Talk Is Part Of His West Coast Bike Tour Touting Organic Living Cal Poly Barefoot, tanned and clad in a loose-fitting hemp shirt and matching pants, TV and film star Woody Harrelson sang the praises of renewable natural resources and earth-friendly products to an audience of more than 800 people at the Cal Poly Recreation Center on Monday night. "We've got to make a connection between what we're doing and the beast," Harrelson told the audience. Harrelson, who starred in movies "White Men Can't Jump" and "The People vs. Larry Flynt" among others, rallied the audience to think about the products they are using and the way they live their lives eating at McDonald's, drinking Coca-Cola, driving cars and how it affects the environment. [continues 251 words]
Judges, Prosecutors Say They'll Have Less Latitude Law enforcement officials spoke out against it, newspaper editorials statewide voiced strong opposition to it, and even a television actor who plays the role of the American president warned of its perceived dangers. But not even actor Martin Sheen's pleas to reject Proposition 36 - the measure that will send many nonviolent drug offenders to treatment rather than prison - could dissuade the majority of California voters from approving the legislation. A full 61 percent voted in favor of the measure in the Nov. 7 election. [continues 675 words]
Police Call Saturday Event A Rave; Others Say Characterization Is Unfair Saturday night's arrest of 23 party-goers - all of whom are believed to have taken the drug Ecstasy - could be the largest group arrest in San Luis Obispo since a 1985 punk rock concert at the Vets Hall turned violent. Police busted a house party in the Los Verdes Park subdivision just off Los Osos Valley Road on Saturday night after receiving a noise complaint from a neighbor. Some of the party-goers escaped through windows when officers arrived, but the majority were transported to the police department using five city patrol cars and one Sheriff's van. [continues 424 words]
As Robin De Jong watched her son graduate Wednesday afternoon, she reflected on all the things he won't do. Most importantly, Rick De Jong, 33, said he won't use drugs anymore, thanks to his yearlong participation in county drug court. He also said he won't lie, associate with his former drug buddies or break promises to his family. "It's like my son is back," Robin said. "He's a person again." Rick De Jong, who lives in Grover Beach, was one of nine people to graduate from the county's first round of drug court - a program made possible by a $384,000 federal grant. Over the last year, those probationers, all convicted for felony drug use, went to regular substance abuse treatment sessions, met weekly with a judge and were visited regularly by their probation officers. [continues 747 words]
5,000 Plants Found Near Site Of Larger Haul Last Year Sheriff's deputies uncovered more than 5,000 marijuana plants and arrested two suspects in the hills above Los Osos Tuesday morning. Francisco Garcia, 44, of Santa Maria, and Octavio Mendoza, 52, of Mexico, were booked at County Jail on charges of marijuana cultivation. A sheriff's investigator stands Tuesday among marijuana plants near Clark Valley Road in Los Osos. Mendoza, who reportedly drew a 9 mm pistol when deputies made contact with him, was booked on an additional charge of assault with a deadly weapon. [continues 293 words]
