60 years ago

Tavern owner held as stolen goods receiver: Paul Ungaretti, operator of a highway tavern between Oakley and Antioch, and William Fowler, his bartender, were arrested Wednesday by sheriff's deputies on charges of receiving stolen property from a teenage burglar gang. The property in question consisted of 27 cases of beer stolen Feb. 28 from an Antioch distributor.

Arrested earlier in Antioch were Richard Davis, 18, a member of the gang, George C. Whitney Jr. and two younger boys, all from Antioch. The story told deputies by Davis led to the arrest of the others, and to investigation of Ungaretti and the latter's arrest on the felony charge when he was unable to give a satisfactory explanation of his possession of the stolen property. Both Ungaretti and Fowler denied knowing the beer was stolen. According to Deputy Harry Ramsey, who is credited with cracking the case, the gang is believed to have been implicated in at least 15 burglaries in the area, including Antioch and as far as Borden Junction.

25 years ago

Students win with environmental workbook: Knightsen School students recently learned about the frail ecosystem, and transferred their knowledge into a group workbook. In the process, the school won first-, second- and fourth-place honors in a competition that encompassed 11 counties.

The contest, called "Habitat

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and Where It's At," is a function of a nationwide program called "Project Wild." Elaine Dannelley, Knightsen science teacher, said the seventh grade, which placed first in the region for the grades seventh-ninth category, submitted a workbook on native California animals and their habitat. The eighth- grade place second in the same category, and the fourth grade place fourth for the fourth through sixth-grade category. The seventh grade's first-place entry will now be compared with other regional winners to determine a state winner, according to to Elena Scofield of the California Department of Fish and Game, and coordinator of Project Wild.

-- Brentwood News files

Scofield said the contest teaches students that all animals need "habitat, food, water, shelter and space" to live.

Workbooks chosen as state winners will be displayed at the State Capitol March 13-19 according to Scofield.

-- Brentwood News files