Updated Nov. 8, 7:59 a.m.–
A collision involving at least four cars at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane blocked several lanes of traffic Thursday night, as about a dozen officers responded to the scene.
“Citrus Heights has a road closure due to a collision,” Senior Dispatcher Tina Mack with the Citrus Heights Police Department said in an email alert to media around 8:30 p.m. Thursday. “All southbound Sunrise Boulevard lanes are closed at Greenback Lane. Traffic is diverted to eastbound and westbound Greenback Lane.”
By 10 p.m. all lanes had been re-opened.
Police did not return a phone call requesting comment Friday morning. Reports of injuries and the cause of collision are unknown at this time.
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.
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.”
<<Update: The new Walmart Market opened as scheduled on January 7, and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.>>
A new Walmart Neighborhood Market on Sunrise Boulevard is scheduled to open just after New Year’s, bringing 95 jobs and a 39,000 square feet grocery store to Citrus Heights, according to a construction superintendent in charge of remodeling the location.
Construction on Citrus Heights’ new Walmart market is expected to be “substantially completed” by November 14, according to SD Deacon.
“I’m proud to welcome this new Walmart Neighborhood Market to Citrus Heights,” said Mayor Mel Turner. “The store’s emphasis on quick, convenient grocery shopping is important to our community.”
Neighborhood Markets were launched by Walmart in 1998 as a smaller alternative to their supercenters, typically being about a third the size and focusing on grocery, pharmacy and pet supplies.
Local construction workers with Citrus Heights-based SD Deacon Corp of California are handling the remodel of the new store, as they have for other local businesses like Stein Mart and HD Supply, according to General Superintendent Don Yount. He said they are on schedule to have work “substantially complete” by November 14, with the grand opening planned for January 7, 2015.
The new store is located at 6197 Sunrise Blvd. between Lowe’s and Barnes & Noble bookstore. Those interested in applying for a position at the new location are invited to visit Walmart’s hiring center at 8065 Madison Ave., between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., any day except Sunday.
Designed to encourage more walkability in Citrus Heights, a new 4,100-foot trail has opened on Old Auburn Road just east of Fair Oaks Boulevard, featuring a wide, fully paved path for bikes, pedestrians and mobility scooters.
Cars pass by the newly completed Old Auburn Multi-Use Trail in Citrus Heights.
“It’s a nice improvement to what it used to be before,” said nearby resident Harvey Sanford, commenting the area used to be just dirt and weeds with an unpaved path through it. “It’s a real nice, pleasant walk up and down the trail.”
According to City Management Analyst Regina Cave, construction for the project began in March of this year and was completed last month — although she said there are future plans to add low-maintenance landscape amenities to the trail.
Funding for the $1.1 million project was provided in part by the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program, which contributed over $700,000 for design and construction costs, according to Cave.
A flier for a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Saturday “strongly encourages” walking or biking to the event as there are no designated parking areas for the trail, and nearby roadside parking is limited.
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If you plan to go:
Old Auburn Multi-Use Trail Ribbon Cutting
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014
10 a.m. to noon Location: Old Auburn Road and Orelle Creek Court
Photo of one suspect police say was caught on camera stealing welding equipment at a Citrus Heights store
Updated Oct. 18, 1:05 p.m. —
Citrus Heights police emailed and tweeted a request for help Friday night, seeking assistance from the community to identify two suspects who are alleged to have been caught on camera stealing a welding tool valued at over $1,000 from Barnes Welding Supply in Citrus Heights.
Police say on October 10, around 12:45 p.m., two suspects walked into the welding store at 6005 Auburn Blvd in Citrus Heights, and were observed to be engaged in suspicious activity.
A Miller Electric TIG welding machine was taken off the shelf and brought to a waiting vehicle, without being paid for, according to police. The vehicle appeared to be a newer model silver Toyota Sequoia, and was seen driving away south on Auburn Boulevard toward Manzanita Avenue.
“Our smaller, family-owned businesses work tirelessly to keep their prices competitive and can’t afford to take losses of this magnitude due to the greed of a few,” said officer Wesley Herman in a press release containing photos of the suspects. “The photographs attached are very good quality and we’re certain that someone in the community will recognize these two theft suspects and assist us in identifying them.”
Citrus Heights police say the investigation is ongoing, and request that anyone who witnessed the incident, or has related information information, contact the Department’s Investigative Services Division at (916) 727-5500.
Photo released by Citrus Heights police, showing two suspects accused of stealing a piece of welding equipment from Barnes Welding Supply.
Updated Oct. 17, 4:02 p.m. –
Highlighting an industry-appropriate deviation from the usual “ribbon-cutting” ceremony, HD Supply Home Improvement Solutions celebrated the grand opening of their 46,000 square feet store in Citrus Heights with an official plywood “board-cutting” just outside the front doors on Greenback Lane, Friday.
Employees and company leaders join for an official “board-cutting” as HD Supply opens in Citrus Heights
“We’re really happy to be in the Citrus Heights community,” said HD District Manager David Lewis, who attended Friday’s grand opening event and said the company prioritizes involvement in the community.
Noting the store’s “cutting-edge technology,” Lewis said their Citrus Heights location is the first to feature QR codes on every product, which can be scanned with a smartphone to provide product information and a video presentation about the item’s features and benefits. The main entry also has a touchscreen kiosk where customers can type in what they’re looking for, and be shown a list of corresponding items and a map of where the item is located in the store.
“It’s pretty nice technology,” said customer Dana Payne of Orangevale, who was being shown the kiosk by Nicole True with HD Supply. “This will really help drastically in the future to find my way around.”
Nicole True with HD Supply shows customer Dana Payne a product video on the store’s touchscreen kiosk.
Although about 40 employees were hired initially to get the store open, 19 employees will operate the new location — three of whom live in Citrus Heights, according to Marketing Director Cate Solomon.
HD Supply Home Improvement Solutions is the home improvement division of HD Supply, which operates around 650 locations in North America.
The new store is located at 7999 Greenback Lane, across from the Sunrise Mall. Store hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A new multimillion-dollar traffic light project on Sunrise Boulevard received the go-ahead from the Citrus Heights city council last month, with work scheduled to begin in November, according to General Services Director David Wheaton.
A new traffic light project is expected to begin in November at the Sunrise Boulevard and Sungarden Drive intersection.
Located at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Sungarden Drive, City Manager Henry Tingle said the project is expected to take until Spring to finish, and is needed to improve traffic safety at a location where he said people have been hit and killed in the past.
Asked about impact to traffic, Tingle said drivers “won’t see any delay in where they are going” after the project is finished.
The project will run between $2.4 to $2.6 million, according to Wheaton, and also includes gutter, curb and sidewalk improvements, as well as several bus stops.
Funding for the project is provided through a variety of sources, including a Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant, the Gas Tax, Measure A Capital fund, General Capital Improvement Funds, Transportation Development Act and Stormwater Utility funds, according to documents provided to the council by the City’s General Services Division. An estimated $86,600 will also be provided by Sacramento Regional Transit for the cost of the bus stops included in the project.
Although work on the signal project won’t begin until November, Wheaton said construction activity at the location may be observed starting this week, as the Citrus Heights Water District will be working on a three-week project near the intersection.
An electronic sign warns passerby’s of bait vehicles around Citrus Heights // CHSentinel
Ever wonder what’s going on with the large “bait vehicle” signs around Citrus Heights?
If so, you’re not alone, as questions about the signs have been brought up by residents at several community meetings in the past few months.
To find out the story behind the signs, The Sentinel checked in with Officer Wesley Herman of the Citrus Heights Police Department, who said the signs are part of the Department’s auto-theft prevention efforts.
Explaining that “bait vehicles” look just like any other vehicle on the street, Officer Herman said the only difference is that they’re equipped with a hidden GPS tracking device and strategically placed in areas where police have observed high theft or crime trends, with the hope that criminals “bite.”
Around North America, such vehicles have successfully been used to catch thieves, with some “bait” cars featuring remote door locking, hidden cameras, and an ignition “kill switch” to shut the vehicle off remotely. When British Columbia instituted a bait car program in 2003, a 75 percent drop in vehicle thefts over an 11-year period was documented, according to an Insurance Corporation of British Columbia study.
Although bait vehicles are equipped to help officers track and arrest car thieves, Officer Herman said the primary purpose of the program is to prevent auto-theft from happening in the first place — giving reason to why the big orange and black warning signs are regularly deployed in high-traffic areas around Citrus Heights.
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“We try to be the least attractive girl at the dance,” the officer remarked, explaining that the highly visible “bait vehicle” signs help prevent crime by notifying would-be auto thieves that unmarked, random vehicles in Citrus Heights are actively being tracked.
“They don’t know if we have one, twenty, or any out,” said the officer, calling it a type of “psychological war” on criminal minds.
His message to would-be Citrus Heights thieves is: “Hey, go ahead and steal a car — it might be one of ours.”
A small sign indicates what’s inside The Lodge on Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights.
Reviewed by Nadezhda Otterstad
Tucked away behind a parking lot and several trees on the northern outskirts of Citrus Heights stands a unique, peaked-roof structure, decked with blue and white trim. A sign painted above the front entrance highlights that breakfast and lunch are served inside, and another bright orange sign facing Auburn Boulevard spells out “Coffee Shop” for the steady flow of traffic passing by. Curious to check out the place, my husband and I invited grandpa to watch the kids and set off for a visit to “The Lodge.”
Upon stepping inside the front entrance early one morning, the sound and smells of breakfast cooking met us as we were warmly greeted and invited to find a seat at one of several tables inside. We made our way down to one of the well-worn but clean booths where we met Aime (pronounced “Amy”), one of the diner’s cheerful waitresses.
As we browsed the menu, aromas wafted in from the nearby kitchen and encircled the dining area, bringing back memories of homemade meals. After perusing the extensive all-American menu, we settled on a pancake order and an omelet, which came with hash browns and a biscuit on the side. A short while later, Aime delivered several hot plates, and we were pleasantly surprised by the ample size of the portions and the savory smell of home-style food.
The three-egg omelet provided enough to share between us, and the food wasn’t too hot, nor smeared in excess oil. Even the coffee tasted a little above par for comparable restaurants, and consistent refills always came our way from Aime.
While finishing our meal, customers trickled in on their own or with families, with mild chatter adding to a relaxed and happy atmosphere inside. As several customers greeted the diner’s staff by name, it seemed the Lodge is definitely a spot for regulars.
Always curious to meet the face behind a good meal, we found out after breakfast that co-owner Yunhee is the inspiration in the Lodge’s kitchen. The Korean-born chef flashed her bright smile as she shared how she prepares the food in the kitchen, praising her discovery of American breakfasts as “the best breakfast in the world.” Lee, Yunhee’s husband and Lodge co-owner, was seated at one of the stools at the front counter and said he’s in charge of shopping for the diner — additionally pointing out several walls where he had created some wood design work.
Taking us back to her cooking, Yunhee mentioned several times that one of her food prep distinctives is to always chop her vegetables by hand, rather than with a machine – indicative of her passion for good cooking. It was also clear she enjoys making breakfast on the healthier side for her customers.
The 64-year-old chef is also in the Lodge’s kitchen six days a week, so no matter what day you visit, you’ll likely have your food turn out as expected – without any unwanted surprises from a different chef’s style. The Lodge is also open until 2 p.m. to accommodate the lunch crowd, but Yunhee said breakfasts are her specialty.
Although lunch isn’t bad, we agree that home-style breakfast is their specialty, and we don’t hesitate in giving the Citrus Heights “Lodge” a solid 4-out-of-5 stars for taste, service and one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
This review was originally published on The Citrus Heights Sentinel on Sept. 16, 2014.
Citrus Heights Vice Mayor Sue Frost helped Sacramento’s Meals on Wheels deliver their 2 millionth meal to a Citrus Heights senior Thursday, followed by a celebration luncheon at the All Seasons Cafe in the Rusch Park Community Center.
By Vcntest (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia CommonsCalling the event a “major milestone” since forming in 2010, organizers hope the event helped raise awareness to its meal program, along with giving seniors helpful information about Medicare and Social Security.
Meals on Wheels by ACC was formed four years ago in response to County budget cuts, which included discontinuing its senior meal program. As a non-profit organization, Meals on Wheels by ACC replaced the County-run program and now serves about 2000 seniors each weekday, while working to expand its service to parts of Placer County as well.
The organization strives to provide nutritious, affordable meals through its 23 All Seasons Cafe locations across the county, where seniors can meet for lunch and participate in various activities the cafe’s offer. A home meal delivery option is also available for those who are unable to travel to a cafe, as long as certain qualifications are met.
Recognizing the financial difficulties seniors can face, the non-profit group does not require payment for meals in any of its cafes or home deliveries, but does suggest a $2 donation per meal, according to Pat Chilton, Site Coordinator for All Season’s Cafe at the park’s community center.
The event was attended by several local leaders, including Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan and Congressman Ami Bera. It also was supported by Sunrise Recreation and Park District, the City of Citrus Heights, and Area 4 Agency on Aging.
![By Vcntest (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://citrusheightssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Seniors_CC-BY.jpeg)