Our 165th Year
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F R I DAY, J U N E 19, 2 0 2 0
PAUL GONZALEZ/NEWS-PRESS
The vehicle involved in Thursday’s incident in Carpinteria sustained front end damage after hitting several objects and crashing on the Linden Avenue overpass.
Man arrested in assault, vehicle theft By PAUL GONZALEZ NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Marianne Madsen, owner of Mad Fitness SB, sanitizes gym equipment to ensure the safety of clients. The fitness center opened June 12 after the mandatory COVID-19 closure.
Local gyms reopen Fitness centers welcome back members By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
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s the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department eases restrictions on business closures amid the coronavirus pandemic, local gyms are opening their doors back up to welcome their members and encourage healthy living. The state of California released guidelines and instructions for fitness centers to open no sooner than June 12. These guidelines provided vital information regarding employee training, control measures, screening, cleaning and disinfecting protocols, physical distancing and considerations for
communal restrooms, showers, pools and food service. Even with all these additional measures, fitness centers in Santa Barbara stepped up to the challenge. Aly Davis is the manager of Mad Fitness SB at 1236 Chapala St., which opened June 12. She said the staff and members are taking it day by day. “We’re following all the new guidelines in order to make our gym the safest environment we possibly can,” she said. “We’re super happy to have been able to reopen. Our community is super important to us.” Key 2 Fitness at 324 State St. also opened up as soon as it could. Owner Brian Sawicki said the gym hasn’t seen much change
from how they were before the lockdown. As a smaller gym about 5,000 square feet with about 500 members, he said social spacing was the norm already, and the business had always taken its disinfectant cleaning seriously. “Being a smaller gym with a smaller number, we have a little more sense of community,” Mr. Sawicki said. “Our members supported us financially so we could still be here, which did allow us to keep our employees on payroll and keep them active with projects for the gym. People seem to be handling things pretty responsibly and being safe.” Along with the others, Killer B Fitness Center is on its seventh day of being open, and owner Bob Wilcher said even though it’s all new and the gym has to adapt,
the response from his clients has been “overwhelmingly positive.” “Everybody has their own comfort level and their own idea about being safe and secure. There’s no judgment,” he said. “I want them to feel safe, but I can’t make them feel safe. “But I can do the best I can,” Mr. Wilcher said. He added that gyms reopening is crucial to boost the immune systems of people striving to remain healthy. “I got in this business because I love fitness, and I think it’s one of the most important things we can do for our health, especially right now,” Mr. Wilcher said. “We’re happy to be open again.” email: gmccormick@newspress. com
A man who attempted to drive through a construction zone to evade arrest was caught at Franklin Park on Thursday morning in Carpinteria, authorities said. Shortly after 9 a.m., Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputy Cliff Cabasag attempted to stop a vehicle that smelled like burning rubber in the 5700 block of Via Real, said Raquel Zick, sheriff’s spokeswoman. “(Deputy Cabasag) flipped around to go and tell them, ‘Hey you’re driving with your parking break on or something,’” Ms. Zick said. The vehicle, a white
By PAUL GONZALEZ NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
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group of 40 Santa Barbara County defense attorneys is urging the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to put a moratorium on Northern Branch Jail spending. Santa Barbara Defenders President Jeff Chambliss recently sent a letter to the board, which made the argument for the moratorium.
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Mr. Chambliss has practiced criminal defense in Santa Barbara County for 30 years. He is a former chief trial deputy for the Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Office. County construction crews started building the Northern Branch Jail on Sept. 6, 2016, at the corner of Betteravia Road and Black Road in Santa Maria. The 136,000 square foot, 376bed jail was originally funded by an $80 million grant from Please see jails on A8
Buell to leave city of SB By MITCHELL WHITE
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email: pgonzalez@newspress.com
Moratorium sought on jail spending
NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
At left, a member at Key 2 Fitness works out with sanitized equipment. Owner Brian Sawicki said since Key 2 Fitness is a smaller gym, the business had already practiced social distancing. At right, Killer B Fitness Center reopened its doors June 12. Seen here leading a class, owner Bob Wilcher said he’s glad gyms are allowed to reopen so people can maintain their physical health and boost their immune systems.
Mercedes SUV, drove through a construction area, smashed several objects and crashed on the Linden Avenue overpass. The driver, whose name was withheld, fled the scene on foot. A county helicopter assisted ground units and the suspect was tracked down near Franklin Park riding a stolen bicycle, Ms. Zick said. Investigators determined the vehicle was stolen. The suspect was booked into County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with nearly crashing into construction workers, vehicle theft, and other charges.
eorge Buell, the city of Santa Barbara’s community development director, has announced his resignation. Mr. Buell, who was appointed to his position in April 2014, penned his resignation letter to City Administrator Paul Casey on Thursday. His last day in the office will be July 16, said Nicole Grisanti, administrative office supervisor for the city. In the letter, Mr. Buell noted several construction projects that have occurred during his time with the city, including the construction of nearly 1,300 new residential dwelling units and a number of “significant
public and commercial projects.” Namely, the letter mentions the Hotel Californian, a multi-site campus for Sonos, the conversion from retail to office for Amazon, as well as renovations to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. Mr. Buell also helped establish the city’s Accelerate Program and appointed a business liaison to help fill vacant storefronts in the downtown area. He was also a part of the city amending the Average Unit-Size Density Incentive Program and changing the city’s Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan and Inland Zoning Ordinance. “In terms of human services, my leadership helped forge a partnership of multiple agencies Please see buell on A8
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L O T T E RY R ESU LT S
Comics................. A6 Classified.............. A7 Life.................... A 3-4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 1-20-30-39-47 Meganumber: 21
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 5-1-7-3
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 21-23-33-35-42 Meganumber: 6
Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 4-5-19-20-37
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 03-07-01 Time: 1:42.40
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 7-10-63-64-68 Meganumber: 10
Obituaries............. A8 Soduku................. A5 Weather................ A8
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 6-0-7 / Evening 6-6-5