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Vol. 20, No. 6
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Shooting still under investigation As family and friends mourn the death of Jonathan Parker, questions remain as to how the 16-yearold Deer Valley High School (DVHS) student could have been gunned down on school grounds following a basketball game, Friday, Jan. 31. A press release issued by the Antioch Police Department (APD) stated that officers responded to the report of a shooting at 8:44 p.m. and found Parker in the school parking lot suffering from three gunshot wounds. He was transported by ambulance to the trauma center at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek in critical condition but later died as a result of his wounds. “We, along with the rest of AUSD (Antioch Unified School District), denounce this senseless
violence and call on the community to come together to address such vicious brutality,” wrote AUSD Superintendent Stephanie Anello and DVHS Principal Bukky Oyebade in a joint press release. “Our children must be taught that solving disagreements with violence is not the answer and that there are other ways to resolve our differences that do not result in the unjust and unnecessary killing of our youth. Finally, we ask that everyone in this community and nearby communities model the love and peace they hope to create.” A large memorial to Parker grew in the DVHS parking lot over the weekend. Grief counselors were at the school Monday to help students and staff, and there was see Shooting page 30
Staff Writer
The City of Oakley is charging into the new year by wrapping up community improvement projects and starting a number of new ones, according to a recently released capital improvement program update. On the heels of the installation of a new athletic field at NunnWilson Park and an improved traffic signal system at Empire Avenue and Gateway Drive, officials are now gearing up to augment the city’s emergency preparedness, upgrade portions of Main Street and Laurel Road, and resurface several streets. “I believe that now, more than any other time in Oakley’s history, we are at a point where so many ideas that have been discussed for years are finally coming to fruition,” said Oakley City Councilmember Claire Alaura. “In some cases, it
Photo by Tony Kukulich
time in Oakley’s history, we are at a point where so many ideas that have been discussed for years are finally coming to fruition.
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Oakley City Councilmember Claire Alaura
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low the civic center to function as an emergency operations center if needed, said Public Works Director Kevin Rohani. The $150,000 general capital fund project could be completed as early as this month. In addition, the city council is expected to award contracts for several key roadway projects in the next month or two. Laurel Road, from Mellowood Drive to Main Street, will undergo a series of repairs and improvements — including construction of a protected double-left turn from Laurel Road to Main Street — to accommodate current
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Raising Funds For Futures
A memorial for 16-year-old shooting victim Jonathan Parker grew in the parking lot of Deer Valley High School in Antioch, Monday, Feb. 3. Jonathan, a Deer Valley student, was shot during an altercation after a basketball game at the school Friday, Jan. 31, and died later that weekend.
“ I believe that now, more than any other
has taken many years of planning, coordination, financial planning and sometimes luck with grants to get these projects underway. Every project is meant to improve elements of our community, and while there is much being done, there’s always more to aim to accomplish in our future.” Crews are expected to install an emergency generator to power the civic center — which includes the police department, city administration, public works department and other critical city functions — during electricity outages. The power source would al-
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and future traffic demands. New pavement, curb and gutter will be installed along with improved landscaping and irrigation as part of the $3.1 million project, paid for by transportation impact fees collected from developers. Work on that project is scheduled to begin by spring, Rohani said. “The next phase of the Laurel Road reconstruction project, Mellowood to Main, will smooth out that bumpy ride and improve circulation through the intersection,” said Mayor Kevin Romick. Meanwhile, a number of improvements are also coming to the north side of Main Street, between Norcross Lane and Second Street at its intersection with O’Hara Avenue. That work, expected to start in the spring, involves widening the street; traffic signal modification; landscaping work; and construction of new curb, gutter, sidewalks see Projects page 30
BART Changes
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Beginning Feb. 10, BART train schedules will adjust to further improve service.
Liberty grad turns swim school into a nonprofit organization funding education. Page 5
Lions Splash Another Win
Liberty boys’ basketball team picks up third-straight win in victory over Heritage. Page 21 Calendar................................31 Classifieds.............................26 Entertainment.....................10 Food........................................11 Milestones..............................9 Opinion..................................20 Adopt a Pet.............................8 Sports.....................................21
Star Headlining
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Grammy Award winner Vanessa Williams to perform at Bankhead Theater.
