Dale Staley 9/22/53 – 7/16/17

Dale Staley was born in Chicago on September 22, 1953. In Castro Valley, on July 16, 2017 at approximately 10:30 am, he went home to the Lord.

Dale died far too young at only 63 years old. He is survived by his wife, Sheryl, his children, Patrick and Jennifer, his dog William, and his brother Timothy. 

Dale was born in Chicago but soon moved to Dallas where he spent most of his youth. He attended college at UGA (Univ. of Georgia, Athens). It was during his college years that he would begin his lifelong love affair with photography. A hobby which endured throughout his life. He also deepened and developed his love of astronomy and astrophysics while in college. 

After college, he returned to Chicago where he met his wife, Sheryl. They moved to Memphis, TN where their daughter was born. Soon after they moved to Dun Woody, GA. A few years later they moved to CA, where their son was born. Ultimately, they moved to Antioch, CA in 1995 and have lived there since. 

Dale was a man who loved life and loved to explore all that it had to offer. He rarely passed up the opportunity to learn something new when given the chance, a trait he passed on to his children. He also instilled in them the desire to fearlessly pursue what they were passionate about and to be willing to take risks in life. 

He also loved God and Christ and it is through them that he expressed another great love and passion of his, working with youth. He took great joy in working with students at both Church on the Rock and First Family Church, both in Antioch, CA. He especially enjoyed working with the Middle School group and found great joy helping students and encouraging them throughout the years. 

Over the years he has lived a full life and served as an inspiration and encouragement to many. Dale’s spirit lives on in the many lives he has touched and lessons he has shared with his students, friends, and family.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. at First Family Church at 3195 Contra Loma Blvd. in Antioch, CA followed by a potluck reception and celebration of Dale’s life.

The new Antioch High School cafeteria is under construction. Photos from AUSD.

Antioch High’s modernization and renovation continues. Construction of the new cafeteria (where the original office was located) and the 1100 wing (former library and classrooms) is in progress.

The 1100 wing (the back of the school) is being transformed into a state-of-the-art Media Technology Center, and on target for a fall reveal. The area will feature green screen audio/video capability and modern technology classrooms.

In addition to a spacious cafeteria, this area (right before the 400 hall) will sport a wide open quad area with lush landscape. It is scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2018. The last phase of our Measure B Bond update includes the aquatic swim center, and updating the final three hallways and classrooms in the 300, 400 and 500 wings.

Artist’s rendering of what the new Antioch High cafeteria and quad will look like once completed.

Proud to announce that the Educational Results Partnership has named Deer Valley High School and Dozier-Libbey Medical High School as Star Honor Roll Schools. This distinction was given to 21 of the 287 schools in Contra Costa County.

Through the Honor Roll School program, the Educational Results Partnership identifies and recognizes higher performing schools in the state, particularly higher poverty schools that are closing achievement gaps and those with a focus on STEM proficiency. The Star Honor Roll is the only school recognition program in the state using only student achievement outcomes as the criteria and is a growing resource for all schools to learn about best practices that increase student achievement.

The Educational Results Partnership utilizes data from the largest longitudinally-linked, actionable school data system in the country. http://www.edresults.org/

SFPD Officer Joshua Enea was arrested, today for felony possession of child pornography. Photo courtesy of KTVU.com

In February 2017, the San Francisco Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) learned that a SFPD officer may have been in possession of child pornography. The San Francisco Police Department Internal Affairs Criminal Division initiated an immediate investigation based on information provided by the ICAC Unit.

According to Officer Grace Gatpandan, Public Information Officer for the SFPD Media Relations Unit, during a press conference today, the investigation uncovered sufficient evidence to obtain an arrest warrant for Officer Joshua Enea, a 37-year-old Antioch resident. Enea was arrested today by SFPD investigators for felony possession of child pornography 311.11(a) PC. Enea, a ten-year veteran of the Department, has been placed on suspension without pay. During the course of the investigation, Enea was removed from direct contact with the public.

The public’s trust is of the utmost importance to the members of the SFPD. The Department will continue to work hard with the community to build and maintain this trust. As the Department has emphasized in the past, members will continue to hold each other accountable and will act swiftly to report any behavior that might bring dishonor to the Police Department and the City of San Francisco.

The SFPD Internal Affairs Office worked closely with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office on this case. The San Francisco Police Department thanks Senior Assistant District Attorney Paul Graves from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, as well as the SFPD personnel assigned to the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory for their assistance during this investigation.

A booking photo will be released once it becomes available. If you feel you may have been a victim or have had any suspicious contact with Enea, please contact the Internal Affairs Criminal Unit at (415) 882-8420.

To see a video of the press conference, by KTVU Channel 2 News click here.

WHAT: Watch Antioch Mayor Sean Wright and other mayors from across the county scramble to serve the finest plate of healthy, locally grown food at the 9th annual Contra Costa County Mayors’ Healthy Cookoff Challenge. City representatives are each paired with a chef and a sous chef from Mt. Diablo Unified School District to make a dish on deadline for a panel of judges.

WHERE: This free event will be held at the Concord Farmers’ Market in Todos Santos Plaza, at the corner of Salvio and Grant streets. Other attractions include live music, fresh produce and food booths.

WHEN: Thursday, July 27. Cooking preparation work begins at 4 p.m., with cooking to begin at 4:30 p.m. and judging at 6:30 p.m.

WHO: The event is organized by Wellness City Challenge, in partnership with the City of Concord and the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.

Several community groups and service providers will host activity booths and information tables to promote health and wellness, including Contra Costa Public Health’s Nutrition and Physical Activity and Safe Routes to School programs.

For more information about the Cookoff Challenge, visit www.wellnesscitychallenge.org

Stockton, CA – As anticipated, the California Department of Water Resources issued the Notice of Determination (NOD) for CA WaterFix on Friday, July 21.

Executive Director for Restore the Delta Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla issued the following statement:

“We are not surprised that the Notice of Determination has been issued. The Brown Administration will celebrate this document as a type of victory regarding the advancement of CA WaterFix. But it’s not. The EIR and the plan for the tunnels are deeply flawed as the project will not create water supply reliability in a world with increased and prolonged droughts, but perhaps up to 75 years of debt to be paid back by water ratepayers as recently proposed by Goldman Sachs representatives.

“We, other environmental organizations, and other parties in the Delta are preparing for litigation. We will expand our fight in the court of public opinion. We are considering all possible legal and political options to stop the project.”

Supplementary Documents:

FINAL Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the California WaterFix

CEQA Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations

DWR Notice of Determination Items

DWR Official Press Release

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D–Discovery Bay), co-chairman of the California Legislative Delta Caucus, released the following statement Friday, July 21 after reports Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration has given the green light to the proposed Delta tunnels project.

“I represent more of the Delta than any other member of the Assembly, and I will do everything in my power to stop this ill-conceived and destructive project,” Frazier stated. “The truth is, ultimately the disaster of an idea called the Delta tunnels would disrupt the Delta economy and significantly burden agricultural production, recreational activities, the natural migratory paths of endangered fish species and legacy communities.  The governor needs to explore real options that communities throughout the Delta can support to achieve the co-equal goals of restoring and protecting the Delta’s habitat, and providing clean and reliable water to Californians.  He must not green light the tunnels plan.”

Larry Neal, Jr. Photo from Pittsburg PD.

On July 19, 2017 at 3:00 p.m., Pittsburg Police Officers investigated a homicide that occurred in front of the Baskin Robbins on Century Blvd. During the investigation police detectives quickly identified 19-year-old Antioch resident Larry Neal, Jr. as the shooter.

Detectives later obtained a warrant for Neal’s arrest and officers served a search warrant at his residence. At the time of the warrant service Neal was not at home. Detectives were able to speak with Neal on the telephone; however, they were unable to determine his location. Neal refused to cooperate with detectives and an extensive search to locate him was unsuccessful.

On Sunday, July 23 near midnight, Pittsburg detectives were informed Neal had turned himself in to the Martinez Detention Facility, where he was booked for the outstanding warrant for his arrest.