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MONDAY | October 10, 2022 | $1.00

DAILYREPUBLIC.COM | Well said. Well read.

Putin blames Ukraine for explosion that rocked bridge Bloomberg News President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of carrying out an attack that badly damaged a key bridge linking annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland, his first comments on an episode that further highlighted the woes of his military in the eighth month of its invasion. “The authors, the executors, the commissioners are Ukraine’s secret services,” Putin said at a meeting with Alexander Bastrykin, chairman of Russia’s Investigative Commission, according to a transcript posted on the Kremlin website. Citizens of Russia and some unspecified foreign states assisted Ukraine in preparing the explosion, Bastrykin responded, according to the transcript.

Ukraine hasn’t officially claimed responsibility for the blast on the multibillion-dollar bridge that was meant to symbolize the permanence of Russia’s earlier land grab in Ukraine, although it commemorated the explosion within hours with a new postage stamp. Stretching 12 miles across the Kerch Strait, the bridge was a signature project for Putin after the peninsula was annexed in 2014. Putin opened the bridge by driving a truck across it. Either way, the ability to target a structure thought to have been heavily secured is another embarrassment for Putin’s military as his ground forces struggle in eastern and southern Ukraine. “This incident will likely touch President See Putin, Page A8

Immigrants ready to help rebuild Florida By Shira Moolten,

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The wives of Fort Myers’ construction workers, painters, roofers, landscapers and electricians and their families gathered at the food pantry of Jesus the Worker church on Thursday, as they had every day that week. Some came to help. Others came to receive help. All were struggling in one way or another. In the kitchen, the mostly Mexican and Guatemalan women formed an assembly line. Claudia Francisco, a clerk at Florida Southwest state college, which is closed for repairs, stood at the front of the table, packing boxes and giving orders, while several other women who were out of work because of the storm spooned Mexican spaghetti with sour cream and vats of chicken and vegetables

into to-go containers. “It’s the poor helping the poor,” said Sister Rosa Gonzalez, who oversaw the day’s operations, as she watched and ate. “This is what I call the work of mercy.” It is Fort Myers’ poor immigrant workers who will soon help rebuild the city from the ground up, removing the debris from people’s lawns, painting their homes, and fixing their roofs. Yet they do not have the same means to rebuild their own homes, even as they repair the homes of others. While much attention has been paid to the devastation of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island, the poor immigrant communities like the one surrounding Jesus the Worker Catholic Church were also destroyed. Yet because of their legal status, many will not receive See Florida, Page A8

Susan Hiland/Daily Republic

People play a wide variety of vintage and new pinball machines during the Pin-a-Go-Go event at the Dixon

Pin-a-Go-Go has gamers of all ages flipping to help teen center Susan Hiland

SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

DIXON — The ping and flash of lights from the pinball machine makes Mark Cahner smile. He is one of the organizers for the annual Pin-a-Go-Go event at the Dixon May Fairgrounds. In addition to organizing the event this year with other volunteers, he also repairs pinball machines in his spare time. “My favorite machine is Godzilla,” he said Sunday, the final day of the three-day affair. “It just is a fun one to play.” Cahner likes the way it plays and it scores well. He remembers when pinball

machines were the child’s favorite at pizza parlors and arcades. When they started being removed and replaced by video games, it was a little sad for him but he understood. “They are very complicated and technologically heavy. It made them more prone to breakdowns and if they aren’t working they aren’t making money,” Cahner said. Hundreds of pinball fans came to the fairgrounds this weekend for hours of fun playing the 150 machines available. They had some of the newest pinball games and in a small room to the side, they had solid state machines that were old-school ones from the

1930s and 1940s. “We got the machines donated from hobbyists who collect them,” Cahner said. “One guy brought 10 or 15 from his collection.” The event has turned into a fundraiser for the Dixon Teen Center over the past few years, which provides activities after school for teens from the ages of 13 to 18. “We don’t have an official meeting place anymore,” teen center board member Kay Caylor said. “We are still looking for one.” Caylor said she was pleased that as of pretty early Sunday, they had brought in between $8,000 and $10,000. See Pinball, Page A8

Downtown parade kicks off final day of Bass Festival in Rio Vista Jocelyne von Strong

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

RIO VISTA — People gathered downtown Sunday to celebrate one of the many high points of the 74th annual Rio Vista Bass Derby and Festival – the parade, which offered a glimpse back to a simpler time. The weather was Jocelyne von Strong/Daily Republic perfect as the parade began with a slew of The homecoming king and queen pass by during the Rio emergency vehicles Vista Bass Derby and Festival parade, Sunday. opening with the Rio Vista Police Department, /were on hand to show with their larger-thanfollowed by the local their support for the local life dalmation mascot community. The Rio on board), paramedics, Boy Scouts. Tower Park Marina Vista Fire Department, local Coast Guard and towed their pontoon boat Isleton Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Office emerwith dignitaries on board. Montezuma Fire Protec- gency response vehicle Several fire departments tion District (complete all grabbed the atten-

WEATHER 88|56 Sunny, clear. Forecast on B8.

— N A PA VA L L E Y —

Dr. David P. Simon, MD, FACS.

Expires 1/1/2023

May Fairgrounds, Sunday. The event is a fundraiser for the Dixon Teen Center.

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tion of the crowd as they passed by with their flashing lights and horns and sirens. Rio Vision fielded a trailer with a fall theme to express their “Bridge to the Future” message to the attendees. A lone gentleman playing the bagpipe in full kilt and sash entertained young and old alike, followed by the colorfully dressed women and men of the Trilogy Ohana Dancers. Everyone was treated to a special exhibition of the Ohana Dancers’ Hula skills at the end of Main Street. F&M Bank thrilled See Parade, Page A8

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