GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CVIII, NO. XXVI
THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2023
LAWSUIT
Former Cal Poly student sues university, county
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Fourth of July Music Festival returns for 6th year
Elijah Behringer challenges the legality of COVID mandates that led to his suspension By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and the County of San Luis Obispo could be entering court as a former student has filed a civil lawsuit against the university and several administrators — including the SLO County (Top Left) Community members enjoy the shade in the Atascadero Lake Park as the Atascadero Community Band takes the stage to provide musical entertainment at the Sixth Annual Fourth of July Bluegrass Health Officer — for violations Music Festival. (Bottom right) The California Mid-State Fair 2022 Court wave from their float during the annual Fourth of July Parade in Templeton. Photo by Becca Sligh; Atascadero photos by Rick Evans of his federal and state rights. Elijah Behringer is chal- The concert Atascadero for its sixth year. amazing. I feel like I’m in the thing else thrown in too. enjoy each other’s company. lenging the university and benefited Colony Families, friends, and neigh- Smoky Mountains of Tennes- Music began at 4 p.m. with Play together,” said Joel county against the legality of bors headed to the Atascadero see. It’s really awesome. A Actual Grass. 4 on the Floor Demir, founding member of Days’ upcoming their COVID mandates that Lake Park Band Stand on July good time,” said Colony Dance Band took to the stage both SLOpickers and Actual resulted in his suspension as a 50th Celebration 4 from 4 to 8 p.m. for the free Days volunteer Maria Smith. next, and the evening ended Grass. student there in January 2022. Atascadero 4th of July Music “People have been lovely. It’s with the Atascadero CommuOn top of all the musical By CHRISTIANNA MARKS, Behringer, an electrical Festival. The festival is this just very family oriented.” nity Band. Both Actual Grass entertainment, the festival CAMILLE DEVAUL, year’s kickoff for Atascadero The festival featured music and 4 on the Floor Dance also included vendors, access engineering student from San and BECCA SLIGH Colony Days’ 50th Celebra- primarily celebrating Amer- Band were created especially to the park’s playground, food, Bernardino County, attended ATASCADERO — Every- tion. icana tunes, ranging from for the music festival. and drinks, with the Colony Cal Poly for two years until “It’s been very festive with gospel and country to rock ‘n’ “We always look forward to Days’ booth selling out of the school denied him access one’s favorite Fourth of CONTINUED ON PAGE A7 July music fest was back in the bluegrass over there; that’s roll, with a little bit of every- gigs to just enjoy the music, CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
ENERGY
PAGEANT
PG&E makes change Meet The Miss California Mid-State Fair Pageant contestants Theme song for your life: in proposed route The pageant features “Hasta La Raiz” by Natalia eight local contestants for controversial Lafourcade. Marilyn Dahle, 18 transmission line project this year School graduated from/ Citizens for a Safe Paso Robles support EIR-approved route for power lines
County residents. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is seeking approval to construct a new 70 kV transmission line and substation, and residents were speaking out against the original proposed route for the lines. This week, Atascadero News received an update and statement from PG&E on the proposed project. The original
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
Last week, during a power outage on our deadline day, we uploaded the previous week's inside pages (A3, A4, A5, and A6) to go to press with the newspaper. Due to the rush, the printer did not check the folios
before printing. We are grateful for the support and understanding of our community, and we thank you for the emails and calls alerting us to the issue. Your feedback is invaluable, and we are committed to providing accurate and timely news. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused.
NORTH COUNTY — The 53rd Miss California Mid-State Fair Pageant will open the California Mid-State Fair on Wednesday, July 19. The pageant is a favorite with fair-goers and will take place on the Frontier Stage at 6 p.m. All eight contestants from all (From left) Marilyn Dahle, Shirley Horzen, Kali Stone, Julia Sanchez, Natalie Boyd, over San Luis Obispo County Jenna Wilshusen, Evelyn Velasquez, and Kerrigan Jensen will compete for the title will participate in four cate- of Miss California Mid-State Fair 2023. Photo by Kellee Jean Photography gories, an interview regarding what they would change or add year’s eight contestants some spending time with my family. to the fair, the talent portion, questions. Here are their Theme song for your life: evening gown, and the final answers: “Mean” by Taylor Swift. Shirley Horzen, 17 Julia Sanchez, 17 question of the night. Like years prior, the crowned School graduated from/ School graduated from/ queen will receive a $1,000 headed to next: I will be a headed to next: Attending Paso scholarship, first runner-up will senior at Mission College Prep Robles High School as a senior receive a $500 scholarship, and in the fall. in the fall. second runner-up will receive Talent in the pageant: My Talent in the pageant: A a $250 scholarship. Addition- talent in the pageant is CPR bilingual poem. Favorite thing to do in SLO ally, Miss Congeniality and the and how to use it. highest points in all categories Favorite thing to do in SLO County: going to Pismo Beach receive $100. County: My favorite thing to and going to the farmers market Atascadero News asked this do in North County would be on Thursday in downtown SLO.
NEWS
CRIME
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
NORT H CO UNT Y — Recently, Atascadero News reported on a proposed power transmission line that sparked controversy among North
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NOTICE
Printing Error in Last Week’s Newspaper By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher
EVENTS
headed to next: I just graduated from Paso Robles High School, and in the fall, I will be attending Cuesta College to study law while taking my general education classes. Talent in the pageant: I will be performing a cheer/dance routine. Favorite thing to do in SLO County: My favorite thing to do in the North County would be going to Negranti’s Creamery with my friends or riding my dirt bike out in the country. Theme song for your life: My theme song to describe my life would be “Story of My Life” by One Direction. I will always be a 1D fan. Kali Stone, 20 School graduated from/ headed to next: I graduated from Fullerton High School, and recently I moved up here to start the next chapter of my life. In the fall, I’ll be starting CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
WEATHER
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WHEAT YIELDS Projection from California Farmers | A3
SEXUAL PREDATOR Re-Committed to State Hospital | A4
TRUCK MADNESS to Close out Mid-State Fair | B1
FOURTH OF JULY Photos of North County | B8
High 73° | Low 52°
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