Civic pride

Here in Redding, CA, we live on a hilltop off Buenaventura Boulevard, a byway as beautiful as its name.

Buenaventura winds through a canyon, alongside a creek and a nature trail. Near its end, where the road terminates at Highway 273, a new commercial zone of stores and offices has really dressed up what had been a pretty ugly intersection.

So you, the driver, travel through this lovely canyon and through this lovely creekside commercial strip and you have a view of snow-capped Mount Lassen dead-ahead. Incredible. Scenery like this is one reason we live here.

Except. When you get to the busy intersection, you can't see the mountains or the trees. All you can see are rusty train cars that the railroad has chosen to park right in front of you.

The cars have sat there for years. If they were parked fifty yards away, you'd never notice them. They'd disappear into the industrial scenery of the railroad shops. Instead, they're parked directly in the line of sight from Buenaventura, blocking the view of the mountains.

Can't the city ask the railroad to move these eyesores? Or doesn't anybody care?

You're doing it wrong

Tip for aspiring criminals: If you're driving drunk and the police chase you, the last place you want to lead them is to your illegal marijuana grow house.

Easy to forget such a simple lesson when is one is full of booze. Just ask Charles Byrd, 23, of Gwinnett County, GA, who allegedly broke many traffic laws (including driving in the dark without headlights) while trying to evade police. He surrendered after briefly hiding inside a house where officers found 69 marijuana plants.

Also in the house: Byrd's alleged growing partner, who must be one unhappy camper.

Full story here.

MWA anthology available now

"Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side," an all-original short story anthology from the Mystery Writers of America, debuted this week.

The anthology includes my story "Limbo," one of 10 picked by a committee in a blind submissions process.

The collection was edited by my pal Charlaine Harris of "True Blood" fame. Charlaine also contributes a new story to the 20-story anthology.

Amazon.com is running a sale on this brand-new hardcover. Here's the link.

You're doing it wrong

Tip for aspiring prosecutors: Before filing charges against a man in a jewel heist, it's a good idea to check out his alibi, especially if he says he was in prison at the time of the crime.

They keep good records of such things in prisons.

Charges against Tyrone Payne have been dropped after prosecutors in Massachusetts confirmed that he was in prison in Ohio at the time of the Oct. 18 theft.

Full story here.

Bang! Bang!

That sound you hear is the Republican National Committee shooting itself in both feet.

On the (round) heels of the scandal surrounding a visit by GOP officials to a bondage club, now comes word that an RNC mailing mistakenly lists a phone number that leads to a sex-talk line.

Full story here.