GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXVI, NO. XXXII
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
PRJUSD trustees agree to hold information item on transgender policies Following public comment, board agrees to add an informational item addressing student concerns and legal requirements By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
Estrella Warbirds Museum Board President Ren Stelloh gets ready to cut the ribbon for the museum’s two building expansions to honor Herman Pfauter and Harold “Hal” Bauer. Pfauter is seen at left (with walker) and Margi Bauer, Hal’s widow, is at far right. Photo by Camille DeVaul
Estrella Warbirds Museum opens expansions to honor Pfauter and Bauer New additions to motorpool building and Hangar 1 expand public displays and commemorate two legacies rooted in World War II history By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The Estrella Warbirds Museum celebrated a milestone moment on Wednesday, Jan. 7, with the official opening and recognition of two facility expansions: the Pfauter Red Ball Motorpool Building and Hangar 1, now dedicated as the Bauer Aviators Memorial Hangar. Herman Pfauter, whose renowned collection of expertly restored World War II vehicles anchors the Red Ball Motorpool, attended the opening alongside members of his family. The newly completed Pfauter Building extension allows the museum to display additional vehicles from Pfauter’s collection, many of which trace the logistical backbone of Allied forces during World War II. Speaking at the ceremony, Pfauter reflected on his life-long journey as a collector and historian, beginning with his childhood in wartime Germany and culminating in the preservation of American-built military vehicles. “It is a very special moment for me to stand here at 90 years and see this expansion added to the museum. It means a lot
to me,” Pfauter said. Pfauter recounted growing up in Southeastern State of Saxony; he was barely affected by WWII until 1943, when Allied bombings forced his family to move further south near the Czech border. There, they were liberated by the Soviet Red Army on May 8, 1945. He remembers their wheeled equipment was mostly American-made: Willys Jeeps and Studebakers 2 1/2 ton 6X6 trucks. Pfauter said that when it became known that Germany was to be split into zones, British friends of his father helped the family flee to the British Zone on a British military train. From there, they moved to Southern Germany, where he acquired his first heavy motorcycle, a Zuendapp KS 750 with a powered sidecar, a former German military bike. Once he got a bike license, he was off to explore Western Europe. Pfauter graduated from high school in Ludwigsburg, Southern Germany, a former German military town that later became a major American base known as “Pattonville.” Immersed in American culture, he developed a passion for U.S. vehicles, purchasing several, including a 1942 Willys MB Jeep, a 1944 Dodge WC-52, and a 1942 Chevrolet. These experiences inspired
his decision to immigrate to the United States. In November 1949, Pfauter secretly left Germany aboard a Norwegian freighter bound for New York. He began working as a car mechanic in Massachusetts while also driving a Checker taxi to supplement his income. Encouraged by his father to seek better opportunities, he moved west to California and enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Bachelor of Business degree. He supported himself through various jobs, including mechanic work, parking garage management, and lifeguarding. Pfauter later completed a master’s degree in economics and earned a teaching credential, accepting a faculty position at Rio Hondo College in Whittier in 1967. After the Iron Curtain opened, he began traveling extensively throughout Europe with his wife, acquiring surplus American World War II military vehicles. Focusing on U.S.-built trucks and Jeeps for their durability and repairability, Pfauter assembled a remarkable collection, including a rare 1945 GMC CCKW with just 3,000 miles. “I am deeply grateful that this museum, and now this new addition to the Red Ball CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
PASO ROBLES — Students and community members again came forward during the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) meeting, held on Tuesday, Jan. 13, to express concerns over the district’s policy on transgender students using the girls’ locker rooms, restrooms, and participating in girls’ sports at Paso Robles High School (PRHS). Over the past few months, parents, students, trustees, and district administrators have weighed in on campus safety, bathroom use, and the board’s repeated debates over state-mandated protections involving transgender student policies. Aster Watson, president of the PRHS Queer Student Union, addressed trustees about the fear they feel every day and the bullying they receive from other students. He added that his fears were based on experience, and not hypothetical situations the other side of the aisle holds concerns over. “These are things that have actually happened to me, not assumptions of what might happen,” Watson said. “I received support from my teachers, but other school staff seemed to take no action on my behalf ... I felt like my experiences didn’t matter ... most of all I felt unsafe. I hold fear for my safety on campus for reasons that are based in experience and fact.” He added that while there is a sexual harassment issue on campus, it has nothing to do with the transgender students. “No problem will be solved by focusing on trans students because we aren’t the problem,” Watson said. “The true issue is systemic and repetitive leniency from staff, who in their inaction, affirm the belief that PRJUSD will not take disciplinary action against students who have committed acts of
harassment and bullying.” PRHS student and tennis player Addison Long addressed trustees, saying she feels uncomfortable with a male student participating on the girls tennis team or on girls sports teams in general. “During our varsity tennis season, we didn’t use our locker rooms to change before practices and matches,” Long said. “We would go to the restroom, and this student would change with our team present, which was disrespectful to our privacy.” She also wanted to tell trustees that it is hard for students to speak up about situations that involve transgender students. “When we do speak, we are often labeled as insensitive or told our concerns don’t matter, but our discomfort is real, and it deserves to be acknowledged,” Long said. “No student should feel pressured to stay silent when their privacy and dignity are just being compromised.” Trustee Kenney Enney again asked trustees to consider a possible compromise for students and to place the issue on a future agenda for discussion. Trustee Jim Cogan said he thinks the board should wait until the Supreme Court takes action before the district makes any kind of resolution. He added, “I do appreciate and am a little protective of all of our students, even the ones I disagree with. I hope that any student who comes and speaks feels comfortable doing so and feels appreciated and heard. I think it’s a good learning experience to know that being heard does not mean being agreed with.” However, Trustee Leo Castillo agreed to having an informational item placed on the agenda so that the board and community can know other situations that have been reported, and also eliminate any fear students may have around CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Local Indivisible coalitions hold vigils, protest walks calling for abolishment of ICE SLO County sheriff and district attorney respond to recent criticism By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
NORTH COUNTY — Several local coalitions under the national organization Indivisible held protest walks and vigils over the past weekend, asking for the abolishment of ICE. The “call to action” comes after Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7 by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. On Sunday, Jan. 11, people gathered at Atascadero Lake Pavilion for a protest walk around the lake, followed by a candlelight vigil honoring Good and other individuals who they say were killed by ICE in 2025. Paso Robles Press spoke with Linda Baker, a member of the Indivisible SLO County Rapid Response Team. She was the lead organizer of the Jan. 11 event. Baker explained that the events over the weekend protesting ICE were planned by the national branch of Indivisible. “We’re honoring Renee Nicole Good, who was killed, and also
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all of the other people that have been killed by ICE in 2025,” Baker explained. “There’s some 37 of them. Some died on the street, like Renee did. Most of them died in detention centers. We’re honoring their memory.” Indivisible was formed when President Donald Trump was elected for his first term in 2016. They are described as a progressive grassroots movement, focused on strengthening what it describes as a real democracy “of, by, and for the people.” Originating from the Indivisible Guide, the movement has grown into a nationwide network of thousands of autonomous local groups and millions of activists who organize community-based actions and advocate for progressive policies. Local Indivisible coalitions include: Avila Beach Indivisible, Cambria Indivisible, Estero Bay Indivisible, Indivisible Nipomo, Indivisible North SLO County, Indivisible San Luis Obispo County, and the Indivisible SLO County Rapid Anti-ICE protesters, some carrying signs, took a walk around Atascadero Lake to
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demonstrate against government anti-immigration actions. Photo by Rick Evans/PRP
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