GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXI, NO. XXXVIII
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Atascadero and Paso Robles players shake hands Friday night, Sept. 19, after Paso’s 49-14 Homecoming victory. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
Bearcats dominate Greyhounds in 97th rivalry showdown
Paso Robles overpowers Atascadero 49-14 on Homecoming night at War Memorial Stadium on Friday By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor in Chief
JoAnn (left) and Dave Davis will serve as this year’s Queen and King for Colony Days. Contributed photo
Colony Days crowns King, Queen, and Marshal Dave and JoAnn Davis named King and Queen, Mike Zappas named Marshal; festivities include the Colony Tea and a combined Parade and Fall Festival on Nov. 15 By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — This year, Atascadero is set to celebrate the 52nd annual Colony Days with recognition for three community leaders whose contributions have helped shape the city. Dave and JoAnn Davis have been named Colony Days King and Queen, recognizing their 67 years of marriage and a lifetime of service to Atascadero. Joining them in recognition,
Mike Zappas has been named Colony Days Marshal for his more than 30 years of work in preserving and developing Atascadero. This year’s festivities offer several ways for residents to join the celebration. The 47th annual Colony Tea, themed “Butterfly Drive — The Road to Atascadero,” will be held Sunday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Atascadero Bible Church Fellowship Hall for longtime residents 55 and older. The Chamber of Commerce will introduce the Colony Days Royals during its Oktober-
fest Mixer on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the Atascadero Lake Zoo Gardens. The city’s signature event, the Colony Days Parade and Festival, has moved to Saturday, Nov. 15 to coincide with the Fall Festival, bringing an expanded weekend of floats, marching bands, carnival rides, live music, and vendor booths downtown. Dave and JoAnn Davis have been named the 2025 Colony Days King and Queen. Married in 1958, they are the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
PASO ROBLES — The air was filled with anticipation at War Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 19, as the Paso Robles High School Bearcats faced off against their longtime rivals, the Atascadero Greyhounds, in the 97th chapter of one of San Luis Obispo County’s most storied high school football rivalries. Dating back to 1919, this century-old feud, interrupted only by World War II and near misses during the pandemic, has long been a cornerstone of community pride, with both teams battling for division titles, playoff berths, and even CIF championships. On this electric Homecoming night for Paso Robles, the Bearcats delivered a commanding
performance, rolling over the Greyhounds 49-14 in front of a packed house where every seat was taken and fans stood shoulder-to-shoulder to witness the clash of red and orange. The rivalry, one of the oldest on California’s Central Coast, thrives on its intensity and tradition. Beyond the field, the annual Paso Robles Rotary Club luncheon fosters camaraderie, bringing players from both schools together to promote sportsmanship and community spirit. For many, the game is personal — alumni often return as coaches, fueling the competition with memories of their own playing days. The series history is a rollercoaster of dominance and heartbreak, with no definitive all-time record but a clear pattern of momentum swings. Paso Robles owned a seven-year win streak from 2016 to 2023, with lopsided victories like 48-7 in 2019, powered by four rushing touchdowns from Gerald Norte, and 42-13 in 2021, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
City Council approves bonds for public safety projects Council also OKs subsidy for developer to start on Centennial Plaza project By MIKE CHALDU michael@atascaderonews.com
Tom Jermin Jr. (fourth from left) and Rick Jermin (middle, in green) of Templeton Feed & Grain post with first-responders and other city leaders at one of the fundraisers for the business last weekend. Photo by Ricke Evans/ATN
Templeton comes together for Feed & Grain’s future Weekend of food, music, and community raises funds to rebuild landmark lost to arson fire By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
TEMPLETON — Over the weekend, Templeton came together in a way that highlighted the spirit of smalltown America. Two major fundraisers — “One Town, One Table” on Friday, Sept. 19, and “The Grain Revival” on Sunday, Sept. 21 — not only generated critical funds for the rebuilding of Templeton Feed & Grain (TF&G) but also gave the community a chance to celebrate what the landmark had meant for generations.
The Jermin family, who have been operating TF&G for three generations, had their lives changed after the July 4 fire that destroyed the wooden grain silos, a familiar sight on Main Street for nearly 80 years. The fire was ruled an act of arson after illegal fireworks sparked an explosive blaze that burned for days and led to the silos’ demolition. Later, authorities confirmed the involvement of four juveniles, with the case turned over to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office. For many residents, the silos and the business behind them represented more than a feed store — they embodied Templeton’s identity. Families had posed for photos in front of the towering structures, and generations of local
youth had been supported by the Jermins through 4-H, FFA, and countless community causes. Abby Allen, manager of Templeton Market and Deli and one of the fundraiser organizers, reflected that TF&G was at the heart of Templeton. To her, the Jermins embodied old-fashioned values, the kind of neighbors whose word carried the weight of a promise. She and others on the planning committee felt strongly that the community needed a way to give back, not only to the family but also to honor what the Feed and Grain had represented. “I personally want to support this community that has such an impact on me personally and my business,” Allen shared with Atascadero News. “And I just feel like the Templeton Feed and
NEWS
BUSINESS
FIRE
Grain is the heart of that.” Planning for the two events began with a small group that quickly grew into a well-rounded committee. In just six weeks, the team managed to organize both gatherings. Volunteers and local businesses stepped forward with donations of equipment, printing, beverages, and auction items, many without being asked. “Honestly, I feel like God had a hand in this because we could not have handpicked a better committee to put on this fundraiser,” said Allen. On Sept. 19, more than 300 guests filled the historic TF&G site for “One Town, One Table.” A long outdoor dining table was set where the silos once stood, and neighbors CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
ATASCADERO — The long-awaited renovations to two fire stations and the main police station in Atascadero took a big step Tuesday, Sept. 23, as the Atascadero City Council approved the issuance of Atascadero Financing Authority Lease Revenue Bonds to pay for the project. The issuance of the bonds, which the council approved while also acting as the Atascadero Financing Authority, was one of two public hearings on construction projects in Atascadero. The other was a hearing to approve a $200,000 subsidy for the development of a mixed-use project surrounding the Centennial Walk near the Sunken Gardens, which was followed by the approval of the sale of the two vacant lots that will CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
WEATHER
atascaderonews.com X.com/ @AtascaderoNews facebook.com/ @AtascaderoNews
CONTAINED Santa Margarita | 3
HOMESITES Santa Margarita | 6
5 STAR Rain Gutters | 8 SEAMLESS GUTTERS FREE ATES ESTIM
5” SMOOTH FACE
5” OGEE
• Aluminum & Copper Gutters in over 70 Colors • Discounts to Contractors
6” OGEE
FASCIA
STRAIGHT FACE
5” HALF ROUND
• Service & Maintenance • 5-Year Work Warranty • Rain Chains • Senior Citizen Discounts
3226 EL CAMINO REAL, ATASCADERO (805) 461-3283 FiveStarRainGutters.com Lic. #876930 Bonded & Insured Workmans Comp, General Liability, Bonds
6” HALF ROUND
High 81° | Low 56°
5
67808 24135
7