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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 14, No. 34
Sooners suspend Joe Mixon by Kyl e Szymanski Staff Writ er Former Freedom High School football p layer Joe M ixon has been suspended by the University of Okla homa foo tball team for the upcoming season after he was charged with a misdemeanor co unt of acts resul ting in gross injury, stemming fro m his alleged assault of a 20-year-old woman at a n Oklahoma restaurant last month, the U niversity of Oklahoma announced in a statement this week. "As the university has demonstrated in the past, we are committed to winning the right way," Vice President for A thletics Joe Castiglione a nd head coach Bob Stoops said in a joint statement. "As a n exa mple to others, OU sets the highest possible standards for its stud ent
athletes, coaches and staff." Mixon, who faces up to a year in prison if convicted, pleaded not guilty to the cha rge during his arra ignment in C leveland County District Co urt on Monday. He was booked, but released on his own recognizance with an order to not have any contact with the victim in the case. "As we have maintained from the beginning, it is our belief that Joe reacted instinctively after being racially slurred a nd physically assaulted by a highly intoxicated young woma n a nd her male friend," said M ixon's atto rney Kevin Finlay at t he time the charges were a nnounced last Friday. " We strongly disagree with the series of events as port rayed by Norma n PD. Justice knows no gender bias and we do not believe that Joe's actions were criminal in natu re. "
Catch of the day
MIXON Acco rd ing to the affidavit released by C levela nd Cou nty District Attorney Greg Mashbu rnt last Friday, Norman, Okla ho ma Police o fficers were dispatched to Picklema n's Go urmet Cafe on July 25 on reports o f a n assault. Officers contacted the victim, as well as several witnesses, who stated that during a
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see Mixon page 34
Marijuana grow busted
An early morning fire led to t he discovery of more than $500,000 in drugs. Page 3
This old house tells a story
The East Contra Costa Historical Society plans to host its annual barbecue in September. Page 5
City cou nci I accepts Presence in pay rate increase the pool by Corey Hunt
early 150 childre n between the ages of 1 to 15, incl uding t his little fishe rman, pa rticipated in t he Oakley Kids Fishing De rby last wee ke nd, catching a total of 252 fish from t he Oa kley-Antioch Pier. Hosted by City of Oakley in partnership w it h Hook, Line & Sinker, t he event allowed kids to fish fo r free. Prizes were awarded for the la rgest, smallest a nd most fish caug ht in select age categories. For a complete list of w inne rs, visit www.thepress.net.
verbal altercation, an unknown black male, later identified as Mixon by at least two witnesses, punched the victim in the face, knocking her u nconscious. The victim was transported to the Norman Regional Hospi tal where she was found to h ave a fractured jaw, fractured cheekbo ne, fractured sinus a nd fractured o rbit, which caused a hema toma o n t he left eye. Police later viewed a surveilla nce video o f the incident, which showed M ixon and the victim in a verbal altercation both outside and then inside o f the business, according to the affidavit. After being pushed, Mixon allegedly lunged at the victim in an aggressive manner, leading with his head and wi th his right fist clenched by his side.
August 22,2014
Answering the call to p ublic service is abo ut to get more lucrative if yo u live in the City of Oakley. After waiving the last opportunity for a stipend raise back in 20 12, the Oakley City Council agreed last week to a n ordina nce proposal that would increase their monthly stipend by $2 1. 75, bringing the total allowa nce to $456.75. While t he ra ise is justified as Californi a law permi ts 5-pe rce nt stipend adj ustments every two years, the council sa id the p rima ry a im of the ra ise is not to better their ow n lives, b ut to make a seat on the council mo re appealing to q ua lified lower-income cand idates as
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"every li ttle b it helps." " l think that this is more symbolic than a nything else," said Mayor Ra ndy Pope. "It's difficult voting for a raise for yourself, bu t I think there are people who are perhaps more fi na ncially-ch allenged tha n the five of us sitting up here." Without a financial incentive, Pope worries others are missing ou t. " I'm actua lly very proud of the fact that no ne of us a re getting rich ofT of this," he added. Willia m Ga lstan, Oakley's special co unsel on the matter, broke down the process behind the pay raise, seeking to assure the community that elected officials are held accountable before
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Heritage boys water polo players are ready for another stellar BVAL season. Page 21
see Raise page 34
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