GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CVIII, NO. XI
THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
AWARDS
Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Honors Outstanding Community Leaders
2023 Citizen of the Year winner Mike Zappas (left), Lifetime Achievement Award winner Larry Wysong (top right) and Woman of Influence winner Kyla Skinner are recognized this week for their contributions to the community. Photo of Zappas by Rick Evans, Wysong by Christianna Marks, and Skinner is contributed
Awards bring together Atascadero’s best and brightest to celebrate community spirit and service By CHRISTIANNA MARKS and CAMILLE DEVAUL
O
ver the years, the awards presented by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce included the highly coveted Atascadero Citi-
zen of the Year award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, civic engagement, and dedication to the community. The Lifetime Achievement award was given to an individual who has made significant
contributions to the community over a lifetime, while the Woman of Influence award recognized a female leader who has had a significant impact on Atascadero. In addition, the Community Organization of the Year award
was presented to a nonprofit organization that has made a significant impact on the community, and the Business of the Year award recognized a local business that has demonstrated outstanding performance, growth, and community
involvement, which we will highlight in next week’s paper. This year’s award recipients, who represent a diverse range of individuals and organizations, have all made extraordinary contributions to improve the quality of life in Atascadero,
WATER
Powerful Storm System Fills Lopez Lake, Threatens First Spill in 25 Years
The wall made its first stop of 2023 at the Madonna Meadows last weekend
San Luis Obispo County officials prepare for potential flooding as multiple reservoirs reach capacity
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
LOCAL NEWS
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MEMORIAL
Veterans Remember Those Lost at ‘Wall that Heals’
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The “Wall That Heals” made its way to the Madonna Meadows in San Luis Obispo last weekend as the wall’s first stop on its 2023 tour. From March 16-19, the wall displayed the names of 58,281 men and women who lost their lives serving their country in the Vietnam War. The wall
making it a better place to live, work, and play. We are honored to partner with the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce to announce this year’s winners and celebrate their outstanding achievements.
Ron Mullison is shown at the “Wall That Heals” display searching names on the wall. Photo by Camille DeVaul
stands as a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. The wall was last at the Madonna Meadows five years ago and the location is the first ever where the wall has returned for a second visit. SLO County Veteran Services Officer Morgan
Boyd told Paso Robles Press/ Atascadero News the county was approached to host the wall again about 18 months ago. After completing the vigorous application process, the county was given the green light in December 2022 to host the wall.
“There’s a lot of things that we had to pull together quickly and we were able to do that with the support of the community,” said Boyd, who hosts the event alongside the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum. There were over 60 sponsors
for the wall, including the SLO County Board of Supervisors, Madonna Inn, and the Legacy Wellness Center located in Nipomo. On Tuesday, March 14, the wall was escorted from Camp Roberts in San Miguel to the Madonna Inn. Despite
CRIME
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
EDUCATION
WEATHER
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By HAYLEY MATTSON and CAMILLE DEVAUL
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — A powerful storm system has been pummeling the Central Coast once again with heavy winds and rainfall throughout the week. According to the latest CONTINUED ON PAGE A6
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WADE HORTON Resigns Unexpectedly After Eight Years | A3
NARCOTICS BUST Leads to Two Arrests in Grover Beach | A4
CHAMBER GALA AMS ROBOTICS Dinner and Awards Tickets Team Competes in VEX IQ on Sale for April | B1 State Finals | B8
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