The Elk Grove Citizen staff will be switching beats in the coming weeks in an effort to cover the community as best possible.
The politics and local government beat - which includes the Elk Grove City Council and Elk Grove Planning Commission - will now be covered by Reporter Blake Ellington. He replaces Shannon Savage, who was on the beat for more than one year.
Savage will be taking over the Lifestyles beat/section and will cover all aspects of Elk Grove's art and culture scene, as well as movie reviews, play previews, coverage of regional entertainment events and much more.
Cameron Macdonald will stay with his usual beats - police and public safety; the Cosumnes Community Services District; the Elk Grove Unified School District; and other random assignments.
The Citizen's Summer College Intern - Sarah Kyo of San Jose State Univ. - will be helping with all sorts of assignments, including question of the week, our special sections during the summer, and as many news stories as we can find for her.
We hope our readers and the citizens of Elk Grove enjoy our newspaper. Feel free to leave a comment or send an e-mail to the editor, Jeff Forward.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Police invite community to discuss crime at meeting
The Elk Grove police are hosting a community meeting at City Hall on June 26 to address residents' questions and concerns about crime in their neighborhoods.
Last year, the police organized their patrol coverage of the city into "beats" or areas where officers are assigned to focus their attention there and better connect with residents.
The upcoming meeting will address all of the neighborhoods west of Highway 99 – including the Laguna, East Franklin and Laguna West areas.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. inside the city council chambers at City Hall on 8400 Laguna Palms Way.
For more information, contact Officer Andrea Luckenbach at (916) 478-8110.
Brief was compiled by Citizen Staff Writer Cameron Macdonald.
Last year, the police organized their patrol coverage of the city into "beats" or areas where officers are assigned to focus their attention there and better connect with residents.
The upcoming meeting will address all of the neighborhoods west of Highway 99 – including the Laguna, East Franklin and Laguna West areas.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. inside the city council chambers at City Hall on 8400 Laguna Palms Way.
For more information, contact Officer Andrea Luckenbach at (916) 478-8110.
Brief was compiled by Citizen Staff Writer Cameron Macdonald.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
"Citizen soldier" staff profiles to make comeback
In 1998, the staff of the Elk Grove Citizen put together a series of small biographical profiles on the staff and published them in the Citizen.
We like that idea, and will be re-starting this feature in order to introduce our staff to our readers. Over the next two months, the bios and photos of our staff will be uploaded on a once-a-week basis.
Council awards $211,000 in grants, Hume abstains from all votes
By Shannon Savage
Citizen Staff Writer
The Elk Grove City Council gave away $211,000 in community grants at their June 13 meeting, slightly more than a third of the $600,000 in funding that community groups had requested.
Despite the generosity, not all of the city council members were not in the giving spirit.
“I’m going to abstain from all of them,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Pat Hume, who had disagreed with the idea of government funded community grants at a prior meeting.
“I don’t believe that it is government’s role to act as Robin Hood and redistribute wealth,” Hume said during the May 23 council meeting. “Even when we were in high cotton I kind of had a problem philosophically with the idea of community services grants.”
Other council members, though, saw the worth of the programs requesting help at the June 13 council meeting.
“This is an organization that has been serving the community for a long time,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Gary Davis about the Animal Rescue League. “They work their tails off.”
Some council members were more concerned with giving money to groups that helped people.
“There are a lot of human needs,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Mike Leary. “Perhaps we should prioritize.”
Members of the council also argued that they could either fund the Animal Rescue League or give more money to the Elk Grove Rotary Foundation Youth Incentive Mentor Program, “where you can keep an at risk kid out of prison,” said Elk Grove Mayor Jim Cooper. “So it’s either Fi Fi the cat or a kid.”
In the end the Rotary Foundation received $10,000, $5,000 less then they requested and the Animal Rescue League received $10,000 of their $50,000 request.
But all of the money didn’t just go to furry little four legged friends. The Elk Grove Community Food Bank Services received $60,000.
“This is an organization that’s operating lean and mean,” Davis said. “Any assistance we give is going to Elk Grove families. We don’t have a big homeless population but we have a lot of people that are barely making it.”
Other groups like Project R.I.D.E. also received their full request.
“We’re ecstatic it’s definitely a step that we needed to take to not have to continually ask the city for money every year,” said Tina Calanchini, director of operations for Project R.I.D.E.
The group requested $11,900 to develop marketing packets to promote the organization to help get bigger donors.
“We want to garner support in other places of the city,” Calanchini said. “This will help us help ourselves.”
The council also gave $25,000 to the Elk Grove Adult Community Training.
“We’re looking at folks who are disabled, they need everything they can get,” Davis said. “This will give them a good shot in the arm so to speak.”
Even the arts didn’t get left out of the donations.
Elk Grove Artists and the Elk Grove Concert Band received a total of almost $7,000.
“They are young kids out there,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Sophia Scherman, about the concert band. “They really do entertain a lot of folks out in the community.”
There were also a slew of events requesting funding.
Although the Elk Grove Veteran’s Day Parade received $3,000, the Elk Grove Western Festival received $2,000 and the Strauss Festival of Elk Grove received $15,000 Davis continued to mention that events might be better funded by other areas of the budget.
“I think we’ve got funds from other sources to fund events,” Davis said.
The Fine Arts Festival of Elk Grove was also funded at $5,000, which was less then the group’s request of $14,350.
“Were just really grateful that they thought to help us out,” said Nan Mahon, member of the fine arts festival committee. “We’re a new (so) it shows that they have some faith in us.”
Although they did not receive the full amount requested, Mahon said the it would still be useful.
“The money means that we can continue to make this a free event so that all of the community can come and enjoy the arts,” Mahon said. “That’s our goal is art for everybody.”
But not all organizations walked away happy.
The Elk Grove Youth Achievement Foundation requested $30,000 and received nothing.
“I’ve never been aware of them funding any sports for girls,” said Elk Grove Mayor Jim Cooper. “I’ve got a problem with that.”
Other groups like the Elk Grove Historical Society were also left out in the cold.
The historical society requested $42,326 for handicap improvements to Rhoads School and research library equipment.
“You’re disappointed when you don’t get a grant but its understandable, the city doesn’t have a lot of money to give to everybody,” said Anita Peters, president of the Elk Grove Historical Society. “It’s kind of the luck of the draw.”
But the historical society will still need to find the money to at least do the handicap improvements.
“Of course (Rhoads School is) an old building but we do school programs there and we have in recent years had a couple of children who were in wheelchairs and it was very difficult thing for them,” said Frances Fite, director of the Rhoads School. “Also we are not in compliance with the (American’s With Disabilities Act) requirements.”
Even though many groups did receive funding this year the council sent out a warning to all that planned to apply again next year.
“They may not get any funding to free up the money for someone else,” Leary said.
This year the council had $1,000 leftover after giving out community grants.
Citizen Staff Writer
The Elk Grove City Council gave away $211,000 in community grants at their June 13 meeting, slightly more than a third of the $600,000 in funding that community groups had requested.
Despite the generosity, not all of the city council members were not in the giving spirit.
“I’m going to abstain from all of them,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Pat Hume, who had disagreed with the idea of government funded community grants at a prior meeting.
“I don’t believe that it is government’s role to act as Robin Hood and redistribute wealth,” Hume said during the May 23 council meeting. “Even when we were in high cotton I kind of had a problem philosophically with the idea of community services grants.”
Other council members, though, saw the worth of the programs requesting help at the June 13 council meeting.
“This is an organization that has been serving the community for a long time,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Gary Davis about the Animal Rescue League. “They work their tails off.”
Some council members were more concerned with giving money to groups that helped people.
“There are a lot of human needs,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Mike Leary. “Perhaps we should prioritize.”
Members of the council also argued that they could either fund the Animal Rescue League or give more money to the Elk Grove Rotary Foundation Youth Incentive Mentor Program, “where you can keep an at risk kid out of prison,” said Elk Grove Mayor Jim Cooper. “So it’s either Fi Fi the cat or a kid.”
In the end the Rotary Foundation received $10,000, $5,000 less then they requested and the Animal Rescue League received $10,000 of their $50,000 request.
But all of the money didn’t just go to furry little four legged friends. The Elk Grove Community Food Bank Services received $60,000.
“This is an organization that’s operating lean and mean,” Davis said. “Any assistance we give is going to Elk Grove families. We don’t have a big homeless population but we have a lot of people that are barely making it.”
Other groups like Project R.I.D.E. also received their full request.
“We’re ecstatic it’s definitely a step that we needed to take to not have to continually ask the city for money every year,” said Tina Calanchini, director of operations for Project R.I.D.E.
The group requested $11,900 to develop marketing packets to promote the organization to help get bigger donors.
“We want to garner support in other places of the city,” Calanchini said. “This will help us help ourselves.”
The council also gave $25,000 to the Elk Grove Adult Community Training.
“We’re looking at folks who are disabled, they need everything they can get,” Davis said. “This will give them a good shot in the arm so to speak.”
Even the arts didn’t get left out of the donations.
Elk Grove Artists and the Elk Grove Concert Band received a total of almost $7,000.
“They are young kids out there,” said Elk Grove City Council Member Sophia Scherman, about the concert band. “They really do entertain a lot of folks out in the community.”
There were also a slew of events requesting funding.
Although the Elk Grove Veteran’s Day Parade received $3,000, the Elk Grove Western Festival received $2,000 and the Strauss Festival of Elk Grove received $15,000 Davis continued to mention that events might be better funded by other areas of the budget.
“I think we’ve got funds from other sources to fund events,” Davis said.
The Fine Arts Festival of Elk Grove was also funded at $5,000, which was less then the group’s request of $14,350.
“Were just really grateful that they thought to help us out,” said Nan Mahon, member of the fine arts festival committee. “We’re a new (so) it shows that they have some faith in us.”
Although they did not receive the full amount requested, Mahon said the it would still be useful.
“The money means that we can continue to make this a free event so that all of the community can come and enjoy the arts,” Mahon said. “That’s our goal is art for everybody.”
But not all organizations walked away happy.
The Elk Grove Youth Achievement Foundation requested $30,000 and received nothing.
“I’ve never been aware of them funding any sports for girls,” said Elk Grove Mayor Jim Cooper. “I’ve got a problem with that.”
Other groups like the Elk Grove Historical Society were also left out in the cold.
The historical society requested $42,326 for handicap improvements to Rhoads School and research library equipment.
“You’re disappointed when you don’t get a grant but its understandable, the city doesn’t have a lot of money to give to everybody,” said Anita Peters, president of the Elk Grove Historical Society. “It’s kind of the luck of the draw.”
But the historical society will still need to find the money to at least do the handicap improvements.
“Of course (Rhoads School is) an old building but we do school programs there and we have in recent years had a couple of children who were in wheelchairs and it was very difficult thing for them,” said Frances Fite, director of the Rhoads School. “Also we are not in compliance with the (American’s With Disabilities Act) requirements.”
Even though many groups did receive funding this year the council sent out a warning to all that planned to apply again next year.
“They may not get any funding to free up the money for someone else,” Leary said.
This year the council had $1,000 leftover after giving out community grants.
Back from Quantico: Kelly graduates from FBI academy
By Cameron Macdonald
Citizen Staff Writer
A city police administrator recently returned from Virginia with a broader knowledge of policing and new connections with law enforcement authorities from around the world.
Ed Kelly, assistant chief of the Elk Grove Police Department, graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA a few weeks ago.
Kelly and a few hundred law enforcement officers from across the country and world spent 10 weeks studying police subjects including management and forensics.
“It was a long 10 weeks but the benefits I’ve gained are well worth the time I’ve spent,” he said.
Kelly does not have his academy diploma hanging on his office wall yet, but he keeps a yellow brick on his desk – an award from running the “Yellow Brick Road,” a six-mile, U.S. Marine endurance course in the humid Virginia sun.
“The most challenging thing is taking yourself out of your norm and opening yourself to all the new things,” he said. “I think I got quite a bit out of that.”
The assistant police chief helped lead the creation of the city of Elk Grove’s police force last year.
Kelly said that he applied to the FBI academy two years ago and gained his nomination to the school from the FBI’s Sacramento branch.
Less than one percent of American police officers that apply to the academy are accepted, according to the FBI.
Kelly compared his academy experience to that of going to a college for semester. He said that the school is meant to strengthen cooperation between the FBI and local law enforcement agencies and now matters more given the large national interest in Homeland Security.
“I think that this is a good way to make sure that we’re all looking at things the same way and knowing each other’s resources,” he said.
Kelly took courses in legal issues, labor law, organizational behavior, leadership ethics and forensics. He also wrote papers and conducted class presentations on subjects like an unsolved homicide case where prostitutes were killed in New York.
He spoke highly of the advances in forensic investigations such as DNA inspections where they can be easily done on minor crimes like burglary and auto theft
“We’re probably going to look at some changes that make sure we’re up to speed,” he said about his police department.
Kelly also mentioned that he learned more about how a FBI evidence team can assist in local police cases.
Kelly had classmates from Japan and Switzerland as well as other developing countries.
Kelly also spoke of a classmate from Israel where bombings and terrorist attacks are commonplace.
“We don’t realize how things are working so well in this country,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of the problems that they have.”
Kelly said that his best academy experience was making new friends and connections.
“I now have the ability to contact (law enforcement officials) anywhere in United States or outside in the world,” he said. “And, have the ability to find out information or get things done.”
Monday, June 18, 2007
Blogging can be time consuming
I have been working on this site for a few weeks now, and it is coming along slowly but better than I had envisioned.
We at the Citizen decided to get into blogging because it is another way to communicate with our readers - allowing us to update the public on breaking news or big events that occur in between our two print editions (Wednesday and Friday.)
It also allows us to put more of our print content online so more Internet-savvy readers can locate it and find stories.
Our current Web site -www.egcitizen.com - is very archaic and close to being shut down. We have a new Web site that is being prepared for unveiling soon. I expect this to occur within the next four-six weeks. When that new Web site is up and running, we will continue to maintain this blog.
Two of the biggest difficulties I've encountered so far with blogging - aside from my base knowledge of computers - are time and access to the Internet.
I regularly work 50 hours a week - that was before the blog. Now, with the instantaneous nature of Internet news, I am trying to keep up on the blog by putting pertinent news stories on the site as much as possible. (Read seven days a week.)
It's not always easy. My main focus and duties are as editor of the print edition of the Citizen. I must focus on each and every task each day to make sure the newspaper runs smoothly. I also answer phones when needed, work with our staff writers, write stories on my own, and deal with each and every complaint or concern with the Citizen.
Now, after adding on blogging to the list of duties, I have found myself working more hours merely trying to keep the blog timely and relevant. What that means is it is eating away at more of my free time outside of work.
The blog is difficult to do with the time limitations, but when you add in my second problem - no Internet access - it makes it even harder to maintain the site on a regular basis.
I may be one of the last people in the U.S. that does NOT have Internet access at home. Not only did I never own a computer until February, 2007, I have never had Internet access in my home.
One issue is cost. I simply cannot afford to have Internet access in my home. Even if I could afford it, I doubt I would get it because there are other things I need to spend money on - like bills and trying to save for the day I retire when I am 90.
A second problem is that my girlfriend does not even want Internet access in our home. I tend to agree. The Internet is nice, but it has a habit of turning people into mouse-potatoes: people who sit online all day and surf the net for "entertainment."
The third issue with the Internet is where can I access it? For me, it means driving to Davis from Woodland to access a free Internet cafe. However, free is a bit misleading. I have to pay for gas - 25 miles round-trip - and the coffee shop with Internet access demands users buy something - a basic coffee is $2. Because I have to drive to Davis, it takes at minimum two hours to do even the most basic blog update. That's two hours out of my weekend and time away from my hobbies and friends and most importantly, my significant other.
I often wonder why our society is obsessed with having news available on an instantaneous basis. It seems as if more and more people in our society cannot detach themselves from the world around them for even a few hours.
We arm ourselves with cell phones, BlackBerry devices, and all sorts of other technological gadgets for what? To be able to be reached anywhere at anytime? Is it worth it? Only you can answer that question for yourself.
I just had my cell phone turned off. I really didn't like it. It was $30 a month out of my pocket and nothing but a hassle. I highly doubt that Internet access will find a home in our house - too much money and too much time inside away from life outside with friends and family.
The world of journalism is changing, with all these tech gadgets and gizmos speeding up what we do and making news a more than 24-hour-a-day business. Whether that is better than the old days or worse, only time will tell.
In the meantime, we will do our best to keep you updated on news and happenings in the best manner we can.
We at the Citizen decided to get into blogging because it is another way to communicate with our readers - allowing us to update the public on breaking news or big events that occur in between our two print editions (Wednesday and Friday.)
It also allows us to put more of our print content online so more Internet-savvy readers can locate it and find stories.
Our current Web site -www.egcitizen.com - is very archaic and close to being shut down. We have a new Web site that is being prepared for unveiling soon. I expect this to occur within the next four-six weeks. When that new Web site is up and running, we will continue to maintain this blog.
Two of the biggest difficulties I've encountered so far with blogging - aside from my base knowledge of computers - are time and access to the Internet.
I regularly work 50 hours a week - that was before the blog. Now, with the instantaneous nature of Internet news, I am trying to keep up on the blog by putting pertinent news stories on the site as much as possible. (Read seven days a week.)
It's not always easy. My main focus and duties are as editor of the print edition of the Citizen. I must focus on each and every task each day to make sure the newspaper runs smoothly. I also answer phones when needed, work with our staff writers, write stories on my own, and deal with each and every complaint or concern with the Citizen.
Now, after adding on blogging to the list of duties, I have found myself working more hours merely trying to keep the blog timely and relevant. What that means is it is eating away at more of my free time outside of work.
The blog is difficult to do with the time limitations, but when you add in my second problem - no Internet access - it makes it even harder to maintain the site on a regular basis.
I may be one of the last people in the U.S. that does NOT have Internet access at home. Not only did I never own a computer until February, 2007, I have never had Internet access in my home.
One issue is cost. I simply cannot afford to have Internet access in my home. Even if I could afford it, I doubt I would get it because there are other things I need to spend money on - like bills and trying to save for the day I retire when I am 90.
A second problem is that my girlfriend does not even want Internet access in our home. I tend to agree. The Internet is nice, but it has a habit of turning people into mouse-potatoes: people who sit online all day and surf the net for "entertainment."
The third issue with the Internet is where can I access it? For me, it means driving to Davis from Woodland to access a free Internet cafe. However, free is a bit misleading. I have to pay for gas - 25 miles round-trip - and the coffee shop with Internet access demands users buy something - a basic coffee is $2. Because I have to drive to Davis, it takes at minimum two hours to do even the most basic blog update. That's two hours out of my weekend and time away from my hobbies and friends and most importantly, my significant other.
I often wonder why our society is obsessed with having news available on an instantaneous basis. It seems as if more and more people in our society cannot detach themselves from the world around them for even a few hours.
We arm ourselves with cell phones, BlackBerry devices, and all sorts of other technological gadgets for what? To be able to be reached anywhere at anytime? Is it worth it? Only you can answer that question for yourself.
I just had my cell phone turned off. I really didn't like it. It was $30 a month out of my pocket and nothing but a hassle. I highly doubt that Internet access will find a home in our house - too much money and too much time inside away from life outside with friends and family.
The world of journalism is changing, with all these tech gadgets and gizmos speeding up what we do and making news a more than 24-hour-a-day business. Whether that is better than the old days or worse, only time will tell.
In the meantime, we will do our best to keep you updated on news and happenings in the best manner we can.
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