YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 19, No. 2
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Police hold active-shooter training by Tony Kukulich
January 11, 2019
Friends Aid Fire Victims
Staff Writer
From a statistical perspective, school shootings involving multiple fatalities are rare occurrences, but threats made earlier this year against staff and students at Freedom High School and the discovery this week of a plot to commit a school shooting in the Napa Valley Unified School District underline the importance of constant vigilance and preparedness. The Oakley Police Department (OPD) started off the new year by conducting active-shooter training at O’Hara Park Middle School on Jan. 3. All of the department’s available officers participated in a half-day session that included classroom instruction and live drills in which they practiced a variety of strategies and techniques for responding to active-shooter incidents. Many of the new strate-
Furry Friends Pet Relief continues its commitment to aid fire victims’ pets. Page 5A
Photo by Tony Kukulich
Sgt. Robert Roberts leads a contact team during an active-shooter training exercise at O’Hara Park Middle School in Oakley on Jan. 3. gies were developed in the wake of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado, in which two heavily armed students killed 13 and injured 24.
“There has been a significant transition in the way that law enforcement responds to these types of events,” said Oakley Police Chief Eric Christensen. “One of the pri-
mary changes was Columbine. What Columbine did was essentially tell us was that the tactics of see Training page 22A
Raising awareness, saving lives by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
There is a quote about the fickle nature of life written by journalist Mary Schmich in a 1997 column for the Chicago Tribune. “Don’t worry about the future,” wrote Schmich. “Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.” Brentwood resident Cynthia Loredo was blindsided by her troubles around 4 p.m., though it was an idle Monday in November 2017 when a phone call delivered devastating news. A social worker from a hospital told her that her husband had been admitted after
Photo by Tony Kukulich
Cynthia Loredo displays a blanket with photos of her husband, Castulo Loredo Jr. Castulo, known to his friends and family as Jr, was killed in an auto accident on Vasco Road in November 2017, and Cynthia is attempting raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving in the wake of that tragedy. a serious auto accident. Castulo Loredo Jr., known to his friends and family as Jr, had been headed south on Vasco
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Road in his silver Audi A4 that afternoon. He was headed toward the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he
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worked as a machinist. Jr, who was a few weeks past his 55th birthday, had slowed to stop in heavy southbound traffic when he was struck from behind by the driver of a Nissan Versa. The impact of the collision pushed Jr’s car into the path of a northbound Toyota Corolla that struck him broadside. Both drivers involved in the second collision were flown to the trauma center at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Jr was described at the time by an East Contra Costa Fire Protection District spokesperson as having suffered massive trauma. He died just after midnight the next day as a result of his injuries. The driver of the Nissan was treated on scene by paramedics and released. In September 2018, the driver was charged with vesee Awareness page 22A
Youth Job Fair
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East Bay Regional Park District will host two Youth Job Fairs in the East Bay.
The new year signals the start of East County’s local crab feed events and fundraisers. Page 8A
Championship Keepsake
Check out The Press’ commemorative Liberty High football state championship section. Page 1B Calendar.............................23A Classifieds..........................17A Cop Logs.............................21A Education ..........................15A Entertainment.................... 9A Food....................................... 8A Health & Beauty................. 7A Milestones.........................10A Pets......................................16A
New Leadership
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Lynn Mackey has been sworn in as the new Superintendent of Schools.