Antioch Pess_03.09.12

Page 1

Visit Your Hometown Website www.thepress.net

ward Winning News al A pa

YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Vol. 12, No. 10

rs

Na t

pe

ion

March 9, 2012

to City, police reach long-term pact Guide green living by Justin Lafferty

“ It’s not a deal that either side is going to

Staff Writer

After months of negotiations, officials of the City of Antioch and its police department announced a deal that will save the city a hefty sum this year through labor concessions. City Manager Jim Jakel said members of the Antioch Police Officers Association (APOA) agreed to give up raises that have been deferred since 2009 – totaling 12.5 percent. Jakel said the move will save the cash-strapped city roughly $1.9 million. Under the new agreement, sworn officers will receive a 6percent raise and non-sworn members 5 percent. The increase won’t have much impact on

be jumping up and down (about) ... It’s about saving jobs and bringing some peace of mind to the employees that are here.

APOA President Tom Fuhrmann take-home pay, however, as the agreement increases employee contributions to their pension plans by the same amounts. Sworn employees will now contribute nine percent to their retirement, non-sworn employees will contribute eight percent. Both had previously contributed three percent. The agreement, which is tentative until the Antioch City Council votes on it Tuesday,

also ensures that no officers will be laid off for a year. The new contract ends Aug. 31, 2016. “It’s not a deal that either side is going to be jumping up and down (about), but it’s at least a deal that both sides are happy with and it provides some economic stability for the city,” said Antioch Police Officers Association President Sgt. Tom Fuhrmann. “It’s about saving jobs and bringing some peace

of mind to the employees that are here.” At deadline, city officials were still determining the total financial impact of the new agreement. Full details will be conveyed in the staff report for Tuesday’s Antioch City Council meeting. There is some relief for officers under the new agreement, which gives them a 3-percent salary increase in March of 2013 and a 4-percent hike in September of 2013. The new agreement also makes some reductions to the officers’ retirement benefits. Cost-of-living adjustments to their pensions will go from a maximum of 5 percent to 2 persee Police page 17A

Kids do their part to keep city clean by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer

Photo by Justin Lafferty

Riley Guinn disposes of a cardboard box during a recent cleanup on Delta Fair Boulevard.

Online now! WebExtras! press releases videos

Connect with The Press!

Scan QR code with your smart phone.

www. thepress.net Your Hometown Website

When Antioch child care provider Beverly Knight takes the kids out for a walk in the park, they think they’re getting merely valuable outdoor exercise. But there are other benefits: the kids pick up trash and learn lessons about littering. Knight, who runs All In R Family Child Care out of her home, got the idea about 10 months ago to help the kids gain more exercise by picking up trash around Antioch. She’s hoping the effort will spark a grassroots movement. “The kids are spreading the word. They’re telling their friends and their family,” Knight said. “We’re starting small, but we can get the word out.” Recently, Knight took the kids to Delta Fair Boulevard, where they picked up

Spring forward Sunday, March 11

Fine tuning your timepieces this weekend will save you an hour of precious daylight.

buckets of trash near bus stops. The children say that picking up candy wrappers and pizza boxes from the ground has changed their view. The kids have been shocked to see people walk or drive by piles of garbage. “A fifth-grader at my school was drinking a Capri Sun, and then he just threw it on the ground right behind the bench, and I saw him,” said Sutter Elementary fourth-grader Harmonee Brumwell. “I told him, ‘You shouldn’t be littering because it’s bad,’ and then I went to go put it in the garbage.” The kids, along with Knight, take gloves and tongs to pick up waste, putting it into a cart with a sign that reads “Care … Don’t Litter.” She hopes the experience will increase the kids’ appreciation for their surroundings. Knight loves seeing the looks on their faces after a job see Kids page 17A

From water purity to auto care to hazmat disposal, our Think Green section helps you limit your carbon footprint. Page 1B

Alert to the danger A recent workshop raised awareness of the scourge of sexual exploitation. Page 3A

Tough tussler

Antioch’s Kyle Clark got a medal draped around his neck at the recent State Wrestling Championships. Page 20A Business .............................15A Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Entertainment ................... 9B Food .................................... 10B Milestones ........................ 18B Opinion ..............................18A Outdoors ............................. 6A Sports .................................19A Think Green ........................ 1B FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A

Ready to rumble Tidying the town go to news/press releases

Know what to do before, during and after an earthquake rocks your world.

go to multimedia/videos

Antioch’s Neighborhood Cleanup crew gave community pride a boost.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.