YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 16, No. 39
READ NEWS YOU CAN TRUST AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET!
Byron school district faces receivership
A Lasting Dashing along the Delta Legacy
R
unners start the 5k race of the Delta Dash in Discovery Bay, Saturday, Sept. 22. The event, sponsored by the Discovery Bay Community Foundation, featured 1-mile, 5K and 10K runs and a stand-up paddleboard event. Proceeds will benefit local organizations. To view a video and a slideshow of the event, visit www. thepress.net/ multimedia
by Aly Brown Staff Writer
The Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) has warned the Byron Union School District (BUSD) that unless “a heroic effort” is made, the beleaguered district faces state receivership. The news arrived Sept. 20 in a letter from the CCCOE, addressed to BUSD Board President David Turner and Superintendent Dr. Debbie Gold, expressing the county’s “cause for serious concern” upon recently reviewing the small district’s increasing financial struggles. “Our office estimates that the district has enough cash to pay bills for the next six months after which time there will not be enough money to pay employee salaries,” Bill Clark, CCCOE associate superintendent, wrote in the letter. “Without a heroic effort, the district is likely to fall into state receivership this year. While it is difficult to identify specific reasons for these recent developments, the majority of the loss appears to be related to unanticipated special education costs.”
Photo by Tony Kukulich
see Byron 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 and stop this awful and unnecessary project.”
“ 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 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. “We wanted our community to have one document, one historical record of what we told
SAVE NOW
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 from Delta channels in the form of the WaterFix project. When Delta people care, they can do a lot to protect
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their home and its beautiful, lifegiving 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 pumped into the California Aqueduct and flow south into the Central Valley and beyond into Southern California. The price tag for the
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.