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Council seeks options for Markeley Lane A3

Fairfield’s tennis tournament will return in October B1 FRIDAY | June 23, 2023 | $1.00

DAILYREPUBLIC.COM | Well said. Well read.

5 aboard missing Titanic tourist sub are dead after implosion Los Angeles Times All five passengers aboard a submersible that vanished while on a dive to explore the Titanic wreck site died, officials said Thursday after underwater robots discovered seafloor debris from the sub that was “consistent with a catastrophic implosion.” A robot from the Canadian vessel Horizon Arctic discovered several major pieces of the 21-foot sub, the Titan, in a debris field about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. John W. Mauger said at a news conference. “The debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber,” Mauger said. The families have been notified. “On behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard and the entire unified command, I offer my deepest condolences to the families,” he said. “I can only imagine

what this has been like for them. I hope that this discovery provides some solace during this difficult time.” The five passengers were Stockton Rush, OceanGate Expeditions’ chief executive, who was serving as the expedition’s pilot; Hamish Harding, chairman of Action Aviation, a Dubaibased aircraft dealer; Paul-Henry Nargeolet, a veteran and accomplished diver with more than 30 trips to the wreck site; and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and son Suleman. OceanGate, the company that owns and operates the sub, said in a statement that its “hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time.” “These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion See Sub, Page A8

Fairfield man convicted in Napa of attempted murder gets parole Daily Republic Staff

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — A Fairfield man who was convicted in 1996 of attempted murder for stabbing a 68-year-old Napa resident has been granted parole. The Napa County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday that David Stander, now 45, was granted parole after a June 14 video conference hearing held before the state Board of Parole from Mule Creek State Prison in Ione. Stander was convicted of stabbing Napa resident Ed Barkhurst on Feb. 5, 1996, after the “good samaritan” had brought Stander and another person back to his home following a car accident. “Mr. Stander stabbed (Barkhouse) in the back with a knife after being rescued from a car accident. Mr. Barkhurst brought Mr. Stander and his co-defendant to his home, provided refresh-

ments and a telephone, and offered to drive them back to Fairfield,” the Napa County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “In return, Mr. Stander stabbed the innocent victim several times and left him for dead. Fortunately, Mr. Barkhurst was airlifted for emergency surgery and made a full recovery after 12 days in the hospital,” the statement said. The co-defendant was a juvenile at the time of the crime, so the identity and current circumstances were not released. Stander pled guilty to attempted murder, carjacking and use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced to six years to life in prison, the Napa County DA’s Office reported. “In 1999, Mr. Stander was sentenced to 12 consecutive years in state prison based on two separate stabbing incidents of fellow inmates. He pled to See Parole, Page A8

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

Solano County Supervisor John Vazquez listens to a budget presentation at the Solano County Council

Supervisors take less than hour to approve $1.55 billion budget Daily Republic Staff

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Except for a little “budget dust” brushed about in the Probation Department spending plan – and a call by Supervisor Wanda Williams to increase in-home support worker pay – the Solano County Board of Supervisors on Thursday took less than an hour to approve the largest budget in county history. The board approved a $1.546 billion Fiscal Year 2023-24 recommended budget, a $13.6% increase over the 2022-23 adopted budget. It includes a General Fund of $380.159 million, a 5% bump over the previous year. It represents about 15% of the total budget. The largest revenue source for the General Fund is property tax, about 47.9%, or $182.2 million. The board did support board Chairman John Vasquez’s motion to increase the supervisors’ indi-

vidual General Fund accounts for community benefit from $10,000 to $15,000. There is a $14 million contingency built into the budget, with abut $2 million in various reserve accounts, but also a number of uncertainties from the state and federal budgets, possible economic pitfalls, and internal challenges largely due to employee vacancies. “The labor market has been challenging. Quite frankly, in my years in the public sector, I’ve never seen the labor market this way,” County Administrator Bill Emlen said in his opening remarks. The county has budgeted for 3,242.33 full-time equivalent positions, up 13.75 positions from 2022-23, but has a vacancy rate over 30%. The budget adds an economic development manager position to meet one of the board’s top priority goals. The new employee contracts completed last fall were signaled

by Emlen as one of the primary reasons for the increases in the budget. Inflation also was noted. Williams said the $15.70 hourly rate for in-home workers “is not sufficient.” “We need to do better ... You can go an In-N-Out Burger and make more money cutting fries and flipping burgers,” Williams said. She noted that with the county population getting older, the demand for in-home services is going to increase, and without support workers, it will cost the county much more when those residents must go to longterm care facilities rather than staying at home. Supervisor Mitch Mashburn raised a little “budget dust” when he asked if there was a way to budget incentive pay so experienced probation staff can train newer staff members. See Budget, Page A8

Community members assist in saving potential drowning victim Daily Republic Staff

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

SUISUN CITY — Thursday morning, the Suisun City Police Department received a 911 call of a potential person drowning in the water near the boat launch. Officers responded to the area along with fire personnel. Two citizens had quickly jumped into action and assisted the citizen in the water. All three citizens were recused from the water without injures.

Courtesy photo

Community members assist in saving potential drowning victim at the Suisun City Boat Launch, Thursday.

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Chambers in Fairfield, Thursday. The Solano County Board of Supervisors approved a $1.55 billon budget.

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