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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 12, No. 34
Sooners suspend Joe Mixon by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Former Freedom High School football player Joe Mixon has been suspended by the U niversity of Oklahoma football team for the upcoming seaso n after he was charged with a misdemeanor count of acts resulting in gross injury, stemming from his alleged assa ult of a 20-year-old woma n at a n Oklahoma resta urant last month, the University of Oklahoma announced in a statement this week. "As the university has demonstrated in the past, we a re committed to winning the right way," Vice President for Athletics Joe Castiglione and head coach Bob Stoops said in a joint statement. "As an example to others, OU sets the highest possible standa rds for its student
athletes, coaches and staff." Mixon, who faces up to a year in prison if convicted, pleaded not guilty to the charge during his arraignment in Cleveland County District Court on Monday. He was booked, but released on his own recognizance with a n order to not have a ny contact with the victim in the case. "As we have maintained from the beginning, it is our belief that Joe reacted instinctively after being racially slurred a nd physically assaulted by a highly intoxicated young woma n and her male friend," said Mixon's attorney Kevin Finlay at the time the cha rges were announced last Friday. " We strongly disagree with the series of events as portrayed by Norman PD. Justice knows no gender bias a nd we do not believe that Joe's actions were criminal in nature. " According to the affid avit
Photo courtesy of Cleveland County Sheriff"s Office
MIXON released by C levela nd County District Atto rney G reg Mashburn! last Friday, No rman, Oklahoma Police officers were to Pickleman's dispatc hed Go urmet Cafe on July 25 on reports of an assault. Officers contacted the victim, as well as seve ral witnesses, who stated that during a verbal alterca-
tion , an unknown black ma le, later identified as Mixon by at least two witnesses, punched the victim in the face, knocking her unconscious. The victim was transported to the Norman Regional Hospital where she was found to have a fractured jaw, fractured cheekbone, fractured sinus and fractured orbit, which caused a hematoma on the left eye. Police later viewed a surveillance video of the incident, which showed Mixon a nd the victim in a verbal altercation both o utside and then inside of the business, according to the affidavit. After being pushed , Mixon allegedly lunged at the victim in a n aggressive manner, leading with his head a nd with his right fist clenched by his side. see Mixon page 34
DB boutique helping to conquer cancer by Amy Shrader Correspondent
A Discovery Bay custom clothing and accessory boutique is proving it has more tha n an eye for fashion. C havez Couture has recently teamed up with a family from Monterey County to support a yo ung ca ncer p atient who is the battling a ra re form of brain cancer. Morgan Buffaloe, 11 , was diagnosed with cancer three months ago. She has an astrocytoma brain tumor resting between her optic nerves, which has caused her to go blind in one eye. The sixth gradet~ who lives in the hometown of Chavez Couture's owner Tara C havez, is c urre ntly undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Mo rga n's sto ry is particula rly touching to Chavez as she is a cancer survivor herself. "As a breast ca ncer sur-
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Photo courtesy of Tara Chavez
DB boutique Chavez Couture is hosting a fundraiser to support 11 -year-o ld M o rgan Buffaloe, above, wh o is battling brain ca nce r.
vivor, J know what this little girl is going t hrough a nd can't even imagine what her parents
have to endure," said C havez. " I wanted to help this family. Mo rga n faces challenges every
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day, and with everything she's going through, she always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude." C havez d ecided the best way to not o nly raise money fo r Buffa loe family but also to empowe r Morgan was to give the spunky cancer patient the opportu nity to become a fashion designer. Morgan designed her own Tshirt for Chavez Couture, which is heather blue and feat ures a unicorn bucking a nd the words " Let's kick cancer's butt." " It was so much fun designing my own shirt," M organ said . " I was a mazed to actually see something l designed. It was so cool." C havez Couture wi ll donate 100-percent of the proceeds from the shirts to the Buffaloe family. The T-shi rt costs $35 see Cancer page 34
Business smarts go to news/WebExtras! Contra Costa Commission for Women to host Women in Leadership panel.
August 22,2014
Revved up for rec classes
The Discovery Bay Community Center will host a variety of recreation options this fall. Page 3
This old house tells a story
The East Contra Costa Historical Society plans to host its annual barbecue in September. Page 5
Presence in the pool K:;;l~;l:,lill!it'rr,::s::::::;s]
Heritage boys water polo players are ready for another st ellar BVAL season. Page 21
Calendar .. .. ... .. ..... ... ..............33 Classifieds .... .. ... .. ... ........... ...24 Comics ..... ... ........................ ... 16 Cop Logs .. .. ... .. ... .. ... ..............32 Entertainment ...... ........... ..... 9 Food .. ................ .. .. ... .......... ..... .8 Health & Beauty ... ........... ...28 Milestones ... .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .... ... 11 Opinion ..................... .. .......... 12 Sports .... .. ... ... .. ..... ... ........... ...21
Safe and sound go to news/press releases New campaign to educate veterans about identity theft prevention.