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THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021
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CLASS OF 2021
GOVERNMENT
AHS Celebrates In-Person for the 100th Graduation
Supervisors Approve Enforcement of State Septic Standards Public speaks out about Tommy Gong, County Clerk-Recorder resigning By MELISSA MATTSON melissa@atascaderonews.com
as many classes as I could. I really tried; I would check my Aeries and check to see if my name is still at one, and, you know what, I did it. I kept my name at one all these years.” For one to earn a GPA over four, they must take Advanced Placement (A.P.) or Honors courses but to earn a GPA over 4.6; one must dedicate nearly their entire course load to the school’s best and most challenging classes. In his final two years at AHS, Basil only took two regular classes, one of which was still upper level in Spanish 3. However, even with the significant workload, Basil did
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors regular meeting was held on Tuesday, Jun. 8 at 9 a.m. The meeting opened with public comment on the consent agenda, which focused on item 8, the request to recognize the Vitality Advisory Council of Oceano as a community advisory council to the Oceano area, and item 9, the resolution recognizing the potential need for renewable wind power generation. Comments regarding the advisory council of Oceano came both in support of the new council, with members of the public stating that the previous council did not represent them as well as in opposition of creating a new council when the existing council is sufficient and also seeking more representatives so those who need to feel heard can do so by joining. After public comment and debate among the Supervisors, Chairperson Lynn Compton, whose district it is, spoke about her discussions with her constituents and that she isn’t surprised they feel the need to create a new council. She dismissed the misconception that the new advisory council is single-minded about the OHV riding area, and ultimately she supported the new council. Compton made a motion to recognize the Vitality Advisory Council of Oceano, and the motion passed 3-2, with Supervisors Bruce Gibson and Dawn Ortiz-Legg in opposition. Item 9 on the agenda heard comments mainly from those in the fishing industry, explaining how detrimental this change would be to those who fish commercially off the coast. Many of the callers had felt they should have been sought out for input. Many also have already invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in fishing boats, equipment, and permits to fish these waters, which would be significantly impacted by these changes. Supervisor Ortiz-Legg pulled the item for future consideration and to look more into the eco-sys-
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Atascadero High School Graduating Class of 2021 came together on Thursday, Jun. 3 to celebrate in-person after one of the most challenging years in history. Photos by Connor Allen
277 Graduates Walked on Thursday By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Thursday, spread out across Memorial Stadium, the Atascadero High School (AHS) senior class of 2021 celebrated their graduation and walked into
CITY
their next phase of life. The class of 2021 is the 100th graduating class from Atascadero, with the first one being held in 1921 when the school was then called Margarita Black High School. It was a picture-perfect afternoon with barely a cloud in the sky as 277 graduates donning long grey gowns, decorated caps, and their Sunday best clothing made their way into the stadium and into their seats
with the band of their own peers playing lightly behind them. It was an efficient ceremony, but still a powerful one as many took time and reflected upon the especially difficult 15 months this senior class has endured with the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior class President Mia Perry kicked off the ceremony thanking family and friends and welcoming a nearly packed house to enjoy the proceedings.
Principal Dan Andrus, who took over as AHS Principal this year following Bill Neely’s retirement, came to the stage next and honored Aziz Basil, the Valedictorian, and Sean Reagan, the Salutatorian of the 2021 class. Only three points separated the two boys at the tip-top of the academic leaderboard as Basil finished his high school CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
TOP DOGS
AHS 2021 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
City Council Addresses the Removal of the Blue Ribbons The City budget is reviewed and approved after months of work By MELISSA MATTSON melissa@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Atascadero City Council met on Tuesday, Jun. 8, for their regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m., following a closed session with nothing to report. The consent calendar was approved, with item 2 pulled for discussion and 6 pulled for clarification. Item 6 was clarified with a term that said council committee, which was clarified from any committee connected to members to committees that council members serve on. With the correction, the item was approved 5-0. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
COLONY PARK
Atascadero High School Valedictorian Aziz Basil (left) and Salutatorian Sean Reagan (right) both took different paths in their high school journeys and ready for their next adventure. Photos by Connor Allen
Two top students separated by just a few decimal points
ATA S C A D E R O — Atascadero High School (AHS) held its 100th graduation ceremony last Thursday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, honoring its 277 graduates for the class of 2021. The ceremony features music from the school band, performances by the choir, a speech by Moselle Stieler, and, of course, recognition of the class Salutatorian Sean Reagan and
Valedictorian Aziz Basil. Just a few moments after the graduates took their seats; Principal Dan Andrus asked the two top students at AHS to come to the stage to accept their awards and to be acknowledged by their peers. While the two boys ended up on the stage separated by just a few decimal points, they took different paths in the way they got there. Basil, who finished as the top student at AHS with an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 4.62, moved to the United States from Syria in sixth grade with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. At first, earning the title of Valedictorian was not something Basil coveted but only
MID-STATE FAIR
COVID-19 UPDATE
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com
because he didn’t know that it existed. However, once he found out, he put it at the top of his list of high school accomplishments and worked towards it every day. “Honestly, it was a goal [Valedictorian],” Basil told the Atascadero News. “I came here from Syria in sixth grade, and I didn’t really know what Valedictorian meant, so I was just getting into American culture because, in Syria, we didn’t have Valedictorians. In high school, I started hearing people say stuff about Valedictorian, and I asked what it meant and was told that it meant that you are ranked number one in your class. From that point on, freshman year, I just tried to take
SPORTS
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PICKLEBALL COURTS to be built at the Colony Park, behind Community Center courts | A3
TWO MUSIC SUPERSTARS, Big & Rich and Little Big Town to perform at Mid-State Fair | A4
SLO COUNTY MOVES TO Yellow Tier as Governor Newsom Draws First 15 Winners | A5
CIF SPORTS UPDATE Two North County teams to face off in Final Rounds | A13
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