Paso Robles Press • July 9, 2020

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Hometown News Since 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXI, NO. IV

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020

pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY

CELEBRATION

COMMEMORATE

Four Young People ‘Touched Many Lives’ Car crash on June 29 outside of Templeton, kills four local youths By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@pasoroblespress.com

T

he four young people who died in a car crash outside of Templeton on June 29 were friends “who touched many lives.” At approximately 9:23 p.m. June 29, Kegin Dakota York, 22, of Creston, according to the California High Patrol, was driving his 2007 Infiniti G35 sedan too fast on the backroads east of Templeton and lost control. The car left Neal Spring Road and slammed into an old oak tree, killing Kegin and his three friends in the car — Shelby Lynn Biaggini, 23, Taylan Elaine Perez, 22, and Karen Montes-Cabrera, 21. Kegin and Shelby worked together for a short time at 15 degrees C Wine Shop and Bar in Templeton. “Kegin and Shelby were extremely friendly, outgoing, happy people who touched many lives,” said 15 degrees C owner Ali Carscaden. “They were a joy to have at work and quickly became friends with everyone. “The weight of their passing is something that affected the entire staff, as well as customers,” she added. Kegin worked at 15 degrees C for the past year, while Shelby started there in 2020 after moving back to North County from Bend, Ore. Carscaden said Kegin loved children

Paso Robles Legend Norma Moye turns 87 By HAYLEY MATTSON hayley@pasoroblespress.com KEGIN YORK

SHELBY BIAGGINI

TAYLAN PEREZ

KAREN MONTES-CABRERA

and animals. “Whenever my son was here, he would play with him and encourage him to do tricks on his bike and scooter,” Carscaden said. “Kegin’s middle name is Dakota and my dog’s

name is Dakota. He would always play June 30, said owner Joseph Gerardis. with her and ask if he could take her to Karen, of Paso Robles, started workthe park for a walk.” ing at Joebella when she was 18. She Shelby and Karen worked together at quickly became a popular barista. Joebella Coffee Roasters of Atascadero. They were scheduled to work Tuesday, CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

PASO ROBLES — On July 2, Paso Robles royalty, and Main Street Executive Director Norma Moye celebrated her 87th birthday. Moye grew up in Paso Robles and has dedicated her life to supporting downtown businesses, helping them thrive and prosper even during the most trying of times. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the shelter-in-place orders were set in place, Moye was determined to keep the Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association open to offer support and encouragement to local businesses. Moye, who has lived through the Great Depression and World War II, stated she has never seen anything like this before. “Everybody is being as creative as they can, and I’m proud of how merchants are all hanging on, but we all have to hang on together and help each other,” Moye told The Paso Robles Press back in March. “We can’t let this destroy us. We are Americans, and we are going to win this battle.” CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

LOCAL BUSINESS

EDUCATION

McPhee’s Waiting to Reopen for Dine-in When staff feels safe to return, business will return as well By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@pasoroblespress.com

Following advice from state health officials, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District School Board voted 6-0 to change graduation plans during a special meeting Tuesday night. File photo

PRJUSD Make Changes to Graduation at Special Meeting District works out details for drive-in ceremonies this week By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@pasoroblespress.com PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District canceled its mini-graduation ceremonies Tuesday during a special meeting after being advised to do so by state health officials earlier in the day. With the mini-graduation option taken away, trustees voted 6-0 — Chris Bausch did not attend the meeting — to move forward with drive-thru or drive-in style graduation ceremonies this week, possibly at the Paso Robles Event

LOCAL NEWS

Center. Last night after the meeting, PRJUSD settled on drive-in ceremonies at the Event Center at 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. PRHS graduates initially scheduled for Wednesday evening have been moved to Thursday at 6 p.m. One car per graduate will be allowed; no limos or stretch vehicles. Gates will open at 5:15 p.m. and California Vehicle Code applies. “Despite today’s disappointing news, we could not be more proud CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

EVENTS

TEMPLETON — McPhee’s Grill Chef-Owner Ian McPhee is asked daily when the iconic Templeton restaurant is going to reopen. It’s a no-brainer for him — when his employees feel safe. “There is so much going on and so much just trying to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong that you just got to take care of your people,” Ian said from the tidy upstairs office at the rear of the restaurant at 416 S. Main St. “First you have to take care of your employees and make sure that they are safe and OK with being here. And your next worry is going to be your customer. And then, after that, you just let your business run.” The restaurant has been closed since March 18, when Gov. Gavin Newsom forced them to close and a day later issued the stay-at-home order. A couple of weeks ago, restaurants in San Luis Obispo County reopened to dine-in but needed to follow the state and county social distancing guidelines, meaning most eateries

COVID UPDATE

were at less than half capacity. Ian and his son, Max, are meeting with staff and gauging when to reopen. They will move forward when the team feels safe. “I need to know that they are all the way on board,” Ian said. “If they aren’t, then we just stay closed until the end of July and see what happens. “I have no problem with staying closed. I know we are OK,” Ian said. “As long as they are OK, then we are good. I get it.”

Ian opened McPhee’s Grill in 1994. The popular fine-dining restaurant features fresh seafood, wood-grilled steaks, local produce and gourmet pizza and pasta in an old converted saloon with contemporary country decor. It is open for lunch and dinner. Ian said that when everything shut down, he immediately laid off his employees so they could quickly start getting unemployment. “I think that is why we are

McPhee’s Grill Chef-Owner Ian McPhee, left, and his son Max McPhee pose for a photo. The iconic Templeton restaurant has not reopened and Ian is not in a hurry to open. Contributed photo

BUSINESS

one of the last dinner houses to come back because I just looked at my employees and felt like they were safe,” Ian said. “Some of them were making more than they would normally make. And then my family was safe. It just then became a point of let’s see what goes on.” Reopening isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. People may think it is, but it’s costly and time-consuming. “It’s funny to me how people think you just open the door,” Max said, adding that it costs thousands of dollars to restock and they will need four to five days of kitchen preparation. And training staff on the county, state and CDC guidelines will take time. The dining room has undergone some cosmetic changes, mainly the addition of plexiglass on booths that allow for increased seating. Without the plexiglass, Ian said they wouldn’t even be thinking about opening until more restrictions are lifted. Pre-COVID-19, McPhee’s had 35 tables and seating for 148. Under the guidelines, they can CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

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WEATHER

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COMMUNITY UNITES for the Fourth of July with rallies and fundraising | A3

‘SATURDAY IN THE PARK’ goes virtual as Atascadero announces lineup | A4

REOPENING ROLLBACK

for 19 counties due to two-week cases spike | A5

THRIFT SHOP in North

County gets flooded with donations | A13

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