YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 21, No. 17
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Accident claims life of Liberty teen by Tony Kukulich
April 26, 2019
Ready For Summer Fun
Staff Writer
A single-vehicle accident Saturday night, April 20, claimed the life of Avery Hickok, a 17-year-old Brentwood resident and student at Liberty High School. “Our hearts are with the family during this unimaginable time,” said Liberty Principal Heather Harper. “At school, our staff and students have rallied together to support each other.” A vigil was planned for Wednesday evening at the school where Avery was a junior. Harper said that grief counselling services are available for school students and staff. “My heartfelt condolences to the family,” said Liberty Union High School District Superintendent Eric Volta. “I can only imagine how hard this is for them. These tragedies are also tough on our students and staff. However, I believe that if or when they happen, our teachers and students band together to comfort one another as well as any place I have seen.” Soon after the accident a makeshift memorial with flowers, notes and balloons appeared at the accident site on Lakeshore Circle in Discovery Bay. The California Highway Patrol reported they were advised of a vehicle collision at that
This week’s edition features loads of activities for families and kids to enjoy this summer. Page 1B
One Day At A Time Gala Photo by Tony Kukulich
A makeshift memorial appeared at the accident site in Discovery Bay where 17-yearold Avery Hickok died Saturday night. location shortly before midnight Saturday. As first responders arrived, they discovered that a 2012 Hyundai Sonata driven by Avery had crashed through a metal guard rail and concrete wall at the end of Lakeshore Circle. Avery, the only occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. A CHP spokesman said it appeared she was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
The accident remains under investigation. A CHP press release said it was unknown if drugs or alcohol were factors in the accident. Witnesses to this collision or the events leading up to it, are asked to contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at 925646-4980. To view a slideshow, visit www.thepress.net/ multimedia
Supervisors’ pay linked to judges’ salaries by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors have approved plans to link their pay to a percentage granted to superior court judges, eliminating the awkward practice of approving their own salaries. In line with recommendations by an ad-hoc citizens committee, the supervisors’ pay (currently $116,841) will jump 6.5 percent to 60 percent of the salary of Superior Court judges ($124,454) in July; an additional 5 percent to 63 percent of judges’ pay ($130,677.12) in January, and another 3 percent rise to 65 percent of judges’ pay (currently
“ I would feel a little more comfortable with this if it was a slower increase.
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District III Supervisor Diane Burgis $134,825.60) in 2021, and each year going forward. This salary formula moves the decision away from the supervisors themselves, and closely matches the method used by seven of the nine peer Bay Area counties examined by the fivemember ad-hoc citizens committee tasked with reviewing the supervisors’ compensation, suggesting possible revisions and recommending a method to de-
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termine future pay increases. The 65 percent of judges’ pay figure is the average amount paid to supervisors in the nine Bay Area counties. Supervisors’ current $116,841 turned out to be $17,531 less than that average, when looking at salary alone. “We decided that we should try to simplify the process of how the supervisors’ raises would be decided and to put a
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policy in place as a permanent solution, so it wouldn’t have to be revisited in the future,” said Tom Hansen, a local labor leader and chair of the ad-hoc citizens committee. “We found seven of the nine surrounding peer counties actually use judges’ salaries. That was the most common way to set the supervisors’ salaries.” The new salary structure was approved in a 3-2 vote, with local District III Supervisor Diane Burgis and District II Supervisor Candace Andersen dissenting, preferring to phase in the increase over five years instead of three, to model county see Supervisors’ page 22A
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Youth organization preparing to celebrate successes and future goals at upcoming event. Page 5A
Stunt Cheer Goes For Two
Freedom stunt cheer is looking to win their second consecutive North Coast Title. Page 14A Calendar.............................23A Classifieds..........................17A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............21A Milestones.........................12A Pets........................................ 8A Sports..................................14A
Making Strides
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Several bills by Jim Frazier have advanced after winning committee approvals.