GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CVIII, NO. XXV
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023
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SLO County welcomes new civil grand jury to court
Council Atascadero Lakeside Wine votes yes on Festival Returns for 26th Year broadband infrastructure
Outgoing grand jury releases five reports
Joe Allen announced as the new interim police chief
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — On Friday, June 23, San Luis Obispo (SLO) County welcomed a new grand jury. Fifteen new jurors and four returning members were sworn in on Friday to the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. The grand jury’s main function is to scrutinize local government, ensuring honesty, efficiency, and proper use of county funds. Composed of citizens, it investigates public offenses and addresses civil concerns within the county, as mandated by Penal Code Section (PC) § 888. A new grand jury is introduced every year in SLO County and composed on 19 citizens. Its term runs with the county’s fiscal year, July 1 to June 30, 2024. All members on the jury must be a citizen of SLO County for at least one year. The grand jury system traces its roots back to Norman England, where sworn neighCONTINUED ON PAGE A7
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
Wine lovers enjoy the 26th Annual Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
Over 70 wineries, breweries, and cideries poured at the event By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Wine enthusiasts headed out to the Atascadero Lake Park on Saturday, June 24, from 4 to 8 p.m. to attend the
NEWS TEAM
26th Annual Lakeside Wine Festival. The local wine festival boasted over 70 wineries, breweries, and cideries pouring for everyone who attended on the beautiful summer evening. “We finally had this beautiful weather, and it was just so sweet. Matter of fact, even a baby flamingo was hatched that morning of the wine fest.
That’s just the unique, amazing aspect of this wine festival. It’s local. How many other wine festivals do you get to go and be in a zoo for Roar-andPour,” said the Lakeside Wine Fest’s Volunteer Coordinator Dawn Smith. “It was a sweet summer evening, and people had such a nice time.” In addition to all the original fun of the festival, this
year’s fest introduced its wine lovers to “Roar-andPour,” where you could sip your beverage of choice while exploring all the Charles Paddock Zoo has to offer. On top of the delightful animals held in the Charles Paddock Zoo, this year’s fest had lots of new entertainment on offer. 3 Drink Minimum CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
ATA S CA D ERO —T h e Atascadero City Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 27, at 6 p.m. The hybrid meeting was held in the City Council Chambers. The agenda for the evening passed with a unanimous vote. “Before we move on, I want to welcome back and introduce, if you don’t already know him, our interim Chief of Police, Joe Allen,” said Mayor Heather Moreno. “Joe Allen was with us for many years and retired a few years back as commander, and we’re glad to have him back for this interim position.” As of now, the city is still searching for the perfect fit for a permanent police chief for Atascadero. The Consent Calendar also passed unanimously after Moreno pulled item number four: Reject Construction Bid CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
FUNDRAISER
Templeton Recreation Foundation raises funds through annual beer run at BarrelHouse Community members participated in 5K Beer Run to support Templeton Recreation Department
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
Stopping for a quick team photo, the 13 Stars Media Production team (from left) Neil Schumaker, Evan Rodda, Jen Rodman, Cami Martin, Nic Mattson, and Anthony Atkins, stand together on the back porch of the office just before turning on the generator. Photo by Hayley Mattson
Undeterred by Outage The Atascadero News delivers weekly newspaper, despite losing power By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Amidst a widespread power outage in Atascadero, the devoted team at The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press upheld their
NEWS
commitment to delivering the community’s weekly newspaper. Demonstrating unwavering determination, they faced numerous obstacles head-on, surpassing all expectations to meet the printing deadline. The cause of the power outage was still undetermined at the time of press. However, according to PG&E Spokesperson Carina Corral, the outage CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
CRIME
TEMPLETON — Runners and walkers alike arose early and met at BarrelHouse Brewing Company Saturday morning, June 24, all in the name of beer and supporting local youth programs. Over 110 community members participated in the 6th Annual Templeton 5K Beer Run to support the Templeton Recreation Department. The Beer Run was introduced by the Templeton Recreation Foundation (TRF) in 2016. Initially considering a wine-country run, the idea for a beer run gained traction, and the TRF approached the Carvalho family, co-owners of BarrelHouse Brewing Company, to collaborate
on the event. TRF President Geoff English, told Atascadero News, “Our mission is to raise funds and provide assistance to the Templeton Recreation Department and parks in Templeton, and we put on a variety of fundraisers throughout the year.”
The Templeton REC Foundation, registered as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, works to bridge the funding gap for the Templeton Recreation Department. Their efforts aim to maintain existing parks and sports fields while developing new facilities for the community’s
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
EVENTS
WEATHER
Participants in the Templeton 5K Beer Run enjoy some cold ones on Saturday, June 24, after completing the run at BarrelHouse Brewing Company in Templeton. Photo by Derek Luff/ATN
recreational needs. Thanks to fundraising endeavors like the Beer Run, the foundation has sponsored programs such as sports team sponsorships, the Templeton Summer Concerts in the Park program, and amenities enhancements like shade covers and picnic tables.
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WHEAT YIELDS Projection from California Farmers | A3
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PEACHY CANYON Named Winery of the Year at CCC | B1
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