The Lompoc Record from Lompoc, California • 3

RECORD Reward for reading 14 GREG Hapgood Elementary School reading champs Michelle Buenrrostro, left, and Leopoldo Vaca, both 3rd graders, pose with their new bicycles and Lompoc Elks Lodge representatives, left to right, John Hurd, Jim Braithwaite and Jerry Hogan. Lompoc Elks Lodge donated the bicycles to the school. The top reader, Michelle, read more than 300 books this school year, that's more than 1 million words. Obituaries Obituaries Alma D'Amico With I love for Alma Pearl D'Amico 16, 1925-May 28, 2004 Mother Sister Friend Doting grandmother CAC Volunteer of the Year Certified pain in the neck Thank you to everyone for your love and support over the last few months and especially those last difficult weeks. Alma bent over backwards to help others, faithfully volunteering to help D'Amico Lompoc seniors for several years.

Those who knew Alma know helping others made her happiest. Born in North Carolina. Resident of Lompoc nearly 60 years. Alma passed away after a brief struggle with lung cancer. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Judy Dotson, and son, Michael Dotson; sisters, Ruth and Ethelene; and brothers, John, J.C., and Lacy.

She is survived by her granddaughter, Elisa DotsonMcLaurin, Riverside; sisters, Ollie, of Maryland, Jean, of North Carolina, and Betty, of Florida; and brother, Ed, as well as three half sisters, three half brothers and other extended family. Interment in Lompoc Cemetery is private. A simple memorial in her honor for friends and family is to be held at the Lompoc Valley Community Center, Wednesday, June 9, 2004, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This a paid advertising feature offered by the Lompoc Record.

For more I information, call 736-2313, Ext. 142 or 109. Tuesday, Central Egar says public defender's office in state of High stress levels, sick employees and rising workloads have placed the Santa Barbara County Public Defender's Office in a state of crisis. That was the message James Egar, chief public' defender, gave Monday to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Monday. He said his office is so overworked that three private attorneys have been volunteering to help.

The current workload cannot be sustained, Egar said. At Monday's county budget hearing, Egar asked the supervisors to give his department $296,482 to hire three attorneys one for arraignments, another in Santa Maria, and one in Santa Barbara. He also suggested the coun- BY ERIN CARLYLE STAFF WAITER ty 1 create an arraignment court at the jail to cut on inmate transportation costs and reduce staff travel time. Currently detainees travel to the court for arraignments. Illnesses and resignations due to stress have left only three attorneys to handle all the trial work, Egar said.

At the same time, demands per case are increasing. "Cases that previously would have been handled in two, three, six appearances, now have 30 or 40 appearances," Egar said. "The results from a public safety (standpoint) are very beneficial," but the work is immense. In the past year, an assistant public defender, a capital case public defender and two attorneys were hospitalized, and a North County senior public defender, senior tigator and clerical supervisor Gaviota fire could be BY QUINTIN CUSHNER STAFF WRITER As the Gaviota wildfire continued to incinerate brush and chaparral on Monday, firefighters were hopeful they could contain the blaze by Thursday evening. Nearly 1,390 firefighters battled the flames 15 miles west of Santa Barbara, according to U.S.

Forest Service spokesman Barry Peckham. They managed to establish fire lines around 40 percent of the blaze with assistance from ground and air support that included 72 engines, five bulldozers, 15 helicopters and four air tankers. An oil refinery off of Highway 101 was not immediately threatened officials said. "The fire is starting to lie down a little," Peckham said, noting that he could not predict when it might be extinguished. A marine layer of fog bringing lower temperatures and higher humidity was predicted for Tuesday morning, which should come as a relief to firefighters who have fought dry weather conditions and erratic winds, officials said.

The areas ignited by the fire hadn't burned since a larger blaze 55 years ago, Peckham said. Costs associated with fighting the Gaviota fire are estimated at $328,934, he said. Thus far, three outbuildings including two at the abandoned Vista del Mar school and one home has been destroyed in the blaze, according to Peckham. The 688-acre Reagan Ranch was VAFB airmen help with Reagan state funeral arrangements BY JANENE SCULLY dential media who are covering Three people assigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base were mustered into duty to help with the massive arrangements for former President Ronald Reagan's state funeral. Maj.

Stacee Bako and Master Sgt. Lloyd Conley from Vandenberg's Public Affairs Office plus 1st Lt. Teresa King from the base's Protocol Office joined counterparts from the Army, Navy and Marines in assisting with the honors for the former commander-inchief. "It's definitely been interesting," Bako said. "I really think it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I guarantee you we are all honored to support President Reagan's state funeral." Temporarily stationed at Point Mugu in Ventura County, they are helping cre- are on extended medical leave. rights and dealing Other employees quit because family, and on of the stress level. if the wrong Annually, each remaining a child could be attorney is handling an aver- killed." age of more than 300 felony The supervisors cases, 1,600 misdemeanors, 600 alarmed at Egar's mental health and juvenile "The request cases, and 50 appeals. positions is barely Those levels are two, three, finger in the and four times more than is District Supervisor recommended by the National Rose. "I think Advisory Commission on a good look at Criminal Justice Standards, and provide some Egar said.

But caseloads con- you." tinue to rise. Santa Maria Egar also said drug court alone has typically want Los Prietos 100 cases scheduled for some to close, which sort of action per day, Egar the state cuts said. program. That "I don't know how Judge some local youths (Barbara) Beck keeps it the California Egar said. "They regularly Authority, which have very intense dependency recent revelatons court hearings all day with a being abused.

very brief break. Staff writer Erin "On the one hand, dealing reached at 739-2218 with terminating parental contained by Thursday not threatened by the fire, traffic congestion which came within four miles Highway 154. of the property, he said. It's still One injury, of a firefighter caused the fire, aggravating an old injury, was shortly before reported Monday night, Saturday I between according to the California and Gaviota, Department of Forestry and Train service Fire Protection. Luis Obispo and Meanwhile only one lane of Barbara remains traffic in each direction Union Pacific flowed on Highway 101 cials worked to between Highway damaged in the Cruces and Tijiguas Tuesday, Union Pacific as the outer lanes in that resume service stretch remain reserved for Gaviota State fire and other emergency vehi- Refugio State cles, according to Capt.

Capitan State Charlie Johnson of the Santa closed through Barbara County Fire park spokeswoman Department. Camping From Saturday afternoon those areas are through Sunday evening, traf- for those dates, fic on the highway between Staff writer Santa Barbara and Buellton can be reached at was halted, causing major mail at About Town June 8, 2004 A3 crisis with the the other hand, decision is made, injured or were report. for the three holding the dike," said 2nd Susan we need to take your situation support for he does not Boys Camp may occur if funding for the would force to be sent to Youth has had of prisoners Carlyle can be or by e-mail at along rural unknown what which began noon on Highway: Johnson said. between San Santa closed as and Amtrak offirepair trestles blaze, he said. officials hope to in a week.

Beach, Beach and El Beach are all June 15, a state said. reservations made at being refunded she said. Quintin Cushner 739-2217 or by e- Deaths Arrangements are pending at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary for Charles "Charlie" Prentice, 71, of Lompoc, who died Monday, June 7, 2004. Arrangements are pending at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary for James Jackson, 73, of Lompoc, who died Monday, June 7, 2004. Arrangements are pending at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary for Delbert Madsen, 84, of Lompoc, who died Sunday, June 6, 2004.

Arrangements are pending at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary for Coleen Rosales, 54, of Lompoc, who died Monday, June 7, 2004. Quality Care in At Home Your Bathing, dressing, Home SENIOR SERVICES, INC. meals, laundry, transportation, and more Assisting All staff are seniors carefully selected to remain and supervised in their own Your satisfaction homes guaranteed Capable: Call for a brochure. Dependable. 736-8249 Affordable.

1 to 24 Hours All staff 1 to 7 Days bonded 77 week insured. per 514 No. Ste. Lompoc, CA 93436 www.At-HomeServices.com STAFF WRITER events at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. They also are helping get the word out about myriad details surrounding Wednesday morning's ceremony before Reagan's remains are taken to Washington, D.C., for a funeral.

"There are a thousand little things that need to be in place for one of these to be done correctly," she said. They received the call about 11 a.m. Sunday, and arrived at the Ventura County naval base by 10 p.m. The Gaviota wildfire extended what normally would be a two-hour trek. Bako was a political science major in college and recalls Reagan as the first president she paid attention to, but it was the man's optimism and belief in 1 America she reflected on Monday.

Staff writer Janene Scully can be reached at 739-2214 or by e-mail at Citizens Academy The public is invited to attend the Northern Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department Citizens Academy, which begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Topics covered at the academy include the department's history, procedures and investigation methods. Classes meet from 6 to 9 p.m. every Thursday in the Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak St.

For further information, or to receive a Citizens Academy application, call Senior Deputy Eddie Pond at 686-8150 or Senior Deputy Charlie Uhrig at 693-8693. Governor signs bond bill SACRAMENTO (AP) est rate should be lower, said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina signed legislation into law del Rey, the bill's author. Monday that lets Pacific Gas Bowen remains critical of and Electric Co.

issue bonds bankruptcy settleto help it recover from bank- ment plan, which she said ruptcy in a way that should costs ratepayers too much for also save customers money. something they could not conThe bonds are expected to trol. save customers about $1 bil- The utility now must apply lion more than a financing to the commission for a new plan approved by the Public order, which the commission Utilities Commission to help will have 120 days to consider. the utility through its bank- The commission must act ruptcy. As a result, the inter- before the bonds can be sold.

There comes a time in every child's life Saying Goodbye of when living. they A learn lesson that learned death is offers just an a part opportunity to grow just a little bit more. Today, a professional funeral or memorial service of remembrance honors the life of a loved one lost, and gives everyone the opportunity to say goodbye one last time. Your local Golden Rule funeral home is expert at planning a personalized service-one that heals, helps, and honors. A service that may actually help a child learn more about living.

We care, as do you, for every detail and for everyone. Contact us now or in your time of need. Our family is here to help yours-and the children, too. This message brought to you by: Starbuck-Lind Mortuary 735-3773 123 North Street Lompoc, CA 93436 Lic. Member, International Order of the Golden Rule, a professional association of locally owned, Service Assured Integrity Guaranteed independent funeral homes..