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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 8, No. 48
Koehne gets new Sunrise fisherman view of parade by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer Each season when the holiday parade comes to town, Virgil Koehne is out there waving traffic through the maze of roadblocks and detours along the procession route. “Traffic control is what I do,” said Koehne. “It’s just one of the duties (for the event) that I deal with.” On Dec. 4, Koehne will still be dealing with the parade masses, but it won’t be from his usual vantage point. This year, he’ll be waving to the crowds in the role of grand marshal of the annual Discovery Bay Parade of Lights. “Virgil’s name comes up for this honor every year and every year he shies away from it,” said Amanda Dove, one of the event’s organizers.
“But now in our eighth year, we won’t let him get away again. He deserves this.” The Parade of Lights – held this year on Saturday, Dec. 4 – is one of Discovery Bay’s biggest events of the season, drawing thousands of spectators and participants. In 2002, when the parade was created, Koehne was a key coordinator and cheerleader of the hometown celebration, and now a grateful community is returning the favor. “Well, I have to say it’s a little overwhelming and a very big surprise,” said Koehne of the honor. “There are so many other pillars in the community deserving of this (title).” But none, said Dove, as deserv-
Staff Writer
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has approved the appointment of former Knightsen School Superintendent Vickey Rinehart to the Byron-Brentwood-Knightsen Union Cemetery District board, but an angry Supervisor Mary Piepho – whose husband David was originally recommended for the post – says the selection process was tainted. “I believe this process was fundamentally flawed, and is one that has been obviously corrupted and politicized,” said Piepho. “I will oppose the recommendation.” Rinehart was recommended by an independent panel earlier this month after public complaints and charges of nepotism were launched against
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This Week Grand finale for maestra Photo by Stacey Chance
he holiday frenzy has started, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be all crazy, all the time – especially if you Live Where You Play. Here we see a Discovery Bay resident enjoying an early morning, perfect weather float last week along with a cup of coffee.
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see Koehne page 22A
David Piepho’s potential appointment. Piepho currently serves on the Discovery Bay Community Services District (CSD) board as well as the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which oversees land boundary and annexation issues. His term on the CSD expires in December, and unless he secures another position with a special district, he’ll be forced to give up his seat on LAFCO. “I really felt victimized by this process and believe it was flawed from the very start,” said David Piepho at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “I would ask that you put off making a decision.” When asked to comment on his LAFCO position, Piepho said only that “This isn’t about me; it’s about East County losing its (LAFCO) representa-
November 26, 2010
The Press
Rinehart secures seat on cemetery board by Ruth Roberts
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A bash is planned for a beloved choral director soon to retire her baton. Page 12A
Patriots upset Pirates
The Pittsburg defense found the 345-yard Heritage ground assault a real grind. Page 1B
Plus:
RINEHART
PIEPHO
tion.” Piepho claims the appointment process was flawed because the informational packet provided to the independent panel included highly negative letters from his political detractors containing erroneous information. The packet also
included letters supporting Piepho. Piepho also believes the supervisors’ order to form the independent panel specified that it be made up of trustees, and it ultimately included one trustee
Holiday history go to news/WebExtras!
Read the Lincoln proclamation that pinpointed the day we hold Thanksgiving.
see Cemetery page 22A
Tough talker
go to news/press releases A traveling preacher is taking aim on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Business .............................20A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 16B Entertainment ................. 14B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty .............. 10B Milestones .......................... 9B Opinion ..............................16A Sports ................................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Robot rave
go to multimedia/videos Ingenious contraptions rattled the rafters of the Heritage gymnasium.