On January 22, 1916, The Atascadero News was first published in Atascadero.
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Hometown News Since 1916
Good News Real News Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. II
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
SCHOOL BOARD
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CITY COUNCIL
TO BEAN OR NOT TO BEAN
2020 Board of Trustee Shuffle
RELIGION
Methodist Church Split
United Methodist Church sign on El Camino Real. Photo by Nicholas Mattson
Controversy over inclusion divides national congregation
DONN CLICKARD
Clickard Named School Board President
By MELANIE MCDOWELL for the Atascadero News
By MARK DIAZ mark@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified District School Board reshuffled positions at the end of 2019 with local legend Donn Clickard named as President. Clickard does not take the responsibility lightly and believes school boards across the nation play a crucial role in the county’s future. “ I think that the sc hool board tr ustee is the most important elected official in the country,” Clickard said, CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
The Human Bean location in Eugene, Ore. Courtesy photo
Council OK’s drive-thru coffee shop
By LUKE PHILLIPS through the static of the area luke@atascaderonews.com neighbors. P l a n s f o r t h e p ro j e c t , ATASCADERO — The located at 7835 El Camino Atascadero City Council Real, were appro ved by approved plans for a new the City’s Design Review Human Bean drive-thru Committee last year and by coffee shop near the corner the Planning Commission of El Camino Real and Dec. 3. The developer plans Curbaril Avenue at its meet- to demolish a home located ing last Tuesday, after sifting on the property and to use
an existing 600 square-foot building as a warehouse and distribution center. Atascadero resident Al Fonzi and his wife Roberta, who serves on the Atascadero City Council, live less than 500 feet from the project site and brought their concerns regarding a noise nuisance caused by the coffee shop’s
order speaker to the Planning Commission but the appeal was denied. Mayor Heather Moreno again appealed the decision, bringing the project to the City Council for further review with Councilmember Fonzi recused herself from the conversation. CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
The United Methodist Church made headlines Jan. 3 when it announced a proposal to split into two denominations as a way to end the decadeslong disagreements over samesex marriage. In May 2020, policymakers from the United Methodist Church will be holding a conference to decide if the church will split into two factions, still unnamed — one supporting LGBTQ inclusion and the other taking a more traditional approach. The local United Methodist Church shared a statement from Pastor Steve Poteete-MarCONTINUED ON PAGE A10
2020 DANCING WITH OUR STARS
Holly and Jerel Go to the Dogs By GRENDA ERNST
Couple raises funds for K9 program
for the Atascadero News
ATASCADERO — We have to say it. Jerel Haley and Holly Haley Bigelow, Community Stars for 2020 Dancing With Our Stars (DWOS), are a fun couple: outgoing, energetic, interested in the people around them. They are dancing under the auspices of the Sheriff ’s Advisory Foundation to raise money for the Atascadero Police K9 program. Although they have been a couple for a little over 2 ½ years, they have deep roots together, going back to their hometown of San Jose. Holly’s atascaderonews.com
mother was Jerel’s senior advisor, and government teacher and Jerel’s mother was Holly’s Sunday School teacher. Both have lost spouses to long term illness, and both share a passion for the island of Maui. Their blended family includes five children and two grandchildren, and their love of family shines through in what they say and what they do. In addition to being half of a fun couple, Jerel is the Chief of Police of Atascadero, where he has earned the respect and appreciation of City staff and the community. Holly is the athletic clerk for Paso Robles High School, and there isn’t anything that
SPORTS
KRISTIN SMART
Holly Haley Bigelow, APD Officer Chris Hester, Police Chief Jerel Haley and K9 “Pit”. Photo contributed
ECHO SHELTER
WHY THE MARCH?
PASO ROBLES to build new shelter | A8
WOMEN’S MARCH attendees explain their reasons for marching | A4
WEATHER
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR
facebook.com/ @AtascaderoNews
Please join your friends and neighbors in this peaceful demonstration to honor the legacy and the quest for justice for Kristin Smart!
Saturday, February 1 5:00 PM
67808 24135
CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
SLO
WARRIORS FOR KRISTIN PRESENT
twitter.com/ @AtascaderoNews
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happens in Paso High athletics that she does not touch in some way. She was named Classified Employee of the Year in 2017. Jerel has obtained his Post Executive Certificate and has received numerous awards throughout his law enforcement career, a career that spans 28 years. Jerel and Holly love to hike, especially in Maui, where they hope to live someday. They are soccer players and play together on Sunday, while Jerel also plays several times a week. They have taken East Coast Swing lessons, and Jerel is no stranger to the DWOS stage,
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CAL POLY reciever J.J. Koski set to play in All-Star game at Rose Bowl | B1
SANTA ROSA PARK SAN LUIS OBISPO
DEVELOPMENT in Smart case brings new excitement to case | A3
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