Carrie Chapman Catt, President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association from 1915-1920 and founder of the League of Women Voters. Photo courtesy of LWV.

The public is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, February 1 to kick off the new exhibit “Women Win the Vote, in California, Contra Costa and the Nation” at the Contra Costa County History Center in Martinez.  “A Toast to the Indomitable Suffragists,” a program featuring feminist local historian Beverly Lane, will begin at 1 p.m.

The exhibit features the 72-year battle for American women’s right to vote, ending 100 years ago with passage of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 26, 1920.  It includes a display from the National Archives “Rightfully Hers,” suffrage banners, and a history of the movement. Stories of Contra Costa County woman leaders beginning in the 1920’s are also included.

The reception is sponsored by the Contra Costa County Historical Society and the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley. It runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the History Center, 724 Escobar in Martinez.  Street parking is available.

The Contra Costa History Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays each month.  Go to cocohistory.org for more information.

For more information on reception contact: lwvdv.org.

Photo by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

In response to recent thefts occurring at area J.C. Penney’s, our officers have upped their patrols of our Slatten Ranch store. Today, we arrested two subjects who came in the business and “forgot” to pay for 42 pairs of jeans valued at $70 each.

We appreciate the store’s cooperation as well as witnesses who call in information after the thefts.

Editor’s Note: A call has been made to the APD Media Line to obtain more details about this case. Please check back later for updates to this report.

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

On January 12, 2019 at 1:52 PM, Antioch Police Department patrol officers were dispatched to the 2100 block of Peppertree Way for multiple shots fired and a man down. Officers arrived on scene and located 28-year-old Jacory Brown down in the street, suffering from several gunshot wounds to his upper body. Brown was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased by hospital staff. (See related article).

It was determined through this investigation that Brown and 23-year-old Jordan Thompson were involved in a verbal/physical altercation and Thompson shot Brown several times during the altercation. Antioch Police Department investigators spent most of 2019 attempting to track-down Thompson, but he evaded capture. On January 17, 2020 at 9:01 AM, an Antioch Police Department patrol officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle on Contra Loma Boulevard near Longview Road. Jordan Thompson was contacted as the lone occupant/driver of the vehicle. Thompson was arrested on a probable cause warrant related to this murder and interviewed at the Antioch Police Department. Thompson was later booked into the County Jail in Martinez and is being held with No-Bail allowed. This case will be presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office early next week.

No further information will be released regarding this case at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Bledsoe at (925) 779-6884, or 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.

Antioch Middle School principal Lindsay Lopez-Wisely (with lanyard) with some of her students. Photo by AUSD.

By Antioch Unified School District

Just as she’d spent years as an athlete keeping an eye on the ball, Lindsay Lopez-Wisely knew what she wanted to do right out of college. Four years ago, that sense of direction led her to Antioch Middle School, where she has won an award from the Association of California School Administrators for excelling among secondary principals.

A product of Antioch Unified, the Deer Valley High graduate competed in basketball, tennis and track — so well that newspaper clippings of her athletic prowess decorate her office walls.
Lopez-Wisely received a full-ride basketball scholarship to St. Mary’s College, earning a degree in physical education with an emphasis on teaching.

She landed her first job at DVHS in 2004, followed by a teaching stint and then a role as vice principal at Antioch High, where she also won accolades from the ACSA.

Additionally, she developed relationships with community leaders and groups, connections that proved useful when Lopez-Wisely assumed the helm at AMS, receiving generous donations and hosting fundraisers to help with extracurricular activities.

Right out of the gate, Lopez-Wisely instituted instrumental music and choir and helped fill the library with a bundle of new books. Since then, she’s also added on-going school dances and family events, a specialty dance class, a Manhood Development curriculum, and a wellness room to give struggling students a place to get re-centered.

One of her biggest goals was to revive middle school athletics – a full program for all AUSD middle schools, including AMS, Black Diamond, Dallas Ranch, Park and Orchard. The middle-schoolers get a chance to learn a variety of games – from football to basketball to soccer – and the benefits of being on a team and a team player.

Lopez-Wisely thinks one of the reasons she received the award was for her efforts to make AMS a “restorative campus,” a place where students and parents feel welcome and cultivating good relationships is a priority. Teachers are trained how to conduct classroom activities to help young people get to know each other better, which in turn makes them more willing to participate in class discussions and improves teamwork.

In addition, a full-time restorative teacher mediates conflicts between students and leads meetings with students, parents and teachers.

Lopez-Wisely has now moved on to the ACSA state award level, along with Superintendent Stephanie Anello.

Outside the job, Lopez-Wisely somehow finds the energy for 5:30 a.m. workouts with her husband several times a week. The couple also coach their 8- and 12-year-old children; she takes the lead in basketball and he mentors their son in softball and football. #WeAreAUSD

Suspect Kevion Blocker. Photo by APD.

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

On January 14, 2020, Kevion Blocker, the suspect in the attempted murder shooting of a 20-year-old man in Williamson Ranch shopping center of Antioch in October turned himself in at the County Jail in Martinez with the assistance of an attorney. (See related article).

On January 16, 2020, this case was presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and Blocker was charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with enhancements and his bail was set at two-million dollars.

This information is made available by the Investigations Bureau. Anyone with information regarding this case can contact Detective Smith at (925) 779-6876. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Mondo Live Music has become a huge part of our Campos Family Vineyards Family and he definitely will be missed! Join us on January 17th as we give Mondo Mariscal a Campos Family Vineyards Farewell.

Get tickets here: Farewell to MONDO – Wine Down Friday

A portion of ticket sales proceeds will be donated to Mondo to bless his family in the move. Campos Family Vineyards is located at 3501 Byer Road in Byron, CA. For more information visit www.camposfamilyvineyards.com or call (925) 308-7963.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday on January 20, 2020, marks the 25th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. The City of Antioch has three community service projects planned for MLK Day that will appeal to all ages and abilities. Individuals, families, friends and community organizations are encouraged to participate. Everyone can get involved and honor Dr. King by building a stronger community for all.

Residents do not need to register in advance – just show up ready to contribute! You can bring work gloves; other tools will be provided. Antioch’s Day of Service is from 9:00am to 12:00noon on Monday, January 20, 2020. There are three options for volunteering.

1. Litter Pick-Up (family & small child friendly)

Prewett Community Park

4703 Lone Tree Way

Check in at the Water Park

2. Picnic, Playground & Park Improvements

Antioch Community Park

James Donlon Blvd.

Check in at the Jensen Picnic Grove

3. Landscape Improvements (planting)

Nick Rodriguez Community Center

3rd & F Streets

Check in at the Parking Lot

For more information about Antioch’s day of service and parks and recreation programs call the Recreation Department at 925-776-3050.