A female Deer Valley High school student who claimed to have been sexually assaulted on campus on Thursday, March 29, lied about it to cover up an off-campus trip to meet a boy.

During a subsequent interview with the assigned investigator, the alleged victim admitted to fabricating the story about being sexually assaulted on campus. The female student had left campus to meet with a boy and was late coming back to school. When she was confronted by school staff members, instead of admitting her fault, the student deflected the blame for being late by fabricating the story about being sexually assaulted.

By Walter Ruehlig

Kudos to the Friends of Music Series for once again bringing major talent to our own Far East Bay backyards.

On March 31st the organization celebrated the 327th birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church. Don Pearson, former Organist and Choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver, and current Director of Music and Artist in Residence at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, brilliantly performed a selection of Bach’s most thrilling music ever written for the organ. Pearson’s talent was complimented by the fantastic Rodgers’s 958 Trillium Masterpiece three manual and pedal Pipe/Digital Organ gifted the church by an anonymous donor.

A champagne and chocolate reception followed the concert. After all, Johann had a life worth raising a glass to. He was prolific beyond imagination, composing more music than almost any other composer in history. His complete works are in 150 volumes, each one being about as thick as your average telephone book.

Amazingly, even though it is estimated that about one third of his music is still lost, Bach is, nevertheless, the most recorded composer in history. His works have been adapted for everything from jazz choir to synthesizer, from banjo to bagpipes. Oddly, he faded into history after his death in 1750 and owes his popularity to Mendelsson’s efforts some 100 years later.

Bach was chosen to represent mankind on the Voyager launch.  That ship is still in space ready to tell any life it may happen to encounter about life on earth by a sampling of Bach’s music. When asked why Bach’s complete works were not included, Carl Sagan said that would have amounted to bragging.

His story is as colorful as his repertoire. Bach is an ex-con who was jailed for almost two months for asking permission to be dismissed from one job to take another.

He was prolific in more than music. He sired twenty children with two wives. Ten of those children died before he did.

The same physician, Dr. Taylor, had the ignominious distinction of putting a lot of great talent to rest. He performed eye surgery on both Bach and Handel, one in 1750 and the other in 1751. The outcome was not as desired. Both died. Luckily, the well-meaning but star-struck physician couldn’t kill the music.

By Acting Lieutenant Diane Aguinaga, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department

 On March 31, 2012 at 1:36 am the Antioch Police Department received a 911 call from Cruisers Saloon, at 1611 A Street in Antioch, reporting that a shooting had just occurred. It appears that a group of males who had been kicked out of the bar earlier in the night, returned with baseball bats specifically with the intention of starting a fight. The fight started inside of the bar and then moved just outside of the front door to the bar. One of the males who had been kicked out earlier, pulled out a handgun and fired at least one shot inside the bar. A 38 year-old male inside the bar was hit and died at the scene. His identity is being withheld at this time pending notification to his next of kin.

This information is preliminary as the police are still actively investigating this crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Mike Mellone at (925) 779-6930.

Representatives of Western Dental and the Antioch Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon on the chain's new clinic.

Western Dental officially opened their new location at 4518 Lone Tree Way in the Deer Valley Plaza, at the corner of Deer Valley Road in Antioch, with a ribbon cutting with the Antioch Chamber of Commerce on Friday, March 30, 2012.  The facility has 14 stations to treat dental patients. This is the second location for the chain of over 220 clinics in California, Arizona and Nevada offering general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and affordable orthodontics. Their other location is 2590 Sycamore Drive, off Auto Center Drive. They’re open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 925-526-8300 for dentistry, 925-529-8533 for orthodontics or visit www.westerndental.com for more information.

Due to a lack of ticket sales, the Meet the Press event, scheduled for Saturday night, March 31, 2012 at the El Campanil Theatre, was cancelled.  Organizer Charleen Earley is hoping to reschedule for another venue in the future.

By Lt. John VanderKlugt, Field Services Bureau Commander, Antioch Police Department

On Thursday, March 29, 2012 at approximately 2:40 pm the Antioch Police Department was dispatched to Deer Valley High School, located at 4700 Lone Tree Way, to investigate allegations that a female student had been sexually assaulted on campus. Preliminary information suggests that the alleged assault took place in one of the restrooms on campus. The investigation and interviews are on-going at this time. No clear suspect information has been developed.

On a 4-1 vote the Antioch School Board decided to not support the 2012 Clean Water Initiative at their meeting on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.  Trustees Diane Gibson-Gray, Gary Hack, Walter Ruehlig and Claire Smith voted no and Trustee Joy Motts gave the sole affirmative vote.

If passed will place a $12 per year assessment on property tax bills in Antioch. Cynthia Ruehlig, speaking as a citizen, gave public comment claiming that the entire county was being asked to pick up the burden for a few cities that suffer inadequate sewage release during heavy downpours.

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 33rd installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program. This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from United Citizens for Better Neighborhoods (UCBN), community volunteers, and the Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program, Target Volunteers, Volunteers in Police Service, community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

Collectively, “We”, everyone who works and lives in the City of Antioch, can make a difference and improve the quality of life. It’s our community and it’s our chance to make a difference.

The City of Antioch Neighborhood Cleanup program is not just for residential neighborhoods. It is a program that will change venues on a monthly basis and it will include business and commercial areas as well. Neighborhoods that are free of trash and refuse are inviting, and a clean community instills a sense of community pride.

The 33rd Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday April 7, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Volunteers should report to Hillcrest Park located at 1300 Larkspur Way.Volunteers will receive instructions and the equipment necessary to accomplish the goal. The targeted area is within walking distance. Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events will be scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

If you have a suggestion for a future cleanup area, please inform the assigned Volunteer in Police Services (VIP) or you can call (925) 779- 6878. If there is no answer please feel free to leave a message regarding your suggested cleanup area.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family, your neighbors and your community!