SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – The California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Valley Division Canine Unit helped remove dangerous drugs off the street during a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of the suspect.
On May 6th, 2022, at approximately 9:00 P.M., A CHP Valley Division Canine Officer was on patrol when he observed a Honda Accord speeding above the posted speed limit.
The officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on the vehicle and observed criminal indicators which lead them to deploy their departmental K9.
The K9 alerted on the vehicle. Upon searching the vehicle, the officer located four large cardboard boxes containing what was later determined to be 200 pounds of Methamphetamine.
The suspect, Ricardo SotoFarias, 36, out of Sacramento, CA, was arrested and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail for Health and Safety Code 11378 (possession of a controlled substance for sales) and 11379 (b) (transportation for sales).
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Directors of Volunteers in Agencies (DOVIA) 2022 Awards Recognizing Volunteer Managers and Volunteers
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – Directors of Volunteers in Agencies (DOVIA) celebrated volunteerism on Wednesday, May 18th with a reception honoring the nominees and winners of the Youth Volunteer of the Year, the Individual Volunteer of the Year and Volunteer Manager of the Year awards.
The reception was held in the Grand Hall at the Clunie Community Center, 601 Alhambra Boulevard, Sacramento. Four youth volunteers were nominated for Youth Volunteer of the Year, ten individual volunteers were nominated for Individual Volunteer of the Year and five volunteer coordinators were nominated for Volunteer Manager of the Year.
The winners are:
Youth Volunteer of the Year
Keilani Quayle is an inspiration to her friends, family and fellow scouts. Her leadership with Scouts BSA and Troop 380 has provided the opportunity for scouts to work on a special project benefiting the Royal Stage Studios while leading a troop of over 80 boys and girls. Keilani planned, designed, and built mobile backgrounds for the Royal Stage Studios. Due to her leadership the troop was able to thrive during the COVID pandemic and even grow in membership.
Individual Volunteer of the Year
Christiana Dominguez is always in problem solving mode. She looks for innovative and create solutions. During COVID she was able to continue the YMCA of Superior California’s Youth & Government program by creating a brand-new online curriculum that was then shared with other YMCA's throughout Northern California. Then she led trainings and advisor meetings to help other staff and volunteers be able to conduct the program with her new curriculum.
Volunteer Manager of the Year
Holly Brown is the original energizer bunny. She only sees opportunities not obstacles. Before and during COVID she has had to do more with less at The Regional Center for Volunteerism-HandsOn Sacramento, figure out how to solicit volunteers to serve their community while staying safe, and share her love of service to others at a time when it was scary yet vital. Holly spent many hours during the pandemic at the Office of Emergency Services learning of special needs and finding ways to meet them all from largest to the smallest. From hunting down clients with distilled water for community members needing distilled water for their CPAP machines to finding someone to make 1000's of cloth masks for front line workers and taking the time to drive the masks to each individual food bank and medical clinic. There is no problem that she has not solved, no first responder organization she has not embraced, no person she has not learned to love and serve. Holly lightens the load for everyone she serves and brightens their day with her smile and infectious laughter. If Holly is involved the job with be done with energy, love and dignity.
DOVIA (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies) of Sacramento provides a forum for exchange of information on relevant issues facing professional volunteer managers. Through collaborative efforts, DOVIA is committed to promoting service and emphasizing professional growth and development of the volunteer administration profession. DOVIA Sacramento hosts monthly luncheons featuring relevant topics in the field and semi-annual training seminars. For more information, visit www.doviasacramento.org
For more information about the awards, contact Mary Lynn Perry, Awards Co-chair, at awards@doviasacramento.org or call (916) 337-5992.
CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Capitol Pops Concert Band is back! Following a two-year suspension of activities due to COVID, the Capitol Pops will perform a free, open to the public concert at 1 p.m. Monday, May 30, at Veterans Community Center, 6921 Sylvan Road in Citrus Heights.
Under the baton of Interim Director Susan Hamre, the CPCB will perform its first public concert since Dec. 7, 2019. The band suspended operations in March 2020 but restarted rehearsals in March this year with a goal of playing a handful of concerts to celebrate its Silver Anniversary Season.
The one-hour, outdoor Memorial Day concert will honor the service of former U.S. armed forces personnel and those on active duty around the world today.
Just six days later, on Sunday, June 5, 2022, the band will perform another free, open to the public concert at 1 p.m. in Carmichael Park, 5750 Grant Ave., in Carmichael. That one-hour performance in the park amphitheater is part of the Carmichael Park Community Band Festival, presented by the Sacramento Valley Symphonic Band Association. The June 4-5 extravaganza features 14 bands, performing hourly from noon to 7 p.m. both days.
The Veterans Community Center in Citrus Heights is a gathering place for veterans of all branches of the military. Veteran founders/owners Jim and Jeanne Rounsavell have encouraged past and present military personnel to share their experiences at the site, which was the Sylvan Schoolhouse in the early days of Citrus Heights. For more details on the veterans center, visit https://www.veteranscommunitycenterch.com.
Started in 1997, the CPCB has performed a diverse portfolio of high-quality, well-prepared music heard by thousands of concert-goers throughout Northern California. Based in Citrus Heights, the self-supporting, nonprofit community band of about 50 musicians represents a wide cross-section of the Sacramento area. For more information on the Capitol Pops, visit www.capitolpops.org or its Facebook page.
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - At approximately 9:51 a.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2022, the Sheriff’s Communications Center received a call from a resident on the 1300 block of Rowena Way in Sacramento County stating there was a male subject laying on the floor. The caller then stated the person was unresponsive and appeared deceased.
Upon arrival, deputies located one unresponsive adult male victim inside the home who sustained at least one stab wound. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by responding personnel from Sacramento Metro Fire.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Deputies located and arrested Thomas Dwayne Grant (40), within blocks of the residence. Grant, who is a resident of Sacramento County, was booked into the Main Jail on a single count of homicide for the murder of Dan Richard O’Riordan (53). Grant is being held without bail. There is no further information at this time.
Detectives are asking anyone with information relating to this incident, to please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP. Tip information may also be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - As part of its “Let’s Change This to That” public education campaign, Caltrans is sharing the top sources of stormwater pollution and ways to prevent them for contaminating California’s waterways.
As stormwater travels into storm drains, it captures pollutants from highways, streets, sidewalks and yards that flow into waterways. The top six pollutants have an outsized impact on the water quality of lakes, rivers, streams and the ocean, plus many are preventable through small actions Californians can take.
The following lists the top six pollutants and actions to stop them at the source:
Trash and litter: Properly secure items in truck beds and put trash and recycling in the correct bin; Sediments: Prevent soil erosion by using mulch in the garden, planting trees and shrubs, and sweeping driveways instead of hosing them off; Nutrients: Avoid overfertilizing lawns and plants and limit vegetation waste by keeping fallen leaves out of storm drains; Bacteria: Limit pet and RV waste by picking up after your pet and using appropriate RV dumping stations; Metals: Regularly check tire pressure, change oil and fluids, and use commercial car washes to prevent metals generated from vehicle, tire, and brake wear from ending up on highways; Pesticides: Use organic pesticides and properly dispose of unused portions.
Caltrans is tasked with managing stormwater runoff and mitigating pollution within its 350,000 acres of right of way, which includes more than 15,000 centerline miles of highways. This effort involves picking up roadside litter and clearing out storm drains to preserve roadway safety and drivability during all types of weather conditions.
Unlike water that goes down the sink or toilet in a home, stormwater is untreated and flows directly into lakes, rivers and other waterways. Stopping pollutants at the source is critical Caltrans’ efforts to keep stormwater runoff clean.
“Preventing stormwater pollution requires the help and support of every Californian, and it starts with keeping highways and roadways clean,” said Steven Keck, Acting Director of Caltrans. “Californians must work together to take necessary steps to prevent pollution at the source and keep our waterways clean.”
Summer is the peak season for recreation in and around local waterways. This year, as hot, dry weather is expected to intensify drought conditions throughout the state, Caltrans is amplifying water quality as a top priority.
During a drought, the state’s lakes, rivers, and streams have lower water levels, which leads to a higher concentration of pollutants. By preventing a buildup of metals, trash and other pollutants on highways and roadways in dry conditions, Californians can help keep pollutants from traveling into local waterways during rainstorms.
The “Let’s Change This to That” stormwater public education campaign is calling on Californians to pledge to do their part to keep stormwater clean. Visit CleanWaterCA.com to take the pledge and learn more about the sources and pathways of stormwater pollution.
“Let’s Change This to That” is a three-year public education campaign led by Caltrans to raise awareness and increase understanding of the sources and pathways of stormwater pollution throughout California. The campaign provides resources for people who live, work, and play in California’s unique communities to spur behavior change in a way that leads to improved water quality. The campaign complements Clean California, a three-year, statewide litter reduction and beautification program. For more information, visit CleanWaterCA.com.
Effie Gala Springs Back
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Eased COVID restrictions have enabled the return of a beloved annual Carmichael tradition.
After a scaled-down gala with limited guests last year, Effie Yeaw Nature Center’s spring art gala kicks off in full force on Sunday, June 5.
The facility will again partner with Sacramento Fine Arts Center to include the sale of nature-themed paintings and photographs. VIP art donations include work by Pat Mahony, David Peterson and Deladier Almeida.
Experiences and vacations are also up for bids. These include a Sea Ranch vacation, tickets to the “The Book of Mormon” musical, a chef-designed dinner for four, wine packages, a kayak safari and a training session with Effie Yeaw raptor ambassadors. Celebrity Auctioneer is Keith McLane; Good day Sacramento anchor Molly Riehl will emcee. The ticket cost of $160 per person includes beer and wine and a meal catered by Bella Bru of Carmichael.
Affectionately dubbed the “Wild Things” celebration, Effie Yeaw’s June gala is its most important fundraiser. The center is administered by the American River Natural History Association, with educational programs–and the care of a 100-acre preserve–funded solely through public generosity. A county-wide destination for nature lovers, its endurance was challenged by 2020/21 close-downs.
“We’re thrilled to be able to do our full-scale gala again,” says staffer Heather Gabel. “The evening raises much needed funds so we can resume summer and fall programs. In the past, the gala has sold out, so we urge supporters to get tickets soon.”
To purchase tickets or learn more about the event, go to www.sacnaturecenter.net
‘The greatest Del Campo team in history’
Cougars overcome adversity, win D3 section championship
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – Following one swing of the bat, the Del Campo High School varsity baseball team found itself trailing 2-0 to top-seeded Vanden in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Championship game.
For the Cougars (29-5, 13-2 Capital Athletic League), this was just another day at the office. Nearly all season long, Del Campo responded each time its opponents’ scored, including Wednesday night at Sacramento City College’s Union Stadium. The “Cardiac” Cougars scored two runs in the fourth and eighth innings, respectively, en route to the team’s first section title since 2018, winning 4-2 in eight innings.
“This is the greatest Del Campo team in history,” said coach Kevin Dawidczik. “I know there’s a lot of teams maybe that would contest that because of the great teams we’ve had. I’m not saying the greatest talented team ever in Del Campo. But we’re 29-5, we’re the Division III section champions and we’re going to the NorCal Finals.”
Del Campo came into the final series of the regular season against Christian Brothers (8-18, 6-9) on May 2 needing a sweep to clinch the Capital Athletic League (CAL) Championship, and the team did exactly that.
Led by Dawidczik, the Cougars parlayed a 3-2 walk-off win in the first game into a dominant series sweep of the Falcons, concluding on May 6. Trailing by one run with three outs remaining and a league title essentially on the line, the “Cardiac” Cougars answered as they have all season, scoring twice in the last half inning to secure the series opener. Del Campo won game two 11-1 and game three 11-4 to clinch the CAL title.
The No. 2 seeded Cougars rolled through the first two rounds of single-elimination postseason play at home, defeating No. 15 Florin (17-11, 11-4 Greater Sacramento) 11-1 on May 10 and No. 10 Ponderosa (18-13, 11-7 Foothill Valley) 11-4 two days later.
RELATED: Cougars remain hot with 8 straight wins, 17 of last 18
The semifinals of the 2022 CIF SJS D3 Baseball Playoffs are where tempers began to flare, and not between players. Del Campo faced off against No. 6 Buhach Colony (24-9, 9-3 Central California) of Atwater in a best of three series. Game one was played at Del Campo on May 16.
Both teams scored once in the fourth inning. The Thunder thought they retook the lead on a solo home run in the top of the fifth. However, the base runner failed to step on first base. Dawidczik noticed the mistake and had his defense tag first base before bringing it to the umpires’ attention. Buhach Colony was called out, subsequently angering the team’s coach Joseph Medeiros and fans that traveled over 120 miles to attend the game.
Frustrations temporarily subsided as the game continued. Each team scored one run in the sixth, keeping the game deadlocked. Del Campo won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a walk off hit by senior infielder Tyler Moore to score junior outfielder Luke Tuter. The call at the plate was close, but umpire A.J. Spina ruled Tuter safe, immediately drawing Medeiros out of his dugout to contest the call.
The decision was upheld and the Cougars were victorious in game one, 3-2. Unfortunately, tempers began to flare in the parking lot postgame between the game’s officials and Buhach Colony fans. In a video obtained by The Sacramento Bee, one of the fans is seen attempting to hit an umpire, leading to a brief physical altercation.
Following the incident, the CIF SJS initially ruled that Del Campo had to forfeit game one and the two remaining games would be played at neutral sites, rather than at Buhach Colony for game two and back in Fair Oaks for a potential third game. The CIF SJS made this ruling due to the Cougars having an “extra” batting practice session during school hours, as most of the team has physical education as their last class of the day. However, Dawidczik said he offered Medeiros and his team the same opportunity, therefore it was not an unfair advantage.
Following peaceful protests and appeals from the Del Campo community, the initial decision was overruled by the CIF. Subsequently, the Cougars' game one win was restored, and the remaining two games were set to be played at the team’s home ballparks. The Thunder stormed back in game two, winning decisively 8-0 behind a no-hitter from senior pitcher Cooper Lanz.
It all came down to game three on Friday, May 20 with a spot in the section title game on the line. Del Campo opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the third inning and then added on one more in the fourth to get out to a 3-0 lead. Buhach Colony hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, but their comeback attempt fell just short. Del Campo held on for the 3-2 win to advance to the CIF SJS D3 Baseball Championship game.
RELATED: Del Campo sweeps Rio Americano, eyes Capital Athletic League title
The Cougars took on No. 1 Vanden (29-5, 13-2 Monticello Empire) of Fairfield on Wednesday, May 25 at Sac City in the section title game. The Vikings, who were attempting to complete the rare 3-peat by winning section titles in football, basketball and baseball all the same year, took a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Senior designated hitter Jake Tranchina blasted a two-run bomb to right field to give his team the early lead.
“We didn’t make the pitch we wanted to, I’ll tell you that much,” Dawidczik said. “But we turned the page and just made sure that we didn’t give up any more runs.”
Wednesday’s game shaped up to be a pitcher’s duel between Del Campo senior Hayden Hughes and Vanden senior Erick Diez. Each team had runners in scoring position in the next two innings but failed to bring the runners home. In the fourth inning, the Cougars got on the scoreboard.
With two outs, Del Campo got consecutive hits from seniors, catcher Logan McCord and third baseman Thomas Martinez. McCord scored on the double hit by Martinez. Junior infielder Robbie Perry tied the game with a single over Vanden third baseman Tyler James’ glove into left field, to score pinch runner, junior outfielder Tyler Walton.
Things appeared to be extremely grim for Del Campo in the bottom of the seventh inning as the first two Vanden hitters reached base on an error and a fielder’s choice, respectively, leading to Hughes being pulled from the game. With their season on the line, Dawidczik called upon senior and Sacramento State commit Jordan Jacobson to pitch and attempt to keep the game knotted at two.
“Jordan has been our guy for four years. He’s played in a section title game in 2019 so he knows what it takes to get the ball in certain tough situations,” Dawidczik said. “We just wanted to make sure that if we were going to lose, we were going to lose knowing that we had our next best guy out on the mound.”
Jacobson recorded the first out on a fielder’s choice, getting the lead runner at third base. The next batter popped out. The third and final out came on an emphatic punchout, as Jacobson got James to strike out swinging, leading to the large crowd of Del Campo fans erupting with excitement as the game headed to extra innings. The Vikings were 90 feet from victory, as they left runners stranded on second and third base.
“Honestly, my mind was blank,” Jacobson said. “I had so much adrenaline going through my body. I was just so pumped up I literally had no thoughts in my head. The only thing I was thinking of is just find my spot and throw it as hard as I can. I had no doubt within myself. I had full confidence within myself and my defense.”
The “Cardiac” Cougars didn’t take long to score in the top of the eighth. After one out, McCord singled to left field and nearly advanced to second base after a Vanden error. In the next at bat, Martinez singled to right field as McCord advanced into scoring position. The Vikings attempted to throw McCord out at third, but the ball went out of play, allowing the runners to advance one base.
Senior outfielder Surreal Haro stepped up to the plate next and hit a double down the left field line to score the pinch runner Tuter and give his team an insurance run with a 4-2 lead.
“I had a lot of adrenaline going, I had to slow it down, so I did our little thing we do and just take a deep breath and slow it down,” Haro said. “I knew they were throwing me outside every time I went up so that’s what I had (with) my approach. They threw me an outside fastball (and I) drove it down the line to score that extra run.”
Martinez came on to pitch for Jacobson in the bottom half of the inning to close the game, and that’s exactly what he did. In the biggest game of the season, Dawidczik relied on three seniors to make or break it on the mound. It’s safe to say they made it.
Hughes pitched 6+ innings and allowed five hits, two earned runs, one walk and one stolen base with five strikeouts on 94 pitches. Jacobson earned the win by tossing one inning and allowing one walk with one strikeout. Martinez earned the save by allowing one hit in one inning pitched.
Del Campo was led to the win offensively by its seniors as well. Martinez and McCord were each perfect at the plate, reaching base in all four appearances. Martinez recorded three hits (one double), one run scored, one RBI and one walk. McCord tallied two hits and two runs.
Following all the adversity the team has faced this season, on and off the field, the Cougars were able to rejoice and rush the field. For the first time since 2018 and the second time under Dawidczik, Del Campo is the CIF SJS D3 Champions.
“Me and the other seniors, we’ve been talking about this day since freshman year,” Jacobson said. “For this to finally happen, it’s just so surreal. (It) just puts a cherry on top to my high school career going into Sac State so that’s huge. Our season, we’re 29-5, we had a great season. We battled every game and we competed.”
For the fifth time in school history, the Cougars are section champions along with the teams from 1985, 1995, 2013 and 2018. The icing on the cake is that with the win, Del Campo was able to avenge it’s 9-8 loss to Vanden on March 8 in the third game of the season, which was the Cougars’ first loss. Del Campo has also won 16 of its last 17 games and gone 25-2 since beginning the season 4-3 overall.
“I’ve been talking about this since eighth grade when they won it last,” Haro said. “I’ve been dreaming of this since I came to this school, so it’s exciting.”
UPDATE:
It was announced on Monday by the CIF that the Cougars will be moving up to Division I for the NorCal Baseball Championship. Del Campo is the No. 8 seed and will play at five-time North Coast Section Champion De La Salle, who is the No. 1 seed. The Cougars play the Spartans in Concord on Tuesday at 4 P.M.