YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 9, No. 22
Including Nearby Communities
www.thepress.net
Thunderous yet somber tribute by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
The Antioch Memorial Thunder more than earned its name this week as more than 100 motorcycles from several veterans groups rolled past the crowd at Oak View Memorial Park to open the Memorial Day observances on Monday. “My gosh, they’re still coming,” a woman in a stars-and-stripes shirt was heard to say as the steady stream of steel and leather cruised slowly past. “How many are there? I can actually feel the ground shaking!” The ground wasn’t the only thing moved during the observances sponsored by the City of Antioch and hosted by Mayor Jim Davis. The crowd of about 500 was moved as well, not only by the traditional ceremonies such as the raising of the flag, a 21-gun salute and a dove release, but also by the deeply personal message delivered by Denise Aragon. Accompanied by members of her family, the mother of Army Sgt. John Aragon, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq last year, spoke to the memory of
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May 29, 2009
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Photo by Richard Wisdom
More than 100 motorcycles made up the Antioch Memorial Thunder procession from City Hall to the Oak View Memorial cemetery. her dearly departed son. “If only I knew the last time I saw you that it would be the last time, I would have hugged you longer and tried to hold on,” she said. “I keep thinking of you, and waiting to hear that this is all a big
mistake.” Aragon was followed to the podium by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6435 Commander Henri Veilieux, already known for keeping his remarks brief. “I was going to tell you all
about Memorial Day,” an emotional Veilieux said. “The Aragon family just did that.” He returned to his seat. Also addressing the crowd was see Heroes page 21A
School Superintendent Sims resigns by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
Just 32 months after she started work – and seven months after scores of teachers chanted “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Dr. Sims has got to go” outside of a school board meeting – Antioch Unified School District Superintendent Deborah Sims announced her resignation. Sims issued a press release May 21, stating that she is leaving to take another position, the specifics of which she said she’s not able to mention at this time, and citing several accomplishments since she took the job in September of 2006. “I am proud of the accomplishments achieved during my tenure, including the passage of the facilities bond, opening of Dozier-Libbey Medical High School, Delta Academy for the Performing Arts, Orchard Park K-8 school and the opening of the Deer Valley Law Academy scheduled for this August,” Sims stated. “I appreciated the opportunity to serve the students,
Photo by Dave Roberts
AUSD Superintendent Deborah Sims is bowing out, after just 32 months on the job, to take a job elsewhere. staff, and community of Antioch for the past three years. I wish the board, staff, students and parents all the best.”
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Sims announced her resignation to the school board just as the board was preparing to launch into her annual performance review, which was then called off. “It was made null and void because it had become a moot point,” said board President Walter Ruehlig. “What’s the sense of having an evaluation of somebody who is resigning? She will be with us less than three months. Any impartial observer will come to their own conclusions about how things have been going as of late. I will let people draw their own conclusions about that.” Sims’ tenure has been marred by several controversies in the past year: contract negotiations with the teachers union that dragged on for 17 months before finally reaching a settlement; failure to notify police in a timely manner about a Carmen Dragon teacher searching for child pornography on a school computer, preventing a possible prosecution; announcing that Antioch High would go to a co-principalship, then, when see Sims page 13A
Riders hold silent rite Cyclists paid tribute to compatriots injured or killed riding on public streets.
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Dawgs turn up the heat
A local ball team outsizzled the mercury to take the trophy at a memorable Memorial Day tournament.
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INSIDE Calendar ..........................19B Classifieds ........................12B Entertainment .................. 8B Food .................................10B Health & Beauty ............... 6B Opinion ...........................14A Recreation .......................10A Sports ................................. 1B WebExtras! ....................... 1B
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