YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 9, No. 17
Including Nearby Communities
www.thepress.net
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April 24, 2009
Hillcrest eBART station approved Lowdown on THIS WEEK
Council prefers east site for development of transit village
spiffing up
Phillips Ln.
Wetlands
Willow Ave.
Viera Ave.
18th St.
ANTIOCH
by Dave Roberts
Oakley Rd.
Staff Writer Union P
see eBART page 26A
acific Rai
lroad
OAKLEY Wetlands
Page 1B
East Median Station
st Ave
ANTIOCH
Source: City of Antioch
John Carter/Press Graphic
City officials prefer the east median location for the Hillcrest eBART station because of its greater potential for developing a transit village.
Freedom graduate earns Silver Star by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer When Nick Eslinger played quarterback for the Freedom Falcons, he never threw a football while on his knees. For the 10 men who were with him in Iraq last Oct. 1, though, it’s a good thing he could do it with an explosive device. “I saw a hand come up over the wall and toss a grenade, which landed about six to eight feet away and rolled toward my soldiers,” said Eslinger, who at the time was a first lieutenant and platoon leader with the Army’s 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Without hesitation, Eslinger dove on the grenade, pinning it between his chest and the ground. He grabbed it with his hand as he rolled over, came to his knees, and threw it back over the wall a second before it blew up. “There was no thought in-
Our spring Home & Garden Guide is bursting with ideas on how to enhance your environs.
.
West Median Station
Hillcre
The City Council last week unanimously approved the plan to build an eBART station at Hillcrest Avenue, despite concerns that the station could wind up in a location that would make it difficult to develop a transit-oriented village nearby. Two station locations for the median of Highway 4 are under consideration: • The west median station, about 1,200 feet east of Hillcrest Avenue,
Photo courtesy of Donna Behnke
1st Lt. Nick Eslinger receives the Silver Star from Army Chief of Staff George Casey on March 16. While on patrol in Iraq last October, Eslinger dove on a grenade, rolled over and threw it back where it had come from, saving the 10 soldiers who were with him. volved,” Eslinger said by phone this week. “It was over before I knew what had happened.” Then again, it wasn’t quite over, at least not for Eslinger.
Word of what he had done spread, and on March 16 he was awarded the Silver Star, the country’s third-highest award for gallantry, by Army Chief of
Speak up!
Staff George W. Casey, Jr. “It’s a weird thing to be called a hero,” Eslinger said, adding that he had been raised to be “thankful and humble” and not give a lot of thought to his own exploits. “It was a big surprise that such a high-ranking officer (Casey) would take time out of his busy schedule,” Eslinger said. And what did the Army’s top commander have to say? Eslinger chuckled. “I’m not sure you can use this in the paper, but he said, ‘That took a lot of balls,’” Eslinger said. “He said, ‘You have more courage than most of the soldiers I know.’ I’m very honored.” Eslinger, 25, graduated from Freedom in 2002, and from West Point Military Academy (which he attended on a scholarship) in 2007. While in high school, he was a standout on the football see Hero page 26A
A talent for tapping A quartet of foxy fiftysomethings will be strutting their stuff at the El Campanil.
Page 7A
Installed in the Hall
Their old uniforms might not fit anymore, but their accomplishments are tailor-made for immortality.
Page 19A
INSIDE Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................17B Cop Logs ..........................17A Entertainment ................12B Food .................................14B Health & Beauty .............10B Milestones .......................15B Opinion ...........................16A Sports ...............................19A
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FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A