Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CV, NO. I
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021
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GOVERNMENT
Meet Atascadero’s Police Chief Robert Masterson
Council Holds First Public Measure D-20 Meeting
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com Dick Nock with Claude Loftus. Contributed photo
Richard ‘Dick’ Nock, a Legacy, Mentor and Friend to All Nock was named Cattlemen of the Year in 1979; the list of all his accomplishments is almost endless By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
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n a chilly morning in Cayucos, some long time friends sat around a fire on their friend’s ranch. With polenta being stirred and stew warming in a pot, they laughed and shared memories of a man who will never be forgotten. On paper, Richard “Dick” Leo Nock was a cattle rancher, a beef industry advocate, livestock entrepreneur, and Army Veteran. For those who knew him personally, Nock was a lover of splitting eggs, having a horn, handing out nicknames, and most of all, cattle. There were also many things Nock wasn’t a fan of. For instance, half-empty soda cans or slamming the door on his Jeep Cherokee-because it wasn’t a ranch vehicle! But when it came down to it, Nock was a good-natured man. Jo-Ann Switzer said, “Since Dick passed, there’s been lots of phone calls from people all over saying how much he did for them, and they would not be where they are today if it wasn’t for him helping-he really had a heart of gold underneath.” Nock was born and raised on the Phelan Ranch in Cambria, California, where his great-grandfather, Jeffrey Phelan, settled in 1858 after immigrating from Ireland. Growing up, Nock worked on the Fiscalini Ranch. And for a short time, when he was 14, Nock worked at Hearst Castle for the big man himself, William Randolph Hearst. However, his time at Hearst didn’t last, and long story short, it ended with a broken nose! After graduating with a B.S. in Economics from the University of Santa Clara in 1953, Nock served in the U.S. Army as an Army Aviator from 1953-1957. It was then that Nock served with the U.S. Armed Forces in Korea and next as a flight instructor in the U.S. Army Aviation School in Fort Rucker, Alabama. Nock then returned home and CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
CITY
ATASCADERO - Monday, Jan. 4, marked the first official day in charge for new Atascadero Police Chief Robert “Bob” Masterson. The new chief is taking over for former chief Jerel Haley whose last day was in October of 2020 after serving the Atascadero Police Department for nine years. The Atascadero News reached out to the new chief this week to set up an interview to find out a little about him and what we can expect to see in the City of Atascadero in the coming months. Chief Masterson began his law enforcement career in 1986 with the Tulare County Sheriff ’s Department. He was hired to serve as a Deputy Trainee and worked his way through the ranks to the position of Police Lieutenant in 2001. After seven years as a Lieutenant, Masterson left the Tulare County Sheriff ’s Department to become the director of a faithbased non-profit organization that provided gang prevention to at-risk youth before becoming the Chief of Police for the College of Sequoias Community College. For the past five years, Masterson has worked as the police chief in King City, making tremendous
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com
the commitment it was a real commitment to myself. It wasn’t a commitment to a diet; it wasn’t a commitment to keto; it wasn’t a commitment to weight watchers. It was a commitment to myself, and that felt different,” says Twisselman. Early in her health journey, Twisselman began documenting her experience. For the first few months, she kept those videos and photos to herself. But after Kiah started to see changes happening and knew she would follow through, she began to share her story
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council met for the first time in the new year on Tuesday night and the discussion around Measure D-20, the one-cent sales tax measure passed in the November elections. The meeting began with a video of new Atascadero Police Chief Robert ‘Bob’ Masterson, who officially started on Jan. 4, taking part in the Administration of Oath of Office before focusing on local officer Craig Martineau who received a commendation from his new chief from his work in the field last September. “About a year ago, Officer Martineau proposed that we carry tourniquets on our duty belts to offer life-saving to officers and the public,” Masterson said, standing on the steps of City Hall. “In the course of officer Martineau’s duties, he responded to a shooting on Sept. 25, 2020, in which case a San Luis Obispo County Deputy was shot outside of Paso Robles and Templeton. Officer Martineau responded, singularly tracked down the wounded deputy, applied his tourniquet that he proposed we carry, which ultimately resulted in diminished blood loss to the deputy. Which, in all reality, helped at the very least to save his leg, if not his life.” For his quick thinking and potentially life-saving work, Officer Martineau earned the Chief ’s Commendation and had his fiance place the pin on this uniform. Following a few brief updates from the City Manager, the Council dove into the only item of the night but received far less community participation than was expected for an issue that was so polarizing just two months ago. The City presented a 24-minute video that explained in great detail where money needs to be spent in Atascadero, starting with public safety. Throughout the video, Atascadero Fire Chief Casey Bryson, Atascadero Police Department Lieutenant Robert Molle, Public Works Director Nick DeBar, and Community Development Director Phil Dunsmore explain where funding is needed and how underfunding has impacted and will continue to impact the City going forward.
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Atascadero’s new police chief Robert Masterson joined by his wife, son and daughter for his official badge pinning at the Jan. 12 City Council Meeting. Photo credit City of Atascadero
strides in reducing violent crime. He was a crucial component in the City’s comprehensive plan to end youth violence. Masterson was so successful he received a Congressional commendation letter for violent crime reduction in King City as well as commendations from the State Assembly
and Senate. Masterson is no stranger to the Central Coast area and attributes our special piece of California as one of the main reasons he decided to put his name in for the Atascadero position. “My wife and I came over to the San Luis Obispo area just
because it was where we decided we wanted to raise our children,” Masterson said. “What drew us to Atascadero was the connection at ABC [Atascadero Bible Church], I knew quite a few people over here already that moved from CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
HEALTH AND FITNESS
From the Cattle Ranch to Life Coach, Twisselman is an Inspiration By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
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ne bit, don’t quit! Those are the words that have become Kiah Twisselman’s catchphrase after losing over 125 pounds and becoming a full-time life and weight loss coach. Born and raised on her family’s cattle ranch in Carrisa Plains, Twisselman has a deep love for the beef and agriculture industry. After graduating from UC Davis, Twisselman worked on the Kentucky Beef Council and in charge of their nutrition program. “I felt very conflicted in that role. Not because I didn’t believe in what we were sharing in terms of beef and protein’s role in a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle,” said Twisselman. She continued, “I grew up on a cattle ranch, I believe in the beef industry with all my heart and soul, but I felt like such a hypocrite standing up in front of the room telling-the general public ‘yeah beef is so great for your health’ without being a vision of health myself.” Before boarding a plane to a conference for the beef council, Twisselman picked up Rachel Hollis’s book ‘Girl, Wash Your Face.’ Then Twisselman had her ah-ha moment, if you will, after having to ask for a seatbelt extender on the plane for the first time. After that moment, Twisselman decided she needed to make some changes, but this
GOVERNMENT
Kiah Twisselman lost over 125 pounds which started her on the path to becoming a full-time life and weight loss coach. Contributed photo
time things were going to be different, “I feel like I knew this time that something felt different, and I think that really started within me.” Twisselman began to follow Rachel Hollis’s ‘Five to Thrive’ in October 2018. Hollis’s ‘Five to Thrive’ is a list of five things she does every day that has drastically changed her life, energy levels, and how she shows up for her family. It wasn’t her first time trying to make a change in her health, but this time she knew it was different. “I think that I knew this time when I made
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ATASCADERO EMERGENCY ELECTORAL VOTES CONFIRMED Small Business Grants 63 applications 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES approved and checks in the mail | A3 IS JOSEPH BIDEN | A5
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