Category Archives: Coast News

Police Arrested in Boot Camp Abuse Case

blotter handcuffs bwFour Southern California police officers were arrested in connection to a child abuse case that allegedly occurred at a high school boot camp at Camp San Luis in May, the Sheriff’s Office announced.

County Sheriff’s Office received on May 28 a report from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services of alleged physical abuse by the drill instructors at the Leadership Empowerment and Discipline Boot Camp Program (LEAD) put on by the Huntington Park and South Gate Police Departments May 17-24 at Camp San Luis, which is a California National Guard base. Continue reading Police Arrested in Boot Camp Abuse Case

Teen Rescued From Sex Slavery Ring

By Neil Farrell

San Luis Obispo Police rescued a teen-aged girl from her boyfriend and three other adults who allegedly forced her into prostitution, reportedly to repay him for buying her dinner, according to news reports.
According to SLOPD Lt. John Bledsoe, the case started at 1:25 p.m. Tuesday, July 28 when police from Manteca, Calif., (near Stockton) called seeking help in finding a missing girl they said could be located at a hotel in the 1800 block of Monterey St.
“The Manteca Police Department called SLOPD to report that the 15-year-old female is being held against her will inside a room at the hotel and she may be the victim of Human Trafficking,” Lt. Bledsoe said in a news release. “Officers were advised there were suspects holding the juvenile and they were possibly armed.” Continue reading Teen Rescued From Sex Slavery Ring

New Superintendent Hired for Lucia Mar

CN SuperintendentDr. DaleyBy Theresa-Marie Wilson

Lucia Mar Unified School District has officially hired a new superintendent. Last week the board of trustees approved a four-year contract with Dr. Raynee Daley.
Daley is no stranger to the district having served as the Deputy Superintendent, Chief Business Officer for Lucia Mar for the past four years.
“I love this district,” said Daley. “We have phenomenal kids, tremendous teachers and a great classified staff.”
Daley replaces Jim Hogeboom who left in July to take a new job as superintendent of the Novato Unified School District located in the Bay Area.
For students, the new school year starts August 20 and Daley said the emphasis would be on the thousands of youths filling classrooms in the next couple of weeks. Continue reading New Superintendent Hired for Lucia Mar

City Approves Hard Liquor Sales at Walmart

indexBy Theresa-Marie Wilson

Area liquor stores could be in for a shot of competition of the big box kind. The Arroyo Grande City Council recently approved a conditional use permit for the sell of hard liquor at Walmart.
Because the Five Cities Center, where Walmart is located, is part of a prior planned development, the city council’s approval was required.
For the past decade beer and wine have been sold at the store, and according to attorney Lisa Kolieb representing Walmart, there has never been any disciplinary action at the location from the department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
A large percentage of Walmarts sell distilled spirits as do other non grocery store chains such Rite Aid and CVS. Continue reading City Approves Hard Liquor Sales at Walmart

4-H is Baaaad

Pictured from left to right:  Rebecca Robertson, Isabell Rodriquez, Makenzie Robertson, Gina Mongillo, Carissa Cuellar, Kaitlyn Missamore, and Leah Miller. Photo by Wendy Hall
Pictured from left to right:  Rebecca Robertson, Isabell Rodriquez, Makenzie Robertson, Gina Mongillo, Carissa Cuellar, Kaitlyn Missamore, and Leah Miller. Photo by Wendy Hall

The El Camino 4H Sheep Group from Arroyo Grande took home several wins at the Santa Barbara County Fair.  The group consists of 7 girls from 11 to 12 years old.
As a group the girls won Pen 5, which means they had the top 5 lambs as a group amongst all 4H groups. Carissa Cuellar won Grand Champion (top market lamb) and Advanced Showmanship (top showman) among all 4H participants showing sheep.
The 4H members spent months in preparation leading up to the fair budgeting for the animal, selecting the animal at an auction, animal husbandry (nutrition, grooming/washing, exercising on a daily basis) and more.  Through the experience, the youths build many great qualities such as leadership skills, teamwork, commitment, responsibility, business skills and develop a strong work ethic.

Tourism Business District to Continue in A.G.

mindmap_tourismBy Theresa-Marie Wilson

For the third year running the Arroyo Grande Tourism
Business Improvement District (TBID) was given the green light by the city council to continue operations.
The AGTIBD was established in 2013 and a 2 percent assessment was levied on all lodging charges including vacation rentals to go toward tourism efforts to specifically attract more overnight stays in the city.
The City contracts with the Arroyo Grande-Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce to administer the TBID.
The chamber oversees administration, coordinates meetings, manages contractors, develops a marketing plan and responds to community inquiries and requests. Continue reading Tourism Business District to Continue in A.G.

Special Olympics’ Athletes Storm into A.G.

Use 1Photos by Vivian Krug

Members of the United Arab Emirates Special Olympics Team were recently in Arroyo Grande for a picnic lunch put on by the city and the Arroyo Grande & Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce at Heritage Square Park in the Village as part of a visit to host towns throughout the county. The athletes were headed to Los Angeles for the Special Olympics World Games.
See more photos at www.PhotoByVivian.com Continue reading Special Olympics’ Athletes Storm into A.G.

Honoring Our Elders Festival Aug. 15

By Theresa-Marie Wilson

There is a quote by and unknown author that reads, “Don’t regret growing old, it’s a privilege denied to many.” Folks in the Five Cities who have been privileged as such will be celebrated at a first of its kind event in the area.
The first Honoring Our Elders Festival will pay tribute to the trailblazers, the steady community contributors and the individuals whose life stories may not be written about in history books or taught in school, but are an opportunity for others to learn from.
The event is Saturday, August 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heritage Park on Nelson at Short Street in Arroyo Grande.
“It is a quaint sort of thing,” said event coordinator Jim Yancheson, who worked with the South County Historical Society to establish the festival. “Bring somebody to the park, relax and honor the elders in your life. I think we will have a fun time, that’s for sure.”
Yancheson, 54, said the idea began as a project for a communication and leadership course he was enrolled in with Landmark Education. As part of the class, students were taught about putting on community service projects. Continue reading Honoring Our Elders Festival Aug. 15