Visit Your Hometown Website www.thepress.net
ward Winning News al A pa
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 45
City postpones Sadie sweetness Fulton Shipyard ramp decision by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer
Antioch’s City Council is considering closing a boat ramp that police say has been a magnet for crime, but residents have convinced leaders to reexamine the discussion. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, the council discussed fencing off the Fulton Shipyard Boat Ramp, which Antioch Police Captain Steve McConnell said has received 298 calls for service over the past few years. After hearing from Sheila White, who owns a restaurant near the ramp, and resident Rick Robinson, city officials decided to
table the discussion until January so more people could offer solutions. The discussion about the Fulton Shipyard ramp came after the council approved an item to charge $5 to launch boats with the soon-to-beopened Marina Launch in Rivertown. Currently, the Fulton Shipyard Boat Ramp is free. In the staff report, City Engineer Ron Bernal pointed out that keeping the Fulton Shipyard ramp open and free would hurt revenue coming from the Marina Launch. Councilman Brian Kalinowski floated the idea of engag-
rs
Na t
pe
ion
November 11, 2011
Venerating our veterans
We dedicate this day to those who dedicate themselves – every day – to protect our freedom. Page 1B
Cosmic eye exam Photo courtesy of Catherine Arthur
race Berry and Joe Sparaco share a moment during the recent Quail Lodge Sadie Hawkins dance. Dozens of residents at the Antioch senior living center participated in the event for which the ladies ask the gentleman out. Seniors danced to the music of the live band Natural Blend.
G
Who needs to stargaze when you can galaxygaze? Binoculars not required. Page 6A
Tales of digs and kills
see Shipyard page 17A
Homeowners shoot burglar suspects by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer
Two East County homeowners recently took matters into their own hands, shooting men who attempted to burglarize their residences. On Saturday, the owner of a vacant house in Antioch shot and killed a man apparently trying to steal copper wire. And Tuesday morning in Brentwood, one man is in critical condition and another is at large following an attempted break-in of an off-duty police officer’s house. Antioch Police did not arrest the homeowner after the fatal shooting. Officers say the man has cooperated with the investigation. Since the Antioch Police Department believes the shooting was done in self-defense, it does not
plan to file charges. But Acting Captain Leonard Orman said the district attorney’s office would make the final decision once the investigation is complete. The man, who owns a few vacant properties in Antioch, was making a routine check on one of his homes on the 200 block of West 17th Street on Saturday at about 2:45 p.m. When the homeowner entered the building, he discovered a man apparently attempting to steal copper wire from the house. Orman said that the homeowner’s properties have been hit repeatedly by copper thieves. While the Antioch Police Department doesn’t keep statistics on copper wire theft, Orman acknowledged that it has been a problem throughout the area. Antioch City Engineer Ron Ber-
nal noted at a recent City Council meeting that the city spent $60,000 in the first four months of the year repairing damage done to municipal facilities in those kinds of incidents. “He has made a habit of going over to these properties on a regular basis, if not daily, and checking them,” Orman said. “The damage that he’s been suffering is so great.” Police say the man threatened the homeowner, who defended himself by shooting the man several times. The homeowner then called police. Orman noted that residential burglaries have been on the rise in his city, especially with the abundance of vacant properties. From June through August of 2011, 99 more burglaries occurred than in the same time frame last year. The
Army mobilized go to news/WebExtras!
visit thepress.net
like us on facebook
follow us on twitter
Scan QR code with your mobile device to access these websites.
The Salvation Army has scheduled an ambitious array of holiday activities.
acting captain said he’s noticed that many criminals who perform robberies have been switching to burglaries in an effort to snatch a better bounty. “We certainly do see folks that are having to deal with the issue of squatters and thieves more often than before,” Orman said. “There’s been a continuous rise, really, in the last five years.” While Antioch’s break-in involved a vacant home, the attempted burglar in Brentwood on Tuesday tried to enter the house of an off-duty police officer. Police refused to name the officer involved in the shooting, saying only that he is not a member of the Brentwood Police Department. The incident occurred around 11:40 a.m. in the 1800 see Burglars page 17A
More memorials go to news/press releases
A USDVA grant will allow a regional veterans cemetery to expand.
Catch our coverage of the hotly contested North Coast Section volleyball playoffs on thepress. net. Page 21A Arts .....................................12A Business .............................16A Calendar ............................ 15B Classifieds ........................... 8B Cop Logs ............................ 14B East County Life ................ 1B Food ...................................... 4B Milestones ........................ 13B Opinion ..............................18A Outdoors ............................. 6A Sports .................................21A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
War memories
go to multimedia/videos A WWII Navy veteran recalls his harrowing tour of duty in the Pacific.