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Vol. 16, No. 30
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Aging levees not up to standards by Corey Hunt Correspondent
A recent study has concluded that some of the most significant flood-defense mechanisms in Contra Costa County appear to be deteriorating to a point where the mash-up of agencies responsible for their performance need to consider a policy overhaul. Authored by a civil grand jury and accepted by a superior court judge in Martinez, the report provides evidence suggesting the county’s many levees are not up to the modern standards that ensure they can hold back the waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Fearing the levees could collapse like dominoes, if even just one should breach, jurors stated boldly that no one should be taking chances, since more than a quarter of the county’s population and property rely on them.
Press takes home national awards The Brentwood Press & Publishing Corporation recently won seven awards in the National Newspaper Association’s 2015 Better Newspapers Competition. Sports writer and Associate Editor Kyle Szymanski took home a secondplace award for best sports story for his coverage of the Pittsburg Diamonds. The Press also won a first-place award for best classified section; a second-place award for best advertising idea; a second-place award for best small-page ad; a second-place award for best use of ad color; a third-place award for best multiple advertiser section; and a third-place award for best sales promotion section or edition.
“The Delta levees form a critical bulwark against flooding that could have disastrous consequences for the county and even the state,” the report said. “Many of these levees are fragile and subject to degradation from natural forces and from the effects of human activities.” Further, the report highlights that most of the nearly 140 miles of levees in the county were built more than a century ago and erected by private landowners, who did not forecast the future role of their labor in the intricate Delta network that now disperses some two-thirds of California’s water supplies. Altogether, the report says that only about 13 percent of this long stretch of county levees meets the standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with most of those being in or near urban areas like the city of Oakley. see Levees page 34
Deliveries In Distress Photo by Corey Hunt
A levee runs along Dutch Slough Road on the outskirts of Oakley. While a small segment of mostly urban levees in Contra Costa County are said to be meeting or exceeding acceptable standards, a report says others require additional upkeep.
Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services is in need of drivers. Page 6
New OUESD leader takes helm Blasting The by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
If there’s such a thing as an education pedigree, Greg Hetrick’s is pretty pure. As the new superintendent of the Oakley Union Elementary School District (OUESD), Hetrick, 48, comes from a long line of Oakley educators. His mother is a substitute teacher in the district, his mother-in-law retired from the OUESD as the office manager at O’Hara Park Middle School and his late father-in-law, Frank Hengel, served as the long-time and much loved superintendent. “I eat here, I shop here, my friends are here; I’m all about Oakley,” said Hetrick. “I figure this will end one of three ways - I’ll retire from the district, I’ll get fired or I’ll die. This is a big deal ... this is the only job I would have left
HETRICK Brentwood for.” Following a two-year stint as the director of student services in Brentwood, Hetrick, who took over the reigns at OUESD on July 1 following the abrupt departure of superintendent Pam Conklin, is all about looking ahead and not behind. “This district is not broken,”
said Hetrick, referring to the tumultuous 10 months Conklin served as superintendent and her surprise resignation in May. “The staff here is amazing, and they are doing great work. We’re not going to spend all our time looking back; we’re moving ahead.” In his first few weeks on the job, Hetrick has hit the ground running. Focusing on the coming school year and acclimating himself to his new role, the Knightsen resident has been working with staff, consultants and the school board to prepare a $31 million bond measure to present to voters in November. Among other items, the bond will provide for an eventual new school in the Summer Lake development area, which will be paid for in part with developer fees. see Leader page 34
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Milestone For Highway 4
A ceremony signaled the completion of the Highway 4 widening projects. Page 8
Blood Drive
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July 22, 2016
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Red Cross issues emergency call for much-neededblood and platelet donations.
Competition
Brentwood Blast team turns heads at Cooperstown All-Star Village Tournament. Page 23 Calendar................................33 Classifieds.............................28 Cop Logs................................32 Entertainment.....................11 Food........................................10 Health & Beauty..................14 Milestones............................27 Opinion..................................22 Pets.........................................15 Sports.....................................23
District Refund
go to news/press releases Refunding for local school district saves taxpayers millions in interest costs.