Three-Alarm Grass Fire Burns Eastward From Bruce Drive In Tassajara Sunday; One Structure Burned – Evacuations Made
A grass fire pushed by gusting winds consumed a structure in the 5900 block of Bruce Drive Sunday before moving to the east – threatening additional homes on nearby Johnston Road before fire crews were able to stop its forward progress at 5:49 p.m. Three alarms were called to support the firefighting effort, Valley Fire…
The Sunday Screed
Here we are, on the tail-end of a long weekend, and what have we learned? That hot dogs are best when grilled. That lemonade tastes better when purchased from a stand staffed by neighborhood kids with a few missing teeth and a dog named “BooBoo.” That it’s best to leave political discussions at home during…
Horsies Visit The Roundup – Clear The Joint; High Octane Hookup; And The Rocket’s Red Glare
We have to say, you folks sure know how to celebrate a Fourth of July! We came up with a short poem to commemorate a visit made to the divey but beloved Roundup Saloon by some local Cayuses at the height of the celebration, two of them making their way inside, sidling up to the…
Vacant House Burns In Walnut Creek Early Thursday
Firefighters are at the scene of a structure fire at an apparently abandoned home at 1st Avenue and Hall Lane in Walnut Creek. The first crews on the scene reported being met by heavy smoke and flame from the residence, located in the 1600 block of 1st Avenue. The blaze was first reported at 1:05…
Another Window Smash Auto Burglary Outside A Peet’s Monday – This Time In Orinda
A hardworking and highly mobile car burglar made off with a MacBook Pro and other items outside the Peet’s location in Orinda Monday. Witnesses said the thief, described as a black male driving a black BMW with blue paper plate inserts marked to Weatherford BMW struck a Mini Cooper convertible Monday morning, grabbing the computer…
Two-Alarm Grass Fire Brews Up Atop Buckingham Drive in Moraga; Some Evacuations Underway
Firefighters worked to get ahead of a fast-moving blaze reported at the top of Buckingham Drive in Moraga Monday, evacuating some neighbors from their homes as the fire pushed up the hillside. Traffic was stopped on Moraga Road as fire apparatus attempted to access the fire scene via Buckingham. Fire commanders estimated that about 10…
Pup Commandeers Walnut Creek Police Car – Gives Officer A Tonguelashing
Walnut Creek police are trying to reunite a lovely and, apparently, highly affectionate pup with its rightful owner after the animal sought refuge in Officer Akers’ car in town yesterday and let him know in dog language that she was lost. No word if the department’s uniform policy covers excessive drooling but Officer Akers got…
Fertile Grounds: Local Car Burglars Preying On Coffee Shop Customers
Watching for trends as we do around here we can say we’ve noted a decided uptick in the number of car burglaries outside local coffee houses of late – in broad daylight and so quick even the few people who realize what is happening have little time to react. Lafayette Police Chief Ben Alldritt has…
Fatal Crash On Westbound Highway 24 At Broadway Stalls Wednesday Morning Commute
UPDATE: Westbound lanes of Highway 24 at Broadway reopened and moving again at 7:36 a.m. A fatal accident on westbound Highway 24 at the Broadway exit prompted a SigAlert for the area Wednesday, immediately closing all but a single lane of traffic and prompting a backup felt as far as Acalanes Road. We’re getting multiple…
Attempt At Unauthorized Withdrawal From Martinez Bank Goes Awry Thursday
Martinez Police Chief Manjit Sappal and his team have been busy lately, descending on the Chase Bank branch on Alhambra Avenue Thursday to arrest a man who had just passed a note demanding money to a teller – doing so before the suspect had a chance to get his cash. Chief Sappal says his team…