MPD Keeps Those Doggies Movin', Political Climate Heats Up

Yaha! Move 'em out. Patch is in the saddle this morning as news is on the move and we're rounding up strays. Just call me Rowdy Yates.

Check out ace Patcher Sean Yokomizo's video piece on the last night. Good story and people seem good with last night's decision to back away from an ordinance banning off-leash hours at Rancho Laguna Park. The people, it seems, are speaking -- and being heard.

Almost as difficult as herding dogs is corraling wayward cows, as Moraga police discovered Wednesday after a decided to take a stroll along Saint Mary's Road near the library and Commons. Moragan Elsie Mastick quipped that Moraga police -- who were escorting the ambling group until their rancher could be summoned -- should turn in their cruisers for cutting horses and lariats.

Other oldtime Moragans may have found themselves pining for "days of yore" when cows were frequently moved through town streets without fear of being rammed by an SUV and new arrivals may have wondered if they'd stumbled onto some kind of quaint "Western Days" event. Anyway, everything ended well. The cows are back and planning their next trip and  Chief Priebe's guys are brushing up on their cowboy skills.

Also heating up with our garden thermometers these days is the local poltical scene, with seats opening up on each of our three city/town councils and aspirants proclaiming their interest in seats on the Lafayette School District board and -- which was wracked by the recent simultaneous departure of frustrated members.

Patch is also getting bombarded with questions about local fire protection capabilities -- particularly in Lafayette. Callers maintain that a gap in coverage for Lafayette north of Highway 24 is particularly troubling, with Station 16 closed due to a mold and rodent problem and fire houses being spread far too thin.

Dick Olsen, a Moraga resident and former trustee of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District, called the situation "troubling" and told the Contra Costa Times that "It's set up for an Oakland hills fire."

Terrific.

Amid all our wandering bovines, local electioneering and concern about any suspicious whiff of smoke, Patchers continue to show support for our little enterprise as we push toward our first and a payoff -- in blue ribbon cookies from a local baker -- after we hit our mark.

Got news? Cows on your front porch? Something burning? Give us a call at 925.457.4503 or drop me an email.

See you around the pasture, Patchers.

Follow Lamorinda Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

Sign up to get Lamorinda Patch headlines and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox!