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U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Dan Conley, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, presented a challenge coin to Cpl. Jordan Perez, a combat engineer with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, at the 21 Area Boat Basin, Feb. 19, 2021. Conley commended Perez for saving a couple after their kayak flipped over in the basin. Perez swam nearly 250 meters to escort them safely back to the beach. (Snapshot of U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Dylan Chagnon)
“That was really gutsy of you.” – U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Dan Conley, Camp Pendleton Commanding General
“It’s what Marines are expected to do.” – Cpl. Jordan Perez
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U.S. Marine Cpl. Jordan Perez, a combat engineer with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, poses for a photo in the 21 Area of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 19, 2021. Perez was awarded a challenge coin for saving a couple after their kayak flipped over in the 21 Area Boat Basin. Perez is a native of Antioch, California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alison Dostie)
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A young Marine was recognized for actions taken on Feb. 15th, 2021, when he saved the lives of two civilian kayakers at the 21 Area Boat Basin.
Cpl. Jordan Perez, a combat engineer with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, was present when a married couple was calling for help from the water. The boat basin, surrounded by large, sharp boulders, produced unforgiving waves that day that flipped their kayak. Through these waves, Perez estimated that he had to swim 250 meters to reach the kayakers and bring them to shore – a feat that may have proven impossible for some. Luckily for the couple, Perez was physically and mentally prepared due to the consistent and rigorous training of the Marine Corps.
According to Antioch Unified School District Superintendent, Stephanie Anello, the 6’1″ Perez is a 2018 graduate of Deer Valley High School, where he played varsity baseball as catcher and football as a safety and wide receiver for the Wolverines. The Antioch native was also a member of the Chess Club. His parents are Baltazar and Celestina Pérez of Antioch.
Perez received a challenge coin from U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Dan Conley, the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, on Feb. 19th, 2021. Perez credits his military training with giving him the confidence to jump into action. (See video)
At around 1 p.m. on Feb. 15th, 2021, Perez was working on a construction project at the 21 Area Del Mar Boat Basin at Camp Pendleton, when another Marine witnessed a couple in the water that had been flipped from their kayak by a strong wave. The kayakers were struggling in the water and began calling for help.
“That’s when I took action,” said Perez. “I took my boots off and just started swimming.”
Once Perez arrived at the scene, he immediately “…grabbed the woman’s hand and pulled her back on the kayak and began pushing the boat back to the rocks,” said Perez. He mentioned that the woman’s husband was able to swim, but halfway to the shore he began to panic. Upon noticing the husband’s struggle, Perez swam back to where the man was, placed a life vest on him, and continued pushing the woman to safety.
For his actions, Perez was paid a visit by Conley and received a challenge coin at the worksite where the event occurred.
While Perez was not the only Marine to recognize the severity of the situation, he was particularly ready for this moment. Perez is currently training with a retired reconnaissance Marine in order to prepare for assessment and selection with the Marine Raiders. Achieving this goal includes swimming for about two hours every day.
Perez’s hard work paid off when it mattered most. “That [training] takes away any hesitation that comes with putting your own life at risk. Since I had been training, I was confident that I could get myself out there and get those people back.”
Conley had a conversation with Perez, commending him for his life saving actions. “I’d like to believe a lot of people would do what you did, but I know they wouldn’t. So, to hear it actually happen is just amazing. That was really gutsy of you.” said Conley.
What was extraordinary to Conley was the standard that Perez holds himself to. “It’s what Marines are expected to do.” said Perez.
Although the actions that Perez took were heroic, Perez contends that all Marines, given the opportunity, would do the same. “It’s what Marines are expected to do.” said Perez.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreIncluded in Newsweek’s “Best Maternity Hospitals 2021” report for providing high-quality care to mothers, babies and families
By Kerri Leedy, PR and Media Relations Manager, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are among the top hospitals in the nation for excellence in maternity care, according to Newsweek magazine’s “Best Maternity Hospitals 2021” report.
Twelve Northern California Medical Centers earned top marks for providing safe, high-quality care to moms and their new babies. This is the second consecutive year Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals have been recognized for meeting rigorous standards for maternity care, including low C-section rates, elective early deliveries and for following important protocols to safely protect new moms and their babies. Last year, 43,534 babies were delivered at Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals.
The following Kaiser Permanente hospitals received the “Best Maternity Hospitals 2021” designation: Antioch, Walnut Creek, Modesto, Redwood City, Roseville, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South Sacramento, Vacaville, Vallejo and.
The national designation, awarded to only 217 hospitals in the United States, and only 34 in California, identifies leading maternity care programs that have met or exceeded rigorous quality and safety standards. Kaiser Permanente has a total of 20 hospitals that received the elite designation, representing nearly 10% of those named to the prestigious list — and nearly 60% of those listed in California.
“This recognition acknowledges our commitment to exceeding the standards for excellence in maternity care as we keep our patients healthy and safe while delivering personalized care,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Our highly skilled care teams and integrated care delivery system allow us to provide the best experience and outcomes for new parents and their babies.”
“Our care teams put moms’ and babies’ well-being at the center of every decision we make, ensuring they are provided with the safest care possible,” said Richard S. Isaacs, MD, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “We are proud of this recognition and the commitment by our physicians and staff who help ensure that our parents and their babies receive the highest standard in maternity care.”
Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals have been a leader in providing innovative approaches to maternal care, including our Supporting Vaginal Birth Program that resulted in marked decreases in cesarean birth for first-time moms, and the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program, which helps new mothers recover more quickly after delivering by cesarean section with enhanced early mobility and improved pain control minimizing the use of narcotics. A focus on breastfeeding is also integral to Kaiser Permanente’s maternity care, which has proven health benefits for both baby and mom.
Newsweek’s Best Maternity Care Hospitals demonstrate the highest performance in the United States as verified by the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Designated hospitals meet Leapfrog’s rigorous standards for excellence in maternity care — including low rates of C-section, episiotomy (an incision to enlarge the vaginal opening for childbirth) and early elective delivery — and follow important protocols to protect moms and babies, among other measures. Additionally, all honored hospitals must have earned either an A, B or not scored on the Fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.
For more detail on methodology and a complete list of designated maternity care programs, visit Newsweek’s “Best Maternity Hospitals 2021.”
About Kaiser Permanente
For 75 years, Kaiser Permanente has been committed to shaping the future of health and health care — and helping our members, patients and communities experience more healthy years. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Since July 21, 1945, Kaiser Permanente’s mission has been to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. http://about.kaiserpermanente.org
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Antioch City Council members and staff gather for the groundbreaking of the new Brackish Water Desalination Plant next to the Antioch Water Treatment Plant on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. Photo: City of Antioch
$110 million Brackish Water Desalination Plant made possible by State and City partnership
By Rolando Bonilla, Public Information Officer, City of Antioch
On Friday, Feb. 19, Antioch City Councilmembers and staff, along with state dignitaries, broke ground on the city’s new and historic Brackish Water Desalination Plant. At a price of $110 million, the project was made possible with $93 million in funding from the State, and $17 million from the City of Antioch.
It will be the first one in the entire California Delta and second in the Bay Area, in addition to the brackish water desalination plant built in Newark by the Alameda County Water District in 2003.
“Through this project, Antioch continues establishing itself as both a state and regional leader on environmental best practices,” said Mayor Lamar Thorpe. “I would like to thank Governor Newsom for California’s investment in making our Brackish Water Desalination Plant a reality. By working together, we exemplify the very best of our state and our city.”
It is a resiliency project that will mitigate the impacts of reduced fresh water flow and accomplish drought reliability improvements. The use and redirection of fresh water upstream has reduced the pressure on and caused intrusion of saltwater from the ocean. Antioch’s intake pumps, located at the end of Fulton Shipyard Road, are at the lowest point on the river. The situation will only worsen should the Delta Conveyance project (tunnel) be built and redirect more fresh water from north of the Delta, south, near the Clifton Court Forebay. (See related articles here and here)
Once completed, Antioch will be firmly positioned to preserve its pre-1914 water rights and provide the City with a reliable source of drinking water for generations.
“Water is the most precious of resources,” said City Manager Ron Bernal. “This is not only important for Antioch but also others who can become part of this project in the future.”
The City could sell some of the water from the plant to industrial users and other agencies.
The Antioch Brackish Water Desalination Project will utilize existing infrastructure to the extent possible and construct new desalination facilities and associated infrastructure to improve the city’s water supply reliability and operational flexibility. Once constructed, the desalination facility, located at the existing water treatment plant at 401 Putnam Street, will provide for 6 million gallons per day (mgd) of capacity (producing up to 5,500-acre feet per year (ac-ft/yr).
The Antioch Brackish Water Desalination Project consists of the following components:
- New river intake pump station to replace the existing San Joaquin River intake pump station. The pump station will consist of three 8 mgd pumps (16 mgd firm capacity), each with a fish screen that meets the protective criteria of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Service.
- New 3,000-foot pipeline connecting the City’s existing raw water pipeline to the City’s Water Treatment Plant to allow a direct connection and maximize the use of existing infrastructure
- New 6 mgd desalination facility (reverse osmosis, post-treatment systems, chemical feed and storage facilities, brine conveyance facilities, and other associated non-process facilities).
- Approximately 4.3 miles of a new brine disposal pipeline to convey discharge brine to the Delta Diablo Wastewater Treatment Plant for disposal into the San Joaquin River through an existing outfall. Discharge of brine water into the San Joaquin River will result in minor local increases in salinities that are within the tolerance range of native species.
Antioch is located along the San Joaquin River where it meets and mixes with the Sacramento River at the entrance to the Delta in Northern California, just off of Highway 4 in Contra Costa County.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreOn Thursday, February 18, at approximately 4:25 AM, officers were dispatched to the 4600 block of La Vista Drive reference unknown suspects possibly breaking into vehicles. Officers arrived on scene and located a vehicle stopped in the middle of the street, with one male driver inside and two other males in the process of getting into the vehicle. They were carrying a floor jack. The subjects were detained and an initial investigation uncovered materials consistent with catalytic convertor theft within their vehicle.
Additionally, a vehicle in the area appeared to have been a victim of an attempted catalytic convertor theft; most likely thwarted by the officers’ arrival. The three males were arrested and later booked into jail on the charges. Their vehicle was also towed.
The Oakley Police Department truly appreciates the collaboration with its citizens. Together, we can help reduce crime in our City.
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Being held on $10 million bail; victim was 22-year-old Danny Guyse
By Pittsburg Police Department
It was September 27th, 2000, when Pittsburg Police Officers received a call about a man who had been shot while sitting in his car at 1605 Railroad Avenue. The victim was 22-year-old Danny Guyse of Pittsburg. Sadly, after he arrived at the hospital, Mr. Guyse died of his injuries.
Pittsburg Police Detectives had very little to work with in building a homicide case. There were no viable leads at the time. The only worthwhile information was that the person responsible possibly fled the scene in a light-colored Ford Mustang.
As with all homicide investigations, detectives continually worked the case over the following year. Ultimately, the investigation was assigned to the department’s Cold Case Unit in a continued effort to determine Mr. Guyse’s killer.
Over the next two decades, numerous suspects and persons of interest were developed and investigated.
In 2019 detectives got a break in this case and identified 44-year-old Paea Tasini as possibly involved in this homicide. As a result of the newly learned information, detectives authored a search warrant where detectives obtained additional information critical to the case.
Based on the newly obtained information and continued work by detectives, this case was taken to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for review. On February 17, 2021, the District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint charging Tasini for the murder of Danny Guyse. Tasini was additionally charged with another count of attempt murder related to a separate shooting that also occurred in 2000. Late Wednesday evening, with the assistance of the Elk Grove Police Department, detectives located Tasini at his residence in the city of Elk Grove and placed him under arrest. Tasini is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on a $10 million bail.
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By Pleasant Hill Police Department
Thursday night, Feb. 18, 2021 at about 10:45pm, Officers were sent to the Chevron Gas Station on Morello Avenue for a vehicle on fire. The fire destroyed the vehicle and damaged the gas pumps and overhang. Everyone got out safely.
The fire was likely caused by an electrical issue in the SUV and was put out by ConFire.
Read MoreDriver from Richmond died at the scene
By San Pablo Police Department
On Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, at 8:00 a.m., officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a reported stolen vehicle driving in the 14500 block of San Pablo Avenue. The driver failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated north-bound on San Pablo Avenue. Officers subsequently canceled the pursuit due to the unsafe reckless driving of the stolen vehicle. Within a short time, officers discovered the stolen vehicle was involved in a collision with another vehicle traveling south-bound on San Pablo Avenue just north of the Richmond Parkway.
Officers located the driver of the stolen vehicle, a 25-year-old Richmond resident, at the scene of the collision site and began administering life-saving measures. Tragically the subject succumbed to his injuries on scene.
The occupant of the second involved vehicle, a 34-year-old Hayward resident, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The roadway for north and south-bound traffic of San Pablo Avenue remained closed in the area for the investigation.
Per Contra Costa County protocol, San Pablo Police Department is jointly investigating this incident with the District Attorney’s Office and the assistance of the California Highway Patrol. The identities of the involved parties are being withheld pending family notifications. This is an active investigation and anyone with information in this case is encouraged to contact the San Pablo Police Department at 510-215-3150. All callers can remain anonymous.
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By Walnut Creek Police Department
On Jan. 25, 2021 at about 5:20 pm, a female victim was sitting on the sidewalk in front of her apartment complex smoking a cigarette with her purse next to her. A male suspect came up behind her and grabbed her purse. The victim tried to prevent the suspect from taking her purse by holding onto it, but the suspect was eventually able to rip it from her hands and flee. The suspect got into a gold Toyota Tacoma driven by an unknown subject and left the scene.
The victim described the male suspect as follows: Tall, heavyset, Hispanic male, in his early 30’s, with long, black, wavy hair. He had thick lips and his lower lip hung down when he spoke. He had a thick Spanish accent and/or a lisp.
Suspect Vehicle Description: Gold Toyota Tacoma half cab, model year possibly 2010.
Attached is a sketch of the Suspect and a photo of the back of the Suspect Vehicle.
If you recognize this Suspect, please contact Det. Gerstner at 925-256-3578 or Gerstner@walnutcreekpd.com. Thank you.
Read MoreBy Pleasant Hill Police Department
On Jan. 25, 2021, a subject entered the Bank of America in Pleasant Hill and attempted to rob the teller by passing a note demanding money. When the teller refused, the subject left and was not immediately apprehended.
He went on to rob two other banks in Walnut Creek and Concord that day. Through a coordinated investigation with several other agencies around the Bay Area, William Mulligan was identified and eventually arrested by Novato PD.
He will be tried at the federal level. Great job by all the agencies involved to make this arrest!
Read MoreDrone, K9 used to apprehend suspect
By Brentwood Police Department
Tuesday afternoon residents were startled when a man entered their apartment through an unlocked slider door carrying a sawed-off shotgun. Fortunately, the quick actions of the residents allowed them to safely flee the apartment and dial 9-1-1. Officers quickly responded to the apartment complex and attempted to communicate with the unknown man, speaking to him in English and in Spanish, in an attempt to peacefully disarm him.
Luis Martinezortiz of Brentwood (55 years old) did not comply with officers’ commands and instead fled the apartment, shotgun in hand, running to the rear of the complex. Due to the nature of the situation and the location, a drone had been deployed above the apartment complex, giving officers an aerial view of the apartment complex grounds.
The drone tracked Martinezortiz through the complex giving officers updated information on his location. K9 Marco arrived on scene and immediately began searching for Martinezortiz. Thanks to the extensive training our K9’s receive, K9 Marco located Martinezortiz effecting a successful arrest. Martinezortiz was transported to county jail and booked on burglary, possessing a loaded sawed-off shotgun, carrying a loaded firearm in public and carrying a loaded firearm and not being the registered owner.
The use of a drone and the assistance of K9 Marco were key components of a safe conclusion, perhaps sparing the public and our officers serious injury.
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