Do We Really Honor Our Veterans By Not Asking Sacrifice Of Ourselves?

By D. A. Gougherty


Later today politicians from the President on down to our very own city council members will take the opportunity (or is it opportunism?) to acknowledge all the men and women who have honorably served our nation in uniform.

There will be speeches, parades and lots of talk on how we ought to honor those who have served so that we may live free. No one will argue this point.

Aside from honoring members of the armed services every November 11, how well do we really honor and take care of those, particularly those permanently injured, who have served our nation?

Unfortunately many come home to find medical care that has been lacking. Have we forgotten the deplorable conditions injured vets endured at Walter Reed?

How do we honor all the current armed service members? We “honor” our service members by sending them on multiple tours of duty to war zones to fight our wars with more deployments in the future.

Regardless of what your thoughts are on the merits of our forays into Afghanistan and Iraq, there is no doubt that few of us today have sacrificed to the degree our current members of the armed services have.

Have those most enamored with the wars volunteered to serve in the armed forces? Have they asked their sons and daughters to serve? Probably not.

So as we rightfully honor Veterans today, keep in mind the many who promulgate these war have asked far more of others than they have of themselves or their children.

Arrest Made In Home Robbery, Police Seek Other Suspects

Victim tied-up during daytime robbery


Elk Grove Police announced they made an arrest in a day time robbery in which the victim was tied up by four suspected robbers.

Police arrested 19-year Marcus Barrie of Sacramento yesterday for his alleged role in the home robbery that took place on Monday, October 26. Barrie and three other unknown suspects entered a home on the 4600 block of Silvies Way in Elk Grove and confronted the victim. One of the suspects was in the possession of a handgun.

The investigation into the identity of the other suspects is ongoing. Barrie was transferred to the county jail.

Arrest Made in Elk Grove Halloween Night Shooting

A Sacramento man was arrest yesterday in connection with a shooting that took place on Halloween night.

According to Elk Grove Police reports, 24-year old Irvin Cook of Sacramento was arrested in Yuba City by the Yuba City Police Department and the California Department of Corrections fugitive apprehension team after a brief foot pursuit.

In the Halloween night incident Cook was involved in a verbal argument on the 9200 block of Elk Grove Boulevard that escalated into a fist fight that lead to the victim being shot in the abdomen. Cook fled the area at the time and was considered armed and dangerous.

After taking custody of Cook, Elk Grove Police transferred the suspect to the county jail.

Elk Grove Police Commence Special Traffic Enforcement Program

To target DUI, street racing and red light running violations among other things


More traffic enforcement and safer streets are coming to Elk Grove beginning this month thanks to a recent $172,000 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety. New accident reconstruction equipment, new speed radars and increased special traffic enforcement measures are on tap for the Elk Grove Police Department as law enforcement continues their commitment to keeping our roadways safe through both enforcement and education.

“The Elk Grove Police Department is very fortunate to have been awarded this grant,” Robert Lehner, Elk Grove Police Chief said. “Through a combination of education and enforcement, we expect to see a reduction in the number of impaired drivers on the roadways.”

The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant is to assist in efforts to deal with increased traffic safety problems and reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions.

The grant activities will specifically target Motorcycle Safety, DUI offenders, drivers with suspended or revoked licenses, illegal street racing, red light running, and seatbelt violations. This will be done through the use of DUI/driver’s license checkpoints and special enforcement operations.

The grant also provides funding for new accident reconstruction equipment, new speed radars and overtime to conduct special enforcement activities.

“Every driver and every motorcyclist must get back to the basics: drive sober, always drive or ride safely, buckle up and we will save lives. It’s just that simple,” Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety said. “This grant will help make Elk Grove just that much safer of a place to live and work.”

New this year is the addition of 2 special Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operations. Motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise in California , increasing 175 percent statewide in the last decade, from 204 killed in 1998 to 560 killed in 2008.

Elk Grove Police Officers will be conducting specialized enforcement efforts throughout the course of the next year. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcycles.

Officers will also be cracking down on traffic violations made by motorcyclists, and other vehicle drivers, that result in far too many motorcycle collisions, injuries and deaths.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Huber Voices Displeasure With Waterbill

2000 Postcards from Residents say NO to Canal Plan





Assembly member Alyson Huber delivered 2000 postcards to the Governor’s office. The postcards are from Delta residents who are opposed to Governor Schwarzenegger’s plan to build a peripheral canal.

“I have heard from my constituents – residents of the Delta region – and they have said loud and clear they oppose the construction of a peripheral canal,” Huber said. “The Governor showed how out of touch he is with my communities when, just hours after the water package was passed, he touted his plans to build a canal through the Delta at a business event in Stockton. He just doesn’t get it - he might as well walk into a Giant's game wearing a Dodger jersey.”

The Governor’s spokesperson, who came to accept the postcards, answered with a clear “yes” when asked by reporters if the Governor does in fact have plans to build a canal.

As the Governor signs the bills in the water package passed by the legislature, Huber wants to remind the Governor of the strong opposition to his canal plan by Delta residents. These residents will not stand aside while the Governor and his Southern California water buddies bulldoze their way through the Delta.

Huber opposed the water package because it creates a new layer of bureaucrats who will make decisions on water that will impact the communities in her district, including the details of a canal. To counteract proposals to give all authority to a group of unelected appointees, Huber offered up a simple bill (AB 13 7x) one to require a full analysis of the peripheral canal and require legislative approval – a common sense approach. The bill was killed without a hearing. Huber plans to resubmit the bill in the coming weeks.

Juveniles Arrested For Stealing Car; Adult Arrested For Wal Mart Shoplifting

Elk Grove Police arrested two male juvenile early Friday morning after they were observed exiting a reported stolen car.

The two Sacramento suspects, aged 15 and 16, were apprehended near Feather Falls Court and Stone Springs Drive at 2:55 am. Both were transferred to juvenile hall.

Police also arrested 19-year old Tajh Freeman Friday afternoon after lost prevention agents at the Wal Mart Store on Elk Grove Boulevard saw the suspect leave the store without paying. The suspect was observed leaving the parking lot in a car.

Responding officers located the car and contact the suspect. The merchandise was recovered and Freeman was arrested and transferred to the county jail.

Other Friday arrests

Suspect Jerry Tolliver, 57 of Sacramento, was arrested and transferred to the county jail after being in possession of a reported stolen car.

On Friday evening 22-year old James Blake of Sacramento was arrested on suspicion of DUI and 23-year old William Tropf of Sacramento was arrested on suspicion of pubic intoxication, Both were transferred to the county jail.

Lungren Gets Early Ensorsement of Elk Grove Republicans

Elk Grove Republicans Endorse Congressman Dan Lungren

On November 2nd, in an unprecedented move, the Elk Grove Republicans voted unanimously to suspend bylaw provisions and endorse Congressman Dan Lungren, R, Gold River for reelection to California’s 3rd Congressional District.

“Our membership felt it critical to get ahead of the curve in this race and endorse Congressman Lungren. This will allow the club to begin dedicating resources to the campaign as early as possible.

Congressman Lungren has demonstrated unwavering support for the district through his voting record as a fiscal conservative and his law and order position on numerous pieces of legislation. He is a man of unquestionable integrity” said Bruce Kaspari, Vice Chairman of the Elk Grove Republicans.

For more information, please contact Bruce Kaspari at 916-505-4065.

Elk Grove Veterans Day Parade This Wednesday Morning

The people of Elk Grove will have an opportunity to honor its Veterans this Wednesday morning with the community’s ninth annual Veterans Day parade.

Joining the parade will be marching bands from the U.S. Army as well as from Elk Grove area high and middle schools. Also scores of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from local troops will march.

The ceremony will start at 10:45 with Elk Grove Council Member Sophia Scherman reading the names of veterans residing in Elk Grove. This year’s Honorary Grand Marshal is the District Six Vice Commander of the American Legion, Tony Arca.

The parade will start at the CCSD parking lot at 8820 Elk Grove Boulevard and proceed to Elk Grove-Florin Road and go south until its terminious at the Elk Grove Regional Park

Complementary meal following parade

Following the parade, participants and spectators will be offered complementary hot dogs, chips and sodas.

Portions of Elk Grove Boulevard and Elk Grove-Florin Road will be detoured starting at 9:45 am.

Lungren, Other Area Congress Members Vote No On Health Care Reform

Republican Dan Lungren and other area Republican congressional member voted against the health care package placed before the congress yesterday. Also voting no were Republican's Tom McClintock and Wally Herger

Sacramento Democrat Doris Matsui voted in favor of the package.

Single Vehicle Fatal Accident Under Investigation By Elk Grove Police

On November 8, 2009 at 1:32 a.m., the Elk Grove Police Department responded to a call regarding a single vehicle collision at Shana Way and Whitelock Parkway .

Upon arrival, officers discovered that a white Chrysler PT Cruiser had collided with several trees. Medical personnel and officers located a semi-conscious unidentified 19-year-old male inside the vehicle. The unidentified driver was the only occupant inside the vehicle, and had to be extracted by emergency personnel.

The driver was transported to a local area hospital with life threatening injuries. At 5:42 a.m., the driver of the PT Cruiser died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the collision. Identification of the driver will be made by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.

At this time, the collision is under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Elk Grove Police Department Traffic Bureau at (916) 478-8148.

Microchip Implantation Available to Elk Grove Pet Owners at Affordable Rate

The City of Elk Grove recently adopted an ordinance that requires both cats and dogs to be identified by a microchip in order to be licensed in the City of Elk Grove. In an effort to assist pet owners with this new ordinance, the City of Elk Grove and Laguna Creek Veterinary Hospital have teamed up to offer a low cost microchip option.

The City has purchased limited microchips and the Laguna Creek Veterinary Hospital has volunteered its facility and staff for the implantation of the microchips. The only cost to pet owners will be a onetime fee of $14.99, which will cover the cost of the microchip and lifetime registration with the microchip company.

Free implantation of the microchip will be provided at Laguna Creek Veterinary Hospital, starting November 1, 2009, while supplies last. This implantation is open only to the residents of Elk Grove for the purposes of licensing their cats and dogs to comply with the new ordinance.

To schedule an appointment for a microchip implantation or for further information, please call (916) 684-7300 or visit www.lagunacreekvet.com.

Elk Grove Charter Commission in Disarray?

The last several weeks have been tumultuous times for the Elk Grove City Charter Commission.

In early October, Christopher Orrock resigned his position as vice chair at the urging of Mayor Pat Hume who had appointed him. According to reports in the Elk Grove Citizen, Orrock was criticized by council member Steve Detrick for violating the city ethic code.

In that story Detrick accused Orrock of spreading rumors and acting like a “mole” who hides behind “blogs and third parties to wreak havoc.”

Orrock resigned prior to a specially scheduled meeting that was to decide whether or not to ask him to step down. Orrock is the husband of Cosumnes Community Services District vice president Michelle Orrock.

Monday saw the resignation of another commission member, Clifford Loveland. Appointed by council member Gary Davis, Loveland did not cite specifics reasons for his abrupt resignation.

Davis said he was unaware of any specific reason for Loveland’s resignation. Loveland could not be reached for comment.

Loveland’s resignation comes in the aftermath of a seemingly contentious public hearing over the further need of the commission at last week’s regular city council meeting. In that meeting council member Jim Cooper pushed to have the commission disbanded.

While Cooper commended the work of the commissioners, he questioned the further need of its existence. Cooper also questioned the public outreach efforts and policy items inserted into the proposed charter such as the two-thirds majority council vote requirement on several tax and assessment related issues.

Although Davis sided with Cooper that the commissions work had been completed, Mayor Pat Hume and council member Steve Detrick were, at that time, in favor of keeping the commission intact so they could conduct public outreach. Council member Sophia Scherman was absent.

Meetings cancelled to conduct public outreach

Following Tuesdays charter commission meeting, the city clerk’s office posted notices yesterday that the next two meeting scheduled for November 17 and December 1 were cancelled.

The minutes for Tuesday’s meeting are not yet available, however a city spokesperson Angela Frost confirmed that commissioners will hold multiple community group meetings. Frost said that the public relations concern, The Hoyt Company, will update the charter commission’s website as meetings are scheduled.

When asked if he believed the city council would not disband the commission, Commissioner Jake Rambo said that he would take the council on their word when they did not take such action last week. “They gave us a schedule, we're going to meet that schedule,” Rambo said.

Next Two City Charter Meetings Cancelled; Another Commissioner Resigns

Developing


The Elk Grove City Clerk's office posted a notice of cancellation for the next two Elk Grove City Charter Commission scheduled for November 17 and December 1.





Another Commissioner Resigns

H1N1 Sacramento County Health Emergency Declared - Press Briefing

On Monday, November 2, 2009, The Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Glennah Trochet M.D., declared a local public health emergency. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors ratified the emergency declaration yesterday.

To date there have been 333 hospitalizations and 15 confirmed deaths in Sacramento County since April. The most vulnerable are those 60 years old and younger.

Below is a briefing held by Dr. Trochet held this afternoon.

Divorce Attorney Sentenced To Prison For Sexual Battery

District Attorney Jan Scully announced yesterday that attorney Gary Appelblatt was sentenced to 18 months in prison following his plea of no contest to four felony counts of sexual battery by a professional and one felony count of attempted sexual battery by a professional. Appelblatt will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.

The case involved five counts relating to five different victims. Appelblatt, a divorce lawyer, fondled the breasts of several female clients under the guise of performing a “medical examination.” During consultations, the defendant would tell the women that he was a pharmacist.

He would discuss his training and his degree and at times would also let them know that his wife was a doctor. The defendant suggested that the women sounded sick or looked sick.

In most cases, Appelblatt would then proceed to pull out a stethoscope and conduct an “exam” as if he were a physician. He would feel their glands, listen to their lungs and listen to their hearts just as a medical doctor would do.

The defendant would then touch, or attempt to touch, the victim’s breasts. However, once the victims realized what he was actually doing was not for a professional purpose, they would stop him. In all cases the victims immediately left the office.

Predator off the street

“The defendant was a predator who used his professional status as a divorce attorney to sexually assault a number of female clients over a period of years,” said deputy district attorney Keith Hill. “Today’s prison sentence will help insure he is no longer in a position to prey on future victims.”

According to state bar information, Appelblatt was admitted to practice law in California in 1989 and will be subjected to an interim suspension on November 23, 2009.

Elk Grove Youth Attacked, Chased Down in City Park

A 13 year-old male was attacked late yesterday afternoon in Morse Park.

According to police reports, the juvenile male was approached by an unknown suspect who demanded his personal property. When the victim refused, the suspect punched the victim in the head and chest.

The victim was able to fight off the suspect and ran away. The suspect was with two others individuals who chased the victim for a short distance.

The victim suffered minor injuries and no loss of property. The suspect was described as a black male juvenile, aged 13 to 15 and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark colored basketball shorts.

Police make domestic violence arrests

Police also report making two arrest in domestic violence incidents.

In the first case 42-year old Karl Kertesz of Elk Grove was arrested yesterday for allegedly striking a juvenile victim several times in the head resulting in injury. The suspect was arrested and transferred to the county jail.

In the other incident, police arrested 43-year old Forrest Kingcade after he allegedly grabbed his victim by the neck and began choking. The victim was able to get away and called for help. The suspect was arrested and transferred to the count jail.

Scherman Endorses Hegyi’s Second Bid For State Assembly

Capitol staffer tries again for GOP nomination in 10th district


Paul Hegyi announced yesterday that Elk Grove City Council member Sophia Scherman has endorsed his candidacy seeking the Republican nomination for California’s 10th District Assembly.

Hegyi’s current bid follows his unsuccessful 2008 bid for the same seat. Hegyi came in second place in that race with 29.6 percent of the vote behind San Joaquin County Supervisor Jack Seiglock who won with 41.6 percent and former Rancho Cordova Mayor David Sanders garnering 28.5 percent.

Seiglock has also announced he will seek the nomination. The winner will face Democrat incumbent Alyson Huber who beat Seiglock by 479 votes in the traditionally Republcian district.

“Paul has shown that he is committed to our values and ideals; and is dedicated to protecting them in Sacramento," Scherman said.

Will Hegyi’s arrest record haunt him again?

During the 2008 primary campaign Sanders attacked Hegyi in one of his mailers for a 2004 prowling arrest. In that incident Hegyi was arrested for prowling at a post office in Orange County when he was helping his boss, Assembly member Van Tran, who was running in a Republican primary.

Although the case against Hegyi was dismissed, he agreed to pay $500 to a victims compensation fund. Hegy is currently Tran’s chief of staff.

In addition to Scherman, Hegyi has received the endorsement of Elk Grove Mayor Pat Hume and Michelle Orreck, Vice President of the Cosumnes Community Services District

Police Make Arrests in Four Elk Grove Domestic Violence Cases

Elk Grove Police made arrests in four separate domestic violence incidents that happened yesterday.

According to police reports, two of the arrest were males juveniles who were arrested for physically attacking their victims and in one case destroying property. Both were transferred to the juvenile hall.

In the third case police arrested 40-year old Sanjeev Verma of Elk Grove after he allegedly forcibly pulled his victim from a couch and cause visible injury. The suspect was arrested and transferred to the county jail.

19-year old Issac Dawson of Sacramento was arrested after he allegedly punched his victim in the right shoulder and pushed the victim against a wall. Officer located Dawson after he left the apartment and arrested him. Dawson was transferred to the county jail.

Elk Grove Police Seek Sacramento Man For Halloween Shooting

On October 31, 2009 at 9:39 p.m., the Elk Grove Police Department responded to a shooting in the 9200 block of Elk Grove Blvd. Officers located a 24-year-old male victim suffering from a non-life threatening gun shot wound to the lower abdomen.

During the course of the investigation, officers determined that the victim had been involved in a verbal argument and subsequent fist fight with the suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Sacramento resident Irvin Laverne Cook (DOB 12-15-84). According to witnesses, Cook shot the victim in the abdomen with a semi-automatic firearm then fled the area in a gray 2003 Buick Century (Lic. 5SIE546). Cook (see phot) should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Irvin Cook is asked to call the Elk Grove Police Department at (916) 714-5115 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357). Callers to Crime Alert can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00

Voter Suppression Tactics To Be Used To Pass Elk Grove City Charter?

One council member seems to suggest primary voters are more ‘astute’


On Thursday, October 29 the summit meeting of the Elk Grove City Charter was designed convey information of what exactly a charter city is compared to a general law city, what would be contained in the proposed charter and how the people of Elk Grove would elect its council members and if voters chooses to, a mayor.

Many stakeholder voiced opinions on what they wanted in the charter ranging from union members insisting of language supporting prevailing wages to an audience member who said “I am confronted by unions” and that he did not want to be “bullied by outside people.”

While the summit proceeded in a mostly civil manner, it was discovered that some of the language in an information sheet from the city was incorrect. The sheet improperly defined “by district” with a description of “from district” and vice-versa.

Whoops!

During the course of the two hour plus summit, the discussion clearly indicated more information needs to be disseminated to voters regarding the proposal and the procedures of implementation should it be approved. “There needs to be a lot more outreach,” Elk Grove resident Vernon Billy said.

Voter suppression – Astute voters only

Perhaps one of the more interesting and perhaps unheard or misunderstood statements of the summit came in the waning minutes of the session.

Following a series of question, a female member of the audience asked Mayor Pat Hume when the charter will be placed on the ballot, during the June primary or November general election.

Hume said:

”I can only speak for myself and I’ll give you my thinking on it. I kind of went back and forth on whether or it is better or worse to be in a primary versus a general.”

“Fewer people vote in primaries, but people who are paying better attention vote in primaries so I think you have a more astute electorate in a primary than the general so you will have people who have been paying attention to this charter”

Hume went on to say that the overwhelming reason for having a charter was to have a popularly elected mayor. By having the mayor question on the June ballot, it would clarify the overall charter question in November.

In comments following Hume, council member Gary Davis said he would be willing to listen to comments as to whether it should be on the June or November ballot. “I am open on that one,” Davis said.

There are a couple of ways to interpret Hume “astute” voter’s comments.

First, Hume seems to imply that only voters who are informed should vote. While not mean spirited in its presentation, these types of comments do remind of us of “literary test” in the Jim Crow days of the American South often imposed as a means of denying people the right to vote.

While there is no reason to suggest Mayor Hume and his political allies are racist, they aren’t. Elitist? Perhaps. Nonetheless, the mere suggestion that a vote be set at one time so that only “astute” voters participate suggests a sort of voter suppression that clearly aims to quell all registered voters in participation.

At a minimum, it may suggest that the mayor is hoping for a low turnout of “astute” voters to approve of an elected mayor or the entire charter while keeping those pesky uninformed ones away. It is this type of behavior by elected officials that breeds cynicism that keeps voters away in the first place.

Now that I mention it, maybe that is exactly want he wants.

Sacramento County Public Health to Hold News Conference Monday On Swine Flu

Who: Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Division and Sacramento Office of Emergency Services

What: DHHS Director Ann Edwards-Buckley; Sacramento County Public Health Officer Glennah Trochet, M.D.; and Sacramento Office of Emergency Services Chief Rick Martinez will hold a news conference to discuss the H1N1 flu situation in Sacramento County and ongoing response activities.

When: 1:30 PM -- Monday, November 2, 2009

Where:

DHHS Conference Room 1, 7001-A East Parkway, Sacramento, CA Directions: -Southbound Highway 99 to Florin Road West offramp - Florin Road West to East Parkway (1st light west of highway 99)
-Turn right on East Parkway - Turn right into the Department of Health & Human Services parking lot - Park and walk to the main entrance (large entry toward the east side of the building with the
address “7001-A” on the glass entry doors). You will be directed to the conference room.

Background: H1N1 flu activity continues to be widespread in the Sacramento area. At the news conference, H1N1 status, actions being taken to manage the pandemic, and implementation of County-operated H1N1 flu clinics will be discussed.

7001A East Parkway, Suite 600B • Sacramento, California 95823 • phone 916.875.5471 • fax 916.875.5888 • www.scph.com

Audio Of Elk Grove City Charter Commission Summit , Oct. 29

Here is the complete audio of the city charter summit held on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at the Elk Grove City Hall.

Click here to listen to the two hour seventeen minute session.

Elk Grove Promenade Developer Becomes Issue in Utah Election

If misery loves company, the Elk Grove Grove Promenade may have found some in Holladay, Utah.

Like Elk Grove, Holladay is home to a "mall" owned by Chicago-based General Growth Properties (GGP). The difference is while our mall stands half-baked and has become something of a local symbol of the collective hubris display during the real estate boom, Holladay's Cottonwood Mall is a series of pits and weed patches left after GGP tore down the 45-year old structure and promised to redevelop the site.

As in Elk Grove, the credit crisis and ensuing Great Recession not only halted both projects, it forced GGP to file the largest real estate bankruptcy in the history of the United States.

Not surprisingly the redevelopment of Cottonwood Mall has become a hot-button issue in their city council elections being held two days from now. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in Holladay.

With our city council elections just a little over a year away, it will be interesting if anybody uses the Elk Grove Promenade debacle as a campaign issue.