Author: Karen Velie

Capleton concert canceled over hate lyrics

Posted by Karen Velie | Feb 14, 2010 | Uncovered SLO | 0 |

Capleton’s concert at Downtown Brewing Company on Feb. 17 has been canceled. The club’s management and the show’s promoter, Numbskull Productions, said in an e-mail on Feb. 14 to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast (GALA) that they were canceling because of information provided by concerned citizens.

Capleton is watching his United States tour crumble as groups against hate have put pressure on venues which planned to host the Reggae singer who advocates for the murder of gay people.

Scandal plagued school superintendent replaced

Posted by Karen Velie | Feb 12, 2010 | Uncovered SLO | 0 |

Superintendent Dean Smith has been replaced, at least temporarily, following a school board meeting, in which San Miguel Joint Union School District board members reviewed the results of an investigation that delved into issues about Smith’s relationship with a teenage girl and his job performance.

Otter relocation program dubbed a failure

Posted by Karen Velie | Feb 10, 2010 | Daily Briefs | 0 |

An attempt to draw a line in the ocean to separate sea otters from fisherman is not working because the otters have failed to cooperate, causing several different groups to fight over proposed changes to the 23-year-old policy....

Avila assault suspect is a registered sex offender

Posted by Karen Velie | Feb 10, 2010 | Daily Briefs | 0 |

A man recently accused of slicing the throat of a man at a bar in Avila Beach is a Megan’s List sex offender as the result of convictions for “continuous sexual abuse of a child.” He was arrested Feb. 5 and is scheduled to be arraigned in San Luis Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 10.

Late Friday night, Atascadero resident Michael Simmons, 43, was observed arguing with Pismo Beach resident David Stratton over politics at Mr. Rick’s. Stratton then placed his hand on Simmons shoulder and said “You ain’t nothing,” according to eyewitnesses.

Lawsuit filed in Pismo Beach Toyota accident

Posted by Karen Velie | Feb 8, 2010 | Daily Briefs | 0 |

A Bakersfield man is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against a Pismo Beach restaurant and the Japanese automaker Toyota, stemming from an accident in 2007. As he was driving away from the Pelican...

Dalidio accused of funding farmers’ association

Posted by Karen Velie | Feb 7, 2010 | Uncovered SLO | 0 |

An e-mail distributed by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce incorrectly claims that rancher Ernie Dalidi funded a recent controversial San Luis Obispo County Farmers’ Market Association’s advertising campaign. This has created a political firestorm over who is behind these rumors.

On Feb. 3, the chamber sent out an issue of the “e-Insider” – an online source of controversial news – to all of its members stating that Dalidio’s financial support of the farmers’ association had helped “drum up” vocal support for the nonprofit organization of family farmers.

“Insiders report that the television spots and full-page print ads that ran in the week leading

Regulators close Weyrich’s Carlton Hotel restaurant

Posted by Karen Velie | Feb 3, 2010 | Daily Briefs | 0 |

Government regulators shut down the restaurant at The Carlton Hotel on Feb. 2 because of unpaid taxes, CalCoastNews has learned.

According to an Atascadero city official, regulators from the Board of Equalization pulled the restaurant’s seller’s permit because of un-paid taxes. The Carlton Hotel remains open.

Officials with the Board of Equalization said they are unable to deny or confirm the allegations. Calls to The Carlton Hotel’s management staff were not returned.

Cardiology monopoly: a lucrative game

Posted by Karen Velie | Feb 3, 2010 | Uncovered SLO | 0 |

Second in a series: Profit share versus patient care on the Central Coast

On Jan. 20, Barbara Williams, a retired civilian Army nurse who was born and raised on the Central Coast, went to French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo complaining of chest pains, and was subsequently sent home. Two days later, she again suffered chest pains.

On this occasion, she went to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, also in San Luis Obispo, and was diagnosed as having had a heart attack.

Superintendent skips class to spend time with teenage girlfriend

Posted by Karen Velie | Feb 1, 2010 | Uncovered SLO | 0 |

Last week, taxpayers paid for the San Miguel Joint Union School District superintendent to attend a symposium in Monterey. However, Supt. Dean Smith apparently skipped some of the meetings to spend time with a teenager with whom he is allegedly having an affair.

Smith, a former pastor, recently left his wife of more than 30 years for “Anne” (not her real name), a young woman he began “mentoring” while she was in the sixth grade.

Is Sheriff Hedges missing in action?

Posted by Karen Velie | Jan 26, 2010 | Uncovered SLO | 0 |

Is San Luis Obispo County Sheriff-Coroner Pat Hedges actively running the sheriff’s department, or is he allowing a temporary employee to cover his repeated absences?

Following the retirement of Undersheriff Steve Bolts on Jan. 1, Hedges declined to hire a permanent replacement, instead creating a temporary undersheriff position and hiring Bolts back as an hourly employee.

Top two sheriff officials double and triple dipping

Posted by Karen Velie | Jan 24, 2010 | Uncovered SLO | 0 |

Though highly unusual, the methods San Luis Obispo County’s two top sheriff officials have adopted to double and even triple their incomes are entirely legal.

In an interesting twist, San Luis Obispo County Under Sheriff Steve Bolts is taking home between $640,000 and $772,000 this year in retirement benefits and an hourly salary, while his boss, Sheriff Pat Hedges, takes home $340,000, according to calculations based on dates provided by Bolts.

“I can see people saying this is double or triple-dipping,” Bolts said. “But this is the pension plan and I am not hiding anything. All of that money is mine anyhow.”

Weyrich living high while employees and brides-to-be suffer

Posted by Karen Velie | Jan 19, 2010 | Uncovered SLO | 0 |

While North County businessman David Weyrich has insufficient funds in his accounts to cover payroll checks and has refused to return wedding reservation deposits, he continues to live high on the hog, CalCoastNews has learned.

Employees of Weyrich’s Villa Toscana have informed couples who had made reservations for their 2010 weddings that their deposits of up to $10,000 – in some cases – won’t be returned.

The luxury bed and breakfast spot in Paso Robles, the couples have been told, is to be closed, sources told CalCoastNews.

Meathead Movers collecting for Haitian relief

Posted by Karen Velie | Jan 18, 2010 | Daily Briefs | 0 |

Meathead Movers are packaging and sending relief supplies to Kansas City for Heart to Heart International to send on to Haitian earthquake victims. They are asking the community to donate “care kits,” on Jan. 20 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Meathead Movers corporate headquarters at 144 Hind Lane, suite 140, in San Luis Obispo.

“This is a way that you know the items you are donating are going into the hands of the Haitians,” said Aaron Steed, President of Meathead Movers.

“It feels good to facilitate the generous giving of the people of our community and that the community trusts us to deliver goods to the Haitian people.”

Orcutt doctor disciplined for gross negligence

Posted by Karen Velie | Jan 17, 2010 | Uncovered SLO | 0 |

The Medical Board of California put an Orcutt doctor on three years probation for prescribing Viagra over the internet to patients he had not examined, according to a Jan. 13 board Settlement and Disciplinary Order.

“It is hereby ordered that physician’s and surgeon’s (licence) number A 42368 issued to respondent Thomas A. Sazani M.D. is revoked,” according to the order. “However, the revocation is stayed and Sazani is placed on probation for three years on the following terms and conditions.”

On June 1, the Medical Board of California accused the Orcutt physician of repeated acts of gross negligence and prescribing drugs without a medical problem identified or a physical exam.

Beaches re-open after sewage spills

Posted by Karen Velie | Jan 14, 2010 | Daily Briefs | 0 |

Environmental health officials have re-opened both Oceano Beach and Avila Beach after two separate sewage spills this week caused environmental health officials to close the beaches. Public health officials closed Oceano Beach...