YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 9, No. 4
Including Surrounding Communities
www.oakleypress.com
Emergency teamwork saves baby by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer A quick-thinking police officer and a well-tuned emergency response team saved the life of an Oakley infant last week after she choked on a hair clip and stopped breathing. Oakley Police Officer Sean Eriksen answered an emergency dispatch call on Jan. 12, arriving at the Wente Court location just ahead of the emergency response team. When he walked into the residence, Eriksen found the 7-month-old baby girl was lying on the floor and not breathing. “The first thing the mother said to me was that she had just finished CPR training but couldn’t remember a thing,” said Eriksen. “She was clearly panicked. So I just did exactly what we are trained to do, and it kicked in.” Eriksen quickly picked up the child, turned her over on her back, tilted her downward and braced her body. With short, quick see Baby page 17A
January 23, 2009
THIS WEEK
Nuptial nuances
Let our Wedding Planner help you sweat the details now so you can relax on your big day.
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Partysan politics reign Photo by Ruth Roberts
Oakley Police Officer Sean Eriksen, above, with help from the Contra Costa County Emergency Response Team, recently saved an Oakley infant after she choked on a hair clip and stopped breathing.
Locals laud Obama, celebrate diversity by Rick Lemyre
Tamika London has her photo snapped with a likeness of President Barack Obama during the Women Leading Change Now inauguration celebration on Tuesday.
Staff Writer They came together to celebrate and support increased opportunities for women and other under-represented groups in government. There were booths offering health care tips, children’s books, hats, purses and vitamins, and there was singing, barbecue, and certificates of appreciation for the civic leaders on hand. But the buzz was all about the man whose life-size cardboard cutout stood stoically in the corner: President Barack Obama. The event was the Women Leading Change Now vendor showcase and inauguration celebration, and although public turnout was light, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the 50 or so people there to share their support for diversity and each other on a historic day. “I’m a real fan of Obama,” said Oakley’s Robert Duncan as he posed for a picture with “the president.” “Every once in a while you get a guy that will grab you, make you think he can get something done. I like that about him; I couldn’t be happier.”
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Photo by Rick Lemyre
Antioch’s Matt Vance said he was impressed by Obama’s intestinal fortitude, and expects to see great things over the long haul. “I like his guts,” he said. “I like the fact that he’s not conforming to anyone’s expectations, just his own morals and God. If things don’t all turn around right away, I’m not going to blame him. It’s going to take some time, but every small decision is going to add up to an overall result.” Jodie Dale of Discovery Bay liked the new president’s call for the country to face, and deal
with, its responsibilities, and his promise to help pull on those bootstraps. “He fired me up,” she said. “He talked about a new era of responsibility. He was taking ownership with us of our problems. His speech left me thinking, “Wow, we’ve got a chance to get some stuff done.” Darwin Foster of Sacramento found things to like and be hopeful about, and others to be skeptical about. “I was impressed by his speaking skills,” he said. “I voted for McCain, and I listen to (conservative talk shows host) Rush Limbaugh. He
(Limbaugh) was saying things like ‘We’ve heard it all before’ and ‘This is nothing new,’ but I disagree. I was impressed.” Foster wouldn’t speculate, however, on how much of Obama’s agenda will turn out well, or can be accomplished at all. “I can’t see beyond today, because he doesn’t know what he’s up against, and a lot of what he said during the campaign wasn’t informed. If he comes through with his plan to share the wealth, I’ll be disappointed. I’ll help a guy who’s down, but I’ll do it out of my own personal choice. Don’t make me do it.” Still, he thinks the new president has what it takes to do the right thing, once he’s up to speed, and thinks his presidency is a feather in America’s cap. “He’s a strong enough character to see what’s real and go with it,” he said. “I’m proud to see him succeed, not because he’s black, but because he didn’t have it handed to him. He had a hard start.” Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Mary Rocha said she’s particusee Obama page 17A
East County folks contracted Obamamania – and had themselves an Inaugural ball.
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Participation not optional
Two East County baseball leagues make sure that kids play ball, not warm the bench.
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INSIDE Calendar ..........................30A Classifieds ........................26A Coplog .............................15A Education ..........................6A Entertainment ................29A Food ................................... 6B Milestones .......................22A Opinion ...........................14A Outdoors .........................13A Sports ...............................19A Wedding Planner ............. 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A