award
Roseville honors dispatchers
On April 6, family and friends gathered together for the 17th annual Organization of Public Safety Telecommunicators (OPST) Dispatcher Awards Banquet at Cal Expo. Eighteen Sacramento area public dispatch centers were represented at the banquet, including the City of Roseville.
Police, fire and EMT dispatchers are the unsung heroes in the ranks of first-responders. They work tirelessly behind the scenes, diligently receiving and then relaying critical information to the feet on the street.
One wrong piece of information could result in tragedy.
As 911 emergency calls come in, the dispatcher acts as a conductor, coordinating operations, directing information, and responding to victims to ensure they remain calm during a crisis, all to ensure the best possible outcome.
In the City of Roseville, dispatchers are responsible for dispatching police, fire and other emergency personnel including Animal Control.
Lisa Smelser
Each year the Roseville police and fire departments each select a dispatcher who exemplifies a command of all aspects of their job.
This year the honorees were Lisa Smelser and Trisha Stojkovich.
Lisa Smelser was selected by the Roseville Fire Department as Fire Dispatcher of The Year. An EMT and a graduate of Sierra College Fire Academy, Lisa brings a special skill set to her role as dispatcher, clearly demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the logistical aspects of the fire department.
The fire department wrote of Lisa, “Her knowledge, skill and team approach have greatly contributed to the success of each and every drill she has participated in. She keeps us safe, she has our back and she does an amazing job,” the department went on to say she is, “Always willing to help…excellent at emergency medical dispatching…truly a pleasure to work with…the quiet worker behind the scene…always has a smile on her face.”
Lisa also re-wrote and currently maintains the dispatch fire training manual.
Trisha Stojkovich
Trisha Stojkovich was selected by the Roseville Police Department as the Police Dispatcher of The Year.
The police department lauded over Trisha saying she, “goes above and beyond on a consistent basis. She always anticipates the needs and requests of her teammates.” The department continued, “If you ask for information, she will dig and dig. Her tenacity has helped put “bad guys” in jail numerous times. She has skills beyond her years. A great sense of humor, fun to work with, a hard worker and an absolute asset to our department.”
Trisha was kind enough to answer some questions and share her thoughts about being a dispatcher.
Talking about what the award means to her, Trisha said, “It means I am respected and appreciated by my peers as much as I respect and appreciate them. I feel very fortunate to work with people who love their job as much as I do.”
According to Trisha the most difficult part of her job is taking control of a situation over the phone. “There is only so much I can do over the phone. If a mother is panicking because her baby is not breathing, I can only try to calm her and instruct her over the phone. Taking control of a situation over the phone is extremely difficult and frustrating. All we have is our voice”
Once officers arrive on the scene, dispatchers are updated regularly, checking databases, coordinating additional resources, but in some cases they may not get the rest of the story, as Trisha points out, “We hear and deal with the beginning of every call, we don’t always know what happens at the end. The majority of the time we do not get closure, we don’t have time because the next 911 line is ringing.”
It’s difficult for a dispatcher when an officer is in an emergency situation. The dispatcher can only wait and hope for the best outcome. An example that Trisha shared was the time an officer was in a fight and his radio continued to cut in and out, all she could hear were the sounds of the struggle. She said, “I don’t think I breathed until another officer got on scene and they went Code 4, meaning no further assistance needed.”
When Trisha was just starting out as a dispatcher she quickly learned how important it was to communicate effectively, but more importantly, accurately. Officers and medical personnel were responding to a male down. The call taker noted that the reporting party said that he was, “unable to rouse the subject.” As Trisha tells it, she made the blooper tapes when she relayed the information, telling the officers “The RP is unable to arouse the subject,” as both sides of the conversation burst into laughter.
911 hang-ups are probably one of the most frustrating problems dispatchers face. As Trisha points out, much of the public does not understand how the 911 system works. If you mistakenly dial 911, or are testing your phone, once you hit the second “1” the call goes through, regardless if you hang up immediately.
She urges anyone who is testing 911 or mistakenly dials 911, to stay on the line so the dispatcher can verify right away that everything is okay. Otherwise they will have to dispatch an officer to the location to confirm that everything is fine, pulling a valuable resource from other pressing matters.
Trisha also warns against letting your child play with old cell phones that no longer have service. All cell phones are configured to allow a 911 call, regardless if there is no service tied to the phone. Trisha said, “We don’t mind talking to little Susie about her tea party until an adult can get on the phone, but usually we don’t have the time or resources to tie up an emergency line for that.” She suggests pulling out the battery of those old phones, before handing it over to Susie.
Congratulations to both Lisa and Trisha!
First annual induction into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame
Founder of SSHOF T.C. Martin – Click for more images
TC Martin, founder of the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame (SSHOF), introduced the first class of inductees into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. The nominees include legends that are forever rooted in Sacramento’s pop-culture.
Opening, Martin explained that him and his partner Jim Hanzalik with WorldOne Presents had always wanted to do something like this and wondered why nobody else had started this before now. After a number of calls to various sports legends in the Sacramento area, including Dusty Baker and Mayor Kevin Johnson, the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame was founded.
Referring to the 56 nominees Martin said, “It was time for them to be recognized and so the goal here was to publicly acknowledge and recognize the great individual talent that we have here in Sacramento, Calif.”
Dennis Gaxiola roasts inductees
Present in the audience were baseball greats Leron Lee, Rowland Office, and Jerry Royster, along with boxing hero Loreto Garza.
Voting for the nominees took place between November 20 and December 20, where Sacramento area sports fans were able to cast their votes online for their favorite sports legend.
Fans were allowed to vote for their top five sports figures from a list of 56 nominees that spanned generations of Sacramento superstars. Over 7,300 votes were cast with fans ultimately selecting the inductees.
The inductees for the first annual SSHOF were, in order of introduction:
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson – Click for more images
Kevin Johnson
Thirteen year career in the NBA and a three time NBA All-Star, Johnson had 13,127 career points, and 6,711 career assists.
Johnson was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 7th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. On February 28, 1988, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. In his first full season with Phoenix, he grew into one of the game’s elite players averaging 20.4 points and 12.2 assists per game. He joined Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas as the only players in NBA history to average 20 points and 12 assists in a season.
In the summer of 1994, Johnson played with the U.S. National Team, otherwise known as Dream Team II. He led the Dream Team II squad to a Gold medal in the FIBA World Championships.
With basketball behind him Johnson continues to be the spotlight as he is the Mayor of Sacramento. He was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. He continues to be a positive role model for kids and is extremely popular in his hometown.
Jennifer Cartwright Thomas accepts award for brother Bill Cartwright
Bill Cartwright
Sixteen year career in the NBA, three time NBA World Champion and played in the 1990 NBA All-Stars. Cartwright has 12,713 career points, and 6,106 career rebounds. Three time West Coast Conference Player of the Year.
Cartwright was the third overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, selected by the New York Knicks, making the All-Star team in his rookie season averaging more than 20 points per game. He went on to play nine seasons with the Knicks before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1988.
Starting in 1991 through 1993, Cartwright helped the Chicago Bulls win three consecutive NBA Titles. Playing a total of 16 years in the NBA, he retired after the 1995 season and went on to become assistant coach to Phil Jackson with the Chicago Bulls. He later became head coach of the Bulls.
TC Martin and Summer Sanders – Click for more images
Summer Sanders
Sanders is a Double Olympic Gold Medalist from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona for the 200m Butterfly and the 4x100m Medley. She also scored the silver for the 200m Medley and bronze for the 400m Medley.
Sanders won three gold medals at the 1990 Goodwill Games before embarking on her collegiate career at Stanford University.
Sanders began her second career while she was still competing, when in 1992 she was a commentator for CBS Sports for the NCAA Swimming Championships. In 1996, she was a commentator for NBC’s coverage of the swimming events at the Atlanta Olympics, and contributed to the network’s coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City as an on-site reporter at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Sanders has appeared in films and numerous television shows including “Celebrity Apprentice” and Food Network’s reality series “Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.” She also spent 8 years co-hosting “NBA Inside Stuff.”
Sanders is also a health and fitness advocate, producing articles, tips and workouts for various magazines, as well as the author of “Champions Are Raised Not Born.” She is a UNICEF and a Right to Play Ambassador, and the national spokesperson for the ReThink Varicose Veins campaign.
Tony “The Tiger” Lopez – Click for more images
Tony “ The Tiger” Lopez
Lopez is a three time world champion boxer, with two International Boxing Federation Super Featherweight Champions and a World Boxing Association Lightweight Championship.
Lopez’s career record is 50 wins, eight losses and one draw. Included in his 50 wins is a whopping 34 knockouts.
Lopez was a warrior in the ring and known for his outstanding punching power and exciting fights. His fights were the highest grossing bouts in the history of Sacramento as he fought some classic matches at the Memorial Auditorium and Arco Arena.
He is remembered for his two victories over Rocky Lockridge including the 1988 “Ring Fight of the Year” which was televised nationally. In October of 1992 he beat Joey Gamache for the WBA Lightweight title. Other notable victories included two wins over John John Molina, Tyrone Jackson, Jorge Paez, Joey Gamache, Dingaan Thobela and Greg Haugen.
Lopez will always be remembered for his crowd pleasing style and smile. He still resides in his hometown and currently owns a Tony “The Tiger” Bail Bonds agency in downtown Sacramento.
Dusty Baker – Click for more images
Dusty Baker
Where do you start with someone who is so accomplished in all things baseball?
Baker’s baseball career spans over 38 years. He has played with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A’s and the San Francisco Giants. He’s a two time All-Star with one World Series Championship in 1981. Golden Glove winner, two time Silver Slugger Award and the National League Championship Series MVP in 1977.
Baker has managed the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and currently the Cincinnati Reds. He has 1,581 victories under his belt poised to surpass his good friend and colleague Tony LaRussa.
Dusty started playing locally at Del Campo and American River College before being drafted in 1967 by the Atlanta Braves. Playing with numerous Hall of Famers including Hank Aaron, Baker has seen it all as a player and manager.
Dusty was the first National League manager to win Manager of the year award three times. He has been to the post season as a skipper with all three of his teams (SF, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati). He recently won the 2012 NL Central division title with the Reds, (the second time in the past three years). He made an immediate impact with all of his teams he has managed taking over struggling teams and leading them into the playoffs.
Dusty continues to live the Sacramento area during the off season and has been an outstanding member of the community.
Press conference: Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame
TC Martin founder and Executive Director of SSHOF
In a recent news conference held at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, TC Martin founder of the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame announced the first class of inductees into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame.
Voting took place between November 20 and December 20, where Sacramento area sports fans were able to cast their votes online for their favorite sports legend.
Fans were allowed to vote for their top five sports figures from a list of 56 nominees that spanned generations of Sacramento superstars. Over 7,300 votes were cast with fans ultimately selecting the inductees.
Dusty Baker talks to reporters
The top five vote getters will be enshrined and honored on February 2, 2013 at the First Annual Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame Celebration to be held at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
“The fans really embraced this” said founder and Executive Director, TC Martin. “The fans were actively involved in the voting process and showed great support for the concept and their favorite athletes. We have seen a tremendous response from Sacramento sports fans.”
Tony “Tiger” Lopez talks to reporters
Heading the first induction class of 2013 is current Cincinnati Reds Manager and former Giants skipper, Dusty Baker. “It is an honor and privilege to be selected” said Baker, who was on hand for the press conference. “I’m honored to be from Sacramento and this shows everyone around the country what great talent we have here.”
Also selected were former Elk Grove and NBA star Bill Cartwright, fellow NBA all-star and current Sacramento Mayor, Kevin Johnson, boxing legend Tony “Tiger” Lopez, and Olympic medalist Summer Sanders.
“This is truly an honor and I sincerely appreciate the recognition” said Cartwright. “To be part of this group with these tremendous athletes is terrific.”
Tony Lopez signs autographs for fans at Thunder Valley Casino
Also on hand at the press conference was local boxing legend Tony “Tiger” Lopez, who has won three world titles. “It’s a big honor” said Lopez. “For people to show the appreciation of all the hard work it’s very special to be honored in my hometown.”
Four of the five inductees will be present to accept their induction at the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame Celebration event on February 2nd at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Cartwright will not be in attendance since he just accepted a head coaching jon in Japan. Fans will get and up close and personal look at these Sacramento legends. Tickets are now on sale at Thunder Valley or at ticketmaster.com. VIP ticket packages are available which include a meet and greet with the inductees.
The Stars Align in Sacramento!
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium - Click for more images
Thursday night the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium was transformed into a glittering spectacle as actors, musicians, sports heroes, astronauts, authors, and politicians strutted down the red carpet, for the 2011 California Hall of Fame ceremonies. It was a scene right out of Hollywood.
The auditorium was bathed in purple with a dazzling array of lights, complete with television cameras and photographers covering the red carpet arrival of Clint Eastwood, Rob Lowe, Magic Johnson, General Chuck Yeager, Governor Brown, and more. To complete the ambiance of a Hollywood event there were police mounted on horseback and searchlights lighting up the night sky.
The California Hall of Fame was created in 2006 with the help of former first lady Maria Shriver, to help raise money for the California Museum. Now in its fifth year its welcoming inductees from all walks of life, including a man who walked on the moon and a man who’s so tall he can almost touch the moon, or dribble it.
Magic Johnson - Click for more images
The honorees this year were guitar great Carlos Santana, music legend the Beach Boys, novelists Amy Tan, NBA great Magic Johnson, civil rights leader Ed Roberts, Nobel Prize winner Elizabeth Blackburn, community activist Father Gregory Boyle, Gap founders Doris and Donald Fisher, Supreme Court Justice Roger Traynor (posthumous award), and Buzz Lightyear.
Ooops! Did I say Buzz Lightyear? I meant to say Buzz Aldrin ““ you know, the other guy who walked on the moon. I think he taught Michael Jackson how to moon walk too, but I digress.
I was lucky enough to be one of the many photographers manning the red carpet. I will say I was extremely upset that Carlos Santana was the only no show on the red carpet. He decided to sneak in the back way and avoid the red carpet altogether ““ wimp, but still a great guitar player.
Governor Jerry Brown - Click for more images
As Magic Johnson made his way up the carpet you could hear kids screaming “Magic, Magic, Magic,” getting his attention. Thankfully my good friend Charr Crail, taking her cue from the kids, started chanting “Magic, Magic, Magic,” quite loudly I might add, so we finally got our photo-op with the gentle giant. Thanks Charr!
Magic was asked by a local reporter what he thought about California. He basically said it’s a great state because of the great people who live here, the weather, and we have great politicians from the Governor, to Mayor Johnson and to the mayor in Los Angeles. Sounds like Magic may be politicking.
Governor Brown said we have Google, Facebook, Twitter, HP, and Apple. He went on to say that people don’t come to California to do what’s already been done, but to create what hasn’t happened yet, to dream.
General Chuck Yeager - Click for more images
General Chuck Yeager was by far the most entertaining, jovial, and just an all-around great guy. With his daughter in toe, he went from one group of journalist to the next. His daughter had a tough time keeping up with him. It was as if he was still flying jets. At one point he came back out of the auditorium, so that he could meet his heroes the Beach Boys.
It was a fun time had by all. Well maybe not Santana, but we’ll never know, since he didn’t share.
12+7+2011=Tesla
Tesla with key to the city - Click for more images
Today was Tesla’s day! No literally.
Honoring 25 years of making music and Sacramento history, Sacramento’s Mayor Kevin Johnson presented rock legends Tesla the key to the city. The location – The Rock and Radio Museum housed in the old Oasis Ballroom where Tesla got their start over 25 years ago. In fact, it’s the same location where Frank Hannon discovered lead singer Jeff Keith so many years ago.
Brian Wheat (bass), Frank Hannon (guitar), Jeff Keith (lead singer), Troy Luccketta (drums), and Dave Rude (guitar) were all on hand for the ceremony.
While Tesla knew they were being awarded the key to the city, they were unaware that Mayor Johnson was also going to officially declare today, December 7th, Tesla Day.
The Tesla crew immediately wanted to know if they were going to get December 7th off from now on.
Each band member approached the podium to thank Sacramento and Mayor Johnson, leading off with Wheat.
Frank Hannon wanted to make certain he thanked 98 Rock’s Pat Martin for working so diligently to get the band back together.
Mayor Kevin Johnson - Click for more images
Keith got a little choked up as he was thanking everyone and reminiscing of when they first met back at the Oasis Ballroom. His voice still sounded a little scratchy as he’s still recovering from losing his voice. By the way the new dates for their postponed shows at Ace of Spades are January 27th and January 28th.
Troy and Dave really didn’t want to say anything, but they were “talked” into saying a few words. Troopers!
Tesla’s key to the city makes nine keys to the city that Mayor Johnson has awarded. Tesla joins Olympic winner Michael Phelps, jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, artist Greg Kondos, Hero pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, artist Wayne Thiebaud, Grant High School football team, pastor Ephraim Williams, author Thomas Friedman, all awarded keys to the city under Mayor Johnson.
Don’t forget to checkout Tesla’s latest album Twisted Wires! It demonstrates why they are the ones credited for bringing unplugged to the forefront of the music world.
Dennis Newhall curator of the Sacramento Rock and Radio museum wants to get the word out about the museum. They’re looking for any piece of rock memorabilia from the past in the Sacramento area. Anything, ticket stubs, matchbooks, posters, etc. They are collecting all of these under one roof to keep the memories alive. You can donate by contacting Dennis at sacrockmuseum@gmail.com.
