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THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025
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PRJUSD trustees approve stricter cellphone rules Debate over transgender athlete, Title IX draws divide By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — At the start of the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District meeting on Tuesday, May 28, some community members raised concerns and support for transgender students. Paso Robles High School senior Kennedy Myrick came to the podium Tuesday night to speak in support of her friend and teammate on the tennis team. “Those who continue to harshly discriminate against those of the LGBTQ community are discriminating against one of my best friends,” Myrick shared. “There have been several comments about her playing with us on the tennis team, many of which are just false ... in no way do I believe she has an advantage playing with us.” The parents of an Arroyo Grande transgender athlete who has been at the center of some controversy came to speak in support of transgender athletes at PJUSD. Former PRJUSD trustee Dorian Baker also came to speak in support of upholding Title IX — a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. At the end of the meeting, CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Visitors to Paso Robles District Cemetery stop at the graves of veterans, marked by the small American flags, on Monday, May 26, the day of the Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Derek Luff/PRP
Paso Robles honors fallen heroes with Memorial Day Ceremony
DA Dan Dow delivers moving tribute as community gathers to remember local and national military sacrifice By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — On Monday, May 26, the Paso Robles District Cemetery welcomed the community for its annual Memorial Day ceremony — a tradition dating back to 1980, when patriotic members of the Cemetery Board first sought to honor veterans on
Memorial Day and Veterans Day. This year’s event featured heartfelt tributes, patriotic music, and a keynote address by San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow, who was recently promoted to colonel in the California Army National Guard. The ceremony was emceed by fellow veteran Chris Rohrberg, who served
with Dow in Iraq. Dow, who grew up in Livermore, Maine, recalled Memorial Day as his community’s biggest celebration of the year. “The Memorial Day parade was an extremely patriotic event that I really loved as a child,” Dow said. “That annual parade is where I first learned to respect
the American flag by putting my hand over my heart and it’s where my parents taught me to thank the Vietnam veterans who had only recently come home and were struggling with the post-war effects of their combat missions.” With Dow’s hometown having rich history dating back to the American CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Best of the West returns to Santa Margarita Historic equipment, heartfelt tributes, and family fun mark a memorable Memorial Day weekend in North County By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
NORTH COUNTY — Visitors took a journey back in time this Memorial Day weekend as the Best of the West Antique Equipment Show returned to the historic Santa Margarita Ranch, running May 23–25. This year marked a special milestone as the event celebrated 100 Years of Caterpillar, honoring a century of groundbreaking machinery with rare antique equipment and live demonstrations. Hosted by the Paso Robles Pioneer Day Committee and the Rossi Foundation, the annual event was more than just a show — it was a vibrant celebration of America’s agricultural and mechanical heritage. Guests of all ages enjoyed train rides, tractor parades, steam engines, flyovers, vintage cars, military vehicles, and interactive exhibits that brought history to life. Not only that, but Best of the West is one of the Paso Robles Pioneer Day Committee’s biggest fundraisers of the year. Pioneer Day Tractor Committee Chair Austin Sligh told Paso Robles Presss the committee recently acquired 17 tractors from the California Ag Museum — eight of which they were able to get running and bring out to Best of the West. “They’ve been static in the museum for 30-plus years before we acquired them last month,” Sligh said. One of those tractors was the first model Caterpillar diesel ever sold — an appropriate and special moment with it being 100
“Cowboy” (full name not given) is shown with his award for Best Truck at the Golden State Classics Car Show in Paso Robles on May 24. Photo by Rick Evans/PRP
Flag bearers open up the Best of the West event alongside military vehicles at Santa Margarita Ranch. Photo by Rick Evans/PRP
years of the Caterpillar tractor. “We had the first Caterpillar at the show, and we had the first Caterpillar diesel sold,” Slight shared. “We had a lot of entries from local people bringing their tractors ... which was awesome.” The committee had a special edition Best of the West t-shirt for sale, which highlighted 100 years of the Caterpillar. Sligh says the shirt was extremely popular and nearly sold out, so they will be making more and having them available for purchase online. Sligh also adds that thanks to some local volunteers like Mike Frederick and Titus McNellis, who took over some of the trucking, this was the smoothest move back into the barns after Best of the West that he has experienced. Another memorable moment over the weekend for Sligh was the dedication to
COMMUNITY
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
the military on Sunday which included a speech from San Luis Obispo County Veterans Services Officer Morgan Boyd. “I would say, [it was] almost like a breathtaking speech. It was a very excellent speech,” Sligh said. “There was so much emotion to it, and he did such a good job speaking.” As always, Best of the West carried a deeper purpose: to honor the men and women who served our country. Each day at noon, the event paused for a meaningful military salute and flyover in partnership with the Estrella Warbirds, reminding everyone of the true meaning behind Memorial Day. Paso Robles VFW Post 10965 Post Commander Leo Castillo gave a speech, recognizing the importance of Memorial Day. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
SPORTS
17th annual car show draws crowds, community support, and chrome to downtown
Hundreds gather for Golden State Classics event, blending vintage vehicles, family fun, and charitable giving By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The 17th Annual Golden State Classics Car Show in Paso Robles brought together car enthusiasts, families, and local businesses for a celebration of automotive history and community. The car show took place on Saturday, May 24, in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The show was free for the public to attend. The Golden State Classics Car Show is one of the Central Coast’s premier car shows, show-
casing over 300 vintage, classic, and custom vehicles — from hot rods and muscle cars to antiques and modern classics. The event featured activities for the whole family, including a kids’ Model Building Make & Take, a raffle, and more than 50 awards for various categories. The show was hosted by the Golden State Classics Car Club — a family-oriented car club organized to promote interest in the preservation, restoration, and/or modification of all classic automobiles and trucks. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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