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Tag: Bret Daniels

  • Citrus Heights News Briefs: chickens win, K9’s, arson, election update

    Citrus Heights News Briefs: chickens win, K9’s, arson, election update

    Local news briefs for the second week in August include a unanimous city council vote to allow backyard chickens in Citrus Heights, arson fires near Greenback Lane, a new police K9 dog added to the force, and an update on local elections.

    Citrus Heights police welcome new K9 dog to force
    The Citrus Heights Police Department announced the graduation of its newest police K9 dog this week. The department said 14-month-old “Blitz” is a German Shepard who’s father, “Bodie,” was severely injured in 2012 after being shot by a car-jacking suspect while serving as a K9 for the Sacramento Police Department. According to a news release, police have organized a reunion for the father-son pair next week where the two dogs will share a graduation cake and Bodie “will pass on the torch for Blitz to work hard and keep the community safe.

    City council votes 5-0 to allow backyard chickens
    Citrus Heights council members unanimously voted in favor of dropping a restriction on hen-keeping in the city, following a public hearing on Thursday night. Existing regulations banned hens from being kept on residential lots under 10,000 square feet in size, but the new ordinance wording will allow up to six hens to be kept on any size lot. About a half-dozen speakers addressed the city council during the Aug. 11 hearing, all of whom expressed support for dropping the restriction on hen-keeping. No one spoke in opposition to the proposal.

    The ordinance changes are set to go into effect 30 days after a second reading is held at next month’s council meeting on Sept. 8. Roosters are unaffected by the ordinance change and are only allowed to be kept on lots over 20,000 square feet in size. At the council’s request, a staff report will be made at the end of 12 months to ensure the new regulations are not causing any unintended problems. (See latest draft wording)

    Fires along I-80 near Greenback ruled arson
    Several grass fires along eastbound Interstate 80 between Greenback and Madison Thursday afternoon were ruled arson by fire officials. Metro Fire said the largest blaze torched a half-mile stretch along I-80, with one of the fires jumping a wall into a yard. No homes were reportedly damaged. Anyone with information is asked to call Metro Fire’s Tipline at (916) 859-3775, or email arsontip@metrofire.ca.gov.

    Deadline extended to run for city council; 5 qualified so far
    The deadline to file nomination papers to run for a seat on the Citrus Heights city council has been extended to Aug. 17 at 5 p.m., the city clerk’s office confirmed Friday. A deadline extension occurs any time an incumbent does not file by the original deadline. As expected, current Councilwoman Sue Frost did not file, as she gave up her seat to run for County Supervisor.

    As of 5 p.m. Friday, City Clerk Amy Van said a total of five residents had qualified for the November ballot: Amor Taylor, Jeff Slowey, Rick Doyle, Marcel Weiland and Michael Nishimura. Porsche Middleton, who moved to Citrus Heights from Alabama recently, also returned nomination papers, but is still pending final signature verification. Four others have picked up nomination papers but have not turned them in: David Huber, Vincent Nicholas, Bret Daniels, and Tim Schaefer.

    >>Find out more about each candidate and get all The Sentinel’s local stories delivered to your inbox each Sunday: subscribe to our free Weekend Edition.

  • Burial for slain deputy held in Citrus Heights; community gives respect

    Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy Danny Oliver was laid to rest Monday in Citrus Heights, after traffic was blocked on Greenback Lane to allow an extensive law enforcement procession to make its way to Sierra Hills Memorial Park & East Lawn mortuary, before continuing to Fountain Square Drive for a private reception at the Citrus Heights Community Center.

    Procession for Deputy Danny Oliver in Citrus Heights. Photo credit: Luke Otterstad
    A law enforcement procession for slain Deputy Danny Oliver traveled along Greenback, making a turn on Fountain Square Drive, Monday.

    Although attendance at the burial and reception was restricted, those wishing to pay tribute to the fallen Deputy were invited by the Sheriff’s Department to stand alongside portions of the procession route, with some doing so near city hall.

    “I wanted to bring my grandson out to see the camaraderie of law enforcement coming together,” said Citrus Heights resident Sharon Day, who brought 3-year-old Jackson out to see the procession and pay respect to the fallen deputy.  She said the shooting was personal to her because she works near where the fatal shooting occurred just over a week ago, and said the area around her workplace was teaming with law enforcement officers that day.

    Although the Department made an effort to publicize the procession path in advance and advise alternative traffic routes, some drivers had no idea what was going on, with Twitter lighting up from comments about seeing “30 Sheriffs” at once, and user “@jmeanz” commenting, “there’s literally traffic everywhere in Citrus Heights right now.”

    Prior to the burial, a public memorial service was held in the morning at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville, attended by thousands of law enforcement officers from numerous agencies. Family members of Deputy Oliver were honored during the memorial as well, with Sacramento Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Jason Ramos offering some kind words.

    “Our nation is grateful to you,” said the sergeant to family members of the slain deputy. “We hope that you find strength to bear the loss and you know that our nation will always remember and honor the one you loved.”

    The families were also financially helped “within 72 hours” by the Citrus-Heights based organization “Badges Supporting Fallen Officers’ Families,” according to Bret Daniels, a founding member and former Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy. The organization’s website states it was founded to provide immediate assistance to families of officers who were killed in the line of duty, to “bridge the gap until resources from federal, state, local or life insurance are made available.”