Will cost $1.4 million for Sycamore Dr., James Donlon Blvd. and West 10th St.; no roundabouts or other infrastructure included
By Allen D. Payton
During their Regular Meeting on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the Antioch City Council will discuss approving traffic calming devices to several major roads in the city. At an estimated cost of $1,410,000, if approved, devices will be added to Sycamore Drive, James Donlon Blvd. and West 10th Street between A and L Streets. The matter is in response to requests from the public. But they will not include roundabouts as previously proposed, as there’s not enough room in the intersections and would require the purchase of private property.
The Sycamore Drive improvements requires an increase to the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Operating Budget of $425,0000 from the Gas Tax Fund.
Also, according to the City staff report, “the proposed improvements do not include any permanent infrastructure, such as concrete median islands, to provide the opportunity for all to try the improvements, first and allow flexibility for future modifications, if needed. Additionally, the proposed improvements are lower cost with shorter turnaround times, affording the City the chance to implement the improvements quicker in the near-term future.”
Examples of proposed traffic calming devices. Source: City of Antioch
In addition, the report reads, “The intersections were studied to determine whether all-way stop signs or signalization were warranted and no intersection met all the warrants.”
Brentwood Police arrested three teens during a burglary in progress on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Photo: Brentwood PD
Two out of custody with no charges filed; Antioch teen’s father of same name has history of arrests from 2014-2023
By Brentwood Police
On Wednesday afternoon, July 19, 2023, Brentwood Police officers were called to a residence located at the 700 block of Allbrook Court for a burglary in progress. When officers arrived to the residence the suspects fled.
With the help of a citizen witness, officers were able to successfully locate the suspects, identified as 18-year-old Keoni Mikala Temple, Jr. of Antioch, 19-year-old Rashad Lewis of Brentwood, and a 16-year-old juvenile. All three were placed under arrest for burglary.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of Friday, July 21, both Temple and Lewis were out of custody with no charges filed.
According to localcrimenews.com, Temple’s father, Keoni Mikala Temple, Sr. has a history of arrests dating back to 2014 including three arrests by three different agencies in March of this year.
We want to thank the alert citizen who provided us the critical information needed to ensure all involved were arrested. We always appreciate when our citizens help us out. This is a friendly reminder to our community, if you see something, say something!
Barbanica wants public process in open session, says public lost confidence in last hire; Ogorchock says that’s the way it’s been done; mayor won’t say why it’s in closed session
By Allen D. Payton
The Antioch City Council is scheduled to discuss the recruitment of a new city manager in closed session during their meeting on Tuesday night, July 25, 2023. The item on the agenda released on Friday, July 21, is number 3 and reads, “PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT – RECRUITMENT OF CITY MANAGER. This closed session is authorized pursuant to Government Code section 54957(b). It follows Closed Session item 2 which is the Performance Evaluation of the City Attorney.”
During the Regular Meeting, the council will discuss under item 4, a new ordinance Prohibiting Retaliation and Harassment of Residential Tenants, under item 5, changing the speed limit on
certain streets and under item 7, calming improvements for Sycamore Drive, James Donlon Blvd. and West 10th Street. (See following article) Under item 8, the council will discuss hiring an outside contractor for homeless encampment cleanup.
Questions were emailed shortly before 3:00 p.m. that day to City Attorney Thomas L. Smith and Mayor Lamar Thorpe asking why the matter is being discussed during closed session instead of in open session, assuming it’s about hiring a search firm. They were also asked if that’s the direction the council will be going, will the selection process be done publicly with a request for quote or request for proposal sent out to hire a firm to do the search.
Smith’s auto-response email showed he was out of the office that day and wouldn’t return until today, Monday, and for immediate assistance to contact his secretary, Rakia Grant-Smith. Questions were then emailed to her. No response had been received as of 4:00 p.m. Monday. So, the questions were sent again to them and the other four council members.
Ogorchock Says That’s How It’s Been Done While She’s Been on Council
In response, District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock wrote, “The agenda is always a surprise to me as it is for everyone else. I am not made aware of any items prior to receiving the agenda packet on Friday. As for the city manager, we, as council, need to start the conversation about next steps. Since I’ve been on council items for the city manager and city attorney have begun in closed session.”
Barbanica Wants Public Process in Open Session
“That’s what I asked to have happen,” said District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica referring to a video he posted on his official Facebook page and an email he sent to Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and City Attorney Smith last week. “I asked for an item on the next meeting agenda to authorize the council to start a search for the city manager.”
“I don’t see, generally, why it’s in closed session, unless there’s something I’m not aware of,” he stated. “It should be something we can take care of during regular session.”
“I confirmed the mayor set the agenda. The reason why that’s on there is so the council can talk privately,” Barbanica continued. “It doesn’t have to be in closed session. But it’s allowed. I told the city attorney I disagree with doing this in closed session. I want this done in open session because the public lost confidence in the last way the selection was made. That was done on a 3-2 vote. I did not vote for that, last time.”
“This appears to be non-transparent,” he stated. “I would like to see the public know what’s going on with who is saying what, how this is going down and what the discussion is.”
Other Agenda Items Requested by Barbanica
In addition to the city manager matter, in his email sent on Monday, July 17, Barbanica shared that he asked for two other items on Tuesday’s council meeting agenda. Those included a public presentation to the council by the police department on staffing levels, including patrol and every division, even the “sub-divisions” such as traffic being part of patrol. Finally, the councilman asked for the police department to present to the public how they are communicating information to the public through their PIO and to the press. Barbanica said he would like to understand the policy and where it came from.
No other responses were received. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
The Closed Session begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 200 H Street with opportunity for public comments before and the Regular Meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. The meetings can be viewed livestream on the City’s website, on Comcast Channel 24 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99. See the meeting agenda, here.
Jacob Tuttle drove the Ted Finkenbinder #3 Spec Sprint to his third win of the season. Photo by Katrina Kniss
By Candice Martin, DCRR Racing Media
Antioch, CA…July 22…Jacob Tuttle of Oakley won the 25 lap Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This was his third win of the season aboard the Ted Finkenbinder owned entry as he tuned up for next week’s Hunt Series race. Finkenbinder Racing teammate Blake Bower of Brentwood, a multi-time WMR Midget champion, finished second.
A heat race win put Tuttle on the outside front row for the feature race. After a tangle in Turn 2, Tuttle led the restart ahead of Bob Newberry of Brentwood. Gilroy’s Jarrett Soares settled into third on the second lap. An inside pass on the back stretch of the third lap gained Soares second from Newberry. A yellow flag waved on Lap 5 for Antioch’s Shawn Arriaga in Turn 2. Soares got a good run on the restart lap and passed Tuttle on the inside down the back straightaway to claim the lead. A thrilling, side by side battle developed between Soares on the inside and Tuttle on the extreme outside.
A high pass in Turn 2 of the 10th lap put Tuttle back into the lead. DJ Johnson of Stockton was running third at that point. They ran that way until a yellow flag flew for a spin in Turn 4 on Lap 18. Tuttle continued to lead Soares and Johnson on the restart, but Bower began working the outside and got around Johnson on Lap 20. Bower then took his momentum and made an outside pass on the back stretch on Lap 23 for second. However, Tuttle prevailed ahead of Bower, Soares, Johnson and Newberry.
A post-race disqualification handed Andrew Pearce #28 his first Limited Late Model win. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Andrew Pearce, also of Oakley, picked up his first career 20 lap Xtreme Late Model victory aboard the Paul Guglielmoni owned car. Buddy Kniss of Oakley crossed the line in first, only to be disqualified in post-race tech for rear deck height.
Buddy’s father Chester Kniss of Antioch had drawn the pole in the pill draw before the Main Event, but he elected to go to the back, giving Buddy the pole position. The younger Kniss streaked into the lead ahead of Shawn DeForest of Livermore. However, Pearce slipped past DeForest on the back stretch on Lap 3 in a bit of close racing that saw DeForest get into the back wall. Anthony Slaney of Martinez settled into third. Kniiss set a rapid pace and put a little bit of distance between himself and Pearce by the time the checkered flag waved. The disqualification put Pearce in the winner’s position, followed by Slaney, reiging series champion Dan Brown Jr of Lincoln, Soares Memorial winner Matt Michelli of Live Oak and Chester Kniss of Antioch.
Point leader Joel Hannagan drove the Junkyard Dog #16 Hardtop to his fourth-straight win. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Hardtop point leader Joel Hannagan of San Jose picked up his fourth-straight 15 lap Main Event win aboard the Doug Braudrick owned Junkyard Dog. Bob Slaney of Martinez jumped into the lead at the start, followed by Ronnie Ruiz of West Sacramento. Merced Sportsman point leader Rick Elliott took second on Lap 2 and made an outside pass on the back stretch of the fourth lap to take the lead from Slaney. An outside pass at the line moved Hannagan into second, and he quickly got around Elliott a lap later for the lead.
Brad Coello of Oakley was running third at that point, but he spun from that position for a yellow flag on Lap 7. Hannigan continued to lead the restart as Mike Gillard of Atwater made a low pass in Turn 4 to take second from Elliott. Elliott got back around Gillard in the same turn a lap later. The battle was between Ruiz and Coello for the fourth position over the remaining laps, but Hannagan won by a straightaway ahead of Elliott. Gillard settled for third, and Ruiz beat Coelho back to the line to finish fourth.
Devan Kammermann rebounded from a rough start to win the Delta Dwarf Car feature. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Devan Kammermann maintained his championship hopes with his second-straight Delta Dwarf Car feature triumph. He charged into the lead at the start ahead of Gage Meyers of Placerville. A low pass in Turn 2 of the third lap put Meyers into the lead, and Kammermann got into the wall in Turn 4 for a yellow flag. His car was stuck on the wall, but he had no front end damage and would restart at the back of the pack.
Meyers continued to lead Antioch’s Chance Russell on the restart, but Russell went low in Turn 4 of the fifth lap to take the lead. Kammermann appeared in third on the seventh lap and was able to get around Meyers for second on Lap 13 before a yellow flag waved. Russell led Kammermann on the restart, but Kammermann went low in Turn 1 on the 15th lap to take the lead. Kammermann went from there to victory as Russell settled for second ahead of Myers, 2020 champion Travis Day of Concord and Joe LeDuc of Tracy.
Mike Learn #11 won his second Super Stock Main Event. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Mike Learn of Petaluma won the 20 lap Super Stock Main Event. The past Tri State champion had the pole after his heat race win and led from the start ahead of Joey Ridgeway of Brentwood. Ridgeway surrendered second to Ryan Cherezian of Knightsen on the fourth lap. As Learn pulled away, Cherezian had a battle with Ridgeway and Jim Freethy of Danville for second for the next several laps. However, nobody was going to challenge Learn as he prevailed ahead of Cherezian. Freethy made a Turn 2 pass on the final lap to claim third as Ridgeway settled for fourth ahead of Chad Hammer of Antioch.
Racing continues next Saturday night with the return of the Hunt Wingless Spec Sprint Series. The loaded program will also feature a Figure 8, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks, WMR Midget and Print Club Mini Stocks. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Antioch Speedway Race Results for July 22, 2023
Wingless Spec Sprints
FT Jarrett Soares 14.266. Heat Winners (8 laps)-DJ Johnson, Jacob Tuttle. Main Event (25 laps)-Jacob Tuttle, Blake Bower, Jarrett Soares, DJ Johnson, Bob Newberry, Heath Holdsclaw, Jeff Scotto, James East, Cameron Martin, Shawn Arriaga.
Extreme Late Models
FT Anthony Slaney 15.408. Heat Winners (8 laps)-Anthony Slaney, Buddy Kniss. Main Event (20 laps)-Andrew Pearce, Anthony Slaney, Dan Brown Jr, Matt Michelli, Chester Kniss, Rod Oliver, Shawn DeForest, Wayne Trimble, Josh Combs, Ray Trimble.
Hardtops
Heat Winner (8 laps)-Joel Hannagan. Main Event (15 laps)-Joel Hannigan, Rick Elliott, Mike Gillard, Ronnie Ruiz, Brad Coelho, Don Slaney, Dave Reed, Joe Shenefield, Ken Clifford DNS.
Delta Dwarf Cars
Heat Winner (8 laps)-Gage Meyers. Main Event (20 laps)-Devan Kammermann, Chance Russell, Gage Meyers, Travis Day, Joe LeDuc, Tyler Applebaum, Chris Durbin, Sean Catucci DQ.
Super Stocks
FT Mike Learn 17.227. Heat Winner (8 laps)-Mike Learn. Main Event (20 laps)-Mike Learn, Ryan Cherezian, Jim Freethy, Joey Ridgeway, Chad Hammer.
NOTE: Apologies but while the Herald was experiencing email challenges from a systemwide problem with the hosting service last week, this information was sent by APD Public Information Sgt. Price Kendall to another email provided to him but was not seen until today. The information is accurate as of July 19.
In addition to the previously reported fatal shooting of a man in Antioch’s downtown early Saturday morning, July 15, 2023, there were three other shootings reported by police that weekend.
One man arrested following shooting during domestic dispute Friday night July 14
On Friday, July 14, 2023, at approximately 11:36 pm, Antioch Police officers were dispatched to the area of Putnam and D Streets on the report of shots fired. Officers arrived on scene and learned a single shot was fired after two males were arguing during a domestic dispute. The male who fired the shot was located along with the firearm used. He was arrested for felony domestic violence and assault with a weapon. It was also learned the man had a felony warrant for $200,000.
44-year-old man shot multiple times Saturday morning July 15
On Saturday, July 15, 2023, at approximately 2:51 am, a Shotspotter notification alerted in the area of Lemontree Way that seven rounds were fired. An hour later, a 44-year-old male walked into Sutter Delta Medical Center with four gunshot wounds. No suspect has been identified and the investigation is still on-going.
52-year-old man shot by female Sunday evening July 16
According to Con Fire spokeswoman Assistant Chief Tracie Dutter, on Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 7:13 p.m., personnel responded to the Babe Ruth baseball fields off Auto Center Drive in Antioch and rendered aid. According to Sgt. Kendall, at approximately 7:14 pm, Antioch Police fficers were dispatched to the Babe Ruth baseball fields located at 1550 Auto Center Drive on the report a male was suffering from a single gunshot wound. Officers arrived on scene and located a 52-year-old-male with a wound to his left leg. A preliminary investigation revealed he was shot by an unknown female. The investigation is still ongoing, no arrests have been made, and the motive is unknown.
Storm damage on North Gate Road in Mt. Diablo State Park. Source: CA State Parks
Mt. Diablo State Park temporarily closes North Gate Road for emergency slide repair through mid-Sept. WALNUT CREEK, Calif.— California State Parks announced on May 17, 2023 the temporary closure of North Gate Road at Mount Diablo State Park to pedestrians, vehicles, equestrians and bicyclists. The road will be closed May 19 through mid-September to stabilize and rebuild a section damaged by the 2023 winter storms. (Apologies to our readers. The Herald publisher just learned of this, yesterday).
Visitors will be able to access the summit and developed areas of the park from the South Gate Entrance (2675 Mt. Diablo Scenic Boulevard in Blackhawk, 94506) on the Danville side of the mountain. Whether driving or riding your bike, please ensure you are travelling at a safe speed for you, wildlife, and fellow visitors.
Located in the San Francisco Bay Area to the east of Walnut Creek, people have been drawn for generations to Mount Diablo for its spectacular views from the summit which extend over 100 miles in all directions on a clear day. Visitors have been attracted by the complex geology that has created amazing rock formations such as the “wind caves” at Rock City, and by the mountain’s variety of habitats which are home to over 600 species of plants and an amazing array of wildlife such as butterflies, bats and birds of prey, tarantulas, bobcats, lizards, snakes, and deer.
In 2021 Mount Diablo celebrated its 100th year as a state park. Though more than 100-years is a long history as a park, the importance of Mount Diablo was recognized long before that. For thousands of years Native Americans were the caretakers of this land. Many groups considered and treated the mountain as a sacred place and continue to do so today.
Since becoming a park in 1921, Mount Diablo has been protected as a natural area, and over the past 100 years the park has grown from only a few hundred acres to over 20,000 acres. Today it is a destination for those who would like to view wildlife and wildflowers, experience beautiful views, hike, camp, picnic, run, cycle, climb, ride horses, or gaze at the stars.
The Friends of the Antioch Library is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving library services in Antioch. Through membership donations and Book Sale earnings, the Friends provide the library with books, magazines, DVDs and CDs. They also provide children’s and cultural programs for the community. For more information visit https://ccclib.org/ant-friends/
