YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 17, No. 7
READ FAMILY-FRIENDLY NEWS AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET
Town floats expansion of pool
Cooking up some chili
Correspondent
The Town of Discovery Bay Community Services District (CSD) Board of Directors is considering expanding the pool at the town’s community center to a six-lane pool that will meet USA swim meet certification standards. Last week the board received positive results from a soils study conducted by Terracon Consultants, Inc. that showed an L-shaped, six-lane pool can be built without extra concrete pillars underground for stabilization. “(These are) pretty favorable findings,” explained Ron Bravo of Terracon’s aquatic design and swimming pool engineering division. “The pool does not have to
Trainers charged with animal cruelty The owner and a trainer of an East County dog training and boarding business have been charged by the Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney (DA) with eight felony counts of animal cruelty following the death of a dog left in their care. Garry Frank Reynolds, the 37-year-old owner of NorCal K9, and Devon Benjamin Ashby, a 30-year-old trainer employed by Reynolds, were charged in December 2018, after Antioch police removed seven dogs from an Antioch residence associated with Reynolds and Ashby. Scott Alonso, public information officer for the DA, said that Antioch police were prompted to investigate the business after receiving written complaints from former clients. Detective Geis of the Antioch
This week’s special edition highlights all the ways to make the Big Day one to remember. Page 1B
A Lesson On Inclusiveness
Photo courtesy of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District
see Pool page 18A
Staff Writer
Guide To Wedded Bliss
L
ocal restaurants and amateur cooks enjoyed an afternoon of homemade chili, craft beer and local wines at the Chili Cook Off & Brewfest, Sunday, Feb. 10, at Tess’ Community Farm Kitchen. Winners included firefighter Ryan Pesonen, far left, with his cooking partner Capt. Dan Baio from the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. Second place went to Jeff Anderson, third place to Vicki Watkins and first place for a restaurant went to Katy Mosely of Kauaii Abreau Ohana. Proceeds from the event will benefit Odyssey of the Mind programs.
by Dawnmarie Fehr
by Tony Kukulich
February 15, 2019
“ I have never hurt a dog. I’ve never done
anything to hurt a client or a dog.
”
Garry Frank Reynolds Police Department (APD) said that of the seven dogs the APD seized in June, one was returned to its owner and six were euthanized after it was determined that the dogs were so aggressive they could not be rehabilitated. A charge of animal cruelty indicates that the defendant allegedly caused unnecessary cruelty upon an animal, abused an animal and failed to provide the animal with proper food, drink or shelter from the weather. During an interview with The Press, Reynolds said that he was working in Southern California at the time that Antioch police seized the dogs and that the dogs were re-
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moved from the Ashby’s home. “I have never hurt a dog,” said Reynolds. “I’ve never done anything to hurt a client or a dog. The whole thing with the other dogs, it had nothing to do with me. One of my staff was doing that. They didn’t come to my house to seize dogs...I wasn’t at that house. I wasn’t living in that house.” The DA’s criminal complaint specifies May 3, 2018 as the date that the alleged abuse took place, though the seizure of the animals occurred several weeks later. Reynolds confirmed that one of the dogs identified in the DA’s criminal complaint did die while in his care. Gunnar, a three-year-old German
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shepherd died May 20. A necropsy was completed by the Necropsy Services Group in Davis, and the final report obtained by The Press stated that Gunnar died from hyperthermia, a condition that can be, according to the report, caused by high environmental temperatures and/or physical exertion. The report also said that physical exertion leading to fatal hyperthermia may be seen in dogs that are hyperexcitable, overanxious, stressed or experiencing seizures. Reynolds noted that the high temperature on the day Gunnar died was 70 degrees and the temperature at the time of his death was 54 degrees. “The dog (Gunnar) had severe anxiety,” said Reynolds. “The dog had all these different behavioral problems. Anxiety is what caused the dog to pass away...we took the dog in for the see Charged page 18A
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Library hosts Drag Queen Storytime event at Brentwood Community Center. Page 5A
Liberty Falls in NCS Opener
It was a heartbreaking end to a strong season for Liberty boys’ basketball. Page 11A Calendar.............................17A Classifieds..........................14A Food.......................................9A Health & Beauty.................4A Milestones.........................19A Pets........................................8A Sports..................................11A
Humane Gesture www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
The Delta Humane Society is encouraging donations to their cause.