ScreenShots: “The Man Who Wasn’t There”
As movie-lovers whose taste runs to the Coen, we’re not sure how we missed this one over the years, but we did. This black-and-white sonnet to film noir is lovingly crafted and executed, driven and narrated by a chain-smoking Billy Bob Thornton – second chair in a three-chair barber shop in Santa Rosa during the…
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – For Thieves
Christmas is ramping up in the 24/680 and as fresh trees go up in our living rooms and shoppers scurry to and fro another segment of society emerges – apparently to rip off the to and fro people. Pleasant Hill PD managed to corral two of three women allegedly trying to make off with several…
“Take Me Off Your List!”
We’ll spare you the military references but there’s a popular series out depicting a small squad action against a larger, entrenched force where the attackers use surprise to their advantage. “Look,” the squad leader shouts over the crescendo of a firefight. “We must be doing something right, they’re firing on each other…” That resonated this…
Tree Eats Cars In Pleasant Hill
Residents in the 400 block of Roberta Avenue in Pleasant Hill thought they were hearing lightning when cracking noises outside their homes brought them outside on the run Saturday. A tree, estimated to be at 80 feet tall, came down and caused “significant” damage to at least two cars and other property. No one was…
Shooting In Pleasant Hill Friday
One man was hit and seriously wounded after gunfire broke out in the parking lot of a Contra Costa Boulevard strip mall Friday night. A second man was quickly arrested in connection with the shooting. The shooting was reported at 8:12 p.m. in the Ellinwood Center mall with a 36-year-old man found on the ground…
“Stay Frosty…”
Our military friends have all these worldly, uniquely applicable sayings they use on us “civilians” from time to time. One they are fond of is “Stay Frosty” – and while that may seem pertinent given today’s weather outlook, it carries a different meaning. To them, it means to stay keen – alert to what’s coming…
Hazardous Materials Release At Martinez Oil Refinery Contained Heavy Metals
A powdery substance released into the community by Martinez Refining Company (MRC) last week contained higher-than-normal amounts of heavy metals, tests of samples collected by Contra Costa Health (CCH) show. CCH does not believe there is an immediate health risk to the community. The most significant health risks were short-term respiratory impacts from breathing in…
Pursuit Flurry In The 24/680 Wednesday
We are not sure why but several – apparently unrelated – groups of alleged bad guys are running from police on our namesake freeways Wednesday. One car was eventually stopped at the Wilder exit in Orinda and at least one person detained by police. Reports that a child was found in the car, which reportedly…
Fatal Motorcycle Crash On Crockett Boulevard Saturday
At about 10:19pm Saturday, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a solo motorcycle crash on southbound Crockett Boulevard north of Cummings Skyway with passersby reporting a rider down and in the road. Officers determined that the motorcycle had been traveling south at an undetermined speed when for reasons unknown it collided with the guardrail. During…
A Day Of Rescues, Runners – Busy Saturday In The 24/680
Some days, well, some days are just different. We were thinking that maybe, just maybe, folks would be mellow and standing down a little after The Big Feast but, no, it was not to be. News24/680 Newsies were kept busy running to and fro, from one scene to another, each seemingly nuttier than the last.…