Cover Story
Don’t drag me down
It takes 2 1/2 hours to create Natasha Chamille. First, there’s the makeup: Heavy foundation to hide the beard line. Blush for a rosy look. Powder to set it all. Then comes the mouth. Then the eyes with the mascara, liner, shadow, and Tammy Faye eyelashes. Next, the chest is strapped on. Then pantyhose. Then…
ASH offender found
John Howard Hardacre, a convicted child molester, was found in Bakersfield after he was released last week from SLO County jail. The unknown location of Hardacre caused a stir, even though he had until July 7 to register as a sex offender with local authorities. Hardacre, 52, has been convicted of three sex crimes against…
Deadline passes for SLO’s retrofit permits
July 1. That was the day 99 building owners in San Luis Obispo should have applied for a permit to seismically retrofit their unreinforced masonry buildings. Almost one week later, seven still had not. Claire Clark, the city’s seismic coordinator, isn’t too worried: “This was a pretty good turnout,” she said. Dawdling building owners could…
Fox Theatre purchase falls through
Plans to purchase the historic Fox Theatre in Paso Robles and convert it into a nonprofit venue for the performing arts collapsed last month when sellers and investors failed to reach an amenable deal in time for the June 20 escrow closing date. Mike and Kathy Sanchez backed out of their partnership with architect Charles…
Rudolph’s Coffee, city, battle over silk floss tree
The owners of Rudolph’s Coffee claim the silk floss tree adjacent to the shop’s entrance is both messy and touching the building’s awning. The Downtown Association claims the tree is ineligible for removal, as it is on city property. Rudolph’s Coffee, city, battle over silk floss tree Not too many people favor cutting down a…
Good pot, bad pot
On June 29, Arthur Wayne Bethel pleaded not guilty to putting marijuana in a batch of brownies that he delivered to the staff at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. Bethel’s wife works at the hospital, and on April 20, a day widely accepted by marijuana users as great day to get stoned, Bethel brought a…
Duke offers deal
Morro Bay City Attorney Rob Schultz received another proposed lease agreement from Duke Energy’s Vice President Randall Hickok this week. Morro Bay and Duke have been negotiating a lease agreement for the natural-gas-powered plant since the outfall lease expired last fall. The latest Duke proposal is much closer to what the city had originally demanded.…
Can you dig it?
Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles. Crews are starting construction in Los Osos for the sewer project. Actually, crews are scheduled to start construction, which you know and I know is not the same thing as actually starting construction. Bruce Buel, Los Osos general manager, made sure to emphasize that the July 20 construction start…
Los Osos to break ground on sewer
Los Osos elected officials are set to break ground for the heavily debated sewer project that is estimated to cost $150 million. The event, described by Los Osos CSD General Manager Bruce Buel as a “very short and sweet ceremony,” is scheduled for July 7 at 11 a.m. at the tri-W site. Buel said the…
Feds: Otters might be returning to south
Federal scientists expressed cautious optimism this week after confirming an increase in the California sea otter population on the southern reaches of the Central Coast. The annual spring count, which is conducted by state agencies, private groups, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), actually found a slight drop in the otter’s overall population: 2,735 otters…
The Real World
The real world “I love sharing all that is genuine and true in my culture,” says Karma Dorji of Sky Kingdom Adventures. Dorji is from Bhutan, that mountainous land smack dab between Tibet and India. His culture-slash-country is something straight out of the pages of National Geographic magazine, a mountainous country half the size of…
The two wars of George W. Bush
Iraq is an unpopular war. Pick a poll, any poll. Fifty-three percent of Americans believe the war is a mistake. Just 37 percent think President Bush has a clear plan for war. Only 34 percent feel we are winning the war against the insurgents. These terrible poll numbers is why Bush must scramble to rebuild…
