from The Press Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Vol. 25, No. 43
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October 27, 2023
Freedom students say they feel safe City They call social media ‘unreliable’
Freedom HIgh School parents lined up outside of the high school Monday morning to pick up their kids after fear of their safety following an illegitimate shooting threat on campus.
By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer
For Freedom High School juniors Ysabel Vongon and Victoria DeLeon, Tuesday at Freedom was just about as normal as any other day. A little over 24 hours earlier, their school was in a panic after a false shooting threat that went viral from a Facebook post by a Freedom parent resulted in more than 1,000 of their classmates leaving campus and getting picked up by parents who were even more concerned. “It felt like an ordinary day, just like any day from last week,” DeLeon said. “(Tuesday) was pretty ordinary,” Vongon added. “Just
Photo by Jeff Weisinger
still a little bit of tension though. Still people with rumors going around.” Vongon added that the rumors were other students making assumptions about who made the statements (Monday). According to Freedom principal Steve Amaro, atten-
dance at Freedom on Tuesday was at 95 percent, slightly above the 93 percent average the school normally has. “We’re right at average,” Amaro told The Press. “The kids were back, they were ready to go, and they were engaged. I think there’s still some concern within the community, but they
also realize they’re on a safe campus.” Vongon and DeLeon stayed on campus through the day while the majority of the student body left out of fear for their own safety. DeLeon said that she took caution with see Freedom page18
How to stay safe on Halloween night Halloween is right around the corner. Festivities celebrating spooks and scares in Brentwood and surrounding towns start this weekend. So here are some tips from county officials and National Neighborhood Safety Watch, so children and adults can enjoy the fun-filled evening and be safe. “If you plan to trick-or-treat this Sunday, make sure to wear fire resistant costumes & have flashlights to see in the dark,” Con Fire posted on social media. “If you’re driving, watch for children in the streets and enter/exit your driveway slowly.” Other tips from the department include choosing fire-resistant costumes, keeping decorations away from open flames, using battery operated candles in jack-o-lanterns and keeping exits clear of decorations so that nothing blocks escape routes.
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for children in the streets and enter/exit your driveway slowly.
” ConFire via social media
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Nation Neighborhood Watch says: Provide adult supervision -- Trick or treating is safer – not to mention more fun – in groups, and adult supervision is essential. So get together with other adults and make an evening of it. Bring cellphones for quick pictures and emergencies, but leave them in your pockets to avoid getting distracted.
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Stay on the sidewalks -- The thrill of the holiday often factors into accidents as excited kids rush from door to door. Shepherd kids carefully when they need to cross the road. In areas without sidewalks, walk on the far edge of the road, facing traffic. Carefully check candy -- Inspect candy for choking hazards like gum and hard candies. Throw away any candy that is not sealed with a wrapper and avoid homemade treats received from strangers. Choose bright, visible costumes -When selecting a costume, opt for the bright-colored outfits and add a touch of reflective tape to the material. Stick some reflective tape on their trick-orsee Halloween page 18
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to get interns By Jake Menez Staff Writer
Brentwood students will soon have the opportunity to earn money and job experience as an intern with the city. The City Council voted 5-0 at their Oct. 24 meeting to pave the way for the city’s internship program. A variety of opportunities will be available for high school students, college students and those with Bachelor’s degrees depending on the role, according to the internship guidelines created by the city. Compensation for interns will range from $15.50 per hour to $25 per hour depending on the position and level of experience required. Entry-level interns would start at $15.50 per hour, which is the minimum wage in California, according to city staff. The pilot program – which will target high school students for entry-level internships – will last six months, according to Sosa. Students will begin in January and end in June and will be expected to present their experiences to the City Council at the end of the program. “It’s always been a pleasure to support and partner with people that are helping our children and training our future,” Mayor Joel Bryant said after the vote. The internship program was originally developed in February of 2020, Director of Human Resources Sukari Bessee Council page 18
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LMC gets first female president
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