Choose your location
Atascadero News
Local ‘Leapling’ celebrates 40th birthday
NORTH COUNTY — Yesterday, Feb. 29, we are receiving an additional day in our yearly calendar — yes, it is Leap Day. Every four years in the Gregorian calendar, a 29th day is added to February to account for the Earth taking 365.2421 days to orbit the sun and not a flat 365.
Atascadero High School Earth Club to plant trees
ATASCADERO — This year, Atascadero High School’s (AHS) Earth Club is teaming up with the nonprofit Tree-Plenish to host a community-wide tree-planting event on April 20, just in time for Earth Day. They plan to plant 150 saplings throughout Atascadero to counteract the high school’s energy consumption.
March Issue of Atascadero News Magazine in Your Mailbox this Weekend
We are proud to announce another issue of Atascadero News Magazine for our loyal fans and new readers. Our team put together another great issue, and we hope you enjoy it!. In this issue, we highlight our Best Of North SLO County 2024 Winners. Along with local columns we deliver...
Ann Oropeza-Inman 1935-2024
Ann Oropeza-Inman, 88, of Porterville, California, peacefully went to Heaven on February 17th, 2024. Ann Schuck started her life in Gardena, creating a family of three: Michael, Melody, and David Oropeza. In 1972, she moved to Templeton, where her father, Carl, owned a dairy. She opened her first business, Los Tre’s Oro (Skippers Seafood) in Atascadero and Casa De Oro’s in Paso Robles, before moving to Porterville and opening Airport Annie’s Restaurant and Bar.
Atascadero High School presents ‘Willy Wonka Jr.’
ATASCADERO — This spring season, the Atascadero High School Theater Department will perform “Willy Wonka Jr.,” a mystifying musical comedy. Based on Roald Dahl’s book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” this show will follow Charlie Bucket, a little boy with a big heart and a family as poor as coal. Their daily joy comes from fresh cabbage soup until now. Willy Wonka, the legendary and secluded chocolatier, creates a contest for five Golden Tickets to be discovered in unsuspecting chocolate bars all over the world. Meet Augustus Gloop, the German glutton; Violet Beuregard, the gum chewing fiend; Veruca Salt, the spoiled brat; and Mike Teavee, the electronic madman; on tour as they submit to their vices in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Each child meets their tragic fate with an Oompa Loompa confrontation until the only winner left is sweet Charlie Bucket. As the story goes, Wonka hands his factory over to Charlie, and the play ends with a heartfelt song. Meet a cast of outrageously quirky characters and prepare to get these catchy tunes stuck in your head.
Atascadero Chamber announces new hires for workforce development support
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce announced the addition of two dynamic program managers to its team, making a significant step forward in fostering workforce development support throughout the San Luis Obispo County. With a commitment to economic development, these strategic hires signify the Chamber’s dedication to driving...
City Council approves Community Development Block Grant Funding Recommendations for 2024
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. The hybrid meeting was held in the City Council Chambers. Councilmember Mark Dariz was absent from the meeting. Before the official start of the meeting, Mayor Heather Moreno asked for...
Former SLO County employee arrested and charged with stealing public money
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Former county employee Norman Hibble (54) has been arrested and charged with stealing public money while employed with County of San Luis Obispo. The suspected theft was discovered by staff of the Office of the Auditor-Controller, who identified purchasing irregularities and worked closely with the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit to investigate the alleged crimes.
Burglary suspects arrested on Hwy 101
ATASCADERO — On Thursday afternoon, Feb. 22, the Paso Robles Police Department notified the Atascadero Police Department (APD) that three subjects associated with a red Mercedes had stolen alcohol from a business within their City. The Paso Robles Police Department believed the red Mercedes was involved in other thefts within their city and requested allied agencies be on the lookout.
Benjamin Blair 1983-2024
Ben spent his first 1 & 1/2 years living among the Giant Sequoias, where his parents, John and Mary, had met as seasonal workers. Maybe it was there in the Sierra Mountains in his developing brain that his appreciation and wonder for the world and his desire to see more of it was planted.
NRC engages public on Diablo Canyon’s future
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Should Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant be granted a new operating license?. That’s the ultimate question being asked of the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the lengthy process for answering it has gotten started in earnest. A panel of top NRC staffers...
City Councilmember announces candidacy for Atascadero mayor
ATASCADERO — Atascadero City Councilmember Charles Bourbeau announced he will be a candidate for mayor in the November 2024 election. With current Mayor Heather Moreno running for San Luis Obispo County Supervisor (D-5), the mayor’s seat will potentially be open. The filing period for the mayoral candidates will begin later this year.
El Camino Homeless Organization celebrates 31 success stories in 2024
NORTH COUNTY — El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) announced that 31 individuals and families have successfully found housing in the community so far this year through their services. This achievement demonstrates ECHO’s commitment to providing support and creating pathways to stability for those experiencing homelessness in San Luis Obispo County.
Atascadero Middle School student performs at All-State Choir Concert
ATASCADERO — On Saturday, Feb. 3, the All-State Choir Concert, presented at the California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC), took place at Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento. Atascadero Middle School (AMS) eighth-grader Liliana Vance not only auditioned for the All-State Honor Choir but landed a spot and represented the Atascadero at the conference. All-State Honor Choirs are put together by the California Choral Director’s Association (CCDA).
A-Town Diner to be featured on America’s Best Restaurants
ATASCADERO — Local restaurant A-Town Diner will be hosting a visit from America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) in late February 2024. America’s Best Restaurants will bring its ABR Roadshow to the restaurant on Thursday, Feb. 29. Popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an on-camera interview with owners Robert and Melinda Davis about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired on social media channels at a later date.
Atascadero unveils interpretive panels celebrating local beaver population
ATASCADERO — Nature lovers of all kinds headed out to the Juan Bautista De Anza Trailhead on Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. for the ribbon cutting and unveiling of two interpretive panels highlighting Atascadero’s beaver population and the benefits they bring to our community. The San Luis Obispo Beaver Brigade, the City of Atascadero, and the Amigos de Anza group, along with the California Coastal Commission WHALE TAIL grants program, made the panels possible.
School board recognizes Atascadero Middle School staff for being a ‘School to Watch’
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) Board of Trustees met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. At the beginning of the meeting, the board recognized Atascadero Middle School (AMS) staff members for the CORE value of teamwork, earning AMS designation as a “School to Watch.”
Gladys Moore 1958-2024
Gladys Moore, 65, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 13, 1958, and went to be with the lord on February 6, 2024. She lived in Palmdale, CA. Gladys is predeceased by her mother, Emma, and her father, Juan, and sister, Emma Iris. She leaves behind a son, Albert...
Keith Belmont 1954-2023
A life well lived as a faithful steward of his gifts, a disciplined investor of time, capacities, and resources, a wise mentor to friends and family of all ages, keeper of the land and harvester of its bounty in the form of wine, olive oil, and roses, lover of substantive conversation and friendly banter, generous partner to Kathleen in sharing hospitality and care to a wide circle of friends and family. These qualities defined Keith and his life. He believed in taking time to do things well—to dress well, work well, act well and with integrity. A man of deep faith, he believed in and encouraged service as an expression of Christianity’s core teachings. In the end, Keith acknowledged that the more he gave, the more he found his life blessed and enriched. He lived life to the fullest and leaves behind a legacy of service and caring generosity.
Atascadero News
5K+
Posts
3M+
Views
Since 1916 • The Atascadero News is the daily news leader and weekly print newspaper in Atascadero and North San Luis Obispo County. Making Communities Better Through Print™
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.