Contra Costa Herald

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

Fundraising goal for new livestock scale at county fairgrounds exceeded during annual Heritage Foundation dinner

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County Fair Board Member and auctioneer Steve Limrite takes bids on one of the tasty cakes that helped raised thousands of dollars during the annual Heritage Foundation dinner benefiting the Contra Costa County Fair on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017.

This peanut butter cup cake went for $2,000. That’s almost $300 per peanut butter cup!

Cake sells for $2,000 during live auction

By Allen Payton

Hundreds of supporters of the Contra Costa County Fair came out for the 3rd Annual Heritage Foundation Membership Dinner on Saturday night, January 28, 2017 and contributed thousands of dollars toward a new, digital livestock scale and operations for the year. The scale is used during the fair for the animal auctions and the current one is 30 years old.

Folks enjoyed a dinner of tri-tip, beef brisket, tasty chili and baked potatoes with all the fixings, cooked by Tom Hartrick and a team of volunteers and served by young people who are members of Contra Costa County 4H clubs and Brentwood Future Farmers of America (FFA).

This carrot cake donated by Jeff Warrenburg was auctioned off for $200.

The foundation’s goal has been to raise $7,000 by March 1, 2017 for the new scale and they more than met their goal with $16,695 raised, that night alone.

The most generous supporters of the fundraiser were the folks at the table hosted by Les Schwab Tires of Martinez. They not only outbid many others during the lively cake auction led by auctioneer and Fair Board Member Steve Limrite, but one of them donated back the $520 he won during one of the 50-50 playing card raffles. Plus, they donated a set of four tires as an auction item, which was won for a price of $800 by outgoing Foundation Board President Jeff Warrenburg.

Jeff Warrenburg foundation Board President for 2016 hands off the oversized gavel to 2017 President Felicia Cursi.

But, the most generous, individual contributor of the night was Bob Sherwood who out bid the competition in the most exciting part of the cake auction, spending $2,000 for a peanut butter cup cake. Other cakes, like a gluten free cake with the Heritage Foundation logo on it sold for $90 and the carrot cake, also with the Heritage Foundation logo on it donated by Warrenburg, went for $200.

Another $1,500 was raised when one of the Platinum Tables for next year’s dinner was auctioned off to a guest sitting at one of those special table, at this year’s dinner. Platinum Table guests get to served appetizers, unlimited drinks and dinner service without standing in line.

Warrenburg thanked his officers and board members for their service over the past year, including Vice President Bill Chivers, Secretary Tami Daniels, Treasurer Laurie Limrite and Board Members Tom Hartrick, Laura Glass and Felicia Cursi.

The annual fundraising dinner was well attended by supporters of the County Fair.

He then introduced Cursi as the new Board President for 2017, handing her an oversized gavel to help her in running the meetings. Warrenburg also introduced Joe Brengle, the new Chief Executive Officer for the County Fair.

Also announced was the winner of the winner of the Heritage Foundation’s 2017 Scholarship award, Bailey Newlin of Tassajara Valley 4H. She has been an active member of 4H since she was nine years old and this year marks her ninth year involved in horse, market lamb, market goat, market hog, CCC Camp leadership and finance, with the organization.

Bob Sherwood takes the cake, literally. A volunteer delivers his peanut butter cup cake for which he had the winning bid of $2,000.

Next year Newlin will use her scholarship funds to attend the University of Tennessee at Martin where she will be studying veteran science. She plans to specialize in large animal care and nutrition. Newlin is also excited that she will be a member of the NCAA Equestrian team and competing in western horsemanship and reining, against top, Division 1 schools in the country.

Membership in the foundation is available for as little as $125 per year. Download the form, here. For more information about the foundation, visit www.ccheritage.net. For more information about the Contra Costa County Fair, visit www.contracostafair.com. This year’s fair will be held May 18-21.

Antioch High running back, top national recruit Najee Harris picks Alabama over Michigan

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Najee Harris with his Antioch High School varsity football coach John Lucido before Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. Source: John Lucido’s Facebook page

By Luke Johnson

The number one high school football recruit in the country, Najee Harris of Antioch High in Antioch, California is sticking with his commitment to the University of Alabama and will not decommit and attend the University of Michigan.

According to his trainer Marcus Malu, owner of Malu Fitness, Harris arrived on campus Sunday and will enroll Monday as spring semester classes begin Wednesday. Harris graduated from Antioch High School Dec. 22 — a semester earlier than most students in the Class of 2017 — to get a head start on practicing with his college team during spring ball.

He committed to Alabama as a sophomore in April 2015, but kept his recruitment status open and strongly considered Michigan. Many people thought Harris would change his decision based on the rapport developed with head coach Jim Harbaugh, who visited Antioch three times last year — most notably at Antioch’s Homecoming Game on Oct. 23, where he announced the Homecoming Queen winner.

However, Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban also made a visit to Antioch to meet with Harris in mid-December, which might have helped solidify the five-star running back’s decision.

Harris rushed for the most career yards in Northern California history with 7,948 on top of scoring 99 touchdowns. But Harris has gone on record saying his proudest accomplishment was leading Antioch to its first league championship in 31 years in his junior year as the team finished the regular season undefeated (10-0).

He became the first Antioch student to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He represented the West, whose offense struggled and only scored 10 points in a 27-17 defeat to the East in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. After the game Saturday, Harris told reporters he was still undecided. However, he was seen arriving at Birmingham International Airport in Alabama the next morning.

Reports: Nation’s #1 recruit, Najee Harris of Antioch High to just show up at college of choice

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Najee Harris during practice for Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Source: OregonLive.com

No. 1 by three different rankings, five-star running back won’t announce publicly; insiders say he’s flying to Alabama, Oakland on Sunday

By Allen Payton

According to national news reports including by NBCSports, which showed up on Yahoo! News, Antioch High running back Najee Harris will not announce his college of choice, publicly but will just show up on campus.

Najee Harris ranked #1 recruit in the nation. Source: 247Sports.com

Making national news as the nation’s number one high school football recruit, this year, Harris was in San Antonio, Texas at the second day of training, Tuesday for Saturday’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was being watched by media from across the country, but wouldn’t give any interviews. He did however speak with 247Sports on Monday and said, although he’s committed to the University of Alabama, Harris is still “undecided” and considering the University of Michigan, as well as U.C. Berkeley.

The website reported that Antioch High Varsity Football Coach John Lucido said Harris will simply fly to his college of choice after the game to enroll in school early, without notifying the media. Only his “circle of trust” will know.

Both Alabama head coach Nick Saban and former offensive coach Lane Kiffin visited Harris in Antioch, this past year, as well as Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, the former coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Najee Harris at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl practice field. Source: AL.com

According to 247Sports Harris is “ranked by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite as the nation’s No. 1 prospect,” and that “the five-star Harris has been a verbal to Alabama since April of 2015, but Jim Harbaugh and Michigan have created doubt about the future for the ballyhooed recruit who took his official to Ann Arbor in mid-December and has been there a few times.” (Harris is also ranked the nation’s No. 1 high school football recruit by Scout and Rivals).

The article further stated that “Alabama quarterback commit Tua Tagovailoa has told BamaOnLine insider Hank South this week that he is planning to room with Harris in Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban and Alabama don’t generally lose recruits they want like Harris, but Harbaugh and Michigan have done all they can to make the West Coast talent think otherwise.”

According to MLive.com, “Harbaugh hosted a satellite camp at Antioch in June and even announced the homecoming queen while watching Harris play in October. Harris visited Michigan in August for the BBQ at the Big House annual recruiting event and took an official visit to Ann Arbor in December.”

According to AL.com, when Harris was “asked if he’d just duck interviews after the game and head to the airport and to his school of choice, he said that’s what he plans on doing. So, there will be no announcement.”

However, according to 247Sports, on Wednesday “Alabama quarterback commit Tua Tagovailoa told 247Sports that he would be on the same flight as…Najee Harris to Birmingham at the completion of the Army Bowl. That news seemed to indicate Harris’ intention to enroll at Alabama in January, effectively ending his recruitment.”

The article further states Tagovailoa has also said this week that Harris is also his scheduled roommate in Tuscaloosa. Tracked down for confirmation in the hallways of the Grand Hyatt hotel, Harris playfully said, “What flight? I don’t even know my flight.”

Yet, on Thursday, 247Sports reported they have “since learned from two sources that Harris’ departing flight from San Antonio actually has Oakland — his hometown (airport) — as its final destination.”

Then, a further report by 247Sports Thursday morning, has Harris heading to Alabma. “As part of the invitation to play in the Army Bowl, travel is paid for, with a departing flight from San Antonio to anywhere of the player’s choice. Those flights can be changed — and Thursday afternoon, after practice No. 3, Harris made use of the flexible nature of the Army Bowl’s travel capabilities. It is unclear,  but assumed, that Harris’ travel request will be accommodated.

A non-Bama bound player on the West squad told 247Sports on Thursday he had heard Harris would stick with his Alabama commitment, too. Classes start Jan. 11 at Alabama.”

So the mystery continues and we’ll have to just wait until after we watch Harris play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this Saturday, Jan. 7th at 10:00 AM on NBC. For more information about the game visit www.usarmyallamericanbowl.com. To learn more about Najee Harris and his high school career playing for the Antioch Panthers, visit his Wikipedia page, his page on MaxPreps, or search his name on www.AntiochHerald.com.

Antioch High’s Najee Harris selected to play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl, this Saturday, Jan. 7

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Antioch High running back Najee Harris wearing the jersey as a U.S. Army All American, with representatives of the U.S. Army, following a ceremony in the school’s gymnasium on October 7, 2016.

Five-star running back, top recruit in the nation

By Tyler Vistalli

Najee Harris, the number one high school football recruit in America and one of the best up and coming football stars this area has ever seen, has been honored as a U.S. Army All-American and selected to play in the bowl game of the on January 7th in San Antonio, Texas.

At 6’3”, 226 lbs, Harris, Antioch High’s star running back, has rare physical skills that allow him to run with great balance and patience, as well as being able to fight through tackles and take it to the end zone. He finishes his high school career with the most rushing yards in Bay Area history (7,945 yards), which also ranks fourth all-time in California, plus 99 touchdowns and an incredible 9.5 yards per carry.

During their stop in Antioch, the U.S. Army Selection Tour held a ceremony in the Antioch High School gym on October 7th, and presented Harris with his All-American jersey. The tour traveled to schools across the country to personally give each of the team’s players their jerseys and hold a small ceremony in their honor. Harris’ mother, Tiana Hicks, was also presented with the American Insurance Dream Champion Award. This award is given at each event to recognize family members that play an important role in the All-American’s success.

Being selected as a U.S. Army All-American is a very prestigious honor as they only select 90 of the country’s top high school football seniors for the class of 2017. Previous participants of this game include NFL stars Ezekiel Elliot, Odell Beckham Jr., and Andrew Luck to name a few. The players are divided into two teams, East and West, and play a game to showcase their talent to the world. More than just a game, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a week-long event that consists of awards ceremonies, coaching from college and NFL coaches and a national combine for the top underclassmen football players. Harris attended this combine for underclassmen when he was a junior and his experience fueled his commitment to play in the game his senior year.

Having not signed a letter of intent, his college destination is still undetermined, as of press time. Harris has a firm verbal commitment to the University of Alabama, but Michigan and USC have made their way into the mix. Being an early enrollee to start college courses in January, his decision will need to be made in the next few weeks.

Watch Najee Harris play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday, Jan.7. The game will be nationally televised on NBC at 10am.

Frazier introduces bill to reduce teen driving accidents

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Sacramento, CA – Today, Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D – Oakley) introduced AB 63, legislation to reduce vehicle collisions and fatalities among teen drivers by strengthening California’s provisional driver’s license program.

“This bill will help significantly decrease accidents among newly licensed drivers,” stated Frazier. “Increasing the age for a provisional license will ensure that California’s most vulnerable motorists go through proper training to become safe, responsible drivers.”

AB 63 would increase the maximum age to receive a provisional license to 21 years old guaranteeing that less experienced drivers have appropriate protections during this crucial learning period, by amending Section 12814.6 of the California Vehicle Code.

According to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest, “The bill would expand the scope of the provisional licensing program by extending the applicable age range for the program to 16 to under 21 years of age. By expanding the scope of the provisional licensing program, the violation of which constitutes an infraction, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize a licensee who is 18, 19, or 20 years of age to keep in his or her possession a copy of his or her class schedule or work schedule as documentation to satisfy the exceptions for a school or school-authorized activity and employment necessity, respectively, and would provide that a signed statement by a parent or legal guardian is not required if reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate and the operation of a vehicle by a licensee who is 18, 19, or 20 years of age is necessary to transport the licensee or the licensee’s immediate family member. The bill would make other technical and conforming changes. The bill would also include specified findings and declarations.”

“We are thankful that Assemblymember Frazier has taken on this critically important issue,” said Doug Villars, President of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen. “Traffic collisions are the number one killer of young people in America. We are proud to be sponsors of this bill and look forward to working together toward a common goal—saving young drivers’ lives and making roadways safer for all of us.”

It is estimated that one in three drivers do not receive their license before the age of 18, making them ineligible to participate in the provisional license program. A recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association discovered that improvement in fatal crash rates among 18- to 20-year-old drivers was far less than their 15- to 17-year-old counterparts.

Policy expanding this program is essential to building safe driving skills for this at risk population. “We applaud Assemblymember Frazier for introducing this vital legislation,” stated Cathy Barankin, Executive Director CA Coalition for Children’s Safety and Health. “First time teen drivers are 45 percent more likely to be involved in a vehicle crash. This bill will stop teens from prematurely losing their lives.”

To read the complete text and Legislative Counsel’s Digest of the bill, click here.

DeSaulnier announces Danville student as winner of the “2016 Congressional App Challenge” for Contra Costa County

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Congressman DeSaulnier (middle) with 2016 Congressional App Challenge participants (from left to right) Ray Altenberg, Ross Altenberg, Jasmine Steele, and Michael Chou.

Congressman DeSaulnier (middle) with 2016 Congressional App Challenge participants (from left to right) Ray Altenberg, Ross Altenberg, Jasmine Steele, and Michael Chou.

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D, CA-11) announced Jasmine Steele of Danville as the winner of the 2016 Congressional App Challenge for California’s 11th District. Jasmine Steele, a student at San Ramon Valley High School, designed and created “Allergy Blast,” an app that provides a platform to easily and quickly share allergy and medication information. The app is meant to help children, seniors, or those with special needs who may wish to inform schools or caregivers of this important information.

“I am proud of the innovative young programmers in our district who participated in this year’s app challenge. I congratulate Jasmine on the design of her creative and potentially lifesaving app, and look forward to seeing ‘Allergy Blast’ represent Contra Costa County on display in the United States Capitol,” said Congressman DeSaulnier.

The runners-up included Matt Moss of Alamo, Michael Chou of Danville, and Ray and Ross Altenberg of Moraga with their teammate Alan Brilliant from San Mateo.

The panel of judges for the competition were: Muktesh Mishra, Senior Software Engineer, Capital One; Shaun Webb, Product and POC management, Capital One and Sudha Jamthe, Part-Time Instructor, Stanford Continuing Studies, Technology.

The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging U.S. students to learn how to code by creating their own applications to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education. This is the second year DeSaulnier has hosted the Congressional App Challenge for the Eleventh District. More information about the Congressional App Challenge can be found here.

Glover announces expansion of anti-gang program across Contra Costa, seeks coordinator

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Operation Ceasefire is a problem-oriented policing intervention aimed at reducing youth homicide and youth firearms violence. Began in Boston, it has been adopted by Chicago, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, and these cities achieved reductions in gun homicide of 25 to over 60 percent. In California, Stockton reduced gun homicide by more than 43 percent between 1998 and 2001. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has been operating a pilot program in Richmond for several years.

“We have been monitoring the success of Ceasefire in Richmond since I chaired the Public Protection Committee,” of the county, said Supervisor Federal Glover. “There has been a significant drop in violent crime in Richmond and we want to spread the program countywide.”

This strategy, based upon extensive research and experience, has evolved from a primary focus on deterring serious gang and youth gun violence, to a comprehensive approach that combines deterrence with workforce training, employment, and other services.

According to the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office, “The Operation Ceasefire model is being used in California under the program name Safe Community Partnership (SCP). The SCP is a partnership among the Governor’s Office, private funders (including the California Wellness Foundation, the California Endowment, and Kaiser Permanente, Community Benefits, Northern California Region), the Public Health Institute, and six California cities (Modesto, Stockton, Oakland, Salinas, Oxnard and Union City). These partners are working together to implement an evidence-based, data-driven approach designed to reduce serious gang violence in the near term and on a community-wide level. In addition to Oakland and Salinas in the Northern District, East Palo Alto, Richmond and Union City have been added to the Safe Community Partnership/Operation Ceasefire program.”

Contra Costa County is searching for a coordinator for the Ceasefire program, which will be run out of the County Administrator’s Office and work across the various county departments, including the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, Probation and Health Services. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been issued for individuals interested in the position of coordinator.

Interested individuals can view the RFQ at: http://www.cccounty.us/2366/Services-­Programs

Final responses will be due at 651 Pine Street, 10th floor, Martinez, CA 94553 by noon, Nov. 17, 2016. Questions about the RFQ can be submitted to lara.delaney@cao.cccounty.us by 12 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2016.

“Reaching out to these gang members, or people who are thinking about joining a gang, might make them think twice before they break the law or commit an act of violence,” said Glover. “Ceasefire will help reduce incarceration and, in the end, reduce the social and financial costs for our society.”

For more information about Operation Ceasefire, click here.

County Board of Education recognizes November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

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At the October 19th Board Meeting, the board approved a resolution to recognize and raise awareness of the issue of youth homelessness.  The goal of the resolution is to highlight the issue of youth homelessness within the county and our schools. Currently, Contra Costa County has over 3,000 children and youth living in homeless situations, as reported by the county school districts, charter schools and the Contra Costa Council on Homelessness. This includes children ages 0-5 and students in grades Kindergarten through 12.

In California, more than 298,000 youth up to the age of 18 experience homelessness each year. During November all students, schools and community members are encouraged to engage in discussions on this topic to raise awareness.

Below are some suggested activities for school sites:

  • Send a flyer home with students or create a display to inform students and families of homeless education rights and resources available at your school and in Contra Costa County.
  • Make a presentation to school teachers, staff and board members to raise awareness of homelessness in your community or school district.
  • Organize a food drive and donate to the local food bank or pantry.
  • Make a donation or volunteer at a local shelter.
  • Participate in Contra Costa Community Donation Day on November 19th.

The Contra Costa County Office of Education (Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program) coordinates the following:

  • Provides technical assistance regarding the proper identification, enrollment, and service needs of homeless students and their families.
  • Conducts professional development trainings for school personnel and community agencies regarding the rights and responsibilities of homeless students.
  • Educates students, parents and guardians on their educational rights, and promotes their participation in school-related activities.
  • Facilitates the school enrollment process to ensure equal access to educational services, free-or-reduced price meals, tutoring or other programs.
  • Assists unaccompanied youth with enrollment procedures, school placement options, and retrieval of records.
  • Provides assistance with transportation, backpacks, school supplies and clothing.
  • Provides medical, dental, and mental health referrals, in addition to other school/community services.
  • Provides assistance to specialized populations of homeless students, including pre-schoolers, homeless teen parents, children with special needs, and unaccompanied youth.

For more information, contact CCCOE’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program at (925) 942-3300.

Missing Antioch teen girl, victim of human trafficking, found safe in San Diego is home

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Naomi Lomax. photos courtesy of Antioch Police.

Naomi Lomax. Photos courtesy of Antioch Police

By Allen Payton

Antioch Police confirmed, today that Naomi Lomax the 15-year-old Antioch teen who went missing Saturday morning, September 17, is home safe.

“I can confirm she has been located safely,” said Corporal Gary Lowther of the Antioch Police Department. When asked for more details, he responded, “that’s all I can say at this time.”

Lomax was found in San Diego by her mother, with the help of social media.

“It was a human trafficking situation, not a runaway,” said her mother Elizabeth Chavez. “She needs healing time. So, that’s all we’re ready to say, right now.”

Check back in a few days for more details.By Allen Payton

Antioch Police confirmed, today that Naomi Lomax the 15-year-old Antioch teen who went missing Saturday morning, September 17, is home safe.

“I can confirm she has been located safely,” said Corporal Gary Lowther of the Antioch Police Department. When asked for more details, he responded, “that’s all I can say at this time.”

Lomax was found in San Diego by her mother, with the help of social media.

“It was a human trafficking situation, not a runaway,” said her mother Elizabeth Chavez. “She needs healing time. So, that’s all we’re ready to say, right now.”

Check back in a few days for more details.