Debt ceiling talks ongoing
From ‘Oklahoma!’ to ‘Chicago’
Biden, McCarthy continue negotiations despite differences on work requirements - A3
Review: ‘Schmigadoon’ is both a spoof of musicals and an homage to Broadway - B1
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T H U R SDAY, M AY 18 , 2 023
NEWS-PRESS EXCLUSIVE
Accused Ojai fentanyl dealer to stand trial Christopher Elizalde, 26, was arrested after reportedly overdosing in Carpinteria By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A judge has ordered an accused Ojai drug dealer to stand trial on multiple felony drug charges, including the possession for sale of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, following his arrest last month after reportedly overdosing in his car in Carpinteria, prosecutors said. Christopher Elizalde, 26, was arrested on April 22 and was arraigned on a felony complaint on April 27, when he pleaded not guilty, Senior Deputy District Attorney
Anthony S. Davis told the News-Press. “We had a preliminary hearing in his case on May 11, at which time he was held to answer on the charged offenses,” the prosecutor said. “His arraignment on the Information is scheduled for Wednesday, May 24.” Defendants are initially arraigned on charges contained in a complaint filed by prosecutors. After a preliminary hearing, that complaint is referred to as the Information. Sometimes it is amended in the interim. The nine-count Information filed against Mr. Elizalde charges him with possession for sale of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, heroin and
methamphetamine, all felonies. In addition, it charges him with possession for sale of M30 fentanyl pills, Xanax and Clonazepam, and possession for sale and the sale of ketamine, again, all felonies. A misdemeanor count charges him with possession of drug paraphernalia. Ketamine is an anesthetic used on people and animals. It is generally abused as an hallucinogenic, and comes in either liquid or powder form. M30 fentanyl pills are counterfeit oxycodone, which sells under the brand name OxyContin. Please see DRUGS on A4
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PHOTO
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said it seized these drugs from an Ojai man who reportedly overdosed in Carpinteria.
State St. Responding to disasters Chick-fil-A to close Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox USA provides shelters and related needs to nations in trouble
for renovations
By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
For six to eight weeks, the Chick-fil-A on upper State Street will be closed for necessary renovations to the restaurant. Starting on Monday until late July, the Santa Barbara location will undergo construction on the parking lot to create a better traffic flow. This location has recently been under heat due to the backup the drive-through causes on the street. In June 2022, the Santa Barbara City Council voted to plan a new traffic management plan for the fast food restaurant rather than declare it a public nuisance. This plan consisted of designating a traffic attendant, reconfiguring lanes and parking, as well as increasing staff during peak hours, at the location, which is at 3707 State St. At this time, the restaurant additionally proposed a permit request for a second location,
which would replace the IHOP on Calle Real. There has been no update since the request was originally filed. Now, a year later, the restaurant has deemed it crucial to create some changes in order to maintain a good relationship with the city and the residents. Travis Collins, the owner of the Santa Barbara location, told the News-Press Wednesday that the renovation plans are to improve the entry and exit from the restaurant, which includes changes to expand the drive-thru lanes. Mr. Collins said he hopes the new renovations will make a positive impact on the traffic. He said “our guests and team members’ experience is the priority” and that Chick-filA hopes “to honor our ongoing commitment to be a good neighbor and help vehicle flow. “We look forward to serving guests soon with these enhancements.” email: abahnsen@newspress.com
PHOTOS COURTESY SHELTERBOX USA
Pakistan is among the nations helped by ShelterBox USA, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit that responds to disasters around the world.
By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The “forgotten crises.” This is what the president of ShelterBox USA, Kerri Murray, shared with the News-Press regarding disaster situations and violent conflicts around the world. “What we do at Shelterbox is ‘quiet work’, but makes a loud impact.” ShelterBox USA is a nonprofit located in Santa Barbara. The organization focuses on aiding nations where a natural disaster has occurred — cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. — or where violent conflict has taken over the community. ShelterBox has its hands in many places around the globe, helping wherever it deems fit. Currently, the nonprofit is helping in Yemen, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Pakistan, to name a few countries. In Ukraine, ShelterBox has helped many displaced Please see SHELTERBOX on A4
FYI For more about ShelterBox and its fundraising events, visit www.shelterboxusa.org. ShelterBox USA’s aid is distributed in Ethiopia.
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KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS
Chick-fil-A is temporarily closed at 3707 State St. in Santa Barbara while improvements are made for the drive-through traffic.
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