Archive for February, 2019

Deer Valley High’s Business Tech Academy honored as Distinguished Academy

Thursday, February 28th, 2019

Members of the Deer Valley High Business Tech Academy and instructor Kristofer Freeman. Photos by AUSD.

From Antioch Unified School District Facebook Page

It’s an elite group, which Deer Valley’s Business Technology Academy now belongs. The DV team was recently named a 2019 California Partnership Academies Distinguished Academy.

The good news recently came from the California Department of Education. The congratulatory letter noted after more than “30 years of commitment to the implementation of high-quality educational programs mixing core academics and career technical education for thousands of California’s at-risk high school students, this is the fourth time this honor has been bestowed and will be imparted to less than 2% of the CPAs.”

“I am extremely proud of our team and, especially, our students,” said Kristofor Freeman, Business Technology Academy Lead. “While all of our CTE classes are fantastic, at the end of the day, it was our amazing students in The Den and the Virtual Enterprise class that impressed the review team with their hard work and exceptional skills.”

The letter added that all 406 CPAs were “scrupulously reviewed.” Then each making the first cut were visited by experts in the Partnership Academy to “review and certify each component of the model for quality of implementation.”

The Den is an on campus store operated by students in the Marketing class.

It also stated that the “dedication, professionalism and compassion required to develop and implement a program achieving (all requirements) is without parallel in education. … You (and your academy) stand among the best of the best. It’s truly an accomplishment worth celebrating.”

The vision of the academy is to ensure students are educated for the jobs of the 21st century through work based learning projects and simulations, access to technology, and the development of professional characteristics.

The mission of the Business Technology Academy is to promote learning relevant to both a technical and academic education.  It also further develops the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will enable students to be successful in school and beyond.

Antioch Police selling T-shirts to raise funds for additional K-9 unit

Thursday, February 28th, 2019

The Antioch Police Department holds the title of having one of the largest K9 units in the far East Bay. And as much esteem as the hard-working animals hold in the eyes of APD and their handlers, the K9 unit is often underfunded, which puts added stress on the K9s, their handlers and the Antioch Police Department at large.

What Is So Special About a K9 Unit?

Police dogs are believed to be able to do the work of several police officers.  K9 Officers are used to locate and subdue suspects, find missing people or objects, or detect illicit substances, such as drugs or explosive devices.  Dog teams are also able to search an area 50 times faster than a human and can detect a smell up to 500,000 times better, with certainty, than a human can.  Canines that are integrated into a police force are known for being incredibly hard-working, have a desire to cooperate and please their handlers, and have exceptional tenacity when it comes to fighting a criminal, working in detection or on a search and rescue mission.  Law enforcement professionals know that police canines can assist police departments in ways that no other tool can.  There is no doubt that a K9 unit is imperative to the success of most police departments.  This holds to be true for the Antioch Police Department

Why Are Costs High?

As much as police canine units bring value to active police departments, the cost of acquisition and on-going training for both the canines and their handlers can be expensive.   The average cost of a dog is $12,000. Like many police agencies, APD struggles when it comes to budgeting for a new dog. APD is able to budget the costs of care, training and transportation of each of their canines, but acquisition costs can be prohibitive.   During each canines’ 6-8-year career, their handlers manage many of the costs associated with care, including veterinarian visits, food costs and transportation, when the dog is not working.  However, those costs are handled by the police department when each dog is on active duty.

How Can We Help?

Last year, APD was able to add another canine to their K9 Department thanks to the fundraising efforts of a committed Antioch community member.  This year, the department is facing the pending retirement of another dog, meaning the efforts to fundraise for another canine has increased. This time around, the APD K9 Unit has designed a T-shirt as a part of a continuing fundraising effort for the K9 program.  The current design was created by the department’s six current handlers who are assigned the city patrol.  Each K9 partner’s name is incorporated into the design on the back of the shirts and sweatshirts. Although these shirts were originally designed to be sold only in-house, the interest from the community has been large.  Now the shirts have been made available to the public.  Each black shirt is available in a traditional cotton crewneck, a cotton pullover hooded sweatshirt, or a woman’s style V-neck.  There are also youth and tall sizes available.

Prices are as follows:

-Youth sizes S-XL = $15

– Men’s and Women’s styles and sizes S-XL = $20 (in both cotton or dry fit)

– Cotton hooded sweatshirts S-XL = $40

– For XXL or larger or tall sizes = $25 for shirts or $45 for sweatshirts

To order, complete the attached order form, and return, with payment to:

Antioch Police Department

300 L. St.

Antioch, CA 94509

Attn: Corporal Steve McElroy

Please make checks payable to APOA K9 Fund, or should you choose to use Venmo for payment, we are listed as “APDK9.” Please provide all of your contact information in the notes portion of Venmo if this is your method of payment, as well as submitting your form to the above address. If the order form submission is more convenient to email, it should be submitted to smcelroy@ci.antioch.ca.us

All proceeds from these shirts go directly to the APD K9 unit. The proceeds will be used for a variety of things from training, to equipment, to ultimately purchasing new dogs when the need arises.

Next Antioch Neighborhood Cleanup Saturday, March 2

Wednesday, February 27th, 2019

From Antioch Police Department

Our 96th Neighborhood Cleanup will be held on March 2, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will be cleaning the neighborhoods around Fremont Elementary School at 1413 F Street. (See map area below). Our cleanup events are a great way to show your civic pride, help your community, and make a difference in these neighborhoods.

Please consider joining our VIPS, police department staff, and community volunteers on March 2nd and be part of the change you want to see in our city. We hope to see you there!

 

Supervisor Diane Burgis’ heart surgery to replace aortic valve a success

Wednesday, February 27th, 2019

Supervisor Diane Burgis

Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis’ surgery to replace her aortic valve was a success. (See related article).

The surgery performed on Monday, February 25 by a medical team at John Muir Hospital Concord began at 8 am, with the valve replacement completed just before noon. Supervisor Burgis was up and making jokes with friends by early evening.  She will be in the hospital for one week and then recovering at home before returning to work.

“We are excited and relieved that the surgery was such a success,” said Mark Goodwin, Supervisor Burgis’ Chief of Staff. “I’ll be speaking with her regularly over the next few weeks. I’m not sure what the greater challenge will be, keeping her away from the work she loves while she recovers or keeping up with her when she gets back, but I look forward to both. We’re grateful to the medical team at John Muir Hospital Concord and to everyone who has reached out to express their support.”

Goodwin will be the primary point of contact during Burgis’ recovery. Cards and well wishes may be sent to her main office, 3361 Walnut Boulevard, Suite 140, Brentwood, CA 94513.

Supervisor Diane Burgis represents District 3, the largest of the five Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor districts, which includes Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, and Oakley in East Contra Costa County and Blackhawk, Diablo and Tassajara Valley in the southern portion of the district.

Coroner’s inquest jury determines in custody death of child molestation suspect from Antioch was suicide

Wednesday, February 27th, 2019

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff-Coroner

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s jury has reached a finding in the June 12, 2018 death of 52-year-old Phillip Andrew Jacobson of Antioch. The finding of the jury is that the death was a suicide.

Jacobson was arrested on booked into jail on July 11, 2017 by the Antioch Police Department. He was being held on eight counts of child molestation. (See related article).

The Coroner’s jury reached a unanimous verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by hearing officer Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is a public hearing during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: Accident, Suicide
Natural Causes,  and At the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Sip & Paint night at Afrique Restaurant Sunday, March 3

Monday, February 25th, 2019

Cornerstone Christian boys’ varsity basketball team wins NCS championship

Sunday, February 24th, 2019

The Cornerstone Christian School Cougars varsity boys basketball NCS Championship team. Photo from Cornerstone’s Facebook page.

By Allen Payton

Antioch’s Cornerstone Christian School boys’ varsity basketball team won Saturday’s North Coast Section championship game against Jewish Community of the Bay Area from San Francisco, by a score of 66-53. It’s the first time the Cornerstone Cougars have won NCS.

The game was played at Cornerstone against the visiting Wolves and the win has earned the Cougars a spot in the state tournament.

The game was a part of the “NCS/Les Schwab Tires Boys Basketball Championships – Division 6 “ tournament. To see the results of each of Cornerstone’s games this season click here.

Please check back later for more details from the game.

Hayward woman dies in crash on Highway 4 in Antioch early Saturday morning

Sunday, February 24th, 2019

By CHP-Contra Costa

Early this morning at about 2:02am, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a solo vehicle collision on the L Street off-ramp from eastbound HWY-4.

Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, it was determined that a 2011 Toyota Corolla was driven off the roadway and into the metal guardrail on the off-ramp. The solo female driver was unresponsive and transported by ambulance but unfortunately was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of her identity.
In the initial investigation, it appears that the solo female driver (42 years old from Hayward) of the 2011 Toyota Corolla was traveling eastbound on HWY-4 at an undetermined speed and then exited on the L Street off-ramp. For unknown reasons she veered the Toyota off the roadway and drove into the metal guardrail, causing major damage and injury. Upon emergency personnel arrival, she was transported by ambulance to a local hospital but was pronounced deceased once at the hospital.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs are a factor in this collision as it is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980.