Paso Robles stair climb honors 9/11 heroes
Third annual memorial event draws first responders and residents together, raising over $6,000 for burn survivor camp while paying tribute to the lives lost on Sept. 11
NORTH COUNTY — The sound of boots hitting concrete echoed through the Paso Robles Event Center on Saturday, Sept. 6, as dozens of community members and first responders joined together for the Third Annual Paso Robles 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Hosted by the Paso Robles Professional Firefighters Local 4148, the event paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including the 343 New York City firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Participants climbed the equivalent of 110 stories inside the Paso Robles Event Center grandstands, symbolizing the height of the World Trade Center towers. Firefighters in full gear carried heavy hoses, recreating the load their brothers and sisters bore on that fateful morning in 2001. Others carried lanyards, each bearing the name, photograph, and assignment of a fallen first responder.
“It’s a tribute for 9/11, this year being the 24th year since that day. [The] stair climb is about honoring the courage and
sacrifice of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives onSept. 11, 2001, including the 343 firefighters who climbed those towers and never came back down,” said event organizer Dustin Virgil, firefighter paramedic for Paso Robles Fire Department. “As a department, as a local community, we look at it as an opportunity to come together each year to ensure that their legacy is never forgotten.”
The Stair Climb is more than a memorial — it is also a fundraiser with a purpose. This year, approximately 60 climbers
participated, raising more than $6,000 to benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and its signature program, Champ Camp. The free, weeklong camp is held each summer in Sanger for children ages 5–17 who have survived burn injuries. Each year, about 150 campers spend a week fishing, canoeing, practicing archery, and building confidence in a supportive community of survivors.
After covering event expenses, organizers estimate they will be able to send
Community unites after political assassination of Charlie Kirk
Hundreds gather at Paso Robles City Park in vigil, celebrating Kirk’s legacy of free speech, faith, and youth activism, just days after his shocking death
By HAYLEY MATTSON
NORTH COUNTY — On Saturday morning, hundreds of locals gathered together at Paso Robles City Park, waving American flags and wearing Freedom T-shirts, just three days after a single gunshot rocked the nation with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The 31-year-old Turning Point USA co-founder and conservative free speech advocate was fatally shot 20 minutes into a speech at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The political assassination sent shockwaves through the country, and the world, leaving communities like ours grappling with grief and fear. At the vigil, speakers from the San Luis Obispo County Republican Party, local pastors, a City Council member, and a Paso Robles High School graduate, among others, took the stage, united in resolve: Kirk’s death was not the end of his fight for truth and freedom, but a rallying cry for its continuation.
Randall Jordan, chairman of the Republican Party of San Luis Obispo County, spoke with emotion in his voice as he explained the urgency of the gathering. “Someone had to do this,” he said, describing why the party acted so quickly to organize the event. “Charlie Kirk meant so much to us — to my wife and me, to everyone in our central committee. We were devastated. We had to come out and honor him.” Jordan, a long-
time fixture in North County politics with headquarters in both Atascadero and Arroyo Grande, recounted the raw shock that rippled through his home when news broke. His wife, more plugged into the networks than he, learned of Kirk’s death during a Zoom call for another group — 30 minutes before President Trump’s announcement hit national airwaves. “It was just devastating,” Jordan said. “We kept listening and listening,
hoping he’d make it. Thinking he’s gotta make it.”
For many, Kirk was more than a national figure — he was a familiar presence. Just 18 months earlier, on March 7, 2024, he appeared at Cal Poly’s Dexter Lawn for a “Prove Me Wrong” debate table hosted by the campus Turning Point USA chapter. The event drew hundreds: supporters applauding his unfiltered stances on free speech, abortion, and transgen-
der rights, while protesters rallied nearby, denouncing his views as inflammatory. Counter-events also emerged, including Queer Joy by the Cal Poly Drag Club, along with demonstrations organized by Young Democratic Socialists of America, Students for Quality Education, and Gala Pride and Diversity. Undeterred, Kirk pressed forward, answering questions with his trademark mix of statistics, scripture, and sharp wit — leaving a lasting impression on young conservatives close to home.
Campus library, kitchen could also get
makeovers
By MIKE CHALDU michael@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — In its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees got to see what a multipurpose room (MPR) could look like on the Atascadero High School campus, and how AHS’s current library and kitchen could be worked in with that. The item was the first to be heard during the board’s Study Session, the concept that new Superintendent Dr. Tom Bennett introduced last month, where trustees discuss topics in a round-table format during the second meeting of each month.
Tracy Ellis-Weit was absent from the meeting.
AUSD Director of Support Services Brant Loyd made the presentation, along with Kathryn Hicks of the RRM Design Group. Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Kendyl Darnell reminded the board that this was just an informational meeting to get feedback on the firm’s concepts, and the district would have to wait for another consultant’s report on the project moving forward to see what decision the board would make.
“Atascadero High School currently lacks an indoor, air-conditioned, multipurpose space,” Loyd said in starting the item. “This has come up often over the past several years, and challenge is we have no suitable venue for large gatherings, no place for students to have lunch, and inadequate kitchen facilities to meet the board’s desire for more scratch cooking.”
Loyd emphasized the designs were early-stage concepts and not final plans.
Hicks introduced herself and told the trustees she has been an architect and project manager specializing in educational facilities.
“It’s so fun to be able to work with our local school districts,” she said. “I enjoy planning these projects that I know friends and neighbors of mine, and their kids, will be using, and to have that impact on our local communities.”
Hicks went on to submit three different options for the board to consider, and the probable costs of each project.
Option 1 is putting the MPR in the current outdoor eating space on campus, and renovating the current kitchen and snack bar; the current library, which is 2 feet from the project site, would remain unchanged. Hicks estimated the construction cost at $7.4 million to $8.5 million.
The tragedy that claimed his life struck while he was doing what he loved — and what defined him. On Wednesday, Sept. 10, beneath clear Utah skies, Kirk was 20 minutes into the kickoff of his “American Comeback Tour” at UVU’s Sorensen Student Center courtyard. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people filled the Orem campus, 45 miles south of Salt Lake City. Wearing his trademark “Freedom” T-shirt, he had just tossed branded hats to a cheering crowd and posted on X: “WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY.” Moments later, while answering a question on mass shootings and mental health reforms — urging datadriven solutions over what he called knee-jerk gun control — the crack of a rifle split the air.
Option 2 is demolishing the current snack bar and eating area, with a new MPR and kitchen, both connected, to replace it.
several children to camp — a number that surpasses previous years’ contributions.
“It’s just a really good experience for them. And obviously, with that being close to our hearts, it’s a way for us to give to a somewhat local organization, and especially to the youth,” Virgil shared.
The Paso Robles Event Center partnered with the firefighters to provide the space for the climb, with participants circling the grandstand’s staircases in four laps to reach the symbolic 110 stories.
Local businesses also stepped up as sponsors, writing checks directly to the Burn Foundation to increase the number of children able to attend camp this summer.
“We’re fortunate to have a lot of the partnerships that we do have ... the Paso Robles Event Center has been amazing to work with and so generous and in offering that space for us each year,” Virgil said. “We also reached out to some local organizations who sponsored the event, meaning they
Cost for that was estimated at $10.2 million to $11.8 million.
Option 3 would include a new MPR, kitchen, and library at the current site of the library, snack bar, and eating area. The locations of the buildings would be switched around from their current setup. Cost for that is estimated at $19.9 million to $22.9 million.
When the floor was open for questions, Board President Denise McGrewKane admitted the price tags, especially for Option 3, was hard to swallow and
Eyewitnesses described the chaos as Kirk recoiling, clutching his neck as blood poured from the wound, collapsing backward off his chair. His four-person security detail shielded him, rushing him to a vehicle that raced toward a hospital. He didn’t make it, succumbing en route. No other injuries occurred, a fact UVU Chief of Police Jeff Long cited in a briefing as evidence of “a precise, targeted strike” from about 200 feet away — likely a rooftop perch.Video from attendees’ phones, now viral on social media, captured the horror: screams, a stampede for cover, and an older man, George Zinn, 62, detained after shouting he was the shooter. Utah County Sheriff Michael Smith said Zinn admitted to police that he had “yelled that he was the shooter to allow the actual suspect to flee.” Zinn is being held on obstruction of justice charges. Separately, he has also been charged with possession of child sex abuse material.
National grief was immediate. At 1:40 p.m. PDT, President Donald Trump — Kirk’s longtime ally who credited him with helping flip young voters in the 2024 reelection — was the one to announce his death. “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me... Charlie, we love you!” Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff nationwide
wrote a check, and that money is going directly to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation to help send those children to Champ Camp.”
The event, which began three years ago as a firefighter-focused remembrance, has steadily grown to include members of the public. Paso Robles Professional Firefighters see it as a way to connect beyond emergency calls and build meaningful relationships with residents.
“As an organization, Paso Robles Professional Firefighters, we’re always looking for ways to interact and engage with our community,” said Virgil. “Outside of the typical job of responding to emergencies, we like to also get out and meet our local community, and it’s just a great opportunity to do that. And while doing that [we] serve a purpose that’s bigger than you or I or any one group.”
For many of the firefighters participating, the memory of Sept. 11 remains deeply personal. Some Paso Robles personnel were already serving in the fire service at the time of the attacks, while others were just beginning their careers.
asked when they would get answers from their other consulting report, from Kitchell of San Luis Obispo. Loyd said they would be meeting with Kitchell on Friday, Sept. 19, and expected to finish that process by Oct. 31.
McGrew-Kane also asked if a new kitchen would be accessible for hospitality and culinary students, like at Morro Bay High School. Hicks said the concepts planned mainly for commercial use and supplying food for lunch breaks.
Trustee Vy Pierce noted that the MPR was projected to hold 300-400 people, which wouldn’t fit everyone at a 12,000-student campus. “Is there a way
until Sunday, Sept. 14, a gesture echoed at embassies abroad.
Turning Point USA’s statement was brief, “We ask that everyone keep his family and loved ones in your prayers.” Erika Kirk, his wife since 2019 and a fellow advocate, live-streamed to 500,000 viewers, tears streaming: “Charlie built this for the next generation. We won’t let one act of evil stop us.”
Born Charles James Kirk on Oct. 14, 1993, in Chicago’s suburbs, Kirk’s story was one of precocious fire. Son of a small-business owner and homemaker, he absorbed conservative ideals from talk radio and family dinners on fiscal responsibility. By high school, he was staging Tea Party events and sparring with teachers over school choice. Dropping out of Harper College at 18, he launched Turning Point from his parents’ basement, targeting campuses with chapters promoting free markets, Second Amendment rights, and traditional values. Under his helm, it ballooned: annual summits drawing tens of thousands, a $50 million budget, and viral “Prove Me Wrong” tables that racked up millions of views. His evangelical faith fueled it all — quoting scripture alongside Heritage Foundation stats, framing activism as moral duty. Kirk’s Trump alliance skyrocketed him: speaking at the 2024 RNC days after an attempt on the president’s life, he drew parallels to their shared threats. Trump called him a “genius” for youth outreach. Kirk’s media footprint grew with “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, featur-
Regardless of where they were, the events of that day shaped modern firefighting practices and policies nationwide.
“The firefighters of FDNY responded, and they didn’t hesitate, and they went into those towers to go save people. That’s what we’re sworn to do as firefighters. And for us, it’s really the pinnacle event that affected the trajectory of so many policies and procedures and things moving forward for us,” said Virgil. “While it happened thousands of miles away, the reality is, since then, other things have happened, other tragedies have happened. It could happen here, it happened there, and really the fire service is a close, tight-knit community. And so for us, it’s our way to recognize that and pay tribute and to realize the impact that our job has on our communities.”
The sense of solidarity across the fire service was evident during the climb. Each participant — whether firefighter, community member, or child — represented the ongoing legacy of those who answered the call in New York 24 years ago.
to accommodate everyone?” she asked. Loyd said there would be systemic changes made, and they would probably host all the members of a grade level for some events.
Pierce also asked if the project would be for state matching funds.
“We’ve done a good job of wringing, and there not a lot left in the towel, so there’s less availability,” Loyd said. “However, every project is eligible for state matching funds, and we can apply for some later in the process.” He noted that matching funds can be obtained retroactively.
Trustee Corinne Kuhnle said she was
ing guests like Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, and bestsellers like “The MAGA Doctrine” (2022) and “Campus Battlefield” (2024), blueprints for battling “woke” culture.
The investigation gripped headlines. Initial confusion — FBI Director Kash Patel’s X post claiming the suspect in custody, quickly walked back by Utah’s Beau Mason — gave way to leads: a palm print, shoe impression, and a traced hunting rifle abandoned in woods. By Friday, Sept. 12, 22-yearold Tyler Robinson from St. George, Utah, was arrested at a relative’s home. A lanky unaffiliated voter raised in a Republican family, Robinson’s digital trail screamed obsession: searches for Kirk’s schedule, UVU maps, forum rants branding Turning Point “fascist.” A relative tipped authorities after Robinson allegedly confessed his hatred at a family dinner, seething over Kirk’s stances on social issues.
“He hated everything Charlie stood for — free speech, traditional values,” the source said. Facing first-degree murder, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox vowed the death penalty: “This was a political assassination, plain and simple.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom, no ideological soulmate, condemned it in a bipartisan style, “Charlie Kirk’s murder is sick and reprehensible ... The best way to honor his memory is to continue his work: engage with each other, across ideology, through spirited discourse.” Newsom, who once podcasted with Kirk and noted his own son’s fandom, rescheduled events in deference.
For Virgil, the event is also a teaching opportunity. His two young sons, ages 6 and 9, participate each year, climbing stairs alongside firefighters and community members.
“They show up to this event and they climb stairs, and they work hard and they get through it. And the bigger message is they know what this is about because I’ve educated them. And to instill that in our youth, know, your history. They weren’t alive for that [9/11], but if we can educate them, I think in turn it raises better humans and it creates a better, more positive trajectory for our nation,” Virgil shared. That intergenerational connection underscores the broader purpose of the Stair Climb: to remember, to honor, and to inspire.
With participation and donations increasing each year, Paso Robles Professional Firefighters hope to continue growing the event and its impact. For them, it’s not just about raising money or tallying stories climbed — it’s about strengthening the bonds between firefighters, families, and the wider community.
a fan of Option 3. “I never imagined you switching the library and MPR, but it makes sense,” she said. “We have the bond, and this is an opportunity we may not have again; do it now and do them together. I’m thrilled we’re looking at this.”
In other business:
Bennett and the board continued the round-table session by discussing board policy on meeting protocols for the in-process Board Governance Handbook, and then heard a presentation by Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Renee Argain on the district hiring practices and processes.
But it was the Paso Robles vigil that brought it home. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow, who spoke alongside Paso Robles City Councilmember Chris Bausch and high school grad Hunter Breese, didn’t mince words. “Why was it important for me to be here? Because of what Charlie meant to me personally, to our community, and our nation,” Dow said. Though he never met Kirk — deployed to the Middle East during the Cal Poly visit — Dow enjoyed his campus clips. “He’s wonderful with apologetics, framing arguments that defeat the other side. But he also gave the gospel — not a one-trick pony. Incredibly intellectual, with a heart of compassion.”
Dow recounted watching Kirk dialogue respectfully with trans and LGBTQ students, bold yet kind. “He gets labeled racist, but I’ve never heard anything racist from him. Charged? Yes. Courageous? Absolutely. True? That’s what we need more of in our community.” Kirk emboldened Dow, especially post-COVID, to speak out on faith and absolute truth. “For the last five or six years, I’ve lived more courageously. Charlie motivated me to do it even more.”
On the vigil’s impact, Dow urged channeling anger productively. Recalling a Kirk video where he rebuked a young woman tempted by vengeance — “We don’t fight evil with evil; we return good” — Dow tied it to faith. “Charlie was following Jesus. Use him as an example: be consistent with objective truth, without vengeance. That’s God’s
The board passed an unaudited actual budget submitted by Darnell, who said that although the district would be operating at a deficit again this year, it did end 2024-25 with $819,572 in savings to deposit in their savings account.
The board passed a resolution by Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services E.J. Rossi, stating the formality that AUSD students in grades 9-12 had a sufficient amount and quality of instructional materials and textbooks.
The AUSD Board of Trustees will meet next on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m.
job.” To those lost or furious, he offered hope, “There will be people angry, wanting to fight back. But follow Charlie’s lead for positive impact.” Jordan echoed that fire. Personally, Kirk’s death floored him, “I was a mess for days.
Our construction company stopped; everything focused on this rally.” He and his wife met Kirk in Orange County two or three years back, chatting briefly; she even snapped photos at Cal Poly, helping Turning Point kids. “We were in love with him, as a son-like figure. And so proud, And now he’s gone.” Nationally, Jordan predicts fury, “It’s gonna piss a lot of people off. They’ll not just wake up — they’ll start acting. Charlie never picked a fight, but never ran from one.”
For young people, Jordan sees momentum multiplying. He pointed to a message from David Chan of California College Republicans, who texted after the assassination: “Watch out. Game on.” Jordan believes more will step forward — “not just one Kirk, but dozens” — citing figures like Turning Point’s Nina Spinello, who attended the event, as examples of the next wave of leaders. At the same time, he condemned the vitriol online. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “It’s evil. No one should celebrate an assassination, on either side.”
Yet Jordan holds bipartisan hope, recalling 2017 when progressives ousted moderate Democrats locally, souring crossaisle ties. “Maybe this brings it back. Anyone with common sense would cringe at denouncing Charlie.”
Locally, action abounds. The Republican Party’s North County HQ at 7357 El Camino Real in Atascadero buzzes with movie nights, a October chili cook-off, and opposition to Prop 50. Their interactive website lets volunteers sign up — even guiding a Democrat on registration changes. “We’re always engaged,” Jordan said. “We can use all the help.” Dow added, “The power of one life is remarkable. Doesn’t matter your age or disability — if you’re not afraid and stand for what you believe, you can make impact. That’s Charlie’s legacy, bold, courageous, taking action.” As the vigil wound down, pastors invoked Kirk’s faith, Breese shared youthful inspiration from his talks, and Bausch pledged city-level resolve. Erika Kirk’s words lingered: “If you thought my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you unleashed.” Locally, that unleashing feels deeply personal. Kirk’s empty podcast chair, his family’s grief, and the suspect’s confession are scars that reach across the nation. Flags were raised again on Sunday, but the ache of halfstaff remembrance remains. Dow ended with “In a divided nation, our community’s response — grief transformed into grit — honors a patriot who taught people to debate, not destroy. No matter how it’s spun, hours of video show his true intent: even if you disagreed with him, his deep, unwavering faith was clear.” Jordan added a call to action: “Be happy we had Charlie. And now, be Charlie. May Kirk be multiplied to tens of thousands, maybe millions.”
