Takes life of teenager

By CHP-Contra Costa

Monday night at about 9:28pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a three-vehicle collision at Highway 4 eastbound at Willow Pass Road in Concord. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, three vehicles were located at the scene (a Chevrolet Chevelle, a Nissan Sedan, and a Mitsubishi Lancer) and tragically the driver of the Mitsubishi (19-year-old male) was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Chevrolet sustained major injuries and was determined to be under the influence and later arrested. The driver of the Nissan had only minor injuries and did not go to the hospital. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased driver. Please direct inquires to them.

In the initial investigation, it appears that the driver of the Chevrolet (Willie David Hamlin, DOB-12/25/1971, from Antioch) was traveling eastbound on Highway 4 at a high rate of speed approaching Willow Pass Road in Concord. He veered his vehicle to the right and crashed into the metal guard rail to the right of the roadway. Then he allowed his vehicle to veer back into the lanes of traffic and collided with the Nissan, but only caused minor damage. He then continued across the lanes towards the #1 lane where he collided in a broadside manner into the Mitsubishi with the 19-year-old driver, subsequently killing him. The 44-year-old driver of the Nissan only sustained minor injuries and was able to walk away. Hamlin suffered major injuries (but not life threatening) and was transported to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek. While there, CHP conducted a DUI investigation and he was subsequently placed under arrest for FELONY DUI and GROSS VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER. Due to Hamlin’s injuries, he remains at the hospital for treatment but upon his release, CHP will take him into custody and book him into the county jail. His release from the hospital at this time is unknown.

This collision is still under investigation and if anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Unfortunately, this is another reminder of the carnage and impact that DUI driving can cause and to know that impaired driving is 100% preventable, 100% of the time is even more disastrous. Please never drive impaired.

By Timothy Leong, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa Community College District

The Contra Costa Community College District (District) has decided to close all College and District operations on Tuesday, November 20th and Wednesday, November 21st^. due to ongoing poor air quality.  The District Office and Colleges (Contra Costa, Diablo Valley, San Ramon Campus, Los Medanos, and Brentwood Center) will resume regular operations on Monday, November 26th.

While the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is forecasting improved but fluctuating air quality over the next few days, the District has decided to err on the side of health concerns of its students and staff.  The District has been closed since Thursday, November 15, 3:00 p.m., due to very unhealthy air quality in Contra Costa County.

Celebrating Antioch’s Citizens, Businesses, Non-Profit and Youth of the Year

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce will host their annual awards Gala on Friday March 8, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. The Chamber is pleased to open nominations for 2018 in the following categories:

·         Youth of the Year

·         Non-profit of the Year

·         Citizen of the Year – Most Impact

·         Citizen of the Year – Lifetime Achievement

·         Small Business of the Year

·         Large Business of the Year

Nomination forms must be completed and received by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce no later than 5 p.m. on Friday December 28, 2018.

Please return forms to the Antioch Chamber of Commerce office 101 H St. #4 or by email to: frontdeskadmin@antiochchamber.com. For additional information please call 925.757.1800.

Click Here to Download the forms

Or

DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION FORMS BELOW:

 Download Large Business of the Year Nomination Form

 Download Small Business of the Year Nomination Form

 Download Citizen of the Year Nomination Form – Most Impact

 Download Citizen of the Year Nomination Form – Lifetime

 Download Non-Profit of the Year Nomination Form

 Download Youth of the Year Nomination Form

Rob Greaff, CEO of Delta Schools Federal Credit Union in Antioch, was among those honored at this year’s California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ REACH Conference.

Greaff received the Leagues’ Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes credit union professionals’ service to the industry particularly within the last three years. He was honored during the annual meeting and convention for the Ontario, CA-based trade association for the two states, held Nov. 6-9 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.

Greaff was recognized for his work within the credit union industry (which spans some 25 years; 15 of those as CEO of Delta Schools FCU) as well his outstanding efforts in the arena of financial education. At the 2014 REACH Conference, Greaff attended his first “Bite of Reality”, a financial reality fair offered by the Richard Myles Johnson (RMJ) Foundation, the Ontario, CA-based foundation for credit unions in California and Nevada. The program aims to teach youth the basics of money management through a hands-on simulation.

The experience inspired Greaff to create one of the most robust and successful financial literacy programs in the state. Under his leadership, Delta Schools FCU has sponsored more than 7,000 students through the “Bite of Reality” program over the past three years. In a single session, his credit union reached a record 725 students. With more than 20 sessions to date, the credit union has developed a priority to teach financial literacy to students throughout the local school district.

Greaff is so passionate about “Bite of Reality” and youth financial education, that in 2015, he was asked to serve on the RMJ Foundation board. He was grateful to receive the award.

“Having been nominated by a colleague and recognized by my peers, for my service to this industry that I love, makes this award an incredible honor,” he said.

By Timothy Leung, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa Community College District

Due to the ongoing and unpredictable poor air quality we are experiencing throughout Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa Community College District has decided to close all locations  – Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College, Brentwood Center, San Ramon Campus and District Office on Monday, November 19, 2018. We hope to re-open Tuesday, but will make a final decision by 3:00 PM on Monday.

By Claudina Medlock

You risk your life

On a regular basis

You’ve seen pain and heartache

In so many faces!

How do you do it?

How do you get through some days?

When you’ve seen so much horror

And in so many ways!

You serve to help others

Putting your life on the line

But the things you must carry

You must have a strong mind!

I don’t know how you do it

I don’t know how you stay strong

I admire your courage

Things could so easily go wrong

Yet you still keep on fighting

And keep saving lives

Putting others before you

The goal is everyone survives!

But so often we look past

All the horror you see

And the things you must go through

To save someone like me

So if no one has told you

Then I’ll tell you today

Thank you my Hero

For the price that you pay

For the emotional heartache

For the nightmares at night

For the risk that you go through

And any internal fight

For the struggle while sleeping

For the stress that you bare

But today I will tell you

That I truly do care

I want to wish you true comfort

I want to wish you happiness

Because someone like you

Deserves peace and nothing less

So I’m sorry my Hero

That no one stopped to check on you

And I’m sorry my Hero

For not saying thank you … for all that you do!