AROUND THE REGION.

ANTELOPE VALLEY

Murder helper going to prison

LANCASTER -- A woman was sentenced Thursday to more than 17 years in prison for her role in the murder of a Lancaster man killed because he got another woman pregnant, prosecutors said.

Jennifer Kellogg, 28, was sentenced after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the 1997 slaying of Ricky Cowles Jr., beaten with a claw hammer and shot. Amy Lynn Preasmyer, 27, previously was convicted of murder in the case and sentenced to prison for life.

Space workers viewed fatal test

MOJAVE -- Workers at a pioneering space-tourism company were watching a test of a rocket-propellent system through a chain-link fence in the Mojave Desert when a fatal explosion occurred last summer, according to a state report released Thursday.

The report comes nearly a month after Scaled Composites LLC was cited for five workplace violations and fined $28,870 in the July blast that killed three technicians and critically injured three others. State occupational-safety inspectors faulted Scaled for failing to train workers and supervisors on hazards of nitrous oxide, used in the test.

Three arrested in copper thefts

LANCASTER -- Twin brothers and a juvenile were arrested in connection with a series of thefts of copper wire, authorities said Thursday.

A team from the Lancaster sheriff's station was investigating a report by Verizon that $40,000 worth of copper wire had been stolen. Brothers Feliciano and Felizardo Bojorquez, 45, and a juvenile were booked on suspicion of grand theft.

SANTA CLARITA

Fair to preview summer fun

CANYON COUNTRY -- A free fair is planned for Saturday to show parents and children activities to be available this summer, including day camps, resident camps and cultural-enrichment programs.

The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at La Mesa Junior High School, 26623 May Way, Santa Clarita, and will also offer food and activities.

For information, call counselor Kathy Gorlick, event organizer, at 661-250-0022, Ext. 122, or e-mail her at kgorlic(at)hartdistrict.org.

VENTURA COUNTY

Plane museum to be reopened

CAMARILLO -- The local wing of the Commemorative Air Force will reopen its museum featuring World War II airplanes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in a 15,000-square-foot hangar at the Camarillo Airport.

The museum was closed for a year while fire-safety improvements were made.

The facility will be open daily except Mondays and Wednesdays at 455 Aviation Drive on the grounds of the airport at Pleasant Valley and Las Posas roads.

For more information, call 805-482-0064 or visit www.orgsites.com/ca/caf-socal.

-- Staff and Wire Services