Latest local news briefs include a new basketball court unveiled at Madera Park, complaints of a “never-ending” garage sale outside a Citrus Heights home, a local man hospitalized with a rare and deadly virus, protesters outside the Citrus Heights Police Department on Friday, and a local man arrested for allegedly stabbing and barbecuing a pet turtle.
Kings team up to provide new basketball court at Madera Park
A new Sacramento Kings-themed basketball court was unveiled at Madera Park on Thursday, thanks to a charitable effort from the Kings basketball team, Kaiser Permanente of Greater Sacramento, and the Good Tidings Foundation. A video posted on social media by Kaiser shows a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by dozens of kids in Kings shirts enjoying the new court along with Slamson, the Kings mascot. Sacramento Kings President John Rinehart is shown in the video saying the new court was “part of our mission to make basketball a force of change in the community.” Madera Park is located at 8046 Wonder St. in Citrus Heights. (Watch video)
Neighbors complain about ‘never-ending’ garage sale in Citrus Heights
A house near Van Maren Lane on the 6800 block of Florabelle Avenue has been the scene of a perpetual garage sale in Citrus Heights, according to a Fox 40 news report published on July 19. Neighbors complain that items like a refrigerator, furniture and electronics have been outside the home for months and “brings down the quality of life” in the area. According to police, code enforcement efforts have been pursued, but the process was delayed after the house was recently auctioned off due to “years worth of unpaid property taxes,” Fox 40 reported. The change in ownership means the code enforcement process must restart with the new owner, and meanwhile, the problems continue to pile up in front of the home. (Watch video report)
Citrus Heights man hospitalized with Hantavirus
A Citrus Heights man was hospitalized in an intensive care unit after contracting a rare and deadly virus, The Sacramento Bee reported on Friday. 22-year-old Spencer Fry is believed to have contracted the virus while working at Bodie State Historic Park in Mono County. The article said the virus can be contracted from rodents “when fresh droppings, urine, saliva, or nesting matter are disturbed, causing them to breathe in infectious materials.” An update on the story published Saturday evening by CBS 13 reported that Fry is now home, after 13 days in the hospital.
Fox40: Family, Black Lives Matter group protests arrest in front of Citrus Heights PD
Several dozen protesters affiliated with Sacramento Black Lives Matter chanted and waved signs outside the Citrus Heights Police Department Friday evening, accusing police of “torturing” a 28-year-old man who was arrested last month and suffered second and third degree burns while struggling with officers on hot pavement on a 101-degree day, according to a Fox 40 news report. The man’s mother told the news station her son has a mental illness and said she believes police unnecessarily harmed him.
Lt. David Gutierrez defended officers action in an interview with the TV station, saying the man, James Nelson, “was only on the ground long enough to safely control him.” In a prior news release about the incident, police said Nelson was acting erratically, had attempted to rob a manager at the Sylvan Corners KFC, was possibly under the influence of drugs, and resisted arrest. (Watch Fox 40 video)
Citrus Heights man arrested for stabbing, barbecuing pet turtle
A Citrus Heights man was arrested after police said a pet turtle was found stabbed and barbecued at an Elk Grove home, KCRA reported on Wednesday. Eric Pauly, 35, was taken into custody after the turtle was found on the afternoon of July 19 on the 9700 block of White Pine Way. Online inmate records indicate Pauly was charged with felony malicious maiming of an animal, with bail listed at $40,000. A prior felony domestic violence incident is also listed as a current charge, making him ineligible for bail. (KCRA story)
Also published recently:
- New Summer Jam event at Citrus Heights skate park to draw youth, families
- Denny’s restaurant in Citrus Heights abruptly closes
