Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Antioch High grad Michael Semanick nominated for another Academy Award

By 1 Comment

Poster from the 2004 Antioch event honoring Michael Semanick for his first Oscar win.

From the Antioch Panthers Class of ’81 Facebook Page

Our classmate Michael Semanick has been nominated for his 11th Academy Award. Michael was nominated this year for his work Sound Mixing the film Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The 90th Annual Oscars are being presented tonight in Hollywood.

Michael was previously nominated in the categories of Sound and/or Sound Re-Mixing for his contributions to these films and has been presented the Academy Award twice … so far.

Winner

King Kong (2005, Awarded in 2006)

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003, Awarded in 2004)

Nominee

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug (2013)

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

The Social Network (2010)

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)

WALL-E (2008)

Ratatouille (2007)

The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)

Congratulations, Michael!

Semanick was honored with a special event in 2004, following his first Oscar win. He has worked on 110 films since 1987.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

County’s Regional Medical Center CEO named new Director of Contra Costa Health Services

By Leave a Comment

Anna Roth, RN, MS, MPH. Photo courtesy of Contra Costa Regional Medical Center

After a nationwide search, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors chose a healthcare leader with experience in the county by appointing Anna Roth as the new director of Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) January 30.

Roth has served as Chief Executive Officer of Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers for nine years. She succeeds Dr. William B. Walker, who served more than two decades as Health Services Director and over three decades as County Health Officer.

“We are pleased to announce the selection of Anna Roth as our new Health Services Director,” said David Twa, Contra Costa County Administrator. “Anna is a seasoned Health Services executive working in CCHS for nearly 25 years and we look forward to her leadership in addressing the many issues facing the health department in the coming years.”

Roth holds a master’s degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University. She is a registered nurse with more than 30 years of healthcare experience and is an Institute for Healthcare Improvement Quality Improvement Fellow. Roth is a renowned leader in system redesign and innovation and a strong advocate for the inclusion of patients, families and the community as full partners in the delivery of health services.

“We congratulate Anna on her appointment and look forward to working with her on healthcare issues that impact our residents,” said Karen Mitchoff, Chair for the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors.

In addition to Roth’s healthcare experience, she’s also held executive leadership roles locally, statewide and nationally as board member and chair of both the Essential Hospitals Institute and the California Health Care Safety Net Institute. Roth is also a lecturer at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

CCHS is the largest department of county government in Contra Costa, with more than 4,400 employees and an annual budget of $1.8 billion. CCHS includes primary, specialty and inpatient medical care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, public health programs, environmental health protection, hazardous materials response and inspection and emergency medical services, as well as a county operated health maintenance organization, the Contra Costa Health Plan.

More information about Contra Costa Health Services is available at cchealth.org.

Antioch’s Najee Harris to play for NCAA football championship tonight

By Leave a Comment

Alabama running back Najee Harris in one of his carries against the Florida State in the Crimson Tide’s 24-7 victory over the Seminoles on Sept. 2, 2017. Courtesy of rolltide.com.

By Luke Johnson

Najee Harris will become the first Antioch High School alum to play in a national championship game in college football.

Najee Harris. Courtesy of rolltide.com

The true freshman running back and No. 4 Alabama upset No. 1 Clemson in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, 24-6. The Crimson Tide now faces No. 3 Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta tonight at 5:17 p.m. (Pacific)

“If [Alabama] wins, it will be big, but I also think it will push him even more to get it again next year,” Harris’ personal trainer and close friend Marcus Malu said. “I think Antioch, as a city and a school, that we need to build on that, [and] make sure that we don’t have a one-hit wonder, and turnout some more kids.”

Harris has rushed for 306 yards, 5.6 yards per carry and three touchdowns this season, on top of six receptions for 45 yards. His longest reception came last week for 22 yards — a game in which he had no carries.

Alabama’s ground game has been led by juniors Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough — who are potential prospects for this year’s NFL Draft. Damien Harris is projected to be picked in the second or third round while Scarbrough is expected to be selected between the third and fifth rounds, according to Senior Draft Analyst Charlie Campbell of Walter Football.

Najee Harris has been Alabama’s third option at running back with only 55 carries this season. However, Malu feels his limited action may be a good thing. Harris holds every rushing record at Antioch High School — including carries with 838. He played the majority of his senior year (291 carries) with a knee injury that he hid from the public, for which he underwent surgery last January.

Harris’ profile on rolltide.com.

Malu believes this was a productive year for Harris to allow his banged-up body to recover while getting acclimated to the highest level of competition in college football. Although Malu still hopes Harris is utilized and has an excellent performance during tonight’s contest.

“He understands that it’s a process,” Malu said. “If he gets in I’m sure they’ll give him a few touches. If he doesn’t, he understands that this is the business.”

With a lot of local anticipation for this upcoming game between two teams in the Southeastern Conference, Malu said that people come up to him at least three to four times per day to ask about Harris.

“They say, ‘Hey, is the kid gon’ play? Is the kid gon’ get some touches?’ And I’m like, ‘Man, you know, you should be emailing [coach] Nick Saban,’” Malu said while chuckling.

The game will air on ESPN. For more information about the NCAA National Championship football game click here.

Olympic Gold Medalist, Pittsburg resident Eddie Hart pens book about his tragedy and triumph at the ’72 games

By 3 Comments

Eddie Hart with his new book entitled “Disqualified”.

Meet the two-time World Record-holder at Barnes & Noble in Antioch Monday, Dec. 18

By Allen Payton

Having previously equaled the World Record, Martinez-born and Pittsburg-raised Eddie Hart was a strong favorite to win the 100-Meter Dash at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. The inexplicable happened, he was disqualified for arriving seconds after his quarterfinal heat. Ten years of training to become the “World’s Fastest Human.” The title attached to the Olympic 100-meter champion was lost in a heartbeat. How could this have possibly happened on athletics’ biggest stage, the Olympic Games?

Hart provides his story in a new book he’s written with the help of friend and former Oakland Tribune sports reporter, Dave Newhouse, entitled “Disqualified – Eddie Hart, Munich 1972, and the Voices of The Most Tragic Olympics.”

A Champion Since High School

Hart moved to Pittsburg when he was eight years old, and attended Village Elementary and Central Junior High. He graduated from Pittsburg High in 1967 where he lettered every year as a member of the track team, in the 100, 200 and long jump. He won “the conference in four events, including the 4×100 relay in 1966, then he repeated in the 100 and 200 in 1967,” Hart shared.

He then went on to attend Contra Costa College in San Pablo.

“That’s where I really blossomed,” Hart said.

It’s where he won the 100 and 200 at the junior college state meet in 1969.

Hart then transferred to U.C. Berkeley where he majored in Physical Education, because he wanted to be a track coach. In his first year, he won the 100-meter race at the PAC-8 championships and placed second in the 200.

Then at the NCAA national championships that year, Hart won the 100 and running anchor, helped his team win the 4×100 relay, as well.

One of his teammates, Isaac Curtis, who went on to play wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, came in second in that same 100-meter race, making it the only time in NCAA history that teammates from the same school placed first and second in the championship race.

“At the end of that year I made the U.S. national team and toured Europe for six weeks competing in various meets,” Hart shared. “We competed in France, in Russia and Oslo, and Sweden, also.”

Champion in the 5,000-meter Steve Prefontaine was on that same team.

“I knew Pre, well,” Hart said.

First Major Challenge

Then in 1971 he placed second in the 100 and third in the 200 at the NCAA Championships due to an injury earlier in the year, having missed half the season and not even competing in the conference championships.

First Comeback

Hart withdrew from school to train for the Olympics and became an assistant to the head track coach in 1972, at the same time. He entered open competition that year and during the meets Hart made the qualifying times in the 100. In fact, he missed the World Record by just 1/10th of a second running 10 flat at the West Coast Relays in Fresno.

Second Major Challenge

Three weeks before the Olympic trials Hart injured his right hamstring while running in the 200 at the U.S. Championships in Seattle. He couldn’t do any starts between that injury and his first race at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon.

“It was terrifying,” he said. “It was tough.”

Then at the trials, “It was a nightmare,” Hart said. “Each race, everyone was ahead of me.  I just kept pulling up.”

Asked if he was hesitant, he replied, “Oh, very much so. I was afraid I was going to reinjure myself.”

“You have to run four races,” Hart explained.  “A heat, a quarterfinal, a semi-final and then the final.”

Second Comeback

In the semifinal I was fourth and they only took four to the final. “I barely made it,” he stated.

“It was a wind-aided race and the first five guys ran a 9.9 in the 100 meters and the fifth-place guy didn’t even qualify,” Hart continued. “I was the fourth guy and I was scared to death, because from the finals they only took the top three.”

In the blocks at the starting line, he was still thinking about his leg, which was bothering him.

“This was all the marbles right here, there was nothing to save,” he shared.

“The gun went off and I was in a dream,” Hart explained. “I ran the best race of my life.”

Before or after, “Ever,” he said. “That was it.”

“I was an Olympian, an Olympic trials champion and the World Record holder at 9.9,” Hart stated proudly.

“It was legal, not wind-aided,” he added.

Hart had equaled the World Record in the 100-meter dash, which had been achieved by only two others before. It wasn’t broken until 1991 when Carl Lewis ran it in 9.86.

He also qualified for the Olympics as the anchor for the U.S. Men’s 4×100 relay team, which was made up of the four finalists in the 100-meter race.

From Triumph to Tragedy

About a month later he was with the U.S. Olympic Team in Boden, Maine for a few weeks to train in similar weather as Munich, Germany. They then competed in Oslo, Norway, France and Italy before arriving in the Olympic Village just a few days before the Opening Ceremony.

A few days later he ran and won his heat.

“It was easier to make it to the finals at the Olympic games than it was to make the finals at the Olympic trials,” Hart shared. “Of the top 10 to 15 sprinters in the world, the top 10 were in the  U.S. at that time.”

After all three U.S. sprinters had won their heats, the coach said “let’s go back to the Olympic Village and rest” Hart explained, “because there was so much time between races. But, that was his schedule.”

The Village was only about a mile or less away from the Olympic Stadium. But, the coach had the incorrect time for the start of the quarterfinals.

They rushed back to the stadium, but it was too late for Hart.  He had missed his race and was disqualified. Thus, the title of his book.

Tragedy Ends in Triumph

Hart’s Olympic story didn’t end there. The following week after the tragic murder of the 11 Israeli team members had halted the games for a day for the memorial, Hart once again ran anchor for the U.S. 4×100 relay team. They won that race in World Record time and he became an Olympic Gold Medalist and a World Record holder, once again. See video of Hart’s leg of the race here.

Returning to Pittsburg he was met with celebrations by the Mayor of Pittsburg and the city.

Hart returned to college to complete his degree, and became a paid assistant track coach at Cal Berkeley. He has since started his philanthropic efforts through his Eddie Hart All In One Foundation which holds an Olympian Track Education Clinic at Pittsburg High, each year.

Faith has been a big part of his life, all of his life. Hart has been a member of Stewart Memorial Methodist Church in Pittsburg since elementary school. He’s taught Sunday School for 35 years and for the past 20 years he’s taught the men’s class.

Asked if faith played a part in his Olympic journey, Hart responded, “In every aspect. I grew up in the church, it couldn’t have been any other way.”

“I never prayed to God for success in track,” he shared. “I asked God to give me strength in life to face the challenges as they come.”

“My prayer is that His will be done. God is interested in spiritual things, in our soul not our flesh,” Hart continued. “Ultimately at the end of the day whatever physical things we’ve accomplished here will be left here. It’s about our souls which are eternal. Our flesh is going to burn up. The Bible is clear.”

Asked if his story will become a movie, Hart said, “We’re working on it.”

But, he has to think about who will play the part of him, he shared with a laugh.

His book includes a foreword by Harvard professor, Dr. Cornel West who has been a friend since high school, and whose brother Cliff was Hart’s roommate at Cal.

See Eddie Hart and get your copy of his book signed on Monday, Dec. 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Barnes & Noble book store in Antioch at 5709 Lone Tree Way.

 

Community college board member Tim Farley receives national government relations award

By Leave a Comment

Tim Farley, from CCCCD

For work in his position at Saint Mary’s College

Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) Governing Board member Timothy J. Farley has received the national 2017 Edwin Crawford Award for Innovation.  Farley is being honored for his advocacy and leadership as director of Community and Government Relations at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga and elevating the college’s profile among California legislators and their staff.

“To be selected for this national honor is humbling,” said Farley.  “I have been fortunate to develop a network of elected official contacts during my career both as an elected official and staff member for several state legislators.  These relationships and understanding how to work within the legislative process have been the keys to my success.”

Farley’s recognition is one of two 2017 Service Awards in State Government Relations awarded by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.  They are the only national awards in higher education/state relations, and he will be honored at a December 7, 2017, luncheon at the 2017 Higher Education Government Relations Conference in San Diego.

“On behalf of the District, we congratulate trustee Farley for being recognized as a national government relations leader,” noted CCCCD chancellor Fred Wood.  “He is great asset to our District and proud alumni of one of our colleges, Diablo Valley College.  This honor continues our wonderful community college legacy of providing the foundation for tomorrow’s community leaders.”

Elected to the college board in 2014, Farley represents Ward III and currently serves as board vice president. According to his bio on the college’s website, Farley “is responsible for monitoring all federal and state legislation as it pertains to higher education. Additionally, Tim handles concerns with the Town of Moraga and surrounding communities. Tim was part of the team that brought the 2010 United States Senate debate to Saint Mary’s College.”

He is also graduate of U.C. Davis where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Farley and his wife Eileen have two adult sons.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit association of educational institutions whose mission includes fostering public support of education and marketing their member institutions to prospective students.  For more information visit www.case.org.

About CCCCD

The Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The CCCCD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. The District is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon.  The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. For more information visit www.4cd.edu.

Supervisors honor county accountant Ayore Riaunda for 20 years of service

By Leave a Comment

At the presentation were, from left, Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Riaunda, Supervisors Diane Burgis and John Gioia, Contra Costa County Health Services Director Dr. William Walker and Supervisor Candace Andersen. Photo by Daniel Borsuk

By Daniel Borsuk

At their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26 the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors recognized Ayore Riaunda, an accountant with the Contra Costa County Health Services Department, for 20 years of service.

At the presentation were Supervisor Karen Mitchoff,  Riaunda, Supervisors Diane Burgis and John Gioia, Contra Costa County Health Services Director Dr. William Walker and Supervisor Candace Andersen.

Since 2004 Riaunda has been a Certified Government Financial Manager by Association of Government Accountants, and has over 30 years of fiscal management and best practices experience. He earned a Master’s of Business Administration degree from Montclair State University, New Jersey, 1990.

Riaunda is a decorated military veteran serving honorably in the U.S. Navy, including as an Action Officer, Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist, and a Navy Reservist. He was awarded with four Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and five other Navy Medals.

Riaunda has lived in the county and Bay Area for 25 years. He ran unsuccessfully for Contra Costa County Auditor-Controller in 2014 against the incumbent, Robert Campbell.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Antioch’s World Champion Cowboy Jack Roddy to be inducted into San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017

By 1 Comment

Jack Roddy sings The Last Cowboy Song with friend Jeff Severson (left) and the California Cowboys at Delta Advocacy Foundation’s 2012 Roddy Ranch Roundup on Saturday, September 29. Photo by Allen Payton

Jack Roddy. Courtesy of Wrangler Network

Joins Dwight Clark, Ken Caminiti, Mark Marquess, and Danielle Slaton

The cowboy, Hollywood stuntman, pilot and philanthropist to be honored at induction ceremony in November

By Allen Payton

The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame will mark its 23rd year of honoring South Bay sports legends when it inducts five new members on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the SAP Center at San Jose.  The inductees hail from the upper echelon of collegiate, professional and/or Olympic competition. Although from different sports in different eras, they have made a lasting impact both on and off the field of play.

The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Inductees are:

  • Jack Roddy:  Rodeo Hall of Famer, Collegiate and Professional Steer Wrestling Champion
  • Ken Caminiti: Baseball All-Star, Gold Glove Winner and 1996 National League MVP
  • Dwight Clark: San Francisco 49er Wide Receiver, Super Bowl Winner and Humanitarian
  • Mark Marquess: All American Player/Gold Medal and NCAA Championship Coach
  • Danielle Slaton: National Champion Soccer Player, Olympic medalist

Roddy is a five-time champion steer wrestler, once in each decade of his life from his 20’s through his 60’s, and a six-time World Champion. He was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. Born Oct. 3, 1937, in San Francisco, Roddy competed in his first Rodeo Cowboy Association (RCA) rodeo at the age of 14 and won $90 in the wild horse race.

Jack Roddy at the Salinas Rodeo in 1978. By Brenda Allen

Early participation in rodeo was not unusual for the youngster who grew up on the family ranch in San Jose where he attended elementary and high school, and spent time on his father’s rodeo grounds near Colma, Calif., riding and roping with his father’s friends in the rodeo business. In 1956, he joined the RCA and competed around the country, entering all the events.

His lanky, 6-foot, 5-inch frame didn’t fit the usual cowboy mold, but it didn’t keep him from becoming college rodeo’s all-around Intercollegiate World Champion Cowboy in 1959 representing Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where Roddy has been instrumental in the survival of the Cal Poly Rodeo Team. That same year he was the World Champion Steer Wrestler, as well. Adding weight to his height, Roddy became a powerful force in steer wrestling in the early 1960s.

He went to the National Finals Rodeo for the first time in 1962. In 1966 and 1968, he won the professional world championship in steer wrestling, in 1966 set a record for total earnings in the event.

In 1991 and 1992 Roddy was the Seniors Steer Wrestling World Champion.

He went on to serve on the RCA as Steer Wrestling Director for over 16 years and in 1997 Roddy was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

He also won the Steer Wrestling title at the California Rodeo in Salinas in 1962, 1964 and 1966 and was inducted into the California Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2010, as well as the California State Fair Hall of Fame. Today, he mentors future rodeo champions and carries on the traditions of the West.

Roddy and his wife Donna are the owners of the Roddy Ranch just outside the Antioch City limits, where he continues to run cattle on the property he sold to the East Bay Regional Parks District a few years ago. He is the former owner of the Golf Club at Roddy Ranch where he could be seen golfing in his special pair of spiked cowboy golf boots. He has been very involved in the Antioch community through Rotary and the Delta Advocacy Foundation, among others. Roddy has been a singer, a pilot and as a Hollywood extra, he worked in four movies, two of which won Academy Awards.

Jack Roddy walking from his plane carrying a saddle on  his back in younger years. Courtesy www.jackroddy.com

He did the stunts and bronc riding in the movie, “The Horse With The Flying Tale” by Disney which won an Oscar in 1962. Another movie, part of which was filmed in Martinez, “The Great American Cowboy” was an Academy-award winning documentary about one of his bulls named Oscar which lived on his ranch in the Antioch and Brentwood area.

Roddy also had parts in the film, “J. W. Coop” in which, he did the “bull dogging” and then “Twister The Bull From the Sky” another Disney movie, in which he also had a small acting part. Finally, another documentary, “Cowboys in Ireland” about Roddy’s life was shown on TV three years ago. Roddy’s father was born in Ireland and it tells why a lot of Irish have been cowboys.

“It’s a great honor to be in the Hall of Fame with Ken Caminiti and Dwight Clark,” Roddy said when reached for comment at his ranch. “I think it’s the first time rodeo is being included in the hall of fame. I’m from San Jose so I’m very proud to be in there.”

In addition to the documentary, a woman is now working on a book about his life, he shared. Photos of Roddy’s rodeo career can be seen inside the bar at Vic Stewart’s restaurant in Brentwood and on a website someone else created about him, www.jackroddy.com.

Jeff Severson, a cowboy friend of Roddy’s and former NFL football player in Super Bowls 7 and 14, will be introducing the champion steer wrestler at the installation dinner.

Each inductee will be recognized with a bronze plaque permanently installed on the concourse at the SAP Center at San Jose. Including the 2017 inductees, there will be 106 South Bay sports icons enshrined in the Hall of Fame. The annual induction is an event of the San Jose Sports Authority, San Jose Arena Authority, SAP Center Management/San Jose Sharks, and the City of San José. The event benefits Special Olympics Northern California and high school sports programs.

“San Jose’s incredibly rich and diverse sports history makes the Hall of Fame selection process very difficult each year,” said Charlie Faas, Chairman of the San Jose Sports Authority Board of Directors.  “The Class of 2017 is a wonderful representation of the deep and meaningful impact athletes and coaches with South Bay connections have made in their respective sports, locally, nationally and internationally. We are excited to welcome these five remarkable individuals into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.”

The November ceremony kicks off with a reception followed by dinner and induction ceremony. Individual tickets begin at $300 each; sponsorship and table packages are available starting at $3,000. For information and to purchase event tickets call (408) 288-2936.

About the San Jose Sports Authority

The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose’s economic development, visibility, and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City’s sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay.  The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org.

Resolution designating portion of HWY 4 in East County as ‘Police Sergeant Scott Lunger Memorial Highway” approved

By Leave a Comment

Sgt. Scott Lunger (Hayward Police Dept. photo)

SACRAMENTO – An Assembly Concurrent Resolution designating a portion of Highway 4 between Brentwood and Oakley in East Contra Costa County the “Police Sergeant Scott Lunger Memorial Highway” passed both houses of the Legislature and has been enacted.

ACR 49 was authored by Assemblymember Frazier (D-Discovery Bay). It designates the section of Highway 4 from Balfour Road in Brentwood to Laurel Road in Antioch in memory of Sgt. Lunger, a Brentwood resident who was shot and killed in the line of duty while serving with the Hayward Police Department in 2015.

“Sergeant Lunger was an exemplary peace officer who served with distinction and honor,” Frazier said. “His loss had a devastating impact on his family, his local community and the entire East Bay law enforcement community. Fortunately, the Legislature has a process that allows us to remember him by designating a portion of the state highway in his community to carry his name.”

Sgt. Scott Paul Lunger conducted a traffic stop with the assistance of a second unit in Hayward on July 23, 2015. As Lunger and the officer approached the vehicle, an occupant in the vehicle opened fire, striking and killing Sgt. Lunger. The officer with Lunger returned fire as the vehicle fled. The vehicle was found abandoned a short time later and the suspect, who was wounded, was taken into custody.

Sgt. Lunger was born in Hayward and raised in Dublin. He graduated from Dublin High and continued his studies, playing football at both Diablo Valley College and Chico State University. He followed in the footsteps of his father and brother by completing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 595’s apprenticeship program and worked his way up to general foreman to become a partner in the family’s electrical business.

In 2000, Lunger fulfilled a longtime desire to serve in law enforcement when he was hired by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department. Following his graduation from the 109th Alameda County Sheriff’s Department Class of 2000, Lunger accepted a position with the Hayward Police Department in May 2001.

He had found his true calling as a police officer, where he served in many capacities including: Special Duty, the Gang Task Force, SWAT and as a Field Training Officer.

He was an avid Green Bay Packers and Oakland A’s fan and enjoyed attending games. He also served as the assistant coach for the Freedom High School softball team in Oakley.

Sgt. Lunger left behind two daughters, Ashton and Saralyn, and his fiancée Jennifer Lee and her two sons, Trevor and Ethan, with whom he was close.

“I am thankful he is being remembered in the community where he lived and where he spent his time off-duty,” said Ms. Lee, who helped decide which section of Highway 4 should be named for her fiancé. “Scott was passionate about coaching youth sports, especially the Freedom High School softball team, and I am grateful the signs designating his memorial highway will be seen daily by the many people whose lives he touched.”

ACR 49’s final passage clears the way for the Brentwood Police Activities League to raise funds to pay for the signage and work with Caltrans to have them installed. By law, state funds cannot be used to pay for and install memorial signs. All the funds must be raised privately.

According to Andrew Bird, Frazier’s Communications Director, “The designation does not in any way usurp or infringe upon on the John Marsh Heritage Highway, which is a different type of designation.”

County Office of Education employee honored at Board of Supervisors’ meeting

By Leave a Comment

County Office of Education employee Derrick Kirk with his award plaque. Photo by CCCOE.

At the July 18 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’meeting, Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) employee, Derrick Kirk, was honored with the 2017 People Who Make a Difference Award. Annually, the Contra Costa Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board acknowledges both volunteer and non-volunteer individuals and groups that have significantly contributed towards reducing substance use in our communities.

Kirk is a youth development specialist for CCCOE’s Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program. In earning this special award, he was recognized for his work last year in training nearly 500 middle and high school students as TUPE peer educators throughout Contra Costa County. In addition, he’s co-coordinating the CourAGE Youth Health Coalition, along with the Center for Human Development’s Friday Night Live Program.

“Anyone who has had the privilege of working with Derrick is not surprised to learn that he is more commonly known as ‘Mr. Awesome’ among our middle and high school peer educators,” says TUPE Manager Emily Justice. “Since he began his work at CCCOE, the number of students in our county trained as tobacco prevention peer educators has increased from an average of 200 per year to 500 and those students reach 30,000 of their peers annually. Derrick’s enthusiasm, positive attitude, humor, and dedication are inspiring to those around him and I am honored to be his colleague.”  

CourAGE is a youth-led group that plays a countywide leadership role in addressing issues such as tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use and misuse. He continuously encourages young people to “shoot for the stars.” With the training and ongoing support from Kirk, hundreds of local students have been given the tools and the confidence to present issues associated with underage substance use to their classmates.

The purpose of the TUPE program is to reduce youth tobacco use by helping students make healthful tobacco-related decisions through tobacco-specific educational instruction and activities that build knowledge as well as social skills and youth development assets. TUPE maintains a Web page for additional information.

The CCCOE provides technical assistance to school districts to develop and implement effective, comprehensive tobacco education programs. Training and technical assistance provided includes:

  • Tobacco-free schools’ certification
  • Annual countywide TUPE Site Coordinator training
  • California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) administration and data sharing training
  • Alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) curriculum trainings for teachers
  • Grant writing support
  • Quarterly district and community partner networking meetings
  • Current research on adolescent ATOD use, as well as effective prevention and intervention strategies

Antioch fitness trainer competes on American Ninja Warrior tonight, Monday, July 24

By Leave a Comment

Anthony Trucks competes on American Ninja Warrior on Sunday, June 12, 2017. Photo from Christina Trucks’ Facebook page.

Qualifies for next round; participation was “accidental”

By Luke Johnson

If you aren’t into basketball and were watching TV on Monday night, June 12th, you might have seen a familiar face. Without telling him, Anthony Trucks’ wife signed him up for NBC’s hit competition show American Ninja Warrior.

“This was accidental,” Trucks said. “My wife started filling out the application without me knowing.”

Anthony Trucks. Photo from his Facebook page.

Trucks finished in 10th place out of 135 competitors in the regional qualifier that aired June 12 – the same night the Golden State Warriors clinched the NBA Championship – but still reached over five million viewers. Trucks was one of 30 to move onto the next round which will broadcast July 24.

“My wife pushes me into doing a bunch of things because she knows I’m capable of doing them,” Trucks said. “Not that I don’t think I’m capable, but she always has the desire to see me do well – which is awesome.”

Trucks is a locally renowned owner of Trucks Training gym, as well as an author, speaker and former football player.

He recorded 99 tackles and 11 sacks his senior year at the University of Oregon. His 15 sacks in a single season at Antioch High School (Class of 2002) is the third most in school history despite missing three games. He then played on the practice squads in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

To prepare for the show, Trucks trained at APEX NorCal in Concord – which is self-labeled the “Parkour and Ninja Warrior Gym.” It is owned by Alan Connealy who has appeared on American Ninja Warrior several times.

“I went there because it’s not your typical kind of training,” Trucks said. “Overall, I worked on grip strength stuff, and hanging from obstacles and tried to cut some weight.”

Trucks was the heaviest contestant to advance in the regional qualifier at 225 pounds. “This truck has no breaks,” he said during his preview on the show.

To watch his performance on the June 12th show, click here. To watch the complete episode of the Los Angeles regional final, click here. To learn more about Trucks and his compelling life story visit www.anthonytrucks.com/about/.