Oakley Press_11.26.10

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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Vol. 10, No. 48

Rinehart to join cemetery board by Ruth Roberts 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 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) representation.” Piepho claims the appointment process was flawed because the informational packet provided to the independent panel included highly negative letters

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November 26, 2010

Poultry in motion From all of us at

The Press This Week Painting the path

Photo by Justin Lafferty

etty Smith, a member of the board of directors of Delta 2000, a local nonprofit helper, gives a frozen turkey to Sam Otero from Street Outreach, a group of 15 local churches organizing a Christmas dinner for the homeless at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds. The effort was part of Contra Costa County District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover’s annual Turkey Drop, in which hundreds of turkeys were donated throughout East County.

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For his Eagle project, this Scout provided distance markers for the Marsh Creek Trail. Page 19A

OT ends in ‘Oh, no!’

see Cemetery page 22A

Aaron makes it home for the holidays by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer After the miracle of their son’s double organ transplant and recent return home, “grateful” is something Mark and Elizabeth Tanner have gotten good at. And when the extended family gathered this week for the first time in nearly two years, Thanksgiving took on a whole new meaning. “We are so looking forward to having everyone under one roof this year and being able to have all the cousins together,” said Elizabeth Tanner. “All that matters to us is having the kids together and happy. That’s the reality.”

Five year-old Aaron Tanner returned home to Brentwood last week following a double organ transplant in August.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Tanner

Online Now!

www.thepress.net Your Hometown Web Site

Holiday history go to news/WebExtras!

Read the Lincoln proclamation that pinpointed the day we hold Thanksgiving.

Reality has taken more than a few twists and turns for Elizabeth and husband Mark since 5-year-old son Aaron was placed on an organ donor list last summer. Over the years, the preschooler has undergone seven surgeries in an effort to fix a heart that functioned on only one side. But last year, when it was discovered that renal failure was putting too much pressure on Aaron’s heart, doctors placed him placed at the top of the organ donor list. In August a donor was found, and Aaron received his new heart and kidney. For the past three months, Aaron and Elizabeth have lived in an see Aaron page 22A

Tough talker

go to news/press releases A traveling preacher is taking aim on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

A gritty gridiron performance fell short as the Falcons’ playoff dreams were dashed. Page 2B

Plus: 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.


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