Jered E. Clark of Black Diamond Middle School to be honored by Supervisors during 29th annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration April 4

By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media

Ballet Folklórico Netzahualcoyotl dancers will perform accompanied by Mariachi Monumental. Photo: Contra Costa County

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will honor César E. Chávez in a celebration recognizing his commitment to social justice and respect for human dignity. The 29th Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 4, in Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar Street in Martinez. Community members can also join the event live on Contra Costa Television channels and the County’s website.

“We honor César E. Chávez and recognize his legacy of fighting injustice and improving the lives of farmworkers, their families, and their communities. We are inspired to commit ourselves to service to others,” said Board Chair Supervisor John Gioia. “We also recognize our 2023 Youth Hall of Fame awardees whose commitment to service and community are to be applauded and are the force moving forward Cesar Chavez’s legacy.”

The theme for this year’s celebration is Hope and Healing – Esperanza y Bienestar. The festival will feature keynote speaker Genoveva Garcia Calloway, community leader and former City of San Pablo Mayor and behavioral health professional, who will share her perspective on César E. Chávez’s legacy.

Jered E. Clark. Photo: CoCoCounty

Antioch 8th grade student Jered E. Clark, was named a Rising Star for Perseverance. Jered Clark currently attends Black Diamond Middle School in Antioch where he holds a 4.0 GPA and will be graduating with his 8th grade class at the end of this school year. He is a self-motivated person who is determined, outgoing, intelligent, and a stand-up scholar. He takes initiative to work on his assignments as well as his extracurricular activities which include volunteering with local nonprofits and playing volleyball.

At two years of age, Jered was a victim of child neglect and diagnosed with behavioral challenges. After tragically losing his parents to domestic violence, he entered the foster care system. Today he faces obstacles head on, remains focused and determined to overcome barriers. His perseverance at just 14 years old clearly shows he has a bright future ahead of him.

The event will include presentation of the 2023 Youth Hall of Fame Awards to students who make outstanding community contributions, live performances by Mariachi Monumental and Ballet Folklórico Netzahualcoyotl, and celebratory remarks from members of the Board of Supervisors.

Following are the County’s 2023 Youth Hall of Fame Awards winners:
High School Awardees:

Volunteerism: Frances Kellman-Lima, El Cerrito High School, 12th grade

Teamwork: Prisha Purohit, San Ramon Valley High School, 11th grade

Perseverance: Anayely Arreola Caldera, Liberty High School, 12th grade

Leadership & Civic Engagement: Anay Pant, Athenian School, 11th grade

Good Samaritan: Aria Capelli, Athenian School, 11th grade

Middle School Rising Stars:

Perseverance: Jered E. Clark, Black Diamond Middle School, 8th grade

Volunteerism Rising Star: Makenzie Lee-Foster, Visions in Education, 6th grade

Teamwork: Zihan Cherry Chou, Adams Middle School, 8th grade

Leadership & Civic Engagement Rising Star: Carter Considine, Head Royce, 9th grade

Good Samaritan: Gianna Baglieri, Rio Vista Elementary School, 3rd grade

The annual celebration honors the diversity and richness of our community. To learn more about the César E. Chávez Ceremony, visit https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6039 on the Contra Costa County website. The community can also watch the event live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov/6086 or www.contracostatv.org. The celebration will broadcast live on Contra Costa Television channels: Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse 99, and Astound 32 & 1027.

Calling ALL Youth 12-18yrs old!! Join US For a Night of Clean Safe FUN!! Showcase Your Talent and Compete for CASH Prizes. Can you Sing, Dance, Rap or Flow in Spoken Word? Register today and share your gifts on stage to win CASH Prizes. No profanity or violence allowed. Come out for a FREE night of Food, Fun and Music prepared with Youth in mind!

Register today and receive information on submitting a sample of your talent to be included. Share this with friends & invite them to DROP The Mic!!! See you there!

Free for the public to attend. Located at Genesis Church 1800 Woodland Drive in Antioch.

To register or reserve your spot visit Drop The MIC Youth Showcase Tickets, Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite

Antioch Police Officers handcuff one suspect. The other was transported to an area hospital on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. Photos by Allen D. Payton

Victim, suspects are male juveniles; officer sustains minor injury

By Ashley Crandell, Public Information Officer, Antioch Police Department

On Monday, February 27, 2023, at approximately 3:26 pm, the Antioch Police Department’s Communications Center received a call from a frantic caller advising a family member of theirs had just been shot in the 1800 block of Crown Peak Way. Officers immediately responded to the scene and located a male juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. Officers rendered medical aid until he was transported to a local hospital where he is listed in stable condition. Through preliminary investigation, officers learned several armed subjects attempted to rob the victim of his property and shot him in the commission of the robbery.

Antioch Police Officers search for evidence on Trailridge Court.

Our Communications Center began receiving calls from residents in the area regarding suspicious subjects hiding in their trash cans and backyards. The subjects matched the description of the suspects responsible for the shooting. Officers utilized their Unmanned Ariel Vehicle (Drone) and police canine to locate the suspects. Ultimately officers chased both subjects until they apprehended them in the area of Dallas Ranch Road, Prewett Ranch Drive and Trailridge Court. The firearm that was believed to be used in this incident, has been recovered and there is no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat to public safety.

Both suspects were juveniles and were arrested for charges related to robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. While chasing the suspects, an officer sustained a minor injury and is being treated at a local hospital. One suspect was transported to an area hospital after sustaining a dog bite. As of publication time it is not known if that was caused by a police K-9 or a neighborhood dog.

We want to thank our community and residents for calling in suspicious subjects near their residence. With your assistance we were able to locate and take the suspects into custody. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact our Investigations Bureau at (925)779-6926. You may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword ANTIOCH.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Antioch Police Sgt. Rick Hoffman and Sgt. Matt Koch talk at the scene of the shooting at Williamson Ranch Park on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. Photos courtesy of Mike Burkholder

Police seek unknown suspects in car seen at the scene; city’s 9th homicide of the year

By Lieutenant John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

APD officer vehicles responded to Williamson Ranch Park on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.

On Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at approximately 11:22 AM, the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center started receiving numerous 9-1-1 calls reporting multiple gunshots being fired at Williamson Ranch Park, located at 5000 Lone Tree Way.

As officers were responding to the scene, witnesses called to report a subject running from the park and entering the near-by Walmart. Additional officers immediately responded to the Walmart, and with the assistance of several citizens, were able to quickly locate and safely detain the subject. The subject was determined to be a juvenile and in possession of a loaded firearm.

When officers arrived at the park, they located one male juvenile victim near the parking lot suffering from several gunshot wounds. Evidence at the scene indicated the incident occurred outdoors in the east portion of the parking lot. Officers immediately began administering first aid and called for emergency fire department and AMR paramedics. The victim was transported to a local area hospital emergency room, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Prior to police arrival, a dark colored sedan was seen leaving the parking lot of the park at a high rate of speed. During the preliminary investigation, it appears the victim, and the subject detained at the Walmart, arrived together on-foot, and met with the occupants of a dark colored sedan in the parking lot. Shortly afterwards, multiple shots were fired from, and/or around, the dark colored sedan.

Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators, and detectives with the Violent Crimes and Special Operations Units, responded to the scene and took over the investigation.

Currently, detectives are interviewing witnesses and residents in the area and are working to identify any suspects or persons-of-interest. The investigation is still active, and evidence is being collected.

The death is the city’s ninth homicide of the year according to the City of Antioch 2022 Crime Statistics, which don’t show last month’s shooting death of a gas station convenience store clerk. According to Lt. John Fortner, the victim was from a community just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Cox at (925) 779-6866. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Part of annual international competition

Photo: Knights of Columbus

All boys and girls ages 8 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship.  Age eligibility is determined by the age of the contestant as of January 1, 2023.  Proof of age is required (please bring a copy of your birth certificate).

The competitions will be held on January 13, 2023, at Giovannoni Parish Center, 21 East 15th St., Antioch.

Free Throw Championship

Ages 8-11        Registration at 5:30pm            Competition begins at 6:00pm

Ages 12-14      Registration at 6:30pm            Competition begins after 8 to 11-year-old competitors are done

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local, district, and jurisdictional competitions. International champions are announced by the Knights of Columbus international headquarters based on scores from the jurisdiction-level competitions.

For more information contact: Wayne Steffen 925.890.0119 or Mike Hayes 925.565.4482

Council #3265 in Antioch is one of 17,000 Knights of Columbus councils that make up the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in 1882 to assist working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, today the approximately two million members of the Knights put their faith into action through a broad range of charitable causes locally, nationally and internationally with financial contributions and hands-on service.

Will give away hundreds of prizes to participants

The Antioch Recreation Department is partnering with the Golden State Warriors to offer a Holiday Basketball Clinic for local youth on Saturday, December 10th. We thought that your news outlet may be interested in attending and wanted to formally invite you to the event. The clinic is sold out with 80 children registered.

Golden State Warriors Academy coaches will put players through a series of drill stations followed by games and competitions. The clinic will conclude with a performance from the Golden State Warriors Dunk Team. The Warriors are donating hundreds of prizes for all players that participate in the event.

The clinic takes place from 10am-12pm at the Antioch Community Center in Prewett Family Park, 4703 Lone Tree Way.