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CITY
City Council Approves NonStorefront Cannabis Delivery Services Planning and Zoning annual review relaxes restrictions on Conditional Use Permit By MELISSA MATTSON melissa@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Atascadero City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 25 at 5 p.m. for closed session and 6 p.m. for open session. The meeting started with approval of the consent calendar, which passed 5-0, followed by an update from the City Manager, Rachelle Rickard. The City of Atascadero is starting its youth sports and camp programs, just in time for summer and after a year hiatus due to COVID restrictions. Basketball registration is open for Kindergarten to 8th grade, as well as baseball, softball, and T-ball. The Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Faces of Freedom Veteran’s Memorial on Monday, May 31 at noon, with no BBQ event to follow. The city-wide yard sale is set for Jun. 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the deadline for signing up is May 29. Lastly, the SB438 bill passed the Senate floor on a unanimous vote and is headed to assembly. This bill would allow Atascadero to be repaid roughly 1.4 million dollars from the redevelopment agency if it passes, and Rickard wanted to be sure to extend thanks to Senator Laird and his team for all their work on this. To read the bill in its entirety, visit leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/ faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_ id=201920200SB438. Public comment heard from Josh Cross, CEO of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, who wanted to highlight two events that are coming soon. The Shop Local Gift Card Bonus Program is in place in Atascadero. The Chamber is purchasing five $20 gift cards from participating businesses, and shoppers can collect CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
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IN MEMORIAM
Det. Benedetti Laid to Rest After Thousands Attend Memorial Service “The world is a better place because of Luca, and he will forever be our hero.” By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
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n May 20, friends, family, community members, and fellow law enforcement officers gathered to honor fallen San Luis Obispo Police Department, Detective Luca Benedetti. Almost 2,000 people gathered at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo for the memorial service. Det. Benedetti (37) was killed in the line of duty on May 10 while serving a search warrant. Rick Comstock, Atascadero Police Department (APD) chaplain, opened the service with a prayer. Newly appointed SLOPD Police Chief Rick Scott said, “Luca was an example of the best we have to offer. He was courageous.
San Luis Obispo Police Detective Luca Benedetti was shot and killed on May 10 after serving a search warrant. Services for the late detective were held on Thursday, May 20 at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo followed by a procession to the Paso Robles District Cemetery where he was laid to rest in a private ceremony. Photo by Camille DeVaul
He was compassionate. He was friendly, honorable, and he was kind.” Cheif Scott said he did not know Det. Benedetti but wished he had the chance. “He understood that at any moment everything he cared about in this world
could be taken away in an instant, and yet he detti valued his Italian roots. wore his badge, and he wore it with honor,” Benedetti was born on Mar. 31, 1984, Chief Scott said. in San Francisco to parents Giampietro Comstock shared Benedetti’s life story, a Benedetti and Rita Ginocchio Benedetti, story that was cut too short. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15 As a son of two Italian immigrants, Bene-
IN REMEMBRANCE
ATTRACTION
25th Anniversary of Kristin Smart’s Disappearance Smart family releases a statement about their relentless determination to bring Kristin home
visit, we took time to thank our special friends in the SLO area who have carried Kristin in their hearts, including those in law enforcement who never gave up and continue today with steeled determination and effort to bring her home. While we were not able to meet with all the Warriors for Kristin during our short stay, we wanted them to know that their determination over the years has been so valuable in sustaining Kristin’s memory. We did have the opportunity to thank Sheriff Ian Parkinson for his relentless commitment and leadership, and we saluted all those in the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s Department and the FBI for
By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com Mr. Putters Paddle Boats Grand Opening this weekend at Atascadero Lake! Photo by Rick Evans
Mr. Putters Bringing Paddle Boats Back To Atascadero Lake Grand Opening set for Memorial Day Weekend By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — One of Atascadero’s oldest family traditions is coming back this summer as Mr. Putters Putt Putt has officially taken over as the new stewards of the Atascadero Watercraft concierge at the Atascadero Lake. Starting on Memorial Day Weekend, families will once again be able to venture out into the calm, murky waters on power generated from their own elbow grease. The new boathouse will be named “Mr. Putters Pedal Boats” and will not only provide access to the water but other fun activities also. While the boathouse is expected to hold its grand opening until the Saturday of Memorial Weekend, those that are dying
EVENT
to get out on the water can do so on the weekends before the grand opening. “We are already operating in a soft opening on Friday’s, Saturday’s, and Sunday’s,” Co-Owner Grayson Dole told The Atascadero News. “Each one of those days, people can come out from about 10 a.m., and the last boat goes out at 5 p.m. Then it is $10 for each person that is over 16 and $5 for anyone that is under 16. Children under four are free.” As of now, the boats will have no time limit restrictions as the owners of Mr. Putters want to encourage a family atmosphere and continue to embrace the quirky, goofy, fun side that is present inside every family. In March, the City of Atascadero announced that they were looking for a single firm as the sole recreational service provider at the paddleboat location
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Tuesday, May 25, marked the 25th Anniversary since the day Kristin Smart went missing from the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo. Kristin’s family has released the following statement to mark the occasion: “It has been 25 years today since our daughter, Kristin, disappeared, and to mark the occasion, members of our family traveled to San Luis Obispo this past weekend to celebrate Kristin’s life. As part of our
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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS for the Greyhounds, Eagles, and Bearcats enter playoffs | A3
ATASCADERO LAKESIDE WINE BACKYARD JAM BENEFIT Festival new passport program begins tickets now on sale through the Paso on Jun. 26, through Dec. 31 | A4 Robles Youth Arts Center | A6
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