In the Friday, July 6 edition of the Elk Grove Citizen, readers will find the article "Where the Streets have names" printed a second time.
Now, this is a bit different situation than our accidental re-printing of the same Elk Grove Planning Commission story a few months back. This time, as you can see in the corrections to the left, our reporter - Blake Ellington - had one of those days a reporter sometimes has.
Ellington accidentally misspelled the last name of the main person throughout the article, and then he mistakenly said an incident occurred in Alaska, not China as it should have been.
So, in a sense of community newspapering - which I believe is something only newspapers our size can do - we reprinted the article with appropriate corrections so the family would be able to cut out this article to save for future generations.
As editor, I wanted to offer readers an explanation for the re-printing and also an apology for sloppy reporting. We will do better. On the good side of the issue, the family did really enjoy Blake's article and were thankful their story was told.
Our goal as a community newspaper is to serve the public and our readers, we hope we're doing that.
Thanks,
Jeff Forward
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Petaluma newspaper offers citizen's blog
The folks at the Petaluma Argus-Courier have started a blog for their readers to post on, and the move is drawing good reviews from Editor & Publisher.
Petaluma is an interesting town and there are more than enough issues and people to have a good, solid community-driven blog. The Argus-Courier blog features the voices of everyday citizens and has a snazzy design and some interesting posts.
I encourage you to check out this regional example of Citizen Journalism. I have a lot of thoughts on Citizen Journalism and hope to incorporate it more on this blog and in the hard-copy editions of the Elk Grove Citizen. If you have any comments, stories, or information you would like to share as a reader and Citizen Journalist, send them to Jeff Forward at the Citizen.
Petaluma is an interesting town and there are more than enough issues and people to have a good, solid community-driven blog. The Argus-Courier blog features the voices of everyday citizens and has a snazzy design and some interesting posts.
I encourage you to check out this regional example of Citizen Journalism. I have a lot of thoughts on Citizen Journalism and hope to incorporate it more on this blog and in the hard-copy editions of the Elk Grove Citizen. If you have any comments, stories, or information you would like to share as a reader and Citizen Journalist, send them to Jeff Forward at the Citizen.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Figuring out HTML
I managed to figure out how to hyperlink phrases on the blog today. I scanned the pre-existing HTML code (I think that's the term for it?) and experimented with it a bit for about 15 minutes before finally getting it right. It's a minor accomplishment most programmers would laugh at, but for me it is a small but significant step forward in the development of this blog and my Web skills. Have a great Fourth!
Jeff Forward, Editor, the Citizen
Jeff Forward, Editor, the Citizen
Happy Fourth of July
The staff of the Elk Grove Citizen would like to wish a Happy Fourth of July to all our readers and citizens of Elk Grove. We hope you have a safe and fun holiday celebrating our nation's birthday.
In next Wednesday's edition of the Citizen, Police & Fire Reporter Cameron Macdonald will bring readers the story of local fireworks investigators who will be on patrol tonight across Elk Grove. Macdonald will be following officials as they look for illegal fireworks and any other illegal celebrations. Look for his story in the July 11 edition of the Citizen.
In next Wednesday's edition of the Citizen, Police & Fire Reporter Cameron Macdonald will bring readers the story of local fireworks investigators who will be on patrol tonight across Elk Grove. Macdonald will be following officials as they look for illegal fireworks and any other illegal celebrations. Look for his story in the July 11 edition of the Citizen.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Tens of thousands expected at Fourth of July celebration
By Cameron Macdonald
Citizen Staff Writer
The Elk Grove Regional Park will have explosions in the sky and an explosion of people on the grass this Fourth of July.
The Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 11th annual Salute to the Red, White and Blue celebration.
“It’s a wonderful event for the family to come out and have a day in the park,” said Paula Schroeder, the chamber’s vice president. “To top it off we have a great fireworks display.”
The half-hour fireworks show by Pyro Spectacular will commence over the heads of onlookers at the park around 9:45 p.m.
As tradition holds, there will be a musical soundtrack and narration about the holiday’s significance that will play during the fireworks display. The fireworks are often lit in the rhythm to the music and previous shows had patriotic symbols like the Liberty Bell and the Declaration of Independence ignited in streaming colors.
Keep an eye out for a large sign that reads, “Elk Grove” that is written in dozens of sparklers.
The 2005 celebration had a moment were nearly 15 veterans, including a navy commander, were walked onto the music stage to a standing ovation
Schroeder said that the celebration in the park begins at 3 p.m., where there will be food and various merchants selling goods. The food court will include standard fair food like pizza, hot dogs, and popcorn.
Early birds who want to secure comfortable spots for their cars and picnic blankets should note that gates to the park open at 6 a.m.
Schroeder said that the event itself is free, but there is a $10 parking fee for drivers on the park grounds. She mentioned that the parking lot has been expanded.
A large crowd is expected, given that 20,000 to 30,000 people came to the park last year, Schroeder said.
“We don’t expect it to decrease,” she said about the crowd.
Music will begin at 5 p.m. where the bands include last year’s hit, Bucho and other acts that will play classic rock covers and salsa.
Schroeder mentioned that there will be a live radio broadcast at the park from 3 to 5 p.m. by oldies station K-Hits 92.1 FM.
There will also be Hawaiian dancers, she said.
The event’s major sponsors include the Cosumnes Community Services District, Wal-Mart, the Methodist Hospital, and the Elk Grove Auto Mall.
“It’s a celebration for the freedoms that we have, that were hard-earned and we continue to work for those freedoms,” Chamber Executive Director Janet Toppenberg previously told the Citizen. “This (event) should be a good reminder of how important they are to stop and think about.”
The Elk Grove Regional Park is located at 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road and is next door to Elk Grove High School.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in the Citizen's Red, White, and Blue special section on June 27.
Greek gods find a home in trailer park in comedic work
By Shannon Savage
Citizen Staff Writer
What do Greek gods, Jerry Springer and trailer parks have in common? For one Sacramento author, everything.
Natalia Mercado, 29, has redesigned the classic Greek god tale into a modern day comedy called “Zeus & Hera, The Later Years.”
The screenplay throws Greek gods Zeus and Hera into the 21st century where they live in a trailer park in Bakersfield. The pair continually fight over Zeus’ infidelity and the trials they face with a comedic twist.
“It was just a funny idea,” said Mercado, who grew up in Bakersfield. “All the gods are in it. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, works at the local strip club. Zeus is a welder; you know the whole lightning bolt thing. Hera works at Wal-Mart.”
Mercado, an English and journalism teacher at Luther Burbank High School, thought of the idea years ago while watching a talk show.
“There was this country man with one tooth and these two women were fighting over him,” Mercado said. “And I thought why would women ever do that? Then it came to me, it’s history, it’s epic. Zeus was constantly cheating on Hera but she never did anything to him, she would (hurt) the women he was with.”
After taking a summer short film writing class in Fresno, she had the idea down on paper.
“I’ve always loved to write but I had been focusing on my first few years of teaching,” Mercado said. “Without that summer class I don’t think I could have gotten it out that fast.”
Growing up in Bakersfield helped a lot with writing the screenplay, Mercado said. But so did tapping into her unknown love of country music. Strong female singers like Gretchen Wilson helped her get into the Hera character.
“I just started listening to it and I got really inspired,” Mercado said.
With a degree in English literature and an extensive background in Greek mythology, the story seemed to flow out of Mercado.
“It just all came together in this screenplay,” Mercado said. “A lot of different influences helped me create the idea.”
Although the screenplay was meant to be a short 30-minute film, Mercado said she is planning to readapt it to become a stage play.
“You get to talk a lot more in a stage play,” Mercado said. “But in a movie a lot of the story is told in the action and the pictures. You can just switch from scene to scene. In a play it is harder to change sets and do flashbacks.”
Eventually when she can find the financial backing Mercado said she would still like to make the screenplay into a short film.
But before the screenplay is revamped, Mercado will be holding a reading July 6.
“This is kind of the first step, getting it out into the public and getting some buzz going,” Mercado said.
The staged reading will be performed in an informal setting by actors.
“They’re going to be in character and put on a show but there won’t be any props or settings,” Mercado said. “But other then that they are going to be doing a full blow performance.”
The reading will be at La Raza Galeria Posada, a gallery committed to Latino and Native American art although Mercado’s screenplay is not about Latinos.
“I’m breaking the stereotype that we have to write about ourselves,” Mercado said. “I get to write about anything I want.”
In the past Mercado did a reading in Fresno during her film class.
“I was so nervous,” Mercado said. “I wound up adding something to the script where Hera called Zeus sparky as a pet name. I kept thinking why did I add that, it ruins it. I was over here having a Woody Allen moment. But people laughed the most at that line.”
Although she has already had one successful reading, she is looking toward having another.
“I think it’s just going to be a lot of fun,” Mercado said. “If (people) are interested at all in theatre, film, mythology or even country music they’re going to enjoy the reading. But I wrote it so you can enjoy it no matter what. It’s not high brow or low brow.”
Notes on Newspaper Blogging
Since I began working on this blog for the Elk Grove Citizen newspaper, it's been quite a learning experience. I still have a long way to go, trust me. The endless possibilities - and frailties - of Internet journalism have hit home with the creation and maintenance of this blog.
As the explosion of Internet news sites and steady growth and development of citizen journalism mature and interweave, we in the old-fashioned paper newspaper world must learn to adapt and modernize. If we don't? It's likely a slow, steady relegation in importance and readership for traditional newspapers and news outlets.
Newspaper publishers and editors - reporters, too - must work hard to learn the new skills needed for the Internet while maintaining the same ethics and professionalism that is a hallmark of good, daily journalism. News magazines and television news are both investing in Internet branches and the move online has altered the global journalism landscape.
Here in Elk Grove, more and more readers and residents are looking online for their news and information. Blogs such as Eyes of Argus and Elk Grove News provide readers with local news mixed in with a healthy dose of opinion and examination of what's going on in their communities. Thousands of locals get their information on Elk Grove Online, a popular forum. The Sacramento Bee also provides localized coverage on their Web site.
We at the Elk Grove Citizen currently have a Web site - egcitizen.com in addition to our two weekly hard-copy issues. The site is outdated by modern Internet standards, but a modern, thorough replacement site is currently being worked on by our computer and tech staff. The new site will link in with this blog, as well as the blog of Blake Ellington, who will cover the Kings from the standpoint of a lifelong fan. We hope it will be online within four to six weeks.
Our goal is to provide our readers with as much news coverage about Elk Grove as our staff can report on - in print or online. We will continue to add to this site and our new Web site with podcasts and we hope at a later date, video podcasts.
While the Internet seems to be the way of the future - one of the realities of maintaining a site is that it requires a lot more time and vigilance added on to your normal newspaper duties.
In essence, you join the 24-hour news world, reacting and posting as much as possible on the blog - seven days a week if necessary. At large newspapers, there are often many shifts and a large number of editorial staff so the maintenance of a blog can be nearly constant.
These large newspapers hire Web designers and information specialists to add alternate views of the news in addition to the hard-copy edition that's tossed on your doorstep in the morning.
At smaller, community newspapers such as the Citizen, we are somewhat limited by the having a newsroom of nine people. Maintaining the site means being constantly connected and able to access news.
If you go camping on the weekend, there's no Internet in the back woods and the site won't get updated.
With no Internet connection in my home, I utilize Mishka's Cafe in Davis, which has free wireless access. Thats means a few hours out of a Saturday or Sunday depending on what's happening. I am strongly considering a home connection in order to stay more connected when not in the office.
Another stumbling block has been Web site development skills, as I am learning on the job. It is easy to utilize the Blogger.com site this blog is hosted on, but when it comes to professionally developed sites, there is a lot of skill and hard work involved.
Today, I spent maybe 30 minutes trying to locate all the instances where titles needed to be italicized. It was frustrating as well as time consuming - all to italicize what needed to be. I'm sure I missed a few.
But, in the end, it does feel good to be online and providing more thorough news for our readers and anyone who stumbles upon our blog. If you have any tips, we're listening.
Jeff Forward
Editor, the Elk Grove Citizen
As the explosion of Internet news sites and steady growth and development of citizen journalism mature and interweave, we in the old-fashioned paper newspaper world must learn to adapt and modernize. If we don't? It's likely a slow, steady relegation in importance and readership for traditional newspapers and news outlets.
Newspaper publishers and editors - reporters, too - must work hard to learn the new skills needed for the Internet while maintaining the same ethics and professionalism that is a hallmark of good, daily journalism. News magazines and television news are both investing in Internet branches and the move online has altered the global journalism landscape.
Here in Elk Grove, more and more readers and residents are looking online for their news and information. Blogs such as Eyes of Argus and Elk Grove News provide readers with local news mixed in with a healthy dose of opinion and examination of what's going on in their communities. Thousands of locals get their information on Elk Grove Online, a popular forum. The Sacramento Bee also provides localized coverage on their Web site.
We at the Elk Grove Citizen currently have a Web site - egcitizen.com in addition to our two weekly hard-copy issues. The site is outdated by modern Internet standards, but a modern, thorough replacement site is currently being worked on by our computer and tech staff. The new site will link in with this blog, as well as the blog of Blake Ellington, who will cover the Kings from the standpoint of a lifelong fan. We hope it will be online within four to six weeks.
Our goal is to provide our readers with as much news coverage about Elk Grove as our staff can report on - in print or online. We will continue to add to this site and our new Web site with podcasts and we hope at a later date, video podcasts.
While the Internet seems to be the way of the future - one of the realities of maintaining a site is that it requires a lot more time and vigilance added on to your normal newspaper duties.
In essence, you join the 24-hour news world, reacting and posting as much as possible on the blog - seven days a week if necessary. At large newspapers, there are often many shifts and a large number of editorial staff so the maintenance of a blog can be nearly constant.
These large newspapers hire Web designers and information specialists to add alternate views of the news in addition to the hard-copy edition that's tossed on your doorstep in the morning.
At smaller, community newspapers such as the Citizen, we are somewhat limited by the having a newsroom of nine people. Maintaining the site means being constantly connected and able to access news.
If you go camping on the weekend, there's no Internet in the back woods and the site won't get updated.
With no Internet connection in my home, I utilize Mishka's Cafe in Davis, which has free wireless access. Thats means a few hours out of a Saturday or Sunday depending on what's happening. I am strongly considering a home connection in order to stay more connected when not in the office.
Another stumbling block has been Web site development skills, as I am learning on the job. It is easy to utilize the Blogger.com site this blog is hosted on, but when it comes to professionally developed sites, there is a lot of skill and hard work involved.
Today, I spent maybe 30 minutes trying to locate all the instances where titles needed to be italicized. It was frustrating as well as time consuming - all to italicize what needed to be. I'm sure I missed a few.
But, in the end, it does feel good to be online and providing more thorough news for our readers and anyone who stumbles upon our blog. If you have any tips, we're listening.
Jeff Forward
Editor, the Elk Grove Citizen
Teen killed in car crash
A memorial in memory of Dyeshaia Richardson who died in a car crash over the weekend. Photos by Rebecca Maston, Elk Grove Citizen.
Story By Cameron Macdonald: Citizen Staff Writer
A 15-year-old girl died after her vehicle crashed into a tree in East Franklin on June 30. Sacramento County coroners identified the victim as Dyeshaia Richardson of Sacramento.
Richardson, a rear passenger, was among five teenage girls in the vehicle during the crash on the 9900 block of Bruceville Road near Terrazzo Drive, Elk Grove police spokesperson Christopher Trim said.
The rest of the occupants suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries and were hospitalized, he reported.
A full report on the accident from Macdonald with more photographs from Maston will be published in the July 6 edition of the Elk Grove Citizen.
Meet the Staff: Blake Ellington
Blake Ellington is the newest member of the staff here at the Elk Grove Citizen. Ellington is a graduate of Lodi High School and CSU-Sacramento. He currently covers all aspects of the Elk Grove political beat - including the Elk Grove City Council, the Elk Grove Planning Commission and anything related to those two entities.
Blake is also an avid Kings fan and will be covering the Kings on his blog, www.egcitizenking.blogspot.com.
Feel free to contact Blake via telephone or e-mail. (916) 685-3945; e-mail is elkgroveinfo@gmail.com
Letter to the Editor of the Week
Dear Editor:
As I visit my daughter who lives in the older section of Elk Grove I am bewildered by some the things I see in your city.
First, Elk Grove has a lot of history and Old Town should be preserved. The city fathers saw fit to take Elk Grove Boulevard, which is a very busy road and narrow it to one lane in each direction. It appears that this makes Old Town more congested. Parking is somewhat awkward. As Elk Grove Boulevard going out toward Bradshaw Road is in terrible condition, it seems the money to narrow a main street could have been used more wisely to improve conditions of the road all the way through town.
Second, Elk Grove city fathers apparently approved the plans to construct a building on the southeast corner of Elk Grove-Florin Road and Elk Grove Boulevard. I have been told it was to be a library but the second floor is not sturdy enough to hold the weight of the books. Is this correct? If this is correct, shame on your planning commission that approved the plans.
My last comment, is why was it allowed to be placed so close to the intersection and not set back a distance?
As a frequent visitor in your growing city, I have been curious for some time and thought I would write and ask.
Mel Mehlhaff
Winston, Ore.
This is one of several letters to the editor that will be published in the Wednesday, July 4 edition of the Citizen.
As I visit my daughter who lives in the older section of Elk Grove I am bewildered by some the things I see in your city.
First, Elk Grove has a lot of history and Old Town should be preserved. The city fathers saw fit to take Elk Grove Boulevard, which is a very busy road and narrow it to one lane in each direction. It appears that this makes Old Town more congested. Parking is somewhat awkward. As Elk Grove Boulevard going out toward Bradshaw Road is in terrible condition, it seems the money to narrow a main street could have been used more wisely to improve conditions of the road all the way through town.
Second, Elk Grove city fathers apparently approved the plans to construct a building on the southeast corner of Elk Grove-Florin Road and Elk Grove Boulevard. I have been told it was to be a library but the second floor is not sturdy enough to hold the weight of the books. Is this correct? If this is correct, shame on your planning commission that approved the plans.
My last comment, is why was it allowed to be placed so close to the intersection and not set back a distance?
As a frequent visitor in your growing city, I have been curious for some time and thought I would write and ask.
Mel Mehlhaff
Winston, Ore.
This is one of several letters to the editor that will be published in the Wednesday, July 4 edition of the Citizen.
Saluting the Red, White, and Blue
By Keith Gebers
Citizen Staff Writer
Officially it’s called Independence Day. But most people refer to it as July Fourth or the Fourth of July. It is the biggest national holiday of the year, although there are several times during the year when a patriotic theme highlights a special occasion, such as Veterans Day and even Memorial Day.
The day marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. However the United States didn’t officially became independent until Sept. 3, 1783 when King George III and leaders of the United States signed The Treaty of Paris.
The first official anniversary celebration occurred July 4, 1777 in Philadelphia with speeches by members of the Continental Congress along with military parades, toasts and a 13-gun salute. On July 4, 1778 George Washington celebrated Independence Day by giving his troops a double ration of rum.
North Carolina, in 1781, was the first state to officially recognize Independence Day. However, it wasn’t until 99-years later that the United States Congress made July 4 a national holiday. And strangely enough, federal employees didn’t get that day off in 1880 with pay.
An overall feeling of celebration marks the Fourth of July. Many cities have large parades and in Elk Grove we have the Red, White and Blue Celebration, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. It is a tradition held yearly in Elk Grove Regional Park and features a gigantic fireworks display, preceded by day long activities, such as popular live music, family picnics and displays put on by community organizations and vendors.
Songs play a big part in Independence Day tradition. “The Star Spangled Banner is the national anthem, which commemorates a critical battle with the British during the War of 1812. With a melody based on a British drinking song and words written by Francis Scott Key, “The Star Spangled Banner” wasn’t adopted by Congress as the National Anthem until 1931. Even then, it was controversial with many leaders saying “My Country, Tis of Thee” was more traditional.
Some years later a short-lived effort got underway when some popular musicians suggested making “America the Beautiful” the national anthem. Others say “God Bless America,” written by Irving Berlin and made popular in 1938 by singer Kate Smith, was - and is - the best choice. However it ran into problems when some secular critics said mention of the deity favored union between church and state. Still, “God Bless America” is often regarded as the unofficial national anthem.
Other songs receive a lot of play on July 4 including “This Land Is Your Land, “Stars and Stripes Forever,” along with “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” which was written by George M. Cohen, who was born on July 4, 1878.
This year July 4 takes on special meaning because thousands of Americans are in harm’s way in the mid east. Many of the celebrations will commemorate the efforts and sacrifices of these young people who are serving their nation in times of need.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Child dies after being hit by SUV
The driver of an SUV hit and fatally injured a 4-year-old girl on June 23 after she got out of a parked car. Police said the driver stopped after the accident and was completely cooperative with officers.
Elk Grove police say that the victim, identified as Viang Many Savengsueksa, was on her way to a family wedding that day.
Sgt. James Fuller, spokesperson for the Elk Grove police, said that the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. when the victim’s family parked their vehicle near the corner of Spring Flower Drive and Sand Hollow Way in the East Franklin area.
Savengsueksa’s family parked on a north curb line of Spring Flower Drive, Fuller reported. The victim stepped into the street’s eastbound traffic lane and the driver of the SUV, heading east, could not avoid hitting the girl, Fuller added.
The driver then stopped to check on the victim.
Cosumnes Community Service District paramedics transported Savengsueksa to the UC Davis Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead.
Fuller said that driver did not show signs of intoxication, but she still allowed police to test her blood alcohol level. He noted that speed might not have been a factor in the collision but he said that it causes many collisions in the city.
This brief was compiled by Citizen Staff Writer Cameron Macdonald.
Elk Grove police say that the victim, identified as Viang Many Savengsueksa, was on her way to a family wedding that day.
Sgt. James Fuller, spokesperson for the Elk Grove police, said that the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. when the victim’s family parked their vehicle near the corner of Spring Flower Drive and Sand Hollow Way in the East Franklin area.
Savengsueksa’s family parked on a north curb line of Spring Flower Drive, Fuller reported. The victim stepped into the street’s eastbound traffic lane and the driver of the SUV, heading east, could not avoid hitting the girl, Fuller added.
The driver then stopped to check on the victim.
Cosumnes Community Service District paramedics transported Savengsueksa to the UC Davis Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead.
Fuller said that driver did not show signs of intoxication, but she still allowed police to test her blood alcohol level. He noted that speed might not have been a factor in the collision but he said that it causes many collisions in the city.
This brief was compiled by Citizen Staff Writer Cameron Macdonald.
Paris Hilton will not be interviewed by the Citizen staff
The Elk Grove Citizen has announced that it will not be interviewing Paris Hilton after she is released from jail this week. We apologize to our readers.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
2 shot, 1 beaten at birthday party altercation
The Elk Grove police reported that two men suffered gunshot wounds and another was beaten after a birthday party turned violent early Sunday morning. All three were transported to area hospitals for treatment.
Elk Grove police Sgt. James Fuller said at about 1:39 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a call of multiple gunshots in the 9900 block of West Taron Drive. Dispatchers then received a call of a man suffering from two gunshot wounds at the AM/PM gas station at 9590 Harbour Point Drive.
At about the same time, Fuller reported, other Elk Grove officers stopped a suspected vehicle seen speeding away from the area of West Taron Drive. Inside that vehicle was another person who had been shot. He was taken to Kaiser South for treatment. A third person - who was beaten at the party - was also transported separately to Kaiser South in Sacramento.
Fuller said preliminary investigations have revealed what appears to be a gang-related dispute at the party. Fuller added that several people tried to enter the party and were denied entrance. The situation developed into a verbal argument before the shooting erupted. The incident is still under investigation.
A more detailed story on this incident will be in the Wednesday edition of the Citizen.
Elk Grove police Sgt. James Fuller said at about 1:39 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a call of multiple gunshots in the 9900 block of West Taron Drive. Dispatchers then received a call of a man suffering from two gunshot wounds at the AM/PM gas station at 9590 Harbour Point Drive.
At about the same time, Fuller reported, other Elk Grove officers stopped a suspected vehicle seen speeding away from the area of West Taron Drive. Inside that vehicle was another person who had been shot. He was taken to Kaiser South for treatment. A third person - who was beaten at the party - was also transported separately to Kaiser South in Sacramento.
Fuller said preliminary investigations have revealed what appears to be a gang-related dispute at the party. Fuller added that several people tried to enter the party and were denied entrance. The situation developed into a verbal argument before the shooting erupted. The incident is still under investigation.
A more detailed story on this incident will be in the Wednesday edition of the Citizen.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Changing of Beats at the Citizen
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.
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.
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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