News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec 3, 2019) Seaman Isaiah Peralta, from Pittsburg, Calif., holds the phone and distance line on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during a replenishment-at-sea Dec. 3, 2019. Theodore Roosevelt is underway conducting routine training in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Airman D.J. Schwartz)
By Allen Payton
According to family members on Friday night and confirmed by the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, Saturday afternoon, the body found by a hiker in John Henry Johnson Park in Pittsburg on Thursday, Nov. 7 is that of Kyle Beard of Brentwood, who has been missing since October 8. (See related article)
Family members and friends distributed flyers in English and Spanish on Facebook and through local media about Beard, also known as Kyle Young, who was last seen near Railroad Avenue and Buchanan in Pittsburg, not far from the park.
On Saturday morning, a family member informed the Herald that a “detective went to his mom’s house last night”.
No other information was provided by the Sheriff’s Office. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Thursday, November 7, 2019, at about 5:12 PM, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of a found body in a remote part of John Henry Johnson Park in Pittsburg.
The body was discovered by a hiker. It appeared the remains had been at the location for some time.
The Coroner’s Division took custody of the body and is trying to identify the man. An autopsy will be scheduled to find the cause of death.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
By Doreen Mohler, Anne Loucks Chapter, NSDAR
Join the Anne Loucks Chapter of the NSDAR on Saturday, December 14th, at Union Cemetery in Brentwood to help place wreaths on veterans’ graves during the Wreaths Across America commemoration ceremony.
The ceremony begins at 9:00 am. See flyer for information to purchase wreaths, volunteer to help or to just attend. Community members of all ages are welcome.
This will be the fifth year that Wreaths Across America has been commemorated at Union Cemetery in Brentwood and it’s just an awesome way to honor our veterans. It will be a very feel good and positive event for our community.
John O’Connor and his wife, Tere.
By Luke Johnson
A man fell into the trackway – about 30 feet in front of an oncoming train – and a BART employee immediately thought:
“Oh, he ain’t gonna make it.”
Photo courtesy of John O’Connor.
However, the employee got on his knees and reached over the trackway – putting himself in harm’s way. He then grabbed the fallen man and pulled him to safety with inches to spare. This all happened in a matter of three seconds. (See BART video)
The hero: John O’Connor, 55, a 28-year Antioch resident and former assistant football coach for the Antioch High School Panthers.
He was working at the Coliseum Station after the Oakland Raiders game Sunday, Nov. 3 to provide extra supervision for the overflowing postgame crowd – which was needed to say the least.
“That’s what I’m here for,” O’Connor said. “God was with us at that moment.”
“It seemed a lot slower than it actually happened (on video),” said O’Connor to the media. “He came to the side, I figured he wasn’t going to make it so I grabbed him and pulled him up to the platform. That’s what we do. We got foreworkers, train operators, station agents who deal with this on a daily basis. We preach safety, and we practice it.”
He added that it doesn’t sound right to be called a hero, because people in the military, police and fire department save lives all the time and he doesn’t believe he belongs in that category.
Although he may not identify as a hero, this Thursday the Raiders will honor him as one. The team will host him in front of the Thursday Night Football audience as this week’s “Hometown Hero.”
O’Connor during a press conference. Photo by BART
BART said the young man who stumbled onto the trackway was intoxicated.
After O’Connor pulled the young man to safety, he lifted him from the ground, embraced him with a hug and said, “It’s OK.” Meanwhile, other BART riders cheered for O’Connor for saving the young man’s life.
The moment was captured on video and posted to Twitter – which quickly went viral and can be seen, here.
The story has been all over the news and has even garnered national attention. O’Connor said if it weren’t for that video, many people would not have known what happened, and it would have become “just another good drinkin’ story.”
During a press conference, O’Connor stated, “A lot of times, people see us, and they don’t understand what we’re doing and what we’re going through but when something like this goes down, we rise to the occasion. Whether it’s the ’89 (Loma Prieta) Earthquake, the Giants World Series, you name it, BART’s been here for the Bay Area, and what we do is we try to get people where they need to be.”
By Brentwood Police Department
On Friday night/Saturday morning, October 19, 2019, at around 12:04 a.m., Brentwood officers responded to the In-N-Out Burger parking lot located at 5581 Lone Tree Way to investigate a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they quickly learned two victims (19- and 16-year-old males) were struck by gunfire in a drive-by shooting. When the shooting occurred, both victims were standing amongst a group people in the parking lot on the west side of the restaurant. Both victims were taken to area hospitals and are expected to survive their gunshot wounds.
The suspect vehicle was described as a silver, 2017 or newer, Honda Accord sedan with rear tinted windows. The suspect vehicle was last seen traveling eastbound on Lone Tree Way towards Canada Valley Road. The shooting happened so quickly nobody could provide a suspect(s) description.
The restaurant was struck by two bullets, but thankfully no customers or employees were hit.
Preliminary information suggests this was not a random act, but the motive is still unclear.
This investigation is still ongoing and no additional details are being released at this time.
Anyone with information regarding this shooting is encouraged to call Detective Joe Nunemaker at 925-809-7761. Callers can remain anonymous.
Sunday, Oct. 20 11 AM – 4 PM
Marina Event Center, 200 Marina Blvd, Pittsburg, California 94565
For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1410042409136547/
By Don Martin II
Antioch, CA…This weekend Antioch Speedway will be hosting the biggest Dirt Modified race of the year. It’s the First Annual West Coast Nationals. The A Modifieds and the B Modifieds will both be competing.
Past Modified and Stock Car competitor Chad Chadwick is making his foray into promoting with this big event. He’s hoping not just to offer the racers a big money race, but also to help reclaim Antioch Speedway’s status as one of the top tier dirt tracks in the state. “The fans will be seeing some of the best Modified racing you’ll find anywhere,” said Chadwick. “Some of the best drivers on the West Coast will be here this weekend. We have a format that will give the racers several opportunities to make it into the big race. I’m excited to be bringing this race to Antioch Speedway.”
Bobby Hogge IV #2h will be one of the drivers to beat in the West Coast Nationals at Antioch Speedway. Photo by Kniss Racing Photos.
The event kicks off on Thursday night with a practice, barbecue, cornhole tournament and live music. Both divisions will compete in heat races and Preliminary Features on Friday. The Top 4 finishers in the Preliminary Features will be locked into Saturday’s big money Main Event.
On Saturday, the two divisions will again run heat races as well as B Mains and Last Chance Qualifiers. The night ends with the Main Events offering purses of $25,000 for the A Modifieds and over $5,000 for the B Modifieds.
Antioch Speedway has held some big Modified races during the past 30 years, but this one will be the biggest ever. Just to take the green flag in the A Modified Main Event on Saturday will ensure a driver a minimum $500 payday. To win the show will be worth $7,500, and even second place walks off with a tidy sum of $3,800. The B Modified drivers will be competing for $1,500 to win their feature race with drivers earning $150 just to start.
The money being offered for the A Modifieds was enough to attract the attention of Bakersfield driver Ethan Dotson. Dotson gained national attention by winning the big IMCA Nationals event in Boone, Iowa in early September. He may come in as a top driver to beat, but an all star lineup of competitors is anticipated with the money on the line.
Bobby Hogge IV has a knack for winning some of the biggest races on the West Coast, and he’s won 70 Main Events at Antioch Speedway alone in his impressive career. Hogge picked up the lucrative victory in the Mike Cecil Memorial at Watsonville earlier this year and also left with the big prize money in the Roger Haudenshild Tribute race in Medford back in June.
Kellen Chadwick #83 has already won two of the biggest races of of the season at Antioch Speedway. Photo by Kniss Racing Photos.
When you talk about drivers to beat, Bobby’s name will be found near the top of the list. “These are the races that I look forward to,” said Hogge. “You get some of the best drivers out there, and it makes it a lot more fun and challenging for me. I’m looking forward to this race. We’ve always done pretty well at Antioch.”
Like Hogge, Kellen Chadwick, Troy Foulger and Nick DeCarlo are all past Antioch Speedway champions. Chadwick won both the Donna Soares Memorial and Jerry Hetrick Memorial at Antioch this year. He also won the Wild West Speedweek Series title for the second time this year and the $5,000 R Charles Snyder Salute in Medford.
Foulger is a four-time Antioch champion teaming with Billy Bowers, and he won the Merced Speedway title this year. DeCarlo won the Antioch championship last season and had three wins this year. This second-generation competitor bears the distinction of being the only driver to win Modified championships at Antioch, Petaluma and Watsonville.
This is just a sampling of some of the stars anticipated not just from California but from the Pacific Northwest and even Canada. Local stars such as new champion Buddy Kniss, 2017 champion Bobby Motts Jr, Sean O’Gara, multi-time Late Model champion Jeff Decker and Bob Newberry are among a roster of roughly 50 competitors expected to do battle.
The $1,500 is one of the bigger prizes being offered for the B Modifieds, and that kind of cash will bring some fast competitors to Antioch Speedway. This will include past champion Fred Ryland. Ryland has won over 50 Main Events in his career at Antioch Speedway alone as well as the 2015 championship. He won the Merced title this year. Local star Tommy Fraser, who won the championship this year along with eight Main Events, is anticipated as well.
In addition to other local stars such as Trevor Clymens and brother Tommy Clymens Jr, Todd Gomez and Kevin Brown, top racers from tracks such as Watsonville, Merced and Marysville are anticipated for this special event. There’s even reports of a few Modified racers bringing two cars to compete in both divisions.
The track has offered some big paying events through the years, and this is the biggest one yet. The West Coast Nationals promises to be a can’t miss event. This two-day event is also the final race of the season until next year. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
By CHP-Contra Costa
Saturday night, Oct. 12, 2019 at approximately 11:26 pm, CHP Contra Costa responded to a three-vehicle collision on Delta Road, just east of Main Street, in unincorporated Contra Costa county. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, an Infiniti sedan had crashed into a Ford pickup and then into a parked Dodge sedan on Delta Road, where it came to rest. The driver of the Infiniti (22-year-old male from Byron) unfortunately did not survive and was pronounced deceased at the scene. It was also determined he was not wearing his seatbelt. His female passenger (21-years-old from Oakley) sustained moderate injuries only and the solo male driver of the Ford sustained minor injuries only. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased male.
Our preliminary investigation indicates the following; the male driver of Ford pickup was traveling east on Delta road and preparing to make a left turn into his residence. The male driver of the Infiniti was approaching the slower moving Ford, preparing to turn, at a high rate of speed. The driver of the Infiniti drove into the westbound traffic lane in an attempt to pass the Ford. As the Ford driver began his left turn, the Infiniti driver crashed into the left side of the Ford at a high rate of speed causing major damage. The Infiniti then continued east on Delta and then crashed into a parked Dodge sedan on the north side of the roadway, also causing major damage. Tragically the male driver of the Infiniti was not wearing his seatbelt and died as a result of the collision. The female passenger was wearing her seatbelt, sustained moderate injuries, and was transported by helicopter to John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek and has since been released. The male driver of the Ford sustained minor injuries and was transported to Kaiser hospital in Antioch and has also since been released.
At this time, it is unknown if alcohol or drug impairment were a factor in this collision, but speed certainly was a contributing factor. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, call CHP in Martinez at 925-646-4980. Thank you.
Fatality collisions and the loss of a young life are always tragic and especially if it was preventable. Seatbelts really do save lives so please buckle up every time you or passengers are in a vehicle. And please slow down at all times.
See the Swingin’est Band in the world at The California Theatre, 4:00 PM
Born into an undeniable musical legacy, Louis Prima Jr. picks up the torch lit by his iconic father and leads his incarnation of The Witnesses headfirst into the future. Their seamless blend of hard driving big band jazz, insanely danceable swing and, at its core, real rock and roll has been wowing crowds worldwide for over a decade.
Make no mistake, this is no tribute act. Although the band most certainly Jumps, Jives, an’ Wails “Prima-style,” they are their own musical beast — thoroughly modern, laying down a blueprint for the future on the foundations of the past. Audiences will be treated to an evening of classics from the Louis Prima catalog, selections from LPJ & Co.’s two CDs (Return of the Wildest! and BLOW) and a healthy dose of sure-to-please surprises.
Equal parts bandleader and ringmaster, Prima Jr. brilliantly distills the finest elements of his father’s five-decade career through a contemporary filter, adding his own indelible stamp. “This is the happiest music on Earth!” he enthuses. “My father was rock n’ roll; Mozart was rock n’ roll. It’s a state of mind; I don’t think it’s a genre of music. It’s how aggressively do you play and do you play it like you mean it.” And The Witnesses mean it. From Passaic to Palermo and Seattle to Sicily, they’re bringing Prima music into the 21st century with new energy and attitude to match. It’s The Wildest Show this side of the ’60s!