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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 12, No. 33
Boating safety a top priority by Heather Brewer Correspondent Boaters a round the Delta are soaking up the last few weeks of sun in the season, but even though the dog days of summer are winding down, the focus on safety should not. In the Delta, the most commonly seen boating safety mishaps are boat wake and speeding violations, according to Sgt. Paul Beard with Contra Costa Cou nty's Office of the Sheriff Marine a nd Air Support Services. While the numbers of accidents this year a re currently fewer than last year, there is also a decrease in the number of boaters out on the Delta. "We are currently sitting at 11 accidents and one fatality this year, compared to 16 accidents and one fatality at the same time last year, but we seem to be experiencing a I 0 to 20 per-
Oakley's Danielle Gifford and son Riley, 1, enjoy an afternoon on the Delta near Discovery Bay. As summer comes to a close, boating safety sti ll remains a necessity. cent decrease in the amount of and stationary, above-water obboaters this year," said Beard. jects. Too great of speed and im"M ost of our accidents are ves- proper lookouts seems to be the sels (colliding with) submerged primary cause."
Other issues include irregular life-jackets use and boating while under the influence of alcohol. "The things T see the most when T am out on the water is children not wea ring life jackets and people being lax about drinking on boats," said Dennis Park, a Discovery Bay resident and local business owner. " Boats are just like cars; you have to have a d esignated driver. Usually deaths on the water are avoidable, so common sense a nd following the rules can help prevent those kind s of useless deaths." To stay safe on the Delta, remember to be observant of your surroundings, know boating and navigational laws, keep proper safety equipment close by and avoid running personal watercrafts like wave runners after dark. " You should be aware of other boaters, swimmers and see Safety page 22A
August 15,2014
BVAL football
preview blitz
Local high school teams w ill kick off preseason play later this month. Page 18
Networking knowhow
Delta Divas help thei r fellow women make connections to promote their businesses. Page SA
Memory of Brentwood volunteer lives on Dirt bike by Corey Hunt Correspondent The legacy of a Liberty High School and UC Berkeley graduate turned Peace Corps volunteer is receiving international attention as questions mount regarding the health practices that preceded his death while serving overseas. N ick Castle succumbed to what has been described as a short but turbulent gastrointestinal illness in February of 2013, just seven months after he arrived in southern China to teach English in a rural community. He was 23 years old. His untimely death is now the subject of a New York Times investigation that is pushing the Peace Corps to a nswer questions about both alleged and acknowledged flaws in its healthcare sys-
see Volunteer page 22A
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tern. As his story gains international attention, Castle's family hopes N ick's legacy will serve as an inspiration to others. "Nick was kind of a born diplomat. He liked helping people and was always civic-minded," said Castle's father, David , a sergeant with the Brentwood Police D epa rtment. " J imagine he probably would have come back, studied for his master's degree and then gone on to work at the state depa rtment." His mother Sue remember her son as a driven young man who flourished when he a rrived at the UC Berkeley campus after spending his high school years volunteering around his hometown in Brentwood. " He really made it a home
Got a ti p, inte resting photo or breaki ng news story for The Press? E-mail your information, name a nd contact nu mbe r to editor@brentwoodpress.com, orcall925-634-1441.
Discovery Bay motocrosser turns heads at national competition. Page 17A
Photo courtesy of Sue Castle
Liberty High graduate Ni ck Cast le died at 23 wh ile serving in the Peace Corps in China in 2013 .
East Bay. Reg1onal Pitrk D1str ICt CoNNECTING PARKS
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Camping safety
go to news/WebExtras! "In My Life: A Musical Theat re Trib ute to The Beatles" is coming ~i!!:!!l:t. to East Cou nty.
go to news/press releases The U.S. Forest Service offers helpful tips for those planning a ca mpi ng t rip.
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