BART TO CLOSE CLAYCORD TRACKS IN MARCH....

At the end of March, BART will close their tracks between Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek to work on a project. The following is from the City of Pleasant Hill....
BART crews are installing two new crossover tracks between Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek stations.
This work requires that they close the tracks between these two stations on two weekends:
March 26 - 28 and May 28 - 30 (Memorial Day weekend).
To accommodate customers, BART will provide a free bus bridge service between Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill (in both directions) during both weekends. You should allow up to 20 additional minutes for the bus detour.
The Central Contra Costa Crossover Project will improve reliability and service on the Pittsburg/Bay Point Line.
Not only will these crossover tracks help to reduce delays, they will also give BART the flexibility to run more trains between Pleasant Hill and San Francisco, thus providing more seating during the peak commutes. They apologize for any inconvenience the temporary closure may cause.
DATES: March 26 - 28
9PM Friday night to 1:30AM Monday morning
AND
May 28 - 30 (Memorial Day weekend)
9PM Friday night to 1:30AM Tuesday morning
DETAILS: Follow signs to the Bus Bridge stop directly outside BART station. Look for County Connection buses (tan and white or white) with “BART Bus Bridge” signage.
Keep your BART ticket to display at all times, as you will need it to enter and exit stations and to board the bus.
Normal BART service will resume at 4AM on the final morning of the installation.
For more information on this project, click right HERE.
March 10, 2010 8:16 PM
RUMMAGE SALE AT HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY....

March 10, 2010 3:15 PM
PLEASANT HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL ON LOCKDOWN
Pleasant Hill Middle School was on lockdown for a short period of time this morning.Pleasant Hill Police Chief Pete Dunbar said school staff heard a loud popping noise from the trail area near the school, and they chose to lock PHMS down while authorities investigated.
Nothing was located, and the school was opened back up a few minutes later.
March 10, 2010 1:55 PM
MDUSD SCHOOL BOARD SLASHES $48-MILLION....
Last night, the MDUSD Board of Education voted to cut $48-million from their budget over the next 3 years. Over 200 employees could be laid-off, $8.4-million will be cut from special education, $3.6-million will come from the lay-off of office and support staff, $4.5-million from adult education, and $31-million of it will come from a reduction in the school year and benefits.
Also, the board decided to place a bond measure on the ballot in June. If approved, this $348 million bond measure will help fund facility improvements and solar projects.
March 10, 2010 10:54 AM
VEHICLE -vs- MOTORCYCLE CRASH ON CLAYTON
Looks like the motorcycle lost, but at least its driver is still alive. This crash happened on Clayton Road, just south of Denkinger at about 4:10 this afternoon.
No major injuries were reported.
Thanks to MarineMom for the photo!
March 09, 2010 6:47 PM
SUSPICIOUS RV TOWED AWAY, DRIVER CITED....
Our favorite RV was towed away this morning. Not because it broke down, not because it ran out of gas, but because the driver was unlicensed. The driver was also cited at the scene and released.Thank you, Concord Police, thank you very much!
March 09, 2010 5:31 PM
CONCORD POLICE CATCH ALLEGED ARMED ROBBER
A 39-year-old Concord transient is in custody after an armed robbery at Sally's Beauty Supply, which is located in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center on Ygnacio Valley Road in Concord. Lt. Darrell Graham says it happened on Monday morning....
The suspect (Johnny Nattkemper) entered the store, simulated a gun and forced the female victim to open the safe. He placed her in the bathroom, where she called 911.
The suspect took cash from the safe and fled out the back door.
Officers located Nattkemper at the bus stop on Washington Blvd, behind the old Yardbirds. He matched the suspect description.
An in-field was conducted and the victim employee positively identified Nattkemper as the responsible. He did not have any money in his possession.
Thanks to Lt. Graham for the information, and good job, CPD!
March 09, 2010 4:21 PM
CAT LEAVES, RETURNS WITH A LITTLE LESS EAR
This is weird, but after googling it, it's true. A neighbor of mine told me this yesterday: "my cat was missing for a day & night - she turns up Sunday morning very distraught with part of her ear sliced off & her belly shaved?"
Another friend said that the Clipped Ear means the animal has been neutered, however this cat was already neutered.
I wonder if there is a "vigilante" group out there who rounds up animals and does this? Maybe they shaved the cat and then realized she was already neutered, so clipped the ear and released her back in the neighborhood?
The cat pulls off her collar all the time so when she was missing she did not have her collar on. Would someone really do this?
Any other stories, complaints or comments about this type of thing happening?
Seems brutal to clip a part of its ear off. Poor cat. :(
March 09, 2010 2:12 PM
MAJOR FLOODING ON HICKORY DRIVE IN CONCORD



At least one home has been damaged due to flooding conditions after a vehicle struck a fire hydrant on the corner of Hickory & Birch Streets, which is off Port Chicago Highway in North Concord. The area is a residential area, and several roads have been closed because of flooding.
Emergency crews are currently on scene.
It's amazing that one little fire hydrant can do so much damage, hopefully nobody has extensive water damage.
Thanks to Tom for the pictures of the geyser and the flood.
March 09, 2010 12:16 PM
MAJOR INJURY ACCIDENT ON YGNACIO & ALBERTA


Tuesday morning, 9:30am: Concord Police, ConFIRE & AMR have responded to a major injury accident on the corner of Alberta Way and Ygnacio, in front of Mt. Diablo Self Storage. If you need to go that way, try to take a detour so you can avoid the mess, at least for the next hour.
Thanks to Michelle for the photos from the crash.
March 09, 2010 11:29 AM