GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CX, NO. XXXI
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Looking ahead together My vision for the 2025– 26 school year By TOM BENNETT Superintendent, Atascadero Unified School District
Sound Engineer George Westlund, and our nine great entries, it was a wonderful evening at the Printery Stage,” said Karen McNamara, president of the Printery Foundation. The night wasn’t just about entertainment — it was also about making a difference. Between ticket sales, concessions, CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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Winners of the Atascadero Printery Foundation’s “North County Has Talent” event (from left) Wanda Kennard, Diana and Wally Greenaway, Morgan McEntire, and Jacy Miller are shown with the show’s co-director Julz Muya after the show on Aug. 8. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
‘North County Has Talent’ shines for a cause Fourth annual showcase draws crowd, awards top local performers, and raises over $2,500 for Atascadero Printery restoration By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — On Friday, Aug. 8, the Atascadero Printery Foundation hosted the fourth annual “North County Has Talent” showcase, bringing together an enthusiastic audience, gifted performers, and a shared passion for preserving
one of Atascadero’s most treasured historic buildings. Under the warm summer sky, more than 120 people filled the Printery Outdoor Stage area to cheer on nine diverse acts. From singers and dancers to unique variety performances, the evening was a lively celebration of creativity. The all-ages event featured two categories — youth (15 and
under) and adults — with cash prizes awarded to the top acts in each. In the youth division, Wanda Kennard took home first place and the $200 prize, impressing both the audience and the judges with her standout performance. In the adult category, Jacy Miller earned first place and $400, while Morgan McEntire captured
second place and $200. Dianne and Wally Greenaway rounded out the winners with a thirdplace finish. Event organizers say the combination of beautiful weather, talented contestants, and strong community turnout made the evening a resounding success. “Thanks to our directors, Julz Muya and Karen Harris,
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s the new superintendent of Atascadero U n i fi e d S c h o o l District, and on behalf of our Board of Trustees and dedicated staff, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to welcome you to the 2025-26 school year. Whether you are a returning member of our school community, new and joining us for the first time this year, or a longtime member of our supportive Atascadero community, we are thrilled to have you as part of the Atascadero Unified family! I am genuinely excited to have the opportunity to serve this remarkable district. I look forward to collaborating alongside our outstanding team of
City Council discusses Llano Fire response, evacuation strategies Councilmembers also adopt resolution confirming cost of vegetation, rubbish abatement By MIKE CHALDU michael@atascaderonews.com
Atascadero Police Officers and personnel from left: C. Pacheco, S. Locke, and C. Hall attend the National Night Out event on Aug. 5 at Sunken Gardens. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
Community shows up at Sunken Gardens for National Night Out with Atascadero Police Department Police, community, and local partners fill Sunken Gardens for a night of connection, safety awareness, and family fun By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Police Department’s annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, drew an estimated crowd three to four times larger
NEWS
than last year’s event, filling Sunken Gardens with residents, local business owners, and public safety partners. Police Commander Matt Chesson shared that the gathering far exceeded expectations, crediting the work of the event coordinators, Administrative Assistant Krystal Carlon and Officer Destiny Braun, for their marketing and outreach. “Our coordinators did an incredible job marketing the event and raising awareness of it,” Chesson told Atascadero News. “The result was multitudes more community members, local business owners, and
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allied agencies (Atascadero State Hospital, SLO County Probation Department, Atascadero Fire Department, and the California Highway Patrol) with booths in attendance.” The nationwide event was created to foster positive connections between law enforcement and the communities they serve, encouraging neighborhood camaraderie and safer living environments. In Atascadero, those goals were on full display as attendees engaged directly with officers, learned about local CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
SPORTS
ATASCADERO — The recent Llano Fire and the planning for and mitigation against future similar emergencies dominated the agenda at the lastest Atascadero City Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12. The council heard a management report for Atascadero Fire Chief Casey Bryson on his department’s response to the Llano Fire, as well as that of the Atascadero Police Department and other agencies. After the presentation, Bryson and Police Chief Daniel Suttles took questions from council and the public. It just so happened that the other main item, the one Public Hearing on the night, had to do with confirming the cost of vegetative/weed and rubbish abatement, which has been promoted by many communities as a preventative measure against vegetation fires. In that item, AFD Battalion Chief Dave Van Son gave a breakdown of what the department and the city has been doing to ensure the trimming
and removal of overgrown vegetation and trash around people’s homes (known as defensible space) to quell the advance of any fires that may advance upon a property. Also included in the report was the approximate amount of $106,673.58 that the city will receive from the 2025-26 property tax rolls in weed abatement/refuse abatement assessments. On April 8, Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-004, declaring vegetative growth and/or refuse a public nuisance, and authorizing the Fire Chief to proceed with the abatement process. On April 26, notices were mailed to property owners, informing them of the city’s abatement requirements. Van Son said that 11,282 parcels were inspected, starting in March, and 6,382 notices to abate (110 more than last year) were sent out in April with a deadline of June 1 to comply. Following another inspection post-deadline, 81 properties were tagged for abatement, with 44 (21 more than in 2024) abated by contractors. Mayor Charles Bourbeau said he had seen dollar amounts of $5,000 to $7,000 charged to residents who hadn’t done abatement, and wondered if that was too steep for residents. Van Son answered that the amounts were based on the CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
WEATHER
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