Wine-infused ice cream, Paso spaceport and a fatal crash ID. Today’s top stories

The Tribune published a range of news Monday spanning a fatal Highway 101 crash, a new winery restaurant, Paso Robles’ spaceport ambitions and standout local athletes. Here’s a quick look at what made headlines across San Luis Obispo County.

Here are key takeaways:

• Fatal Highway 101 crash victim identified: Gary Noe Arias, a 27-year-old esthetician from Santa Maria, was killed late Tuesday night when his 2020 Toyota Tacoma overturned on southbound Highway 101 near Pismo Beach and was struck by a 1991 BMW, the California Highway Patrol said. The 73-year-old BMW driver sustained minor to moderate injuries.
• New Italian-California restaurant opens at Bianchi Winery: Melo Mela Kitchen had its soft opening two months ago at Bianchi Winery’s tasting room in Paso Robles, fulfilling a decade-long vision by father-and-son owners Glenn and Beau Bianchi. The menu draws on recipes from Beau’s great-grandmother Carmela and features a popular non-dairy wine-infused ice cream made from lentil beans.
• Paso Robles pushes forward on spaceport licensing: After four years of pursuing a Federal Aviation Administration license, Paso Robles opened an RFP on June 16 to find a consulting firm to help complete its application for a horizontal launch spaceport. If approved, the city would become the 15th licensed spaceport in the country and the second on the West Coast.
• Former Cal Poly track coach Steve Simmons dies at 82: Steve Simmons, known as the “godfather of track and field” and Cal Poly’s track coach from 1971 to 1975, died June 4 at age 82. During his Cal Poly tenure, he coached 12 national champions, 45 All-Americans and three Olympians, with his athletes setting 20 NCAA records.
• Mission Prep’s Landrie Hinrichs named softball Player of the Year: Junior Landrie Hinrichs earned Tribune San Luis Obispo County softball Player of the Year after posting an 8-5 pitching record with a 2.46 ERA and batting .372 with 23 RBIs. She pitched a shutout in Mission Prep’s CIF-Central Section Division 4 title win and has verbally committed to Cal Poly.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.