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News in Brief

Fire strikes Bull Canyon home

A fire caused an unknown amount of damage to a single-story home in the 2300 block of Bull Canyon Road early Sunday, according to Cal Fire/San Luis Obispo County Fire Department personnel.

The fire was reported at 3:06 a.m., and the first unit arrived at the scene at 3:23 a.m., but firefighting efforts were delayed while crews waited for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. technicians to cut power to the structure, said a Cal Fire/County Fire spokesman.

When crews arrived, they found active fire beneath the floor. Although power to the home was shut off, firefighters still experienced electric shocks from unsecured electricity.

PG&E workers arrived about 4:40 a.m. to cut electricity to the residence, and the fire was reportedly contained at 6:06 a.m. and controlled an hour later.

No damage estimates or cause of the fire were available at press time.

Deal struck for 1 in dunes death

The third man accused of helping to burying a woman alive in the Ocean Dunes earlier this year has agreed to take a plea deal from the District Attorney’s Office, according to prosecutors.

James Lee Proffer, 52, agreed Tuesday to plead no contest to being an accessory to a crime — a felony — in exchange for prosecutors dropping an involuntary manslaughter charge he was facing for Patricia Ann Kalbskopf’s death on May 14.

Proffer was originally tried on the involuntary manslaughter charge in September, but the jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict and a mistrial was declared.

As part of the plea deal, Proffer is expected to be sentenced to 16 months in state prison. He faced a maximum four-year sentence if convicted of the involuntary manslaughter charge, prosecutors said.

The homeless man is expected to be sentenced Monday, Dec. 8, in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.

Proffer, along with David Cartwright, 60, and Kelly Johnson, 42, were accused of burying Kalbskopf under about eight inches of sand after she passed out from drinking at the Oceano Dunes campsite the four were sharing.

Cartwright, the victim’s boyfriend, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in September for the death and will be sentenced Monday.

Johnson also was convicted of the same charge and was expected to be sentenced today.

James Lee Proffer, 52, agreed Tuesday to plead no contest to being an accessory to a crime — a felony — in exchange for prosecutors dropping an involuntary manslaughter charge he was facing for Patricia Ann Kalbskopf’s death on May 14.

Proffer was originally tried on the involuntary manslaughter charge in September, but the jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict and a mistrial was declared.

As part of the plea deal, Proffer is expected to be sentenced to 16 months in state prison. He faced a maximum four-year sentence if convicted of the involuntary manslaughter charge, prosecutors said.

The homeless man is expected to be sentenced Monday, Dec. 8, in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.

Proffer, along with David Cartwright, 60, and Kelly Johnson, 42, were accused of burying Kalbskopf under about eight inches of sand after she passed out from drinking at the Oceano Dunes campsite the four were sharing.

Cartwright, the victim’s boyfriend, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in September for the death and will be sentenced Monday.

Johnson also was convicted of the same charge and was expected to be sentenced today.

Halcyon Store to host Christmas Craft Faire

The 100-year-old Halcyon Store will host its annual Christmas Craft Faire on Saturday and Sunday in the walnut orchard located directly behind the store at 936 S. Halcyon Road.

The popular craft faire will feature locally handmade unique gifts available for purchase, along with food and refreshments.

The faire will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. For more information, call the Halcyon Store at 489-2432.

Hospice offers ‘Coping with the Holidays’ workshop

The holiday season can be a challenging time for those who are grieving the death of a loved one or who are caring for someone with a life-threatening illness.

To help people cope with the stress of the holiday season, Hospice of San Luis Obispo County is offering a free workshop that will provide support, ideas for coping and information and tools for navigating the grief process.

The workshop will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the San Luis Obispo Hospice office, 1304 Pacific St.

For more information, call 544-2266.

Foreclosure prevention seminar set in AG

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing will host a foreclosure prevention seminar from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Oak Forest Apartments, 163 S. Elm St., in Arroyo Grande.

The free seminar will present alternatives and loan options for first-time home buyers and be facilitated by Brian Kerrigan, housing counselor for Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Corp.

To reserve a space at the seminar, call 781-3088. For a schedule of first-time home buyers and home foreclosure prevention seminars on the Central Coast, visit www.pshhc.org.