Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Female jogger sexually assaulted on Iron Horse Trail in Walnut Creek Thursday

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Suspect sought by police – described as a white male adult, between 25 and 27 years of age, between 5’09” and 5’10” tall, with a skinny build, with dark hair, a beard, or a Goatee type facial hair

By East Bay Regional Park District Police

On Thursday, March 12, 2020, at about 7:16 PM, a female jogger was assaulted on the Iron Horse Trail, near the intersection of Jones Road and Treat Blvd., in Walnut Creek, CA. The jogger was traveling south on the trail, on the Robert I. Schroder overcrossing at Treat Blvd., when she was inappropriately grabbed from behind by a male assailant, a crime of Sexual Battery (243.4 PC). The suspect continued to run southbound on the trail and is still outstanding. The victim sustained no other injuries.

Location of assault on Iron Horse Trail 03-12-20.

East Bay Regional Park District Police officers, along with officers from BART PD, Walnut Creek PD, and deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the area to assist with the investigation. The victim described the suspect as a white male adult, between 25 and 27 years of age, between 5’09” and 5’10” tall, with a skinny build, with dark hair, a beard, or a Goatee type facial hair and wearing all dark athletic type clothing.

The crime is the third incident of recent assaults on the Iron Horse Trail in the same area currently being investigated by the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department. The suspect’s description closely resembles the physical description of the suspect from two previous incidents.

The East Bay Regional Park District Police Department is carefully and diligently investigating all three of these incidents and believes they are related. Anyone who was on the Iron Horse Trail during this time or who may have cameras that may have captured the suspect’s photo is asked to contact our Dispatch Center at (510) 881-1833.

The Police Department is working with allied agencies to locate and arrest the suspect in these crimes. We ask the public to be aware of their surroundings while visiting the parks and to phone the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department any suspicious activity within the parks.

The East Bay Regional Park District Police Department is asking anyone who may have witnessed the assault, was in the immediate area during the time of 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, or may have information regarding the identity of the suspect, to contact the East Bay Regional Park District Police Dispatch Center at (510) 881-1833 or the anonymous Tip Line at (510) 690-6521.

 

Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol searches for missing Delta boater

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sunday morning at about 2:18 a.m., Delta Station Deputy Sheriffs responded to Indian Slough for a missing person detail. Two men were fishing on an inflatable raft at Indian Slough when the raft apparently had a malfunction. One of the men swam to shore, but the other person was unaccounted for.

A CHP helicopter, U.S. Coast Guard and Contra Costa Fire Protection District arrived on scene with boats and aerial support, however, the missing man was not located

Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit later arrived on scene and took over the investigation and search. Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441.

Black Diamond Mines closed until Sept. 10 for installation of new coal mining exhibit

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Graphic by East Bay Regional Park District.

The Hazel-Atlas Mine and Greathouse Visitor Center will be closed until September 10 while a new exhibit is installed. No mine tours will be available during the construction period. Sidney Flat Visitor Center, located at park headquarters, will be open on weekends during the summer from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The new Black Diamond Coal Mine exhibit, built into the existing Hazel-Atlas silica sand mine, will be an immersive experience taking visitors into a recreated 1870s coal mine, part of California’s largest coal mining operation. All of the original coal mines at the preserve have been closed to the public and permanently sealed for public safety. Visitors to the new exhibit will experience the sights and sounds of a working coal mine from nearly 150 years ago when immigrant miners worked deep in the earth to supply California with the energy needed to power and transform the state’s economy from rural to industrial. The new exhibit is scheduled to open to the public in the spring.

Black Diamond Mines Naturalist Eddie Willis is looking forward to the new addition to the Hazel-Atlas Mine and Greathouse Visitor Center. “We are excited to showcase this new exhibit which will allow visitors to connect more directly with the coal mining legacy of these hills in a safe and educational way,” said Willis.

To help fund the visitor center exhibit, the Regional Parks Foundation secured two grants from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation and Marathon Petroleum.

 

California State Fair in Sacramento now open through July 28

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The 2019 California State Fair & Food Festival officially opened its gates Friday morning, July 12 with big crowds, eagerly awaiting to get into Cal Expo in Sacramento.

“We’re so thrilled Opening Day was such a great success; it’s fun seeing so many people and families out having a good time, and of course, eating at our 100 food booths.” said Rick Pickering, Cal Expo General Manager and CEO. “We’ve worked hard to make this year’s State Fair the best yet – a fair for all Californians up and down the state. The food festival is just part of what we have in store for the next two and a half weeks.”

The California State Fair & Food Festival runs through July 28th.

For the schedule of daily events and concerts, as well as the list of food vendors, fairgoers are encouraged to visit the website at CaStateFair.org or download the Ca State Fair app where they can map out all of their adventures.

About the California State Fair 

The California State Fair is an international award-winning fair, receiving top honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions out of more than 1,100 fairs world-wide. The California State Fair is dedicated as a place to celebrate the best the state has to offer in agriculture, technology and the diversity of its people, traditions and trends that shape the Golden State’s future. We invite you to join us for the 166th California State Fair, July 12-28, 2019.

Search for suspect in Six Flags Hurricane Harbor shooting Saturday evening

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By Concord Police Department

Investigators are searching for the suspect who shot a man in the parking lot of Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Saturday evening. Just before 5:00 P.M., officers responded to the parking lot of Six Flags where they found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. At this time, the shooting appears to be an isolated incident that stemmed from an argument between the suspect and the victim. There is no threat to the public. The victim was taken to an area hospital and is expected to survive.

The search continues for the suspect. He is described as a black man, approximately 220 pounds with tattoos all over his back. The suspect vehicle is an older model, silver Honda four-door sedan with front bumper damage. We ask that anyone with information that can help us make an arrest to call our confidential tip line: (925) 603-5836.

See the KPIX5 CBS report of this incident, here.

Father, daughter from Discovery Bay found dead in houseboat Friday; CO gas poisoning suspected

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John LeBarre and his daughter, Denielle LeBarre Photos from their Facebook profiles.

From San Joaquin County Sheriff

Shortly after 4:00 A.M. on Friday, July 5, a 911 call was made by a boater, stating she found her fiancé and his daughter deceased on their boat. The boat was anchored near Ski Beach, east of Discovery Bay and west of Stockton in the Delta.

John LeBarre (57 years old) and his daughter, Denielle LeBarre (26 years old), both of Discovery Bay, were found unresponsive. This is potentially an accidental carbon monoxide death investigation, exact cause of death is not known at this time.

This is a very unfortunate case, please consider the following: Most newer models of houseboats have CO sensors and alarms to warn of CO buildup and pooling. Rerouted exhausts, emission control devices, and generator interlocks combined lead to a reduction of over 99 percent of CO buildup and pooling, according to the CDC.

Delta Blitz operation on Sunday, May 26

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Photo by CCCSheriff.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

With the start of boating season this weekend, the Marine Services Unit of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is hosting a Delta Blitz on Sunday, May 26, 2019.

Numerous local, state, and federal agencies will be taking part in this operation and will focus on boating safety, education and enforcement in the Delta.

The ‘ABC’s of Boating’, a handbook of boating rules, is available from most boating shops. Boaters can go to the California Division of Boating and Waterways website at www.dbw.ca.gov for information on boating safety and the California Boater Card. If anyone has any questions about boating safety, please contact the Marine Services Unit at (925) 427-8507.

Tall Ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain to visit Antioch March 27-31

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Tall Ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, official ambassadors of Washington state, will visit Antioch from March 27th – 31st and offer exciting Adventure Sails, Battle Sails and Vessel Tours from the dock. Vessel Tours open the ships to the public for a suggested donation of $5 per person. Come check out the ship and meet her crew!

Sailing guests will embark on a two or three-hour experience. Adventure Sails feature sailing as it was done for hundreds of years. Join in a sea shanty, enjoy breathtaking views, and meet the modern-day crew that travels the west coast. Battle Sails feature fast-paced maneuvering and live black powder cannon fire as the ships vie to win the battle.

A ticket is required for all sailing passengers, including babies. Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Refreshments are not provided, but guests are welcome to bring their own (no glass containers, please). Accessibility is addressed on a case-by-case basis, so please talk to us ahead of time to be sure we can accommodate your needs.

Call 1-800-200-5239 for tickets and information or click here. A ticket is not required for Vessel Tours.

Antioch City Marina

5 Marina Plaza

Antioch, CA 94509

March 27 to March 31, 2018

Schedule

March 27-29 
Closed for crew training

March 30 (Friday)
Vessel Tours: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($5 donation)
Evening Sail: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ($42-$49)

March 31 (Saturday)
Vessel Tours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ($5 donation)
Adventure Sail: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ($42-$49) Sailing on Hawaiian Chieftain
Battle Sail: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ($42-$79)

April 1 (Sunday)
Boats depart Antioch to Crescent City

2018 calendar released for Discover Diablo, Save Mount Diablo’s free public hikes series

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Discover Diablo is Save Mount Diablo’s free public hike series program, offering an annual schedule of guided interpretive family walks, hikes and property tours open to any and all trail blazers looking to get out in nature. Generously sponsored by the Shell Martinez Refinery for a second year, the 2018 Discover Diablo Free Public Hike Series will begin in mid-January.

Hosted by Save Mount Diablo, the Discover Diablo program, now in its second year, continues to build awareness of local land conservation efforts and to convey the importance of protecting open space for habitat and recreation. Through this initiative, Save Mount Diablo intends to reach new audiences, build our membership base of adventurers, explorers and outdoor enthusiasts, spark a passion for the Diablo Range, and engender community conservation by deepening connections to the land and nature.

“We are pleased to sponsor this opportunity for people to explore and discover the beauty of Mount Diablo, a wonderful natural resource in our own backyard, with experienced guides,” said Ann Notarangelo, External Relations Manager for the Shell Martinez Refinery. “We hope that people will enjoy learning more about the diverse habitats and the striking vistas while spending time outside with their families and friends.”

We invite you to join us in exploring the Bay Area’s beautiful wild lands and open spaces. Discover Diablo offers two events per month for the entire year – either taking place on a Save Mount Diablo property or hosted on a collaborating agency’s land. Save Mount Diablo’s Family Walks are for hikers of all skill levels and will take place on other portions of open space on and around the mountain. Save Mount Diablo’s Property Tours will illustrate the importance of preserving wildlife habitat, building corridors between existing parks, and of course, all the beauty that the Diablo Range has to offer. We hope that with two events per month in various locations, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

To honor Save Mount Diablo’s mission, we aim to display both our current property holdings as well as those we have helped protect over the years. Hosting monthly hikes is an effective way to engage and grow communities invested in the sustainability of local open space. SMD properties aren’t usually open to the public, so these are rare opportunities.

To complete the land conservation picture in the Diablo Range and pay homage to collaborating agencies, we also host monthly outings on Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Park District, and Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation lands. Discover Diablo ties these outings together by offering an annual schedule of free public hikes to explore these diverse lands – with the added bonus of being guided by knowledgeable staff and experienced volunteer hike leaders.

According to Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo, “It is the goal of the Discover Diablo program to build connections between people, Save Mount Diablo, and the land, helping communities develop a strong sense of place and a deepened appreciation for our collective backyard. Most importantly, we want to cultivate a love of the land in participants – so as to grow the land ethic and stewardship for our precious Mount Diablo area.”

We intend to reach audiences from all over the Bay Area to improve awareness of and advocacy efforts for the Diablo Range. There is something for us all to discover in the nooks and crannies surrounding Mount Diablo. Please join us on the trails to find your own individual inspiration!

RSVP required. See our full schedule of upcoming hikes: http://bit.ly/Discover-Diablo-Hikes-Calendar