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SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXII, NO. XLVIII
EDUCATION
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022
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CELEBRATION
Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Gala Returns
PRJUSD Prepares for Transition to By-TrusteeArea Elections Trustees deny student’s request to reverse regulation on graduation cap personalization By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 10. Highlighted topics included a student’s appeal to personalize graduation caps, Measure M project updates, and an update on transitioning CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
2021 Roblan of the Year Brian Thorndyke (center) with (left to right) Congressman Jimmy Panetta, representative for Jordan Cunningham, Kelley Abbas, Paso Robles Mayor Pro Tem John Hamon and Senator John Laird at the 2022 Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Gala. Photo by Hayley Mattson/PRP
Roblans and Businesses of the Year officially honored; Chamber’s new board members inducted
its annual Gala at Rava Wines on May 7. “We had a lovely time,” said Chamber Events Coordinator Shanay Brown. “Everybody seemed to be happy to be back together again and to be able to once again hold this lovely tradition that we sorely missed By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com last year.” Annually, the chamber gala PASO ROBLES — After is held to welcome new board a year away, the Paso Robles members and the Roblan of the Chamber of Commerce hosted Year. The gala was last held in
February 2020, just in the nick of time. The Chamber then took a break last year to return this May with two Roblans of the Year. Pat Bland was honored Saturday night as the 2020 Roblan of the Year and Brian Thorndyke as the 2021 Roblan of the Year. Cal Coast Beer Co. was honored with the Beautification of the Year. “Celebrate Togetherness” was the theme of this year’s gala.
MEMORIAL
“It represented not just the togetherness of being able to do an event but Paso and Templeton’s chambers coming together,” explained Brown. “So there are a lot of reasons why that meant something. I think you could feel that people were excited to be together.” This year marks the first gala with the Paso Robles and Templeton Chambers merged. The two chambers announced their merger on New Year’s
Day, uniting more than 1,000 businesses. “As we navigate this new merger, we are going to make sure we honor both communities,” added Brown. A tradition brought into this year’s Gala from the Templeton Chamber was Business of the Year. McPhee’s Grill was this year’s recipient. Max McPhee received the honor on behalf of his father, Ian, who was unable CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
CHAMPIONSHIP
San Luis Obispo County Honors Fallen Peace Officers at Pismo Beach Pier
The Paso Robles High stunt team cheers as coach Tori Loney accepts the CIF Central Section championship plaque. Contributed photo
Bearcat Stunt Team Goes to CIF State The Paso Robles High squad won the CIF Central Section bered on Thursday, May 5, at ment’s loss of Detective Luca championship over the SLO County Peace Offi- Benedetti. cers’ Memorial held at Pismo Benedetti (37) lost his life the weekend
A moment of silence is observed during the SLO County Peace Officers Memorial on May 5 at the Pismo Beach Pier. Photo Courtesy San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office
May 10 marked one year since Detective Luca Benedetti’s death
Beach Pier. The annual event honors By CAMILLE DEVAUL peace officers who died in the camille@pasoroblespress.com line of duty. This year’s event was especially personal to the SLO COUNTY — Two San county since it comes just days Luis Obispo County peace offi- short of one year since the San cers were honored and remem- Luis Obispo Police Depart-
SPORTS
EVENT
in the line of duty on May 10, By CAMILLE DEVAUL 2021, in San Luis Obispo while camille@pasoroblespress.com serving a search warrant. Benedetti was laid to rest on May 20, 2021, at the Paso Robles PASO ROBLES — The District Cemetery, following a Paso Robles High School Bearcats stunt team made memorial and procession. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15 history as the first team to
COUNTY
COMMUNITY
win the CIF Central Section championship. They will move on to compete in the State CIF in Sacramento on Friday, May 13. This year was the first end-of-the-season tournament held for the Central Section, and Paso Robles High School was the first to host the competition. “We not only got to win, but we got to host as well,” said stunt coach and PRHS athletic
director Tori Loney. Stunt, which is still an emerging sport within CIF, is derived from competitive cheerleading. It involves a head-to-head game between two teams who execute skillsbased routines in various categories — partner stunts, jumps and tumbling, pyramids and tosses, and team routines. Teams are given 18 routines in December to learn and CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
WEATHER
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OLIVE AND LAVENDER Festival Returns for 18th and 14th Year | A4
ONLINE AUCTION ‘Ill-Gotten Gains’ of Embezzlement case | A5
ATASCADERO CITYWIDE Yard Sale Map of items to be sold | A16
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