The Public Utilities Commission recently approved placing a  natural gas-fired power plant on 22 acres of the old DuPont property on Bridgehead Road in Oakley near the border with Antioch.

Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover joined Oakley officials at the PUC meeting Dec. 16 to speak in favor of Oakley’s bid to approve the PG&E power plant proposal. “The City of Oakley will benefit greatly from the revenue generated by the energy plant,” said Glover, “and strengthen its financial foundation.”

On December 18 just after 2 a.m., Antioch police dispatch received a call of a solo vehicle accident in the area of East 18th Street east of Hillcrest Avenue. Officers found a vehicle had crashed into a tree and a fence on the south side of the road. One of the occupants of the vehicle, a 19-year-old male Antioch resident, appeared to have suffered major injuries as a result of the collision.

He was transported to John Muir Medical Center and listed in serious condition. The driver of the vehicle, Robert Kilcourse, 18, was treated at Sutter Delta Medical Center for a minor injury and immediately taken into custody upon his release for suspicion of felony DUI, according to police. The other two passengers in the vehicle were uninjured. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

In a posting on the Antioch Police Officers Association website titled “6 Police Officers Less in Antioch is Just the Beginning,” APOA President Tom Fuhrmann
discusses the recent layoffs and potential for more:

Just before midnight on Dec. 16  a 36-year-old man was leaving Cruisers Saloon at 1611 A Street when he was confronted by Pedro Santos, 33. A fight ensued and Santos is suspected of stabbing the man several times in the upper chest, back and face, according to police.

The victim was transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek – his wounds do not appear to be life threatening. Santos was arrested at the scene and booked into the Main Detention Facility in Martinez.

Antioch Police were dispatched to Knoll Park on Country Hills Drive on Dec. 16 just after noon when neighbors reported hearing multiple shots fired in the area and people running from the park.

A short time later a 20-year-old man was found in front of a residence on Country Hills Drive suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and one to the face. He was airlifted to an area hospital where he was being treated for what appear to be non-life threatening injuries, according to police.

It appears the victim was sitting at a table in the park when he was approached by several males who attempted to rob him at gunpoint. When he resisted, the gunman opened fire on him. The victim ran and got away from his attackers.

Officers did an extensive area search for those responsible, but were unable to locate them. This shooting is still under investigation and witnesses are encouraged to contact Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau.

Police Union Warns of Six Officer Layoffs

By Dave Roberts

Seeking to keep Antioch’s government out of bankruptcy, the City Council late Tuesday night agreed to cut $737,000 from the budget – possibly including police officer layoffs – if city employees don’t continue to agree to salary and benefit concessions.

That cut follows a $700,000 budget reduction that the council authorized on November 30, which will take place regardless of employee concessions. And it could be a prelude to an additional $2-$5 million in cuts in the next fiscal year beginning in July 2011.

“We have a responsibility to stop the bleeding,” said Councilman Brian Kalinowski.

He noted that the city’s five employee unions have previously agreed to defer salary and benefit increases, but that some of those deferred compensation agreements are due to expire in January, putting the city on the hook for the extra employee costs.

“I’m not underestimating, understating or trivializing the reductions made by any bargaining group,” said Kalinowski. “Everybody has taken a hit. The problem is we have additional challenges on top of this number, and if we don’t move we are financially insolvent. If it doesn’t happen, we are not in business. We need to make the modifications to close that number.”

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Through changing times, the Kingston Trio has played on, remaining popular for a simple reason: great songs that sound as good today as the first time you heard them. And 52 years after “Tom Dooley” shot to the top of the charts, the Trio is still on the road 30 weeks a year, bringing back all the great memories and making new ones.

In March 2004, Bob Shane suffered a heart attack, which has prevented him from returning to the road fulltime. Enter Bill Zorn, fresh from leaving the Limeliters, to rejoin the Trio and step in for Bob. Then in August 2005, Bobby Haworth left the group once again, and Rick Dougherty, also of the Limeliters, took over the spot. The addition of Rick’s beautiful voice has made the current lineup the most vocally complete group since the original days.

The Kingston Trio today consists of Bill Zorn, George Grove and Rick Dougherty. They are continuing the Kingston Trio legacy with fantastic reviews, command performances and many standing ovations wherever they perform.

The show starts at 4 p.m. on Sunday January 9 in the El Campanil Theatre, 602 West Second Street in downtown Antioch. Tickets: Adults: $32, Seniors: $27, Youth: $15, Gold Circle (first three rows): $45. Phone: (925) 757-9500 or go online to www.elcampaniltheatre.com.

A 42-year-old Antioch woman was killed by a hit-and-run driver in the 2400 block of L Street on December 10 at 5:03 p.m., according to police.

As she was walking in the crosswalk, a car stopped to allow her to cross, but a newer model purple or dark blue mini-van went around the stopped car and struck the victim in the crosswalk. The woman suffered major head injuries, and was rushed to a local hospital where she died several hours later.

Police are still searching for the van. which fled onto westbound Highway 4. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Santiago Castillo at (925) 779-6933.