Santa Maria Times

“Joy of Giving,” the theme of the 2009 Christmas Parade ofLights, fits the Santa Maria community very well, according toCapt. Bob Louangamath of the Salvation Army. Full Story »

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors made the firstmove to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and controlcigarette smoke and associated litter at county parks and beachesTuesday in its final meeting of 2009. Full Story »

A noon Mass by Father Thomas Cook of La Purisima Catholic Churchkicked off  the Founder’s Day celebration Tuesday at La PurisimaMission. Full Story »

A dozen friends, family members and former colleagues of slainformer Lompoc police Officer Richard May wept Tuesday as they toldjurors how much they missed the 38-year-old murder victim. Full Story »

Judges in this year’s “Lights, Sights and Holiday Nights”contest are set to visit homes in the Santa Maria Valley this weekto find the best-decorated homes and businesses. Full Story »

A Santa Maria man convicted of sexually assaulting two teenagefriends of his daughter who were so intoxicated they were helplessagainst his advances has been sentenced to 14 years inprison. Full Story »

Truck traffic on Highway 101 through the Central Coast was a bitheavier than normal Monday night into Tuesday after snow shut downInterstate 5 north of Los Angeles. A 30-mile stretch of I-5 thatclimbs over 4,100-foot-high Tejon Pass was closed for severalhours. These big rigs were parked at a truck stop on BetteraviaRoad in Santa Maria. Cold air trailing the storm is expected tobring widespread ... Full Story »

Santa Claus had a rival at the Vikings annual Christmas party. Full Story »

Vandenberg Middle School administrators are setting out to seeif keeping boys and girls in separate classrooms might improve mathand science education. Full Story »

Grover Beach Full Story »

A Santa Maria man critically injured in a crash Saturday nighthas died, according to police. Full Story »

Santa Maria police are looking for a man who held up a SantaMaria Town Center store at knife point today. Full Story »

Dr. Takashi Michael Wada has been named as Santa BarbaraCounty's medical officer, county officials announced today. Full Story »

A frigid winter storm dumped rain across the Central CoastMonday, leading to precarious driving conditions but mostly justminor accidents. Full Story »

Even though most of them were bent and stiff with age, when theNational Anthem was sung Monday, dozens of war veterans stood,straightened their backs with pride and raised weathered hands tosalute with honor. Full Story »

Many people think Highway 246, the route through the Santa YnezValley, follows the Santa Ynez River to the ocean. Wrong. Full Story »

Some student groups in the Santa Maria Joint Union High SchoolDistrict do not meet a set of federal standards, which puts theentire district into Program Improvement status. Full Story »

Warren J. Baker, president of Cal Poly, announced his retirementMonday after more than 30 years at the university. Full Story »

About 1,000 jobs in the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo countyarea are waiting to be filled as the local office of the U.S. Census Bureau prepares for the 2010 tally of people living inAmerica. Full Story »

Six men and six women charged with deciding whether a26-year-old East Palo Alto man receives the death penalty or lifein prison for murdering former Lompoc police Officer Richard Maylistened Monday as relatives described the devastating effect thepoliceman's 2006 slaying has had on their lives. Full Story »

Arroyo Grande Full Story »

A towering symbol of Guadalupe disappeared Sunday as the city’s110-foot-tall water tank was demolished. Full Story »

Arroyo Grande Community Hospital officials oppose what they sayis a plan to create a regional Level 2 trauma center in San LuisObispo, saying it would be detrimental to care received by SouthCounty patients. Full Story »

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will have smoke onthe brain Tuesday as it discusses banning marijuana clinics in thecounty jurisdiction and outlawing tobacco products at parks andbeaches. Full Story »

Solvang’s Danish heritage is celebrated each Christmas season atthe Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, where museum members andfriends enjoy Danish specialty foods, visit with Santa and Mrs.Claus, and circle a Christmas tree while singing carols. Full Story »