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Vol. 16, No. 29
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
July 15, 2016
Getting Back Antioch’s new officers To School
Tips and tools for the new school year in this week’s special edition. Page 1B
SAG Winner At It Again
Photo by Tony Kukulich
Veteran of the Year honored Veteran of the Year Stephen Todd was recognized in Brentwood this week in a ceremony hosted by Assemblyman Jim Frazier at Veterans Memorial Hall. Since 2010, the Army veteran has served as commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars
Post 10789 in Brentwood. Under his leadership, the post supports outreach to homeless veterans and works to connect all veterans to benefits they have earned and care they need. The group also supports numerous community service projects.
Photo by Tony Kukulich
T
he Antioch Police Department’s four new officers pose with Chief of Police Allan Cantando following their swearing-in ceremony Tuesday, July 12, at the Antioch Police Department. Pictured from left are Matthew Davis, Wilson Delacruz, Chief of Police Allan Cantando, Salvador Montanez and Quamaine Murphy.
Voters to decide future of fire board by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board approved a plan this week that could bring sweeping changes to the governing body, but the plan comes with challenges. The board agreed this week to ask voters in November to approve a plan to have all nine members of the board elected at large. If voters sign off on the adjustment, a second election could be held in May or June 2017 to approve reducing the board to seven or five members. “The district’s legislation allows for the district to switch from an appointed board to
“ The district’s legislation allows for the district to switch from an appointed board to an elected board.
”
Fire Chief Hugh Henderson an elected board,” Fire Chief Hugh Henderson said. “We may also increase or decrease the number of directors, and we can allow the voters to elect directors, either at-large or by division. That being said, the enabling legislation does not lay out how to do that all at the same time.” Additionally, if the size of the board were reduced, a third
election would be held in November 2017 to fill the seats on the five- or seven-member body. “Legally, we have to go (from nine appointed to nine elected) in order for the law to tell us how to roll it out without whatever we do being subject to challenge,” said Shayna van Hoften, fire district attorney. “If we go from nine appointed to nine elected, the law is really
clear. If we go from nine appointed to anything else, the law isn’t clear.” The board’s plan comes seven months after the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors pledged $312,000 to help open a fourth station if the district made changes, including switching to an elected body. Since 2009, the cities of Brentwood and Oakley and the board of supervisors have appointed the nine board members. Prior to that, the board served as the district board for the first seven years of its existence. Opinions have varied see Fire page 26A
EFT Change
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Brentwood stuntman makes latest appearance in “The Legend of Tarzan.” Page 5A
Pitching In Big Leagues
Freedom High School graduate Joe Navilhon gets drafted by MLB’s Detroit Tigers. Page 19A Calendar.............................25A Classifieds............................ 5B Cop Logs.............................24A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............12A Milestones.........................16A Opinion...............................18A Pets......................................13A Sports..................................19A
Summer Tour
go to news/press releases Houghton Mifflin Harcourt begins playful learning experience, Curious World Tour.