Saturday The Press Honors All Who Served November 11, 2023
Vol. 25, No. 45
YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS SOURCE | WWW.THEPRESS.NET
November 10, 2023
Details of suspect in Hobby Lobby shoplifting incident not publicized 3 hospitalized after bear spray released
The Antioch Hobby Lobby was evacuated after an alleged shoplifter sprayed a store manager with bear spray.
By Melissa van Ruiten Staff Writer
More than a week after shoppers and employees of Hobby Lobby on Lone Tree Way in Antioch got an unpleasant surprise when an alleged shoplifter released what authorities believe to be bear spray inside the store, Antioch police have not released a description of the suspect. Police did not respond to requests for a comment or follow-up on this incident. “My family and I were shopping in Hobby Lobby, and we heard an announce-
Photo by Melissa van Ruiten
ment over the loudspeaker for customers to stay away from front registers, which was kind of odd,” said customer and Brentwood
resident Diana Smith. “All of a sudden, we started having itchy, dry throats, runny noses, and eyes. It seemed like all of a sud-
Brentwood women’s shelter to expand ”
Shepherd’s Gate CEO Carol Patterson
Shepherd’s Gate, a women’s shelter on Sycamore Avenue in Brentwood, may soon be able to house more residents following a 4-0 approval of their proposal by the Planning Commission on Nov. 7. Commissioner Kristopher Brand was absent. The City Council is expected to discuss a design review of
the project at a future meeting. The proposal sought to be able to accommodate 15 more residents at the facility at 605 Sycamore Ave., according to the agenda packet. Current permits allow Shepherd’s Gate to house 18 women and children, according to Associate Planner Miguel Contreras, who presented the item. To accommodate the additional residents, Shepherd’s Gate
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would build a 2,877 square-foot expansion of its existing 7,421 square-foot facility that would include “three dwelling units (cottages), a communal pantry, laundry facility, and associated site improvements to an existing residential group home,” according to the agenda packet. Shepherd’s Gate “exists to meet the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of women and see Shelter page 18
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By Jake Menez Staff Writer
Adoptions will remain free for November in Contra Costa Animal Services’ latest attempt to combat overcrowding as the shelter reaches capacity. “Like most shelters, we’re experiencing a noticeable increase of animals coming into our facility and we’re close to reaching our capacity,” Katherine Mills, DVM, CCAS Chief of Shelter
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Staff Writer
Serving East County
Animal services offers free adoption for overcrowding problem
children to have a safe place to recover from the trauma that they’ve experienced.
By Jake Menez
Service • Repair • Installation
see Suspect page 18
‘The shelter system is in crisis’
“ There is such a high need for women and
City Council to review the matter after planners approved it
den everyone was coughing. A few minutes later, they evacuated the store.” All customers and employees were asked to evacuate to the parking lot, where Contra Costa Fire Protection District crews were waiting to evaluate patients. About 70 people were assessed, and three people were transported to a local hospital, according to ConFire Battalion Chief Ross Macumber. ConFire determining the incident had many casualties enabled the hazmat teams to get there more quickly, and it also added ambulances to the scene, according to Macumber. “After a lengthy triage from multiple engine companies and multiple ambulanc-
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JOHNSON Medicine said in an October press release cautioning that the shelter was reaching capacity. “With an already crowded shelter and an average daily intake of nearly 20 see Crisis page 18
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LMC hires new athletic director
Not end of line for historic caboose
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