GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXVI, NO. XLVII
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2026
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Liberty High to launch Public Safety Career Pathway this fall New CTE program will offer certifications, drone training, and career-ready skills for incoming freshmen By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — A new Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathway is coming to Liberty High School this August. During the Tuesday, April 28, Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) meeting, trustees learned about the Public Safety Pathway that is going to give students a head start on careers after high school. Liberty students currently only have one CTE pathway on campus — the patient care pathway that is in its second year on campus. PRJUSD College and Career Coordinator Megan Cannon explained to trustees that starting with the incoming freshman this fall, students will be encouraged to complete a CTE pathway. With that goal set, it’s important the campus is able to build up the CTE courses available to its students.
“We need to build out some of those opportunities for our students at Alt. Ed. and provide them the better opportunities, the certifications, the career readiness for when they graduate,” Cannon said. To develop the new pathway, staff issued a survey to students that identified business and public safety as their top interests. From there, staff looked at industry needs, finding public safety has a projected growth of 3.7% in the upcoming five years. They then met with the Liberty High School Leadership Class for input. Public Safety then came out on top as a priority Paso Robles High School students and faculty, and school district officials, celebrate the April 24 ribbon-cutting of the school’s new Agriculture Barn. Photo by Camille pathway to create. DeVaul/PRP Staff has developed two courses within the pathway to prepare students for careers in public safety and related fields. The first, Public Safety Careers (Concentrator Course), introduces students to job exploration and career requirements Modern climate-controlled facility expands hands-on learning and strengthens student while emphasizing health and livestock program fitness standards, ethics, and is a fully enclosed, temperature-regu- animals, expand opportunities for students, civic responsibility within the By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com lated structure, and is intended to signifi- and create a space that can be used yearcommunity. Students also have cantly enhance both student learning and round for instruction and community the opportunity to earn relevant PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles Joint animal care within the school’s agriculture engagement.” certifications, including Basic Clark said the new facility will allow Life Support (BLS), Commu- Unified School District celebrated a mile- program. For agriculture department chair Teresa the program to expand hands-on learning CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 stone in agricultural education on Friday, April 24, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Clark, the opening is the realization of a opportunities while also improving condifor the new Agriculture Barn at Paso long-held vision. tions for livestock, particularly animals that Robles High School. “This new barn represents a major step are more sensitive to temperature changes. The new facility represents years of forward for our agriculture program,” said The barn’s design also addresses CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 planning and anticipation. The new barn Clark. “It allows us to better care for our
Paso Robles High School unveils new agriculture barn
Paso Robles City Councilmember Steve Gregory (center) and his wife Dawn (left) were two of the attendees at ECHO’s Empty Bowls fundraiser on April 22. Photo by Camille DeVaul/PRP
Empty Bowls serves up support for ECHO Annual fundraiser brings in nearly $100,000 for shelters, outreach, and prevention programs By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PA S O RO B LES — Community members gathered in Paso Robles on Wednesday, April 22, for ECHO’s annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, raising nearly $100,000 to support services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Hosted at Studios on the Park, the sold-out event provided critical funding for El Camino Homeless Organization’s (ECHO) programs, inc luding its 130-bed, 90-day emergency shelter, outreach efforts and homeles-
sness prevention services. “It’s the third time we’ve had [Empty Bowls] here in Paso Robles, and we’re at the most beautiful venue, Studios on the Park,” Wendy Lewis, CEO of ECHO, told Paso Robles Press at the event. “They donate the space and help the event be successful. We’re raising funds to provide the critical resources that the group does, those resources that really change lives for the better, and help people on a pathway back into housing.” So far in 2026, ECHO has helped more than 100 individuals and families secure and maintain stable housing. Through comprehensive services such as case management, financial literacy, workforce training, and individualized support, the orgaCONTINUED ON PAGE A2
COMMUNITY
Participants at Shale Oak Winery during Wine 4 Paws 2026 pose for a group photo. Photo courtesy of Wine 4 Paws
Wine 4 Paws uncorks community support across San Luis Obispo County More than 75 businesses join forces to support Woods Humane Society during peak puppy and kitten season By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
NORTH COUNTY — Lovers of wine and animals across San Luis Obispo County came together April 25-26 for the annual Wine 4 Paws fundraiser, transforming a weekend of wine tasting and local shop-
SPORTS
ping into meaningful support for animals in need. Now in its 18th year, Wine 4 Paws has grown into a countywide tradition, with more than 75 wineries, olive oil producers, restaurants, and retail shops participating. Each pledged to donate 10 percent of their weekend sales, turning everyday
BUSINESS
purchases into contributions that directly support homeless dogs and cats. Since its founding in 2009, the event has raised more than $750,000 for the nonprofit. Despite less-than-ideal weather, this year’s turnout remained strong. Event organizer and founder Sarah Tomasetti shared with
Paso Robles Press, “We had a great turnout this year despite the weather, with the wineries reporting very successful weekends. We were once again encouraged by all the locals who come out year after year, as well as people from out of town who plan their Wine 4 Paws Weekend visit each year.” CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
WEATHER
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