Assailant with scissors arrested at park in San Luis Obispo
By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo police officers arrested a 30-year-old man on Tuesday evening who was threatening another park goer with scissors. Shortly after 5 p.m., several 9-1-1 callers reported a male at Laguna Lake Park who was threatening another person on a park trail. When officers arrived at...
Oceano, the gateway to the dunes
OPINION by JIM SUTY Charles Varni once again makes outlandish claims in his recent opinion, with no proof that “Oceano is being sacrificed for the Oceano Dunes vehicle park.” Maybe Mr. Varni missed the big, beautiful sign on Highway 1 that says Oceano is the “Gateway to the Dunes.” Maybe...
Officers identify drunk driver who killed Nipomo woman
By KAREN VELIE Investigators identified the drunk driver who killed a Nipomo woman Saturday evening in a hit-and-run crash in Santa Maria as 30-year-old Juan Ortiz Mendoza. Shortly before midnight on Saturday, a vehicle crashed into 46-year-old Maria Juarez Moreno as she walked across the intersection of Bunny Avenue and...
Santa Maria man accused of sexually abusing children
By KAREN VELIE A 63-year-old Santa Maria man was arrested Saturday on charges he sexually abused several children. On Saturday, a patrol officers contacted Jose Luis Diaz regarding an outstanding arrest warrant related to lewd acts with a child. As a result of the investigation, Santa Maria Police Detectives obtained...
Pismo Beach appoints new assistant city manager
By KAREN VELIE The City of Pismo Beach on Tuesday announced the appointment of Silas Clarke as the city’s new assistant city manager. Clarke’s experience includes serving as city administrator for Ouray, Colorado and as city administrator and economic development director for Hickman, Nebraska. In his previous roles, Clarke worked...
SLO County woman accused of election fraud questions process
By KAREN VELIE The preliminary hearing for a San Luis Obispo County woman charged with nine election fraud counts begins on Wednesday. Gaea Powell argues the charges against her are politically motivated and unfounded. Prosecutors charged former Arroyo Grande mayoral candidate Gaea Powell with voter registration fraud, filing a false...
Free clinic helps SLO County residents clear criminal records
By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office and other community organizations are working to assist eligible individuals clear their criminal records, District Attorney Dan Dow announced today. The goal is to help reduce barriers to employment and housing. A criminal record—no matter how old or how...
