Karen Velie
Karen Velie lives in San Luis Obispo County.
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Developers practices draw questions, complaints
By KAREN VELIE Editor’s note: This is the first in a series about developers Ryan Petetit and John Belsher, their development projects, their promises to investors of 20 to 50 percent rates of return, legal troubles, and reported failures to pay subcontractors. The principals of a San Luis Obispo-based real estate investment and development company […]... (Continue Reading)
Haggen laying off dozens of workers, union filing grievances
By KAREN VELIE Haggen, a Washington-based chain of grocery stores that recently purchased 83 new stores in California, has laid off dozens of Central Coast workers in the past few days while other employees were moved from full-time to part-time hours. Earlier this year, Haggen bought 146 Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions and Safeway stores. Employees retained […]... (Continue Reading)
APCD loses another round on dust rule
By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution District (APCD) lost another round Wednesday when the court sided with Friends of the Oceano Dunes and vacated a previous order that supported the dust rule. In Nov. 2011, the APCD Board passed the dust rule which requires state parks to reduce the amount of […]... (Continue Reading)
Lacey Fowler resists arrest, swings at a police officer
By KAREN VELIE A former Cuesta College human resources analyst who was wanted on several failure to appear arrest warrants — in addition to charges of burglary and forgery — is facing an additional charge after she attempted to punch a Paso Robles Police officer on Monday afternoon. Around 1 p.m., Paso Robles Police officers […]... (Continue Reading)
Lacey Fowler on the lam, continues crime spree
Correction: Lacey Fowler’s bail is currently set at $400,000 according to court documents and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office. By KAREN VELIE While dodging warrants for her arrest, former Cuesta College human resources analyst Lacey Fowler allegedly burglarized a commercial vehicle, forged a check and used stolen personal identification information to commit […]... (Continue Reading)
UPS driver goes postal
By KAREN VELIE A UPS driver delivered more than a package to an assisted living facility in Atascadero in late May. The driver also kicked a small dog before assaulting the dog’s owner. On May 28, Tim Paulsen arrived for the afternoon shift at a 15 person assisted living facility in Atascadero with his two […]... (Continue Reading)
Kelly Gearhart appeals guilty plea, sentencing
By KAREN VELIE Former Atascadero developer Kelly Gearhart plead guilty to money laundering and wire fraud, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison last week, and Monday he filed a notice of appeal. According to the notice, Gearhart plans to appeal his guilty plea, his 14 year sentence and his reprimand into a federal […]... (Continue Reading)
Arrest warrant issued for former Cuesta College analyst
By KAREN VELIE An arrest warrant has been filed against a former Cuesta College human resources analyst for failing to show up for an arraignment hearing at San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Monday morning. Lacey Fowler is facing three felony charges of possession of methamphetamine and cocaine packaged for sale, a felony charge of […]... (Continue Reading)
Gearhart sentenced, cuffed, headed to prison
Updated at 6 p.m. By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Notorious North County developer Kelly Gearhart was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison Thursday morning by U.S. District Court Judge Otis Wright II in Los Angeles. Gearhart, 54, was immediately stripped of his eyeglasses, wedding ring and other personal belongings, handcuffed, and led out […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO Laureate School shuttered, no warning to parents
By KAREN VELIE Parents attempting to drop their children off on Wednesday morning at the Laureate School in San Luis Obispo were informed the owners of the school had been evicted and the school was closed. The Laureate School is a private toddler through eighth grade school that sits at the foot of Bishop Peak. […]... (Continue Reading)
