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September, 2008

Cal Poly Provost reassigned?

Written on 30 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | One comment

Cal Poly President Warren Baker announced that a Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost has been reassigned, on Monday. ... (Continue reading)

DUMPSTER CHRONICLES: Law, disorder, and the DA

Written on 27 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 4 comments

SECOND IN A SERIES By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN A disengaged and reticent district attorney failed to investigate numerous complaints targeting fraudulent hard money lenders and big-name developers during the past 18 months, even as new and unsuspecting investors were being... (Continue reading)

COMMENTARY: Under Paso Robles’ wild’n’crazy “Big Tint”

Written on 24 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 12 comments

By DANIEL BLACKBURN and KAREN VELIE A businessman seeking equal justice is learning that tinted vehicle windows, tinted law enforcement, and tinted truth has put him squarely in the path of conflict with Paso Robles’ dancing police chief, Lisa Solomon. Last week,... (Continue reading)

Former Ralph’s Paso manager indicted for strike actions

Written on 19 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | One comment

By DANIEL BLACKBURN Craig Totman, a former manager of Paso Robles’ Ralph’s grocery store, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly making false statements to investigators probing the 2003-2004 grocers’ strike. Totman, 55, was one of eight people named... (Continue reading)

Santa Margarita School principal convicted of DUI

Written on 18 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 10 comments

By KAREN VELIE Santa Margarita Elementary School Principal Melanie Karp has been sentenced to two days in the county jail and three years probation for driving under the influence of alcohol. Commissioner Stephen B. Sefton also levied a fine of $1,726 and... (Continue reading)

Hurst records held hostage by family friend

Written on 18 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | One comment

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Investors of the failing Atascadero lender Hurst Financial Corp. (HFC) say they are being prevented from collecting their records by a relative of Hurst’s beleaguered president. Robert Borba of Stinchfield Financial, another hard money lender, was... (Continue reading)

Clarification

Written on 18 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | One comment

A Sept. 16 article erred in reporting that Morro Road LLC owns Tastee Freeze in Atascadero. In fact, the LLC owns only the real property; the restaurant is a lessee not owned by or connected to Kelly Gearhart or any... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly boss Warren Baker to retire? Finally?

Written on 17 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 4 comments

By DANIEL BLACKBURN and KAREN VELIE While academic associates might consider it an oxymoron, seldom-seen Cal Poly President Warren Baker may retire shortly. Baker has been discussing his plans with friends and ironing out financial issues with university officials, according to numerous... (Continue reading)

Market plunge darkens taxpayers’ pension obligation

Written on 16 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 3 comments

By DANIEL BLACKBURN San Luis Obispo County taxpayers are looking down the black hole of a swelling, multi-million-dollar deficit of the county workers’ pension plan that poses a monumental problem with few real solutions, complicated by Monday’s record-breaking 500-point plummet of... (Continue reading)

BULLETIN: Gearhart crashing, burning

Written on 16 Sep, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | One comment

By THE EDITORS Attorneys for North County developer Kelly Gearhart, the darling of Atascadero city officials, hard-money lenders, and local banks, encountered Judge Charles S. Crandall Tuesday morning. The San Luis Obispo County Superior Court jurist took position and control from... (Continue reading)