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Vol. 17, No. 18
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Former Freedom stars drafted into NFL by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Former Freedom High School football stars Joe Mixon and Darrell Daniels dazzled football fans in high school and college, and now, they’ll be taking their games to the National Football League (NFL). Mixon, a running back who starred in two seasons at the University of Oklahoma, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (pick 48) of the NFL draft last week, while Daniels, a former standout tight end at the University of Washington, signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. “It was very emotional,” said Mixon, a 2014 Freedom graduate, shortly after being drafted in a recorded conference call with reporters. “I am still sitting here, crying. I can’t believe it. I’m very thankful
and honored to be a part of the Cincinnati Bengals.” Daniels, who graduated in 2013, could not be reached as of press time, but said on Twitter that he was “blessed with the opportunity to be a Colt.” Local residents who knew the two budding stars or watched them play were abuzz with excitement this week. “I was excited watching (the NFL draft) on TV, but I was also a little nervous,” said Freedom football coach Kevin Hartwig, who coached both Mixon and Daniels, as well as fellow Freedom graduate Darrell Greene, currently on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. Oakley City Councilman Kevin Romick has watched every Freedom home football game since 2007 and was also elated by see NFL page 30A
Summer Fun Is On The Way
Check out this week’s special edition for a comprehesive guide to all things summer. Page 1B
Hitting The Big Screen
East County Performing Arts will appear in documentary by Untapped Movement. Page 5A Press file photo
Former Freedom High School running back Joe Mixon, was drafted by the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the draft last week.
Fire station 94 will close in June Fire district leading new funding discussions
“ You are the appropriate entity to guide
this discussion. We are here to assist in any way possible.
”
Oakley City Manager Bryan Montgomery
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) will close Station 94 in Knightsen, on June 30, when its operating funds run dry, but Brentwood, Oakley and Contra Costa County officials have all agreed to join the district’s
effort to find a funding fix, with the ECCFPD at the helm. Since mid-2016, the station has been bankrolled with a combined $2.2 million from the district, the cities of Brentwood and Oakley and the county. However, the money will run out at the end of June – leaving only three sta-
tions to serve 110,000 residents spread over 249-square-miles. “The closure of the station is driven primarily by the loss of staff, in anticipation of the end of temporary funding,” said interim Fire Chief Brian Helmick. “Currently, the district has available only 32 of the 36 fire-suppression personnel
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required to operate four stations. The available staff is expected to drop to 29 or 30 over the next few months. By June 30, the required staffing for four stations will be unsustainable and unsafe for firefighter personnel and ultimately the public.” The district’s tax revenue comes in higher than what is needed to operate three stations, but not enough to fully fund a fourth. This means the four remaining firefighters at Station 94 will be transferred to the district’s other three stations by order of call volume, allowing see Station 94 page 30A
AB 377
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Assemblymember Jim Frazier’s bill on child care subsidies clears first committee.
Taking The Tennis Title
Alana Chicaine beats the competition at NorCal Junior Tournament. Page 21A Calendar............................. 15B Classifieds..........................27A Cop Logs.............................31A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............16A Milestones.........................12A Opinion...............................20A Pets...................................... 14B Sports..................................21A
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ASSE International Student Exchange Programs need host families.