Cover Story
Diamond in the rough
It’s often difficult in this age of crosswalk countdowns, limited peak minutes and seven-second sound bites to find depth. News passes from media outlets, eliciting reaction, sometimes overreaction, and enjoys a brief lifespan in the virtual world before becoming entombed in digital archives. Soon, the cycle renews. A web poll tracks today’s crisis, while tomorrow’s…
Woman jumps from building in downtown SLO
Shortly after 10:30 in the morning on Monday May 8, a 22-year-old Morro Bay woman parked her white Nissan Sentra on the top floor of the Marsh Street parking garage. “She just sat in her car with her windows down listening to music,â€? says Johnny Candearia, an occupant in the only other car that parked…
Fatal 46
The CHP continues to investigate last weekend’s head-on collision on Highway 46 that killed three people and injured two. According to reports, Jorge Gomez of Bakersfield was driving his car eastbound near Cholame, attempting to pass a semi-truck driven by Husein Osman. Gomez’ car clipped Osman’s rig, forcing Osman into westbound traffic. Osman collided with a…
Acknowledgments and corrections
We would like to acknowledge Karlyn Price, whose uncredited artistry is pictured in our story last week titled “Opening Minds with Artâ€? by New Times Arts and Entertainment Editor Ashley Schwellenbach. Price painted the picture of flowers in a vase. A couple of ‘Best Of’ notes: John Falmeron’s award-winning store for the category of Best Place…
BLACKBURN’S TOWN
Last month’s column I wrote on Melissa “Missyâ€? Roper, Atascadero State Hospital’s most visible employee, was apparently a little too revealing for some of her legions of fans. Many who took the time to write, call or e-mail expressed considerable umbrage at my impudent suggestion that a professional woman who deals daily with sex criminals…
Wellness for your mind, body, and everything in between
“I want healthcare that keeps me young and healthy, not just treats me when I’m sick.â€? These are words to live by, and exactly what A Natural Balance Wellness Center, in Arroyo Grande is offering. When you need healing or prevention, Jenny Dull is on the Central Coast to provide all of the alternatives you…
Fast Facts
I am here to confirm: computers are here to stay. And now is the time to refresh your dwindling skills, or embark on a whole new experience. If you would like to put your finances into a software program, transfer your old-fashioned but beloved photos to a digital format, or learn how to email a…
Out of the doghouse
It seems like something one might read about in a Soviet satire but, rest assured, this tale is vintage Sacramento politics. According to a spokesman with the office of Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez (D-LA), local assemblyman Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) recently shifted into more hospitable digs in the capital building after a…
The gang’s all here
I was never a Boy Scout, which is my excuse for why I’m never prepared. Boy Scouts, if you believe their propaganda, are always prepared. Slipknots, orienteering, tracheotomies: If you need them, Boy Scouts are there with a rope or compass or scalpel in hand. I, on the other hand, can’t even tie a Windsor knot…
Unsafe lane change
After ten days of testimony, and two and a half days of intense deliberation, jurors ruled that Cal Trans and the San Luis Obispo Bike Club are liable for damages in the case of Carol Sirott, 56, who fell from her bike on Highway 1 during a bike club sponsored event. The area is part…
Judge hears graphic details of Los Osos killing
Steven Padilla, 51, accused of the Valentine’s Day murder of his stepson, 20-year-old Filipe Sanchez, as well as the attempted murder of his wife’s boyfriend, sat in front of judge Steve Crandall during a preliminary hearing on May 4. The judge heard the gruesome details provided by SLO County Sheriff investigators that detailed the lovers’…
Letters
Cat’s pajamas Regarding “Lions Shareâ€? by Kathy Johnston: Excellent article! My backyard fronts a canyon off Price Canyon Road and about five years ago we had a mountain lion that frequented the area with her two kittens. We saw them multiple times and were always amazed at their beauty and grace. We can coexist, as Kathy’s…
It’s a mealybug’s life
Agricultural officials are breathing a sigh of relief, now that DNA testing has revealed the true identity of a plant pest discovered last month in Cal Poly’s greenhouses. Initial testing by the California Department of Food and Agriculture had identified the sucking insect as a rare passion vine mealybug, which attacks 300 types of food…
