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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 17, No. 9
Future of Not quite a snow day LUHSD cheer stirs debate
March 3, 2017
Keep Optimal Health, Smile
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
A pending decision by the Liberty Union High School District (LUHSD) Board regarding the future of district cheer teams has local cheerleaders rooting for things to stay the same. LUHSD Superintendent Eric Volta is suggesting the district no longer offer traditional competitive cheer and implement stunt competitive cheer instead. The district’s other program – sideline cheer – would remain. The recommendation stems from 2015 state legislation that mandates all state high school competitive-cheer activities be governed by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the state’s high school sports governing body, beginning in the 2017 to 2018 school year. “Sideline cheerleaders are not going away, and the district is not getting rid of competitive cheer,” Volta said. “It’s just (a matter of) which competition cheer we can keep (stunt or traditional).”
Professionals give advice on staying healthy in this week’s Medical & Dental edition. Page 1B
Cutting The Ribbon Photo by Tony Kukulich
E
ast County recently got a pared-down version of a snow day, but instead of closing schools, it opened up the camera shutters. For the first time in quite a while, snow topped Mt. Diablo, causing a flurry of photographs and videos.
see Cheer page 30A
Two fire board members resign “ I feel very strongly that whoever we
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District board members Steve Barr and Randy Pope have stepped down from their positions, but for different reasons. Barr, Brentwood’s vice mayor, resigned from his post to serve on the city’s recently established city council fire and medical services ad hoc committee, which seeks to address the shortage of fire and medical emergency services. Meanwhile, Pope will step away due to schedule conflicts between his job and the board’s monthly Monday meetings. Pope has served on the board since 2014, while Barr has served since late 2015, when he and Erick Stonebarger – a councilmember at the time – were tapped by the council to fill the seats of citizen repre-
appoint should be at all the meetings, and because I cannot fill that requirement, I am asking for a replacement.
sentatives Stephen Smith and Greg Cooper. “I feel very strongly that whoever we appoint should be at all the meetings, and because I cannot fill that requirement, I am asking for a replacement,” Pope said. Barr said he doesn’t want to split his time between the fire board and subcommittee and also fears serving on both could create a perceived conflict of interest. “I think (the city council subcommittee) deserves my 100 percent
focus,” Barr said. “The fire board also has a really tough job on their hands, (and) I feel dividing that time would be detrimental to the fire board.” Oakley City Councilmember Doug Hardcastle will replace Pope, and community member Joy Benson, a mobile notary, will take Barr’s spot. The nine-member board is appointed by the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors and the Brentwood and Oakley city councils, with
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Brentwood choosing four members, Oakley choosing three and the county choosing two. The district covers 249 square miles in Brentwood, Oakley and the unincorporated communities of Bethel Island, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Byron, Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory. Hardcastle, who has served on the Oakley City Council since 2012 and previously served on the Ironhouse Sanitary District Board for 12 years, volunteered to replace Pope. “(Fire district issues are) probably our No. 1 priority out here,” Hardcastle said. “When I was running for supervisor, that was my No. 1 priority. It’s all about safety and our families.” The Brentwood City Council see Fire Board page 30A
Campos Family Vineyards celebrates official name change with the community. Page 5A
Liberty Takes NCS Title
Liberty girls’ soccer team scores North Coast Section title over Carondelet. Page 21A Business................................ 8A Calendar.............................31A Classifieds..........................26A Cop Logs.............................29A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............16A Milestones.........................18A Pets......................................15A Sports..................................21A
CALPIRG Campaign
Water Awareness
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Lead contamination causes CALPIRG to launch campaign for lead-free schools.
Groundwater Association offers free tools for Groundwater Awareness Week.