eva Turenchalk said. “It was originally built as a student dorm. It was not built for seniors.”

As the building has aged, leaders began looking for a location better suited to the needs of older adults.

“As that building has aged, we have been trying to find a property where we could build a facility for our residents,” Turenchalk said.

That search led to the former Capital Hardware property.

“I knew they had been looking for property for about 25 years to build something in Santa Barbara, and this is the perfect place for them,” Capital Hardware owner Alan Bleecker said.

Friendship Manor leaders say the new campus will allow the organization to continue serving seniors in a modern facility while keeping the close-knit community residents value.

“This is important because we love our residents, and this is going to provide them with a brand-new facility that’s going to meet all of their needs,” Turenchalk said.

Bleecker said he was happy to see the property become part of the organization’s future.

“It just warmed my heart when I found they were looking for a place to build and ours would be the right place for them,” Bleecker said.

The project will now move through the planning and permitting process. If all goes as planned, Friendship Manor expects to welcome residents to its new Santa Barbara campus in 2029.

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