Region

Aerial crews involved in extinguishing Rankin Fire

By DAVID SCHOLZ Martinez Tribune MARTINEZ, Calif. – A brush fire scorched five acres near downtown Martinez late Wednesday afternoon before local fire personnel got the upper hand. Despite having the fire contained by 5 p.m., three engines were on the scene all night long to knock down flare-ups at …

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Fire sparks near Rankin Park

By DANNY YOEONO Martinez Tribune MARTINEZ, Calif. – A brush fire broke out Wednesday afternoon near Rankin Park in downtown Martinez, threatening several residences. The fire was first reported at 3:51 p.m. in the 100 block of Buckley Street, and climbed its way up the Alhambra Hills for several hours, …

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Doug Stewart passing on torch for Homeless Outreach

By DAVID SCHOLZ Martinez Tribune MARTINEZ, Calif. – Like a postal carrier, Doug Stewart has ventured out on the coldest, hottest and wettest nights to make his rounds around Martinez and 16 other communities that dot Contra Costa County. His customers don’t have addresses. They are the homeless. Some have …

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Inmate hangs to death at Martinez Detention Facility

MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the District Attorney’s Office are investigating an in-custody death that occurred last Thursday at the Martinez Detention Facility. Fifty-seven-year-old Alexander Legaspi of Bay Point was arrested July 6, 2015. He was being held on 15 felony counts of …

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Congressmen visit Martinez, present $4.5 million check

MARTINEZ, Calif. – U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-5) and Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) visited the Martinez Early Childhood Center on Monday to present a check totaling $4.5 million of federal grant money to support Head Start services throughout Contra Costa County. Specifically, the funding will be used to increase the number …

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New faces appointed to local commissions

By DAVID SCHOLZ Martinez Tribune Multiple new faces and a host of familiar ones were approved to serve on three local commissions by the Martinez City Council at its June 15 meeting. The following were appointed: Civil Service Commission: Johnathan Taylor Bash was appointed, and Sally Sweetzer reappointed. This body …

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Company investing in new strategy for Virginia Hills property

By DAVID SCHOLZ Martinez Tribune MARTINEZ, Calif. – After seeing the Virginia Hills Shopping Center space formerly occupied by Round Table Pizza sit vacant for several years, Cordoza Properties Inc. is now investing $400,000 to reconfigure the space in hopes smaller spaces will spark renewed interest from prospective tenants. The …

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