Latest local news briefs include suspects fleeing from police after trying to steal bait, a construction update on a 32,000-square-foot senior care facility being built on Greenback Lane, the first local obituary of 2019, and more.
Suspects load bait into stolen vehicle, try to flee from cops
Citrus Heights police announced their 245th bait arrest on Saturday, following a pursuit in a stolen vehicle. In posts on social media, police said three suspects stole bait owned by the police department and loaded it into a stolen vehicle. The trio then fled in the vehicle after spotting officers arriving to the area, police said. One suspect, identified as “Mr. Phentsinorath,” was subsequently arrested after police said he attempted to flee on foot. Police did not say whether the other two suspects were arrested, but said officers were able to return the stolen vehicle to its owner.
A booking photo of Phentsinorath was posted on the police department’s social media pages, accompanied by the hashtag #DONTSTEAL. Police regularly post photos of the latest bait arrests and say the publicity about the bait program helps would-be criminals think twice about stealing. The local department’s bait program was launched in mid-2016. For more, see story: Citrus Heights bait arrests continue after holidays
Obituary: Judy Brickey (1943-2019)
Citrus Heights resident Judy Brickey, 75, passed away at her home on Jan. 1, 2019. According to her obituary published in The Sacramento Bee on Jan. 8, Brickey was a registered nurse who was lovingly referred to as the “IV Queen” for her ability to “get a good stick on anyone.” She was born in 1943 in Nebraska and later moved to the Sacramento area where she “impacted hundreds of colleagues, health care consumers, and friends throughout Northern California with her knowledge and passion for service to humankind,” her obituary said. Her life was “centered on Christ, her children, caring for people, and Nebraska football.” She is survived by her five children, 14 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. (See full obituary)
Senior living facility on Greenback Lane expected to open in September
The foundation has now been poured and first-floor framing will soon begin for a 32,000-square-foot senior care facility on Greenback Lane, near Dewey Drive. A video update posted by Wells Construction on Youtube last week shows the foundation being poured at the site during November and December. The facility is called “The Oars” and will feature 63 beds.
The Oars spokeswoman Sondra Campbell told The Sentinel in an update on Saturday that the facility is planning to welcome its first residents later this year in September. She said an information center and sales gallery will also open nearby in April, when wait-list deposits will also begin. The facility will offer round-the-clock care for residents, including those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Learn more in prior story: click here.
Senator representing Citrus Heights now the 63rd longest-serving state legislator
Jim Nielsen, who represents Citrus Heights in the California State Senate, is now the 63rd longest-serving legislator in California history. According to author and legislature guru Alex Vassar, Nielsen has served 22.04 years in California’s legislature, as of last week. Vassar tweeted that tidbit of legislative history on Friday, which Sen. Nielsen then retweeted. Nielsen represents California’s 4th Senatorial District, which covers an area from Red Bluff to Citrus Heights, including the cities of Chico, Oroville and Yuba City.
More Briefly:
- District elections. Sacramento Business Journal columnist Ed Goldman shared his thoughts on Citrus Heights shifting to district-based elections in a Jan. 16 column. (see column)
- Arrest. Citrus Heights police announced the arrest of a 42-year-old probationer after officers responded to a commercial alarm on the 7500 block of Auburn Blvd. on Jan. 14. (See tweet)
