GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXII, NO. XI
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
AUSD trustees get update on district budget
Board also gets report on firstyear Early College Program, and mulls over change in extracurricular GPA requirement By MIKE CHALDU michael@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District covered a few bases during its meeting on Tuesday, March 17, not the least of which was an update on the district’s current budget. Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Kendyl Darnell introduced the 20252026 Second Interim report for the reporting period ending on Jan. 31, 2026. The review is to certify the ability of the district to meet its financial obligations for the remainder of the current year and, based on current projections for the two subsequent fiscal years. Darnell began by stating the budget still has a status of “positive,” meaning the district is able to meet the financial obligations of that time frame. In reviewing the budget, Darnell noted the district reports an enrollment of 4,275 students, down 363 from the year before, CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Several members of the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office were honored during the department’s Annual Awards Ceremony on March 12 at the SLO Veterans Memorial Hall. Photo courtesy of the SLO Sheriff’s Office
Local law enforcement recognized for heroism and service Sheriff’s Office ceremony honors deputies, correctional staff, and volunteers for lifesaving actions and investigative achievements By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — On Thursday, March 12, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s Office held its Annual Awards Ceremony at the San Luis Obispo Veterans Memorial Hall, honoring members of the department for outstanding service, exceptional performance, and acts of bravery during 2025. The event recognized deputies, detectives, correctional staff, civilian personnel, and volunteers for their dedication to public safety and commitment to the community. “We have an embarrassment of riches as far as the
phenomenal work that our men and women do on the daily basis,” SLO County Undersheriff Chad Nicholson shared to open the ceremony. “We, in law enforcement, have a bad habit of not putting out the word every single day of all the positive things that are done. Life-changing things that are done by our men and women every single day ... I want to congratulate everybody on the awards that they’re going to receive today, all the employees of the year, all of our volunteers and their years of service.” The department’s Employees of the Year for 2025 were Correctional Deputy Joel Avila, Dispatcher III Clayton Cullen, and Deputy Jacob Gersh. Each demonstrated exceptional leadership, professionalism, and dedication in their respective roles, consistently going above and beyond to support both colleagues and the community. Among the highest honors presented was the Medal
of Valor, awarded to Deputy Bryan Martinez Guzman for his courageous response to a shooting incident near Templeton High School. During the event, Martinez confronted an armed suspect who had fired at deputies, successfully subduing the individual and preventing further harm. Several deputies and senior deputies, including Tyler Hammon, Jared Hamman, Jerrod Place, Mitchell Fessler, Dennis Coffee, Nicholas Jones, Joshua McClenathen, Dillon Little, and Matthew Shields, received Distinguished Service Medals for their coordinated and professional actions during the same incident. The Life Saving Medal was awarded to Correctional Deputies Misael Quintanar-Franco, Kobe Mohler, and Domonic Ponce, along with Deputies Diego Segovia, Nicholas Curley, and Nicholas Chapman. These awards recognized swift responses in life-threatening CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
(From left) Harrison Harbers, Dustin Keele, and Perry Tefft were judges for the chili competition that was part of the Templeton Historical Museum Society’s annual fundraising event on March 14. Photo by Camille DeVaul/ATN
Templeton Historical Museum turns up the heat with ‘Some Like It Hot’ Ranch branding and chili cookoff highlight the museum’s annual spring event By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
TEMPLETON — The Templeton Historical Museum Society hosted its annual fundraising event, “Some Like It Hot,” on Saturday, March 14, drawing community members to a day full of history, food, and fun. The event featured a ranch branding activity honoring local cattle ranchers, a chili competition showcasing the area’s best home cooks, and a vintage silent auction. This year marked a shift from past traditions. Instead of the usual blacksmithing demon-
stration, the museum incorporated brand burning, allowing participants to leave their mark on Templeton history. Guests without an existing brand could purchase a character, while chili tastings were available for $1 per sample. Participants could compete in the cookoff or simply enjoy sampling the wide variety of entries. Laura Lowe Brooks, chairperson of the museum, explained the reasoning behind the change. “Last year was a blacksmithing competition with blacksmiths from across the state. It’s a very labor-intensive event to put together,” Brooks said. “We were looking around the museum and realizing that all the 200-some odd brands that CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
COMMUNITY
Co-owner Donovan Schmit (second row left) welcomed a bunch of green-clad visitors to his Paso Robles bar, Pappy McGregor’s, on St. Patrick’s Day morning, including Downtown Main Street Association Executive Director Jeffry Weisinger (bottom right). Schmit and his partner, and cousin, Troy Larkin opened their business for the first time at 6 a.m. St. Patrick’s Day in 2006, and have continued that tradition every March 17. Photo by Camille DeVaul/ATN
Pappy McGregor’s celebrates 20 years of St. Patrick’s Day tradition Local pub continues to bring generations together in downtown Paso Robles By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
PASO ROBLES — Before the sun rises each March 17, a line begins to form along Pine Street. By 6 a.m., crowds dressed head-to-toe in green pack the sidewalk, eagerly waiting for the doors to open at Pappy McGregor’s. For 20 years,
NEWS
this early-morning ritual has marked not only St. Patrick’s Day, but also the anniversary of one of Paso Robles’ favorite gathering places. What began as an opening-day experiment in 2006 has grown into a can’t-miss annual celebration, drawing thousands of visitors throughout the day. Co-owner Donovan Schmit recalls the
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uncertainty leading up to that very first morning. He and his cousin and business partner Troy Larkin, had taken over the space just months earlier and decided to do something unconventional: open an Irish pub at 6 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day. “That first day, we didn’t understand if anybody would show up or everybody CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
WEATHER
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OPTIMIST Fishing Derby| A3
DEATH Ruled Accidental | A5
CENTRAL COAST Craft Beer Fest | A8
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