GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CV, NO. XVI
THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2022
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
RECOGNITION
EDUCATION
School Bus Driver Averts Disaster During Bus Fire
City Council Discusses Zone Change for Centennial Plaza Project Atascadero declares April as Sexual Assault Action Month By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
Tonya Pennington (middle, with flowers) is shown with the Atascadero School Board and members of the AUSD Transportation Department, and AHS JV baseball team. Contributed photo
Tonya Pennington has been driving buses for AUSD for over 20 years By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — On Saturday, April 2, Tonya Pennington, a school bus
driver for the Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD), averted a potential disaster when her bus started having mechanical failures due to an electrical fire. “I was en route to Atascadero from Morro Bay with our JV baseball team after they played their game,” stated Pennington. “I drive Bus 36, which is my favorite bus. I’ve been in
that bus for a very long time. In saying that, I know that bus inside and out.” Pennington said she heard a loud pop and instantly knew something pretty major was wrong with her bus. She quickly noticed that the power to the bus was being affected, and her gauges started fluttering, which indicated to her that she was probably dealing
with an electrical fire. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw smoke coming from the back of the bus. “I looked back at the coaches, and I said, ‘I have a little problem, so I’m going to find a safe place to pull over, and then you guys are going to evacuate the scene, and you’re going to get them [the team] off the roadway, about 10 to 20
GOVERNMENT
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
PASO ROBLES/ATASCADERO — Recently, the cities of Paso Robles and Atascadero agreed to form a partnership to bring high-speed internet to the North County. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) explains “the intent of the Cities to establish an operational relationship developing a north San Luis Obispo County Broadband Strategic Plan.” Expanding North County’s highspeed internet access is intended to bring more businesses to the region, supporting job retention. In addition, the cities are hoping to attract business industries such as specialized manufacturing to support local agriculture, viticulture industries, ag-tech development, and tech companies or telecommuters relocating from larger cities and seeking high-speed internet access from home.
SPORTS
The motion to enter the MOU passed unanimously at both council meetings — Paso Robles on April 5 and Atascadero on April 12. Atascadero has previously approved approximately $400,000 of its funds for use toward a broadband initiative. During Paso’s April 5 meeting, the council approved $100,000 from the general fund to allow the City to participate financially alongside Atascadero. However, according to City Staff, a regional plan will assist the city in competing for state and federal funding programs associated with broadband, fiber, and connectivity. They anticipate new funding available within the next 12 to 24 months. Currently, the cities are working on applying for a state broadband technical assistance grant. In addition, they are collaborating with the Pacific Coast Broadband Consortium. During the Atascadero meeting, Loreli Cappel, the deputy director of economic and community development, said, “We are very excited to spearhead CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
COMMUNITY
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CITY
Atascadero, Paso Robles Join for Broadband Strategic Plan The cities hope high-speed internet will bring more businesses to the region
feet from the bus,’” Pennington said. “I was hoping to pull over quickly before anyone got alarmed. And so as I was starting to pull over into this perfect pullout (it was like it was customized for me), one of the boys goes, ‘there’s smoke back here.’ I said, ‘it’s fine; we’re pulling over.’ So I pulled over, pulled my brake,
ATASCADERO—The Atascadero City Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 26, at 6 p.m. The hybrid meeting was held in the City Council Chambers and followed the council’s 5 p.m. closed session. The Agenda for the evening was approved unanimously. Mayor Pro Tem Heather Newsom gave a proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault Action Month. “Whereas Sexual Assault Action Month calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts
New hires Dawn Patterson, Loreli Cappel, Helona Andresson, Jamie Puebla, Dillon Dean James, Amanda Muther, Rob Hammer, Warren Pittenger, Dustin Glau, Shandi Sanders, and Iris Figueroa take their oaths of office. Contributed photo
Atascadero’s New Hires, Promotions Take Oaths of Office
The ceremony took place Wednesday, April 20 By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — City employees, family members, friends, and work colleagues celebrated the newest hires and promotions within the City of Atascadero on Wednesday, April 20, as they took their oaths of office.
NEWS
City Clerk Lara Christensen administered the oaths and swore in all 11 of Atascadero City’s newest staff members. “The oaths of office ceremonies always take our new employees and/ or those who were just promoted through the oaths and commitment to serve the community,” said Deputy City Manager Terrie Banish. “Oaths are always followed by a ‘meet and greet’ opportunity for our employees to congratulate team members and
SENIOR LIVING
welcome them and also an opportunity to meet their families. It usually runs about 15 to 20 minutes in length.” Out of the 11 employees that were sworn in, nine were new hires to the city, while the other two (Amanda Muther and Dawn Patterson) were promotions from within. The city members who were sworn in on April 20 were: Dawn Patterson, Accounting Specialist (internal transCONTINUED ON PAGE A15
WEATHER
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