GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CX, NO. XII
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2025
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Weekly Wrap up: Heartbreak and Heroism
City Council gets annual update on local housing plan
From the tragic loss of José Gutiérrez to the tense standoff in Templeton, the community is grappling with devastating events
Meeting begins with moment of silence for 11-year-old traffic accident victim José Gutiérrez
By HAYLEY MATTSON
By MIKE CHALDU
A scheduled bail hearing for Zachary Bernal, the man accused in the deadly hit-and-run that took the life of 11-year-old José Gutiérrez, was removed from the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court calendar on Monday. As a result, Bernal will remain in custody with bail set at $1 million, an amount previously determined by a different judge. The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the decision ensures Bernal remains behind bars. The next step in the legal process will be a pre-preliminary hearing for Bernal, though a date has yet to be confirmed. Bernal, 31, faces multiple charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony hit-and-run, and a misdemeanor charge for possession of fentanyl. He is accused of driving under the influence and fatally striking José while the boy was walking home from school along El Camino Real in Atascadero earlier this month. The tragic incident occurred in the 10800 block of El Camino Real, where witnesses reported seeing a gray Dodge Ram hit
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council heard a progress report from Community Development Director Phil Dunsmore on the city’s General Plan and Housing Element its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 25. Before that, the meeting, which ran just 55 minutes, began with Mayor Charles Bourbeau expressing his condolences for 11-year-old José Gutiérrez, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident on Friday, March 14. The young boy was walking along El Camino Real when he fatally struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene. Authorities swiftly launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of 31-year-old Zachary Bernal of Atascadero in connection with the fatal collision. “Our thoughts are with José’s family who must now deal with grief and loss that most of us can only imagine,” Bourbeau said. The mayor also went to express gratitude for the first responders and citizens who tended to the scene, the police department investigating the incident and finding the hit-and-run driver, and
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A group of revelers live it up March 22 at the Central Coast Craft Beer Festival at Atascadero’s Sunken Gardens. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
Central Coast Craft Beer Festival brings community and brewers together Over 60 craft breweries, ciders, and wineries gathered at Sunken Gardens By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
NORTH COUNTY — The Central Coast Craft Beer Festival hosted over 60 independently owned craft breweries, ciders, seltzers, and wineries on Saturday, March 22, at the Sunken Gardens in Atascadero. Hosted by the Central Coast Brewers Guild and presented by Visit Atascadero, the Central Coast Craft Beer Festival has become one of the best craft beer festivals on the Central Coast. Michael Hughs, a wholesaler for Colony Mash Brewing Co., said of the festival, “It has been
absolutely amazing today. Everybody’s been so wonderful and friendly and I just love seeing our awesome community from all [over].” The theme for this year’s event, “Support the Craft Beer Revolution,” was a present reminder to guests and the public to continue to support local craft breweries. This year was an invitational aspect, and Central Coast Brewers Guild members were able to invite other independently owned craft breweries from outside the tri-counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. Some of those breweries include Green Cheek
Beer Co. (Orange); Los Molinos Beer Co. (San Clemente); Pizza Port Brewing Co. (San Diego); Crow and Wolf Brewing (Clovis); and Ballast Point (San Diego). Entertainment at the festival included the 90s Babiez out of Ventura, local reggae band Resination, and DJ Manuel Barbara from Traffic Records, along with plenty of great merchandise and food options, and everyone always must try Mega-Sized Beer Pong. Enjoying the sunny day, Sunken Gardens was packed with not only guests from out of town but many locals who
came out to enjoy the festival. And despite being a beer festival, ciders and seltzers were also welcome. “This is our favorite festival to do. We couldn’t not be here,” Cody Morrison with Tin City Cider told Atascadero News. Tin City Cider offered its wellknown Polly Dolly on tap — a unique blend of cider and rosé. Also offered was a new release, Castaway, which had a unique blend of papaya and feijoa. “We have a lot of locals coming through,” Morrison said during the festival. “They’ve been to the tap house, they’re excited to be CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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SLO County Cattlemen gather for 81st annual spring meeting at Event Center Debbie Arnold honored with congressional award and beef trade and tariff impacts discussed By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
PASO ROBLES — Cattlemen and women from across San Luis Obispo County came together on Thursday, March 20, for the 81st annual San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association Spring meeting at the Paso Robles Event Center. The meeting discussed not only the issues facing the industry but also their successes. Recently retired SLO County Supervisor Debbie Arnold was even honored with a congressional award for her efforts in the industry. United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-19) presented Arnold with the award at the meeting. “One of the few perks that we have at this job is that we get to recognize people who’ve done a lot for our community, recognize those public servants who have contributed basically their
Luis Obispo County for countless generations.” The SLO County Cattlemen’s Association is a nonprofit organization representing ranchers and beef producers in legislative and regulatory affairs. It also supports the local, state, and national industries through beef Contestants in the blacksmithing are shown in action during the “Some Like It Hot” event March 15 at Templeton Historical Museum. In addition to the blacksmithing promotion and education. The spring meeting included competition, the museum also hosted a chili cook-off. Photo by Camille DeVaul/ATN many guest speakers covering various topics, including Kevin Kester, Bill Dale, Panetta, and more. Topics included how the auctioned off at the end of bird flu affects the dairy indus- Templeton Historical try, the California Beef Coun- Museum hosted its first the day. Additionally, locals competed in a chili cook-off, and cil’s efforts to get local beef into ‘Some Like It Hot’ event the community voted for their school district cafeteria menus, favorite dishes. how ranchers can reduce wild- fundraiser The resident blacksmith at fire risks on their land, and even By CAMILLE DEVAUL the museum, David Thayer, how wolves are impacting cattle camille@atascaderonews.com was inspired to create the ranchers, especially in Northern California. TEMPLETON — It was hot blacksmithing competition in Former National Cattlemen’s down in Templeton on Satur- Templeton based on some other Beef Association Kevin Kester day, March 15, but not because events in the state involved with focused on some national issues of the weather. The Templeton the California Blacksmith Assoimpacting the beef industry. Historical Museum hosted its ciation (CBA). Thayer noticed Specifically, Kester addressed first “Some Like it Hot” event the Central Coast was lacking how future tariffs will be impact- — a blacksmithing competition in an event to bring blacksmiths and chili cook-off with proceeds together and thought this would ing American beef. be a good opportunity to do just “Beef trade across the world benefitting the museum. Teams of professional black- that. represents about $425 to $450 As resident blacksmith at the per fed steer and heifer in the smithing artists not only from country ... it represents 15 to 20% the county but also from all museum, Thayer is responsible of value for each yearling that you over the state came to compete for taking care of the blacksmith CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 in the event, with their creations
Templeton heats up with blacksmithing and chili cook-off
The latest SLO County Cattlemen spring meeting saw recently retired SLO County Supervisor Debbie Arnold getting a congressional award, presented by U.S. District 19 Rep. Jimmy Panetta for her efforts in the industry. Photo by Camille DeVaul/ATN
heart and soul into their job,” said Panetta. Arnold retired in December 2024 after serving 12 years as an SLO County supervisor. Taken by surprise by the award, Arnold was full of sentimental emotion. “Mrs. Arnold’s actions were guided by principal and integrity, giving her the courage to advo-
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cate for constituents even when faced with adversity. Supervisor Arnold’s records shows her to be an exemplary champion for local farmers, ranchers and local business owners,” Panetta continued. “The people of her community in California’s 19th Congressional District thank her for her work. Her impact will be felt in San
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