YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 17, No. 23
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Sheriff’s office asking for help with coroner’s cases The coroner’s division of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is looking for assistance with two local cases. Seeking Next of Kin On April 28, David Norman Wise was found deceased at the Amtrak train station in Antioch. Wise, a transient, died of natural causes. The coroner’s division has not been able to find any next of kin. Wise was 60 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed about 200 pounds. He had brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on next of kin or relatives is asked to contact the coroner’s division at 925-313-2850. John Doe On May 2, the coroner’s division
responded to a train versus pedestrian incident at the railroad tracks, east of the Amtrak Station, 100 I St., in Antioch. The man appeared to have walked into the path of an oncoming train. The man has not been identified. He is described as being Hispanic or South American, 25 to 35 years old, 5 foot to 5 feet 5 inches in height, 110 to 125 pounds, with dark brown, curly hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a blue, short-sleeved baseball-type jersey with lime green designs, black jeans, a black belt, white socks and black shoes. Anyone with any information on the identity of this person is asked to contact the coroner’s division at 925313-2850.
Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board has extinguished the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ recommendation of a name change to avoid confusion with neighboring Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. The recommendation was one in a series attached to the board of supervisors’ 2015 pledge of nearly $312,000 to help the district reopen a fourth station. The fire board unanimously agreed not to alter the name – largely to save the estimated $77,000 that the change would cost. “There are a lot of places where we could use these funds,” said Board President Joel Bryant, who believes the change could have merit in the future. The funds given to the district have since been burned up to keep Knightsen’s Station 94 open, and the supervisors’ other recommendations – including reopening the Knightsen station, exploring a ballot initiative, crafting a long-term master plan and forming a community-based public education group – have been met.
Starting A New Chapter WISE
“ I think everyone sees the
value of having a different name. However, is that the best way to be stewards of the funds that we currently have?
”
Interim Fire Chief Brian Helmick Interim Fire Chief Brian Helmick and the district’s legal counsel both stressed that the call to change the district’s name was simply a recommendation and, by discussing it, the district has fulfilled its duty. “There was no requirement in the (memorandum of understanding) to change the name,” said Shayna van Hoften, an attorney for the district. It’s believed the board of supervisors recommended the change, because the district’s name closely resembles the neighboring district and causes confusion, Helmick said.
“I think everyone sees the value of having a different name,” he said. “However, is that the best way to be stewards of the funds that we currently have?” Just some of the estimated costs of making the change would have been $22,000 to re-mark district apparatus and vehicles, $14,000 for new station signs and $10,000 to alter personnel attire. According to District Director Dr. Cheryl Morgan, the name-change request was brought forward primarily by former District 3 Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho, who has since retired. “The one person on the board of supervisors who was insistent upon a name change for reasons that are ridiculous – she’s gone,” Morgan said. “If the county insists on a name change, I would insist they pay for it.” District Director Joe Young added, had the district gone forward with the change, it would have confused voters during the district board election next year. “We are going to elections in 14 or 15 months for directors, and we would be
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Purses With A Purpose
Kindergarten teacher starts company to blend fashion with philanthropy. Page 5
No name change for ECCFPD by Kyle Szymanski
June 9, 2017
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see Fire page 34
Beloved local educators reflect on their careers as they step into retirement. Page 6
Bowling For The Win
Amleto Monacelli faces down adversity at PBA50 Northern California Classic. Page 23 Calendar................................35 Classifieds.............................31 Cop Logs................................33 Entertainment.....................11 Food........................................10 Health & Beauty..................17 Milestones............................20 Opinion..................................22 Pets.........................................13 Sports.....................................23
Bills Advance
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Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D – Discovery Bay) passes bill package to Senate.
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