Coordinator will earn $50 to $60 per hour up to $120,000 per year

By Allen Payton

At their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10th, the Antioch City Council will consider approving a fourth marijuana business in the city. The Contra Costa Farms LLC plans include “cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and a dispensary with delivery” at 3400 Wilbur Avenue, according to the city staff report. Contra Costa Farms ACC 09-19

In total, the business proposes to build four, two-story buildings for a total of 211,800 square feet of space. The largest part of the business will be the indoor growing operation. They plan to use up to 13 vehicles for delivery and will also sell vape pens, rolling papers, pipes and grinders.

In their presentation, which can be viewed, in the staff report, Contra Costa Farms claims they will make “Real Contributions to City of Antioch First Responders: 0.5% of Gross Sales pledged to the City of Antioch’s First Responders which will grow to ~$1,000,000 per year” and “0.5% of Gross Sales pledged to Antioch Public Schools which will grow to ~$1,000,000 per year.”

Unhoused Resident Coordinator

In addition, the council will consider creating and filling the position of a part-time Unhoused Resident Coordinator, using the council’s new term for homeless people in Antioch, at $50 to $60 per hour with a cost not to exceed $120,000 per year. Unhoused Resident Coordinator ACC091019

To view the entire council meeting agenda, click here.

During reconstruction of the council chambers, the council meetings are currently held at the Antioch Community Center in Prewett Park, 4703 Lone Tree Way, beginning at 7:00 p.m. or it can be viewed livestream on the City’s website at https://www.antiochca.gov/.

Victim was 57-year-old Oakland man; dispute began at Pittsburg gas station

By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit (Investigations Bureau)

On Sunday, September 1, 2019, at approximately 9:20 PM, an argument between several subjects started in the east driveway of the Chevron Gas Station located at 1235 California Avenue in Pittsburg. The argument appears to be over a road rage incident. The road rage incident continued into Antioch where Oakland resident, 57-year-old Raul Garcia, was shot and killed in the 3400 Block of Rio Grande Drive. (See related article).

The Antioch Police Department is asking anyone who saw the argument at the Chevron Gas Station in Pittsburg or the shooting in Antioch to come forward with any information they may have regarding this case.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Gonzalez at 925-779-6923, or the Antioch Police Department nonemergency line at (925)778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Allen Payton

Now in their eighth year of business in Antioch, the former Maaco location on W. 10th Street will soon become Antioch Collision with the slogan “Your Auto Body and Paint Center”, because that’s what they want to be. They’ll be closed Sept. 2-8 as the prepare for their re-opening on Monday, September 9th.

Offering competitive pricing and complete paints by PPG, they’re making the change “to provide a quality product we can be proud of,” said Manager Jeff Kennedy, an Antioch resident and a key leader of the locally operated team.

“We want to help more people in a better way by offering a better, higher quality process at an affordable price, not just focused on the lowest price,” he added.

Kennedy stressed that their goal is “keeping our customers safe and satisfied.”

He has been part of the team for “going on six years and 20 years in the industry”, he shared.

“We’ll be transforming from a production-type shop into a more customer focused, quality control shop,” Kennedy continued. “We’ll probably end up working on fewer cars, but put our a better product, as a result. We’ve been what this industry considers cheap, quick and easy. Now, we’re moving to a higher-end product, in a more welcoming, customer friendly environment.”
“We’ll be more focused on collision repair, not just paint,” he added.

Another member of the team, it’s youngest and newest, is Sergio Gonzalez, also an Antioch resident, who works as a paint prepper. He just graduated from UTI – Universal Technical Institute, where you “get a little taste of everything, to see if you like something.”

He likes cars and has “always been into cars since I was 12 years old,” Sergio shared.

In his job, he “sands down everything, and cleans and fixes any defects.” It’s his attention to detail that’s key to ensuring there aren’t any bumps and the paint comes out smooth.

Sergio says he treats the cars like they’re his own.

A third team member, Miguel Arroyo, who grew up in Pittsburg, works as a masker and has been with the team for almost five years. Previously he worked at a car detailer in a car wash, which is where he got his start in the automotive service industry.

“I’ve always been into cars since I was small,” Miguel shared.

When it comes to working on cars, he’s a perfectionist. “I’m on it,” he stated.

Miguel said he checks Sergio’s work, then “I blow it down to make sure it’s clean of dirt and ready to go to the paint room.”

He covers all the windows and trim, whatever shouldn’t be painted. A complete job usually takes less than an hour, depending on the size of the car. A spot job will only take just five to ten minutes.

“I treat the cars a little better because they’re not my vehicle,” Miguel added. He works to “make it look cleaner, better and good as new.”

The paint room is probably the most exciting part of the process. It’s an enclosed, separate building inside the shop, in which a car that’s been prepped and masked, is driven in and the painter takes it from there.

If your car needs repair and a new paint job, stop by Antioch Collision – after September 9th – at 1610 W. 10^th Street in Antioch or call (925) 755-2447.

By Antioch Police

Last night, an Antioch resident was accosted by two subjects in the 1100 block of James Donlon Blvd. and her vehicle was taken at gun point. The suspects fled in the vehicle, and despite officers’ best efforts, the vehicle and suspects were not located.

This afternoon, citizens reported a vehicle collision on Golf Course Road and Frederickson Lane. The vehicle had apparently crashed into a light pole and several subjects fled on foot on to Mt. Hamilton Drive, towards Dallas Ranch Middle School. Officers were able to get into the area quickly and detain two 14-year-old and one 15-year-old male juvenile. Witnesses to today’s collision identified all three subjects as being in the vehicle, and further investigation lead to one of the males being identified as being involved in last night’s carjacking incident.

All three subjects were arrested and later sent to the Juvenile Hall on carjacking, probation violations and other charges related to both incidents. We were fortunately able to also recover some of the victim’s property, and none of this would’ve been possible without the help of the citizens that called us and stepped forward to help us identify those involved. Thank you, Antioch!

By Lieutenant John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, at approximately 9:36 PM, Antioch police officers were called to St. Christopher Court for a subject who had been shot. When police arrived, they located a 57-year-old male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began providing first aid and called for Contra Costa Fire Department and ambulance paramedics.

The victim was transported to a local area trauma center where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Detectives from the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau responded to the scene. During the preliminary investigation officers learned that the shooting happened in the roadway, at the 3400 block of Rio Grande Drive, after some sort of confrontation between the victim and an unknown suspect. Afterwards, the victim fled to St. Christopher Court where the police were called.

Currently, the investigation is still active and evidence is being collected.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Gonzalez at 925-779-6923, or the Antioch Police Department nonemergency line at (925)778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Sgt. Rick Smith, Antioch Police Field Services – Patrol

On August 31, 2019 multiple agencies gathered at the Antioch Police Department to conduct a Pro-active Detail to prevent “Sideshow Activity” and other reckless driving at multiple locations in East Contra Costa County. This was in response to a previous large scale “sideshow” event that occurred on August 23, 2019 and spanned multiple cities and locations in Eastern Contra Costa County.

The Multi-Agency Team consisting of over 20 Officers and Deputies gathered to brief and prepare for the event. A zero-tolerance approach was to be taken and several target locations were identified. In addition to Antioch PD, officers and deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, CHP, Brentwood PD, Pittsburg PD, and Oakley PD all participated. Air support was provided by the Sheriff’s Office, CHP, and

During that event, dozens of vehicles and hundreds of spectators took over city streets, intersections, and various freeway locations. Due to all of these participating Agencies in this portion of the county working together and taking an aggressive approach with zero tolerance enforcement to details of this type, the incident on August 23rd was the first incident to occur in over a year. Several prior enforcement details in the past with the same zero tolerance approach, resulted in numerous citations issued, vehicles referred to the State Referee program for illegal modifications and drivers arrested on various types of charges, have prevented these types of reckless “sideshows” from occurring.

Later in the evening, approximately 75-100 vehicles, with almost twice that in attendees and spectators, began to assemble in the northeast parking lot of the Somersville Town Center Mall located in Antioch. Officers began to monitor this group in preparation of a repeat “sideshow” from the previous week.

After a short time, the participants began to filter out of the parking lot in large groups. Contra Costa County Helicopter Star 1 and CHP Airplane Air 31, along with a UAV from the Antioch Police Department were overhead monitoring this event. As large groups began to leave the location, Officers followed them on both eastbound and westbound Highway 4 prevent any reckless type driving. Both Star 1 and Air 31 assisted by each following as the groups entered the freeway. APD’s UAV remained at the Mall to maintain visual of the remaining cars.

One of the drivers chose to drive recklessly as he was leaving and did a series of “donuts” with his vehicle. Officers were able to quickly make an enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver and impounded his vehicle for 30-days.

The western group of participants left the county and were later identified as participants related to the enforcement action in the city of Oakland that occurred the same evening. Officers from this detail are providing information as needed to assist in their efforts and investigation.

A large group that left from the mall entered a private Commercial Warehouse lot off of Wilbur Avenue in the City of Antioch. This group proceeded to hold a “Sideshow” with several vehicles driving recklessly and several others observing. All Officers converged on the area and were able to detain all participants and spectators. Several vehicles were captured on video performing reckless driving acts by CHP Air 31. CHP Helicopter H30 arrived on scene to assist a short time later. All of the participants were subsequently arrested and later released on citations. This resulted in over 71 arrests. All vehicles identified to be involved in this event were towed and stored. This resulted in over 25 vehicles towed and stored. This included the vehicles captured performing dangerous driving maneuvers. These particular vehicles were towed and stored with 30-day holds and the drivers arrested for their reckless actions.

Through the cooperation of all involved agencies, these type of enforcement details will continue to occur within Contra Costa County. The intention is to deter these types of dangerous events from occurring and hopefully prevent any serious incidents which could result in the loss of life.

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

Bee Gees Gold

Sunday, September 8 3:00 pm

Adults: $29 Seniors: $27 Youth: $15 Reserved Seating

El Campanil Children’s Theatre 

The Best Haunted House Ever

Friday September 13, 2019 7:30 pm

Sunday September 15, 2019 2:00 pm

Adults: $13 Seniors: $11 Youth: $9 General Seating

Hotel California A Salute to the Eagles

Saturday September 14   8:00 pm

Adults: $29 Seniors: $27 Youth: $15 Reserved Seating

Patsy Cline Tribute  

Featuring the Carolyn Sills Combo

Sunday September 22   3:00 pm

Adults: $29 Seniors: $27 Youth: $15 Reserved Seating

Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra

Poems, Folk Tales, and Legends

Saturday September 28 2:00 pm

Adults: $20 Seniors: $15   Students: $7 General Seating

El Campanil Theatre is located at 602 W. 2nd Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For tickets or more information visit www.elcampaniltheatre.com or call (925) 757-9500.