Community Corner

Week In Review: Damaged Homes, Cell Phone Towers

Some of the stories that made news this past week in the Pinole-Hercules area

An elderly man was rescued from his home on Lupine Road in Hercules on Saturday afternoon. A motorist driving by saw flames coming from the house. The 29-year-old man parked his car, went inside the home and led the resident inside to safety.

Also on Lupine Road, a home was damaged after a speeding car tore through the front yard, hit two other vehicles in the driveway and plowed into the garage on Thursday afternoon. Two women were inside the house at the time but were not injured. Police say the 18-year-old driver of car was fleeing police and speeding at more than 60 miles per hour. He was arrested after being treated at a hospital.

A Contra Costa Superior Court jury convicted a Pinole man in the 2009 gang rape of a 16-year-old girl at Richmond High School. Marcelles Peter, 20, was found guilty of four charges, including rape in concert with others. A second jury convicted a Richmond man in the same case.

The Pinole City Council reversed itself on Tuesday evening and approved a 90-foot cell phone tower in Pinole Valley Park. The council had rejected the plan last month, but Verizon officials threatened to sue because they said they had signed a valid lease with city officials six months ago.

The Contra Costa Times reported some residents and businesses in the West Contra Costa Unified School District may soon pay higher property taxes. The Times reported tax rates may be raised on school bonds to make up for the decreased valuation on some properties in the district.
 






Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here