Uncovered SLO


War of the Hedges

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Sheriff deputies responded Monday to a domestic disturbance call at the North County home of Sheriff Pat Hedges and his wife, Sandy Oneal-Hedges, according to the sheriff’s log. Sandy Oneal-Hedges called 911 at 5:36 p.m.... (Continue reading)

The day this news site’s world stood still

By THE EDITORS On a warm afternoon last August, this news site nearly died. It is only because of a considerable confluence of coincidental events, and perhaps some kind of divine intervention, that we are here today to report the events... (Continue reading)

Heritage Oaks Bank files big foreclosures

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Heritage Oaks Bank has filed foreclosure notices against developer Kelly Gearhart’s Vista Del Hombre project, as well as Karen Guth and Joshua Yaguda’s Pasolivio Olive Ranch. Bank officials did so despite a state move on all... (Continue reading)

ESTATE FINANCIAL UPDATE: Conflicts of interest?

By KAREN VELIE Several key players in a hard money lender’s federal bankruptcy proceedings have apparent conflicts of interest, a situation which may further complicate investors’ efforts to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in lost assets. Trustees appointed by the Santa... (Continue reading)

BULLETIN: $8 million claim hits Paso water plans

A group of North County residents has filed a claim against the city of Paso Robles to recover $8 million in water and sewer fees they say has been improperly levied against property owners and ratepayers for the past six... (Continue reading)

Another county man faces investment charges

By DANIEL BLACKBURN A Los Osos man is in county jail tonight following his arrest on eight felony charges related to a Nevada-based investment company he owns. Leonard Adolph Delk, 80, becomes the latest in a string of Central Coast money managers... (Continue reading)

PERILS OF PASO: Grand theft auto?

FIRST IN A SERIES By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN A steady drumbeat of complaints target alleged predatory towing practices by the Paso Robles Police Department and two towing companies, Alliance and Pete Johnson. Law enforcement, city officials, and reporters have been informed... (Continue reading)

Agency fee assessments shaped by new law

By DANIEL BLACKBURN A new state law rigidly defining a public agencies’ ability to blithely pass along inflationary costs to residents is now in place, and its impact on San Luis Obispo County may be swift. The law, signed by the governor... (Continue reading)

Big-money frauds top our 2008 investigations

By THE EDITORS A scandalous stack of brazen fiscal rip-offs and obscene financial schemes that today imperil the very economic stability of San Luis Obispo County is the most important news story of 2008 – and readers learned of them first... (Continue reading)

DUMPSTER CHRONICLES: Web of deceit

(EDITORS‘ NOTE: For months, a concerned investor sifted through Hurst Financial Inc.’s trash, tirelessly collecting eight bags of “Post-it” notes, hand-written letters, and typed documents from the imploding lending company. The investor then shared that trash with us. Part I... (Continue reading)