Building on its commitment to safe and reliable natural gas transmission pipeline operations, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has announced the first in a series of hydrostatic pressure tests it will perform on a number of gas transmission pipeline segments throughout its system. The first pressure tests will take place in Mountain View and Antioch in May.

As described in PG&E’s March 15th filing with the California Public Utilities Commission, this work is part of the company’s effort to pressure test or replace this year approximately 150 miles of pipeline segments in high consequence areas that have characteristics similar to the pipeline involved in the tragic accident in San Bruno on September 9, 2010.

“Our number one responsibility is the safety and reliability of our natural gas transmission pipeline system for our customers,” said Kirk Johnson, vice president of gas engineering and operations for PG&E. “These tests will be conducted using safe and proven methods that are used throughout the nation. These tests will validate that the pipelines are operating safely.”

PG&E will hold open houses in both Antioch and Mountain View prior to the tests to answer any questions customers may have about the testing. Customers in these areas will begin receiving letters this week with details on the open houses and information on the testing.

Hydrostatic pressure testing involves filling a section of pipe with water, pressurizing it to a much higher level than the pipe will ever operate with natural gas, then monitoring the pipe for eight hours. Any pipe sections that do not meet acceptable standards during the test will be replaced with new pipe that has already passed a pressure test. Following a successful test, the section of pipe is emptied of water, dried thoroughly and placed back in service. PG&E will provide updates on progress as hydrostatic testing work proceeds. This process will validate the safe operating pressure of the pipeline.

• Click here for video of a hydrostatic pressure test.

Hydrostatic pressure tests require pipeline segments to be taken out of service for several days and take about two weeks to complete. PG&E will continue to provide gas to customers from an alternate source while work is in-progress and service will not be interrupted. Because PG&E safely empties the gas from the pipeline segments prior to hydrostatic testing, customers may smell gas in the area of the tests. PG&E encourages any resident who has questions or concerns about the smell of gas to call the company’s 24-hour customer service line at 1-800-743-5000 or call 911 immediately.

Customers may also see:

• Temporary traffic safety cones and/or detour signs
• PG&E and PG&E-contracted field personnel
• Testing equipment, such as above-ground pipes and valves
• Machinery and support equipment, such as excavators and water tanks

PG&E also plans to conduct several pipeline assessment tests throughout the Bay Area. This work may require crews to excavate around the pipe, x-ray welds, test the strength of the pipe, or use a robotic camera to inspect the inside of the pipe.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 15 million people in northern and central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/about.

On 4/20/11 charges were filed by the Contra Costa County DA’s Office for the 12/20/10 murder of Arnold Muckleroy. The following is a list of those arrested and their charges. One suspect is still outstanding.

Brandon Washington (12/27/1991) – Arrested and charged with murder. He is currently being held at Martinez County Jail. He is an Antioch resident.

Alejandro Landeros (05/31/1992) – Arrested and charged with murder. He is currently being held at Martinez County Jail. He is an Antioch resident.

Victoria Moreno (01/18/1993) – Arrested and charged with being an accessory after the murder. She is an Antioch resident.

Still outstanding and wanted for murder is:

Michael Pulliam-Banks (03/16/1992) – He has a $2,170,000 warrant for his arrest. He is an Antioch resident, but we believe he may be hiding in San Francisco, Vallejo, Oakland, or Sacramento. Pulliam-Banks should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Mellone at (925) 779-6930
_____________________________________________________________________

INCIDENT: Murder

DATE OF INCIDENT: December 20, 2010

LOCATION: Rockspring Way in Antioch

SUSPECT: PULLIAMBANKS, MICHAEL ELIJAH

aka: Michael Banks

Black Male, Black Hair, Brown Eyes, HT:6-02 WT:164

VICTIM: Male in his early 20’s

Pulliambanks has been identified as a suspect in this murder investigation. A warrant has been issued for his arrest for attempted murder. The bail has been set at $500,000. The victim in this case has since succumbed to his injuries; however the arrest warrant was issued prior to his being deceased. Detectives will be seeking an amendment to the warrant charging murder. The suspect in this case is known to frequent the greater bay and Sacramento areas.

Anyone who observes this suspect should call the local jurisdiction or the Antioch Police Department at (925)778-2441.

Banks should be considered armed and dangerous. The vehicle used during this murder has been recovered by the Antioch Police Department.

*************************************************************

On December 20th 2010 at approximately 1713 hrs, Antioch Police responded to a report of a man down in the street on Rockspring Way in Antioch. Upon their arrivals, police found a young male in his 20’s lying in the street that appeared to have a suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Life –saving measures were taken and he was transported to a local trauma center where he remains in very critical condition.

Police have determined the victim was driven to the location to meet some people who were in a 90’s era dark green Ford Escort with two doors, which was very dirty. The victim entered the vehicle which contained several black males. Almost immediately upon entering the vehicle, shots were heard and the victim was pushed out of the car, which fled the area.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation should contact Sgt. Steve Bias at (925)779-6929.

When Michael Pritchard started the sound effects of explosions and crashes that accompany video games he had the youthful audience’s full attention. When he started talking about bullying and intolerance, the comedian had them in the palm of his hands.

When a young man began talking about the difficulties of his life and how he began to act out as a reflection of those troubles, the gym full of youth was silent.

Between the bouts of laughter, Pritchard had a message that pierced the wall of teenage cool and indifference and touched the hearts of over 750 people in attendance at the 9th annual countywide Youth Summit at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg on April 16.

“He was the perfect choice for a keynote,” said Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover, who sponsors the event.

Pritchard kicked off the daylong event of workshops, booths and entertainment. After the comedian’s presentation, the youth were able to ask questions of the city, school and county officials. The topics ranged from more diversity in the teaching workforce to the ways law enforcement treated youth.

The 18 wide-ranging workshops covered topics from avoiding gangs, starting a business to being a good friend and how to find a job.

“Kids were able to see the Sheriff’s helicopter and some firefighting equipment up close,” said coordinator Paul Adler, a member of Glover’s staff.

“It says a lot about the summit that the youth – on a Saturday — got up early in time for the 9 a.m. start and stayed the whole day,” said Adler.

“This was the largest turnout we ever had,” said Glover. “Word of mouth among the youth and their use of social media is helping us get the word out.”

An hour-long documentary on the 2010 Gang Summit will air on Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 30 at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. on CCTV. The day-long summit was taped by Give Always To Others (GATO), an East County-based nonprofit headed by Carmen Ochoa, that also produces another television
show aired on local public TV and focuses on issues affecting East County.

“It was a great event,” said Glover. “There was some uncertainty what the summit would be about. Some thought we were glamorizing the gang lifestyle. Others thought it was only for gang members. This show will give the general pubic a chance to see what went on at the summit where we emphasized the alternate choices young people have besides gangs.

“Going against peer pressure is very difficult for young people. It was important that we showed that there were safe and legal ways to express yourself, prevent bullying, stay away from drugs and earn money through jobs.”

CCTV is Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32 and AT&T U-verse channel 99.

Antioch to Once Again Have a Free, Direct-Mail, City-Wide Newspaper

By Allen Payton, Publisher

I’m happy to officially announce that the Antioch Herald will be printed and mailed to 26,000 homes and businesses in Antioch, beginning May 1st, 2011.

We appreciate the opportunity presented by the Monthly Grapevine, to insert a print version of our news site, into their East County/Antioch edition, which publishes on the 1st of each month, reaching 26,000 homes and businesses by mail – for FREE!

It has allowed us to reduce our postage costs and pass those savings onto our advertisers, reducing ad rates by 40% and more, making it more affordable for local businesses to reach their market with their message, each month.

We have some of the same team members who published the original Antioch Press, before I sold it in 2005, back together working to make both the Antioch Herald print and online versions, a reality, including Editor Dave Roberts and soon writer Teresa Klein and graphic artist Linda Baker. Plus, we’ve added some new team members, Webmaster and graphic artist Emily Bernardi, writers Harry Stoll and Tami Barrera, and advertising sales reps Dave Godfrey and Sharon Ouka.

We go to print on Tuesday night, April 19, so there’s still time to get your ad in our first issue. It includes a free ad on our website. Please email sales@antiochherald.com by Monday or call me at (925) 457-5324 and we’ll make it happen for you.

Since this is a free paper to the readers, it’s because of our advertisers that we’re able to publish our paper and news site. We thank them for that. So please be sure to support those advertisers and let them know you saw their ad in the Herald.

We look forward and are committed to bringing you the news and information about Antioch, you might not read elsewhere – about our people, politicians, police, pastors & priests, places, events and activities, while we help promote our businesses and grow our local economy, once again. Our desire is to help fulfill our City’s Vision to make Antioch a better place to live, learn, work, worship and play in a safe and stimulating environment.

The Herald is The People’s Paper – your paper. So if you have something you think is interesting and/or important that you want covered, either write it up and submit it to us, with a photo or two, or let us know by contacting Dave Roberts at editor@antiochherald.com. We’ll do our best to get it, at least on our website – which we’ll update regularly, and/or in the newspaper.

For those who want to advertise, we also represent the Monthly Grapevine in Antioch. So if you’d like an ad in that publication, please let us know. To learn more about them, please click on their ad, on the upper right side of this page. We thank Jim and Karen Spann for this new business relationship that we hope and expect will be beneficial for both our businesses and all those who advertise with us.

Please be sure to look for the Antioch Herald inside the Monthly Grapevine, each month, beginning on May 1st.

“Under Dorothy’s professional and dedicated leadership, BART has achieved a proud record of success on many fronts.” – BART Director Joel Keller

From BART, 4/13/2011

Tomorrow the BART Board of Directors will officially begin the process of searching for a new general manager, following the resignation of BART General Manager Dorothy Dugger. Dugger turned in her resignation letter to the BART Board of Directors this morning.

After spending nearly 19 years at BART, including the last four years as the general manager and 13 years as deputy general manager, Dugger’s last day on the job will be Friday, April 22.

“It has been a challenging, exciting and professionally rewarding experience to lead a great organization that provides a vitally important service to the people of the Bay Area every day,” Dugger said.  “I am extremely proud of all that we have achieved and BART’s strong record of accomplishment.  This record of achievement was possible with the outstanding support of the entire organization. I want to thank BART’s talented and dedicated employees for their exemplary work during these past years.”

“On behalf of the BART Board, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to Dorothy for her tireless work and lifelong dedication to public service,” BART Board President Bob Franklin said.

The Board appointed Dugger to the agency’s top spot on August 23, 2007 – making her the agency’s eighth general manager and its first female to lead the agency.

“Under Dorothy’s professional and dedicated leadership, BART has achieved a proud record of success on many fronts,” BART Director Joel Keller said. “We have weathered the worst economic period in our history without layoffs or a reduction in core service, due in part to historic changes negotiated in our last labor contract; our $1.2 billion earthquake safety program is on schedule and under budget; service expansions are underway in three important transportation corridors; and the first phase of replacement of BART’s fleet of train cars is moving forward.”

Board to meet in closed session Thursday to begin search for new GM
The BART Board of Directors will meet tomorrow in closed session during a special meeting to consider naming an interim general manager.  At that time the Board will also discuss the parameters for the search for a permanent general manager.

Dorothy Dugger Quick Facts:

• Eighth BART general manager
• First female general manager
• Began at BART in 1992
• Thirteen years as deputy general manager
• Four years as general manager
• Two years as executive manager, External Affairs
• Nineteen years with BART

Terms of resignation agreement:

BART General Manager Dorothy Dugger and the BART Board of Directors reached a mutual agreement whereby BART will pay Dorothy Dugger $958,000 and Dugger would resign effective April 22, 2011.  The $958,000 settlement is comprised of:

• Approximately $600,000, the cost to BART of Dugger’s severance package had she been terminated
• $350,000 to ensure a smooth transition and to avoid any litigation between the parties

For more information on BART, click here.

The California Energy Commission has tentatively approved construction of a power plant on the old DuPont property on Bridgehead Road in Oakley.

In its presiding member’s proposed decision (PMPD) released today, the committee said the 624-megawatt facility, as mitigated, will have no significant impacts on the environment and complies with all applicable laws, ordinances, regulations, and standards.

The proposed decision was based solely on the record of facts, which were established during the facility’s certification proceeding.

The PMPD is not a final decision on the project. The siting committee released the document for 30 days of public comment. The committee will consider input before bringing the proposed decision to the full Energy Commission. The entire document can be found on the Energy Commission’s website at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/oakley/documents/index.html

The PMPD determined that the record, which contains a detailed environmental impact assessment required by the California Environmental Quality Act, was adequate. The record includes the Energy Commission staff’s thorough and independent assessment of the project’s potential impacts on the environment, public health, and safety.

The Oakley Generating Station Project is being proposed by Contra Costa Generating Station, LLC, a limited liability corporation owned by Radback Energy, Inc. The proposed project is a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle electrical generating facility. The project is located on a 21.95-acre site in the city of Oakley in eastern Contra Costa County.
(more…)

On April 10 just before 2 p.m., Antioch police officers responded to a report of a drive-by shooting in the area of Sycamore Drive and Banyan Way.

As officers arrived on scene, they located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it.  A vehicle pursuit ensued with one of the suspects jumping out in the area of Lemontree Way. That suspect was caught by officers with a handgun. The suspect vehicle ultimately crashed into a small wall in front of a residence on Gloucester Court. The driver and rear passenger were then taken into custody after another brief foot pursuit. 

Evidence of the shooting was later located at 1600 Sycamore Drive. No victims were found, but a building at that location was struck with several rounds.  All three male suspects – an 18-year-old from Bay Point and two 21-year-olds from Antioch – were arrested on multiple charges related to the shooting and other offenses.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department at (925)778-2441.

“Truly it’s going to improve the quality of life of Antioch.” Mayor Jim Davis

Officials gathered in Antioch, near the Somersville Road/Auto Center Drive interchange of Highway 4, today to commemorate the start of construction for the further widening of the freeway east of the interchange.

The widening of the freeway and completion of the eBART system to Hillcrest Avenue is expected to be done in 2015. For more information on the highway widening, click here. For more information on the eBART project, click here.