Category: keyt-local-news

Mike Klan

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT). – Braesen Leon threw two touchdown passes to lead Ventura to a 31-14 win at Allan Hancock College.

Ventura is ranked #3 in the state as they improved to 6-0 on the season while the Bulldogs fall to 3-3.

Former St. Bonaventure High School star Koen Glover rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown while Sincere Cohen added a rushing touchdown in a dominant first half for the Pirates.

Leon led the Pirates on a touchdown drive in their opening drive of the game. He passed for 53 of his 136 yards on the first drive and capped it off with a 24-yard strike to Silas Kemp, a Thousand Oaks High School graduate.

Ventura added another touchdown in the first quarter to lead 14-0. Malik Bates intercepted a pass and the Pirates turned the turnover into points as Glover scored from 1-yard out.

Hancock cut the deficit in half on a one-yard touchdown run by Kyle Williams early in the second quarter.

But Ventura controlled the rest of the half as they quickly answered the Bulldogs score just a two minutes later.

Sincere Cohen scored on a touchdown run from 3-yards out to put Ventura in front 21-7.

Brasen threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Newbury Park High School alum Ryan Gillum midway through the second quarter and another Newbury Park graduate Bodie Ing added a 24-yard field goal with under a minute left to give Ventura a commanding 31-7 halftime lead.

Eljah Little scored late in the third quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run for Hancock to finish off the scoring.

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Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif.-Dredging equipment has returned to the Channel Islands Harbor

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers project is usually done every other year, but last year permitting issues delayed the work from being completed.

The H.R. Morris dredge is back.

It will be removing sand at the mouth of the harbor to help boats go in and out and it will send sand through a pipeline to the beach impacted by erosion in Port Hueneme.

It should be complete early next year.

Sea lions are also in the area of the dredging equipment.

Isn’t easy keeping them off anything.

It is becoming a problem in an area where new dock construction is underway.

Crews have posted all kinds of things including poles and colorful tape to keep them away.

It hasn’t stopped them from sunning on the news docks near the mouth of the harbor.

They have also been seem hanging out on the beach by the lifeguard tower on Silver Strand.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A powerful storm fueled by remnants of Typhoon Halong is targeting California this week, bringing the threat of flooding, mudslides, and power outages.

Santa Barbara-based Direct Relief is preparing emergency medical supplies and coordinating with local partners ahead of the storm.

The non-profit says early action is vital to protect people who rely on life-saving medications and equipment.

Direct Relief has also strengthened disaster response through its statewide Search and Rescue Fund, supporting volunteer teams ready to deploy.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Cirque Ma’Ceo wraps up its first Santa Barbara run at Earl Warren Showgrounds today.

Performers and horses were in full motion all weekend.

Crews struck the big top while capturing the energy and teamwork behind the spectacle.

The Italian-style cirque moves on, leaving Santa Barbara audiences amazed by its first-ever performances here.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Santa Barbara High School alums like to say, “Once a Don, always a Don,” and many make it a point to attend the annual All Dons Reunion.

Santa Barbara High School graduates take pride in their mascot, which represents a Spanish gentleman or lord.

This year, they are celebrating the 150th anniversary of Santa Barbara High School.

People of all ages attended the reunion.

The community celebration put the spotlight on some of the oldest alumni, who reminisced about school, sports, history, and more.

“It’s really great. No kidding, I really enjoy it, seeing people here. I quit my senior year because I was gonna be eligible for the draft. And I got my diploma, what, sixty years later? I got to walk down the hill with my grandson!” said Paul Lopez, who was part of the Class of ’43.

A ceremony took place to celebrate the lives of the oldest alumni, including a very special Jane Wickman, who turned 106 this year.

Other All Dons Reunion activities included a car show, music, food, and an auction.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The SLO County Sheriff’s Office arrested Celestino Soriano Ortiz of Santa Maria, 40, alongside his brother for their role in the murder of Isabel Lucas Velasco.

Velasco, 50, went missing in Arroyo Grande on Sept. 12 and the SLOCSO and Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue teams have been looking for her since that day.

Search and rescue teams eventually found a body believed to be Velasco on Oct. 11 on Highway 198, west of Coalinga, where Velasco was from, and turned it over to the SLOCSO Coroner’s Office for identification.

The case is now considered a homicide and deputies arrested Celestino for arson and as an accessory to murder, and his brother, Alejandro, 45, from Coalinga, for both arson and murder, according to the SLOCSO.

Both arson charges stem from burning Velasco’s car after her disappearance, according to the SLOCSO.

Alejandro is believed to be the ex-boyfriend of Velasco, though the case remains under active investigation, according to the SLOCSO.

No further information or comment is available at this time, though anyone with such information can contact the following number.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Benito Najera, a 33-year-old Santa Barbara man, received charges for human trafficking and sex offenses against three minor female victims, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

Najera is now charged with the following crimes:

human trafficking of a minor, one count

rape of an unconcious person

rape of an intoxicated person

statutory rape

forcible oral copulation, multiple counts

child pornography production, one count

possession of child pornography, one count

Najera is currently being held without bail at the Santa Barbara County Jail and his preliminary hearing will be Oct. 20.

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John Palminteri

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif. (KEYT) – The traditional fall maze of corn stalks has some competition from a sunflower maze in the Santa Ynez Valley.

The flowers bursting with yellow colors on green stalks are at eye level, but grow to at least six to eight feet tall in some areas of the maze at the Summerset Farm.   

Sally Maher greets you at the counter with a pair of clippers and says when you return you can leave with sunflowers you have picked. They charge by the stem.

The real fun for families and especially kids, is the cutbacks, twists and turns as they walk through.

Some are going on the trail in small wagons.

Mayer says, “they are smiling. They are happy, they can’t believe it. It is an original idea. It’s not a standard corn maze.” Along the way some of Mother Nature’s hardest workers are on the job.

“People go in there and see bees pollinating the flowers. It is a bonus. It is just a surprise. They wanted to see the flowers but we stood there watching the bees.”

The Summerset Farm also has more than 20 varietals of pumpkins around the property from the largest ones a person can carry to some smaller decorative ones.

The farm stand also has local honey, pickled vegetables, garlic, BBQ sauce and eggs.

The spot is off Highway 154 at Baseline near the new roundabout.

For more information go to: Summerset Farm.

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Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties are sending out alerts for the first major storm of the season. 

“This is our first real storm of the year that we’re looking at that’s going to drop a substantial amount of rain,” says Anita Konopa, SLO County Emergency Services Coordinator. “So it’s a good opportunity for people to just get prepared now.”

Officials say their top concerns are the areas in or near burn scars.

San Luis Obispo county officials are issuing a shelter in place order for the Gifford and Madre burn scar areas and below those areas.

“Both the Gifford and the lake fires burn scars could see some additional potential for mudflows or flooding,” says Kelly Hubbard, Santa Barbara County Emergency Management Director.

The Madre Fire and Gifford Fire are the largest California wildfires in 2025, both burning along Highway 166 this summer.

Combined with the burn scar from the 2024 Lake Fire near the Santa Ynez Valley, there are increased risks of rain water run-off and mudslides in or near 251-thousand acres of burned land.

“With the burn scar, what we have concerns with are really the consideration that the soil now is hydrophobic,” says Hubbard. “Basically what it means is more water will come downhill when it rains. And so there’s this potential for increased flooding increased debris flows, rockfalls as well.”

There are no current plans to close Highway 166 during the storm, but officials from both counties urge caution and preparedness, should you need to drive near any burn scar areas.

“What we’re really looking at is something that’s a little bit more erratic and that there’s going to be cells of strong wind and rain that comes through,” says Konopa. “And that’s kind of going to be the risk here, is that if a cell happens to come into that area, that dumps a lot of rain in a very short period of time, that’s when we could be looking at potential issues.”

Aside from signing up for your county’s emergency alert services, officials recommend having your emergency kit ready, plan for potential power outages, and remain vigilant for flash flooding and mudslides.

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John Palminteri

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif. (KEYT) – The 41st Santa Barbara County Vintners Festival will be a time for visitors to go in-depth on the wine industry and come away with an education they’ll remember for years.

While it is a fun event with like-minded wine lovers, there are always trends you can get ahead of and the industry welcomes interaction at all levels.

This year’s event will be at Vega Vineyards in Buellton on Saturday with an early VIP entry starting from 12:00pm – 4:00pm, and general admission from 1:00pm – 4:00pm.

Many of the region’s wineries and restaurants are hosting dinners and special events throughout the weekend.

At the event there will be 80+ wineries, a chance to meet winemakers, owners, and enjoy both food and music. More than 25 restaurants will be serving samples and chefs will be attending.

Sparkling wine will be served in The Bubble Lounge. 

Santa Barbara Vintners CEO Alison Laslett said, “if you go, to this particular  festival, you  are likely to meet the wine maker or the owner.” Some of the owners may have been up for hours. “They will be picking the night before because it is harvest and then they prep and will come in and pour the wine for the  consumer.  That is what makes it such an unusual festival.” 

If you look closely she said, “often you have the person who is pouring the wine has their name on the bottle.”

Ryan Carr is the Carr Winery owner with a working tasting room in Santa Barbara where the grapes are arriving and processed.   “Today was all Italian varietals so I have been at it since about midnight.”

Freshly picked grapes were in special bins.  “All the sugar has been converted into alcohol.   You can smell that aroma out there you can smell the alcohol and  those incredible flavors  that have been developed during fermentation.”

Whether you go to a tasting room or a wine festival. the winemaker is generally around.to talk to you about their wines.   It doesn’t really matter whether you are a novice or an expert on wines.

Carr says, “they get to ask a lot of questions and they get a great opportunity to try a whole bunch of wines from our area.  So many different wineries are involved in this festival.  It is a phenominal festival. “

The region produces wines that many consumers love from an area with rare microclimates and unique soil.

Carr said, “at an event like this you get to taste so many different  things that  are outrageously good.  It is all coming from a small area .  It is pretty special.”

There will also be a first ever Wine Camp with special sessions at the festival.

 Laslett  said, “one is a sabering demo. That is where you take a knife and  cut the top off of a glass bottle.  We will have the  Santa Rita Hills  wine makers speaking  about their wines specifically,   The Rhone Rangers will talk about their wines.” There will also be prizes for blind tasting events.

The wine industry is an economic driver in the county with a far reaching impact.

“It’s about a $1.7 billion dollars by the time you add in the restaurants and the hotel stays from the wine visitor who comes up,” said Laslett.

The yields may vary but this year , “the quality of the fruit hasn’t been any better so things  are still good and  we’re going to be making some great stuff going forward,” said Carr. His tasting room has processing going on in addition to regular hours of operation.

Friday evenings there’s live music outside and sometimes inside next to the barrels of wine.

The wine makers at the festival are also known for bringing in some special bottles or new brands just for this annual gathering in the valley

Last year’s event sold out. (There is a special price for a designated driver or non wine drinker.)

For tickets and more information go to: Santa Barbara Vintners Festival

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