Burrowing Owl Conservation Network has been awarded a grant for the manufacture of four interpretive signs to be installed at the 24-acre Prewett Family Park Burrowing Owl Habitat Preserve in Antioch.

The Board of Supervisors approved the Fish and Wildlife Committee’s recommendation for dispersal of grant funds from the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund, which is entirely supported by fine revenues resulting from violations of Fish and Game Code.

This newly created wildlife and habitat preserve has a number of designated pedestrian access trails that allow and encourage visitors to observe from a distance burrowing owls, other raptors and wildlife that inhabit this suburban grassland ecosystem year-round.

“As burrowing owls are a California Species of Special Concern and have witnessed steep declines in the San Francisco Bay Area and California, we believe community education and outreach is a vital part of their survival and protection of their habitat. We have found many people are unaware of the existence of burrowing owls, have never seen them in the wild, or are simply unaware that Contra Costa County is fortunate to have them as year-round residents,” said Scott Artis, Executive Director of Burrowing Owl Conservation Network.

“As such, these signs will provide species and habitat information and will be used to inform visitors and complement a museum-quality burrowing owl diorama and educational program that we are currently raising much needed funds for.”

The interpretive signs will serve as a means by which the value of protecting, conserving, and preserving wildlife and habitat can be passed on to county residents and visitors. Because burrowing owls rely on fossorial mammals (e.g. ground squirrels) for the construction of their burrows, the four interpretive signs will also highlight the interdependency between species and demonstrate the value of protecting functioning ecosystems.

For more information and to donate, please visit http://burrowingowlconservation.org and indicate that you would like your donation designated to the Prewett Family Park Burrowing Owl Habitat Preserve.

Burrowing Owl Conservation Network is a non-profit charitable organization that advocates for the protection and restoration of the Western Burrowing Owl and promotes the preservation and careful management of habitat to prevent loss, foster healthy populations, and maintain intact natural communities for an ecologically sound future.

The contractor for the Highway 4 widening project at Loveridge Road will close all lanes on westbound Highway 4 at Loveridge Road for several hours on Wednesday, July 27 between 10 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. This work is to ensure public and crew safety while crews work to place steel piles for the bridge structure at Loveridge Road.

The detour for this work will be as follows: motorists will be directed off the highway at Somersville Road/Auto Center Drive, left on Somersville Road, continue on to Auto Center Drive, left on Tenth Street, left on Loveridge Road, right on California Avenue, and left on westbound Highway 4.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and allow extra time for their commute. Please drive with caution through the detour and leave a safe traveling distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. Caltrans and CCTA appreciate your patience as we work to improve the highways. For the most current information on all SR-4 corridor closures please visit http://widensr4.org.

Young Delta smelt abundance this year roughly doubled when compared to last year but is a small fraction of their historical abundance, state biologists say. The improvement is likely due in large part to higher than usual flows from the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers this year which resulted in better habitat conditions and water quality.

Because it is exceptionally difficult to determine the actual number of Delta smelt, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) biologists use survey data to develop “indices” of the species’ abundance. An index is a number that is likely to vary in direct proportion to abundance. For example, if a hypothetical index were to double from 4 to 8 then abundance would also have doubled (e.g., from 200,000 to 400,000).

The 20-Millimeter Survey index of young Delta smelt abundance – which has been developed yearly since 1995 and is named after the approximate size of fish it collects – was 8.0 this year while the index in 2010 was 3.8 and its record high was 39.7 in 1999. The Summer Tow Net Survey index of slightly-older Delta smelt abundance – which has been developed yearly since 1959 and is named after the type of net used to collect fish – was 2.2 this year while the index in 2010 was 0.8 and the record high was 62.5 in 1978.

The increased number of young Delta smelt is encouraging, but because it is still early in their one-year life cycle, the abundance of adults may or may not increase similarly. DFG will continue to monitor the population and at the conclusion of the Fall Midwater Trawl Survey in December will calculate and then release an index of sub-adult Delta smelt abundance.

Delta smelt occur only in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The finger-sized fish was historically one of the most abundant in the Delta, but the species declined substantially and was listed as threatened under the California and Federal Endangered Species acts (ESA) in 1993. After a further decline, the species was designated as endangered in 2010 under the California ESA.

Ongoing efforts to protect and recover the population include research on threats to the species, active management to minimize loss at water diversions under federal ESA biological opinions and a state ESA authorization, development of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, improved water quality, habitat restoration and conservation of genetic diversity through special hatchery-rearing techniques.

To see how the indices of Delta smelt abundance have varied over the years, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/delta/data/townet/indices.asp?species=3and http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=34731.

“It’s real nice to be home with family.”

By Allen Payton, Publisher

Riding in a convertible Corvette and escorted from the airport to his home by the Warriors Watch motorcycle riders, Antioch police and local firefighters, 2005 Antioch High School graduate Kyle White arrived to a huge welcome at his home from his family, friends and veterans organizations, on Saturday, July 9.

Having healed from the bullet wound that ripped through his left leg and struck an artery, while serving for eight months in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, Private 1^st Class White, a radio transmission operator, is home for 30 days.

Joined by his mother Lisa, father Daryl, older brother Derick who served in the Army National Guard, and his sisters Nicole and Megan, his “nana” Grandma Tricia Foster, Grandpa and Grandma White, Uncle Darin White and four other uncles, aunts and cousins, all from Antioch, Kyle shared of his time in serving in the Army and Afghanistan.

He joined the Army at the recruiting center in Antioch on January 13, 2010 then was deployed to Afghanistan, last October 20. He was in the mountains at the 10,000 foot elevation.

“It was cold all the time,” Kyle said. “Then it warmed up in April.”

Then in May everything changed.

“We had been there for eight months, when on Memorial Day I got shot,” Kyle said.

He’d been hit by a PKM 762 round that went through his Platoon Leader then hit Kyle in the left leg. The bullet ripped through his hamstring, hit a major artery and came out his groin.

“My squad leader, Staff Sergeant Gomez, picked me up and carried me 400 meters up the hill,” he stated. “Then he dragged me another 400 meters and took care of my leg.”

“He carried me to the helicopter and they flew me back to the base,” Kyle added. “I lost six quarts of blood.”

His mother, Lisa White heard about his injury about 10 p.m. that same night.

“I ran into to take the phone to his daddy,” she said. “I began to pray. I knew he was going to be OK.”

Kyle spoke with his parents from his hospital bed at the base in Afghanistan. While still in the hospital, he was presented with a Purple Heart by a Two-Star General and Commanding Sergeant Major.

Then, when he arrived in the states, his parents flew to meet him.

“We saw him on June 18 in Louisiana, when he entered the states” Lisa said. “It was like exhaling, knowing he was safe.”

At the end of his 30 days at home, Kyle will return to Louisiana to finish his four year commitment in the Army.

“I’m just relaxing,” he said. “It’s real nice to be home with my family.”

Also in attendance at Kyle’s return home party were the Blue Star Moms, Combat Veterans Association and the American Legion.

Riders from the Warriors Watch, whose slogan is “We Have Your Backs At Home,” are not all veterans, but are volunteers.

“You just have to be a patriot,” said one of their leaders Dave Raymond (who drove the Blue Angels Corvette).

For more information on their organization visit www.warriorswatch.org. For more details on Kyle White’s story visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/kylewhite.

Hard Hitting Reality of Poor Choices

By Allen Payton, Publisher

Every day an average of 99 young people die in the United States; 31 young people will die today from auto related accidents, 16 from domestic violence or homicide, 12 will commit suicide, today, and the remaining will die from poor choices, diseases and natural causes (CDC Data). “the 99” is a walk-through reality theater focusing on the leading causes of death to young people in our country.

The production is housed in a 20,000 square foot air structure and features 13 rooms each portraying real-life situations where guests experience a 45-minute guided tour.

Four recent guests, two Antioch boys who are cousins and their two relatives from Oakley who are brothers, shared their experiences.

“It was scary and eye-opening,” said Domenic Ferreira, age 13 and a soon-to-be Freshman at Antioch High. “It basically opened your eyes to the real world and how if you take the wrong path it will be hard to get out. You don’t have to take that path since there are two paths.”

Esteban Gurule, a 14 year old who will be a Freshman at Freedom High School said “It was fun and also serious at the same time. It teaches you a lot of important things about what things can do to you.”

His 12-year-old brother Elesio, was old enough to get in, since the warning is no one under age 11 is allowed in due to the graphic nature of the presentation.

“It wasn’t what I expected. Not at all,” Elesio stated. “It was scary and life changing. It made me think about life and choices I make. Everyone should go.”

Humberto Saucedo, age 15, who will be a Sophomore this Fall, also at Antioch High, said “the 99 was a great show filled with great actors, designs, props, features and performances.” Then he added, “I highly recommend it.”

Jeff Warrenburg, owner of Paradise Skate and the Antioch Paintball Park said he took his son, who went back another time.

“I thought it was great,” Warrenburg said. “Everyone should go, teens, young adults and parents.”

The production is not based on fear and scare tactics, but rather is based solely on reality. “the 99” is th ultimate near death experience – a life changing production that will bring people to a point of decision that can change the course of their lives forever.

“the 99” is open to the public, ages 11 and up, in Antioch, for two more weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Thursday the final weekend, July 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31 in the parking lot of the Somersville Towne Center, between Macy’s and Sears, off Delta Fair Blvd. Doors open at 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Tickets are $10 per person or $3.00 with a discount ticket.

Discount tickets are available at Mr. Pickle’s on Lone Tree Way in the Bluerock Center, Paradise Skate on W. 10^th Street at the Fairgrounds and the Antioch Indoor Sports Center on Sunset, next to Aladino’s Pizza or by clicking here and downloading and printing your own.

“the 99” is sponsored by Dr. Rosenbaum & Associates, Arrowed Towing and Recovery, the four East County Ace Hardware Stores, Williams Sanitary Service, Zoo Crew Construction, and Uno Chicago Grille.

For more information visit www.whatisthe99.com.

Can’t Say Anything Bad About Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals or Transgendered in the Classroom

By Allen Payton, Publisher

Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Jr. signed into law a historic bill requiring the teaching of historical contributions by homosexuals, bisexuals and transexuals, who call themselves lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT). But the law goes beyond that by forbidding textbooks from including anything derogatory about such people or their lifestyle choice.

Now not only will California school children be taught there’s nothing wrong with being homosexual, bisexual or transexual, but they can’t be taught anything negative about those who have chosen that lifestyle and the behavior that it includes.

Those representing Antioch in Sacramento voted for the bill, known as SB 48 (Senate Bill 48) authored by openly gay State Senator Mark Leno of San Francisco. Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla and State Senator Mark DeSaulnier, both Democrats from Concord, voted for the bill. Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan who represents the other parts of East County, as well as the San Ramon Valley and Tri Valley voted for it, at least twice: once in committee and once on the Assembly floor.

The bill passed on a party line vote with all Republicans voting against it in both the Assembly and Senate, and only Democrats voting for it.

Brown signed the legislation at a time 30% all students and 50% of African American students are dropping out of high school in California and in spite of the fact a majority of California voters disagree with promoting the homosexual/LGBT agenda, which was demonstrated by the passage of Proposition 8 banning homosexual marriage.

Following is the summary of the legislation provided by State Senate staff.

SUMMARY :  Adds lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans, persons with disabilities and others to the list of groups of people whose role and contributions shall be accurately portrayed in instructional materials and included in social science instruction, and adds sexual orientation and religion to the list of characteristics that shall not be reflected adversely in adopted instructional materials.

The full text of the bill, analysis, committee and floor votes can be seen by clicking here.

Those in support of the bill included the California Teachers Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

It is deemed a “Non-State-Mandated Local Program” so perhaps local school boards can refuse to use textbooks containing the new history lessons.

Add that to the legislation requiring Harvey Milk Day in the schools, honoring the first openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors which Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law, last year.

Expect to see a swell in private and parochial school registration, this fall and a referendum to repeal the new law on the ballot, next year.

In preparation for the next phase of the widening of Highway 4, which will take place at Contra Loma Boulevard and G Street in Antioch, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is relocating some utilities.

As part of that work, PG&E will close all westbound and eastbound lanes of Highway 4, just to the west of Contra Loma Boulevard in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 17, 2011. The westbound closure will be between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The eastbound closure will be between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. This work is to ensure public and crew safety while crews work to relocate high voltage power lines over the Highway.

The detours for this work will be as follows:

• Motorists traveling westbound on Highway 4 will be directed off the Highway at Lone Tree Way/A Street, right on A Street, left on W. Tenth Street, left on Auto Center Drive, and right on Highway 4 westbound on ramp.

• Motorists traveling eastbound on Highway 4 will be directed off the Highway at Somersville Road/Auto Center Drive, right on Somersville Road, continue on to Auto Center Drive, right on W. Tenth Street, right on A Street, and left on Highway 4 eastbound on-ramp.

The westbound on ramps at Lone Tree Way, G Street and Contra Loma Boulevard as well as the eastbound on ramp at Somersville Road will also be closed due to this full freeway closure. Signs will be in place at each of these ramps to direct motorists to alternate routes. Please be alert and carefully follow all directional signs when encountering detours.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and allow extra time for their commute. Please drive with caution through the detours and leave a safe traveling distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. Caltrans and CCTA appreciate your patience as we work to improve the Highways. For the most current information on all Highway 4 corridor closures please visit widensr4.org.

On July 11, 2011 at 6:56 p.m. Antioch police received a call about an injury accident involving a bicyclist at the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Bellflower Drive. When officers arrived they found a 23-year-old Antioch woman on the ground who appeared to have a serious head injury.

Several witnesses said the bicyclist had been traveling southbound on Bellflower Drive at a high rate of speed. As she approached the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue, she failed to stop and continued across Hillcrest Avenue until colliding with the center median and was thrown from the bike.

There were vehicles traveling in both directions on Hillcrest Avenue, but she did not hit any of them. She was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. She was transported by helicopter to a local hospital where she is in critical condition.