Tara Hills News

A balanced draft budget for next year maintains Pinole's core services, albeit austerely, amid continuing weakness in the economy and staff cuts resulting from the recent demise of the redevelopment agency.

For more than 30 years, Pinole has contracted with the county to provide first-responder fire department services for the city's adjoining unincorporated area of Tara Hills.

Deputies are investigating the circumstances surrounding a small fire apparently caused by a thrown incendiary device in the Tara Hills section of unincorporated San Pablo on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesman said.