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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 10, No. 41
Local gas lines on watch list by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer In response to the September pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Pacific Gas & Electric has released a list of 100 pipeline segments throughout the state that the company is watching for possible repairs – two of which are located in East Contra Costa County. PG&E is evaluating 2,066 feet of underwater natural gas pipe near Sherman Island Levee Road and the north side of the Antioch Bridge to make sure it can withstand earthquakes or soil erosion. PG&E spokesman Joe Molica isn’t sure when the engineering evaluation process begun within the past year will conclude, but according to Molica, “We regularly check the river crossing and have found no liq-
uid accumulation.” The utility company is also monitoring five segments totaling 7,777 feet between Jersey Island Road and Taylor Road on Bethel Island for possible corrosion, but no work has been planned yet. Molica said the Antioch Bridge and Bethel Island segments were not included in the company’s top 100 list in 2007 or 2008, but their potential for problems has merited their inclusion in the 2009 list. He stressed that neither pipeline is currently displaying any problems, but are being monitored to see if any work needs to be done in the near future. PG&E spokeswoman Katie Romans said the natural gas pipeline segments on the list are in no imsee Pipelines page 22A
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October 8, 2010
This Week Community boosts troops
An effort to raise funds for a veterans recreation center was led by a full frontal assault of support. Page 3A
Photo by Curtis Evans
eer Valley High Homecoming Queen Jenna Hawkins hoists Homecoming King Justin Sin in a moment of fun at halftime of last week’s football game. Hawkins plays volleyball for the Wolverines, but her main focus has been on theater. Sin is a member of the Deer Valley marching band and has been a part of the California Scholarship Federation throughout his time in high school.
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City of Devils Los Angeles has become a locus of drug activity – and Mexico is bearing the brunt. Page 9A
Doubling their fun
Database gives foster kids ongoing care by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer Next year, an estimated 6,000 California foster-care youths will be emancipated from the state-run system. For many of these 18-year olds, new-found freedom is often fraught with fear and uncertainty. But now, thanks to a bill signed into law last week, California foster youth will be offered a helping hand into their futures. “It’s great, a great thing,” said Oakley resident Sue Hobbs, who is completing her doctoral degree in psychology at the Center for Public Policy Research at UC Davis. “We (supporters of the bill) believe that if foster youth can stay in the system with families for longer, they will have more time to mature and transition. It will be a lot less fearful for them.”
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Photo courtesy of Sue Hobbs
Oakley resident Sue Hobbs, front row right, is part of a team of researchers at the Center for Public Policy Research at UC Davis. The Center is helping to assemble the National Youth in Transition Database, which is aimed at improving foster care through a survey of youth preparing to leave the system. For many of the adolescents in the foster-care system, being forced out on their own when they turn 18 leaves them without a support net-
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work, few life skills and fewer prospects. It’s the hope of proponents of the bill that the extend time in the care of the foster system will make
Magnificent Muir go to news/WebExtras!
Towering trees mark one of the world’s great sanctuaries for the spirit.
their eventual transition smoother. The voluntary extension program – slated to begin in 2012 – will be offered to youth who are not mentally or physically disabled and are in school or working at least 80 hours per month. The new law will allow the state to draw on federal funds to replace the more-than $52 million of state money now being used to place foster children with relatives. And while participants will still be in contact with social workers and the juvenile court, their relationship will be less stringent and more flexible. “Many of these foster youths come out of the system without the basic skills such as how to balance a checkbook, how to pay bills and how to apply for college or find a job,” said Hobbs. “Many foster see Foster page 22A
Take a seat
go to news/press releases The county’s Aviation Advisory Committee is looking for a crew member.
The Panther golf squad fields players as comfortable on fairway as the diamond. Page 3B
Plus: Business .............................21A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 15B Cop Logs ............................17A Entertainment ................. 11B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Milestones ........................ 10B Opinion ..............................16A Outdoors ............................. 6A Sports ................................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Troop Fest
go to multimedia/videos A car and bike show highlighted a bash thrown in support of vets and their families.