The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is alerting motorists that east and westbound ramps for Interstate 80 from Madison Avenue to the Placer County line will be closed intermittently late night to early morning hours Sunday through Saturday for construction work, weather permitting. Please be advised that no consecutive ramps will to be closed at one time.

Ramp closures for east and westbound I-80 are scheduled to begin Sunday, February 5 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. During the week, construction work will be from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. with possible extended hours for weekends. The work is part of a $6.5 million State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) project by Caltrans to rehabilitate pavement, improve ride quality and extend life of the existing concrete and asphalt pavement on Interstate 80 and these ramps. The
primary contractor is DeSilva Gates Construction and the estimated completion date is scheduled for summer 2012.

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Skunks are invading the Sacramento region for mating season. “They are everywhere,” says one animal trapper . They are leaving the woods in the hundreds and heading into city looking for love.

The trapper added the skunks can be even more trouble once they find love. He told Fox 40 that when females meet their mate and become pregnant, they ward off other suitors with a foul-smelling spray.

Sacramento isn’t the first town to deal with a stinky invasion. In 2011, an Arkansas town was invaded by skunks.  In that case six rabid skunks were captured.  During the previous year, a Bronx housing project reported skunks were ravaging through their trash at night and terrorizing their pets.

Investigators are trying to determine what motivated the driver of a SUV to ignore a downed crossing arm and flashing lights and pull the vehicle into the path of an oncoming RT train in Sacramento this weekend. Police said the train would have been travelling at about 45 to 55 miles per hour at the time of the collision.

Three died, including a 21-month old toddler, in the crash. Leon Williams Sr., 62, his grandson Damian Antiwon Williams and his daughter Shantel Hope Williams, 25, were all killed in Saturday’s collision. Leon Williams wife Demetric Deann Good Williams, 57, is in intensive care at a Sacramento hospital.

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The highly-regarded 6-foot-8, 280-pound player from Elk Grove has chosen Oregon state to be his home for the next four years. The top recruit in the west will play basketball and football for the Ducks.

“I’m going to play defensive line,” said Armstead. “They are going to run a 3-4, which was also big for my decision. I see myself fitting in with the team and working with Coach Azzinaro. Hopefully he can turn me into an NFL draft pick.”

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Are you looking for something to do on February 4th? Well you are in luck, you can access 26 museums in the Sacramento area, for free. The event is the annual Sacramento Museum Day.

Twenty-six museums will offer free admission from 10am to 5pm on February 4th. The Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town will also offer half-off admission tickets on February 4th.

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The Sacramento Public Library is presenting free, job search programs to help community members find employment. The Job Seeker programs are scheduled through June at select Sacramento Public Library locations.

“With local unemployment nearing 12 percent, the Sacramento Public Library is providing our helpful resources as learning tools to search for jobs, improve interview skills, refine resumes, and more,” said Rivkah K. Sass, library director. “We care about our community residents, as many are our library card holders and others who frequent our 28 library locations. We are all in these tough economic times together.”
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State Route 160 (Sacramento County) from Del Paso Boulevard to Richards Boulevard: Motorists can expect north and southbound full ramp closures and lane restrictions from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday. The “Martin Luther King Day March” will be held. Traffic Control will be done by the California Highway Patrol.

The Sacramento Public Library also has JobNow, a free online service to help job seekers with 24/7 access to online job coaching, resume help, and other online resources to guide Sacramento Public Library patrons in helping them to get a new job.

Library patrons can access this free service by clicking the JobNow link on the library’s web page at www.saclibrary.org and entering their Sacramento Public Library card number and personal identity number (PIN).

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The Sacramento Public Library has invited local author Barry S. Martin to discuss his book, Forgotten Aviator: The Adventures of Royal Leonard, on Saturday, January 21 at 2 p.m. at its Arden-Dimick branch, 891 Watt Avenue, Sacramento.

Royal Leonard was 20th century Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek’s personal pilot, co-conspirator with the famed World War II Flying Tigers commander, and aviator on the Skyway to Hell. The author will talk about the Golden Age of American Aviation and the Sino-Japanese War of the 1930s and 1940s.

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James Mazzaferro, band director at Sheldon High School, has been selected as one of two band directors in the United States to become a Bandworld Legion of Honor Laureate.

“It’s wonderful to see Jim recognized for the many years of hard work and dedication he has devoted to being an exceptional teacher and role model for students,” said Paula Duncan, principal at Sheldon. “Thanks to Jim, the music program at Sheldon has flourished into one of the top and most respected music programs in the area. He continues to raise the bar for musical excellence in his students and our school is thrilled to see him recognized nationally for his tireless efforts.”

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