Cpl. Gurpreet Singh, 21, of Antelope, Calif., died June 22 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.  A recipient of numerous medals and ribbons, among them the Purple Heart, this local boy will be honored in services at Mount Vernon Memorial Park & Mortuary. [map and directions] Memorial Services Saturday, 2 July 2011, 1100 Hours Mount Vernon Memorial Park & Mortuary 8201 Greenback Ln, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 916-969-1251   Fellow Marines are asking to spread the word so local Marines and others who wish to pay respects can be with him o

How do you ride a bicycle 3,000 miles? “Little pieces at a time,” says Sacramento Police Lt. Mark Greenlee. Greenlee is one of eight riders in Team Sac PD that will be cycling across the continental United States in the Race Across America event (RAAM). Today and tomorrow, twelve crew members and their riders will be making their way to the starting line in Oceanside, California. Friday will be a frenzy of inspections, meetings, team photos and hopefully some time to check out the first 40 or 50 miles of the course. Saturday the race is on. Those interested can track Team Sac PD’s progress through a progressive photo album updated throughout the race. What do you pack when you are on

“What group is out there that is basically murdered? There’s very few professions where people are murdered for their profession. Police work’s it,” said Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel, one of the eight members comprising the Sacramento Police Department’s Race Across America team. “We divide out those who want to hurt people from those who do not want to be harmed,” Braziel said. The team is hoping to bring national awareness to the 19,000 officers who have died in the line of duty and to the fact more will in the future. Already it seems their pledges have gone beyond expectations. The police department website has received a donation from an unknown supporter in Ireland, Brazie

Mayor Kevin Johnson didn’t show, but Elvis did. Actually dueling Elvises, singing- or lip syncing - their hearts out to raise money and awareness for My Sister’s House, a one of a kind organization supporting survivors of domestic violence here in the central valley.  The 10th anniversary gala held at the Crest Theatre featured “talent you have never seen in Sacramento and some you never want to see again,” joked West Sacramento Mayor Cabaldon, the impressively funny Master of Ceremonies for the evening. The line up of talent opened with “Beyonce,” aka Ruthie Bolton, WBNA star for the Monarchs, striking a pose in a white feather-trimmed jacket. The Mayor himself showed us his chops belti

Team SacPD Race Across America cyclists from left to right: Officer Matt McPhail, Officer Skyler Baldock, Officer Paul Curtis, Lieutenant Neil Schneider, Lieutenant Jim Beezley, Sergeant Dan Nutley, Lieutenant Mark Greenlee and Sergeant Don Davis. Not Pictured: Chief Rick Braziel It is approaching 2 p.m., race start. Thousands of people are milling about the Oceanside Pier in Southern California, and you are one of them. Nervous, you look out past the crowd, about a mile up the road. One mile of the 3,000 that lie ahead. You are proud because you know this is for the ultimate cause: honor. You are strong, assured by months of hours long training through rain, bitter cold, and pain.