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Santa Barbara News-Press: January 13, 2023

Page 1

Biden investigated

‘Coast to Cuyama’

AG Garland appoints special council to look into classified documents debacle - A3

La Paloma Cafe, Cuyama Buckhorn partner for event - B1

Our 167th Year

RAIN TOTALS

Santa Barbara County Building

YESTERDAY.........................0.00” 0.00” SEASON TOTAL ...................18.40” 0.00” 743.61 CACHUMA LAKE LEVEL ....000.00

85.6%

75¢

F R I DAY, JA N UA RY 13, 2 023

End of the drought?

Second-degree robbery case heads to trial Nelly Gackowska, 60, scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 23

Santa Barbara County gets closer after this week’s storm; Montecito and other areas still deal with damage and road closures

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The case against a transient woman charged with using force and fear to seize a cell phone from someone who says she witnessed her throw a rock and shatter an upper State Street restaurant window is heading toward trial, prosecutors said. The defendant, Nelly Gackowska, 60, is charged with second-degree robbery and grand theft from a person, both felonies, in connection with the Christmas Eve incident. She’s pleaded not guilty. The alleged witness, Rebecca Brand, says she saw Ms. Gackowska throw the rock that broke the front window at Rudy’s restaurant, and that the defendant took her cell phone because she took pictures and was in the middle of a 9-1-1 call. Ms. Brand claims the defendant injured her by repeatedly slamming the cell phone against her thigh while trying to pry it from Ms. Brand’s hand, and that the alleged attack left her with a large bruise. (Ms. Brand sent a photo of the bruise to the News-

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Rebecca Brand, above, said Nelly Gackowska, 60, attacked her with Ms. Brand’s cell phone. Ms. Gackowska’s arraignment on charges of second-degree robbery and grand theft from a person is set for Jan. 23 in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

Press.) A preliminary hearing Tuesday ended with the judge issuing a holding order against Ms. Please see TRIAL on A2

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Lake Cachuma reached 85% of its capacity Thursday and is expected to fill up and spill this weekend. The rise in reservoirs at the lake and elsewhere in the county comes as the U.S. Drought Monitor reported Santa Barbara County dropped to the least severe level of drought conditions.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara County dropped Thursday from severe drought to moderate drought after this week’s big storm. That’s the least severe of four levels of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. If the level drops again, the monitor will describe the area as “abnormally dry,” with the possible impact of “coming out of the drought.” The news was emphasized with nature’s own exclamation point — a big splash at Gibraltar Reservoir. The site exceeded its capacity by Thursday evening and spilled over, and the roar of the water at the dam was music to the ears of those waiting for an end to the drought. The reservoir’s level reached almost 1,400 feet by Thursday evening, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Works

Department. The volume of water is 4,677 acre feet, and the total rainfall this season for Gibraltar is 32.30 inches. The Jameson Reservoir is at 100.9% capacity at 2,224.34 feet, with total annual rainfall at 4 inches. Volume is at 4,890 acre feet. Experts expect Lake Cachuma to fill and spill by this weekend. On Thursday, the lake was at 743.47 feet. As of 5:20 p.m. Thursday, the lake was at 85.2% capacity and 743.32 feet, with this year’s total rainfall this season at 19.32 inches. The volume is at 164,326 acre-feet. The Alisal Reservoir is at 600.03 feet of elevation. The total rainfall is at 34.39 inches, and the volume is at 2,382.70 acre feet. Reservoirs could rise higher. Today’s weather forecast for Santa Barbara is 70% chance of rain during the day with a low of 51 and a high of 64. On Saturday, the forecast is a 70% chance of

Mud and brush block East Mountain Drive in Montecito after the storm earlier this week.

FOLLOW US ON

COURTESY REBECCA BRAND

Rebecca Brand saw the window of Rudy’s restaurant on upper State Street shattered on Christmas Eve.

Workers attempt to clear the debris basin off East Mountain Drive.

rain at night and 80% chance during the day with a low of 50 and a high of 60. While Santa Barbara County waits for this weekend’s storms, officials dealt with the aftermath of the rain and wind that slammed the county Monday and Tuesday. The News-Press this week talked to officials concerning the damage to roads in Montecito and current road closures. “In the Montecito area, we currently have four hard closures,” Lael Wageneck, the public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department, told the News-Press on Wednesday. “They are located at East Mountain Drive from the city limits to Coyote Road, East Mountain Drive from Cold Springs Road to San Ysidro Road, North Jameson Lane from San Ysidro Road to Hixon, and Bella Vista from

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By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara continues to recover from the onslaught of the recent storms that pounded the city, even as new storms are forecast to strike this weekend. Only they won’t be so bad. That’s according to city Fire Chief Chris Mailes, who, along with other staff, updated the City Council on Thursday about the impact of the massive winter storm that hit Santa Barbara earlier in the week, and the city’s response. Chief Mailes said “two waves of energy” are predicted for Friday night into Saturday and Sunday night into Monday. “We don’t expect to issue flash flood advisories or watches,” he said. The National Weather Service, he said, predicts 1.5 inches of rain to fall from Friday Please see CHIEF on A4

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

“We don’t expect to issue flash flood advisories or watches,” said Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Chris Mailes, talking to the Santa Barbara City Council Thursday about this weekend’s storms.

LOTTERY

i n s i de Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4

Romero Canyon to Ladera Lane. “A hard closure means the road is closed to everyone and not recommended, even for residents due to slip out and significant hazards,” Mr. Wageneck said. “In Summerland, Padaro Lane from the railroad to the southbound bridge is impassable. Other than that, the roads are operational.” Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor gave the News-Press more details on Thursday. “East Mountain Drive west of Ashley Roadabove Cold Spring Debris Basin has major damage and is closed,’ Chief Taylor said. “Bella Vista Drive has damage at Romero Creek Crossing and is also closed.” Mr. Wageneck is reminding motorists of the importance of being cautious at all times during a storm. “Hazards can occur at any time. Our Urban Forest team Please see STORM on A4

Fire chief says next storms won’t be so bad

Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4

Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 7-16-21-44-46 Mega: 7

Thursday’s DAILY 4: 4-6-5-0

Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-13-14-15-18 Mega: 9

Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 12-16-32-38

Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 08-04-06 Time: 1:49.93

Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 4-8-46-47-48 Meganumber: 5

Thursday’s DAILY 3: 6-5-6 / Midday 1-9-8


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