Karen Velie
Karen Velie lives in San Luis Obispo County.
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Famous nomad arrested in SLO for camping
By KAREN VELIE Since the 1800s, people have traveled up and down California bedding down alongside their pack mules or horses, but not now, especially not in the city or county of San Luis Obispo. While working as a landscaper, 66-year-old John Sears began traveling with his mules across the country about 30 years ago, […]... (Continue Reading)
Stewart Title $10.5 million settlement in the works
By KAREN VELIE More than 400 investors who were defrauded by former North County developer Kelly Gearhart will receive a portion of their losses if all parties agree to a proposed $10,530,570 settlement claim to be paid by Stewart Title. Gearhart and James Miller, the former president of Hurst Financial, defrauded more than 1,200 investors […]... (Continue Reading)
Paso Robles city employee sentenced to jail
By KAREN VELIE A former Paso Robles building, parks and streets maintenance supervisor arrested for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from the city, was sentenced to 20 days in jail on May 27. Facing three felony charges of grand theft and one misdemeanor charge of petty theft, Charles Lorenzen, 52, agreed to a plea agreement […]... (Continue Reading)
Tenet Healthcare contemplates exclusive healthcare provider networks
By KAREN VELIE Tenet Healthcare, the parent company of two San Luis Obispo County hospitals, is contemplating switching to exclusive healthcare provider networks to provide doctors to its local hospitals. Currently, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital contract with a group of emergency department doctors who work exclusively with Tenent Healthcare. […]... (Continue Reading)
In the season of campaign sign rustlers
EXCLUSIVE By KAREN VELIE You know it really is election season when signs appear and disappear throughout San Luis Obispo County as candidates battle for exposure. And every year candidate signs worth thousands of dollars are stolen. Even so, this year’s battle for District 4 supervisor is unusually cantankerous with signs illegally placed, signs stolen […]... (Continue Reading)
Cal Poly radio station hosts offer genital photos in fundraiser
By KAREN VELIE Two California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo students, hosts on the university’s KCPR-FM radio station, offered photos of their genitals and rectums during the station’s April fundraiser. Logan Cooper and Sean Martinez host KCPR’s sex talk show, “Getting It In,” which has featured topics such as how to ask for oral […]... (Continue Reading)
Exclusive: Kelly Gearhart pleads guilty
By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Developer Kelly Gearhart pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in a Los Angeles federal court Wednesday morning. His plea came in a case in which he was accused of stealing more than $100 million from investors in real estate development projects. […]... (Continue Reading)
Paavo Ogren leaving county for Oceano manager position
By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Director of Public Works Paavo Ogren is slated to exit his county job for the position of Oceano Community Services District manager, according to the district’s website. Ogren approached district officials requesting the position at a yearly base salary of $196,000 a year. Ogren’s predecessors Lonnie Curtis and […]... (Continue Reading)
Ray brings boyfriend into political fray
By JOSH FRIEDMAN and KAREN VELIE A San Luis Obispo County supervisor currently running for election has used her political position to further the career of her boyfriend, in violation of an ethic’s policy. Last October, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Caren Ray to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors to fill a seat […]... (Continue Reading)
Questions surround inmate’s death
By KAREN VELIE The mother of a man who died after being incarcerated in the San Luis Obispo County Jail is questioning why her son was placed in a cell rather than taken to a hospital after officers determined he was 5150, a danger to himself or others, or possibly under the influence. Last month, […]... (Continue Reading)
