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Vol. 18, No. 38
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Autistic teen crowned king by Ruth Roberts
Liberty High School homecoming king and queen, Jake McBride and Selena Sisneroz, ride through downtown Brentwood during the homecoming parade.
Staff Writer
Last week, Jake McBride, an autistic senior at Liberty High School, was voted homecoming king by his peers. For Jake and his family, the show of solidarity, friendship and support for the popular teen was overwhelming. “I am so completely proud of the student body for embracing Jake by making him king and (for) the acceptance and sincere friendship they show him,” said his mother, Lisa McBride. “I am honestly so impressed that our community is one where this is the norm, rather than the exception for our special-needs population.” Jake was crowned alongside queen Selena Sisneroz and quickly learned that being a royal is a lot of work. “Jake said, ‘I’m the king of Liberty,’” said Lisa. “But after the parade and a zillion pictures, we were waiting to do the processional at halftime, and Jake said, ‘It’s hard to be king.’” But in his speech, which was read over the loudspeaker as he went through town (for the parade) and in the stadium, he said, “I want to say hi to everyone; thank you for being my friends!’” Liberty’s campus culture of acceptance
September 16, 2016
Upgrade Your Home, Garden
Check out this week’s special edition for ways to improve your home and garden. Page 1B
All Hands Abandon Ship
Photo by Tony Kukulich
and support is nothing new. In 2012, Liberty senior Gage Van Emmerick, a student with Down syndrome, was also crowned homecoming king. Today, Liberty Principal Pat Walsh remains proud of his student body and staff. “Liberty High School is a very special place,” said Walsh. “Our staff and students
have created an environment in which every person is a valued member of our Lion family. Jake is a great person and very deserving of his recognition. I am proud of Jake and the entire school.” To view a homecoming slideshow, visit https://goo.gl/HEvx5P.
U.S. Coast Guard preps to remove a sunken boat near Franks Tract and Bethel Island. Page 5A
Fire district approves balanced budget Homecoming by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The financially strapped East Contra Costa Fire Protection District approved a balanced budget for the 2016 to 2017 fiscal year this week. The $14 million budget will fund four stations and 42 personnel, as well as the Cal-Fire contract, which covers the Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory areas of the district. It will end the year with a $30,000 budget. The district is projected to end the year with a $1.2 million deficit in its operating reserve. However, estimates indicate the reserve will recover, starting in the 2017 to 2018 fiscal year, when the district will move back to three stations, absent any new revenue. “I think we have done a good
“ I think we have done a good job.
”
Board Member Joe Young job,” said Board Member Joe Young, a member of the district board’s finance subcommittee. Property-tax revenue, which accounts for 85 percent of the district’s revenue, is projected to jump 7.8 percent, to a total of $12.8 million. The district will also receive a combined $1.4 million from the cities of Brentwood and Oakley and Contra Costa County to help keep Knightsen Station 94, the district’s fourth station, open until June 2017. About 76 percent of the district’s $14.8 million in expenditures will be spent on personnel costs, which include salaries, current and past retirement costs and retiree
and current health insurance expenditures. About 33 percent of the personnel costs will go toward salaries, while 32 percent will go toward past retiree costs. About 12 percent of the costs will go toward current retirement costs, with another 11 percent going toward current employees’ health insurance. Although it makes up a large portion of the budget, the district’s pension costs did drop 2 percent from one year ago, after a period of continuous increases. The decline can be attributed to a drop in Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Associa-
tion rates, which were set 18 months in advance, when the district’s staffing level was higher. The rates take into account the district’s returns, payroll and number of employees. “This is the one part of the budget that we have the least control of, because we are a consumer of the retiree system, so they set the rates and tell us what we need to pay,” Henderson said. “We budget to fund at 100 percent of what they require.” Board Vice President Ronald Johansen said although the district’s rising pension costs are highly criticized, firefighters are trying to limit the expense. Since 2012, firefighters have paid 100 percent of their share of the pension. Depending on a firefighter’s age when see Budget page 30A
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Contra Costa Resource Conservation District calls for new board of directors.
Victory
Liberty High School’s Lions football team takes impressive win over Wood High. Page 21A Calendar.............................31A Classifieds..........................24A Cop Logs.............................28A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............19A Milestones.........................13A Opinion...............................20A Pets......................................12A Sports..................................21A
Fish & Wildlife
go to news/press releases Contra Costa County accepting applications for fish and wildlife committee.