Antioch Police catch a burglar at Savers on July 9th and assigned to Slatten Ranch Shopping Center on July 26, 2024. Photos by APD
Recover several $1,000’s of merchandise, equipment
By Antioch Police Department
To deter crime and quickly respond to crimes in progress, APD has assigned officers specifically to the Slatten Ranch shopping center on Lone Tree Way. You may have noticed our officers on foot and in vehicles in the area. Officers have made contact with several of the highest impacted stores and are stationed in the area ready to respond to thefts, burglaries, or any other crimes that may occur.
In addition, Antioch Police worked with the new Savers store on Somersville Road, at the former location of Big Lots, earlier this month to catch a burglary suspect. A post on APD’s Facebook on July 11th reads:
“Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!
We’re proud to report a successful collaboration between the Savers store and the Antioch Police Department, resulting in the arrest of a burglary suspect!
– 07/6/24 at 9:30 pm: Roof hatch and rappel burglary
– 07/7/24 at 9:30 pm: Roof hatch and rappel burglary
– 07/8/24 at 12:30 am: Roof hatch and rappel burglary
– Reported: 07/8/24
Several thousand dollars in merchandise and equipment stolen.
7/9/24 at 2:17 pm: Officers recovered stolen items near San Jose and Delta Fair.
On 7/9/2024, at 9:05 pm, the store manager spotted the burglar on a live feed. Officers swiftly set a perimeter and apprehended the suspect as he exited.
This arrest highlights the power of teamwork between Savers and APD. Thank you to everyone involved for their diligence and quick response!
The Chichibu, Japan delegation members met their host families and Sister City organization leaders during a brief Welcome Ceremony in the Council Chambers at Antioch City Hall on Monday afternoon, July 22, 2024. Photo by Allen D. Payton
10 students, four adults, including one teacher in town for 10 days of cultural exchange, tours
By Allen D. Payton
On Monday, July 22, a delegation of 14 people from Japan arrived in town as part of the Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization’s exchange program for a 10-day visit. They were given a warm welcome and greeted by applause from city staff and banners held by host family members at City Hall. The delegates are being treated to multiple events and tours in Antioch and San Francisco, ending with a Farewell Party and BBQ open to the public next Tuesday before flying home on Wednesday.
The Chichibu delegation arrived by tour bus at Antioch City Hall on Monday, July 22, 2024, to a warm welcome of applause by city staff and banners from host family members. Photos by Jon Davis
The delegates are staying with host families in Antioch and according to coordinator Jessica Davis, the organization’s vice president, “This year is extra fun for a few of our hosts and delegates because five of these Chichibu delegates are getting to stay with the family of the student that they hosted last summer.”
Established in 1967 to encourage friendship and cultural awareness between America and Japan, the volunteer run home stay exchange program alternates with delegations from Antioch visiting Japan in odd numbered years and the Chichibu delegation visiting Antioch in even numbered years. The relationship resulted in the naming of Chichibu Park in Antioch and Antioch Park in Chichubu.
The organization is part of the larger, Sister Cities International, “Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956,” as “a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit which serves as the national membership organization for individual sister cities, counties, and states across the United States. This network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers in over 300 member communities with over 2,000 partnerships in more than 140 countries.”
The Chichibu delegates enjoyed lunch at Antioch’s Chichibu Park and a tour of Antioch High School. These and photos below by Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization
This year’s delegation includes four adults and 10 students:
Chino Suzuki, Chichibu City Hall Staff Member
Mayumi Fukushima, English teacher
Hitoshi Sahara, Chichibu-Antioch Sister City Member
Miyuki Ono, Chichibu-Antioch Sister City Member
Students
Airi Ono, daughter of Miyuki, age 10
Yui Imaizumi, age 12
Fumihiro Koike, age 13
Naruhi Kato, age 14
Ayano Wada, age 14
Hinata Masuda, age 14
Michika Teshigawara, age 14
Hiromi Ohama, age 16
Shizuku Ono, age 15, and
Miho Kaizaki, age 15
The Chichibu delegation toured the Black Diamond Mines in Antioch on Tuesday.
Itinerary
After arriving at SFO on Monday, the delegation enjoyed lunch at Sizzler in Pinole, then a brief welcome ceremony in Antioch City Hall for photos and meeting their host families.
On Tuesday they had a tour of the Black Diamond Mines in Antioch, followed by lunch at Chichibu Park. The group then toured the Antioch Water Treatment plant where they got to see the new brackish water desalination plant, then a tour of Antioch High School and the Antioch Historical Society Museum.
At the Antioch Historical Society Museum and in the Sports Legends wing on Tuesday.
They were officially recognized by the mayor and council during their meeting, and presented with the Proclamation approved that night. (See below)
Wednesday was Family Day, in which the host family and their guests were on their own. It ended with the official Welcome Dinner at Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill with the city council members. The delegates were each presented with gift bags filled with City of Antioch and other themed items. Thursday was another Family Day.
The delegates and host families took photos with Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and organization leaders, including Jessica Davis, left, Brad Helfenberger (second from left) and Antwon Webster (right). They were also given gift bags which included special-themed cookies donated by the Speakeasy Baking Co.
Today, Friday, July 26, 2024, the delegates enjoyed a tour of San Francisco with a trip down Lombard Street, visits to Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, lunch at Goodfella’s Pizza, a visit to Ghirardelli Square, a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands, and dinner at In-N-Out Burger.
Tomorrow, Saturday, the visitors from Chichibu will enjoy a pool party and potluck at the home of organization president, Antwon Webster followed by another Family Day on Sunday.
The delegates, host families and organization leaders visited the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39 on Friday, July 26, 2024.
On Monday morning, the delegation will be given a Delta Tour by boat from the pier near Smith’s Landing.
The public is invited to visit with the Chichibu delegation during the Farewell Party at the Antioch Waterpark on Tuesday. General Admission opens at 11:00 am, a BBQ dinner by local master John Davis will be served at 5:00 pm and optional Water Aerobics will be held from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm to work off dinner.
The 14 Sister City delegates from Chichibu with their host families will then meet up Wednesday morning at City Hall before departing for the SFO Airport for the flight home that afternoon.
The organization is led by Webster, Davis, Jim Davis, Treasurer, Abe Rodriguez, Public Relations, Hillary Tam, Youth Representative, and Members-at-Large Phyllis Fox and Brad Helfenberger who is also the city’s Director of Parks and Recreation and current Acting Assistant City Manager.
WHEREAS, In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower initiated a new international Sister City program for the purposes of cultural and economic exchange by establishing relationships between cities of similar size and economic base;
WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Mayor Verne Roberts traveled with the League of California Cities to six countries, including Japan, to investigate the possibility of establishing a Sister City relationship; and at the same time, Chichibu City was seeking a sister city in California;
WHEREAS, The two cities were likely candidates to be each other’s sister city as each city had manufacturing plants, were situated near a river, had a mountain in the vicinity, and were at the edge of the economic sphere of a large metropolitan area;
WHEREAS, In 1967, the City Council adopted a resolution formally accepting Chichibu as Antioch’s Sister City, with annual exchanges occurring every year beginning in 1971 with Antioch visiting Chichibu on odd numbered years and Chichibu visiting Antioch on even numbered years;
and WHEREAS, The 2024 delegation from Chichibu consists of 14 individuals including 10 youth, a teacher, a Chichibu City official, and two additional chaperones who will be visiting Antioch and the Bay Area from July 22-July 31, 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, LAMAR A. HERNADEZ-THORPE, Mayor of the City of Antioch, do hereby welcome the 2024 delegation visiting from Chichibu, Japan. Antioch places great value on the friendship with our Sister City that we’ve enjoyed for the past 57 years and look forward to continuing this fellowship for many years to come.
In honor of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics in Paris France, join us this Friday for OLYMPIC NIGHT, the 4th and final night in our Water Park After Dark series!
Don’t miss your chance to compete in Olympics Games to win an Olympic medal and prizes!
Enjoy a night swim until 8:45 pm and our tasty Specialty Menu Items with flavors from around the world!
Registration is now open for the free youth 4th Annual Kendall Smith Basketball Camp on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
Improve your basketball skills this summer. Co-ed basketball camp for youth 7-17 years old athletes and non-athletes. Doors open at 8:30 am, the camp starts at 9:00 am and ends at 2:00 pm.
The event will be held in the gym at Smith’s alma mater, Deer Valley High School, 4700 Lone Tree Way in Antioch, where he played hoops before heading on to play for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, then into the pros, where he’s played for international teams and the Warriors G League team in Santa Cruz. (Learn more about his career).
Sponsored by Smith’s My Brothers Keeper 1K, to register visit Kendall Smith Basketball Camp. To be a sponsor, donate or volunteer email mybrotherskeepers925@gmail.com.
Drone used to communicate with him from safe distance
By Antioch Police Department
At 8:00 am, Friday, July 12, 2024, dispatchers received a call about a man lying on the trail near Lone Tree Way and Longview Drive. The caller reported that the man had a pistol in his waistband. As a precaution, APD officers used our drone to communicate with the man from a distance.
Officers were able to successfully utilize the drone and de-escalation techniques to safely take the man into custody. It turned out that he was carrying two loaded pistols.
The fire on the hill behind the Hillcrest Crossroads shopping center off Hillcrest Avenue and Larkspur Drive in Antioch started about 10:30 PM on July 4, 2024, and burned to the fence line behind the buildings at the bottom and the homes on Locust Court at the top. Fire & Rescue crew members head down off the hill near the KFC after extinguishing the fire. Photos by Allen D. Payton. Aerial shot of the area burned on the Hillcrest Avenue side of the hill. Photo by Con Fire.
Antioch had most fire-related calls
By Allen D. Payton
According to a report by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire), they responded to a total of 317 incidents from 10:00 AM on July 4, 2024, to 3:00 AM on July 5th. That’s an increase of 30% over the 243 incidents Con Fire responded to last year.
Source: Con Fire
Of this year’s incidents, 129 were fire-related including 92 exterior fires, 16 vegetation fires, 13 structure fires and eight other types of fires. All four categories experienced increases over 2023 with more than double for exterior fires.
Antioch had the most fire-related calls with about 45 total, followed by 20 for Pittsburg and 10 for Bay Point. All other cities and unincorporated communities in the Con Fire service area had fewer than 10 fire-related incidents.
Source: Con Fire
Calls for significant fires began Thursday at 10:30 AM with a vegetation fire on Leland Road in Pittsburg confirmed to have been started by fireworks at consumed 10 acres. The last significant incident was another vegetation fire that started about 10:30 PM in Antioch on the hill off Hillcrest Avenue behind the Hillcrest Crossings Shopping Center between where KFC and the County Market Asian grocery store are located. It caused the evacuation of six homes.
Source: Con Fire
According to Con Fire PIO, Captain Christopher Toler, a care home on Lotus Court was first evacuated, then fire personnel decided to evacuate all six homes closest to the fire. Structure protection was in place and the fire stopped at the fence lines at both the top and bottom of the hill.
Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 1:30 pm for an exciting presentation by Wildmind Science Learning as we are transported to the tropical world of the rainforest. Featuring live animals such as the armadillo, coendou, macaw, skink, and spectacled owl, audience members will be introduced to the wide variety of animals and plants that call the rainforest home.
