Karen Velie
Karen Velie lives in San Luis Obispo County.
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Resnicks’ deforestation ignites battle
By KAREN VELIE In the rolling hills that surround northern San Luis Obispo County communities, some farmers have planted grapes among the oaks. Locally, there has been an emphasis on stewardship of the land and protecting the oaks. Almost 20 years ago, amid concerns sparked when the owners of Kendall Jackson winery bulldozed 843 oaks […]... (Continue Reading)
More SLO County Democrats voted in the primary than Republicans
By KAREN VELIE More than 78 percent of registered Democrats in San Luis Obispo County voted in the California primary compared to a 58.6 percent Republican turnout, according to an election summary report released on Friday. There are 9,524 ballots remaining to be counted. In San Luis Obispo County, registered Republicans outnumber Democrats 60,751 to […]... (Continue Reading)
Sanitation district board member’s wife behaves badly
By KAREN VELIE During a tension filled meeting earlier this month, the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District Board members voted unanimously to add Oceano residents’ sewer charges to their property tax bills. Even though her spouse became outraged during the meeting, Oceano Community Services District President Mary Lucey voted with her fellow board […]... (Continue Reading)
Sanitation district votes to stop litigation
By KAREN VELIE The South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District voted unanimously Wednesday to stop fighting the state in court over a $1.1 million fine levied because of a 384,000 to 3 million gallon raw sewage spill that flowed into Oceano homes and the ocean. The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board determined […]... (Continue Reading)
Woman sues for $10M, claims developer beat her repeatedly
By KAREN VELIE At first, Michelle Jewsbury loved Ryan Petetit’s romantic gestures and, she said, the feel of his touch. Then he began choking her and slamming her against walls, according to a lawsuit filed in April. Jewsbury, after filing a $10 million suit against Petetit, recounted her two-year turbulent relationship with one of San […]... (Continue Reading)
Cambria in hot water over desal project
(Editor’s Note: The May 16 letter from the California Coastal Commission to San Luis Obispo County about Cambria’s water reclamation plant is at the end of this article.) By KAREN VELIE The California Coastal Commission recommended that San Luis Obispo County reject Cambria’s third request for an emergency permit to operate its desalination plant, according […]... (Continue Reading)
Friends of Oceano Dunes files claim for $425,000
By KAREN VELIE Friends of the Oceano Dunes is seeking $425,000 from the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control Board (APCD) and the State of California for attorney’s fees and costs after winning a case last year. In 2012, the off-roading organization sued the APCD, arguing the agency used flawed scientific practices in implementing […]... (Continue Reading)
AG City officials tussle in escalating fight over grocery store
By KAREN VELIE While the former space of Arroyo Grande’s only full-service grocery store remains empty, city officials are tussling over what should be done. In late October, as part of a bankruptcy, Haggen Food and Pharmacy shuttered its Arroyo Grande location. The anchor store site remains empty with no concrete plans to put […]... (Continue Reading)
Grand Jury investigating Rabobank in money laundering probe
By KAREN VELIE A federal grand jury is questioning former and current employees of Rabobank branches in San Luis Obispo County as part of an investigation into allegations of money laundering for Mexican drug cartels. Beginning in about 2010, bank management would send armored trucks weekly to a branch in Calexico, a tiny town just […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO proposed 75-foot-high project scrapped
By KAREN VELIE Developers Nick Tompkins, Andrew Firestone and Jess Parker have withdrawn their plans to build a 75-foot high development in San Luis Obispo that would have included an 80-room hotel, residential units, offices, retail space and a public plaza. Tompkins had approval for two 5,000 square foot commercial buildings at the corner […]... (Continue Reading)
