By Janene Scully, Noozhawk North County Editor | @JaneneScully
February 11, 2021
| 9:09 p.m.
A Grover Beach man has pleaded guilty in Santa Barbara County Superior Court to voluntary manslaughter for his role in the killing of a Santa Maria man whose dismembered remains were found in a pond at a Nipomo golf course.
Benjamin Mersai
Benjamin Mersai, now 34, changed his plea last month in a Santa Maria courtroom, where he originally had been charged with murder.
In September, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff s Department dive team recovered the remains of Joseph Martin Govey, 53, of Santa Maria in a pond at Blacklake Golf Resort, 1490 Golf Course Lane in Nipomo.
Solvang City Council’s Three New Members Signal a Changing of the Guard
The trio sport face masks and condemn the prior council for saying the city would not enforce stay-at-home orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Newly elected Solvang City Council members Claudia Orona, Mayor Charlie Uhrig and Mark Infanti take the oath of office Monday night. (Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo) By Janene Scully, Noozhawk North County Editor | @JaneneScully
December 15, 2020
| 7:54 p.m.
Three new members joined the Solvang City Council on Monday night and wasted no time in making changes by sporting masks on the dais, setting a meeting to discuss the city attorney’s contract and criticizing the prior panel’s mixed message regarding public health orders.