GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXIV, NO. XIV
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
EDUCATION
CITY
John Hamon sworn in as new Paso Robles mayor Hamon will serve for the next three and a half years; applications open for new District 1 councilmember
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Longtime City Councilmember John Hamon was sworn in as the new Paso Robles mayor after councilmembers unanimously appointed him to fill the seat after the passing of Steve Martin. During its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 5, the City Council voted to appoint a current councilmember to serve the remainder of Martin’s term as mayor. A special meeting was scheduled for Thursday night, Sept. 7, to vote on the appointment, swear in the new mayor, and make decisions with how to move forward to fill the newly vacated City Council seat. On Thursday night, Councilman Steve Gregory made a recommendation without hesitation: “I have worked with this young man next to me for a long time. John Hamon is a wonderful community member and great volunteer, and the most deserving person in the city to take over this seat over
Then Mayor Pro Tem John Hamon is shown during the Safety Fest in Paso Robles City Park in June of this year. Hamon has been sworn in as the new Paso Robles mayor, taking over for the late Steve Martin. Photo by Trisha Butcher
for Steve Martin in my opinion. He has done everything for our community and with our community.” Hamon was first elected to the Paso Robles City Council in 2006 and is in his fifth term. He
was serving as mayor pro tem at the time of his appointment. Councilmember Fred Strong immediately seconded Gregory’s recommendation to appoint Hamon as the new Paso Robles mayor.
The council then unanimously voted to approve Hamon for mayor, and he was then immediately sworn in alongside his family. “I wish the circumstances were different at this point in
time, but I am willing and able to move forward and move our city with the help of our council to get our city going in the right direction and keep our public happy with what we are doing,” said Hamon following his swearing-in. Hamon will serve as mayor for the remainder of Martin’s term, which is three and a half years. He told Paso Robles Press of his plans moving forward as mayor of the city: “I want to carry on the work of the council. We had goals and aspirations to do different things for the city.” Though he never intended to run for mayor or be in the seat, he hopes to help move the city forward. But he feels there are some ways he will not be able to live up to his predecessor. “There is no way I can live up to what Steve Martin was as a vocalist and the way he spoke eloquently about things,” he said. Now, Hamon’s seat as a councilmember representing District 1 is open. The council is now accepting applications for a new District 1 council member. The newly appointed councilmember will serve until the next election in November 2024. CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
Updates provided on Georgia Brown campus and Aquatics Complex District looking into modernization of Georgia Brown Elementary School campus By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Trustees received an update on the Georgia Brown Elementary School campus project on 36th Street during the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 12. At the end of August, the district’s design team, geotechnical consultant, and staff met with California Geological Survey (CGS). Per direction from trustees at a previous CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
FUNDRAISER
JUSTICE
Redwings Horse Sanctuary Block Party raises over $40,000 for equine welfare Emilio Velci, shown with his mother Cammie, died in March 2020 after Timothy Wolfe sold him a Percocet, not knowing it contained fentanyl. Photo courtesy of Cammie Velci
Justice granted for Emilio Velci’s family
Los Angeles Federal Courthouse, the Velci family from Atascadero received justice when Paso Robles resident Timothy Clark Wolfe was sentenced to 14 years in prison for distributing fentanyl to By CHRISTIANNA MARKS 19-year-old Emilio Velci, christianna@pasoroblespress.com which led to his death. “It was pretty stressful and SAN LUIS OBISPO emotional,” said Emilio’s COUNTY — At 8 a.m. mother, Cammie Velci, of the on Monday, Sept. 11, at the CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
COMMUNITY
Timothy Clark Wolfe was sentenced to 14 years in prison for distributing fentanyl that led to Velci’s death
CRIME
Paso Robles event attracts hundreds, showcasing community support for horses in need By BECCA SLIGH Paso Robles Press Contributor
Guests enjoy wine at the Redwings Horse Sanctuary Block Party on Sept. 10. Photo by Becca Sligh
PASO ROBLES — The third annual Redwings Horse Sanctuary Block Party Fundraiser happened on Sunday, Sept. 10. With over 350 people in attendance, 40 volunteers, multiple food and drink vendors, and a silent and live auction, the Redwings Horse Sanctuary annual fundraiser raised over $40,000.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary is a nonprofit that started in 1991 in Carmel, California. “Our mission is to save, protect and give a good home to horses that need loving and care; they deserve all that,” said Redwings Sanctuary Board President Jana Lynn Kaba. “We’ve gotten a lot of horses out of bad and horrific situations, and they are now thriving, and it’s because of the
help from our community and those who come to an event like this”. Today, Redwings Horse Sanctuary currently houses 86 horses, which leaves four spots open until max capacity is reached. “This event started as more of a grand opening party,” says Sara Ruggerone, who is the equine care manager for Redwings.
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
SPORTS
WEATHER
“People loved this event so much we decided to make it an annual event,” adds Ruggerone, who will be celebrating 10 years with the nonprofit in October. She is tasked with the important job of physically caring for the horses. “I develop their diets. I oversee their medications, I schedule all veterinary visits, farrier care, really everything the horses CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
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