I got an email from a reader and then saw the story in the CoCo Times.

The voluntary lockdown began at 2 p.m. at the school, at 2455 Grant Street, Concord police Cpl. Darryl Holcombe said. Two students had been fighting, and as other students found out about the fight, someone started a rumor that one of the participants had brought a gun to school.

I, for one, was not surprised to hear this story. I am glad it turned out to be fake but I as many of my readers were not shocked when the news first came out. I went to Mt. Diablo many years ago and even then it was a tough school with daily fights and many that looked like full riots between gangs or different groups.

The entire school isn’t bad. I know this. I would like to say that a majority of students want to be there, graduate and do something with themselves. The other side of that coin is that there are students that are only there to pass the time, hang out with friends or even ‘conduct business’ on campus.

It wasn’t surprising to see a knife or other weapon in a locker next to yours or see someone in the hall with something in their wasteband that was not a ruler. Mt diablo was and still is in many cases one of the roughest schools in the area and I am talking from experiances from 10+ years ago.

Am I wrong? Is Mt Diablo a better place than it was when I went there? There are still videos on YouTube of some of the fights on Mt Diablo’s campus.

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It all started from a  burglary. 3 suspects were seen in Walnut Creek trying to break into a car and gave the Saturns plate that came back stolen. The CHP and Concord Police were chasing a Silver Saturn all around Concord up to speeds of 110 MPH. The suspects were getting on and off Highway 4 going the wrong direction. The Concord Police pulled back the chase when they felt there was too much danger. There was a helicopter in the air following the suspect car so there wasn’t much of a chance that they could get away.

I do worry about all of this chasing in residential areas though. I know the police train for this stuff but criminals don’t. Driving 80-100 MPH through a residential area could have killed people.

The police scanner was going crazy. The CPD was trying to set spike strips along the path but every time they tried, the car went around them.

In the end the car went off the freeway, one suspect ran, two others in the car were arrested immediately. The third suspect was arrested soon after.

Good work Concord Police and the CHP!

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The broken water pipe was wrapped in roots and next to a gas line. So all of the water for the neighborhood was shut off and everyone is at the mercy of PG&E to come. Approx 100 houses are without water, the estimated time to be turned back on is 8PM.

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Most recently there was a man seen videotaping near Monte Gardens Elementary School several times that made parents in the area scared. No crime was committed but with the heightened awareness and news spreading across other local blogs that there was a man near a school with a camera, people acted. Thankfully Concord residents are more civilized than others and when the man was once again seen near the school, a mob wasn’t assembled.

Turns out this 72 year old man that caused such alarm in our community was in fact just a visitor and was videotaping the area and his granddaughter. Imaging the shock on this man’s face when he was walking around Dana Estates and was confronted by Concord Police.

So this is what I’m wondering, has all the news about Jaycee Dugard and the attempts in Pleasant Hill made parents in Concord even more concerned about their children to the point of paranoia?

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Concord police officers first encountered Dugard at a nearby house on Wednesday while they were conducting a separate investigation, Lovell said. Police began to question the woman and something didn’t add up, he said.

“Based on really good police work, the Concord police smelled a rat,” Lovell said. Police continued to press the woman, and she eventually revealed her name was Jaycee Dugard.

Officers asked her to come to the Police Department for further investigation and Dugard cooperated, Lovell said.

Police are awaiting the results of a DNA test to confirm Dugard’s identity, he said.

Dugard’s mother, Terry Probyn, has been in contact with her daughter, Lovell said. “They have discussed things that only the two of them would know,” Lovell said. “We are about 99% sure the woman is her.”

Lovell was one of he original investigators assigned to the Dugard case. “It’s a great feeling that she is alive,” he said. “We followed up on hundreds, if not thousands, of leads. And out of the blue, this one came to us yesterday.”

Concord police officers first encountered Dugard at a nearby house on Wednesday while they were conducting a separate investigation, Lovell said. Police began to question the woman and something didn’t add up, he said.

“Based on really good police work, the Concord police smelled a rat,” Lovell said. Police continued to press the woman, and she eventually revealed her name was Jaycee Dugard.

Officers asked her to come to the Police Department for further investigation and Dugard cooperated, Lovell said.

Police are awaiting the results of a DNA test to confirm Dugard’s identity, he said.

Dugard’s mother, Terry Probyn, has been in contact with her daughter, Lovell said. “They have discussed things that only the two of them would know,” Lovell said. “We are about 99% sure the woman is her.”

Lovell was one of he original investigators assigned to the Dugard case. “It’s a great feeling that she is alive,” he said. “We followed up on hundreds, if not thousands, of leads. And out of the blue, this one came to us yesterday.” – Source

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During that conversation, FBI agents told the parents that they “had Jaycee and the people responsible,” according to her husband.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department is planning a Thursday morning press conference to discuss the case. There are several similarities to another high-profile case, the abduction of Elizabeth Smart in Utah.

I wonder how close to the missing persons poster Jaycee Lee Dugard will look? When ever I hear about a missing child and days or weeks go by without any news or sightings, I start thinking the worst. If this is Jaycee Lee Dugard then it will really be a miracle for this family that was holding out hope for so long.

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MARTINEZ — A preliminary hearing for a homeless man charged with abducting a 4-year-old Concord boy and then taking him to lunch was halted today so the court could find a Mayan interpreter for the defendant.

Police and attorneys have been communicating with 35-year-old Mexico native Jose Camal in Spanish since his arrest July 13, when officers say he took the child from outside his home on Meadow Lane and brought him to a nearby Chinese restaurant to share a meal.

The boy was found unharmed near the restaurant about a half-hour after he was discovered missing. A drunken Camal then flagged down officers and confessed he took the child to the restaurant because the boy said he was hungry. Prosecutors initially declined to charge Camal, citing no evidence of devious intent. After a flood of e-mails from the public, prosecutors reconsidered and charged Camal with child abduction.

A detective had started testifying this morning when Camal told his Spanish interpreter that he could only understand some of what she was translating. Attorneys said they were unaware that a Mayan language is Camal’s native tongue.

The hearing resumes Monday. – CoCo Times

I’m glad that this kidnapping is being prosecuted. I’m glad that the DA is tracking down a native interpretur to make sure the charges stick but what are the chances that this man who took a 4 yr old from his home is going to get off on some technicality since he was arrested based on an admission of guilt.

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Not only does the super saver have a talent for finding the best deals for things like Skippy Peanut Butter and free bus passes for students, she goes the extra mile and give classes on how you can be a self sufficient coupon clipper and deal hunter.

Coupon Classes teach you the ins and outs of saving buckets of money using coupons. The class sizes are small and they only cost $10.00. You get to learn from the coupon master and walk away with enough information for you to take on the quest yourself.

Head over to the Frugal Find and see what great deals you can take advantage of this week!

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The names of the girls are a mystery to me since in two videos they introduce themselves with completely different names. Valery and Paris or Gloria and Christine. Whatever their names are, they make some interesting videos. From “A guys guide to what a girl wants.” to “Where to cruise in Concord.”

They cruise around Concord stopping at Starbucks and harassing the employees (J/K) and taking us on a tour of Clyde. Most of the time is spent singing along to the radio.

I wonder what inspired these two to do the videos and how they were able to secure a camera person to follow them everywhere? It’s always a pleasure finding these gems online. Keep up the good work.

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In a bizarre twist, Jose Camal a Concord transient flagged down police officers a short time later and explained he had taken the kid to eat dinner. I guess after drinking a case of beer, he got hungry and wanted to have some company.

Since the DA’s office could not find a crime commited, they let Camal back onto the street. Legally, I guess I get it. Generally, kidnapping occurs when a person, without lawful authority, physically asports (i.e., moves) another person without that other person’s consent, with the intent to use the abduction in connection with some other nefarious objective.

Since this guy was too hammered to think straight and all he did was remove this child from his yard to go eat dinner, there was NO real crime. Hey, from the reports, the child told Camal he was hungry too so I guess this 4 year old gave consent. Sometimes the laws are just mind boggeling.

So what have I learned from this? It’s alright to steal a child as long as you plan on returning him in a hour or two. The DA’s office considers this child ‘borrowing’ and not kidnapping.

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Some people (including me) think that this criminal is getting off easy. Granted, I’m not going to say the owner of the store Gary should still file charges. I do think the young man who stole the phone should have been man enough to apologize in person instead of having his father do it for him.

There was some question about the woman in the video. Because of the age difference I assumed it was his mother but there was chatter that it may have been his girlfriend or just a friend. Turns out the woman in the video was the boys mother and she also went into the store to apologize to Gary about the theft. Gary wasn’t working so she left him a voice mail. She claims that she had no idea her son was stealing the phone. HUH?!? No idea? Really?!? It’s clear as day in the video that you watched him put the box in his pants then turn around to pull security for him as he walked out of the store.

I was going to let this story drop. I figured the stolen merchandise was returned. Not exactly in the most honorable fashion but it was returned with an apology none the less. Then the mom had to say she didn’t know what her son was up to. It sounds like the father in this family is the only one with any dignity. The son wouldn’t return the phone and the mom denies any responsibility of the crime. Is this really where our society is heading?

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Richie has been involved in sports since he was 4 years old. He played baseball, football, was in karate but his love was playing soccer. Richie was awarded “ATHLETE OF THE YEAR” at Concord High his senior year. He was also given an award by the United States Marine Corps for his athletic achievements.

Richie broke his neck in 3 places in the accident and has been diagnosed a quadriplegic. Richie’s doctors have told him he will never walk again, something that Richie just does not want to accept. Of the 11,000 spinal cord injuries a year, the percent of people who regain the ability to walk again is very small. The reason is not always the injury, but the treatment!

The GOAL is to send Richie to SCI-FIT (Spinal Cord Injury Functional Integrated Therapy) to provide the most comprehensive, post-traditional, exercise based therapy for those individuals who have suffered a debilitating injury.

SCI-FIT maximizes the potential for each individual suffering from spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by utilizing strategic exercises and providing the proper stimulation for an optimal functional outcome.

Richie has been to 4 sessions so far at SCI-FIT and on his 3rd visit he was able to stand up on his own, holding on to a bar for balance.

This HUGE achievement has given Richie so much HOPE that he will become independent again, it is hard to describe with mere words.

Unfortunately because this treatment is new cutting edge treatment, it is not yet covered by insurance. The cost for SCI-FIT is $95.00 per hour. Richie is doing the minimum workout, which is one day a week for 2 hours. The minimum alone cost Richie and his family $760.00 per month. It would be ideal for Richie to workout 3-5 times a week for 2 hours a day. It will also take several years of intense workouts before Richie can truly think about being independent again, and not have to depend on his family and friends for literally everything in his life.

Please join in this effort to help former Concord High School “Athlete Of The Year” regain some independence!

Donation Admission: $20.00
Contact Sandra Rangel for tickets 650.740.2371
Email SLRANGEL@AOL.COM

Saturday July 25th 2009 9:00 P.M.-1:00 A.M.

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This video was sent to me today from Gary. It shows a couple of cell phone thieves caught on camera taking a phone out of the display case. What I don’t understand is why this guy’s mom is there. She seems to be the mastermind and he’s just doing the deed.

Either this store has a great covert security system of these people are blind since the camera seems to be right in their face.

Yeah…Real slick guy.

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