ABC has a new series out called The River. The story is about missing reality star/adventurer Dr. Emmet Cole. It tells how Dr. Cole was looking for magic along the Amazon River and some how turned up missing. Now his family, friends and associates are out looking for him. This is a supernatural thriller that will definitely keep you on the edge-of-your seat. To see the trailer of The River, stop by here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnaZxJIsnFE On February 7, 2012, Tuesday - the premiere of The River was aired and I was contacted by extraordinary man-on-the-scene news reporter Cornell Barnard of News 10. Cornell wanted to do a promo of the new series The River. Cornell wanted me out on

A west bound Amtrak train suddenly stops on the I Street Bridge on January 1, 2012 at 12:35 p.m. The train was detained for twenty minutes then was pulled back to the Sacramento train station.  A few minutes later, the bridge swiveled over to let a Hornblower cruise ship past through.  To see the train being rolled back, click video. 

Residents are invited to see firsthand the challenges of aging water, sewer pipes, pumps and treatment plants As part of Your Utilities. Your Voice., The City of Sacramento Department of Utilities is throwing open the doors of two of its oldest pieces of infrastructure- the Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant (built in 1923) and Sump 2 (built in 1927) to help the citizens of Sacramento better understand the challenges of its aging water and sewer infrastructure. At each facility, tours will be offered that highlight the historic nature of these facilities and how modern technology is keeping them operating today, while protecting the environment and the health and safety of Sacramento

South Sacramento residents can now enjoy the Sacramento River by bike again as the Freeport Regional Water Authority reopened a section of the Pocket Area Bike Trail Friday. Four years of construction on the Freeport Water Intake Facility kept it closed to the public. The Pocket Area trail stretches along two miles of the Sacramento River from Garcia Bend Park on Pocket Road around the Freeport Bend—a bend which makes the river run parallel to Freeport Boulevard—and ends at the Freeport Water Intake Facility. Councilman Darrell Fong of District 7 attended the reopening ceremony Friday morning along with 20 members of the Pocket community and unveiled the newly installed public amenities

About 250 formally and historically dressed guests gathered at the L Street Dock on Front Street in support of the preservation and exploration of Sacramento’s historical legacy Friday evening. Under the guidance of the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, party-goers traveled through the 1850s, 1960s and back to the present on the Empress Hornblower along the Sacramento River for the hour-long cruise Casino Royale on the River: Where Old Sacramento Meets Monte Carlo. This was the second year HOSF had hosted the event to raise funds for its educational and interpretive programs, including the historical exhibitions in the Sacramento History Museum on I Street. Last year the event was held

My plan of the day included another road trip while the rain and wind were pummeling the area. At 12:16pm I found myself on a levee overlooking the Vic Fazio Yolo Wildlife Area. Interstate 80 is seen in the upper third of the photo above. Everything is submerged. This is the south side of the freeway. The north side is also filled with water.Looking east from the levee I saw more than these two power poles skirted by water. To see how the are looked on Feb. 13, about six weeks ago, CLICK HERE>>>Next I hopped on Old River Rd from West Sac and travelled south on the west side of the Sacramento River. A trailer park along the way had water encroaching upon it. The photo above is the big w

Feel like I still live in Washington state with all this rain. So I did what comes naturally to me and took a trip along the rivers to see what havoc the wind and rain have created. Headed east on Hwy 50 to end up at Folsom Dam. The rain was coming down hard as I drove by it. Water was pouring into the American River from Folsom Lake. Then I shot over to Sunrise Blvd and took the American River Access to get next to the river. A few people were braving the rain. A woman below paused to look at the river as she crossed the foot bridge at 11:04am (below.) Next I headed to River Bend Park, hoping to drive to the river but access was closed. It was pouring and I didn't feel like getting col

A theater troupe that has made its home in a docked paddlewheel boat wants to trade its Sacramento River location for one in the heart of Midtown. Capital Stage Company got its start in 2005 in a 115-seat theatre inside the Delta King, which is now a floating hotel and restaurant in Old Sacramento. The group opened its newest show, "Reasons To Be Pretty," there last Friday. Now in their sixth season, the professional theater troupe's founders hope to increase the company's visibility and street presence by moving to busy J Street, a main artery through downtown and Midtown, co-founder and Producing Director Jonathan Williams said Thursday. "I can't tell you how many times we've been cal

Early afternoon light casts interesting shadows of a tree against an old barn along South River Rd. this afternoon along the Sacramento River. The sun has been a pleasant reprieve to the seemingly endless gray skies in January.  SacPress Photo | Kati Garner

The city of Sacramento's Preservation Commission on Wednesday got the first look at a draft of the new plan intended to guide redevelopment of the River District north of the central city. Commission members gave the first round of feedback Wednesday evening to the city's Community Development and Economic Development departments, which led the multi-department project encompassing about three years of work. The draft River District Specific Plan was unveiled online last week. Commissioners were concerned with proposals to allow 250-foot hotels along the Sacramento River, demolishing the state's printing plant building without exploring its historic landmark eligibility and the need to c

A study to map out a streetcar route linking Sacramento to West Sacramento is expected to start this fall, according to city Transportation Department spokeswoman Linda Tucker. More than $400,000 in funding has been set aside for the study -- $310,000 from federal grant funds obtained earlier this year and $90,000 from local transportation funds, said Azadeh Doherty, a principal planner in the department. The current plan for the streetcar includes a path in West Sacramento, but does not lay out a route in Sacramento. Under the most recent plan, the streetcar would run from West Sacramento City Hall, across Tower Bridge and stop in Old Sacramento at the foot of the bridge. The city will

Boating season has hit full throttle in Sacramento, yet nearly a quarter of the slips at the city's public marina sit empty. That's unusual for the 475-slip Sacramento Marina, which boasted a waiting list of 300 just three years ago. The problem may be about to get worse after rate increases took effect at the marina Thursday. Slip occupancy levels change throughout the year, with the highest levels during boating season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. In fiscal year 2010/2011, the marina — the largest in the city — is expected to see an average annual occupancy rate of no more than 65 percent. The down economy is largely to blame, with an unfortunately timed renovation playing a role in

The city celebrated an important reconnection to the Sacramento River Wednesday with the grand opening of the Docks Riverfront Promenade. More than 100 people — from cyclists and dog walkers to the city staff and contractors who made it happen — converged on the sunny, tree-lined promenade overlooking the green river to mark the completion of the parkway's $5.4 million first phase. Many rode a California State Railroad Museum train along its relocated track from Old Sacramento to the new Pioneer Landing Park, where the celebration began. The promenade and park, with its landscaped public plaza and giant water sculpture, were built to stimulate redevelopment of an old industrial brownfiel

The Urban Design Alliance's Design Dialogue made two things clear Wednesday night: A consensus is growing, at least among planners, that the time has come to turn the waterfront into a regional destination, but that won't be a quick, easy task for either side of the Sacramento River. Attitudes toward the riverfront have begun to change. It's only been in the last 10 to 15 years that the community has begun to see the waterfront as a desirable place to be, said Rachel Hazelwood, a senior planner with the city of Sacramento. But a fairly negative image of the rivers still presents one of the biggest challenges to change. While the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers is one of

A bird launches from shore as a man fishes along the Sacramento River along the Garden Highway. Now is apparently a good time for catching Steelhead, Rainbow Trout, White Sturgeon, Striped Bass and American Shad. The headwaters of the Sacramento River include numerous tributaries. Its three main forks stride down from alpine slopes gaining girth and grandeur as streams and creeks converge into it. At the Sacramento River Delta, the watershed empties 31 percent of California's total water runoff into the San Francisco Bay. In its 384 mile journey, the mighty Sacramento River feeds Lake Siskiyou, Lake Shasta, and the Keswick Reservoir. At Lake Shasta, it is joined by the McCloud River, the

A diverse crowd of people gathered in Old Sacramento on Thursday to celebrate Earth Day and the Grand Opening of Practical Cycle. Riders of all ages and from all walks of life were drawn together to be a part of the first annual "Ride for Earth." With a diverse crowd of people came a diverse crowd of bikes! Many riders brought their own bikes, and Practical Cycle let out its entire rental fleet of Made in USA and Electric bicycles and tricycles for free. There was even a Velocab and a high-wheeler replica! The ride followed the Sacramento River to its confluence with the American River in Discovery Park. Afterwards, fresh-squeezed organic lemonade that was delivered by an old Worksman tr

This was my first venture into Discovery Park and I was pleasantly surprised! Lots of wildlife, people jogging and biking and just parked, enjoying the quiet and scenery. After living here three years, it was about time! Here's some of the highlights: A sea lion thrashes his catch above the water to break it up for easy eating. He split the fish in half for easier dining. A majestic tree, even in winter.   A Snowy Egret departs from a dead branch in the river. The Sacramento River looks healthy after all the rain we've experienced. Nice reflection from the sky. A Great Egret lands after escaping from me for getting too close. SacPress Photos | Kati Garner    

The new City of Sacramento General Plan includes additional Sacramento River crossings without specifying the location or number of crossings or the transportation modes served by new crossings. The cost of the study will be $260,000 with both The City of Sacramento and the City of West Sacramento sharing the costs for the planning study with West Sacramento contributing $60,000 to that total. The study is expected to be completed in one year, starting in January and ending in December 2010. The study will include: • A transparent and proactive public outreach process; • A purpose and need statement which is grounded in the community values stated in the two cities' General Plan policies

The hottest spot for a New Year's Eve celebration is aboard the Empress Hornblower in Old Sacramento. They will have two fireworks cruises on New Year's Eve for the 9:00pm and 12:00pm fireworks at Tower Bridge. The first is a Dinner Gala cruise from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Enjoy the fabulous buffet dinner, open standard cocktail bar, including after dinner liquors and house champagne, festive New Year's Eve party favors, pre-boarding photograph and live DJ entertainment for dancing. The second is a Midnight Cocktail cruise from 11:00pm to 1:00pm. Enjoy delicious hors d'ouevres, free flowing house champagne with a no-host bar for all other beverages, festive New Year's Eve party favors, pre-boa

A colorful line-up of boats decorated with multi-colored lights toured the Sacramento River, starting from Sacramento Marina,  past Old Sacramento, all the way to the Virgin Sturgeon and back.   SacPress Photos | Kati Garner