By John Crowder

During the December 16, 2014 meeting of the Antioch City Council, Mayor Wade Harper made a series of nominations for appointments to various council committees and other agency boards. As explained by Antioch City Attorney Lynn Tracy Nerland, the new appointments were necessary due to the change in council membership as a result of the November 4 election.

Because some of the positions allow for an additional stipend to the appointed representative, Nerland recommended that, as the council voted on appointments, the council member being appointed recuse himself or herself from that vote. As the appointments were made, this practice was followed, and each council member was approved for all the positions Harper had appointed them to on a 4-0 vote.

The appointments for each of the council members follows:

Mayor Harper: Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), Delta Diablo, East Contra Costa Transit Authority (Tri-Delta Transit), Contra Costa Mayor’s Conference, Budget Committee, Lone Tree Golf Course Committee, Northeast Antioch Annexation, Quality of Life Forum

Mayor Pro Tem Ogorchock: Community Facilities District (Mello-Roos), City/Schools Relations Committee, East Bay Division League of California Cities, East County Water Management Association, Sycamore Corridor Committee, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), ABAG alternate, Contra Costa Mayors Conference alternate

Council Member Rocha: East Contra Costa Transit Authority (Tri-Delta Transit), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Community on Aging, Northeast Antioch Annexation, Delta Diablo Sanitation District alternate, Historic Preservation Committee

Council Member Wilson: Chamber of Commerce Liaison, Community Facilities District (Mello-Roos), City/School Relations Committee, CDBG, Sycamore Corridor, alternate to State Route 4 Bypass Authority alternate, TRANSPLAN alternate, East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority alternate

Council Member Tiscareno: Community Advisory Board SF Bay Water Transit Authority, Graffiti Subcommittee, State Route Bypass 4 Authority, TRANSPLAN, East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority, Budget Committee, Lone Tree Golf Course Committee

New owner Rita Low (seated) with Elizabeth Rimbault.

When Elizabeth Rimbault decided to retire this last year after 45 years of her own businesses, her only concern was who will continue to serve her clients. Liz was the only document assistant in East county that was versed in filing probate papers for clients and specialized in real estate documents, simple trusts, wills and such. Much to her delight, an old friend that had worked with her years ago, has returned. Rita Low is a California Certified Legal Secretary with a Paralegal Certificate from West Valley in Saratoga.

Whereas Liz specialized in Wills, trusts and probates, Rita has additional experience in family law, which Liz did not handle. Rita has taught the Legal Secretary Training program at Los Medanos Community College since 2008 to present. She has worked hand in hand with various attorneys over the years in Litigation, legal software programs, employment, bankruptcy, trademark, IP, real estate, corporate and civil litigation.

Having worked with her in the past, Liz is confident that Rita is the perfect professional to take over the business and serve east county residents with the utmost confidential and professional conduct for those wishing to represent themselves with simple legal matters. What makes this the perfect transition is Rita is now located at the same address and has the same phone number that has served Liz’s clients for so many years.

So if you need professional assistance with legal documents call Rita Low Legal Document Service at 2810 Lone Tree Way, #8, Antioch or call 925-757-5353 as always for the most professional assistance.

Michael Vickers

On Sunday, December 21, 2014 at approximately 2:38 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to a report of a shooting at a residence in the 2100 block of Peppertree Way. The officers arrived to find an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local area hospital where he ultimately died from his injuries.

The victim in this case has been identified as Pittsburg resident, 23-year-old Ricardo Walls. Walls was in the garage visiting friends at the location when they were approached by subjects who produced a gun and shot Walls. The investigation led to identifying the shooter as Oakland resident, 27-year-old Michael Vickers. Vickers was apprehended in Oakland on Monday, December 22, 2014 at about 5:30 PM and has been booked into Martinez County Jail on this murder.

No other information will be released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective James Stenger with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6894. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 58th installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program. This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from The Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program; Volunteers in Police Service; community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

Collectively, “We”, everyone who works and lives in the City 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 58th Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, January 3rd from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the newly incorporated Viera Avenue neighborhood. Volunteers should report to Wymore Way near East 18^th Street for parking.

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 are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family,

your neighbors and your community!