GOOD NEWS. REAL NEWS. HOMETOWN NEWS.
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXI, NO. XLVIX
CITY
THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
IN MEMORIAM
Paso Robles’ First Roundabout at Golden Hill and Union
San Luis Obispo County Mourns the Loss of Fallen Officer Candlelight vigil held in honor of Detective Luca Benedetti
Police Chief Ty Lewis accepts National Police Week proclamation By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles City Council met virtually on May 18. Mayor Steve Martin was absent during the meeting, leaving Councilmember John Hamon to step in as acting mayor. After the invocation, Councilmember Hamon asked for a moment of silence for San Luis Obispo Detective Luca Benedetti, who was killed in action on May 10. “I would like to have a moment of silence for him and all of the men in blue who served their full measure of duty to us,” said Hamon. Hamon then read a proclamation that declares May 9 through May 15 as National Police Week and May 15 as National Peace Officer Day in Paso Robles. Paso Robles Police Chief Ty Lewis accepted the proclamation saying, “I thank the council for acknowledging National Police Week. It’s been a rough year, and as you noted, Councilman Hamon, last week weighs heavy on our hearts with Detective Benedetti’s death and his partner being shot. Of course, there was another one that followed that in Stockton. For us I think that in Paso Robles we experienced an active shooter event that resulted in a deputy being shot in front of the police station. Several months after that, there was another deputy sheriff being shot. It underscores the danger that our men and women face every day. I can’t tell you how proud I am of our community, how they support us regularly and show their love and their support. Our men and women that work here in Paso Robles and throughout this county, and throughout the state, love their communities and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. It is particularly tough following last week to accept this proclamation, but it does underscore what each of your police officers, the men, and women, are willing to do for their communities, and with that, I appreciate the moment of silence we had earlier, and we CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
SPORTS
San Luis Obispo County gathered together to honor Det. Luca Benedetti, his family and all Law Enforcement in San Luis Obispo at Mission Plaza on Friday, May 14. Photos by Camille DeVaul
By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
O
n Friday, May 14, a candlelight vigil was held in honor of the late detective Luca Benedetti at the Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo. The 12 year veteran of law enforcement was killed in the line of duty as a result of a shooting that occurred while officers were serving a search warrant at an apartment
on Camellia Court. Prior to the vigil, caravans from PRotect Paso and Protect SLO drove down Higuera and Osos Street. Vehicles were sporting flags and decorations in support of law enforcement. Supporters also lined the street with blue line flags, cheering the honking vehicles. Afterward, supporters walked to Mission Plaza to pay their respects during the vigil. Former Chaplain with Atascadero Police
PREP SPORTS
Department (ATPD), Rick Comstock, recited a Paul Harvey narration, “Policeman.” Comstock had a chance to go on a ridealong with Benedetti when he was with ATPD. Here are some excerpts from the narration written by Harvey: “Policeman. A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.
Local Teen Wins Best Picture at Christian Youth Film Festival By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
Paso Robles High School Girls Softball team cheering on teammate taking home. Photo by Paso Robles Athletics
Paso Robles Softball, Baseball on Top of Their Game By CONNOR ALLEN connor@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The North County always provides some of the top softball and baseball teams in the county, and 2021 has been no different as the Bearcats find themselves in second place in both sports with just a few weeks to go until graduation. This past weekend the boys squared off with the no. 1 team in Division 2 of the CIF Central Section in the undefeated Arroyo Grande Eagles and handed them their first loss of
FUNDRAISER
the season and had a chance at taking the three-game series. While the boys were battling it out at home, the Lady Bearcats softball team continued to roll as they beat the SLO Tigers by a combined score of 24-1 in two games to earn their sixth and seventh consecutive wins. The girls have been absolutely dominant this year and are currently 17-2 on the season and 8-1 in the Mountain League. The Bearcats have cruised through the Mountain League behind a potent offense and three outstanding pitchers. While most softball teams in the county rely on one or maybe two arms to get them through this condensed COVID-19 CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
GOVERNMENT
CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
ARTS & FILM
Abigail Reinstedt wrote, directed, filmed, acted, and edited the film
Crimson’ Lady Cats absolutely dominant this year; currently 17-2
What is a policeman made of ? He, of all men, is once the most needed and the most unwanted. He’s a strangely nameless creature who is ‘sir’ to his face and ‘fuzz’ to his back. The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy, and a gentleman. And, of course, he’d have to be genius. For he will have to feed a family
BAKERSFIELD — Lockwood teen Abigail Reinstedt (16) won Best Picture at the 27th Annual Christian Youth Film Festival in Bakersfield for the film “Designing Lies.” On May 2, Abigail’s film won Best Picture in the Teen Division and Best Application of Scripture. Abigail wrote, directed, filmed, acted, and edited the film. “I knew I wanted to enter a film into the festival, but it took me a long time to come up with an idea that I was happy with. That I thought was reasonable with what was around me,” said Abigail. The requirements for entry were 11 minutes or less, including credits, and conforms to the Biblical worldview. The youth must do all
primary crew, editing, cinematography, and writing. Penny Riley (junior at King City High School), playing the lead actress, won Best Actress for the film. Morgan Hancock (7th grade at Atascadero Middle School) and Lochlan Drinkwine (8th grade at San Antonio School in Lockwood) helped with sound. All four students are members of the True Life Youth Group in Lockwood. All of “Designing Lies” was filmed in the Lockwood and Bryson-Hesperia region of South Monterey County. “Designing Lies” wasn’t Abigail’s first experience in filmmaking. In 2019 Abigail and her older sister Bethany entered their film “Chosen” at the festival. The film won second place as well as Best Application of Scripture, and Abigail won Best Actress. Filmmaking started as a family hobby for the Reinstedts. What began as home movies have CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
Abigail Reinstedt (left) won Best Picture after writing, directing, filming, acting and editing a personal film that starred Penny Riley. Contributed photo
SOCIETY
pasoroblespress.com
WEATHER
twitter.com/ @PasoRoblesPress facebook.com/ @PasoRoblesPress
GREYHOUNDS, EAGLES and Bearcats continue to fight their way to victory | A3
ANNUAL VINO FOR VETS Memorial Weekend Fundraiser changes course for 2021 | A4
SLO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS recognizes young leaders with Weyhrich Scholarship | A5
MISINFORMATION and Human Trafficking – how unvetted info can be harmful | A13
“What We Need, When We Need It”
High 71° | Low 40°
5
67808 24135
7
What does True Community Banking mean? It means working together to find solutions under even the most trying of circumstances. AG LINES OF CR EDIT | EQUIPMENT AG FINANCING ROW CROP LAND LOANS
Preferred SBA Lender “We’re very, very comfortable with American Riviera and their concept of supporting a small business. They understand our cashflow requirements, what we need and when we need it.” — Michael & Margene Mooney, Chateau Margene
AmericanRiviera.Bank • 805.965.5942 Paso Robles • San Luis Obispo • Goleta • Santa Barbara • Montecito