A variety of residents play Pokémon Go near the Veterans Memorial at the entrance to the Antioch Marina in downtown Rivertown, Thursday evening, July 21st. photo by Vanessa Hellman

By Allen Payton

A report by the Antioch Police on Wednesday, July 13 stated they responded to a call from security at 10:45 pm “regarding a large number of teens (100+) in and around the Antioch Marina. Upon arrival, it was learned they had gathered playing on the Pokémon Go APP. All of the kids remained calm and peaceful. They left a short time later.”

In an email message on Thursday, July 21st, Antioch business owner and resident Vanessa Hellman stated, “I think it’s really great how this Pokémon Go app is bringing people out and and about. I saw so many people down at the marina this evening from kids to older people all laughing together and sharing what they’ve ‘caught’ on Pokémon. I know it’s just a game but in a way I feel it’s bringing the community together.”

After a rigorous review of 117 applications, Supervisor Federal Glover announced the recipients of the $1.5 million in grants from the Keller Canyon Landfill Mitigation Fund. The Board of Supervisors approved the expenditures on Tuesday morning, July 19, 2016 at their meeting in Martinez.

Among the Keller grants this year was $100,000 for electronic surveillance of Highway 4 from Bay Point to Antioch where gang-related shootings have occurred the past year. It will be shared with the law enforcement agencies that line that roadway segment.

In all, the grants for the fiscal year 2016-2017 were awarded to 82 recipients providing a wide range of activities from a Christmas party for Bay Point’s children to a full-time resident deputy to crossing guards for Bay Point schools.

“The allocation set aside for to monitor Highway 4 – possibly including cameras and license plate readers – will be used by law enforcement to keep our residents safe,” says Glover.

The amount of available funding varies from year to year because the Keller fund is based on the tonnage delivered to the Keller Canyon Landfill located in the hills off of Bailey Road south of Pittsburg and Bay Point.

The county supervisors created the mitigation fund when voters in the early1990s approved the location of a landfill site in the hills south of Bay Point and Pittsburg. Since the landfill was located in District 5, the district 5 supervisor was given the responsibility of administering the fund. The fund helps alleviate some of the landfill’s impacts to the neighboring community.

In 2011, at the recommendation of the Auditor, Supervisor Glover reformed the distribution of the funds by limiting its use to the impacted area and instituting a fully transparent system for determining who is granted the awards and to ensure that the money is used for what it is intended.

The grants will be awarded August 18 after the recipients sign their contracts with the county. The programs or events that will benefit from the grants include:

•Bay Point holiday celebrations

•Field trips from Bay Point teenagers

•Antioch Rivertown Jamboree and Delta Thunder Boat Race

•A full-time deputy as a school resource officer in Bay Point schools.

•Bay Point Spring Derby Memorial Day Parade and Festival

•World Music and Arts Festival for Bay Point and Pittsburg elementary school students

•RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic

•Ambrose Park Aquatic Center Project.

This year’s fund of $1,507,000 is based on the anticipated tonnage that will be delivered to the landfill for the fiscal year 2016-2017.

This is the second year in a row that the Keller fund has shown an increase, which might be an indication of an improving economy, said Glover.

“The grant awards are always difficult decisions because there are so many good services being provided by local agencies,” he added.

Sean Wright, with his wife Lani, submits his filing papers to run for Mayor of Antioch, to Antioch City Clerk Arne Simonsen on Tuesday, July 19.

Will share his vision and message for Antioch over the next few months

Dr. Sean Wright, chiropractor and CEO of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, officially turned in his candidate nomination papers Tuesday morning, July 19^th, becoming the first candidate to file for Mayor of the City of Antioch for the November 8th election.

“I’m excited to share my vision and message for Antioch over the next few months,” Wright said. “I’m tired of watching friends move away.  I want to utilize my leadership and communication skills to focus Antioch on Public Safety, Jobs and supporting our schools so that Antioch becomes the place where our friends want to live.”

Wright’s platform consists of three planks: Leadership, Public Safety, and Jobs.

Leadership: We elect leaders to make difficult decisions and fight for us. Antioch is challenged and needs a new direction: a leader who listens, collaborates, communicates and unifies behind a common vision. My experience and passion are best suited to help Antioch succeed.

Public Safety: Measure C funds are meant to reduce escalating crime and they are being misspent. 100 percent of Measure C money needs to hire police and code enforcement officers, immediately. We’ve heard the talk, now we need the results.

Jobs: Antioch has expanded Highway 4, will extend E-BART, has access to multiple railroad lines, and a deep water port but no plan to create permanent high paying jobs. It must be easier for businesses to open in Antioch so people can live, work, play and worship in our community.

A few of his supporters shared their thoughts about Wright and his campaign.

“I’m so excited to sign today and support Sean Wright for his run for Mayor of Antioch,” said Antioch resident Susan Martinez. “He is just the type of hardworking and smart leader our city so badly needs!”

“Sean is not a politician, he is a just a resident who cares about Antioch,” said Antioch resident Jose Solario. “The job he has done in transforming the Chamber of Commerce can only be described as amazing. With a track record for getting positive results, he is the ONLY choice for Antioch.”

“I support Sean Wright and his approach to serving in local Government,” said Antioch community advocate and business owner Terry Ramus. “Voters who desire responsive, problem-solving government would be wise to support Sean also. His candidacy for Mayor is about the people who live and work in Antioch. Finally.”

For more information on Sean Wright, and his Vision for 1 Antioch, visit www.wrightformayor.com.

Instructors for the Math Intensive Program, currently operating a summer session in Antioch, are used to working with students of different ages and grade levels.  But, unique to their classes, students attending are sometimes separated by generations.

Grandmothers, eager to assist their grandchildren with their math homework once school begins, are working alongside their grandchildren learning the same concepts, techniques, and procedures that the instructors use to help the elementary, middle, and high school students who take the class in order to rapidly increase their math skills.

Pam Thomas, grandmother of Khaaliq, who just finished his 6^th grade year at Black Diamond Middle School, has been attending the program since the summer session began in early June.  Since then, she has attended almost daily…even on days when her grandson is absent.  Progressing rapidly through the program, she now assists other students, as well as her grandchild.

“I am happy to have my grandson in this program,” Thomas stated. “There is nothing more important than his education.  It’s not always easy, but it is definitely worth it.  I also get to learn as he is leaning, so I can be more effective at teaching him, as well as the other students.  Education is at the very top of the list of priorities for me.”

Angel Luevano, the Administrative Director for Math Intensive, is proud of all the students that are attending, but he’s especially pleased with the grandparents taking the class.

“I’m very happy to see these grandparents sitting in on our classes, and learning alongside their grandchildren,” he said. “This is evidence of the importance they place on the value of a good education and the level of commitment they are willing to make to ensure their students’ success.  Intergenerational programs such as this add tremendous value to our entire community.”

The Math Intensive Program will continue every week day through August 12 at Delta Bay Church of Christ, 913 Sunset Drive, in Antioch.  There are two sessions a day, one from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and another from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The cost for attendance is $30 per 3-hour session.  For more information, contact John Crowder at 925-628-4033, or stop by Delta Bay Church during one of their sessions.

By Allen Payton

The signature gathering effort to place an initiative on the November ballot for an event center on the old Antioch Lumber Company lot in downtown failed to gather the necessary signatures to qualify.

In a July 19th letter from Antioch City Clerk Arne Simonsen to Jim Lanter, the lead organizer for the initiative, it was revealed that the 10% random count of the 5,149 signatures by the county Clerk-Record-Elections Department produced only 394 valid signatures, short of the 500 necessary to conduct a full count.

Joy Motts, one of the organizers of the effort shared her thoughts.

“It’s a bump in the road, here,” she said. “We’re going to fight on. It was one way we were going forward. The 500 random process is just the way it is. I would have preferred they did a 100% verification but they don’t. It’s not over for us. We’ll be moving forward, just in a different direction.”

Asked if the council approves the sale of the property to a developer, could the next effort be a referendum, she responded “The council could vote. We will do everything we can to stop that from happening. You still have over 5,000 people who signed the petitions who said they want a different alternative on that parcel. That’s a significant statement.”

“You would think the council and staff would have a conversation with us,” she added. “But they didn’t.”

When asked if more signatures can be gathered and added to those already submitted, Motts said “I’m not sure. We may have to submit all over again, once you submit them.”

Both County Clerk-Recorder Joe Canciamilla and Simonsen provided the bad news.

“They have to start all over and resubmit,” Canciamilla stated. “Once they submit their signatures they can’t add to them.”

Simonsen concurred, stating “They have to start all over again from scratch per state Elections Code 9115 (e).”

To read the letters from Simonsen and the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department, click here:Letter to Jim Lanter dated 7-19-2016

Antioch Police highlights as published in Assistant City Manager Ron Bernal’s Weekly Report dated July 15, 2016 and provided by Chief of Police Allan Cantando.

Calls for Service and Arrest Data Time Period Summary:

07/07/16 00:00:00 – 07/13/16 23:59:59

Number of Calls for Service: 1,678

Number of Case Reports: 273

Number of Arrests: 76

Felony: 28

Misdemeanor: 48

Arrests with DUI charge: 5

The data is based upon unaudited CAD/RMS data at time of report generation.

• ·On 7/13/16 at 10:45 pm, security called APD dispatch regarding a large number of teens (100+) in and around the Antioch Marina. Upon arrival, it was learned they had gathered playing on the Pokeman Go APP. All of the kids remained calm and peaceful. They left a short time later.
• ·On 7/13/16 at 7:13 pm, 29 year old Joseph Dalessio was contacted on E. 18^th St. and Drive-In Way after an officer recognized him and knew he had a warrant. He was contacted and arrested without incident and booked into county jail.
• ·On 7/13/16 at 5:21 p.m., APD received calls that 34 year old Anthony Raby was in the center of the 2500 block of Blacktail Ct. on the phone and waving a gun around in the air. Upon arrival, witnesses directed officers to Raby’s residence. Contact was made at the door and when asked to show his hands, he produced a loaded Glock pistol from behind his leg in his hand. He was ordered to drop the gun and he complied. He was taken into custody without further incident and found to be heavily intoxicated. He admitted to having his gun out and waving it around. Raby was booked into county jail.
• ·On 7/13/16 at 3:27 pm, 38 year old Juan Martinez went into Lowes at 1951 Auto Center Dr. and put a hammer in his pocket as if he was going to steal it. While Martinez was in the store he removed the hammer and put it back. Loss prevention stopped Martinez as he was leaving and accused him of having the hammer. Martinez showed Salinas that he did not have a hammer on him and Martinez went to his car. Martinez then drove in front of the store several times and brandished what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol. He made threats to use the gun on the loss prevention officer. An APD officer was able to determine where Martinez lived and contacted him at his residence. Martinez was taken into custody. During a search, a starter pistol was located inside of the vehicle Martinez was driving. A sawed off shotgun was located in another vehicle at the residence. Martinez admitted to owning the shotgun and has two prior felony convictions, therefore is prohibited from owning firearms. Martinez was arrested and later booked into county jail.
• ·On 7/12/16 at 12:15 pm, the victim was driving in the area of Buchanan Rd. and Gentrytown Dr. when her vehicle was sideswiped by a vehicle driven by 46 year old Brian Scott. He fled the area with the victim following. Scott drove into the area of Stapleton Dr. where the victim stopped and waited for police to arrive. Officers located Scott driving back towards Buchanan Rd., but he made an abrupt stop and fled on foot. Scott was caught by an officer when he doubled back towards the suspect vehicle. The victim and a witness identified Scott. The victim was injured in the crash and transported to the hospital. Scott was arrested and sent to county jail.
• ·On 7/12/16 at 7:36 am, an officer drove past 128 E. 7^th St. and noticed 35 year old Alexander Rendon get out of a car parked in front of the location with no plates on it. The officer turned around and saw there was a second person in the car, 33 year old Paul Brennan. He contacted both of the males and found the car to be stolen. The males were arrested without incident and both found to be in possession of shaved keys. Rendon was booked into county jail on auto theft charges and Brennan was cited for burglary tools.
• ·On 7/11/16 at 8:34 pm, a freight train was east bound on the tracks at approximately 40-45 MPH approaching the trestle near the A St extension. The victim was walking the tracks but did not hear the train or the blowing horn. The victim was struck by the train, which the force of the impact launched him approximately 150 ft. and he landed in the Delta just off the shore. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. BNSF railroad police were called and took over the investigation. According to witnesses, the victim was simply not paying attention. (EDITOR’S NOTE: A call has been made to BNSF for more details. Once received a separate article will be published about this incident).
• ·On 7/11/16 at 5:40 pm, 22 year old Shaquille Thomas is a sex registrant and transient. He came to APD to register and was found to be 17 days out of compliance. Thomas was arrested for the violation and released with a citation after completing his registration.
• ·On 7/11/16 at 1:29 pm, an officer was in the area of Delta Fair Blvd. and Somersville Rd. when he observed 54 year old Michael McKee in the median panhandling. Upon contact, McKee was uncooperative with officers, intoxicated, and on probation. This was the second time today we dealt with McKee. He was arrested and sent to county jail.
• ·On 7/10/16 at 11:24 pm, 23 year old Joseph Bonacci was driving while extremely intoxicated and collided with two parked cars near the intersection of Evergreen Ave. and E 19^th St. One of the cars was pushed from the street, over the sidewalk, and into a residential driveway where it collided with a third car. Bonacci’s vehicle sustained major damage and he fled on foot. Arriving officers located Bonacci nearby and he fled from them also. Bonacci was taken into custody and medically cleared prior to being booked into county jail.
• ·On 7/10/16 at 7:14 pm, 36 year old Gabriel Jimenez and 20 year old Sydney Frachon arrived at the Antioch Nissan dealership in a brand new Ford SUV. Frachon waited while Jimenez attempted to purchase another vehicle by posing as someone else and using a fraudulent California ID card in the victim’s name. Antioch Nissan ran a credit report using the victim’s name and discovered it was flagged for fraud. Antioch Nissan contacted the victim by phone and learned he was the victim of identity theft. When Officers arrived they detained Frachon and Jimenez. Jimenez continued to claim to be the victim until the fingerprint reader revealed his true identity. Officers were able to determine that Jimenez had also obtained a loan and purchased the Ford SUV that he arrived in from Livermore Ford using the victim’s information. A search of the Ford SUV revealed numerous checks, tax returns, mail, and other items suspected to be stolen and/or used for identity theft. Jimenez was booked at county jail. Frachon had two warrants for her arrest and was also booked at county jail.
• ·On 7/10/16 at 10:10 am, officers conducted a pedestrian stop of 47 year old Anthony Smith near Wells Fargo on Somersville Rd. He was found to have a warrant for his arrest out of Alameda County and was booked into county jail.
• ·On 7/10/16 at 2:00 am, officers were dispatched to the 2100 block of Cordoba Way for an unknown male with long brown hair banging on the front door and yelling obscenities. Officers arrived and contacted 31 year old Vincent Ciccone who was obviously intoxicated and causing a disturbance in the neighborhood. He was determined to be drunk in public and arrested. He was transported to county jail.
• ·On 7/9/16 at 10:06 pm, 33 year old Hernan Cuevas was contacted during a traffic stop at Hillcrest Ave. and E 18^th St. due to his inability to stay in his lane. Cuevas displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. He failed field sobriety tests and registered over the legal limit on a preliminary alcohol screening device. He was arrested for DUI and transported to county jail.
• ·On 7/9/16 at 6:47 pm, officers responded to the call of a disturbance at the 1600 block of Sycamore Dr. 33 year old Jasmine Turner-Brooks was contacted in front of the apartment and found to have a warrant for petty theft for her arrest. She was arrested and booked at county jail.
• ·On 7/8/16 at 5:47 pm, 34 year old Raymond Smith was driving a highly modified 1930’s Ford pickup with a Corvette engine west bound on E. Tregallas Rd. He was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control of the vehicle. He crossed into the east bound lane, jumped the curb, and continued through a fence just missing two construction workers. The vehicle collided with a house near Patricia Ave. and ejected both Smith and his passenger. Both were taken to the hospital with moderate injuries. Smith was under the influence of alcohol and arrested, but released pending further investigation at the hospital.
• ·On 7/8/16 at 12:12 am, officers were in the area of Taco Bell on A St. when they noticed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot. Officers made contact with 47 year old Shane Agness and 35 year old Cherylynda Gordon next to a white Dodge Charger. A VIN check showed it to be a reported stolen vehicle out of Antioch. Both Agness and Gordon were found to have warrants for their arrests and they were taken into custody without incident. During a search of Gordon, she was found to be in possession of the keys to the stolen vehicle. Agness was cited and released with a promise to appear for his warrant. Gordon was later sent to county jail on her warrants and for possessing a stolen vehicle.
• ·On 7/7/16 at 10:22 pm, at 615 W. 19^th St. two unknown males wearing dark hooded clothing came to the front of a house in the 600 block of W. 19^th St. asking for a male who lived there. When told he wasn’t home, one of the males fired approximately 2-4 shots into the home. The males fled on foot going east bound on 19^th St. Officers located a bullet hole in the front window and one in the security screen door. Nobody inside the residence was struck by gunfire. The investigation is on-going.
• ·On 7/7/16 at 7:41 am, 18 year old Jordan Boswell and a female passenger were sitting in her car at the dead end of Prewett Ranch Dr. loitering. They were contacted by police and Boswell was nervous and lied about his name. Officers determined who he was and he was found to have two warrants out of Alameda County. Alameda County Sheriff’s Office responded to pick him up.

This very talented Senior Softball team from Antioch is undefeated at this point and has earned a spot in the Western Regionals tournament in Missoula, Montana. The tournament runs from July 21st – July 26th but they need your support to get them there.  These 13 girls and three coaches must be there by July 21st. All funds raised will go towards travel, food and lodging for the team.

This team is made up of girls who have played together for years through little league either on the same team or against each other. They have grown not only as team mates but as a family. This tournament means a great deal to each and every one of them as well as to our league as a whole.

This is only the second team to go this far in the last 40 years of softball. Please help support our girls and coaches by clicking here: www.gofundme.com/2ehwdgec. Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated. Thank You! Go Antioch!