A verified gang member was arrested by CHPD on June 12. // CHPD
By Sara Beth Williams– A verified gang member was arrested on Wednesday in Citrus Heights, according to the Citrus Heights Police Department.
The Police Department posted on social media Wednesday afternoon, June 12, that a suspicious vehicle was spotted during patrol at a local park. After contacting the driver, officers discovered the driver was a verified gang member and was on parole, according to police.
A subsequent parole search of the vehicle revealed a loaded firearm, and officers arrested the man without incident. Citrus Heights Police Sgt. Dave Neher confirmed to The Sentinel that the arrest occurred at Rusch Community Park.
Inmate records show 29-year-old Jamari Jordan Baugh was booked into the Sacramento County Jail by the Citrus Heights Police Department on June 12 on several charges, including violation of parole, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of firearm ammunition by a felon. According to the county, Baugh is ineligible for bail due to parole violations. An initial court date is scheduled for June 14.
By Sara Beth Williams– A small assembly of homeless individuals and advocates gathered in front of Citrus Heights City Hall last week to support the Fourth Amendment rights of unhoused individuals in Citrus Heights. The event was organized by local homeless advocate Alfred Sanchez.
Sanchez, who is known as “Snack Man” by most unhoused individuals and city officials, told The Sentinel that at least seven homeless and another outreach worker gathered Tuesday afternoon despite the wind and heat. Sanchez attended a one-on-one meeting with Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney, where he expressed his concern with the city’s Beautification Crew’s clean up practices, which he called “unlawful.”
Sanchez said he is concerned about “improper seizure” of property belonging to unhoused individuals such as bikes, trailers, sleeping bags, and other items not typically classified as garbage. He alleges that when he and others visit the Police Department’s impound center to request the return of important items of value, such items cannot be located by the police.
“If I turn something into the Police Department, they have to log it, get information, they wait for John Doe to come get it,” Sanchez said, additionally questioning why police officers do not adequately catalog items so that they can be returned to owners.
Sanchez wants a more solidified set of rules for when, where, and how the city’s Beautification Crew and the Police Department can seize unhoused individuals’ items. He called the current regulations “ambiguous” and “confusing” and alleged that not all officers follow the same rules.
The city and Citrus Heights Police Department released a joint statement to The Sentinel in response, stating in part: “Belongings are never seized by the Beautification Crew. In abandoned illegal encampments, crews remove illegally dumped debris. They do not remove anything easily identifiable as belonging to a specific individual, and officers will make extra efforts to try to identify the abandoned property’s owner when others are nearby.”
The city also said that in the case of illegal homeless camps, staff work with individuals to contain their personal property and, as well, provide services for individuals to help properly dispose of unwanted materials.
According to the city’s website, the Beautification Crew was established in October 2022 and consists of a two-person full time crew who patrol and maintain the public right-of-way by removing illegally dumped trash, conducting weed and litter abatement, removing abandoned carts and debris and removing unlawful homeless camps, in partnership with the Citrus Heights Police Department.
According to an annual Police Department report, 76 tons of trash and 1,500 abandoned carts were collected by the Beautification Crew in 2023. Over 400 shopping cart service requests have been completed as of April 25, 2024, according to the city. Some service requests included multiple carts.
Citrus Heights General Services Regina Cave previously reported to the City Council that debris and abandoned shopping carts are only removed from the public right-of-way such as sidewalks.
Red Lobster in Citrus Heights, located at 6231 Sunrise Blvd. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– Red Lobster in Citrus Heights could be next on the chopping block, according to latest company bankruptcy filings.
In an update last week, ABC 10 reported that a list of 132 locations has been released, where Red Lobster is seeking to reject leases due to the locations being “likely to continue to drive losses.” That list includes the Citrus Heights location.
In a May 19 press release, Red Lobster expressed reluctance as it announced the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The company “intends to use the proceedings to drive operational improvements and simplify the business through a reduction in locations,” according to the press release.
Located at 6231 Sunrise Blvd., the Citrus Heights location was previously spared from a first round of almost 90 restaurant closures across the country in April. The Citrus Heights Red Lobster still remained open as of Thursday morning. Latest reports indicate almost 100 locations have closed across the country.
“This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth,” Jonathan Tibus, the company’s CEO, said in the press release.
Red Lobster in Citrus Heights has remained a stable fixture near the corner of Sunrise and Greenback in a plaza that has seen several tenants leave and new tenants take over neighboring sites throughout the past decade.
A total of eight locations in California are listed as temporarily closed, according to Red Lobster’s website, including a Sacramento location on Howe Avenue.
According to the restaurant’s website, Red Lobster is known for its fresh seafood dishes and has over 700 locations operating across the country, as well as several international franchises. The first Red Lobster opened in 1968 in Lakeland, Florida.
A carnival is setting up in front of Sunrise Mall and is scheduled to begin June 13. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– Another carnival is scheduled to take place this weekend at Sunrise Mall, this time hosted by Butler Amusement.
Carnival organizers could be seen on site finishing set up for the carnival on Wednesday and Thursday in the Sunrise Mall parking lot near the main entrance.
The carnival will is slated to run from June 13-16 and feature a variety of attractions including carnival games, and several rides including the “Century Wheel”, a carousel, the “Fiesta”, two aerial swinging rides called “Lolly Swings” and “Yo Yo”, the “T Rex” and “Viper” and more.
Hours of operation will run from 5-10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday according to carnival organizers.
Butler Amusements host multiple carnivals throughout the west coast according to their website. The carnival has several more appearances scheduled in California, including the Orangevale Summer Palooza in Orangevale in June and the California State Fair in July.
Ride height information and ticket information can be found on the carnival’s website here.
5425 Sunrise Boulevard, rumored to be an Amazon Fresh, has been confirmed. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A rumored Amazon Fresh grocery store coming to the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue has been confirmed through an official alcoholic beverage license filed on May 28.
The new grocer is slated to open at 5425 Sunrise Blvd., according to leasing documents online, but no official name has been listed. A notice of the filing of an alcoholic beverage license was posted next to the entrance of the building with the official company name.
Several sources with knowledge of the project last year informed The Sentinel that Amazon Fresh was slated to become the tenant for the space. Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter could not confirm the name of the new tenant as of Monday.
Interior renovations reportedly began inside the building between six and eight weeks ago. Construction fencing has been erected by W.L. Butler Construction Inc. in the parking lot in front of the site, and interior construction is ongoing.
The 38,000-square-foot building was formerly occupied by JoAnn’s Fabrics, according to prior reports. JoAnn’s Fabrics moved over to an adjacent building in the same shopping center.
Rite Aid, which recently closed, was located two buildings down and is still listed on online leasing documents.
After filing for bankruptcy in mid-October 2023, the chain initially announced the closure of more than 150 stores across 15 states. More closures occurred in November 2023 and January 2024, according to online reports. Previous Rite Aid locations in Citrus Heights had already shuttered in 2018 and 2023.
According to the city, building permits were issued to 5425 Sunrise Blvd. on May 2.
Amazon is known for being silent about plans for its grocery concept stores to open in other parts of the country. An Ohio-based news outlet reported Amazon being mum about plans for a new grocery store in Cleveland and said the company is known for using a generic “National Grocer” name for its projects elsewhere.
Redevelopment of the Sunrise Village shopping center has been ongoing since the first quarter of 2021, according to prior reports. A new archway sign was erected in 2023, and several new businesses have joined the shopping center. Recently, Pinkberry, a national frozen yogurt chain, was added to the leasing materials for Sunrise Village.
The shopping center currently includes several prominent businesses and eateries, such as See’s Candies, Olive Garden, Starbucks, Little Ceasar’s, JoAnn’s Fabrics and Crafts, and The Habit Burger Grill.
W.L. Butler Construction could not be reached by Sentinel staff before press time on Tuesday.
The corner of Mariposa Ave. and Madison Ave., facing east. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights City Council plans to award a contract for the repair of a section of a retaining wall along Madison Avenue in Citrus Heights that was previously damaged in a vehicular crash in December.
According to the city, repair costs will total $189,000 and will be covered through insurance claims resulting from the accident that caused the damage. Additional costs will be funded with existing Measure A maintenance fund. The city’s General Fund will not be impacted.
On Dec. 1, 2023, a passenger vehicle turning left onto Madison Avenue from southbound Mariposa Avenue ran a red light and collided with a Republic Services refuse vehicle that was traveling eastbound on Madison Avenue. The crash resulted in the Republic Services vehicle losing control, crossing the raised median, and impacting the wall located behind the sidewalk on the north side of Madison Avenue, east of Mariposa Avenue.
The city was able to clear the debris and stabilize the wall to prevent further damage. Initially, the city said it requested repair estimates from two on-call contractors and found the estimates to be “exorbitant.” Contractors explained that limited workspace and the unique design of the sound wall contributed to higher costs.
Dokken Engineering, an on-call structural engineering consultant company, began to develop a design for the repair of the wall at the end of January, and on May 23, the city opened bids for the 2024 Madison Avenue Retaining Wall Repairs Project. After evaluating the bids, the city determined that FBD Vanguard Construction, Inc. submitted the lowest responsive and responsible bid, which totaled $159,878.
The property owner and tenants of the home adjacent to the damaged wall have been notified of plans for repairs and have signed a permit to enter and construct agreements, according to the city.
By Sara Beth Williams– There are 1,419 delinquent Solid Waste Services accounts in Citrus Heights, totaling over $700,000 in unpaid fees.
The Citrus Heights City Council will discuss the approval of a resolution to record delinquent solid waste service charges on the property tax roll at the next City Council meeting on June 13.
1,419 Solid Waste Services delinquent accounts as of May 13, have a combined past due balance totaling $707,088.84. Accrued penalties and interest combined total $777,797.72. A complete list of delinquent accounts will be updated on July 11, the city said.
Per Government Code Sections 38790.1, 25831, and the City’s Municipal Code Chapter 74 Section 169, the city is allowed to record delinquent solid waste charges, penalties, and interest on the annual tax roll. A public hearing before the council is required and is proposed for July 10.
If the resolution is approved by the City Council, all delinquent charges will be collected with the general tax levy collected by Sacramento County. The county charges an annual fee of $35.00 plus 62 cents per levy to record delinquent accounts on the tax roll.
The county will collect one half of the amount in December 2024 and one half in April 2025. The county will forward the payments to the city in January 2025 and again in May 2025, according to the city.
Those wishing to make a public comment during the meeting can do so by attending the council meeting on June 13, 2024, at City Hall, or by submitting a written comment beforehand using the city’s website. The deadline to submit comments online is 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting. See the full agenda packet online: Click here:
Citrus Heights City Hall is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
San Juan High School is located at 7551 Greenback Ln. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– With the 2023-24 school year ending, both the San Juan Unified School District and the Sacramento Public Library system have released a list of locations that will offer free meals to students throughout the summer.
There are no income or enrollment requirements. No registration or paperwork will be required, but meals must be consumed on site at all locations.
Below is a list of locations specific to Citrus Heights.
Kingswood K-8. Breakfast will be served from 8:40-9 a.m. and lunch will be served 11:30 a.m. to 12 Monday through Friday from June 17 through July 12. Kingswood K-8 is located at 5700 Primrose Drive.
San Juan High School. Free lunch will be served 11:30 a.m. to 12 on Monday through Thursday only, from June 17 through July 11. Breakfast is not available at this location. San Juan High School is located at 7551 Greenback Ln.
Sylvan Oaks Library. Beginning June 18 through Aug. 9, free lunch will be provided to youth 18 and under who are present on site. Lunch is served between 12 and 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Breakfast is not available at this location. Sylvan Oaks Library is located at 6700 Auburn Blvd.
Both schools and Sylvan Oaks Library will be closed June 19 and July 4 and meals will not be available. A full list of locations across the San Juan school district can be viewed on the district’s website here. A full list of Sacramento Public Library locations offering free lunches to youth is available here.
By Sara Beth Williams– New businesses with plans to open in the near future in Citrus Heights include several new eateries, a high-end fitness center, and a grocery store.
Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi: A new Asian buffet is coming to the former Tokyo Buffet building located on Greenback Lane in the same shopping center as Sam’s Club. Yummy Buffet has signage posted outside the building and has done extensive exterior work since August of last year. Interior construction is still ongoing. According to a representative of the restaurant, the facility hopes to open by the end of July. Yummy Buffet Grill & Sushi is located at 7217 Greenback Ln.
West Coast Sourdough: Signage was seen being mounted on the suite across from Costco sporting the new sandwich shop’s name over Memorial Day Weekend. West Coast Sourdough, which signed a lease last year for a 2,400-square-foot suite in a five-tenant building in the Stock Ranch Plaza, anticipates completing construction sometime in June. The building is also home to Sport Clips, Crumbl Cookies, AT&T, and Citrus Heights Smiles Dentistry. West Coast Sourdough is located at 6920 Auburn Blvd., #150.
Club Studio Fitness: The high-end fitness club anticipates opening its main fitness center in Sunrise Village by mid-July, according to a project superintendent. The company currently has a smaller satellite site open on Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard next to Red Lobster where customers can sample fitness equipment and purchase memberships. The new Club Studio location will open at 5419 Sunrise Blvd.
Oyster Bar: A popular Natomas-based seafood restaurant is expanding with a second location in Citrus Heights and is slated to take over the space formerly occupied by Chando’s Tacos at Sylvan Corners. The restaurant initially stated they expected to open in early 2024, but the site was still under construction when Sentinel staff visited last week. Oyster Bar is located at 7084 Auburn Blvd., #160.
HomeGoods: A new HomeGoods store is slated to fill the space previously occupied by Stein Mart, which closed in early 2020 in the Marketplace at Birdcage shopping center. HomeGoods sells furniture, rugs, kitchenware, and other home supplies at discounted prices. Sunrise Marketplace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter could not yet confirm an opening date for the store. HomeGoods is slated to be located at 5975 Birdcage Center Ln.
Teriyaki Madness: According to leasing documents for the Marketplace at Birdcage, the new fast-casual restaurant is slated as “Coming Soon,” but no opening date has been confirmed by the company or Sunrise Marketplace. Teriyaki Madness is slated to open at 6121 Sunrise Blvd. in the former Starbucks site, next to Barnes & Noble.
Amazon Fresh: A rumored grocery store coming to the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue has been confirmed through an official alcoholic beverage license filed on May 28. Interior renovations reportedly began on the nearby store between six and eight weeks ago. The space was formerly occupied by JoAnn’s Fabrics, according to prior reports. JoAnn’s Fabrics moved over to an adjacent building in the same shopping center. The new grocer is slated to open at 5425 Sunrise Blvd.
A map on the city’s website shows the current path of the Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail. // CH Sentinel
By Sara Beth Williams– The recently opened Arcade Cripple-Creek trail winds through several historical plots of land, according to a new trail guide published by the Citrus Heights Historical Society.
The long-awaited multi-use trail was under construction for more than a year and recently held a grand opening on May 5 with a community walk, bike, and run event from Tempo Park to C-Bar-C Park. During the ribbon-cutting event, the historical society handed out trail guides highlighting significant landmarks along the route.
The trail, which begins at Mitchell Village off Sunrise Boulevard and ends at Wachtel Way, weaves through open green spaces, neighborhoods, and several parks that were once farmland. Five historical landmarks are highlighted in the guide, which is designed against the backdrop of a 1921 Sacramento land owner’s map, courtesy of the Center for Sacramento History.
The trail route is marked in red, with current street names added for directional orientation. Several early-century photos and a description accompany each highlighted landmark.
Mitchell Village is the first stop on the trail and sits on land that was once owned by English immigrants Edward and Zenobia Crabb, according to the guide. Once the farmland was irrigated, Edward Crabb Jr. planted grapes during the era of prohibition. Crabb’s grandson, Ted Mitchell, recalls trucks full of grapes waiting until nightfall to travel to buyers.
The second stop on the trail crosses over Fair Oaks Boulevard into land that was once owned by the Pilchers, who owned 680 acres. The Pilchar Farmland is well-known for a barn once located at Sunrise Boulevard and Oak Avenue that caught fire in 1933. There was no fire department at the time.
According to the historical guide, a volunteer fire department was formed soon after in response to the barn fire. A photo in the guide from 1942 shows eight women who were part of The Ladies Auxiliary, a group of all-female volunteer firefighters.
Shortly after crossing Woodmore Oaks Drive, the trail curves into land owned by the Cross family, who owned two 160-acre parcels side by side. In 1862, John Cross helped build Sylvan School, the area’s first schoolhouse. His wife, Sarah, became the first teacher at the one-room schoolhouse.
Stop number four on the guide shows the trail traveling through neighborhoods and open green space toward Northwoods Park. On the 1921 map, the route runs parallel to a street once known as Cross Drive.
According to the guide, in 1921, the Cross family sold their land on the west side of the trail to the Trainor-Desmond Company, who then subdivided the property and built Cross Drive. To attract buyers for the new land parcels, Walt Trainer named the subdivision “Citrus Heights.”
From Northwoods Park, the trail crosses Oak Avenue toward C-Bar-C Park, entering 120 acres of farmland once known as C-Bar-C Ranch, which was owned by the Carrick family. The ranch was famous for its hayrides, barbecues, and outdoor entertainment activities. Carrick’s nephew and wife continued farming and were instrumental in the creation of C-Bar-C Park, according to the guide.
Citrus Heights Historical Society President Larry Fritz, who designed and wrote the historical trail guide, said the guide is ideally intended for people to read while walking along the trail.
“There is much more value in learning about history when you are at the location where the events took place,” Fritz said.
The trail guide will be available at City Hall beginning Monday, June 10. The content of the pamphlet is also available on the Historical Society’s website at www.citrusheightshistory.org for those who may be unable to visit the trail in person.
