Re-elected Council Member Lori Ogorchock and Council Member-Elect Joy Motts will be sworn in on Tues., Dec. 6, 2018. Herald file photos

The Antioch City Council will hold the oath of office ceremony for Council Member-elect Joy Motts and re-elected Council Member Lori Ogorchock, tonight, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Antioch Council Chambers.

On her Facebook page, Motts posted on Monday, “I hope you can join me…Tuesday December 11th at 6pm at Antioch City Council Chambers where I will be sworn in as the newest member of the Antioch City Council and as top vote getter, Mayor Pro Tem. I am so excited and grateful to the voters of Antioch that supported me and I am honored to be your representative for the next two years. With honesty, integrity, passion and transparency, I will do my very best to make all of you proud of me and proud of our community!”

Following the ceremony and reorganization of the council, the new council members will get straight to business, including an increase of the authorization of police officers in the budget from the current 104 to 110, getting the city closer to the 111 promised in Measure C. In addition, the council will deal with authorizing an expenditure of almost $400,000 for an ad buy for the city’s rebranding effort. See full complete agenda, here: ACC121118

The council chambers are located at City Hall, 200 W. Third Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.

New Antioch Police Officer Andrea Rodriguez and Chief Brooks following her oath of office ceremony on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Photo by APD

Staffing back up to 99 sworn officers after loss of two

Posted on APD Facebook page

On Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, we welcomed Andrea Rodriguez to our APD family.

Andrea grew up in San Leandro and moved to Manteca at the age of 13. In 2006, she graduated from Sierra High School. After graduating high school, she attended CSU Eastbay, where she played basketball and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, with a minor in Psychology. After graduating college, she was hired with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s office as a Deputy Ranger and was assigned to the courthouse. Andrea eventually got hired as a Deputy Sheriff with Contra Costa County and attended the Contra Costa County police academy in 2013.

After graduating the academy, she was assigned to the main jail in Martinez. In 2015, Andrea moved to the San Leandro Police Department where she worked for the next 3 years. She was assigned to patrol and was a member of the hostage negotiation team. Andrea is excited to be a part of the Antioch PD family, and is honored to be a part of a great department!

In her free time, Andrea enjoys reading, hanging out with family and friends, and being with her fur babies, Rue and Koda.

Fun Fact: Andrea does not drink coffee and has yet to taste it!!

Rodriguez is the third officer added to the force in the last two months, which would have brought the total to 101 sworn officers. However, according to Chief Tammany Brooks, that brings the force to a total of 99 officers because the department recently lost two officers, “one to medical retirement and another left for another agency.”

A recent report in the December issue of the Antioch Herald stated the most recent hire by the department brought the number of sworn officers to 100. However, he pointed out that the “medical retirement happened just a day before his swearing in.”

“Staffing is a constantly changing number,” Brooks added. “We’ve yet to hit 100, but I’m working hard to get us there. It’s the attrition that makes it difficult.”

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Corporal Steve McElroy #2500, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On December 8, 2018 at 6:35 p.m., the Antioch Police Department received reports of several shots being fired in the 2200 block of Renwick Lane. Upon officers’ arrival, a 22-year-old male Antioch resident was found suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital and is expected to recover. No suspect was located, and the case remains under investigation.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. Any further inquiries into the status of this case should be done via the Media Access Telephone Line 925-779-6874. Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Investigations Bureau.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441 or you may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Live music in historic, downtown Rivertown!

When: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Where: 422 W. Second Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.

About the singer: Althea Battle is a gifted artist and musician whose sounds have captivated audiences for over two decades. Growing up the daughter of a pianist and a gospel entertainer in Oakland, California, Althea was destined to be the musical prodigy she is today. From an early age, she began her journey by singing in church and musical theatre in school. In 1990, Althea graduated Skyline’s Performing Arts School and began her musical theatre career with Beach Blanket Babylon. Later, she began working with her own musical groups and started a band.

Although success with popular music was fulfilling, Althea always made sure God was amid her career. Althea’s talents blessed her to sing alongside several amazing gospel artists. Stage and live performances include: opening for Twinkie Clark, Anita Wilson, Alexis Spight, Crystal Rucker, and BET Sunday Best’s Joshua Rogers.

With a lifetime experience in singing in church choirs, Althea gracefully developed her skills for choral instructing which led her to lead many gospel groups. In 2012, she began as Minister of Music for Nu Revelations Church in Oakland. After two years, she began singing as a gospel solo artist for Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in Oakland. The pastor, Rev. Anthony Jenkins, Sr. immediately recognized Althea’s anointed gifts and appointed her Minister of Music; the director of the church choir and head of the Taylor Music Ministry. Starting as a praise team with just four members, Taylor Anointed Praise (TAP) has blossomed into a diverse group of true worshippers that willfully sing praises to the Lord regardless of musical experience.

With the growth and success of TAP, Althea expanded the music ministry as opportunities for more men and youth to participate in worship. Now with more ensembles such as the Musical Prodigy Youth Choir, Tapestry Young Adults Choir, and the Taylor Made Men’s Chorus, the Taylor Music Ministry has spiritually and physically grown beyond expectations. Althea has taken the ministry outside of Taylor walls and into other churches beyond the Methodist denomination. Also, the ministry has been blessed to grace larger platforms such as The Oracle Arena, ministering during games for the NBA Champions Golden State Warriors and the Harlem Globetrotters. Recently, the choir sung the Star Spangled Banner and the Negro National Anthem as the kickoff for the Warriors’ 2018 Black History Month Celebration.

Althea Battle continues to be an instrument of God’s praise with her wonderful talents and anointed leadership. By combining traditional and contemporary gospel music, Althea creates heavenly harmonies that minister to all of God’s people regardless of age, ethnicity, culture, or denomination.

By Daniel Borsuk

On a 5-0 vote, supervisors sent a letter to the 23rd District Agricultural Association requesting that the association stop the gun shows at the state-owned Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, now known as the Contra Costa Event Park in Antioch.

County supervisors were unsuccessful in seeking a ban on firearm possession and sales on county fairgrounds from the Agricultural Association in previous attempts in 1996 and in 2004.

“Gun violence and gun-related injuries and deaths continue to be critical public health concerns,” the supervisors’ letter states.  “The Board of Supervisors continues to support a policy that would prohibit the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds from being used in the proliferation of this critical public health hazard.

“As the nation grapples with the effects of mass shootings, the 23^rd District Agricultural Association has the responsibility to determine if facilitating guns shows on public property is the message to be sending to the public.”

The supervisors’ letter notes the fairgrounds are near a number of sensitive public areas, including a Head Start kindergarten readiness facility that is located on the Fairground property.  Some 500 feet away from the Fairgrounds are Antioch High School and Fairview Park.  Nearby are Live Oak High School, Antioch Middle School and Fremont Elementary School.

Prompting the gun ban were a number of requests Supervisor Federal Glover received from constituents who complained about the gun shows at the Fairgrounds.  “This is an opportunity,” said Glover in reference to the election of a new governor, Gavin Newsom, who will replace Gov. Gerald Brown, who has vetoed gun legislation that would have banned gun shows at another state-owned fairgrounds, the Cow Palace in Daly City.

Alameda, Marin, Sonoma, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties have outlawed the possession of firearms and ammunition at their county-owned fairgrounds, and Los Angeles County has banned firearm and ammunition sales on its county-owned fairgrounds.

A spokesperson for the 23rd District Agricultural Association did not return a Contra Costa Herald phone call for comment on the board of supervisors’ letter.