Two law enforcement helicopters along with several CHPD vehicles could be seen along Meadowcreek Way as officers searched the creek bed for an assault suspect. // M. Hazlip
By Sara Beth Williams– A suspect remains at large following a law enforcement search Friday afternoon near the vicinity Dewey Drive. The incident, which began outside city limits, prompted a large-scale response from Citrus Heights Police.
According to Sgt. Ryan Smith with the Citrus Heights Police Department, officers initially responded to a report of a suspect breaking windows at a residence on Dewey Drive in Citrus Heights. Officers then learned that a woman at the residence had reportedly been assaulted by a male outside the city limits. Following the incident, the victim fled to the nearby residence of a friend on Dewey Drive within city limits. The suspect followed and broke some windows, reportedly using a golf club, according to Smith.
Authorities said the woman knew the suspect who assaulted her, though the exact nature of their relationship remains unknown. The suspect is wanted for felony vandalism by Citrus Heights Police.
According to witnesses, two law enforcement helicopters were seen overhead, and a heavy police presence could be seen on Meadowcreek Way.
A search of the neighborhood and greenbelt near Meadowcreek Way was conducted for about an hour Friday afternoon, police confirmed Saturday. The search involved the use of K9 units, drones, and aerial support from Placer County. Despite the extensive effort, the suspect was not located and remains at large, but there is no risk to public safety at this time, Smith said.
Law enforcement officials also confirmed that the woman who was reportedly assaulted is currently safe. Investigators say they know the identity of the assailant and are continuing to search for him.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact either Citrus Heights Police or the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
Los Nogales Mexican Restaurant is located at 7150 Auburn Blvd. // SB WIlliams
By Sara Beth Williams– A new Mexican restaurant has taken the place of the former Gilberto’s Tacos on Auburn Boulevard.
Los Nogales Mexican Restaurant opened about six weeks ago, restaurant owner Elizabeth Martinez said on Wednesday, adding that it took a couple of months to prepare and finalize things before officially opening.
Martinez said it was scary to open without any indoor seating, but things have been going well so far, and a lot of customers who came within the first week have been returning regularly.
The interior and exterior have fresh paint and a new color scheme of black, white, and orange instead of red and green. The existing outside seating still has red umbrellas, which have been a recognizable feature of the small outdoor eatery.
The Mexican restaurant is located at 7150 Auburn Blvd. across from the Whatsupstairs thrift shop. Previously, the site was home to Gilberto’s Tacos, which announced in August 2024 that they would be losing it in September of the same year.
Gilberto’s Tacos owner, Martha Patricia Garcia, told The Sentinel in an interview last August that the lease had expired in February 2024 and that the restaurant has since been paying month to month. Garcia said she knew the property would eventually sell but didn’t expect it to so soon.
Garcia had indicated she wanted to remain in Citrus Heights because she has built a reputation in the city and wants to remain loyal to her customer base. Gilberto’s Tacos attempted to open a food truck for a short time in the fall of 2024, but the food truck also closed.
Gilberto’s Tacos opened across the street from the former site of Sylvan Middle School in 2016. Prior to Gilberto’s, Jolly Burger occupied the space for decades with a classic diner-like style. The restaurant was taken over in 2013 by the Ward family, who struggled to keep the memories of the old restaurant alive.
Vendor booths featured hands-on activities and education at the city’s May 18, 2023, Public Works Showcase at Van Maren Park. // M. Hazlip
By Sara Beth Williams– Citrus Heights families and job seekers are invited to attend the city’s annual “Tools of the Trade” event, formerly known as the Public Works Showcase, on Thursday, May 8, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Van Maren Park. The event is free and designed for families, students, and those interested in a trade or technical career field.
Hosted by the City of Citrus Heights, the event seeks to give attendees the chance to get up close with the city’s heavy machinery and meet the operators who help keep local infrastructure running smoothly. Children and adults alike can enjoy hands-on demonstrations, interactive booths and giveaways.
This year’s event also includes an education and career fair, featuring representatives from local employers, technical schools, and trade programs.
The city has also partnered with Sacramento Regional Transit to offer free transportation to those who want to attend the event. Attendees can ride free to Van Maren Park by printing or taking a screenshot of the event flyer and showing it to a SacRT bus operator.
The city is also welcoming inquiries from potential vendors and sponsors who would like to participate. Interested organizations can reach out to the General Services Department at (916) 727-4770.
For more information and to access the flyer, visit the city’s website. Van Maren Park is located at 6601 Thalia Way.
Submitted by Linda Iverson— Cathrine Ann Hamilton went to be with the Lord on April 14, 2025, in Chesterfield, Virginia.
She was born in Sacramento, California on February 19, 1935 and is survived by her two daughters and their families; Patricia Ann and Stewart Potter, Linda and Wesley Iverson, and their families: 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She is now reunited in heaven with her husband, James Hamilton, and her grandson, Matthew Iverson, and other beloved family and friends.
Cathrine was a nurse at Roseville hospital for over 30 years. At her home in Citrus Heights California, she loved taking care of her beautiful rose garden. She loved spending time with her family, she was an animal lover, and loved to spend time at her home in Lake Almanor, California.
She will be deeply missed by all her family and friends, but has finally found peace and is once again whole. Family will have a private memorial at her gravesite in Citrus Heights, CA, at a later date. Donations can be made in her remembrance to a charity of your choice.
*Publisher’s Note: As a free service to family members who have lost a loved one, The Sentinel publishes online obituaries of Citrus Heights residents or former residents at no cost. To submit an obituary, click here.
Sentinel Staff Report– This week’s Letters to the Editor discuss future possibilities and desires for the Sunrise Mall property, including a question of whether it would be a good location for the Sacramento Zoo.
Sunrise Mall Property and Sacramento Zoo: I was wondering if anyone has looked into the Sunrise Mall property for the new location for the Sacramento Zoo? There is 100 acres and that is much larger than the 65 acres that Elk Grove offered. I know all of the schools, families, and communities near by would love to have the zoo there! Who needs to get together to have that conversation? It would be a community space and create revenue for the city and community. It seems like a logical solution for the recent set backs for both the zoo and sunrise mall property development projects. -Bridgett Locken, Fair Oaks
Sunrise Mall Development: First, I want a MALL – not housing – not hotel – but somewhere I can go for quality shopping, eating, entertainment and a fun place to spend time with friends – it used to be like that. I remember when everyone fought for parking spaces at the mall.
We don’t need a Home Depot when we already have two within close distance. We don’t need a hotel – Citrus Heights is not a “Go To” place for conventions or sports and is not near a freeway. As Carly Harms stated in her letter on April 19th, I fear what the clientele would be.
I’m not a fast food eater but I understand and respect that many people are. Citrus Heights is already saturated with drive-through restaurants and I really crave something better – but I know that In ‘n Out is extremely popular and not near us and it sounds like it would attract a lot of customers so that would make sense. We need a quality eat-in restaurant. I remember when La Bou was at the Sunrise Mall and, although not high end, I ate there all the time – it had healthy, reasonably priced food with take-out option – I miss it!
I certainly don’t understand all the legalities of the relationship between Ethan Conrad and the City of Citrus Heights, but truly believe that someone has to buy him and any other owners out because they obviously don’t know or care about what the residents of Citrus Heights want. I don’t understand why are they allowed to just sit on it or offer unacceptable options. To me, the Mall property is the only “Jewel” we have left in Citrus Heights and there has to be a common sense solution to making it a “I want to go” place again. I don’t want to have to go to Roseville or Folsom.
I think there has to be something at the mall that will attract not only customers but also quality businesses. I’ve read about other “dying” malls throughout the country that have put indoor pickle ball courts – a “new” sport that has skyrocketed in interest the last few years and doesn’t appear to be a trend and they have been successful – people don’t want to play in the rain and cold. There are pickle ball franchises that have been setting up business in vacant mall spaces and it has attracted people who go on to dining at restaurants and shopping the retail stores. If not pickle ball, we need something NEW that will bring back the OLD.
— Donna Brady, Citrus Heights
The Sentinel welcomes letters about local issues. To submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here.
Community members gathered at Citrus Heights City Hall to hear a presentation on the 1973 Roseville railyard bomb explosions, Thursday, May 1, 2025. // Mike Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip– Memories are still fresh for residents more than 50 years after military bombs bound for Vietnam exploded at a Roseville railyard, starting a chain reaction of explosions that injured more than 100 people and forced the evacuation of thousands.
Citrus Heights Historical Society President Larry Fritz took attendees back to that fateful of April 28, 1973. in a presentation to the community on Thursday, May 1. Just before 8 a.m. on that Saturday morning in 1973, a small fire near the wheels of one of the boxcars caused the bombs in one car to explode, starting a chain reaction that lasted more than a day.
Many of those in attendance had vivid recollections of the event, including Fritz, who said he saw and felt the explosions while at a drive-in movie several miles away. Miraculously, no one was killed in what became known as the Roseville Railyard Disaster.
Residents from surrounding communities packed the Community Room of Citrus Heights City Hall to listen to the presentation and share memories, including members from a number of other local historical societies from Roseville, Orangevale, and Rio Linda. Citrus Heights Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa was also in attendance.
Fritz opened the presentation with a quote from a news article that was published just before the event. The article said that crews stationed at the newly completed Antelope Fire Station Six had little excitement in what was then a rural area. That would soon change, Fritz said.
Historical records show that Citrus Heights Fire Battalion Chief Lloyd Patterson was at the Antelope Station Six for a final inspection. The station had just been completed the day before, and Lt. F. Grundy lived in a mobile home next to the station full time. Grundy’s wife was then nine months pregnant.
Patterson and Grundy spotted smoke coming from one of the boxcars and went to investigate, according to records. The first bombs exploded before they were able to get across the tracks, Fritz said. The resulting chain reaction would last about a day and a half and leveled the small town of Antelope.
Resident Jeffery Flores said he was a young boy at the time, living with his 12 siblings. The family was forced to evacuate amid the chaos of the explosions.
“We thought we were in a war,” Flores said. “Because the Vietnam War was going on at the time. All our power was knocked out.”
Flores vividly recalled the blasts. “We started seeing rolls of fire going up, then it formed a mushroom,” Flores said. “Then here comes the blast. Boom! Then the sound was terrible; it blew our eardrums out. That wasn’t the worst of it; the scrap metal started coming down, bam, bam, bam, everywhere.”
One attendee brought a large piece of shrapnel from one of the boxcars, and another brought a piece of shrapnel from a bomb to the event.
Many of the injuries were due to broken glass as windows blew out from the blasts, residents recalled.
“At about 8:03 in the morning, I was watching The Jetsons, and my sliding glass door came in at me and then automatically went out reverse, and I went with it,” one man recalled. “Shards of glass [were] everywhere.”
Another woman recalled the ceiling falling in while she and her family were sleeping.
“We had glass shreds into the wall that was above where she was sleeping,” she said, adding that no one was seriously injured, but they were traumatized by the event.
The exact cause of the fire remains unclear. The official incident report points to two likely causes, both involving the design of the boxcar. One theory suggests the possibility of sparks from the braking wheels igniting the wood floor of a boxcar. The train employed heavy braking as it traveled westbound from the Sierra Nevada mountains to Roseville. Another theory raises the possibility of a stuck wheel bearing overheating.
Fritz was pleased with the turnout and said the next project for the Citrus Heights Historical Society is a video documentary on Ted Mitchell. Mitchell’s family has owned land in Citrus Heights since 1866, Fritz said. The Mitchell Farms housing development along Arcadia Drive bears the family name.
The documentary video will be shown at the society’s next quarterly meeting on Aug. 7, Fritz said. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Community Room of Citrus Heights City Hall.
Sentinel Staff Report–
The latest police incident logs show an increase in animal control calls while showing a decrease in traffic accidents. Below is a summary of incidents from April 24-30:
The Citrus Heights Police Department notes that its logs “are not intended as a full and complete list of all police activity,” with some information not displayed for legal reasons, such as arrests of minors. As such, police advise that summary totals based on public logs may differ from weekly incident and arrest totals posted by police on social media.
The department notes on its website that: “All arrested suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Additionally, the original crimes, nature of offenses, and charges may be amended or dismissed as further information is made available.”
Editor’s Note: police log summaries are published with assistance from AI, but edited by humans. Please contact us if you spot an error.
A black scissor-type gate has been drawn across the corridor at Sunrise Mall, July, 2024 // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– With businesses closing inside Sunrise Mall and rumors circulating online about the mall’s imminent demolition, many residents and business owners have voiced concerns regarding the 20-year redevelopment timeline proposed in the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan.
Former Citrus Heights Mayor Jeannie Bruins, who was an integral part of both the city’s incorporation process and the development and adoption of the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan, said in a recent interview that the city needs to find a “willing developer” who has a vision similar to the city’s.
“It’s looking at this long term, not short-term fixes that put money in the pocket of the developer,” Bruins said. “I’d like to remind citizens that it took 12 years to incorporate the city.”
Citrus Heights Economic Development and Engagement Director Meghan Huber said in a recent interview there is no fixed build-out schedule, but the city has “proactively advanced” entitlement approvals, infrastructure planning, and environmental clearance.
The Specific Plan includes an estimated $86 million infrastructure cost, which is a major hurdle to overcome in making the city’s plan become a reality. Huber said this will be approached in phases to align with development, with the city also “exploring financing tools” like Community Facilities Districts (Mello-Roos taxes) and Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts.
According to a city staff report published April 18, the city has acquired grant funding from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments to support infrastructure planning for the site, including $338,000 in Green Means Go funding and a $450,000 Reconnecting Communities Grant, which will be allocated toward frontage improvements along Sunrise Boulevard.
The pace of redevelopment has been shaped by several factors, Huber said, including economic trends and evolving market conditions, higher construction costs, interest rate volatility, and alignment challenges between developers and property owners.
“In response, the city has facilitated direct introductions between developers and ownership,” Huber said.
In addition, addressing assertions that the city’s Specific Plan is not economically viable, Huber said the plan was crafted with “direct input” from the development community and includes tools to support feasibility, such as streamlined environmental clearance, flexible land use allowances, and phasing in infrastructure.
Real estate investor Ethan Conrad has also questioned the amount of proposed office space, particularly as it relates to a post-COVID environment where remote work dramatically increased.
Huber noted the Specific Plan was developed during the pandemic and was “intentionally designed” with built-in flexibility to respond to future market shifting.
“Tools like the Exchange of Development Allowance allow developers to substitute uses—such as replacing office with housing or hotel—while remaining consistent with the plan’s environmental clearance and vision.”
The city has also noted on its Sunrise Tomorrow website and during a council meeting presentation that the amount of office space, units of housing, hotel rooms, and retail space proposed in the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan reflect “maximum units permitted,” and that actual development at the site will vary.
During a presentation to the City Council on April 23, Community Development Director Casey Kempenaar reported that, based on data from an economic and market analysis study conducted on current market demand, there is still a demand for office space, especially medical office space.
Huber also discussed the importance of office space during a presentation to the City Council on April 9, following a trip to Belmar Mall in Lakewood, Colorado.
“In this day and age post-COVID, offices can get a lot of skepticism, but the fact of the matter is offices are important to be able to program and produce daytime populations that will shop in businesses and that will create foot traffic,” Huber said.
Following the council’s April 23 decision to decline an amendment proposal to the Specific Plan, Senior Vice President and Director of Leasing and Sales with eXp Commercial Tony Wood, who is representing the sale of Sunrise Rollerland, said many interested buyers have expressed concern over the “lack of progress” of Sunrise Mall redevelopment. Wood added that many potential buyers were particularly concerned that a proposal with “committed national tenants” had been rejected.
“The dismissive tone and lack of professionalism displayed by some city officials during the council meeting was concerning. It sent a negative signal to serious developers considering Citrus Heights, and unfortunately undermines confidence in the city’s development vision,” Wood said.
Wood agrees that the property is the “single greatest redevelopment opportunity” in the city and could become a “vibrant hub” for retail, dining, housing, mixed-use and more, but Wood echoed Conrad, stating that the Sunrise Tomorrow Plan was a “billion-dollar vision” that is “out of sync” with market realities.
“In contrast, Ethan Conrad presented a viable, phased approach grounded in market demand, and had the tenant commitments to prove it. The city’s refusal to compromise or even engage meaningfully with his team has now led to the loss of a serious developer and tenant anchor,” Wood said.
Others, like Bill Van Duker, have argued that the city should wait for a developer “who will look to the highest and best use of this property, not developers who see the opportunity for a quick financial return and then leave town.”
What progress has been made so far? According to the city, progress is being made toward supporting the build-out of the site, including the approval of Sunrise Montessori Preschool and an electric vehicle charging station, which are both under construction.
The city also approved a Tentative Parcel Map and development agreement in June 2024 to support the development of the Sunrise Tomorrow Hotel project, with “deal-making talks” involving potential hotel brands underway, according to Huber.
Following the trip to Lakewood, Colorado, Huber said that over time, the Belmar Shopping District created 2,500 jobs and brought in 110 new businesses, but it didn’t happen immediately.
“What we learned essentially is that this was a lot of really hard work of finding the right partner, building effective public-private partnerships, and starting to dig into projects and dealmaking. And that’s resulted in what Belmar is today,” Huber said.
By Sara Beth Williams– The fate of Sunrise Mall businesses hangs in the balance as Ethan Conrad Properties has dropped plans to purchase the remaining 50 acres of the Sunrise Mall property.
The commercial real estate investment company’s CEO Ethan Conrad had in the past indicated to The Sentinel and to the Citrus Heights City Council that he would not continue in his intent to purchase the remaining acreage of Sunrise Mall if his amendment proposal was not accepted by the City Council.
The Citrus Heights City Council, along with Conrad, business owners and representatives, and an estimated 140 community members, discussed the mall’s future late into the night on Wednesday, April 23, culminating in the rejection of an amendment proposed by Conrad to change the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan.
During the discussion, City Council members encouraged Conrad to continue with his purchase of the majority of the mall property and return with an updated site plan that better aligned with the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan.
While numerous residents opposed the site plan and amendment request, business owners, developers and real estate agents spoke in favor of Conrad’s plan. At least one written comment submitted during the council meeting stated that the rejection of Conrad’s plan would mean the “death of my small business.”
Following the council’s decision to forgo amending the Specific Plan, Senior Vice President and Director of Leasing and Sales with eXp Commercial Tony Wood said in an email that the council “squandered a real opportunity and disrespected someone willing to invest.” Wood added that Conrad’s plan would have potentially generated up to a million in tax revenue for the city.
Two more small business owners in Sunrise Mall have expressed disappointment with the outcome of the council meeting but also held cautious optimism for their own futures.
Kevin Cadinha, owner of Perfumes Luxe, said he has been a resident of Citrus Heights for 30 years and wants to see the area revitalized. Cadinha also said he would like the community to “gather to help keep us going” and is not opposed to redevelopment if it allows the store to remain open.
“It is almost like the community doesn’t even think about us small businesses currently open in the mall,” Cadinha said.
Royal Stage Performing and Visual Arts owner Tammy Warta said the outcome of the meeting was “disappointing” because “at least there would have been a plan,” but that she respects and appreciates the difficulty the City Council had of taking so many opinions into account.
Despite the current state of the mall, Warta said Royal Stage “loves” the theater’s current location inside Sunrise Mall and she wants to encourage the community to come to shows, and shop and support the remaining stores. Warta also said the city has been “wonderful” to work with.
In an email statement received Tuesday, Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa said the community developed the Specific Plan, and it’s the “community’s vision for the future.”
“I was heartened by the community’s responses to Mr. Conrad’s proposal. Hundreds of comments by email and in person prove the community’s commitment to the plan. It’s not a vision to be compromised for the benefit of a few,” Karpinski-Costa said.
Following the April 23 council meeting, Conrad confirmed with the Sacramento Business Journal that he has dropped plans to purchase the rest of the mall but said he would continue to develop his currently owned land, which includes the site of the former Sears.
“It’s definitely very unfortunate that the City of Citrus Heights didn’t approve the Specific Plan Amendment, since it would’ve been in the best interest of the community to do so based on the fact that the current Specific Plan is not economically viable and needs to therefore, be modified so that it’ll make sense for someone to perform the needed construction,” Conrad said in a statement to The Sentinel Tuesday.
The majority of the Sunrise Mall property is owned by the Namdar Realty Group, with small lots also owned by U.S. Bank and Red Robin, 18 acres owned by JCPenney. and 21 acres owned by Conrad.
Currently, an electric vehicle charging station is under construction on the southern end of the mall property. Sunrise Montessori Preschool is also renovating a former Sears Appliance building and anticipates opening later in the year, according to the preschool’s owner, who spoke during the city council meeting.
Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber also said during a recent strategic planning retreat that the city has been engaged in the process of deal-making in an effort to secure a hotel brand for the site. The council approved a tentative hotel footprint parcel map in June 2024 at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane.
The council will consider next steps in the coming weeks, the mayor said.
Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter declined to comment on the council’s decision or Conrad’s decision to forgo purchasing the rest of the property. Carpenter referred all other questions regarding Sunrise Mall to mall management.
Sunrise Mall management did not comment on the mall but referred requests for comment to Namdar Realty Group. The majority owner was not able to be contacted by press time, but management indicated that a response would be forthcoming.
The property was home to a horse vaulting club for over a decade. A coach associated with the club was arrested March 7, 2024. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– Less than two months after the arrest of a horse vaulting coach, a property in Citrus Heights which was home to a horse vaulting club is now on the market.
The nearly one-acre lot located on Cook Avenue near Mariposa Avenue is listed at $599,000, according to residential real estate site Trulia. The property operated as a ranch and horse vaulting club for over a decade, according to previous interviews with the club and property owner.
According to the listing, the property includes two homes, a barn, and a mechanic’s shop. The main house is 1,900 square feet and features four bedrooms and two bathrooms, while a second home includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a private entrance, the listing says.
Darcie Stratton with Stratton and Taffy Real Estate said the home is “definitely a fixer,” and confirmed that there is a barn with stalls, and that the smaller home on the property is a mobile home while the larger home is a permanent dwelling. The home needs a new roof and updated flooring, Stratton acknowledged.
Scheduled showings have been “through the roof” for a home that’s been on the market for two days, Stratton noted.
“There really is great potential,” Stratton said, adding that the property is also subdividable.
The Solorzano family, who own and live on the property, have trained multiple youth teams in trick riding, silks aerial performances, horse vaulting, and dance, according to business owner Michelle Solorzano. The Nu Balance team of trick riders performed under several names, including C R Circle, Nu Balance, Olympius Dream Team, Imperial Crown, and T-N-B Trick Riders. All of these teams previously maintained Facebook pages, though only two remain active.
According to a March 8 press release from the Citrus Heights Police Department, detectives served a search warrant at the Cook Avenue residence on March 6, in connection with a sexual assault allegation involving a minor. Cruz Solorzano, a 23-year-old coach at the horse vaulting club, was arrested on March 7, following the execution of the warrant. He was released but faces several sexual assault charges.
The Citrus Heights Community Development Department and Code Enforcement confirmed via email in March that the horse vaulting academy did not have a current business license and had never held one under previous names, including C R Circle Ranch or Nu Balance Vaulting Club. Both have Facebook pages, but neither lists business contact information. The business was shut down on March 6, according to the city.
The real estate listing for the Cook Avenue property does not include any sales history and states that the home was built in 1949.
