GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXVI, NO. XX
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Planning Commission approves Sensorio amendment
Unanimous vote clears way for storage yard, solar array; city projects update includes City Hall remodel, Niblick Corridor Plan, and The Landing Project progress By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
More than 500,000 girls between the ages of 6 and 17 play across the country, and the sport will debut in the 2028 Olympics. Colleges are also beginning to offer scholarships, making the game even more appealing to young athletes. Hammond, who has coached soccer and other sports at PRHS for over a decade, said the new program is giving female athletes a fresh opportunity to compete. “I think the main reason it’s becoming so popular is it gives female athletes another sport that they can play,” Hammond said. “They’re seeing it grow not just here, but all around the state and all around the country.” Paso Robles fielded a roster of 21 players this season,
PASO ROBLES — At its latest meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Paso Robles Planning Commission approved an amendment to Sensorio’s development plan, clearing the way for a new storage laydown yard and solar array system at the Highway 46 East site. Sensorio is requesting to make an amendment to their development plan to allow for a laydown storage yard and solar array system located at 4380 Highway 46 East. The amendment proposes establishing a storage laydown yard southwest of the main parking lot and a solar array system west of the main entrance roundabout, both located within the overall project limits of the originally approved master plan. The 386-acre site already includes
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
In its first-ever game, the Paso Robles girls flag football team battled to a 13-13 tie with San Luis Obispo on Aug. 28. Photo Courtesy of Coach Ken Hammond
North County high school athletes shine in early-season action Paso Robles launches first-ever girls flag football team, Atascadero and Templeton rack up wins, and local teams gear up for a busy week of football, volleyball, water polo, tennis, golf, and cross country By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
NORTH COUNTY — It’s been another busy week for North County high school athletics, with Paso Robles, Atascadero, and Templeton making their mark in early-season games. From standout wins and hard-fought ties to strong individual performances, this week’s sports action has offered plenty to cheer for. This weekly update highlights the latest results, upcoming matchups, and key players to watch as local athletes continue to compete across football, volleyball, water polo, tennis, golf, and cross country. Paso Robles High School kicked off a historic moment last week as the Bearcats launched their first-ever girls
flag football season under the leadership of longtime coach and district staff member Ken Hammond. The Bearcats opened their inaugural season at Parish Field on Thursday, Aug. 28, against San Luis Obispo High School. The game showcased just how evenly matched the two teams are, ending in a hard-fought 13-13 tie. “We played as well as we thought we were going to play for the first time. We ended up tying San Luis Obispo 13-13. The girls performed really well. There’s some things that we learned and we’re going to build on,” Hammond said. Flag football, which became an official CIF sport in 2023, is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation.
Chalk Moutain Golf Course owner Joel Clay (left) and noted golf coach Rudy Duran are shown in front of the driving range at the course, now known as the Rudy Duran Golf Center. Photo courtesy of Chalk Mountain Golf Course
Chalk Mountain honors Coach Rudy Duran with new driving range First coach of Tiger Woods leaves legacy in Atascadero, inspiring young golfers through fun, inclusivity, and innovation By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
ATASCADERO — This summer, Chalk Mountain Golf Course unveiled its newly improved driving range, honoring one of its most influential figures: Rudy Duran, a coach whose impact on the game of golf reaches far beyond Atascadero. Duran is best known as the
The original building for Templeton Feed & Grain is shown on Main Street next to an empty lot where the business’ original granary stood before burning in a July 4 fire.
first golf coach of a young Tiger Photo by Hayley Mattson/PRP Woods, beginning in 1980 at Heartwell Golf Course in Long Beach. At the time, Tiger was only 4 years old, but Duran’s “One Town, One Table” dinner teaching philosophy — making and “The Grain Revival” street golf fun while still building skill — helped nurture a talent that fair set for Sept. 19 and 21 to would one day become one of raise funds and honor Jermin the greatest golfers in history. family Nearly five decades later, Duran By CAMILLE DEVAUL continues to apply that same camille@pasoroblespress.com approach with junior golfers, still inspiring new generations TEMPLETON — This September, the to love the game. community is invited to gather not just When Duran moved to for a meal or a street fair, but to take part North County in the early in rebuilding a cornerstone of Temple1980s, he became instrumen- ton’s history. Two fundraising events — tal in the development of Chalk “One Town, One Table” on Friday, Sept. 19, and “The Grain Revival” on Sunday, Mountain. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Sept. 21 — will bring neighbors together
NEWS
Templeton rallies to rebuild Historic Feed & Grain after fire
CRIME
in support of the Templeton Feed and Grain’s (TF&G) next chapter. The events mark an important milestone for the Jermin family, who have operated Templeton Feed & Grain for three generations and are now working to rebuild after July’s devastating fire. The fire, which occurred at 11 p.m. on July 4, destroyed the historic wooden grain silos that had stood for nearly 80 years. The fire was ruled an act of arson, sparked by illegal fireworks. Surveillance footage shared by Templeton Fire Chief Tom Peterson at a community meeting showed a firework being thrown at the building and igniting an explosive blaze. The fire burned for days, severely damaging the facility
SPORTS
and leading to the demolition of its two silos. Later in July, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s Office confirmed that four juvenile males were involved in the fire, with one identified as having deliberately thrown the firework. The case is now in the hands of the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office for potential charges. For co-owner Rick Jermin, the community’s support has been nothing short of humbling. “In the very beginning, we’re just overwhelmed. We didn’t know what direction we were going,” Jermin told Paso Robles Press. “We were concerned about people
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
WEATHER
pasoroblespress.com X.com/ @PasoRoblesPress facebook.com/ @PasoRoblesPress
VOLUNTEER Bean Feed | 3
ARRESTS Red Light Roundup | 5
GALLERY Flag Football | 11
5 High 80° | Low 53°
67808 24135
7