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Tuesday's Internet Edition, January 06, 2009.
Wilton pulls together to beautify Mitchell memorial site
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Photo by Fran Soto
Sheriff’s deputies and VIPS (Volunteers in Partnership with the Sheriff) from the Wilton Service Center are hard at working planting native flowering plants at the Deputy Jeff Mitchell memorial site on Meiss Road.
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By Fran Soto
River Valley Times Staff
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Two years have passed since Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Mitchell was murdered during a routine vehicle stop on Meiss Road on Oct. 27, 2006.
In honor of his sacrifice, a memorial now stands at the spot on Meiss Road where Deputy Mitchell lost his life. The monument, which was a joint undertaking by the community, includes flowering plants, but they have not fared well in the hot, dry River Valley summers.
On Wednesday, Oct. 15, sheriff’s deputies and VIPS (Volunteers in Partnership with the Sheriff) working out of the Wilton Service Center arrived early in the morning to remove the dying plants and replace them with California natives that can tolerate the hot summer sun. A valley oak was also planted at the back of the memorial to provide shade in the years to come.
“This is something we’ve wanted to do for a while,” said Wilton resident Rich Gunn, who serves as a VIPS. “We thought it would be better to have native plants. If we can get help water them for the first year, they will probably survive.”
In preparation for planting, Gunn and Mike Kraynak, who also serves as a VIPS, began seeking donations for the materials needed. Ann and Jeff Chandler, Sheldon area residents, donated the plants.
Wilton resident Steve Connor, with Connor Sand and Gravel, donated planting mix and Sheldon Ace Hardware donated fertilizer and bark. The Wilton Fire Department watered down the area prior to planting day.
By 8 a.m. the VIPS at work included Gunn and his wife Linda, Robby Harms, Gene Rose, Judy and Gary Cassity and Stan Forster. Sheriff’s deputies joining in included Dan Griffith, Mike Baer, Jim Collentine, Sgt. Mike Dunbar and POP Officer Mike Cravens.
After removing the remaining bark from the first planting, holes were dug and fortified with planting mix before a mixture of wild penstemon, California fuchsia and bush lupine were planted. “The varieties were picked so they would bloom at different times,” said Gunn, whose wife Linda picked the varieties from her own experience with using native plants in landscaping.
Plants were then watered, fertilized and a weed cloth was placed on the area before new bark was spread.
VIPS check the memorial monthly to perform general cleanup duties, but have put out a call for help to water the plants. “We have put out a request to branch members of the California Native Plant Society to help with watering for the first year,” Gunn said. Members of the community who wish to volunteer can contact the WSC at 687-8774 for further information.
According to Sgt. Tim Curran, spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the investigation of the murder of Deputy Mitchell is still ongoing. “We still continue to follow up on leads,” he said. “However, there is no new information at this time.”
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