Richard Cecil Mullikin, 77, of Atascadero, California, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2024. Richard was born in Franklin, Indiana, on September 22, 1946, and raised in Cambria, California. He enjoyed playing football and baseball at Coast Union High School, where he graduated in 1964. Richard had a successful career as a Journeyman Pipefitter and then as a Construction Supervisor with the State of California, where he retired.

Larry Matthews was born on June 30, 1945, in Carnegie, Oklahoma, to parents Raymond and Alverna. He is survived by his wife, Cathy Matthews; children, Larry A. Matthews, Sheri Kimmel, and Christopher Matthews; and three grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Eyvonne Hart, and his brother, Richard Mathews. His brother, Donald Matthews, pre-deceased him. Larry passed away on March 14, 2024, a few days after a lung cancer diagnosis.

Undefeated in their Ocean League season, the Paso Robles High School girls beach volleyball team has seized the title of 2024 Ocean League Champions. With a win earlier over Righetti, they locked up first place in league and an undefeated league season. Photo Courtesy of Paso Robles High School. The...

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The Public Health Department and community partners recently released the 2024-2029 Community Health Improvement Plan, a roadmap for how the department and community partners will work together to build and foster a healthier SLO County. The plan addresses the needs and strengths unique to...

ATASCADERO — The 101st Atascadero Chamber Annual Awards Dinner and Gala moved to a new location this year. On Saturday, April 20, starting at 5 p.m., 400 members of the community dressed in their finest and headed to Rava Wines in Paso Robles to celebrate everything Atascadero and its chamber have to offer the community.

ATASCADERO — People were out on the streets hunting for pre-owned treasures on Saturday, April 20, for the 7th Annual Atascadero Citywide Yard Sale. The bargains were flowing from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with over 120 Atascadero residents and neighborhoods participating. The weather also cooperated, and with the sun out, cars were parked all over the windy streets, and most yard sales had a steady stream of shoppers coming and going for the whole six hours.

ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 23, at 6 p.m. The hybrid meeting was held in the City Council Chambers. During his Updates from the City Manager, Jim Lewis gave the community an update from the special City Council workshop that took place on Saturday, April 20, at 9 a.m.

ATASCADERO — The Charles Paddock Zoo has announced the birth of a Mongoose Lemur. The baby Lemur is now on exhibit and can be seen by watchful visitors. This mongoose lemur Eulemur mongoz, will spend at least the first three weeks clinging to the mother. In the first weeks after birth, it is hard to tell the gender, but the zoo staff will be able to tell if it’s a male or female by development of its beard color. Males have reddish-orange fur beneath their chins while females have white fur. The males are born with white beards that turn the reddish-brown when they reach about six weeks old. Around five weeks they’ll start to slowly venture out and sample the foods that it’s mother and father are eating. The adult diet consists mostly of fruit, but they also eat flowers, leaves and occasionally bugs. It will be completely weaned around 5 to 6 months and they will pay close attention to the size and behavior of the baby without intervening unless absolutely necessary.

ATASCADERO — WM will allow customers in the City of Atascadero to dispose of large, bulky items, green waste and hazardous material at the Chicago Grade Landfill for free between April 20-27. “WM takes seriously its commitment to environmentally-friendly waste disposal,” said Sandra Pursley, Area Director for WM. “We encourage all Atascadero customers to take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of household waste for free.”

ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero has begun work on Lift Station #13 and Force Main Replacement project that includes replacement of Lift Station #13 (located on El Camino Real near San Ramon Road), approximately two miles of force main along a new alignment on Santa Cruz Road and Traffic Way, and pavement rehabilitation of approximately one mile of Traffic Way between Carrizo Road and Chico Road.

Gregg Stoulil passed away at age 81 on March 28, 2024. Gregg bravely battled Pulmonary Fibrosis for decades and has now joined his brothers Gordon “Gordy” Stoulil and George Stoulil. Greg continued to bless everyone who knew him with his grand smile despite his battles. Gregg was born...

Robert J. Wilkins, Jr. “Bob,” was born October 13, 1932, and was a lifelong resident of Atascadero. Bob’s grandfather, Harold J. Wilkins, was E.G. Lewis’s bookkeeper in the early 1920’s. Mr. Lewis was the founder of Atascadero. Harold sent Bob’s father, Bob Wilkins, Sr., and his uncle, Joe Wilkins, to Cal Poly to learn the printing trade. Bob Wilkins, Sr., and Joe Wilkins worked at various local newspapers and eventually landed a job with the Atascadero News in the Printery building. During this period, Bob helped with multiple tasks like sweeping and putting type away; he emptied the wastebasket for Marguerite Travis. She was an editor for Atascadero News and the author of Birth of Atascadero. Bob would reprint the book in the 1960s for the Atascadero Historical Society. The newspaper moved out of the Printery building around 1945 with the help of Bob’s Dad and Uncle. After the move, they started their own business, Wilkins Studio. Bob Jr.’s dad continued his passion for photography while Joe was proficient with the letterpress. On occasion, Bob Jr. helped his uncle with the print shop, and in 1951 took over the printing business.

The inaugural Women of Influence North County program (WINC) will be honoring Wendy Lewis as its first WINC this April. The new annual award is a collaboration between the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and Atascadero’s chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). This program highlights women in...

ALF Food Pantry has been named Community Organization of the Year by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. Formerly known as Atascadero Loaves and Fishes, the nonprofit has been providing groceries free of charge for more than 30 years. Their humble beginnings took shape in the basement of a local church and is now located at 5411 El Camino Real in Atascadero.

For the first time, the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce is honoring a Hispanic Business of the Year at its annual Awards Dinner and Gala this April. Nominated by the community, La Parilla Mexican Grill will be recognized as the inaugural winner of the award. In May of 2023, the Hispanic...

The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce has announced The Pottery as their 2024 Business of the Year. The art studio is a place for the creatives of the city to create beautiful and useful items with their own hands while also building a place for community. “It was really emotional, if...

This year the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Award for Lifetime Achievement is going to Doug Filipponi. Doug has been an Atascadero resident since the age of 7, and in all his time in the area, he has created multiple businesses and helped the community in some really big ways. “I...

It has been announced that the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Citizen of the Year is Jerry Tanimoto. Jerry has been building relationships within the community through teaching and volunteering since he moved here in the 70s, and it’s no surprise that he’s being honored for all his hard work in Atascadero.

April showers bring May flowers, though with all this rain we’ve already had, flowers will be blooming early, I bet! What’s a better way to welcome spring than by celebrating with our beautiful Farmers Market? Their seventh-year anniversary is Wednesday, April 3, from 3 to 6 p.m. Go buy yourself some flowers (you have my permission!) and support our local growers and small businesses. I love our little Farmers Market. There’s something about being able to relax in the huge fountain with a basket of strawberries and the gorgeous City Hall in the background. Remember when Farmers Market was in the Smart & Final parking lot? Much better now!

Chumash artist John Khus, who created the mural, will unveil it with SLO Beaver Brigade. ATASCADERO — Beavers and their central ecological role in water and in culture will be celebrated on Saturday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the Charles Paddock Zoo at 9100 Morro Road in Atascadero, with the unveiling of a mural by Chumash artist John Khus. This mural has been made possible through the California Coastal Commission WHALE TAIL® grants program and the San Luis Obispo Beaver Brigade in collaboration with the Charles Paddock Zoo and the City of Atascadero. The Coastal Commission WHALE TAIL® grants support experiential education and stewardship of the California coast and its watersheds.