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THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2024
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Atascadero celebrates high school CIF champions and FFA state champions with parade
School Board presented with future budget update 2024 AUSD retirees recognized By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
School board trustees and City Council members came out to celebrate Atascadero’s CIF and FFA state champions. Photo by Rick Evans
Twenty-three students were honored on the steps of City Hall By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — On the afternoon of Tuesday, June 4, the Atascadero High School (AHS) athletics community celebrated CIF champions in wrestling, track and field, and volleyball, as well as FFA state champions, with a parade. The parade started at the high school and landed the students on the steps of City Hall. The Atascadero Police Department
and Fire Department drove the students to City Hall in police and fire vehicles, including the APD classic 1955 Chevrolet police car leading the way. “ Welcome, champions, to City Hall. Your city is so, so proud of you,” said City Manager Jim Lewis once everyone had arrived. Six of AUSD’s school board trustees, including Rebekah Koznek, Denise McGrewKane, Corinne Kuhnle, Vy Pierce, and Treasurer Tracy Ellis-Weit, were there to celebrate alongside the community. Superintendent Tom Butler was also there to cele-
brate with the community. “A lot goes into a championship. These students have worked very hard. The students have to maintain high academic achievement and maintain great citizenship,” stated Butler. In addition, City Councilmembers Mark Dariz, Charles Bourbeau, Heather Newsom, Mayor Pro Tem Susan Funk, and Mayor Heather Moreno were also in attendance. “You have put in a lot of hard work. Many, many, many practices and late nights, you had to keep up your grades, keep going to class, and do
Sold out Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest expands festivities to include more locals
The FWIBF featured 68 breweries from all over the world By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
PASO ROBLES—The sold-out Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival (FWIBF) returned to the Paso Robles Event Center for its 11th annual year on Saturday, June 1. But that wasn’t all: This year, the Firestone Walker team expanded its programming, which started on Tuesday, May 28, and went through Sunday, June 2. May 28-30 was a San Luis Obispo Countywide pub crawl that started in San Luis Obispo and Pismo before heading north to Paso Robles and concluding at the final destination of Ancient Owl
the homework. Of course, we can’t forget the families that supported you all during this,” stated Mayor Heather Moreno. “We are always impressed by such top-notch performances, and we here at the city are excited and honored to be a part of this much-deserved celebration.” The high school band was also on the steps of City Hall, and Mya Nelson, an Atascadero High School Choir member, sang the national anthem. Division 2 girls CIF wrestling champion Emma Garrett and Division 3 boys CIF wrestling champion Kayden Pryor
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Beer Garden in Atascadero on the 30th. “You really do feel like you’re a little bit special when you get invited to be a part of this,” said Scotty Hargrave, the Brewmaster at Balter Brewing from Australia, at the event at Ancient Owl. “There’s a whole bunch of great brewers from all around the world. Obviously, a lot of friends here in the U.S. who are magnificent brewers, and there’s just so much good beer this weekend.” Hargrave has been coming out for the FWIBF since 2019 and also commented on the hospitality he’s been shown every time he and his beers make the long trek to the Central Coast. “Events like this, I think, remind all of us about having fun and the joy that you get to share, the hospitality, the thrill that you have sharing your The medal winners of the 10th annual LIGHTHOUSE 5K Fun Run are shown after the race. Photo by Lori Sortino passion for the craft,” stated FWIBF first-timer CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 Ben Edmunds,
LIGHTHOUSE Atascadero 5K Fun Run returns for 10th year and new venue
The event saw 375 runners coming out to support the antidrug organization
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
(From left) Brewmaster Matt Brynildson and David Walker make a toast at the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival. Photo provided by Firestone Walker
COUNTY NEWS
were both honored. “Kayden Pryor is obviously a talented wrestler, but what sets him apart from the others is his will and determination to get better on a daily basis. There is no offseason for him,” said wrestling coach Dan Loney. About Garrett, Loney had to say, “Emma is an extremely hard-working individual with a great attitude towards daily improvement.” Keira Taylor was also a CIF champion this year for the track and field team, reigning supreme in both Divison 2 discus and shotput.
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) Board of Trustees met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 4, at 7 p.m. President Terri Switzer was absent. The meeting was run by Treasurer Tracy Ellis-Weit. At the start of the meeting, retirees from the AUSD were celebrated for their time at multiple schools throughout the district. “It’s really an evening to thank you, to recognize these tremendous careers that have taken place in our school district and have made this positive and lasting impact on the students we serve,” said Superintendant Tom Butler. “It’s always one of those bittersweet moments. We’ve got deep friendships, we know how talented this group is, and we know you just can’t replace them. However, we’re equally happy to see them go on and have this other opportunity to retire and pursue other interests in their lives.” At the meeting, Atascadero Middle School Principal
NORTH COUNTY NEWS
ATASCADERO — The 10th annual LIGHTHOUSE 5K Fun Run was back and bigger than ever this year. The race took off on Sunday, June 2, at 8 a.m., and this year, the runners and walkers had a new track to kick dirt up on. Oyster Ridge Event Venue kindly
SPORTS
offered up their space in Santa Margarita, and participants who have joined the race for years commented that this was the best one yet. For the last two years, the 5K took place at the Santa Margarita Ranch Education Center. “The Santa Margarita Ranch Education Center is very rural and rugged. The beauty of that property was that people got to run on property that you don’t ever usually get to access. But this other property is all groomed, ready for events, and they offered it to us,” said Race
Director and LIGHTHOUSE Atascadero Board Member Lori Bagby. This year, the Fun Run saw more runners than ever, with over 100 more registering than last year. The grand total of participants was 375, which included the kid races. Everyone who came out was there to support LIGHTHOUSE Atascadero, which is made up of a merger of LIGHTHOUSE and The Atascadero Greyhound Foundation that took place earlier this year. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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