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Author: Sara Beth Williams

  • New fitness studio opens in Citrus Heights offering ‘sling bungee’ classes

    Wild and Fly Fitness
    Wild and Fly Fitness is located at 8215 Auburn Blvd. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A new fitness center has opened on Auburn Boulevard, with a unique twist.

    Wild and Fly Fitness Bungee Studio recently opened in October near the former Theater in the Heights, which closed abruptly last year. 

    Wild and Fly Fitness founder Wendy Fuentes confirmed a ribbon cutting took place on Nov. 7, which included a meet and greet with instructors and special offers. The fitness center previously had offered trial classes throughout the month of October, and Fuentes said some attendees for her classes came from as far as Davis.

    Before the pandemic, Fuentes came across sling bungee fitness and traveled to Oklahoma to train and become certified. Sling bungee fitness is defined as a workout program that combines aerial acrobatics, suspension training, and resistance training.

    Fuentes said the building and equipment have been revamped and retrofitted with safety in mind as her top priority. Bungee harnesses can hold individuals up to 300 pounds, Fuentes said.

    According to the company’s website, the fitness studio uses the slogan “Experience fitness like never before.” The gym offers multiple classes in bungee fitness, yoga, circuit yoga, a rebound trampoline class, and infant and toddler classes.

    The “Infant Baby and Me” and “Wild and Fly Tots” programs are designed for parent participation, according to the company’s website. Both programs focus on building the child’s creativity, motor skills, cognitive development, and social emotional skills through sensory play, active play, music and movement, and parental involvement.

    Fuentes plans to offer Urbano dance classes in the future and said she’s seeking to attract youth and provide “a safe place” for the younger generation to come. Fuentes is currently seeking an Urbano dance instructor.

    Fuentes also said the studio offers pelvic health fitness classes and other fitness classes for those who are over 40 years of age, which are designed to help both men and women who are experiencing less or limited range of motion due to age or recovering from injuries.

    After becoming certified, while she began to develop the idea of opening a sling bungee fitness center in California, her two adult children suffered traumatic injuries that left lasting nerve damage and prevented them from walking for a time.

    “I decided to create the wellness side of the business and add that second unit and focus on education and well-being,” Fuentes said, adding that she wanted to develop fitness classes that would address the “gaps in health care services” for people who are recovering from injuries.

    Residents can book a spot for fitness classes in advance on the gym’s website.

    Hours for the fitness center are listed as 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The center is closed on Sundays.

    Wild and Fly Fitness is located at 8215 Auburn Blvd.

  • Suspect arrested, released after stealing $91k in jewelry at Sunrise Mall

    Display of stolen merchandise
    Display of recovered merchandise that was stolen from a Sunrise Mall business Tuesday, Nov. 19. // Citrus Heights Police Dept.

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A 34-year-old man was arrested Tuesday on charges of burglary and possession of burglary tools after stealing more than $90,000 in merchandise from a business inside the Sunrise Mall.

    Citrus Heights Police said officers responded to a burglary alarm around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19 from a business located inside the Sunrise Mall, according to a post on the department’s social media page. Upon arrival, officers discovered a broken exterior window and several broken glass jewelry display cases inside the store. Police confirmed Friday morning that the burglary occurred at JCPenney inside the Sunrise Mall.

    According to the release, Sunrise Mall security personnel were able to provide officers with suspect information. Officers then located an individual leaving the area on foot who matched the description of the suspect. The suspect, later identified as Gregory Billman, was carrying a large suitcase and had “fresh cuts and blood” on his hand, according to police.

    Upon inspection, officers found over $91,000 in stolen jewelry inside the suitcase and Billman was placed under arrest. The stolen merchandise was returned to the business, police said.

    Sacramento County Main Jail records show Billman was later released on Nov. 21. Police said Billman is a resident of Auburn.

  • Health inspection violations force brief closure of popular Citrus Heights drive-thru

    A burger restaurant in Citrus Heights is back open to the public after being ordered to close for business last week due to major health violations.
    California Burgers is back open to the public after being ordered to close temporarily. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A popular burger restaurant in Citrus Heights is back open to the public after being ordered to close for business due to major health violations.

    California Burgers was ordered to close and stop all food preparation and service “due to the imminent risk to the public” after a Nov. 13 inspection found over 50 mice droppings on the floor of a dry food storage area and another 20 droppings on a table under a commercial-grade slicer, according to an official inspection report from Sacramento County. The business was also hit with multiple other health code violations that were required to be addressed before reinspection.

    The facility was reinspected the next day, Nov. 14, at the request of the restaurant, and the violations for which an Environmental Health Permit to Operate was suspended were noted as “corrected” in the reinspection. The closure order was rescinded, and the restaurant reopened to the public.

    In the Nov. 14 report, the inspector noted that a pest control service had been contracted to return to service the restaurant this week, and that the facility had initially “stopped their pest control service and they had not been out there recently.”

    The reinspection report listed multiple violations that still required correction within three days, including employees with expired food handler cards, multiple unclean surfaces in the back kitchen area that were seen to have accumulated heavy grease and food debris, a deteriorating freezer door gasket seal, and broken lights within a hallway.

    The report also listed several structural issues, including holes in the ceiling above soda syrup boxes where soda lines feed through, gaps around water and soda lines above the ice machine, an open electrical conduit pipe in the dry storage area, several broken tiles throughout the cook’s line, dishwasher, and back prep area, and a “bulging wall” behind the hand sink.

    Most of the structural issues are required to be repaired within three days, except 60 days were given to repair broken tiles, and 30 days were given to resurface the bulging portion of the wall.

    The restaurant was given a green placard during the Nov. 14 reinspection. It’s unclear whether a third reinspection will take place to address violations listing a three-day compliance period.

    In a phone call with The Sentinel on Wednesday, restaurant staff with California Burgers referred a request for comment regarding the temporary closure to restaurant owners, who were unavailable and on vacation, according to staff.

    A green placard indicates a facility has passed inspection. A yellow placard signifies two or more major violations were found, which are typically corrected or mitigated immediately during the inspection process. A red placard represents an “imminent danger to public health and safety” and leads to a suspended health permit until all issues are resolved. Major vermin infestations and other serious hazards prompt a red placard.

    The Environmental Health Division’s Food Protection Program conducts on average 1,200 food facility inspections per month in Sacramento County, and two percent of inspections result in closure, Sacramento County spokesperson Ken Casparis told The Sentinel Wednesday.

    “Most restaurant owners/operators work quickly to resolve their issues and open within 1-3 days of the initial failed inspection,” Casparis said.

    Five percent on average receive yellow placards, and the rest receive green placards.

    California Burgers is located at 8537 Auburn Blvd., in Citrus Heights.

  • Gilberto’s Tacos announces permanent closure of food truck

    Gilberto’s Tacos announces permanent closure of food truck

    Gilberto's Tacos Food Truck
    Gilberto’s Tacos has opened up a food truck at 7130 Auburn Blvd. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Gilberto’s Tacos, which recently opened up a food truck after the lease for its building expired, is now permanently closing its food truck operation.

    Less than one month after opening a food truck in the same parking lot as the restaurant’s old establishment, Gilberto’s Tacos Mexican Restaurant announced on its social media page Saturday that the restaurant would no longer be able to operate using a food trailer. Previously, the restaurant closed its establishment due to the expiration of its lease and the sale of the property by the landlord.

    “Unfortunately things have not worked out in our favor since we have opened, and we will not be continuing with the trailer,” Gilberto’s Tacos management said Saturday, adding that the restaurant is “extremely appreciative” of the support received before closing their permanent location and during their transition to operating from a food truck.

    Restaurant manager and owner Patricia Garcia said in an interview in September prior to the closure of the restaurant’s permanent location that she wants to remain in Citrus Heights because she has built a reputation in the city and wants to remain loyal to her customer base.

    The closure of the restaurant in September was met with surprise and sadness by many local residents who expressed their support for the business on social media. RODS & MODS Car Shows and Events held a car show on Sept. 14 for the restaurant at its previous location.

    Gilberto’s Tacos operated from 2016 to 2024 across the street from the former site of Sylvan Middle School in the space that used to be occupied by Jolly Burger. With a small footprint of only 351 square feet of building space indoors, the restaurant offered a colorful outdoor patio that overlooked Auburn Boulevard.

  • Update: Police investigating cause of death for body found after Monday’s fire

    Update: Police investigating cause of death for body found after Monday’s fire

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Citrus Heights Police are continuing to investigate after a deceased female was discovered in an apartment bedroom following a fire on Monday morning.

    Eric Dias with the Citrus Heights Police Department’s General Investigations Unit told The Sentinel on Thursday that police officers arrived alongside Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews around 9 a.m. Monday morning to reports of a smoke alarm going off in an apartment in the 6200 block of Mariposa Avenue in Citrus Heights.

    Dias said the Police Department’s General Investigations Unit was called out to the scene, which he described as a typical response in such situations.

    “Nothing is leading us down the homicide route right now,” Dias said Thursday, adding that the death is still suspicious until the full investigation is concluded.

    Sacramento Metro fire officials on Monday said smoke was found upon entry into the apartment, but “no active fire” was found. Damage to the bedroom was “minimal,” and only small items and a blanket were burned.

    No other apartment units were affected, and no other residents were occupying the apartment at the time of the fire.

    Related: Deceased person found in bedroom after fire in Citrus Heights apartment – Citrus Heights Sentinel

  • Deceased person found in bedroom after fire in Citrus Heights apartment

    Deceased person found in bedroom after fire in Citrus Heights apartment

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Citrus Heights Police are investigating after Metro Fire crews discovered a deceased person inside an apartment complex Monday morning.

    Metro Fire officials said crews responded to an apartment on the 6200 block of Mariposa Avenue around 9 a.m. Monday morning and found an “extinguished fire” inside the bedroom of an apartment unit, with a deceased person on the bed in the same room. Officials said smoke was found upon entry into the apartment, but “no active fire” was found. Damage to the bedroom was “minimal” and only small items and a blanket were burned.

    “It is unclear at this point if the victim died as a result of the fire or before the fire,” Sacramento Metro Fire District Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn said Monday evening, adding that the cause of the fire is “undetermined” and that Citrus Heights Police are investigating the circumstances that led up to the fire.

    No other apartment units were affected, and no other residents were occupying the apartment at the time of the fire.

    The Sacramento Bee reported that the incident occurred at a 25-unit affordable housing apartment complex owned by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency.

  • False report of shooting prompts heavy police response, closure of Greenback Lane

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Citrus Heights Police responded to the 6600 block of Greenback Lane near Dewey Drive on Saturday morning after receiving a call from a third party alleging a shooting had taken place at a local apartment.

    Citrus Heights Police Lt. Bill Dunning told The Sentinel Monday that the third-party caller claimed they were speaking with a juvenile who “stated they had shot their mother inside of their apartment.” Once police officers made contact with the residents inside the apartment in question, officers were able to determine that everyone inside the residence was unharmed and that no shooting had taken place.

    The call was received just after 10 a.m. on Nov. 16, police confirmed. Dunning reported that street closures were lifted within 30 minutes as soon as officers determined no crime had been committed.

    Dunning said the Police Department closed the intersection of Greenback Lane and Dewey Drive due to public safety concerns because of where the apartment was located.

    The local incident sparked worry on social media Saturday as many residents reported having to turn around and others reported witnessing heavy police activity at the intersection of Greenback Lane and Dewey Drive. Dunning said SWAT officers were not called out to the scene Saturday.

    “We’re trying to identify the phone number that was provided to us by the reporting party that they were communicating with,” Dunning said, adding that the department still doesn’t know who the phone number belongs to. Dunning added that the family living at the residence was concerned but “completely understanding” of the response once officers explained the circumstances.

    “Had this been a real call for service, there is obviously danger to the public,” Dunning said.

    The situation in which a hoax emergency is called into law enforcement agencies in hopes of initiating a “SWAT” response has been defined as “swatting.”

    Most recently, an 18-year-old from Lancaster, California pleaded guilty in mid-November to phoning in hundreds of false threats of imminent bombings, mass shootings, and violence targeting locations across the U.S., according to multiple local news reports.

    Making false emergency 911 reports is illegal in California and can lead to a misdemeanor charge, fines, and a felony charge if the individual convicted “knows that the response to the report is likely to cause death or great bodily injury,” or bodily injury or death occurs as a result of the false report.

  • Guest Column: Think before sharing

    By Mike Hazlip–
    In the coming days and weeks, we are sure to see all kinds of information coming across our news feeds. We have access to electronic information at a speed and scale never before imagined by Benjamin Franklin, or Johannes Gutenberg. Not all of that information will be accurate, however, and discerning the signal from the noise is becoming an increasingly tedious task.

    In response, a number of organizations such as Ad Fontes Media, NAMLE, and All Sides, have emerged with the goal of helping readers better discern the tactics common among many sources of false information. Ad Fontes recently published eight red flags that indicate a story might not be true, that I’ll summarize here.

    1. Some sources claim or imply they are the only source of truth using phrases such as “We know the actual truth,” or “What the media isn’t telling you.” If a source feels the need to emphasize that they are telling the truth, they probably aren’t.
    2. Drawing a large conclusion based on little evidence. This usually takes the form of a single photo or video where it is unclear as to what is actually happening followed by claims that the image “proves” some sort of larger conspiracy. Big claims usually require big evidence.
    3. Disingenuous questions such as “Why wasn’t this investigated?” or “I’m just asking…” imply there is something nefarious going on without providing any proof or context. Also called “begging the question,” this tactic insinuates that the claim is proven simply by asking the question.
    4. (and 5). Proving the negative with statements like “There’s no proof that this is wrong,” or “Do you really know what happened?” The burden of proof is on the one making the claim, not the other way around.
    1. Implying there is a powerful and shadowy group of people attempting to gain control or influence without being specific about who “they” are or how their actions will advance their goals.
    2. Claims that elevate the credibility of one individual beyond what he or she is actually in a position to claim. An example might be “I know someone, who knows someone, who said they worked part-time for the company next door to…” Is the source actually in a position to know what they are claiming?
    3. Lastly, just because a claim is censored or taken down doesn’t prove that it must be true because “they” don’t want you to know. This is another form of begging the question.

    In addition to the above red flags, I teach my students to evaluate a news story by asking these simple questions:

    • What is the source? Is it a reputable news channel or publication? Does the news source print corrections (if not, run!)? Is there a byline? Whose name is attached to the story? What else has that journalist written?
    • Is it timely? Is the photo or video actually from the event being reported? If it’s a file photo, is it clearly labeled as such? Is the image or video real or has it been manipulated, edited, or even completely fabricated using AI? A quick reverse image search can often determine the source of an image.
    • What are other sources saying about the same story? Is the information in the story attributed to a source? Can you look up that source and verify the information in the story?

    Our hard-won First-Amendment freedom of speech guarantees us liberties not found in many other countries. By all means, we can and should speak our minds, share opinions, and exchange ideas, but with great freedom comes great responsibility. We must strive to avoid spreading gossip and false information if we mean to keep our freedom of speech.

    Want to share your own thoughts on this topic or another local issue? The Sentinel welcomes opinion columns from community members. Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • Citrus Heights council votes to penalize residents who set out waste piles too early

    Citrus Heights council votes to penalize residents who set out waste piles too early

    File photo // CH Sentinel

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    In an effort to address blight and scavenging concerns, the Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday approved an amendment authorizing Republic Services to issue penalties to customers who place bulk items out for collection too early.

    The three present members of the council voted unanimously to approve the amendment on Wednesday. Councilmember Porsche Middleton was absent from the Nov. 13 City Council meeting, and the District 1 seat remains vacant until December.

    No comment was made by council members about the item before passing as a consent calendar agenda item during the council meeting.

    Currently, the Neighborhood Clean Up program allows residents to place out bulk items for collection three times per year. The dates of collection alternate between neighborhood zones throughout the city. Residents are notified seven days in advance through a door hanger and are currently allowed to put out materials early but are “encouraged not to do so more than 48 hours in advance,” according to the city. As of Nov. 16, no penalties are listed on the Neighborhood Clean Up website for setting out items prior to 48 hours before the scheduled pickup.

    The approved amendment directs Republic Services to impose existing “Improper Large Item Collection” fees for piles placed out for collection in violation of the 48-hour set-out limits, according to the city.

    When asked how much customers are charged for violating program guidelines, such as if a customer’s pile is larger than 10 cubic yards or if unacceptable materials are placed on the curb, a representative of Republic Services on Wednesday referred The Sentinel to Republic Services media relations. A member of Republic Services media relations team was not able to provide the requested information before press time.

    According to a city staff report, fines will not be issued during the first four-month cycle in January 2025. During that time frame, Republic Services will identify items placed out prior to the 48-hour limit without issuing fines and instead “provide education” to the resident and account holder. After the first cycle of collection services, Republic Services will then be authorized to issue “Improper Large Item Collection” penalties.

    “The NCU program has come under increased scrutiny over the past several years due to ongoing blight and other challenges resulting from various aspects of the NCU structure,” the city said. Several challenges associated with the collection program listed by the city include “extensive” scavenging, illegal dumping, which often comes from outside Citrus Heights, and conflicts with street sweeping schedules.

    The amendment will reduce the potential for street sweeping schedule conflicts and reduce the window of time where holiday parking might be impacted on neighborhood streets, according to the city. In addition, the amendment includes language to avoid scheduling Neighborhood Clean Up dates for two days after holidays whenever possible.

    Neighborhood Clean Up FlashVote survey results presented during an Aug. 28 City Council meeting showed a strong majority of Citrus Heights residents use and want to continue utilizing free Neighborhood Clean Up services offered by the city.

    The city reports that the most common FlashVote recommendations for improvement included “enforcement of the existing 48-hour advance set-out requirements” as well as encouraging reporting of those who set piles out early.

    City staff also plan to carry out “an extensive education and outreach campaign” to help make residents aware of the changes in the collection program, including using direct mailers, social media posts, revised door hangers, online and print newspaper ads, and through city events and neighborhood area meetings.

    Want to share your thoughts on this article? To submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication, click here

  • City of Citrus Heights finalizes purchase of 1.7-acre preschool property. What’s next?

    Citrus Heights Preschool
    The property of the former Citrus Heights Preschool has recently been purchased by the City of Citrus Heights // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The City of Citrus Heights has officially closed on a property on Old Auburn Road that was formerly home to Citrus Heights Preschool, although plans for the property’s future use remain vague.

    City Manager Ash Feeney announced during the City Council meeting Wednesday that the city closed escrow on the preschool on Oct. 31. The Citrus Heights Preschool closed abruptly earlier this year after being in business for several decades.

    The two parcels that make up the former childcare center total 1.74 acres, and the land has existing fencing, landscaping, and utilities, plus one 3,100-square-foot building and another 4,000-square-foot building, according to the city.

    Feeney previously alluded to exploring the possibility of utilizing the property for local sheltering of lost pets, and mentioned such use again on Wednesday.

    “The property presents some future opportunities for enhanced service delivery here within the city and also control of our own destiny relative to escalating costs that have occurred around contracting out on some of the animal services,” Feeney said Wednesday. Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa noted with a smile that small toilets at the facility were designed with preschoolers in mind, to which Feeney commented that “we definitely have some work to do with the restrooms.” He also offered to give tours of the property to city council members.

    During a subsequent State of the City address on Thursday, the city manager also made brief reference to the property acquisition, where he credited efforts to increase the city’s reserves with enabling the city to purchase the property on Old Auburn Road. He did not share a specific future use for the property, other than to say it had potential to serve as a “community resource” and would enable the city to control costs and improve service delivery.

    Previously the City Council voted unanimously to enter into a purchase agreement for the two parcels that made up the preschool in a special City Council meeting that convened directly following the July 10 regular City Council meeting, The acquisition price was listed as $1.2 million with a $25,000 deposit that would be refundable for up to 60 days.

    The two parcels, located at 7555 Old Auburn Rd. and 7569 Old Auburn Rd., which make up the site of the former Citrus Heights Preschool, were listed for discussion in closed session at the beginning of the regular July 10 City Council meeting. Limited details were provided in the agenda packet. Following the closed session, then-mayor Bret Daniels said there was no information to report regarding closed session items.

    The preschool’s abrupt closure left parents scrambling to find new childcare. The Sentinel previously reached out to former employees of Citrus Heights Preschool regarding the closure and staffing challenges. One former employee declined to comment, and others did not return a request for comment.