2026 Antioch Knights of Columbus Free Throw Champions are as follows – Front row: Cameryn Smith (11 yr. old girl), Riley Page (9 yr. old girl), Charlotte Kerian (8 yr. old girl), Greyson Elliott (8 yr. old boy), Cristiano Pham (10 yr. old boy), Santiago Sandoval (9 yr. old boy) Second row: Devyn Jones (12 yr. old girl), Xofia Espinole (14 yr. old girl), Ava Agpalo (10 yr. old girl), Michael Kelly (11 yr. old boy), Jayden Rivera (13 yr. old boy), Ryan Wisely (14 yr. old boy) Back row: Members of the Knights of Columbus Council #3265. Photo courtesy of Wayne Steffen.
Will compete in district competition February 19
By Wayne Steffen
Twelve boys and girls aged 8 to 14 were named local champions of the 2026 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship. Antioch Council #3265 sponsored the local competition at Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church parish center.
The champions are:
AgeBoys Girls
8 Greyson Elliott Charlotte Kerian
9 Santiago Sandoval Riley Page
10 Cristiano Pham Ava Agpalo
11 Michael Kelly Cameryn Smith
12 Devyn Jones
13 Jayden Rivera
14 Ryan Wisely Xofia Espinole
The champions will compete in the district competition to be held on February 19 with an eye toward moving on to diocese, state, national and international levels.
Council #3265 in Antioch, CA is one of 17,000 Knights of Columbus councils that make up the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in 1882 to assist working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, today the approximately two million members of the Knights put their faith into action through a broad range of charitable causes locally, nationally, and internationally with financial contributions and hands-on service.
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Fire Chief Lewis Broschard to retire after 18 years of service. Photo: Con Fire
By Lauren Ono, PIO, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Concord, CA – Fire Chief Lewis Broschard has announced his retirement from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District after more than 18 years of service. The announcement marks the conclusion of a distinguished career dedicated to public safety, leadership, and service to the residents of Contra Costa County and to the men and women of Contra Costa Fire.
“Serving as Fire Chief for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has been the greatest honor of my career,” said Chief Broschard. “I am incredibly proud of the members of this organization and grateful for the trust and support of the community, our Board of Supervisors, and the County Administrator’s Office. I leave knowing the District is positioned for continued success.”
Under Chief Broschard’s tenure, the Fire District has experienced significant organizational and operational advancements, including the annexation of East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District, and entered into a contract for service with the City of Pinole. The District established a firefighting hand crew program, launched a seasonal aerial firefighting helicopter program, implemented an apparatus replacement program, increased staffing in operations and fire prevention, and undertook the rebuilding of several fire stations. Additionally, the regional fire dispatch center was expanded and modernized, 911 dispatcher staffing levels were increased, emergency ambulance operations were strengthened and expanded, and numerous health and wellness initiatives were introduced for our members. Significant wildfire mitigation projects were funded and completed across the county and over 40 new Firewise communities were formed in the District. The District also achieved a substantial improvement in its Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, advancing from a combined 3/8B and 4/9 to a uniform Class 2/2Y rating across the district.
“Chief Broschard has led the Fire District through complex operational challenges, historic wildfire seasons, and significant organizational growth, all while maintaining a focus on the safety of residents and fire personnel. We are deeply grateful for his decades of service and wish him a long and fulfilling retirement.” Board Chair Diane Burgis, District 3 Chair.
Chief Broschard’s retirement will be effective March 30, 2026. Information regarding the process for selecting the next Fire Chief will be announced separately.
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District extends its sincere appreciation to Fire Chief Lewis Broschard for his years of distinguished service and congratulates him on a well-earned retirement.
About Contra Costa County Fire Protection District – Con Fire provides fire and emergency medical services to more than one million residents and visitors in 13 cities and 12 unincorporated areas across our expanded 582 square-mile jurisdiction. The district comprises 35 fire stations and more than 670 firefighters and professional staff. Through our unique ambulance “Alliance,” the district delivers EMS and ambulance transport services to much of Contra Costa County. For more information about Con Fire visit cccfpd.org.
Join Willow Park Mercantile for our Annual High Tea Party! In The Spirit of Bridgerton we will have lots of fun Bridgerton-themed merchandise! We’ll be serving treats and tea and lots of fun! Dress up if you like and visit the Hen and Drake Tea Room, just across W. 2nd street. Don’t miss this fun event!
“Bridgerton” is a popular Netflix series that follows the romantic escapades of the Bridgerton family in Regency-era London, blending historical drama with modern themes.
Spend an afternoon searching for your next treasure in 4,000 sq. ft. of space featuring an eclectic array or merchandise from a variety of vendors.
Suspect Ronald Benjamin Jackson, III was charged with homicide, kidnapping and criminal threats in the 2024 death of Raheem Coe. Photo: Antioch PD
Suspect Ronald Benjamin Jackson, III currently in San Quentin state prison on unrelated charges.
Previously arrested in 2022 for shooting, killing Antioch convenience store clerk, but DA Becton didn’t charge with murder
By Allen D. Payton
According to Antioch Police Lt. William Whitaker of the department’s Investigations Bureau, “after an extensive investigation, the Antioch Police Department has solved the homicide of Raheem Coe, a 48-year-old Antioch homeless resident who was found deceased on May 15, 2024, near medical office buildings in the Country Hills Drive area.”
As previously reported, at approximately 7:19 AM, on that date, Antioch police officers responded to the 2200 block of Country Hills Drive to assist Contra Costa Fire on a reported male down on the sidewalk possibly in need of medical attention.
When officers arrived, they located a deceased male. The cause of death was unknown at the time. The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit took over the investigation. After an autopsy and further investigation, the death was determined to be a homicide. The victim frequented the area where he was discovered.
As previously reported, independent reports from two sources claimed Coe’s death was believed to be caused by blunt force trauma, including to his head and chest.
At the time, local homeless advocate Andrew Becker, who knew Coe and had several interactions with him, said, “Raheem Coe was on the street for the last couple of years, in the Lone Tree-Deer Valley area. He’s had several interactions with City staff including being swept multiple times by Public Works and Code Enforcement.”
“We had several conversations about shelter and services, and he was seeking shelter,” Becker continued. “He did have contact with his family who are also local.”
Through the processing of evidence, witness interviews, and the review of video surveillance, detectives identified 23-year-old Ronald Benjamin Jackson, III as the suspect in this homicide. Jackson is currently in custody at San Quentin State Prison on unrelated charges.
The case was presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, which has filed charges against Jackson for PC 187 – Homicide, PC 207(a) – Kidnapping, and PC 422 – Criminal Threats. Jackson will be transferred to the Martinez Detention Facility pending future court proceedings.
Jackson was previously arrested for robbing an Antioch gas station convenience store and killing the 36-year-old clerk in November 2022. (See related articles here and here)
However, Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton announced the following week that her Office declined to file murder charges in the case, based on the clerk’s actions and “upon an established law that clearly states a person cannot pursue another to retrieve stolen property once the threat of bodily injury or harm to the victim has subsided.”
According to localcrimenews.com, Jackson was also arrested by Antioch Police on May 25, 2024, for kidnapping, battery on a spouse, cohabitant or former spouse and threats of violence, and on Oct. 26, 2022, for vandalism: paint, cruelty to an animal and carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner.
Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or by email at jcox@antiochca.gov.
Investigate the operations of local government officers, departments and agencies
Application deadline: March 13, 2026
By Contra Costa County Grand Jurors Association
The Contra Costa County Superior Court is accepting applications for Civil Grand Jury Service for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 term.
Contra Costa County’s Grand Jury consists of 19 citizens. A new Grand Jury is impaneled each year. Grand Jurors are officers of the Court, and function as an independent body under the guidance of a Superior Court Judge. Jurors are impaneled in June and are expected to attend a two-week training in June. Each term serves through June of the following calendar year.
Every year, in each of California’s 58 counties, a group of ordinary citizens takes an oath to serve as grand jurors. Its function is to investigate the operations of the various officers, departments and agencies of local government. Each Civil Grand Jury determines which officers, departments and agencies it will investigate during its term of office.
Apart from the investigations mandated by the California Penal Code, each County’s Grand Jury decides what it will investigate. Investigations may be initiated in response to letters from citizens, newspaper articles and personal knowledge.
If you are interested in applying, please complete the application and review the timeline below.
The City of Antioch is offering an interactive orientation webinar where local, small business owners will learn how to access FREE one-on-one mentorship through Pacific Community Ventures’ Business Advising program.
We’ll walk you through a demo of the platform, highlight key features like the mobile app, and show you how these tools can support your mentorship journey and help grow your business.
Pacific Community Ventures’ BusinessAdvising.org platform connects small business owners across America with free and confidential expert business advising to help them seize opportunities and overcome challenges.
Pacific Community Ventures is a non-profit community investor that unlocks economic opportunity and climate resilience for small business owners and workers. Through access to affordable capital, pro bono business advising, ethical technology and AI, we partner with entrepreneurs to grow, hire, and prosper. For more information visit www.pacificcommunityventures.org.
Honoring Bay Area journalist’s legacy of connecting people to Nature
By EBRPD Public Affairs
East Bay Regional Park District staff are deeply saddened by the passing of Doug McConnell, beloved longtime host of OpenRoad with Doug McConnell on NBC. Doug’s storytelling helped raise public awareness of the value of parks, trails, and community conservation efforts across Northern California and beyond, making outdoor exploration accessible and meaningful to a wider audience.
Source: OpenRoad Facebook page
A post on the OpenRoad with Doug McConnell Facebook page on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, shares more details about his passing. It reads, “It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we share the news that Doug McConnell peacefully passed on the night of January 13th, 2026. Since his stroke in the fall of 2023 he had bravely struggled to regain his health, but a string of setbacks finally caught up with him. Doug was our friend, mentor, and a guiding light along our own life journeys. We will miss him dearly and wish his family peace in this difficult time.
Doug dedicated much of his life to telling stories about the world’s beautiful natural places and encouraged everyone to enjoy them and especially to protect them. He made friends wherever he went. He was the best road trip companion you could have, the biggest optimist we ever met, a human GPS with a steel trap memory, friendly to a fault, knowledgeable about most any subject, and filled the world with enthusiastic positivity. We affectionately described him as the human golden retriever.
No words in a social media post can adequately convey what Doug has meant to us. If he meant something to you. If his TV shows resonated with you. If you have a story about him you’d like to tell, please feel free to tell it here. We’d love to hear from you about what Doug meant to you.
We loved Doug and will miss him dearly.”
The Park District worked with Doug McConnell and his crew many times over the past three decades to showcase East Bay Regional Parks, first on Bay Area Backroads and followed by his most recent show, OpenRoad. Together, we helped educate viewers about the importance of spending time in nature and the role conservation plays in ensuring future generations have the same opportunity. He was a thoughtful journalist whose commitment to community, collaboration, and public service left a lasting impact on the East Bay. We are grateful for his dedication and the positive spirit he brought to his work.
Doug first began working with the Park District in 1993, and this creative collaboration has continued through present day. Through this work, he became an integral part of the Park District’s history, working closely with District staff on many projects. Doug was master of ceremonies at the District’s 65th and 75th anniversary events, Regional Parks Foundation signature events, and the Healthy Parks, Healthy People festival.
In a Jan. 14 statement issued by the OpenRoad team, his colleagues said, “Doug was grateful that his legacy continues, a legacy of joyfully encouraging everyone to explore and appreciate the beauty and diversity of our natural lands, and to celebrate the work so many of you are doing to restore and protect these natural places.” The Park District is honored to be included in Doug’s work and legacy.
Notable episodes featuring the Park District include:
This special episode filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic showed how the Park District responded to the crisis and how parks provided an essential service for physical health and mental well-being.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Annual fundraiser to celebrate 25 years of granting wishes
By An Elderly Wish Foundation
SAVE THE DATE!! This will be our “Silver Jubilee of Wishes.”
Come join us as An Elderly Wish Foundation celebrates a monumental accomplishment of serving Contra Costa County residents. The foundation has been making wishes come true for 25 years.
Our goal is to grant wishes for our neighbors, friends and your family members who have serious, chronic or life threating illnesses. All recipients must be 50 years of age.
We are celebrating this wonderful event on February 28th, 2026, at the Lone Tree Golf and Event Center in Antioch. Tickets are $80 per person and available on our website.
RSVP by Feb. 17th.
Sponsorships are being accepted now.
A fun evening is in store for all starting with a delicious dinner, followed by:
Mystery Envelopes
Card Raffle
Our Live Auction, and
Our Silent Auction
An Elderly Wish Foundation welcomes any donations for the Silent Auction and Live Auction. Gifts of cash, gift cards or gift baskets from individuals or businesses will be accepted. Remember they are tax deductible!
Proceeds from the benefit will help pay to grant wishes submitted to us.
Donations are always accepted. Please let foundation staff know if you can make a donation to help us grant our elderly with a special wish by calling (925) 978-1883 or emailing info@elderlywish.org.
If you know of anyone that would like a “Wish” please let us know.
