YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 23
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Familiar beat for new police captain
New Life For Orange you glad you came? Humphrey’s
The Antioch Marina’s iconic Humphrey’s restaurant has new owners and a new name. Page 4
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Oakley Police Department has a new captain, but he’s no stranger to the community. Eric Christensen has returned to the agency after 27 years with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, three of which were spent as an Oakley Police sergeant. “(Coming back to Oakley) provided an ideal opportunity,” said Christensen, an Antioch resident with a wife and two collegeaged daughters. “It’s ideal because I know the community, I know what the different operations of a police agency are now. It’s worked out just perfectly. It was exactly what I wanted next in my career.” The longtime lawman, back with Oakley for two months, is now charged with managing the agency’s day-to-day operations. see Captain page 34
Election Day Updates
Photo by Tony Kukulich
V
iviana Villazon and Destiny Perez of Oakley sample oranges during the grand opening of the Oakley Farmers Market, Saturday, June 2. The market will be held every Saturday in the parking lot of the Oakley Civic Center. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress. net/multimedia/slideshows
Fire district approves balanced budget by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board recently approved a balanced preliminary operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. But it comes with a harsh reality: the agency still doesn’t have adequate resources to serve the area. The fiscal estimate maintains the current three stations and 35 personnel, most of which are tasked with protecting over 114,000 residents and 249 square miles. “We are financially sound
“ We are financially sound with three stations for 10 years, but we still need to address service levels.
with three stations for 10 years, but we still need to address service levels,” said Fire Chief Brian Helmick. The preliminary budget, expected to be finalized in September, projects that the district will end the 2018-2019 fiscal year with $1.7 million in excess revenue after estimating $16.2 mil-
lion in revenue and $14.5 million in expenses. Also factored in is a $3.2 million operating carryover and $10.2 excess carryover, which includes $6.2 million erroneously left behind when the district transferred its funds and financial operations from the county to the district.
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Fire Chief Brian Helmick
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“We are taking care of all the financial obligations within this budget,” said Helmick, who noted that the district will not touch the $6.2 million until past budget audits are completed. About 96 percent of the organization’s revenue will come from property taxes, which are expected to increase by about 6 percent over the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Meanwhile, personnel costs, accounting for about 72 percent of the agency’s expenses, will jump about 5 percent to $10,513,881.
Take a look at preliminary results of the statewide primary election. Page 6
Striking It Rich At PBA
Ron Mohr wins PBA50 Northern California Classic at Brentwood’s Harvest Park Bowl. Page 25
see Budget page 34
Calendar................................35 Classifieds.............................30 Cop Logs................................33 Entertainment.....................10 Food........................................11 Health & Beauty..................17 Milestones............................22 Kid Scoop................................9 Pets.........................................21 Sports.....................................25
EBT Changes
Ag Meeting
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Electronic benefit transfer users will have some restrictions placed on their cards in June.
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Agricultural land-use public meeting to be held in Knightsen.