JANUARY JANUARY
NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING
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PRESIDENT BIDEN DECLARED JANUARY 9TH
A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING FOR FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, COINCIDING WITH HIS FUNERAL, CLOSING FEDERAL OFFICES, INCLUDING THE POST OFFICE, NATIONWIDE.
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SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CX, NO. I
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025
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San Luis Obispo County Supervisors (from left) John Peschong (District 1), Heather Moreno (District 5), and Dawn Ortiz-Legg (District 3) are sworn-in for their terms by County Clerk/Recorder Elena Cano at the Jan. 7 supervisors meeting. Photo screen shot from social media
Moreno sworn in as District 5 SLO County supervisor
Former Atascadero mayor takes SLO County office as Debbie Arnold steps down after 12 years
The top three female and male winners of the Running Chicken Fun Run 10K pose with with Sharilynn and Warren Frace (center). Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
Seventh Annual Running Chicken Fun Run brings running community together once again This year’s theme was ‘Smile More — Worry Less’ By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
SANTA MARGARITA — Runners of all ages and skill levels strapped on their running shoes and hit the trail around
Santa Margarita Lake for the 7th Annual Running Chicken Fun Run on Sunday, Jan. 5. The sun was out, the air was brisk, and there were smiles on everyone’s faces as they participated in the 10K or 5K walk/run that celebrates the lives of runners and sisters, Brittni “Bitti” and Brynn Frace. “Oh my gosh, it’s just such a
great event,” stated Atascadero local Lori Bagby. “Just the strong sense of community and the reason that we’re all out here. Loved it. And perfect day weather-wise. Best day yet.” This year brought over 500 participants out to run in memory of the Frace sisters. Their mom, Shari, told Atascadero News that their
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
goal is to grow the race by 10 percent each year and that this year proved that they’re staying on track. “[It’s] the biggest race. Most finishers. It was the best year yet,” added the girl’s dad, Warren Frace. The course around the beautiful Santa Margarita Lake is the CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNT Y — Former Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno was officially sworn in as the District 5 San Luis Obispo County Supervisor on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Moreno will be filling the seat formerly filled by Debbie Arnold, who retires after serving 12 years on the board. Arnold led the meeting one last time as chairperson, call-
ing the first meeting of the year a special one as Moreno was sworn in with returning Supervisors John Peschong (District 1) and Dawn Ortiz-Legg (District 3). Moreno started her career in local politics when she was appointed to Atascadero’s Planning Commission in 2008 and served as chairperson in 2010. She was then appointed to the Atascadero City Council in 2012, elected in 2014, elected as mayor in 2018, and reelected mayor in 2020 and 2022. Moreno ran against her fellow Atascadero Councilmember Susan Funk for the District 5 seat and secured it back in March 2024. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
The Special Enforcement Team at Atascadero Police Department will handle special investigations, enforcement or projects that do not already have a task force. Photo by Atascadero Police Department
Atascadero Police Department reintroduces Special Enforcement Team The team will be able SET officers onto the team will continue to benefit Atascadero. to look deeper into Because of the holidays and the events throughout the officers training for their new community roles, it will be this month that By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Back in November of 2024, the Atascadero Police Department (APD) reintroduced a Special Enforcement Team (SET) to the community. Chief Dan Suttles told Atascadero News that the City had SET officers sometime prior to when he joined the force a year ago and that bringing two
the team will really start being out and about in the community. “Now we’re really excited because we can actually get them out there to do what it is that they do,” added Suttles. The SET officer’s role will be to handle special investigations, enforcement, or projects that don’t have another team specifically set up to tackle them. Since the APD’s patrol officers’ CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
COUNTY
The crowd watches the pile of wood pallets go up in flames during the New Year’s Bonfire on Dec. 31 at Paso Robles City Park. Photo by Camille DeVaul/ATN
Thousands gather in Paso Robles for Third Annual New Year’s Eve Bonfire at City Park
Celebration features over 500 pallets for extended burn as crowds welcome 2025 with community By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
NORTH COUNTY — Thousands came together at the center of Paso Robles to ring in the New Year on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. The third annual New Year’s Eve Bonfire in Paso Robles City Park welcomed live music
NORTH COUNTY NEWS
and entertainment under the festive holiday lights. This is the city’s third year hosting the event since taking a pause during the COVID pandemic. Expecting an even larger crowd than years prior, the event extended to half of City Park. Paso Robles Fire Department Administrative Fire
SPORTS
Captain Paramedic Ross Porter told Atascadero News about other changes to the event: “We added more food trucks, more drink trucks. We added some pyro, spectacular fireworks for the countdown ... and we also added more pallets for the bonfire hoping to get a longer burn.” Sitting next to the play
structure, Paso Robles firefighters blocked off an area where a pyramid of pallets was built to be burned throughout the event. Throughout the year, local businesses donate pallets, which are then collected by the Public Works Department about three months in advance. Porter says that last CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
WEATHER
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