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SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXII, NO. II
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026
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Anti-ICE protesters, some carrying signs took a walk around Atascadero Lake to demonstrate against government anti-immigration actions. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
Local Indivisible coalitions hold vigils, protest walks calling for abolishment of ICE SLO County sheriff and district attorney respond to recent criticism
Running Chicken Fun Run organizers Warren Frace (far right) and Shari Frace (center) pose with the top three finishers of the men’s 10K race — (from left) Connor Fisher, of Reno, Nevada; Rudy Uribe, of San Luis Obispo; and Dane Hardy, of Atascadero — after the event Jan. 4 at Santa Margarita Lake. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
Santa Margarita Lake hosts 8th Annual Chicken Run in memory of sisters Santa Margarita Lake hosts runners of all ages in memory of Brittni and Brynn Frace By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Runners of all ages and abilities laced up their shoes and hit the trails around Santa Margarita Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, for the 8th Annual Running Chicken Fun Run. The event, which features 5K and 10K courses, is held each year in memory of sisters Brittni “Bitti” and Brynn Frace and has grown into a beloved tradition that brings the community together while supporting the next generation of local runners. The course itself holds special significance, as it follows the very same trails the sisters ran while students at Atascadero High School. While the 10K route presents a more challenging route with hills and winding paths, the 5K option allows runners of all skill levels to join in the fun. This year’s theme was ‘We Got This!,’ and
the bibs that the runners wore were made out of a design that Brittni made prior to her passing — like years before, the race is always themed around artwork and sayings that the girls used to say. Nearly 250 runners completed the event despite a forecast that had some participants worried. Warren Frace, father of Brittni and Brynn, said, “We had a really good race, everybody was really excited about how it finished up ... the weather turned out fine for the race, but the forecast, I think, scared a lot of people off. For the race it was good. It was kind of cloudy, but no rain ... all the rain was after the race, which was perfect.” Top overall finishers showcased both youth and experience. In the 10K, Connor Fisher, 31, of Reno, Nevada, led the men’s field with a time of 39:08, followed by 16-year-old Rudy Uribe of San Luis Obispo at 40:02, and 20-year-old Dane
Hardy of Atascadero at 40:40. In the women’s 10K, Nora Pizzella, 28, also from Reno (and Connor Fisher’s wife), finished first in 43:52, while 17-year-old Tilly Ralston of Atascadero crossed in 47:34, and 16-year-old Bella Tomasini of Atascadero finished just one second later at 47:35. The 5K race also featured impressive performances. Jameson Mora, 41, of Paso Robles, took first in the men’s division at 16:28, with 15-year-old Robert Pullen of Santa Margarita at 19:26, and 24-year-old Garrett Stouffer of Atascadero at 20:04. In the women’s 5K, Kailyn Gunther, 34, of Santa Margarita, led the pack at 22:56, followed by 16-year-old Peyton Hamann of Atascadero at 23:42, and 40-year-old Shawna Dobson of Santa Margarita at 23:45. A new addition to the race this year was CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Council on potential tax: Give us roads, not reports Atascadero City Councilmembers discuss possible transportation levy with SLOCOG, want to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy By MIKE CHALDU michale@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — In its first meeting of 2026, held on Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Atascadero City Council had a discussion with a San Luis Obispo Council of Governments representative on a potential transportation tax. During the non-action item on the agenda, the council was open to the tax to help pay for road projects, but were concerned about additional oversight by SLOCOG. The council was at four members for this meeting as Councilmember Seth Peek was absent. The discussion of the potential transportation tax was one of four items on the agenda for the City Council coming off its holiday break.
SLOCOG, which is the agency responsible for longrange regional transportation planning, funding allocation, and coordination among the county and its seven incorporated cities — including Atascadero — is evaluating a potential ½-cent transportation sales tax measure for the November 2026 ballot to establish a long-term, locally controlled revenue source for transportation improvements. SLOCOG pursued a very similar effort in 2016 (Measure J16) that fell short of the 66.7% threshold by approximately 450 votes. After completing extensive regional engagement, including more than 70 presentations, focus groups, workshops, online surveys, website engagement, and coordination with
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local jurisdictions, SLOCOG has developed a Draft Transportation Expenditure Plan (DTEP) and Implementation Guidelines associated with the potential ½-cent transportation sales tax measure. SLOCOG Communications Coordinator Annie Bowsky presented the plan to the councilmembers, noting that funding from the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) has been decreasing over the years (a projected $3.6 million in 2026 as opposed to $7.5 million in 2016), and unlike neighboring counties like Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Barbara, SLO County does not have a transportation tax to supplement those funds. Of the revenue generated by a transportation tax (esti-
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mated to be approximately $35 million a year), Bowsky said 55% would be split among the county’s cities for local road and traffic projects, for which Atascadero’s share would be estimated at $2,029,354. Forty percent would go for regional projects. Bowsky added that have additional funds generated by a tax would increase Atascadero’s ability to seek state and federal grants for road repair, and estimated that over the last 10 years, the county could have gained an estimated $270 million from the tax alone, and about $430 million in grants. She said Atascadero’s share could go toward road rehab, pedestrian safety, safe routes to school, or other transportation-related projects. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
SPORTS
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
NORTH COUNTY — Several local coalitions under the national organization Indivisible held protest walks and vigils over the past weekend, asking for the abolishment of ICE. The “call to action” comes after Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7 by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. On Sunday, Jan. 11, people gathered at Atascadero Lake Pavilion for a protest walk around the lake, followed by a candlelight vigil honoring Good and other individuals who they say were killed by ICE in 2025. Atascadero News spoke with Linda Baker, a member of the Indivisible SLO County Rapid Response Team. She was the lead organizer of the Jan. 11 event. Baker explained that the events over the weekend protesting ICE were planned by the national branch of Indivisible. “We’re honoring Renee Nicole Good, who was killed, and also all of the other people that have been killed by ICE in 2025,” Baker explained. “There’s some 37 of them. Some died on the street, like Renee did. Most of them died in detention centers. We’re honoring their memory.” Indivisible was formed when President Donald Trump was elected for his first term in 2016. They are described as a progressive grassroots movement, focused on strengthening what it describes as a real democracy “of, by, and for the people.” Originating from the Indivisible Guide, the movement has grown into a nationwide network of thousands of autonomous local groups and millions of activists who organize community-based actions and advocate for progressive policies. Local Indivisible coalitions include: Avila Beach Indivisible, Cambria Indivisible, Estero Bay Indivisible, Indivisible Nipomo, Indivisible North SLO County, Indivisible San Luis Obispo County, and
the Indivisible SLO County Rapid Response Team. Other local organizations have joined the coalition’s efforts, though, including, but not limited to, the Atascadero Democratic Club, Cuesta College Democratic Club, El Moro Democratic Club, Paso Robles Democratic Club, SLO 50501, SLO County Democratic Party, and the South County Democratic Club of SLO County. “[Membership] spiked just recently with many of the things that are happening ... they grow up in communities based on what their community needs,” Baker told ATN. Baker explained to ATN that the coalition wants “ICE out of our county,” calling them a secret police force that is “acting unlawfully and hurting people.” Baker claims that ICE comes to make arrests without warrants, faces masked and don’t identify themselves. “They just pick people up off the street,” she said. “They pick them up when they’re coming out of jail, and those people do have the right to refuse an ICE interview, but they’re not our local sheriff; he’s not honoring that. They pick people up in Home Depot parking lots.” The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s Office received criticism from local media and residents for working with ICE after a video of a confrontation between ICE agents and protestors at the SLO County Jail circulated. Protestors were in attendance for the incident. Shortly after the incident, the SLO County Sheriff ’s Office commented on the video, saying: The Sheriff ’s Office is releasing video related to an incident that occurred Sunday, December 14, in the Jail lobby involving ICE agents and protestors. During the incident, there was a confrontation between the two groups that included obscenities directed at ICE agents and physical interactions. Sheriff ’s Office employees should not be subjected to disturbances, obscene behavior, or foul language while carrying out their duties. This video is being shared to CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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