A Casa Grande community service officer was transported to a Phoenix-area hospital Wednesday night for non-life-threatening injuries after he was reportedly attacked by a man he was processing for booking. The Casa Grande Police Department says the man allegedly struck the officer on the head several times before he was taken into custody.

In other news from our crime beat, a Mesa man faces charges for allegedly holding a knife to a man’s stomach during a bar fight in Casa Grande.

Plus, in Maricopa, a woman who was stopped on suspicion of intoxicated driving has been charged with resisting arrest. According to police, she allegedly attempted to physically fight arresting officers off.

Growth in Pinal: City officials from Coolidge say that the city’s population is on the rise, but that the growth may be running well ahead of the number of businesses that call the city home.

The town of Florence is anticipating a similar upswing in population growth, with town officials anticipating that the new year could bring a surge of new homes.

Also, happening nationally: a fire that broke out at an ExxonMobil oil refinery in Texas around 1 a.m. injured four people. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined.

And don’t forget: The 2nd annual Pinal County Senior Symposium will be held on Feb. 1 at the Casa Grande Neon Sign Park (408 N. Sacaton St., Casa Grande) from 9 a.m. to noon. Booths will be set up around the park for various financial, medical and senior services in Pinal. Light refreshments will be served and there will be prize giveaways at the event. Interested in becoming a vendor? Call (520) 423-8658.