SanLuisObispo.com: Local

Olympic silver medalist comes home to Creston

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:35 PDT

Horsewoman Extraordinaire

Gina Miles of Creston got a champion’s welcome Thursday when she arrived at the San Luis Obispo airport to applause and cries of “congratulations!”

Miles, who left for the Beijing Olympics two months ago, returned home as a medalist. She won the individual silver medal in equestrian competition on Aug. 12 in Hong Kong.

Sheriff’s side of secret-tape suit disputed

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:35 PDT

Court documents filed in a civil case against Sheriff Pat Hedges describe him secretly taping subordinates because they were mocking him, not because he was investigating alleged criminal activity as he had claimed.

Attorneys for Hedges deny the notion, saying it was a misunderstanding.

The federal case against Hedges was heard in court Thursday, and a trial date was tentatively set for Sept. 30, according to Hedges’ attorney, Paul Coble of Fullerton.

Santa Margarita Ranch project stays in limbo

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:35 PDT

The county Planning Commission abruptly changed course Thursday in its ongoing discussion of the proposed Santa Margarita Ranch development, raising the ire of one of the developers and even its own chairman.

Developers are seeking approval to build an agricultural cluster subdivision of 111 houses on 1-to-1.5-acre lots on a 3,778-acre section of the ranch southeast of the town of Santa Margarita.

County Planning and Building Department staff has proposed an alternate plan — reducing the number of homes to just 39.

ASH taking $1.3 million step to reduce carbon footprint

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:05 PDT

Atascadero State Hospital is preparing to take a $1.3 million step toward reducing the sprawling facility’s environmental footprint.

The hospital was recently approved for a loan from the California Energy Commission to install photovoltaic solar panels and energy-efficient lighting and to retrofit the heating and ventilation system.

ASH plans to obtain the loan from the commission’s Energy Efficiency Financing program, which makes up to $3 million available for schools and local governments.

County Roundup

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:05 PDT

San Simeon

A minor earthquake shook San Luis Obispo County on Thursday morning.

The magnitude 3.7 quake hit at 6:38 a. m. about 15 miles northwest of San Simeon, according to a preliminary report from the U. S. Geological Survey.

N. Cuesta campus theater still long way off

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:05 PDT

A North County nonprofit group is raising money to build a professional-grade theater on the Cuesta College campus in Paso Robles has a long way to go before the project can move forward.

The Project Theatre Foundation— with representatives of music, theater, dance and other arts groups on its board — has been dreaming for years of a place where its members can easily put on performances.

The primary and historic North County performing arts venue, at Flamson Middle School in Paso Robles, was torn down after it was damaged in the 2003 San Simeon Earthquake.

Phil Dirkx: Lowering drinking age won’t help

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:05 PDT

In the United States, you must be at least 21 to legally drink alcohol. That’s been the law since the mid-1980s.

Now 129 university presidents and chancellors have signed a statement condemning the age-21 minimum.

But those university chiefs didn’t say what the age should be. They said they’re just trying to ignite a public debate. Maybe they just couldn’t agree on whether it should be 18, or some other age, or completely done away with.

STEAM GENERATORS ARRIVE AT DIABLO

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:05 PDT

The second batch of replacement steam generators has arrived at Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.

Two of the four massive cylinders were pushed by tugboat into the plant’s cooling water intake cove Thursday morning. The other two will be unloaded today.

The four generators will be installed during an extended refueling shutdown early next year.

Boaters urged to beware of mussels

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:05 PDT

SACRAMENTO (AP) — The California Farm Bureau Federation is urging boaters to clean and drain their vessels before heading to the water this Labor Day weekend.

Two destructive species of mussels can attach to boat trailers, cooling systems, hulls and steering equipment. Water also can carry mussel larvae.

Boaters are being asked to wash boat hulls, remove plants and drain all watercraft for five days before launching in different bodies of water.

Art of old-school saddlemaking: Paso’s Bub Warren makes hand-crafted saddles customized to fit specific horses and riders

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:28 PDT

Artisan saddlemaker Bub Warren has led a life quite like some of the cowboys for whom he’s crafted leather saddles.

Moving from place to place, Warren most recently decided to set up his workshop in Paso Robles. He joins a small handful of similar saddle craftsmen on the Central Coast. And at a time when Paso Robles is more likely to be linked to wine grapes than its farming and ranching past, Warren’s shop is an indication that the town has not forgotten its cowboy heritage.

He’s a saddle crafter of the old-school variety, making each custom leather saddle to fit the horse and rider that will use it. The final products are elaborate and ornate, but designed to be used, not displayed.

Paso Robles woman sleeps nearly five hours while suspected armed robber hid from police in her home

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:29 PDT

A Paso Robles woman slept for nearly five hours Tuesday night and Wednesday morning while a suspected armed robber lurked in her home during a standoff with Paso Robles police and the county SWAT team.

Justin Rinker, 25, barricaded himself in the home of Rockie and Leslie Lamproe on Pine Street after allegedly robbing the nearby Chubby Chandler’s Pizza on Railroad Street at gunpoint about 9 p. m., Paso Robles police said.

Police say Rinker ran from the pizza place to the Lamproes’ house, about one block away.

US Airways will expand service at SLO airport; other airlines also consider flying into regional hub

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:30 PDT

Finally, there’s some good news for the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport.

After two airlines announced this summer they will pull their service from the airport before year’s end, US Airways announced this week it will expand service on its Phoenix flights by bringing in larger planes.

Meanwhile, other airlines are looking to establish service at the local flight hub, possibly including companies that don’t currently serve the airport, said Mike Manchak, a local business leader and member of the San Luis Obispo County Air Transportation Alliance.

Community gets answers on Paso Robles prison re-entry facility

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:30 PDT

The sheriffs of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and San Benito counties pledged their support for the state’s efforts to help convicted criminals become productive citizens Wednesday at a meeting on a proposed re-entry prison in Paso Robles.

But underscoring the positive support for the new program was the fact the city of Paso Robles has yet to agree to construction of a 500-bed facility on state property across the street from the city airport.

The first of two community meetings held Wednesday was attended by City Councilmen Fred Strong, Duane Picanco and John Hamon. They, along with Councilman Gary Nemeth and Mayor Frank Mecham, will at some point vote on whether they support a re-entry prison in the city.

Shift afoot for county animal shelter: County staff have until Oct. 7 to develop plan to move Animal Services from Sheriff’s Department, build new facility for cats

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:26 PDT

County leaders have decided that oversight of the animal shelter should be moved to the Health Agency or a newly created division instead of the Sheriff’s Department.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave county staff until Oct. 7 to develop a plan for shifting responsibility for Animal Services operations and building a new facility to house stray cats.

Sheriff Pat Hedges has lobbied for his department to shed its oversight of Animal Services, saying it is not suited to supervising the shelter.

Cuesta College couple was in the right place at the right time to save man from drowning at Cachuma Lake

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:24 PDT

Shawn Moore of San Luis Obispo was teaching his girlfriend, Jasmine Dollahite, to cast a fishing line at Cachuma Lake north of Santa Barbara over the weekend when they heard two splashes followed by a scream.

The Cuesta College students could not see what happened, but knew that the dim light of dusk and a nearby steep hill could mean that something terrible might have happened.

Moore, a 21-year-old business major, ran toward the sound and saw a man face down on the water’s surface below a steep brush-covered hill. His face was submerged and he was not moving.

Bill Morem: Edna church foe is no longer a neighbor

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:24 PDT

If I have to be sorted and counted when it comes to religion, put me in the deism column. I like the idea that such an ism moves the spiritual ball forward through seeking the rational rather than through revelation.

For another thing, it’s patriotic. It was the predominant belief of our Founding Fathers, who minted “In God We Trust” on our money.

As to what others choose to have faith and believe in, my mother’s old saying fits the bill: “To each his own as the old lady kissed the cow.”

County Roundup

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:25 PDT

South County

County supervisors have tentatively approved a proposal from the owners of a South County ranch to annex more than 5,000 acres of their land to Santa Barbara County.

The San Luis Obispo County board’s vote was 3-2 in favor of the plan Tuesday. The board is set to discuss and possibly finalize the matter Sept. 16.

Fire scorches Peachy Canyon home; no injuries

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:36 PDT

Fire destroyed a garage and burned into a home Tuesday afternoon on Peachy Canyon Road west of Paso Robles.

The blaze was reported around 3:12 p. m.

Firefighters from County/ Cal Fire and the city of Paso Robles responded, said Capt. Greg Alex of County/Cal Fire.

Domaine Alfred Winery gets new owner

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:28 PDT

A Napa-based company that specializes in high-end wines is buying the Edna Valley’s Domaine Alfred Winery for an undisclosed sum, both buyer and seller confirmed Tuesday.

Crimson Wine Group is a subsidiary of Leucadia National Corp., a publicly traded $8 billion investment firm based in New York City, with executive offices in Salt Lake City.

The deal is expected to close Thursday, according to winery owner Terry Speizer and Crimson President Erle Martin.

Willow Road funding up for debate: With $12 million still needed for new Nipomo interchange, county supervisors seek public opinion on covering the expense

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:25 PDT

County supervisors said Tuesday they want the public’s input on how to find the $12 million still needed to build the proposed Willow Road freeway interchange in Nipomo.

Supervisors unanimously approved the go-ahead for the county to hold public workshops and conduct a survey to better gauge the public’s interest in how to cover the funding needed.

The project, which has been included in county planning documents since the 1980s, would extend Willow Road east from Pomeroy Road to Thompson Avenue, including an interchange at Highway 101 and a frontage road from Sandydale Drive to Willow Road.