YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 20, No. 39
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Community comes out for Tia by Aly Brown Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Team Tia Longmire
Tia Longmire, a student at Edna Hill Middle School, was hit by a car while walking to school Sept. 17. The family is grateful for all the community support in the form of prayers, fundraisers and encouraging messages.
Tia Longmire has been in the hospital in critical condition since Sept. 17, but her family says the outpouring from the community has kept them going in their darkest hours. “Tia’s condition is stable but critical – she still remains in a coma,” her grandfather, Pete Longmire, told The Press this week. “The doctors are happy about her stabilizing now. They’re going slow with treatment measures, so they don’t make her unstable. She has very serious traumatic brain injuries and multiple fractures throughout her body.” The morning of Sept. 17, Tia, an 11-year-old student at Edna Hill Middle School, was crossing the road with her little sister Nichole when she was hit by a Nissan Altima traveling eastbound on Balfour Road. Airlifted to UC Davis, Tia has been in critical condition ever since. The driver of the Altima was reported to have been cooperating with officials at the time of the accident. “We’ve been praying hard and then praying harder still,” Longmire said. “Ob-
viously, it’s very stressful to see our baby in that condition, but we’re just grateful she’s still with us and she’s stabilizing. The team (at Davis), I just can’t say enough about them, and the community outreach has been incredible.” Longmire described countless messages and postings of support along with fundraising efforts from complete strangers. As the current City of Pittsburg mayor, he’s been actively involved in East County through law enforcement, business and politics within his community but said outreach, generosity, prayers and effort in the wake of this accident have been unparalleled. “It’s been incredible, and that’s why we developed the Facebook page to keep the community informed,” he said. “Being in a situation like this, I’ve never seen it at this level – a lot of people care, they just care, and they want to do something to help Tia, to help the family and the little sister who was right there and witnessed everything.” Longmire described 10-year-old Nichole’s proactive and confident manner see Community page 26
Giving a voice to the Delta by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
Restore the Delta (RTD), a Stockton-based environmental advocacy group, released a report last week entitled “Fate of the Delta” that attempts to bring to the forefront voices that have been overlooked in the debate regarding the California WaterFix project. “The report represents true facts about how the California WaterFix will destroy many lives and the Delta itself, all for the gain of water profiteers,” said Gary Mulcahy, government liaison for the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, in an email to The Press. “I hope that the newly elected come November will read the report
“ Delta environmental justice communities
face a mortal threat to their water quality and water supplies from Delta channels in the form of the WaterFix project.
”
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta and stop this awful and unnecessary project.” The impetus for creating the document, according to Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, RTD executive director, was to record in a single document years of work on behalf of the Delta and its communities that was found in testimony to the state water board, blog posts, press releases and comment letters.
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“We wanted our community to have one document, one historical record of what we told the State Water Resources Control Board, what we have learned since that time and how we have attempted to shift the stakes of the tunnels’ water right decision,” said Barrigan-Parrilla. “Delta environmental justice communities face a mortal threat to their water quality and water supplies
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from Delta channels in the form of the WaterFix project. When Delta people care, they can do a lot to protect their home and its beautiful, life-giving waters.” The California WaterFix project as proposed will use three newly constructed intakes to draw water from the Delta just south of Sacramento and channel that water 30 miles south through two tunnels. Each tunnel will measure 40 feet in diameter and will be buried 150 feet belowground. Combined, the intakes will be capable of sending 9,000 cubic-feet of Delta water per second through those tunnels. After reaching the Clifton Court Forebay near Byron, the water will be
September 28, 2018
A Lasting Legacy
Ceremony to honor fallen Sgt. Scott Lunger unveils new signs along memorial highway. Page 4
Fundraiser At Campos
“American Idol” contestant Kellie Pickler to sing for a cause at Campos event. Page 10
Homecoming Victory
Freedom football team takes down Antioch High in emotional homecoming victory. Page 17
see Delta page 26
Calendar................................27 Classifieds.............................22 Cop Logs................................25 Entertainment.....................11 Food........................................10 Kid Scoop................................2 Milestones............................12 Pets...........................................6 Sports.....................................17
Medicare Tips
E-cig Crackdown
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Know your choices and options when it comes to Medicare prescriptions.
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AACP applauds FDA efforts to ban e-cigarettes for youth.