The 32nd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, the state’s largest volunteer event, will take place on Saturday, September 19th 2015 from 9:00 AM to Noon. The event is expected to draw more than 70,000 volunteers who will combat marine debris at over 800 locations throughout the state by removing the trash that has accumulated on California’s beaches and inland shorelines over the past year. Get out there, join the effort in Antioch. There are three locations to choose from: Antioch Marina, Prewett Park & Fulton Shipyard. Register and choose your location by visiting http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/Environment/Coastal-Cleanup-Day/.

Washington, D.C.– Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s first stand-alone bill as a Member of Congress was passed on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act (H.R.1289) would add 44 acres of donated land to the Martinez historic site that celebrates the life and legacy of John Muir. This bipartisan legislation will improve access to the park and its scenic trails, including those on Mount Wanda, named for Muir’s eldest daughter. The John Muir National Historic Site, which includes the home where he lived, covers 330 acres of Contra Costa County. The bill was passed unanimously and can now proceed to the Senate, where Senator Barbara Boxer has introduced companion legislation.

“I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort to create and preserve national park space for future generations to enjoy and to honor Contra Costa’s own John Muir. This historic site is the place where Muir, the father of the National Park system, championed the revolutionary idea that wild spaces should be set aside for all to enjoy. I look forward to seeing this bill passed by the Senate and signed into law,” said DeSaulnier.

“Our sincere thanks go out to Congressman DeSaulnier for such critical legislation. Muir often walked this land with his two daughters, to admire the coast live oak that grow there, as well as the annual wildflowers that punctuate its grassy hillsides. Expansion of the John Muir Historic Site will forever protect this beautiful property and allow future generations to share in the same delights as Muir’s daughters,” said Linus Eukel, Executive Director of the John Muir Land Trust.

“We are looking forward to this significant addition to John Muir National Historic Site, including expanded opportunities to protect these lands while providing opportunities to learn about these resources and the legacy of John Muir. This is particularly fitting as we enter into the Centennial of the National Park Service in 2016, and focus on reaching out to the next generation of park visitors, stewards and advocates this coming year. Our thanks to Congressman DeSaulnier and the John Muir Land Trust for making this expansion possible,” said Sue Fritzke, Acting Superintendent of the National Park Service.

This legislation was co-sponsored by 31 of Rep. DeSaulnier’ s colleagues from both sides of the aisle. Former Congressman George Miller, who previously represented California’s 11th District, has been a strong champion of this bill.

DeSaulnier represents part of Antioch in the U.S. House of Representatives. For more information about the John Muir National Historic Site click here.

Jess “Jessie” Swanson

By Detective Koch, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Wednesday, September 8, 2015 at approximately 12:30 AM, Antioch Police Department patrol officers responded to the 400 Block of San Joaquin Ave on a report of someone screaming with a gunshot heard. Patrol officers arrived and located a 32-year-old male victim who suffered from a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

During the course of the investigation, officers learned that Jess, aka “Jessie” Swanson was a person of interest. If you have any information as to Swanson’s whereabouts, please notify the Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau or call 911. Swanson should be considered armed and dangerous. Please do not attempt to contact or detain Swanson without notifying the proper authorities.

This case is still being investigated by the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Hoffman with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6931. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Members of the Antioch Police Department are once again partnering with the Special Olympics of Northern California and the Applebee’s Bar & Grill located at 2737 Hillcrest Ave. for a Tip-a-Cop event on Wednesday, September 16th, from 5-9pm.

Print and bring the attached ticket http://ci.antioch.ca.us/Community/announcements/91615-tipacop.pdf, and 15% of your bill will be donated to support the Special Olympics. Hope to see you there!

Chief Allan Cantando with new Antioch Police Officers Jonathan Downie (left) and Daniel Harris following the Oath of Office ceremony on Monday, September 14, 2015. photo by Nick Goodrich

Chief Cantando speaks at the ceremony, as new officers Harris and Downie, and newly promoted Dispatch Supervisor Stacey Malsom, friends, family, fellow officers and Antioch council members look on. photo by Nick Goodrich

By Nick Goodrich

The Antioch Police Department proudly announced the addition of two new police officers at a ceremony, on Monday evening. The ceremony was held at the Antioch Police Department Community Room, with the officers’ families present, and was presided over by Police Chief Allan Cantando.

Officers Daniel Harris and Jonathan Downey joined the Antioch Police Department as part of its effort to rebuild its staff to 102 sworn police officers. In addition, Officer Stacey Malsom, who has served as a distinguished dispatcher on the police force for 10 years, was promoted to Dispatch Supervisor.

“It’s a great day for the Antioch Police Department,” said Cantando. “We’ve promoted Stacey Malsom to Dispatch Supervisor, and we brought in two lateral police officers from the Sherriff’s Office, Officers Harris and Downey. They will help in the process of rebuilding our staff to 102 police officers, and we look forward to getting them off to our training program.”

The new additions to the Antioch Police Department arrive on the heels of three new officers in late July, one in June and the promotion of two others earlier this month. However, one of the new officers from July, resigned in August.

Veterans relax on Sunday afternoon at the County Fairgrounds during Stand Down on the Delta 2015.

By Allen Payton

Organized by the Delta Veterans Group, led by the group’s President, J.R. Wilson, the Stand Down on the Delta 2015, the first ever of its kind in the county, was held this weekend at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch and attracted more than 300 veterans, seeking services, meals and a place to sleep, as well as a variety of volunteers, to help meet those needs. Many of the veterans are homeless and came from throughout the East Bay to attend.

Veterans enjoy watching a movie at Stand Down on the Delta.

A variety of organizations sponsored the event which started Friday and ends Monday, including Antioch’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6435, and their Ladies Auxiliary, Strategic Threat Management and Delta Tactical Training Group, Diablo Valley Veterans Foundation, AT&T and the Veterans Employment Committee, and was promoted in part by the Antioch Herald.

Tent city at Stand Down on the Delta.

A variety of government agencies and organizations provided services throughout the weekend, including the DMV, Contra Costa County Department of Child Support Services, Veterans Service Office, Adult and Aging Services, and Employment Development Department, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Employment and Human Services,  CalFresh/CalWORKs, Congressman Jerry McNerney, Assemblyman Jim Frazier, Los Medanos College, Cal State East Bay, Swords to Plowshares, Bay Area Legal Aid, Independent Living Resources, Shelter, Inc., Berkeley Food and Housing, Republic Services, Narcotics Anonymous and Catholic Charities of Solano County.

Veterans relax on their bunks at Stand Down on the Delta.

The veterans who attended were also treated to a variety of musical entertainment, including Wallee, Dixieland Welcome Band, Darlyn Pearl, Los Cavrones, The Illusions, Blue Hand Band, The O’Town Pasions, Galaxy Travis Air Force Base Band, Double Down, Entropy and Ethics, Billy Schaub, Tucker and Friends, Fleet Street Classics and Swamp Lizards.

One of the wellness tents where veterans received therapy and chiropractic treatments, at Stand Down on the Delta.

A donation of $500 allowed for the purchase fishing equipment, giving a group of veterans the chance to do some fishing at Antioch’s Compy Compomizzo Fishing Pier in downtown. The veterans in attendance also had the opportunity to play video games in the Mobile Command Gaming truck.

Clothing was donated for the veterans at Stand Down on the Delta 2015.

Members of local service organizations, such as the Antioch Rotary Club, as well as Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock, Councilwoman Monica Wilson, who is on the Board of Directors for the Delta Veterans Group, and Councilman Tony Tiscareno volunteered to serve meals to the veterans throughout the weekend.

The Chaplains tent at Stand Down on the Delta 2015.

For more information visit www.DeltaVeteransGroup.org and to “like” and follow them on Facebook, click here.

Dear Editor:

Polish a poison apple and it looks nice and shiny. However, bite into it and it can still kill.

The Iran Nuclear Deal is absurd. Since when did the United States of America negotiate with terrorists?

It violates the number one premise of negotiation; that everybody invited to the table share the same vision – peace in the Middle East.

Never, ever did Iran waiver from its belief that the “United States is Satan”; nor deny its ultimate goal to annihilate Israel.

Surveying a friend’s opinion regarding the issue, she said “two words that should never go together; Iran and nuclear”.

Political PR efforts marked by a thousand plus word stretch to explain the inexplicable failed to make me a bobblehead.

In a dozen words I can counter why the Iran Nuclear Deal is deadly. What part of Iran’s supreme leader’s chant “death to America” is unclear?

Cynthia Ruehlig

Antioch

De’Ondre Wesley, courtesy of BYU Athletics.

By Luke Johnson

Offensive tackle De’Ondre Wesley, who graduated from Deer Valley High School in 2010, was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 7.

Wesley was part of the 2009 undefeated team that saw Deer Valley capture its second league title. From there he played at Diablo Valley College in Concord for two years, where he was selected All-Conference, before accepting a scholarship to Brigham Young University. He was also recruited by Arizona State University, Utah, University of Texas San Antonio, Oregon State, Purdue and Louisiana Tech. Wesley had originally committed to ASU, a school he dreamed of playing for while growing up, but after he learned they had withdrawn their offer he reevaluated his situation before committing to BYU, where he was a broadcast journalism major with an English minor.

Wesley was the anchor of the offensive line at BYU that passed for 278 yards per game and rushed for 181 yards per game in 2014. The team also put up 37 points per game, the most a BYU offense has averaged since 2001. He earned letterman honors in both his junior and senior years and was named to the College Sports Madness All-Independent First Team in his final season.

Wesley is listed at 6-foot-7 and 331 pounds on NFL.com, but he has his work cut out for him signing as an undrafted free agent. Currently in the middle of preseason, he has made it through the first stages of cuts. His status with the team is to be determined as the season progresses.

“I’m not surprised he’s in the NFL. He was always the tallest, and had a height and reach advantage over everybody,” former teammate Eddie Contreras said, who played on the offensive line with Wesley at Deer Valley and DVC. “It’s great for Deer Valley. He’s putting us on the map.”

Following are Wesley’s Pro Day stats, according to NFLDraftScout.com:

40-yard dash – 5.25 seconds
225 lb bench – 18 reps
Vertical jump – 31 inches
Broad jump – 115 inches
20-yard shuttle – 4.65 seconds
3-cone drill – 7.73 seconds

Now wearing Baltimore Ravens’ jersey #77, De’Ondre’s profile can be seen on the team’s website by clicking here.