The Constantly Changing Face of Patch

Today is Tuesday, July 12, 2011. By now you’ve noticed that Five Things has morphed into Morning Briefing. I hope you like the new format – it gives me an opportunity to bring you weather, Police Log, Today in History and Events all in one place, each weekday. If there are other things you would like to see in the briefing, send me an email at jim.caroompas@patch.com. Martinez Patch is a work in progress; we are always trying new things in the spirit of bringing you the best in information, commerce and community. If you have an interest in being a blogger, let me know. We’re always looking for new voices to help tell this city’s story.

WEATHER:

Areas of low clouds and fog in the morning, then sunny. Highs in the mid-70s. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

POLICE LOG: (Note: The following information is from the Daily Police Log; it has been rewritten by Martinez Patch.)

July 9

Scary sounds – 12:01 a.m. A woman in the Regency Plaza Apartments on J Street reported what sounded like a mountain lion growling and gnawing on another animal in the creek outside her window. Officers found nothing.
Stranger knocking – 1:34 a.m. A woman on Brown Street reported that a stranger was banging on her front door.
Casing cars - 1:38 a.m. A man was reported peering into cars on Morello Heights Drive.
Noisy swimmers - 3:15 a.m. People in a swimming pool on Vista Oaks Drive were making a lot of noise.
Fireworks in the woods - 5:28 p.m. A group of teenagers were reported setting off fireworks in the woods near Arreba Street and Duncan Drive.

July 10

Assault - 2:06 a.m. – A woman reportedly punched a man in the face at the Valero gas station on Alhambra Avenue; the man was treated for injuries on the scene.
Grand theft - 10:20 a.m. A catalytic converter was stolen from a car at the Royal Thai restaurant on Ferry Street during the night.
Car abuse - 10:52 a.m. A man reported his car was vandalized with gang graffiti on Ricks Avenue.
Clean getaway - 12:35 p.m. Tenants at the Hidden Creek Apartments on Fig Tree Lane argued over doing laundry; one of the tenants reported a load of laundry missing.
iBummer - 2:05 p.m. A woman reported leaving her iPad on the counter at Carrows restaurant on Center Avenue, and a man walked out with it.
Street furnishings - 7:55 p.m. Furniture has been dumped in the middle of Arana Drive.
Dog antics – 8:41 p.m. A driver on Arnold Drive and Pacheco Boulevard reported a pit bull running down the middle of the street, trying to jump on the car; the driver parked in the center divide to try and prevent anyone from hitting the animal.

EVENTS:

TODAY IN HISTORY: (from Wikipedia)
1543 - King Henry VIII of England marries his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr, at Hampton Court Palace.
1804 - Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton dies a day after being shot in a duel.
1862 - The Medal of Honor is authorized by Congress.
1917 - The Bisbee Deportation occurs as vigilantes kidnap and deport nearly 1,300 striking miners and others from Bisbee, Ariz.
1962 - The Rolling Stones perform their first concert at the Marquee Club in London.
1979 - Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in Chicago.
2007 - U.S. Army Apache helicopters perform air strikes in Baghdad, Iraq; footage from the cockpit is later leaked to the Internet.