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SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CVIV, NO. I
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024
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The sixth Annual Chicken Run brings in more participants than years past The run honors Brittni and Brynn Frace’s lives and legacy, and raises money for the sport at the same time
City Council gives direction for moving forward with three Parks and Rec projects
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
SANTA MARGARITA — Local runners and even some from out of state returned to Santa Margarita Lake for the 6th Annual Running Chicken Fun Run. The 10K and 5K run/ walk celebrating the lives and legacies of sisters and runners Brittni “Bitti” and Brynn Frace took place in the early morning of Sunday, Jan. 7. In fact, it was the event’s biggest turnout to date. “This is the most runners and participants that we’ve had in the six years of doing it. So we’re really excited about the turnout. It seems like it went great. The weather was perfect; the eagles were out, just textbook. It was a great day,” said Brittni and Brynn’s father, Warren Frace. “We had about 500 [runners] sign up total. It looks like we had almost 400 out here on the track today.” On top of the participants who showed up to the course, a good number of people ran virtually if they couldn’t make it out to the lake. But most runners
Council approves Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Road Report By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. The hybrid meeting was held in the City Council Chambers. Councilmember Mark Dariz had an excused absence from the meeting. Brittni and Brynn’s parents Warren and Sheri Frace pose with the 10K winners from the sixth annual Chicken Run on Sunday, Jan. 7. Photo by Sam McMillan Both the Agenda for the evening and the Consent on the course have participated is so important for Atascadero. more experienced runners like 1. Tyler Daillak for multiple years. The cross country team, the to face the 10K portion. During 2. Brad Dunn Calendar passed unanimously. “I’ve been involved with this track team.” the 10K runners get to conquer 3. Sean Sommerville During Updates from the City Manager, Jim Lewis Chicken Run from the start,” The Fun Run has a little bit “the wall” before heading back Woman’s 5k: reintroduced Atascadero’s said Angela Pericic, whose kids of something for all levels of to the finish line. new Police Chief Daniel B. ran at Atascadero High School, runners and walkers. Many “I try to come out here and do 1. Bella Tomasini which she also attended. “I runners are already familiar my best on the 5K, and I support 2. Alexis Shohet Suttles, who officially became always come out here to support with the course, as it’s the one everybody on the 10K,” added 3. Lila Colegrove the chief on Monday, Jan. 8. He the family, the friends, and the the AHS cross-country team Pericic. also made it a point to thank Men’s 10k: community. It’s a very emotional uses and the same course that The winners of this year’s Interim Police Chief Joe Allen 1. Connor Fisher (Brynn and for answering the call and time. A very happy time. It’s a Brittni and Brynn ran on. The Chicken Run were: beautiful event. It’s supporting 5K is mostly flat, so particpants Brittni’s friend from Chico returning to Atascadero while Men’s 5k: the running community which of all ages can join in, while CONTINUED ON PAGE A7 CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
Concealed carry firearm law on hold in California
The new law would ban carrying firearms in most public places
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
Kyle was swept away by floodwaters in San Miguel on Jan. 9, and an additional search was conducted by the Sheriff’s Office in drier conditions. File Photo
One year later: Family continues search for missing 5-year-old
Paso Robles rememyear. Still, the family continues bers the disappearance to look for their son while in the of Kyle Doan on the midst of a lawsuit. Jan. 9 anniversary By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
N O R T H CO U N T Y — Tuesday marked one year since the disappearance of 5-year-old Kyle Doan. Kyle went missing on Jan. 9, 2023, after he was swept away by floodwaters near San Miguel. The year anniversary of his disappearance looks a little different as the region has yet to experience the torrential rain that the county received last
AGRICULTURE
The Disappearance On Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, Kyle was swept away by floodwaters in San Marcos Creek during a severe stint of winter storms surging through the county. He and his mother, Lindsy Doan, were on their way to school when they were unable to complete their crossing of the San Marcos Creek. Following his disappearance, several searches were conducted by the San Luis Obispo County
CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
NEWS
NORTH COUNTY — The first day of the new year was supposed to bring a new gun law into play, but it’s been put on hold for now. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 2 last year, but Cali- The interior of Rooster’s Firearms in Templeton is shown. The held-up state Senate Bill 2 would ban the carrying of firearms in 26 types of public places. fornia courts have stayed the Photo Courtesy of Rooster’s Firearms bill on grounds and concerns that it is a violation of residents’ issued by the sheriff or the chief or the sheriff decides to Second Amendment rights. police chief of the city depend- go ahead on their authority and The new law deals with ing on where the person lives. do that.” concealed carrying permits They go through an intensive Mulhall added that Senate for firearms and will prohibit background investigation, and Bill 2 is an intrusive law that people with CCWs from they go through an intensive adds more restrictions on carrying in 26 public places. training cycle to train with concealed weapon permit Those places include parks that firearm and understand carriers, making actions illeopen to the public, churches, the laws and the regulations. gal and criminal for people playgrounds, and more, even “Then, each police chief or who lawfully carry a concealed if that person has a concealed sheriff sets down his or her firearm. He also stated that the regulations as to what the new law basically restricts the carry permit for a weapon. “Laws in California are restrictions are in carrying that sheriff or the police chief ’s already restrictive regard- CCW. So you already have a authority to issue concealed ing concealed weapon permit very strong CCW system in weapon permits and where carriers,” said Jim Mulhall, California, where the state and when a citizen can carry a co-owner of Rooster’s Firearms becomes involved in issuing firearm with said permit. “I think that it’s invasive for in Templeton. “The license is the permit after the police
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
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the people who go through the amount of training that they do,” Mulhall stated of CCW carriers. Being part of law enforcement for 35 years, 29 of those spent with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s Office, and most of those years as the commander of the unit that issued CCWs, Mulhall looked over the CCW applications before the sherrif signed off on them. After that, he was the police chief of Atascadero, which gives him a plethora of knowledge on the new law. “I did 35 years in law enforcement,” he said. “I’ve not seen where a CCW person who’s allowed to carry has committed a firearms-related crime with that concealed carry because they go through so much training and they go through so many regulations that their mindset is not of a person to commit a crime.” While there will be a list of places where CCW permit holders will not be allowed to carry their firearms, privately owned businesses have the CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
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