By El Latino Newsroom
redaccion@latinocc.com
Last weekend, three robotics teams from the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD), took home top awards at the 15th Annual Central Coast VEX Robotics Competition, held at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
The event brought together 50 teams from across California, including participants from as far as Fresno and as close as San Luis Obispo High School.
For the first time, all four SMJUHSD high schools, Pioneer Valley, Santa Maria, Righetti, and Delta, competed together at a major robotics tournament.
Two teams from Pioneer Valley High School and one from Delta High School earned trophies after a full day of qualifying matches and single-elimination rounds.
“We’ve seen massive growth in our robotics programs this year,” said Adrian Lopez, a Delta High School alum and current Allan Hancock College engineering major.
Lopez and his twin brother, Alex, along with several other alumni, have dedicated over 400 volunteer hours this season to mentoring student teams across the district.
“We’re incredibly grateful to district leadership for supporting our participation in VEX competitions and helping us prove we can go toe-to-toe with the best engineering schools in California.”
Both the Delta and one Pioneer Valley team advanced to the quarterfinals and received coveted engineering awards.
Delta’s team, made up of Aubree McDonald, Destiny Gomez, and Taliia Padilla (not present), was awarded the Innovation Trophy, which recognizes creativity, efficient design processes, and thorough documentation.
“I spent a lot of time building, refining, and documenting our robot’s features,” said Destiny Gomez. “It feels amazing to have our hard work acknowledged by the judges.”
Pioneer Valley’s team, led by Bernadette Bolusan, Ivy Muhasay, and Akeyla Calizo, received the “Think” Award, which celebrates exceptional programming strategies and well-documented code.
Another Pioneer Valley team, consisting of Jasmine Torralba, Sara Lopez, Wendy Ramos, and Andrea Gutierrez, received special recognition from members of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) for their engineering notebook, programming, robot construction, and team interview.
“This is our first year in competition, and we’ve already shown the entire region how far we can go,” said Bolusan. “I hope we get a rematch at the state championships.”
Coaches across the district praised their students’ dedication and teamwork.
“This was our first tournament with all eight Pioneer Valley teams,” said Laurie Geronimo, head coach at Pioneer Valley High School. “Each team invested countless hours building and testing their robots. I’m so proud they got to see their hard work pay off in competition.”
In total, SMJUHSD fielded 16 teams at the Cal Poly tournament.
The next state-qualifying competition is scheduled for February 7 and will be hosted at the Mark Richardson Center in Santa Maria.
STREETS TO GET FIXED
Concrete upgrades are now in progress along Laguna Street as part of a citywide effort to improve pedestrian accessibility and prepare for future pavement maintenance projects. Lash Construction, contracted by the city, is leading the work under the Fiscal Year 2025C Pavement Maintenance (Concrete Improvements) Project.
The project, which began earlier this month, focuses on installing 64 new sidewalk access ramps and repairing more than 19,000 square feet of existing sidewalks.
Crews will also fix 600 linear feet of damaged concrete curbs and gutters. City officials say the improvements are being carried out in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“Projects like these are critical for making our streets safer and more accessible to everyone in our community, including those with mobility challenges,” said a city spokesperson.
The first phase of construction—stretching along Laguna Street between Montgomery Street and Figueroa Street—is expected to last approximately 10 weeks and wrap up by March, weather permitting. The remaining phases will continue through November 2026.
To minimize disruption, construction crews will operate Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with adjusted hours between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in areas near Roosevelt Elementary School.
The authorities also informed that “No-parking” signs will be posted at least 72 hours in advance, and detours will be clearly marked where needed.
The improvements are primarily funded by Measure C, a local sales tax measure approved by voters to support infrastructure upgrades throughout Santa Barbara.
For additional information on this and other projects funded by Measure C, residents can visit the Citizens’ Oversight Committee website.
MAJOR METH AND WEAPONS SEIZED
A two-month investigation led by the Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCAT), has resulted in the arrest of Sergio Sanchez, 36, of Moreno Valley, and the seizure of 350 pounds of methamphetamine, illegal firearms, and cash.
Sanchez was identified as a key player in a Mexico-based drug trafficking network, believed to have smuggled meth into the U.S. via the Southwest border.
Authorities say he operated a drug safehouse out of his residence on the 11900 block of Indian Street.
On December 17 of last year, investigators executed a search warrant and found five rifles, two handguns, ammunition, and evidence of drug sales.
Sanchez was initially released pending case review.
This week, the Ventura County Attorney’s Office filed multiple felony charges, including possession of meth for sale with weapon enhancements, and illegal firearm possession. He faces court proceedings in Ventura County.
THREE ARRESTED FOR LANDSCAPING THEFTS
Authorities arrested three Los Angeles County men Tuesday in connection with a series of landscaping equipment thefts in Fillmore that investigators say were carried out by an organized burglary crew with alleged gang ties.
According to the Ventura County Sheriff, the arrests followed a weeks-long investigation into multiple thefts reported in December and January of this year.
The investigation began about a month ago in December, when deputies responded to a theft in the 200 block of Casner Way.
The victim told deputies that two suspects arrived in a vehicle, quickly loaded thousands of dollars’ worth of landscaping equipment and fled the area.
The suspects were not located at the time, and the case was assigned to the Fillmore Detective Unit.
Detectives later identified one suspect as Kevin Melgar, 41, of Pasadena.
On Jan. 14, at about 11:35 a.m., deputies were dispatched to another reported theft near Carriage Place and River Street, where a white van was seen stealing gardening equipment.
Shortly after that report, an officer with the California Highway Patrol requested assistance with a traffic stop involving a white van near Main Street and Telegraph Road in the unincorporated community of Piru, east of Fillmore.
Deputies responded and detained three individuals from two vehicles.
Authorities identified the suspects as Melgar; Jesús Rodríguez, 31, of Compton; and Rogelio Bribriesca, 27, of Tujunga.
Investigators said Melgar had an active felony warrant related to firearm possession and vehicle theft, Rodríguez was on active parole for a prior shooting offense, and Bribriesca was under post-release supervision for burglary.
A search of the vehicles recovered a lawnmower reported stolen minutes earlier, along with burglary tools and a controlled substance, officials said.
Detectives determined the suspects had acted together and conspired to commit the thefts.
Investigators also said the three men have extensive criminal histories, including prior state prison sentences for burglary and grand theft, and are allegedly affiliated with Southern California criminal street gangs.
Additional evidence linked Melgar and Rodríguez to the December theft on Casner Way.
All three suspects were arrested and booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility. They face multiple charges, including criminal gang conspiracy, grand theft, possession of burglary tools and drug-related offenses. Court proceedings are pending.
Authorities encouraged residents to report suspicious activity and emphasized the role of community cooperation in addressing property crimes.
MAN ARRESTED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a 19-year-old Isla Vista resident in connection with the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, authorities said.
The investigation began Dec. 5, after detectives received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The information came through a report from an electronic service provider that alerted law enforcement to suspected illegal online activity.
Detectives identified the suspect as Levi Crabtree, who lives in the 800 block of Camino Pescadero.
On Thursday, Jan. 8, Sheriff’s detectives served a search warrant and an arrest warrant at the residence. Crabtree was taken into custody and booked at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail on a misdemeanor charge, he was later released after posting $10,000 bail.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and that there is no information at this time indicating any local victims.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives at (805) 681-4150.
Tips may also be submitted anonymously by calling (805) 681-4171 or online at SBSheriff.org.
The SBCSO also reminded parents and guardians to stay involved in their children’s online activity, use privacy and parental controls, “have open conversations about internet safety, and report suspected exploitation to law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.”
