The decorated windows of Urban Jumble antiques and salvage store, located at 307 G Street, in downtown Antioch, winner of the 2015 Rivertown Holiday Store & Window Decor contest, as voted by shoppers.

By Allen Payton

Out of 556 votes from shoppers between November 28 and December 12, the winner of the best holiday decorations in the Antioch Rivertown 2015 Holiday Store & Window Décor Contest is Urban Jumble with 140 votes. They will be awarded a one-time, 1/4-page ad in the Antioch Herald, which has a $500 value. The antique store is located at 307 G Street.

Winners of the Ballot Drawing Prizes, for those who voted in the contest are as follows:

Queen B’s Quilt Shop – Quilt – Cindy Phearson

Jim Lanter State Farm – Starbucks Coffee package 1 – Steve Brown

Jim Lanter State Farm – Starbucks Coffee package 2 – Sara Garcia

Jim Lanter State Farm – Holiday Snack Bowl package – Thula Keith

Oddly Unique – $50 Gift Certificate – Kimberli Williams

Oddly Unique, Too – $50 Gift Certificate – Francine Hudson

G St. Mercantile – $50 Gift Certificate – Debbie Delta

Almost There Travel – Disney Diamond Celebration promo package – Christina Kenson

Each of them will be contacted about their prize.

Thank you to all the businesses that participated and to all who voted in this year’s contest. See more photos of the window and store decorations of the businesses in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown on our Antioch Rivertown Facebook page.

John Cubit

By Corporal Rick Martin #3343, Antioch Police Department

On Saturday, December 12, 2015, at approx. 4:30 AM, John Cubit, an 86-year-old male, was reported missing by staff members from Country Place assisted living center on Olive Lane.  Cubit was last seen by staff members on Friday, December 11th at approximately 5:00 PM.  Cubit suffers from a mild form of dementia, but is otherwise functional.

Cubit is described as a light skin, black male, 86-years-old, 6’3” tall, 180 pounds, gray hair and brown eyes.  He was last seen wearing a black baseball hat, black jacket with red striping on the sleeves.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441.  You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Please download the request form here – APD Request for Donation form

Photos with Santa through the 24th, Pet Photos with Santa Dec. 14th

The Christmas Celebration continues at Somersville Towne Center with a free breakfast with Santa plus entertainment by Lori and RJ in Center Court by Macy’s, Saturday morning, December 9th starting at 8:30 a.m.

Photos with Santa continue through Thursday, December 24th and Pet Photos with Santa will be held again, on Monday, December 14th from 5-8 p.m.

Somersville Towne Center, East County’s only enclosed mall, is located at 2550 Somersville Road in Antioch. For more information visit www.SomersvilleTowneCenter.com.

As seen in the December print edition of the Antioch Herald.

The shops in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown, will be holding the third of three Saturday events during the holiday season, with their Customer Appreciation Day, tomorrow, Saturday, December 12th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and everyone is invited.

Oak Ridge Winery from Lodi will be doing a wine tasting from 2-4 p.m. at 209 G Street.

The Antioch Singing Angels will begin caroling from 213 G St from 2-4 p.m. and are looking for volunteers to join.  Hot cocoa and cookies included.

Santa will be available at 213 G Street from 3-5 p.m. for free photos by Bev Knight that will be available online.

Be sure to vote for your favorite window decorations in the Holiday Store Window Décor Contest and be entered to win prizes from downtown shops.

So, shop for unique Christmas gifts, eat at downtown restaurants and enjoy the holiday spirit in Rivertown.

By Acting Lieutenant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On November 19, 2015 at approximately 4:47 PM the Antioch Police Department was dispatched to a residence in the 2300 block of Peppertree Way for an unresponsive male after a disturbance at the location.  The male, Johnny Reed, a 69-year-old Antioch resident, was transported to an area hospital.

The investigation into this incident has revealed that Lisa Parker and Reed were in a relationship and on November 19th, Parker and Reed had an argument at the Peppertree Way address.  The argument lead to Parker assaulting Reed and strangling Reed with a belt.  Parker then left and walked to a relative’s house on William Reed Drive where she called the police and told the dispatcher that she had just strangled Reed and left him lying on the floor with the belt still around his neck.  When Officers arrived they found Reed with the belt around his neck and no signs of life.  Officers began CPR and the Fire Department took over when they arrived.  A heart beat was eventually re-established and Reed was transported to an area hospital.

After Parker’s original arrest on November 19th, this case was presented to the Office of the District Attorney.  After review, the DA’s Office chose not to file charges at that time.  The decision not to file was based on the fact that the victim was still on life support at an area hospital and the attempted murder charge would not be appropriate in the event that the victim died.  Reed remained on life support without any indication of brain activity until family members made the decision to remove him from life support on Monday, December 7th.  Reed succumbed to his injuries and died on Tuesday, December 8th.

On Wednesday, Dec. 9th, the Office of the District Attorney filed this case, charging Parker with Murder and Elder Abuse-Causing Death.  Immediately after the DA filed the charges, Antioch Police Detectives had a “no bail” warrant signed for Parker’s arrest and then located her as she was arriving at her relative’s house on William Reed Drive.  Parker was taken into custody without incident and has been booked into the Contra Costa County Main Detention Facility.

This is the seventh homicide in Antioch for 2015.

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign donations in the Antioch area are down by 40% compared to last year.  Traditionally, the kettle income makes up nearly 80% of the overall income generated for The Salvation Army of Antioch.

“I am very concerned about the early results of our kettle income and how this will impact the residents we’re trying to assist,” said Lt. Purnell Hall, Salvation Army Antioch Corps officer.   “In order for us to do all of our programs, we have to find ways to make up for this this shortfall.  We’re hoping that shoppers will remember their neighbors in need when they see a Salvation Army bell ringer in the community during the finals weeks before Christmas.”

Kettle gifts stay in the community where the money is donated and help the various programs The Salvation Army has year-round.  So far, more than 1,900 individuals have sought out assistance through the Army’s social service department, and more than 50 youngsters have participated in an after-school program or a summer day camp program.  This Christmas season, The Salvation Army of Antioch will also assist 300 families will with food and toys.

The Salvation Army will be accepting donations at any of the 15 local Red Kettle sites through December 24.  Donors can also give online at www.gosalarmy.org, via traditional mail at 620 E. Tregallas Rd., Antioch, CA, 94509 or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.