News

At our regularly scheduled general meeting on November 30, 2009, Witter Ranch Community Alliance will be gathering community input regarding the use of Witter Ranch Park’s field after dark.

About a year ago, members voted to submit a written request to the director of City of Sacramento’s Parks & Recreation Department asking for a cessation of the night-time field lights due to a variety of concerns, including but not limited to peace disturbances due to shouting and whistle-blowing; parking and congestion on Saintsbury Way, Chimney Rock Way, and Far Niente Way; illegal food sales and fundraising; unauthorized use of park facilities after sunset by parties not associated with the use permit, a violation that our police department is unable to enforce; trash in park, on sidewalks, and on streets; and celebratory shouting, loud music from automobiles, and screeching tires following tournament play. Available for public review is the letter sent to Jim Combs, Director of Parks & Recreation, along with 22 signed letters of petition from neighbors, many of whom live adjacent or in very close proximity to the park.

Mr. Combs responded to WRCA’s letter  and has agreed to meet with a working group of WRCA leaders regarding the issue. In addition, he has accepted an invitation to attend a future general meeting at which we hope to go over specifics of how the community’s concerns will be addressed.

Residents of WRCA’s boundaries, particularly those who live in close proximity to the park, are encouraged to attend, as the working group wishes to solidify and/or reaffirm our community’s position on the after-dark use of Witter Ranch Park. Signs will be placed at the park to publicize the meeting in an effort to maximize attendance.

A broad daylight gunpoint robbery of a motorist at El Centro and San Juan Roads (180809)…

17 year-old boys busted near Witter Ranch Elementary School at about midnight with marijuana, a scale, and packaging material (181087)…

Tire slashings and eggings on Stemmler Drive, Chateau Montelena Way, Poppy Hill Way, Chimney Rock Way, Myotis Drive, Screech Owl, Petrel Court, Elkart Way, Jackdaw Street, and Shrike Circle (178172)…

A woman discovers a burglar inside her home on Dragonfly Circle — he fled the scene and was later found by our police helicopter hiding in someone’s garbage can — a 14 year old boy already on probation and wearing an ankle monitor (187695)…

That’s a lot of excitement for such a small area as ours — it’s hard to believe all of that happened in just one week. (more…)

Yesterday (Thursday, June 25), three teenagers were arrested by Sacramento Police for firing pellet and BB guns at a UPS truck on Loggerhead Way (off Myotis Drive, just south of Hummingbird Park).

At the time of the incident, the UPS driver called his supervisor, who in turn told the driver to call 9-1-1.

Officer Natterbuck responded to the area and moments later and spotted the young men walking along Duckhorn Drive towards Atrium Court Apartments.

A 21-year-old male was arrested for California Penal Code 12556 which outlaws the open display of an imitation firearm in a public place (misdemeanor). He resides at the Serenade condominium complex on Regency Park Circle.

A 19-year-old male on searchable probation for felony burglary residing on Loggerhead Way was arrested for Sacramento City Code 9.32.070, which prohibits discharging of air guns in the city limits outside of a shooting gallery.

An 18-year-old male believed to reside at Atrium Court Apartments was also arrested for Sacramento City Code 9.32.070.

All of the alleged violations are misdemeanors, which means the subjects were cited and then released, not booked into the jail.

Residents are urged to be especially vigilant and to report all suspicious activities to Sacramento Police Department:

Emergencies: 9-1-1 from a land line or 916/732-0100 from a cell phone
Non-emergencies: 916/264-5471

Elections for the WRCA board of representatives will be held at the general meeting on January 26, 2009, but first we need to nominate active WRCA members for the five board positions that are available. Nominations will be accepted through January 19, 2009, but please submit them as soon as possible.

You may nominate any active WRCA member, including yourself, by e-mailing judah \at\ WitterRanchCommunity.org or by speaking with Judah at the general meeting on Monday, December 29, 2008.

Nominations will be treated as confidential (i.e., individuals who submit nominations will not be identified), but nominees will be contacted to make sure they accept being considered for election. If you know the e-mail address or phone number of the person you are nominating, please include that information with the nomination you submit so that we have a better chance of reaching them in case we don’t have their contact information on file.

The election process will be briefly explained at the meeting on December 29. The anonymous ballots used for the election will include a space for write-in candidates, but here again each candidate must be an active member and be willing to serve on the board of representatives.

Feel free to e-mail Judah with any questions you might have, or better yet, bring them up at the meeting on Monday because someone else will likely have a similar question.