GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA – I first met Lou Conter about five years ago at his home in Grass Valley. I didn’t know what I was in for, only that I was interviewing a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack. Realizing that opportunities to meet and interview people of this generation were becoming fewer and fewer, I immediately accepted the assignment. It would turn out to be one of the most memorable interviews of my career.

Lieutenant Commander Conter was then a quartermaster on board the USS Arizona when it was hit by a bomb. He clearly described the explosion that followed, causing the Arizona to lift out of the water before sinking in less than ten minutes. Immediately jumping into action, he used a lifeboat to rescue as many survivors as possible. After the attack, he volunteered to be part of the dive team that recovered those that lost their lives.

As America entered World War II, Conter became a pilot. He was shot down twice over the Pacific, but managed to row to shore both times.

Mr. Conter’s home had many documents, awards, and memorabilia on display from his career. Newspaper clippings, photographs, and even a piece of the Arizona itself. Even though he walked with the use of a cane, he had no problem showing us around his home. His career and experience was something he was proud of, and made his children and grandchildren even more proud.

Every year Conter made the trip to Hawaii for the Pearl Harbor memorial ceremony. The year I met him, his health had prevented him from flying, marking the first year he was unable to attend the event. At this point, he was one of about five survivors still alive. His hopes were to become well enough to fly to Hawaii the next year. He always looked forward to seeing his fellow shipmates and survivors, which he realized were becoming fewer and fewer as the years went on.

Lieutenant Commander Conter passed away in April this year at the age of 102. At the time of his death, he was the last survivor of the Arizona.

God bless you, Mr. Conter. Thank you for your service.

MODESTO – Women make up only 9% of the fire service, but an event held in partnership between the Modesto Fire Department and Modesto Junior College hopes to change that by introducing young women to a potential career in the fire service.

From medical response to firefighting, ventilation, and forcible entry techniques, young women between the ages of 14 and 21 were given the experience of what it takes to do the job.

The job of a firefighter, a fire woman.

The statistics are very clear in the City of Modesto, there is only one woman serving in the fire department as a firefighter.

That firefighter, Elizabeth Mullis, was very motivated to organize this event with the help of coworkers and colleagues, including other women firefighters from around the state.

“Today’s event is about empowering and encouraging, and bringing in the horizon of the next generation of young women,” Mullis said. “And it’s been so cool to see a girl take on the day.”

The idea first came as an interest Modesto Junior College had in bringing more women into the fire service.

“Modesto Junior College was looking at how to bring young women into their academy, and they mentioned it to one of our chiefs,” Mullis explained. “Our Chief said ‘You know what? I actually think I know somebody that might have an idea on how they can do that,’ and so I have traveled all over California to other Women’s Empowerment Camps.”

She was the clear choice to help organize the event.

“So they asked me if I would be interested in helping put it together, and here we are today.”

The young women participating in the event returned the encouragement by sharing their strength and determination, inspiring each other to challenge themselves at the event.

“I am just so encouraged on how the amount of conversations I’ve had today of young ladies that are interested in the fire service. So it’s super cool to see for me,” said Mullis.

Balancing her passion for firefighting with her deep commitment to raising her two children, Mullis embodies the strength and dedication that fuels both her heroic efforts and nurturing spirit.

“I am a mom of two incredible little boys, and it’s so cool to have a dream of what it would be one day and see how it would come together. And they think mom is super cool getting to ride on Engine Six.”

With the Women’s Empowerment Camp being the first for the Modesto Fire Department, making it an annual event is now part of the plan.

District one in the city of Ceres encompasses a substantial amount of the city’s life blood. The are reaches the commercial corridor through Hatch Road and part of Whitmore Avenue and all the residential neighborhoods in between up to River Road. It is also the area of the city with a high crime rate and visible homeless problems.

These are serious issues for any city, but specifically on the radar for a police department that has challenges with officer retention. They’re also topics that long time resident and city council hopeful Connie Vasquez hopes to bring to light if she’s elected.

“First responders, and the safety and well being of our children are my number one concerns,” Vasquez said. She is a 30-plus year resident of the city who worked in the dental field for 27 years and currently runs a daycare.

Ceres is the third largest city in the county. The police department is also the second lowest paid in the county according to Brian Petersen, the who is president of the police officer’s association. The association is supporting Vasquez in her run for the city council seat.

Because of declining city budgets, the SWAT team association holds an annual dinner fundraiser event to purchase or replace aging equipment essential to their jobs.

“Police officers shouldn’t have to do that,” Vasquez said of the fundraisers. “They deserve the support of the city and the community.”

It’s no secret that officer retention has been a serious issue for many agencies in recent years. Ceres in particular felt a serious loss of officers to neighboring agencies offering higher pay. The hopes are that more support in the council can in turn allow the department to offer more competitive wages to keep officers from leaving.

“I don’t want our officers leaving because they’re not getting paid enough,” Vasquez said.

“There’s nights where we have only a few officers working the entire city, but we’re able to hold things down,” Petersen said. 

Naturally, the more serious incidents would occupy the officers pushing other priorities like theft down the list. Thefts along the Hatch Road corridor in businesses like Home Depot have been a common occurrence, with high dollar losses.

“How can someone walk out of the store with stuff like that? If the police department was strengthened, they’d be able to combat that a little easier,” Vasquez explained.

Petersen would also like to see the police department bounce back into a stronger agency. The department has had to lose specialized units like narcotic investigations, auto theft and others. He would like to see those return, along with education and engagement teams to tackle the homeless issue, and a community resource unit similar to what the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office has.

Vasquez agrees homelessness is a serious problem for the region, and Ceres is no exception to the issue. She believes it’s one that will require creative solutions and navigation.

“I have a heart for people and really want to help,” she said. “Some don’t want the help or they want to be left alone without any rules.”

Substance abuse and mental health issues historically are key components to the issue of homelessness. Vasquez believes that offering programs through community partnerships can be a deterrent and gateway to rehabilitation. She said education and engagement is a good way to plant a seed toward finding a caring solution toward the issue.

“Maybe something like a voucher system, where people can work for an amount of hours a day and receive a voucher. They can get socks or shoes or some food.”

Vasquez found the inspiration to run for the district one council seat through the support of her friends and family. She found the idea a good opportunity to get involved beyond volunteering. Change in the community in a positive direction is something she would like to get the ball rolling on.

“We need to bring the community together. We need to get involved. Things aren’t going to change for the better if we don’t stay involved.”