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

On Thursday, February 14, 2013 at approximately 6:42 pm, Antioch Police Officers we dispatched to an auto versus pedestrian collision at the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Hidden Glen Drive. Upon arrival officers discovered that a 14 year-old female was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross the street at the above intersection. The female juvenile was air lifted to an area hospital and later died from her injuries. The involved driver, along with several witnesses, remained at the scene and provided accounts of the incident to police. This investigation is on-going but preliminary indications are that alcohol and or speed DO NOT seem to be contributing factors to this collision.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. Further inquiries into the status of this case should be done via the Media Access Telephone Line (925) 779-6874. If you have information regarding this case you may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Lieutenant Pat Welch, Antioch Police Patrol Bureau

On Monday, February 11, at approximately 6:05 pm, Antioch Police dispatch received several calls reporting shots being fired in the area of Sycamore Drive and Manzanita Way. One caller reported a woman had been shot in an apartment located at 1410 Sycamore Drive. As officers arrived, several witnesses stated a male subject had been standing in the street on Manzanita Way shooting at a pick-up truck that was driving past him. The shots were fired in the direction of 1410 Sycamore Drive where one of the rounds went through a second story window and struck a 31 year old female resident who was in a bedroom with her young son. Fortunately the resulting injury was not life threatening and she is expected to fully recover. The child was not injured in any way.

The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information being released at this time.

Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Investigations Bureau at (925) 779-6939. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Antioch resident, Lauren Rojas, a 12-year-old student at Cornerstone Christian School, launched her Hello Kitty doll into space, last month, using a weather balloon, and as a result has become an internet sensation garnering national attention.

Her science experiment for a class she’s taking caught the attention of ABC News. The video of it has received over 555,000 views.  See the article by clicking here  and the YouTube video of the space flight, by clicking here.

By Sergeant Robert Quintero, Antioch Police Patrol Bureau

On Saturday, February 9, the Antioch Police and Contra Costa Fire Departments were called to 1963 Deodar Avenue in Antioch for a house on fire. Neighbors reported seeing smoke coming from the roof of this residence and Dennis Wilkinson leaving the location. Wilkinson was detained by police while Contra Costa Fire put out the fire.

Upon questioning Wilkinson, the 23 year-old admitted he set the fire but claimed it was accidental. Evidence located on scene by Contra Costa Fire Department’s Arson Investigator, indicates the fire was intentionally set.

It is not known why Wilkinson started the fire at this time but the investigation is still on-going.

If you have any information regarding this investigation, you may call the Antioch Police Department investigation’s Bureau at (925) 779-6926. You may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

On Wednesday, March 13th at 7 p.m. at the Antioch Church Family at 55 East 18th Street the African Children’s Choir will be performing

It is amazing that this group will be playing here. They are on their way to Chico from Southern California before heading on to Utah as part of their world tour. Sister Howell, the wife of Senior Pastor Dr. Mario Powell, heard about their trip and convinced them to stop here in Antioch. It is their ONLY Bay Area stop.

The group is comprised of twenty orphans, of which there are some twelve million in the African Sub-Sahara region, ravished by wars, droughts and AIDS. The children are aged seven to eleven and they, by all accounts, simply melt your heart with their precious smiles, beautiful voices and joyous song and dance. Their program features well-loved children’s songs, traditional Spirituals and lively African songs and dances.

They have performed alongside Sir Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, Faith Hill, Annie Lenox, Queen, Michael Smith, Keith Urban and other renowned artists. They have entertained at Carnegie Hall, the White House, before Nelson Mandela and, most recently, for the Queen of England for her Jubilee.

The African Children’s Choir is a non-profit humanitarian and relief organization dedicated to helping Africa’s most vulnerable children. Any free will offerings go towards the Music for Life Institute which has educated over 52,000 children and impacted the lives of hundreds of other thousands thru their relief efforts.

You can learn more about them at: www.africanchildrenschoir.com.

The tickets are free but because of the church’s 300 seat limit reservations must be made at http://antiochhchurchfamily_acc.eventbrite.com

You can call the church at (925) 778-7454 for more information.

Presented by the Antioch Police Department

Antioch students at Belshaw and Carmen Dragon Elementary Schools will get a visit this spring from “Mr. Beeps,” an animated robotic car that makes important traffic safety lessons fun and memorable. Diablo Vista, Jack London, Lone Tree, and Turner Elementary students met Mr. Beeps this past fall.

Mr. Beeps teaches children about proper helmet fit, how to stay safe in busy school drop-off and pick-up zones, traffic symbol recognition, and how to properly and safely cross the street for both signalized and unsignalized intersections.

Also this spring Park Middle School students will participate in a 3-day interactive traffic safety program taught by certified bicycle safety experts and health and safety professionals from the community. Students will learn the 3 Cs of bicycle checks, the nuances of rights/laws of pedestrians vs. bicyclists, emergency stops, and more.

Street Smarts Diablo is a bicycle and pedestrian safety program designed to reduce car trips to schools by providing students and parents with the knowledge and confidence to start walking, biking, and rolling to school safely.

Street Smarts programs are available to all public schools in Antioch. Contact Kerri Heusler for more information: kerri@511contracosta.org.

Los Medanos College (LMC) is preparing to host the annual “Celebrating the Life of César Chávez” awards ceremony on Friday, March 29 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the college’s Music Recital Hall. The college is located at 2700 East Leland Road in Pittsburg. The public is welcome to attend.

Los Medanos College hosts this annual event to honor the life of César Chávez and to recognize leaders in the East Contra Costa community who continue the great tradition of service and social activism exemplified by labor/human rights activist and leader, Mr. César Chávez. Mr. César Chávez, a true American hero, exemplifies service to community and non-violent social change.

The college is now seeking nominations for three recognition awards, which will be presented at the event. The LMC César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service, established in 1995, is awarded to one of our local citizens who best represents the following core values established by César Chávez: Service to Others, Sacrifice, Help the Most Needy, Determination, Non-violence, Tolerance, Respect for Life, Celebrating Community, Knowledge and Innovation. The East County Educator Award honors a member of the educational community who demonstrates the above values and a commitment to student success and educational equity, particularly for low-income students and students of color. The Chávez Spirit Award recognizes an emerging leader who is making an impact in the areas of advocacy and social justice.

To nominate someone for one or more of these awards, please visit: www.losmedanos.edu/chavez/nominate. The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 4, 2013.

For more information, contact Jennifer Adams, jadams@losmedanos.edu or (925) 439-2181 x3103.

Date: Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
Time: 10:30 am – 5pm (Full Agenda to be published)

Where: Los Medanos College
2700 East Leland Rd.
Pittsburg, CA 94565

Event Fee: Register by March 2nd and pay $35. After March 2nd pay $45. On the day of the event pay $65

Incorporating:

Antioch, Pittsburg, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Bay Point and Rio Vista Chambers of Commerce

Educating 300 business owners on ways to transform their business through Technology.

To register, visit www.techpalooza.com today!

Brought to you by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce.