General News
Council considers cannabis ordinance, jobs, new garbage rates tonight
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez City Council will introduce an ordinance tonight that would regulate personal-use cannabis cultivation, then turn its attention to a proposed increase in garbage rates. Currently, the city has an ordinance that prohibits indoor cultivation of both medicinal and non-medicinal marijuana except under the conditions established by state law, wrote Christina Ratcliffe, […]
Martinez residents accused of burglaries to home, cars
A 43-year-old Martinez man is in custody after his arrest Sunday after police received reports someone appeared to be stealing property from a home as well as from several vehicles in the neighborhood of Sherree Drive and Sherree Court, according to a department statement released Monday by Lieutenant Steve Gaul. The first call came about […]
Federal government heeds Delta solons’ opposition, won’t lend money for water tunnels
Some California authorities may want to build twin tunnels to move Sacramento River water to Southern California. But they won’t be getting a federal start-up loan for the project, State Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa), has announced. In a statement released through his office, Dodd said strong opposition from a group of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta officials, […]
Most election results final, but Martinez City Council District 4 awaiting audit
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Most of Contra Costa County’s Nov. 6 elections results are final and official, said Paul Burgarino, community education and engagement specialist for the county Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department. But Martinez’s District 4 City Council race results remain unofficial, he said. That status won’t change until Thursday, when official results will be posted once the […]
Rec department packs more events into Holiday Frolic
MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Martinez Recreation Department’s annual Holiday Frolic will have more events this year as it expands to a two-day celebration, and multiple downtown stops are participating. The celebration opens at 11 a.m. Friday with the Martinez Arts Association Christmas Boutique at the Old Train Station, 400 Ferry St. Santa Claus will be […]
Jury sides with California in charity fraud case
A jury has awarded the State of California $8.8 million in a case against a family accused of fraudulently soliciting charitable donations they said would assist wounded veterans as well as abused and neglected horses, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Monday. Instead of using the money to help the veterans and their families and […]
MPD makes carjacking stop, arrests three teens
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Three teenagers were arrested Sunday after Martinez Police stopped a car suspected of being taken last week in Oakland in a reported carjacking, according to the agency’s news announcement. Martinez Police dispatch received a notice at 4:15 p.m. Sunday from a fixed automated license plate reader on Alhambra Avenue at Paso Nogal […]
MUSD authorizes AHS sign language class
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Alhambra High School students should get the opportunity to learn American Sign Language (ASL), the Martinez Unified School District Board of Education decided Monday. By unanimous vote, it agreed with Tom Doppe, director of educational services, that the course should be made available to the students. “This is the initial step. I’d […]
Police, outreach teams working to reduce parks’ public safety problems
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez Police Chief Manjit Sappal and Officer Rodney Brinser praised the improvements at Martinez Waterfront Park Tuesday, telling the Parks, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission (PRMCC) that some new elements will make their jobs easier. “The park is absolutely gorgeous,” said Brinser, whose assignments include reaching out to the city’s homeless population. […]
Board of Education to review development fees report, vote on AHS sign language class
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez Unified School District Board of Education will review a report Monday on developer fees and their use during Fiscal Year 2017-18. Government code requires an accounting of the capital facilities fund that uses revenue from developer fees, sometimes called impact fees. The District’s Fund 25 is where those fee revenues are […]
