NT - Cover - YIR by New Times Media Group, San Luis Obispo

What happened?

PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER

a 30-inch diameter section of pipe as part of the Nacimiento Water Project. Crews were installing the section in a 10-footdeep trench. Colin Rigley revealed that a common chemical sometimes used in spermicides may be turning fish in Morro Bay into hermaphrodites. The chemical is called nonylphenol BY NEW TIMES STAFF (pronounced “nonil-fe-NALL”) and is increasingly suspected to be the cause of disorders from all of the hospital’s properties. • January • and malformations in WOE IS ME After a flip-flop vote on the state budget, State About a dozen employees were provided earing up for a tight budget in 2009, Senator Abel Maldonado was ostracized by fellow members of the goby fish. nicotine patches as part of a quitstate Republican party. He’s been appointed lieutenant governor, the SLO city council started out The county voted smoking effort but awaits confirmation. the New Year by approving $612,500 to to spend $100,000 Sheriff Pat Hedges’ wife called 911 replace two crapped out bathrooms at to create a position to report a dispute between the couple. the Laguna Lake dog park. For $312,250 to find money to help people who have • March • The Sheriff’s Department refused to each, the restrooms comply with the no homes. Perhaps the county can pay release the 911 transcript. xcelaron agreed to higher-level that bureaucrat some of the $855,184 in PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER Barack Obama was sworn in as review of their plan to drill four oil federal grant money the county received President of the United States on Jan wells in the Huasna Valley. Residents of to prevent homelessness. 20. The nation celebrated the impending the valley rejoiced. A consistently vocal group from Los withdrawal of troops from Iraq and The Department of Motor Vehicles Osos continued to criticize the county Afghanistan, health care with the changed its medical ganja policy: Agency over plans for a sewer. prospect of publicly financed nonprofit workers were told they should treat Republican State Sen. Abel insurance, and the end of government medical marijuana the same as any other Maldonado voted to end budget gridlock handouts to banks. prescription drug when people try to by siding with Democrats to pass a state renew their driver licenses. budget. Republicans reviled him for Disgraced County Sheriff Patrick • February • breaking his no-tax pledge, but he moved Hedges announced he would not seek Los Angeles reelection. First elected in 1998, Hedges PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER medical found himself at the center of multiple marijuana patient controversies, including an investigation filed several by the State Attorney General’s Office complaints against over the wiretapping of his Chief GOODBYE BUTT HUT SLO Regional SLO County Deputy Gary Hoving and the ensuing Medical Center gets rid of the last smokers’ Sheriff Patrick lawsuit filed by Hoving against the refuge at the medical facility. Hedges over the county. That lawsuit cost the county more investigation of than $600,000. Disabilities Act and provide nicer Charles Lynch, On nearly the stroke of midnight on lighting. the former owner St. Patrick’s Day, SLO City Council Happy New Year. of a Morro Bay members finally brought up a measure Supervisors Adam Hill and Frank medical marijuana to toughen penalties for party hosts; the Mecham officially took their seats on dispensary. The irony of cracking down on drinking and Jan. 5, spurring what many assumed complaints, filed partying on what is practically a national would be a time of peaceful and by Cheryl Aichele, holiday dedicated to drinking and enlightened governance by the Board of asked for an partying appeared lost. Supervisors. The first issue the board investigation of the With warrant in hand and wearing confronted was an update on the “surely sheriff’s actions, a bullet-proof vest, top County Code it will be built soon” Los Osos sewer which she called Officer Art Trinidade led a small project. A consistently vocal group from TRENCH DEATHS The drowning deaths of two men killed “unwarranted, team of fellow code officers, sheriff’s Los Osos continued to criticize the county. while working on the Nacimiento pipeline—Jake Gaines and oppressive, deputies, and tow-truck drivers onto Butt Hut cut: Rick Ford, director of Manuel Villagomez—could have been easily avoided, New Times [malicious, and] Dan DeVaul’s Sunny Acres ranch on the plant operations for SLO’s Sierra Vista discovered. intended to morning of March 20, searching for 26 Regional Medical Center, removed the harass medical vehicles to remove. first of two now-banished smoking cannabis patients and providers. Lynch’s up the political feeding change later in The wife of Sheriff Patrick Hedges filed shelters, or “Butt Huts,” from the mother also got in on the act and filed the year when Governor Schwarzenegger for legal separation on March 24, two hospital’s campus. Under a new policy, a complaint, claiming her son was nominated him for Lt Governor. days after he moved out of their home the use of tobacco products is banned “sexually assaulted” when federal agents carrying two suitcases, according to court PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER held him naked at gunpoint, during the PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER March 29 raid on his home in 2007 Residents of Huasna Valley, a pastoral valley east of Arroyo Grande, were disappointed when SLO County Planning Department issued a “mitigated negative declaration,” instead of requiring a more strenuous Environmental Impact Report, for a proposed oil operation in the area. A fledgling oil company with backers in Australia and Canada, Excelaron, applied to the county for a conditional use permit for four new oil wells. Teichert Construction was hit with $140,000 in fines for an accident that killed two men in Paso Robles the CHANGE New SLO County supervisors Adam Hill and Frank Mecham took office, previous October. Jake Gaines and Manuel PARADISE LOST? Huasna Valley residents fight Exelaron, an oil exploration company marking a political shift. that hopes to find oil beneath the lush valley east of Arroyo Grande. Villagomez drowned while working inside

A look back at 2009

PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER

Oops! A control rod at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant was out of alignment. But a fix had to wait until mid-May because the repair could result in a shutdown. The P-08 rod, or “Papa” 08 as PG&E officials called it, raised properly but when lowered got stuck. The California Fish and Game Commission backed off from declaring TOP PRIORITY With bags of money an open season on SLO provided by Measure Y, SLO city officials County’s black bears pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars after receiving more toward trashcan replacement and other superficial improvements, despite the low than 550 letters and epriority residents placed on such projects. mails in opposition to the proposed hunting. During a teleconference on April best uses for 2006’s Measure Y funds. 21, the commissioners Despite a lack of historical records, unanimously decided staff writer Kylie Mendonca traced CLOSE CALLS It was a year of Diablo Canyon almosts. Crews found a misaligned control rod early in to take no action on the prolific author and poet Jack Kerouac’s the year and later found two misaligned switches. hunting plan and to bring steps around SLO, where he had arrived the issue back to the table in 1953 to work for the Southern Pacific in February. records. Sandy Oneal-Hedges filed for Railroad. Duck. An $850,000 British-style an unnamed amount of spousal support, • April • The SLO City Council grudgingly double-decker bus headed for the bus compensation for legal fees, the house, G&E pulled back on its contract with approved a $10 increase on parking routes of SLO (or some of them anyway, and the Mercedes. solar-energy producer Ausra, but no fines, even though the city won’t see since the bus can’t fit under at least one The SLO County Sheriff’s Department one would say why or what that meant a dime of it. The extra revenue will played for members of the media audio for the first of three proposed solar go to the state as FILE PHOTO and video tapes stemming from a Jan. 19 projects in the Carrizo Plain. PG&E part of a 2008 bill call to 911 from Sheriff Patrick Hedges’ withdrew its power purchase agreement increasing funding for third wife, Sandy Oneal-Hedges. In with Ausra from the California Public court construction and the 911 call, Oneal-Hedges is heard to Utilities Commission. Specifically, PG&E operation. say: “I have my husband who is verbally asked the commission to withdraw Atascadero City abusing me, and I need him to get out of advice letters that were part of a 20-year Manager Wade the house.” She later adds: “He’s yelling purchase agreement. McKinney asked Residents of Huasna Valley, east the city council for PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER of Arroyo Grande, celebrated an permission to cut several apparent victory over the oil company city positions because Excelaron after the company of the budget deficit. withdrew an application to drill for oil The next day, eight city in the Huasna hills. employees were told they Just one day before the company was no longer had jobs. COST CUTTING Atascadero City Manager Wade McKinney scheduled to go before the Planning A report was issued by asked city council members for permission to start lay offs and Commission, officials filed a request to an arbitrator detailing the next day he canned eight employees. withdraw their project from the agenda claims of censorship and and withdraw the project completely from harassment suffered by the county’s consideration. Cuesta College Drama of the city’s railroad bridges). The SLO SLO County supervisors voted 4-1 Director bree vallee. Complaints City Council on April 21 approved using on April 7 to begin the contract bidding about vallee ranged from lack of a combination of state bond funds and process for a new Los Osos sewer. professionalism to child endangerment, MAGIC BUS? The city of San Luis Obispo federal grants to purchase the doubleSupervisor Frank Mecham was the even though her students found her an buys a double-decker bus even though decker, a type of bus perhaps better dissenting vote because, he said, a septic inspiring—if unconventional—instructor. it won’t fit under some of the city’s low known for novelty tours. tank effluent pump (STEP) system would In what would become perhaps the bridges. not be considered. A consistently vocal juiciest scandal to hit the Central • May • group from Los Osos criticized the county 2009 continued on page 16 at me and screaming. I’ve asked him to he Morro Bay City Council kicked for this and its plans for the sewer. get out, and he won’t leave me alone.” off spring by placing a PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER Millions of federal dollars flowed temporary ban on medical into SLO County from spending marijuana dispensaries earmarks and the economic stimulus within city limits. In other package. But Los Osos missed out on marijuana news, the criminal money that could have helped fund a sentencing of Charles Lynch sewer. The Los Osos project qualified was delayed for the fifth time. for up to $35 million that would have After months of an been paid through the Army Corps of aggressive campaign by the Engineers. But the project was “unable governor, state voters in the to obtain,” that money, John Diodati of May 19 Special Election county public works said. swiftly shot down all but one A consistently vocal group from Los of his six favored propositions. Osos criticized the county for this and its The lone winner was a plans for the sewer. proposition restricting salary Huasna Valley residents were in an and benefits increases to uproar following a discovery that the oil legislators and other state company Excelaron’s partners have a officials during deficit years. close connection with Deuel Petroleum At least $800,000 was Company— a company that sought oil directed toward new trash in the valley 20 years ago and left it in cans and repainted light shambles. In 1985 the company, which posts as San Luis Obispo’s was owned by Warren William Perrine, downtown beautification took control of several wells in the area. project trudged along, CRACKDOWN SLO police officers arrested, among DULLED EDGE SLO County supervisors Those wells were abandoned shortly after despite the low priority others, Haithem Ibrahim and Zachary Ellis on felony sacked former County Administrator David they were tested, leaving a mess that residents gave the project in charges after freshman pledge Carson Starkey died of Edge amid a sex scandal involving former threatened the valley aquifers. alcohol poisoning in a fraternity hazing ritual. Deputy Administrator Gail Wilcox. a 2008 survey, which studied

FILE PHOTO

2009 continued from page 15

Coast in 2009, county administrators David Edge and Gail Wilcox were originally placed on leave without explanation. After being canned May 19, Edge contended the firing was political, while the reasons behind the action remained secret. In another knock to Central Coast medical marijuana patients, the cities of Guadalupe and Orcutt gave thumbs down to two dispensaries: one proposed, the other open for only three days.

• June •

taff writer Colin Rigley followed Scientology guru L. Ron Hubbard’s last days, which were curiously spent unnoticed in SLO County. After months of postponements, Charles Lynch was finally sentenced June 11 to a year and a day in federal prison, less than the mandatory COURTESY PHOTO

SWANKY Atascadero city officials took a ritzy, taxpayer-funded retreat to Monterey County that wasn’t documented.

minimum of five years. The SLO Police Department held a press conference announcing the arrests of four members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity in the alleged hazing death of Cal Poly freshman Carson Starkey. Haithem Ibrahim, 20, and Zachary Ellis, 22, were each charged with felony hazing causing death or great bodily injury and a misdemeanor violation of furnishing alcohol to a minor. Russell Taylor, 22, and Adam Marszal, 21, were each charged with two

LONG TIRED ROAD All eyes were violations; DeVaul spent most of 2009

STRAPPED After SLO County sheriffs deputies seized hundreds of illegal weapons, New Times asked how hard is it to get an assault weapon? Answer: Build your own.

misdemeanors. In what was described as a “Band-Aid,” the city installed $50,000 worth of new equipment to improve the deteriorating SLO Skate Park, while skaters continued to think of ways to raise the $350,000 needed for a new park. A Superior Court judge lifted a restraining order against former SLO City Councilman Paul Brown, stemming from a 2007 domestic dispute with his ex-wife, more than a year before it would have expired. Cayucos resident Mark Walton accused retired Atascadero police chief Richard “Bud” McHale of vandalizing Walton’s SUV. The incident was captured by a surveillance camera Walton installed after his Excursion was keyed several times. Speaking of surveillance, Big Brother lives SLO Town. City officials said cameras at intersections all over the city were intended merely for traffic enforcement—for the time being. Jim Grant, a 29-year veteran with the county, was selected by the Board of Supervisors to replace David Edge as an interim county administrative officer. Atascadero city officials were criticized for spending a more-thancomfortable stay at a posh lodge in

Monterey County while on a “country retreat” as they met—on the taxpayer’s dime—to discuss the city’s future. The officials had no records of what transpired at the meeting. Hinting at a possible rift between employees and management, a December survey of PG&E employees at Diablo Canyon revealed 57 percent of employees were satisfied with their job, compared with 67 percent of happy employees companywide. Sheriff Pat Hedges announced the June 17 arrest of employees at the California Men’s Colony, including one guard, who were “on the wrong side of the bars,” allegedly involved in a drug smuggling ring at the prison.

• July •

LO County supervisors voted against a mosquito and vector control program after they gave environmental health officials $280,000 to hire a consultant and put together a ballot PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER

PHOTO COURTESY OF LANCE ROBISON

IT’S A DEAL! Local author and Beach Boys expert Jon Stebbins (left) with Brian Wilson, used his connections to broker a five-figure deal with Capitol Records for reel-to-reel tapes from the band’s 1964 recording sessions.

around assault weapons laws through an array of loopholes. The county grand jury found problems with local cemeteries: everything from poor record-keeping to decaying gravestones to gopher holes. Time to toot our horn! New Times won 2009 Association of Alternative Newsweeklies’ Altweekly awards. Recipients included staff photographer Steve E. Miller, publisher Alex Zuniga, former managing editor Patrick Howe, and the Shredder. As the scandal widened, county administrator Gail Wilcox was fired on July 14 by the supervisors for a conflict of interest stemming from a personal relationship. Her attorney asked for an investigative report on Wilcox to be sealed pending the outcome of her civil suit against the county and former boss David Edge.

T NOWHERE TO GO Homelessness jumped nearly 60 percent over the last four years in SLO County, according to a 2009 survey.

measure to expand existing programs. Dan DeVaul struck back at county officials by filing a civil lawsuit, alleging the county violated its own, as well as PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER the state’s, policy regarding housing for people who have low incomes and disabilities. Though mercury mining died along with demand in the 1970s, contaminated runoff from former mining sites, including the Klau/ Buena Vista Mine outside of Paso Robles, left behind potentially hazardous mineral salts, heavy metals, and iron oxides. Just where is the line between upholding and breaking the law? Wherever it is, Daniel Victor Lee tread it. In his short career as a confidential paid informant for the Sheriff’s Dept., Lee played a prominent role in a number of high-profile Central Coast cases, being paid a total of $8,185 as a snitch. Enforcing firearm regulations is typically a on Dan DeVaul during his criminal prosecution for county code game of catch-up. New Times fighting to keep open his Sunny Acres Ranch. reported how easy it is to get

• August •

he Wilcox scandal got juicier when it was reported that the conflict involving a “personal relationship” was a sexual relationship with Deputy Sheriff’s Association leader Tony Perry. After Lt. Gov. John Garamendi called Schwarzenegger’s attempt to bypass the State Lands Commission a “terrible precedent,” the legislature refused to approve a budget provision the governor sought that would have permitted the first offshore drilling in state waters in 41 years. The county officially condemned Dan DeVaul’s personal apartment and other PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER

UPRISING Santa Maria radio talk show host Andy Caldwell became a new and increasing presence in SLO County and arguably the new face of property-rights advocacy.

buildings on his ranch. How did he respond? By ignoring them. The Huasna Valley Association went into action again following a new proposal by Excelaron to drill as many as 12 oil 2009 continued om page 19

COURTESY PHOTOS

2009 continued from page 16

applications for one, feared the potential • December • wells—not four, as originally planned. for crime. he SLO City Council made it official The governor cut $85 million in AIDS PG&E started and began phase one of a citywide prevention and testing programs. gearing up a ballot smoking ban. And the city council tried School administrators said they had no initiative that to figure out what do with Laguna further options to save money, but in the would allow them to Lake, which is slowly filling with largest districts in the county, athletic continue a monopoly sediment and turning into a swamp. programs were generally spared the on local power. SLO City Manager Ken Hampian cuts sustained by academic programs. Dan DeVaul bailed and the city hired Katie Lichtig Homelessness in SLO County spiked started his criminal from Beverly Hills to replace him. by nearly 60 percent between 2005 and trial. The Oceano CSD’s finances fell apart 2009. In 2008, nearly 1,000 students in Sheriff’s deputy under scrutiny. Suspicions peaked that county public schools had no homes. James Martin someone or several people were stealing Tony Perry stepped down from his Lesperance was public funds. post as executive director of the Deputy arrested in Arroyo Luther Akers and Bernd Schaefers Sheriff’s Association, but not from his Grande for DUI and were charged for various hazardous role as sergeant. pleaded no contest. waste and land-use violations at an Air On Aug. 19, the entire town of Los Osos Though not part Force base near Cambria. PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER of his trial, police SLO County family-law judge E. Jeffrey were looking for Burke was asked to decide whether a Lesperance because girl’s foot would be amputated or her leg he was allegedly lengthened. He sidestepped the tough decision. driving a car Cal Poly President Warren Baker suspected in separate called it quits after three decades. assault charges Supervisor Jim Patterson axed his against Allen planning commissioner, Sarah Christie, SOLVING THE PUZZLE Was Joshua Houlgate really Lee Shewmaker because of years of political pressure and murdered because of a love triangle and were more than two and Aaron Dee in particular her stance on proposed solar criminals involved? Houlgate, pictured top, and his convicted Shewmaker. projects in the Carissa Plain. murders: Patrick Wollett, lower left, and Chad Westbrook. DeVaul got off on Arroyo Grande City Councilman most of the criminal Edward Arnold, Jr. was arrested for against its bars. City officials began to charges. allegedly hitting a 28-year-old woman in County supervisors rejected all appeals scrutinize bar operations under the worry the head with an unknown object. that alcohol abuse is becoming a growing over the Los Osos sewer project. Crap! SLO prepared to pay Jeff Milne (or problem and causing most police calls Joshua Houlgate’s family, friends, downtown. PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER and even police believed more than two The U.S. people were involved in his murder. Department of In fact, convicted murderer Patrick Justice stopped Wollett’s sentencing was delayed cracking down on because Houlgate’s family intervened. medical marijuana Wollett’s attorney Greg Jacobson had dispensaries. The represented another person believed by announcement many to be complicit in the murder, who was probably had ties to the sole eyewitness, Sarah too late to save Lonsinger-Rey. Charles Lynch. PG&E asked the state public utilities GERRY WHO? District Attorney Gerry A juror in commission whether they could charge Shea is unusually shy of publicity for someDan DeVaul’s ratepayers to defray company liabilities one in such a high-profile a job. criminal trial resulting from wildfires. had a change of heart and gave his was “quarantined” by state officials after • October • attorney, Jeffrey five of the ecologically dangerous apple urns out the two workers killed while Stulberg, moths were discovered at a residence. BLECH! Smokers start running out of places to light up. SLO city working on the Nacimiento pipeline ammunition to officials ban smoking in all public parks and recreational areas in wouldn’t have been there except that the ask for a new phase one of a potential citywide smoking prohibition. project was rerouted to avoid a water fountain. trial. That failed, • September • SLO County won’t pay for cremation but the juror later arget’s heading to SLO. City Council when no one else steps up, so they Babbo) $195,000 after police mistook bailed out DeVaul. members unanimously accepted track down and charge long lost family him for a burglar in his own home and If not for a freak rainstorm, Lake Target’s proposal for a store on Los Osos members. One family found out the hard arrested him for resisting arrest. Nacimiento was almost sucked dry as Valley Road, raising resident worries the way when the county stuck them with Revered former journalist, county Monterey County let out water into the already congested thoroughfare would the bill. aide, and environmental activist Anne Salinas River to recharge groundwater. suffer more jams. Food expert Michael Pollan, invited McMahon died after a seven-month Atascadero leaders decided to ban as a guest lecturer, got between Cal battle with cancer. medical pot dispensaries. They were Poly and its pocket book when Harris The SLO County Animal Shelter • November • the last city in the county to allow Ranch Beef Company Chairman rescued 27 cats from a home in irst Solar bought Ausra’s Carrizo dispensaries and, despite having no David E. Wood threatened to pull a Atascadero, then considered euthanizing Energy Solar Farm. $500,000 donation all of them by Christmas. ∆ Ernie Dalidio won his court battle PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER if he appeared and got ready to build his long-delayed PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER unchallenged. project in SLO. President Warren SLO City officials considered banning Baker changed smoking in public. the lecture format The Chinatown project was approved. at the last minute SLO City officials tried to figure and threw in ranch out what to do after Bonnie McKee industry speakers in died. In addition to designing rebuttal. and maintaining the electronic PG&E fought a bill that would allow people infrastructure of the city, McKee supplied computer software for most of to profit from excess the cities in SLO County. And almost power they produce no one knows how she did what she did. with their own solar Dan DeVaul turned down probation panels, all the while saying they encouraged and was sent to jail. solar power. PG&E jumped the gun by eight years WOLF OR DOG? Hybrid-pet owners The City of SLO and requested a new 20-year license for PROHIBITION? SLO city officials start looking at bars as the worried the state might confiscate their started to turn source of violence and vandalism downtown. Diablo Canyon. animals.