Early learning programs get $19 million-plus in grants

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Head Start programs in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties recently received more than $19 million in federal grants.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which last December received a $960 million boost in Head Start funding from Congress, approved $19,197,042 in grants for two community early learning providers:

• $6,226,789 for CommUnify, formerly the

Suspect arrested after highway pursuit

SANTA BARBARA — Law enforcement Thursday arrested a woman suspected in a parental kidnapping of a baby after a pursuit on southbound Highway 101.

Close to 11 a.m. Thursday, deputies responded to the area of Santa Barbara County Social Services on Camino Del Remedio to the report of a parental kidnapping that had just occurred. Deputies spotted the suspect, 39-year-old Sandra Tapia of Canoga Park, fleeing the area in her Audi SUV on Calle Real at Camino Del Remedio, where they attempted to stop the vehicle.

Raquel Zick, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, said Ms. Tapia failed to yield and led deputies on a pursuit along southbound Highway 101, exiting on Garden Street and then through city streets. The pursuing deputies lost sight of Ms. Tapia’s vehicle in the area of W. Pedregosa and De La Vina Street, where they terminated their pursuit.

The assisting deputies shared information with the Santa Barbara Police Department, who located Ms. Tapia, her vehicle and a 1-year-old girl in the 200 block of East Los Olivos Street.

Ms. Tapia was taken into custody at approximately 11:18 a.m. without further incident and was booked at the Main Jail in Santa Barbara on suspicion of kidnapping (felony), child endangerment (felony), evading (felony) and driving under the influence (misdemeanor). Ms. Tapia’s bail amount is pending.

Ms. Zick said the Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Santa Barbara Police Department for its teamwork in safely apprehending

Volunteers sought to help Carpinteria residents impacted by tornado

CARPINTERIA — Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is leading a disaster response effort after the tornado that hit Carpinteria on Tuesday.

The nonprofit is leading clean up and recovery efforts at

Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County.

• $12,970,253 for Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County.

“CommUnify is thrilled to be able to continue to provide quality early education to children 0-5 years of age and family support services to parents to ensure every child is socially, emotionally and academically prepared for kindergarten,” Patricia Keelean, the CommUnify CEO, said. “Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. This ongoing support gives every child the head start needed to grow into happy, healthy and successful students.”

Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, who earlier in his career worked with Head Start as a parent involvement coordinator and family services advocate, has consistently advocated in Congress for increased funding for critical early learning programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start.

“One of my first jobs was working with

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this suspect. The infant was released to Social Services at the scene and was not physically injured.

— Katherine Zehnder

Sheriff’s Office releases suspect’s photo

CARPINTERIA –—The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office has released the booking photo as part of its investigation into 37year-old Carpintería resident Luis Antonio Ibarra Delgadillo, aka Anthony Ibarra. The photo is accompanying this story.

On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office shared information about the arrest of Mr. Ibarra, for felony violations of California Penal Code Sections 288.7(a), 288.7(b), and 288(a). These alleged violations have to do with engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 10, dating back to 2015.

Through their investigation, detectives became aware that the release of the suspect’s booking photo would aid in their investigation and assist in identifying additional survivors of alleged sexual assault by Mr. Ibarra Delgadillo. The sheriff’s office would like to encourage anyone with knowledge of additional alleged crimes associated with Mr. Ibarra Delgadillo, to contact Detective Swank by phone at 805-681-4150.

If you would like to be anonymous, you can submit information at sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip or by calling 805-681-4171.

Sheriff’s detectives coordinate closely with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, Victim-Witness Program to ensure the needs of survivors are not overshadowed by the focus on the investigation and prosecution of the accused. Victim advocates are available to ensure that survivors are kept informed and supported throughout the criminal justice process. Survivors have the option of contacting the Victim-Witness Assistance Program directly at 805-568-2400 or toll free at 855840-3232.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind survivors that they can also find support services through its community partner, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault. Services offered by

Please see GRANTS on A3

STESA include a confidential 24Hour hotline, legal and medical advocacy and accompaniment, and counseling. You can reach a STESA advocate at any time by calling 805-564-3696.

For more information, see stesa. org.

— Katherine Zehnder

County Fire rescues surfer

ISLA VISTA — The Santa Barbara County Fire Department rescued a surfer Wednesday who was in the water, 200 yards from the 6800 block of Del Playa.

The surfer’s surfboard had washed ashore.

Two rescue water crafts were launched from Goleta Beach. The victim — a male surfer in his mid40s — was pulled from the water and returned to Goleta Beach. He was evaluated and had no medical complaints, said Capt. Scott Safechuck, County Fire’s public information officer, in a tweet. Call time was 5:03 p.m.

— Katherine Zehnder

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Sandpiper Mobile Home Park, where the tornado damaged approximately two dozen homes. Volunteers are being sought to help Habitat Santa Barbara’s efforts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. To volunteer, visit sbhabitat. volunteerhub.com/vv2.

Habitat Santa Barbara is providing critical health and safety repairs to affected homeowners. For full coverage, see Saturday’s News-Press.

— Caleb Beeghly

Caltrans works on 250 potholes on Highway 101

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Caltrans is working to repair the roads from this week’s storm damage, which includes a significant number of potholes.

“Today and tomorrow, we are doing pothole repairs on northbound Highway 101 from Santa Maria to Nipomo. Our crews will be working on a roughly 5,000 foot stretch of roadway, repairing about 250 potholes,” Alexa Bertola, public information officer for Caltrans District 5, told the News-Press in an email on Thursday.

“More potholes have appeared as a result of our recent storms,” she said. “Repairing the potholes are a top priority.”

Travelers between Santa Maria and Nipomo can expect the closure of the right (No. 2 lane) of northbound Highway 101 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today for pothole repairs.

“We are also working on Highway 1 near Jalama Road in the Lompoc area that washed away a couple of storms ago,” said Ms. Bertola.

“At this time, we have Highway 1 closed from Solomon to Black Road in the Santa Maria area due to flooding,” she said.

For updated road closures go to https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

Road information and updates can also be found on Twitter at: @ CaltransD5, Facebook at Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at Caltrans_D5. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

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