Latest local news briefs include “Taste of Citrus Heights” drawing a crowd to the community center, a memorial service date set for Councilman Mel Turner, $30,000 raised to fight cancer, a missing trio of minors found after a six-hour search, a new appointment to the planning commission, and a local arrest made after a CHP plane was reportedly hit by a laser pointer.
Local Relay for Life at SJHS raises over $30k to fight cancer
The 24-hour annual Relay for Life event held on April 22-23 at San Juan High School reportedly raised more than $30,000 for the American Cancer Society. As of April 27, local fundraising was listed at $30,464.50 on the organization’s website — almost double the amount reported last year.
Thousands of Relay for Life fundraisers are held around the globe each year to raise money for the ACS. The relay events feature teams and individuals taking turns walking or running around a track or path in order to always have someone on the track throughout the entire event. (See ACS website)
Memorial service for Mel Turner set for May 13
A memorial service for Councilman Melvin D. Turner will take place at the Citrus Heights Community Center on May 13, according to an announcement during Thursday’s council meeting by Mayor Jeff Slowey. The service will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 6300 Fountain Square Drive.
Councilman Daniels finally gets planning commission pick approved
Three months after having his initial planning commission appointee rejected by his fellow council members, Bret Daniels received unanimous approval from his colleagues for his latest pick — Tim Schaefer. The council rejected Daniels’ initial appointee, James Remick, during a Jan. 26 council meeting, with several council members later stating that Remick had a history of critical comments about the city. Schaefer, 56, has served in various leadership positions in local neighborhood associations and ran for city council in both 2014 and 2016. He is also known for spearheading a “Save City Hall” effort in 2014 to oppose the plan to tear down and move the old city hall. (See prior story for context)
CHPD officers help locate 3 missing kids
In a news release on Tuesday, Citrus Heights police said three missing minors had been found after being reported missing on the evening of April 24. Officers were dispatched late Monday night in response to a missing child who had been playing basketball with friends and was supposed to return home by 7 p.m. After a six-hour overnight search, police said the missing trio “were ultimately located at a nearby apartment complex,” along with several other minors. An average of around 50 missing person reports are made each month in Citrus Heights, according to prior figures released by police.
Man arrested after CHP plane hit by laser pointer over Citrus Heights
CBS 13 reported that a 36-year-old man was arrested after the California Highway Patrol said one of their planes was hit by a light from a green laser pointer Tuesday night. According to the news station, officers “were able to pinpoint the exact place in Citrus Heights the laser came from” and made the arrest. No one was injured in the incident and the CHP plane reportedly landed safely. (See CBS 13 story)
Taste of Citrus Heights event draws crowd to community center
More than 300 attendees filled the Community Center Friday night for the first-ever “Taste of Citrus Heights” fundraiser, put on by the GFWC Citrus Heights Women’s Club. Diners enjoyed food and drink samples from the region, including local restaurants like Crepes & Burgers on Auburn Boulevard and Kabab N Tikka on Greenback Lane. The night also featured DJ Angelique Bianca, a silent auction and raffle, and stand-up comedy. Organizer Kristy Hernandez said attendance exceeded expectations and reported that enough funds were raised to pay for an upcoming expert training for CHPD officers and their spouses, designed to teach strategies for coping with post-traumatic stress that can affect officers’ mental health and home life. Disclosure: The Citrus Heights Sentinel was a co-sponsor of this event.
Also in the news last week:
- How will the vacancy on Citrus Heights’ city council be filled?
- Supervisor Frost: ‘Sanctuary’ Citrus Heights?
- Local concert band to perform at Rusch Park
