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SMART CASE
Atascadero City Council Proclaims Support for First Responders
David Smallwood (right) printed his first issue of The California Register, to bring light to the Kristin Smart Case. Contributed photo
History of the Kristin Smart Case Part 1: The California Register By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
Public service recognized on the steps of City Hall By PATRICK PATTON patrick@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — On Tuesday, Jun. 22, the Atascadero City Council members stood on the steps of City Hall and issued a formal proclamation in support and appreciation of
Atascadero’s first responders. At their regular meeting on Tuesday, Jun. 8, the city council had received and read many emails from Atascadero citizens who expressed their frustration and disappointment with the removal of signs and banners meant to support law enforcement officers. City Manager Rachelle Rickard addressed the matter and thanked the community for their support of law enforcement officers.
“The city’s sign ordinance does allow us to take down signs placed by the public, but we must do so in a manner that’s consistent with the first amendment,” said Rickard. She went on to explain that, according to the first amendment, the content of the signs must remain irrelevant in the decision to leave it up or take it down. As a result, city council can not determine one sign to be a “good” sign that they like and another to be a “bad” sign
EVENT
voted on before Jul. 1 in order to change the rate and the next regular meeting is not scheduled until Jul. 13 Measure B-18 was on the ballot in June of 2018 and passed with a 76 percent vote in favor of authorizing San Luis Obispo County to impose a tax on gross receipts of marijuana business beginning at 4 percent and increasing annually to a maximum of 10 percent for general revenue purposes. However, many in the industry called in the regular meeting to suggest holding the rate, as those in the industry have not had sufficient time to operate due to slow legislative processes approving cannabis businesses operations. The Board approved the special meeting to discuss the tax rate increase. Supervisor Debbie Arnold was in favor of increasing
Paso Robles put their boots on for “The Biggest Little Fair Anywhere” due to the coronavirus pandemic. Back in February, the CMSF By CAMILLE DeVAUL Board of Directors said they were camille@atascaderonews.com “cautiously optimistic” on whether or not the fair would happen in PASO ROBLES — On Jul. 21, 2021. the California Mid State Fair kicks But on May 12, the CMSF off its 75th Anniversary! announced they would be back in It has been nearly two years since July 2021 and said they are getting
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“THEY’LL BE BACK”
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Supervisors Vote to Keep Cannabis Tax Rate at Six Percent
California Mid-State Fair Celebrates 75th Anniversary ‘Can’t Wait to See You!’ theme for this year’s event fitting due to the times
that they do not like. Rickard continued, “so if we allow signs to remain up that praise and thank our first responders, we must also afford equal access and protection to those signs that denigrate or demean our first responders and our public safety personnel. So it was with the express purpose of truly supporting our first respond-
GOVERNMENT
California Mid-State Fair returns after a challenging year due to the pandemic with concerts, carnival, auction and rodeo starting on Jul. 21. Photos by California Mid-State Fair
ready to make up for lost time as they will be celebrating their 75th Anniversary a year later due to COVID-19. CMSF spokesman Tom Keffury expressed the difficulty of planning the fair with so many changing regulations put forth by the State of California. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
SMART CASE UPDATE
A special meeting was held to discuss the cannabis tax rate and the impact on the industry By MELISSA MATTSON melissa@atascaderonews.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on Friday, Jun. 25, at 8:30 a.m. to discuss the cannabis tax rate and decide whether or not to hold the rate at the current six percent or increase it to the proposed eight percent. The special meeting was held as the rate would have to be
SOCIETY
B
efore there was the Your Own Backyard podcast, there was The California Register Newspaper. In January of 2014, David Smallwood printed his first issue of The California Register with, “Protected by the First Amendment: ‘Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…’ Ratified: December 15, 1791” printed on the top left corner of the front page. In large bold print, read the headline, “The Unsolved Mystery of Cal Poly Student Kristin Smart Law Enforcement Still Baffled After 17 Years of Investigating.” The first eight pages of the paper covered the Kristin Smart case. Photos of Kristin growing up lined the bottom of the page, a tip he received from an FBI agent. Let the suspect know that the person they murdered was more than just a college student. Smallwood worked as the paper’s editor, writer, and publisher. He did it all and with no background in the industry—just the desire for justice and the willingness to know more. The first issue of The California Register was mailed to Central Coast residents for free. The paper even read, “For Inquisitive Readers, the Price is Free!” Smallwood’s goal was to get people talking about the case again. And boy, talk about the case they did. Like many cases, Kristin’s disappearance went years without any progress. Only to be mentioned during the 6 o’clock news on her birthday or anniversary of her disappearance.
Atascadero City Council (front from left to right) Mark Dariz, Susan Funk, Mayor Heather Moreno, Mayor Pro Tem Heather Newsom, and Charles Bourbeau issue an official proclamation in support and appreciation of Atascadero’s first responders. Contributed Photo
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