YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 20, No. 31
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Housing project progress
August 3, 2018
New Year At Knightsen
Back to school
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Antioch City Council recently adopted an initiative that clears the way for a large development project while also preserving open land in the city’s southeast corner near the Brentwood border. The West Sand Creek initiative was one of two competing efforts to shape the future of the Sand Creek Focus Area – a 2,712-acre area bounded by Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve to the west, city limits to the south and the City of Brentwood to the east – that could have appeared on the November ballot. The city has considered building 4,000 homes in that area. The council plans to continue studying the competing Let Antioch Voters Decide initiative, but the unanimous adoption of the West Sand Creek initiative locks in a 550see Housing page 26
Knightsen School District welcomes students back with new staff, programs. Page 4
Sgt. Lunger Remembered
Photo by Tony Kukulich
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avier Strock started kindergarten while his sister Teresa Strock entered second grade at Brentwood Elementary School July 30. School districts throughout East County welcomed students back to the classroom this week. For more photos, see page 16. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows
Police, schools host safety forum by Aly Brown Staff Writer
The ringing of school bells marks the end of summer, but in a sign of the times it also signals the beginning of school security fears for some students and their families. Here in East County, local school officials and first responders are hoping to quell some of that anxiety with an upcoming school safety symposium. On Aug. 9, in an event jointly hosted by the Brentwood Police Department, Liberty Union High School District (LUHSD) and Brentwood Union School District (BUSD) to promote safer campuses, participants will learn current protocol for active shooter
“ We are very fortunate to operate in cities
where our ideal of student safety is shared by the chiefs, city managers and councils.
”
LUHSD Superintendent Eric Volta response and the role of the school resource officer along with safety information regarding traffic, social media, bullying and school violence. “I’m not sure if the public realizes just how closely we work with the local law enforcement agencies at our schools,” said LUHSD Superintendent Eric Volta. “At the first inkling of any rumor of a threat, they are looking
NOW HIRING
into it along with the site administrators.” The symposium will be held in the Liberty High School theater, which hold 600, and the hosts hope to fill the seats. The event is targeted at making the community aware of all the steps officials have to take to make sure schools are safe, to highlight the close relationship school districts have with the local police department and to
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give parents resources and information. “The proactive partnership between the school districts and the police department has been strong for many years. We did active shooter training together six years ago and are updating that training this year at every school,” said BUSD Superintendent Dana Eaton. “Both school districts support the school resource officer program, and communication between the districts and police department is ongoing and frequent. The idea to do a community forum together is a new idea.” The forum will give parents the opportunity to engage with see Safety page 26
Board Seats Open www.thepress.net/news/webextras
District 3 is seeking local candidates to fill various board seats.
Friends and family of Sgt. Scott Lunger participate in memorial ruck run. Page 7
Swinging For Big Leagues
Heritage baseball player tries out for USA National Team Development Program. Page 17 Calendar................................27 Classifieds.............................22 Cop Logs................................25 Education................................4 Entertainment.....................11 Food........................................10 Kid Scoop................................9 Milestones............................12 Pets...........................................8 Sports.....................................17
Free Bus Rides
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BART is repairing track over next few weeks, and AC Transit is offering free rides.