GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CVIII, NO. XXIV
THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2023
EUCATION
VETERANS
Trustee board approves board compensation increase of $14 a month in 5-2 vote Student Representative Olivia Otter thanked for her reports this year By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) met for its regularly scheduled school board meeting on Tuesday, June 6, at 7 p.m. The meeting took place in person at the Kenneth Beck Building. Since August 2022, the district has remained with in-person meetings only, without a live streaming option. All five trustees were present for the meeting. After Olivia Otter gave her Student Representative report, the trustees gave her a lovely bouquet of flowers and thanked her for a job well done, since it was her last meeting being on the board. During Oral Communications from the Public, two parents addressed the Board of Trustees and requested that their children who are attending charter schools get the option to be able to play sports on AUSD teams. They asked if the district would consider
applying for a multi-school membership to make that possible, and if it was a financial reason why they don’t allow it currently. Like in previous weeks, three teachers come forth worried about the sizes of classes, and that there have been rumors about combos on grade levels. They asked the trustees to make students and their learning a highest priority by keeping class sizes smaller. The minutes for the May 16 meeting passed unanimously. Trustee Rebekah Koznek pulled items 6, 7, and 8 from the Consent Agenda, which was the approval of new biology, chemistry, and physics textbooks. Assistant Superintendent of Educatonal Services E.J. Rossi clarified the need for the new textbooks before the full Consent Agenda was unanimously passed. Rossi then addressed the trustee board with the evening’s first Public Hearing: the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and Annual Update. Rossi briefly reviewed the plan, but has been presenting the LCAP over the last couple of meetings, and will CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
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(From left) Pat took third place, Jim and Alex Johnson won first, and David Kennedy took second place at the Elks Veteran’s Car Show on Father’s Day, June 18. Photo by Rick Evans
Elks Lodge hosts Veteran’s Car Show Fifty-four classic cars were shown off in the second annual event By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — On Father’s Day, Sunday, June 18, vintage and classic vehicle lovers headed out to the Atascadero Elks Lodge park-
MEMORIAL
ing lot for its second annual Veteran’s Car Show. The event brought in hundreds of North County residents, and tons of fun was had by all. “It actually went really good,” said Elks member Ronnie Maxwell, who helps put the car show together. “As you know, this was the second one. We decided to start one last year because we try to do
a few things during the year for vets. With the Elks, we really try to give back to the veterans.” The Elks Lodge spoiled our local veterans with a free breakfast cooked and served by the lodge’s members for any vets who wanted to partake in the yummy breakfast burritos they had on offer. “We had a lot of people that
showed, and everyone had a wonderful time,” Maxwell stated. Fifty-four beautiful cars and trucks filled the parking lot, and once the car show kicked off, everyone showing a vehicle was given a ticket to cast their vote for first, second, and third place. When the votes were tallied, they announced CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
POWER & ENERGY
Transmission Line Proposal: What is it and why are residents fighting against it?
Charles ‘Cap’ Capper’s life celebrated with military honors memorial
Issues cited include aesthetics, harm to business and property values, and increased fire risk
Capper was over 100 years old at the time of his passing
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — At Atascadero Cemetery on Saturday, June 17, at 11 a.m., Charles “Cap” Capper received full military honors. His four surviving grandchildren and six surviving great-grandchildren were in attendance as well as a group of his neighbors and friends from the community. Capper was born in Illinois on Sept. 2, 1922, and passed away 100 and a half years later on March 6, 2023. Capper, a staple in the Atascadero community for the last 51 years, devoted his life to the
city and his friends and family here. “Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow soldiers and I are here to render final military honors to the following comrade. Military honors will consist of the playing of taps, unfolding/ refolding, and presentation of the flag,” said the the sergeant of the guard after the Invoca/
tion was given by Chaplain Jesse Sykes. A moving and emotional rendition of taps was then played in memory of Capper and all he did for the U.S. military when he fought overseas as an Army corporal in World War II. The honor guard and sergeant of the guard then
NEWS
COMMUNITY
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
The honor guard unfolds and refolds the American flag in honor of Charles Capper during Capper’s funeral in Atascadero. Photo by Christianna Marks/ATN
CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
PASO ROBLES — A proposed power transmission line in Paso Robles has sparked strong opposition from residents in North County. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is seeking approval to construct a new 70 kV transmission line and substation, but local residents are voicing concerns about its potential impact on the community. The project, known as the Estrella Substation and Paso Robles Reinforcement Project, aims to enhance power reliability for residents from Paso Robles to Santa Margarita. It includes upgrades to the existing Estrella Substation and the connection of various transmission lines. According to Trans-
EVENTS
This map shows where a proposed power transmission line would go in San Luis Obispo County. Contributed Photo
formers Magazine, the project would also involve upgrading a portion of the San MiguelPaso Robles 70 kV transmission line and making reliability upgrades to the Templeton, San Miguel, and Paso Robles substations. However, many residents are opposing the proposed project due to its potential implications for the community. One of the major concerns is the visual impact of the trans-
mission lines, which would reach heights of up to 90 feet. The prospect of power lines running directly through the city raises worries about the negative effects on the city’s aesthetics, potential harm to businesses and property values, and increased risk of fire hazard. Residents and business owners have formed an organization, Citizens for a Safe CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
WEATHER
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