A Somber Remembrance Last years News story

Although the burial service was reserved for family, close friends and members of the Rocklin Police Department, the memorial for Matthew Redding on Friday at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville was anything but restricted.

Former classmates, now-grown Little League teammates and the many who considered the Rocklin Police officer a friend were among the mourners who filled the 3,000-seat auditorium.

Hundreds of law enforcement personnel, some from as far away as Oakland, Los Gatos, Santa Cruz and Redding, filled much of the lower-level seating. The church parking lot was filled nearly one hour before the morning memorial service.

"I thought the service was beautiful," said John Redding, Matthew's father. "It is amazing to see how many lives Matthew touched."

A huge funeral procession that included around 100 police motorcycles passed through Rocklin streets after the Roseville service and eventually reached Bayside Covenant Church in Granite Bay, where a reception was held.

After the service, John and Marilyn Redding later said goodbye to their son during a private burial ceremony as he was laid to rest in the Rocklin cemetery.

The 29-year-old Redding, who was struck by a pick-up truck allegedly driven by Eric Dungan, 25, of Lincoln at about 4 a.m. Sunday, died a short time later in Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

Redding's casket was draped by an American flag and watched over by an honor guard whose members were replaced about every 10 minutes.

Mark Redding, 24, and his brother's fiancée, Jessica Navarette, were visibly moved as they said their farewells.

They weren't alone. Emotion was evident early in the service. People with tissues dabbed their eyes and noses as Redding's parents and brother walked hand-in-hand to the stage.

John Redding said his son had always been a strong person. He spoke of Matthew's growing-up years - how he liked to help his mom do landscaping, had been a good role model to his younger brother, wanted to be a professional baseball player or a police officer and the many hunting and fishing trips father and son had shared.

"Somewhere between we became best friends," he said.

Arthur Navarette, who would have become Redding's father-in-law, said he already thought of Matthew as a son. When Redding's fiancée spoke, she said they had planned to grow old together.

"Not only was my love stolen from me, so was my future," Jessica Navarette said. "I miss Matt so much."

Using Redding's Bible to quote his favorite Scripture from Psalms 1, Pastor Jay Vincent of Sierra Baptist Church noted the young officer loved his family and friends dearly, but treasured the Bible above all else. Vincent has lived across the street from the Reddings since they moved to Rocklin in 1986.

Rocklin Police Chief Mark Siemens said the large gathering showed how "special Matt was."

"We are here to honor his life and career," Siemens said. "One of the most rewarding acts in my career is the swearing in of new officers. This tall, strong hometown boy was proud to be a cop, and wore a smile for weeks (after he was sworn in)."

Siemens said although he had hired many police officers, Redding was one who surprised him. After a couple of years the tall, thin young man had buffed up and learned a great deal from veteran mentors.

"Before long he was showing us how it was done," Siemens said. "Matt caused all of our officers to have greater contact with the community, if for no other reason than to flag them down and ask, 'Is Matt Redding working tonight?'"

Applause erupted when Siemens declared Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office had declared December would be known this year as Redding Drunk Driving Awareness Month.

A theme throughout the memorial was Redding's Christian faith. Pastor Richard Cimino of Metro Calvary Church, where Redding attended, spoke of Redding's love for Bible studies and people.

"I once asked Matt, 'Do you ever get afraid?' He said, 'No, I like catching the bad guys,'" Cimino said. "More than anything he wanted to be a Jesus man."

After a slide presentation that featured photos of Redding, Cpl. Eric Dollar of the Rocklin Police Department read the Policeman's Prayer,

"I don't think I can do this," he said, choking back tears. Haltingly he exchanged the word "policeman" with Redding's first name in the poem's last stanza.

"Step forward now Matt, you've borne your burdens well," Dollar read. "Come walk a beat on heaven's street, you've done your time in hell."

The Redding family and Navarette were presented folded flags by Siemens and Asst. Chief Dan Ruden before the ceremony ended. Law enforcement personnel saluted as they filed past the coffin, which was then led by a lone bagpiper to the church parking lot where uniformed officers stood at attention to observe three helicopters honoring Redding with a flyover.

Lt. David Johnstone, who acted as department liaison and helped the family make funeral arrangements, said there were countless volunteers and personnel who loved Redding and assisted in making memorial preparations.

"This has been part of my healing process, doing this has helped me," Johnstone said. "The Reddings have been amazing. To know them is to know Matt."

October 9, 2006 Declared an Official Day of Remembrance in Rocklin

The Rocklin City Council has declared October 9, 2006 an Official Day of Remembrance in the City of Rocklin in honor of the service and sacrifice of Officer Matt Redding, who was killed in the line of duty on that date last year.

Councilmember Hill read the resolution during Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting.

Officer Redding was killed by a drunk driver in the early morning hours of October 9, 2005, on Highway 65 near Stanford Ranch Road while he was directing traffic away from his fellow officers during a car stop. He was a member of the SWAT team and was decorated for valor, life saving and meritorious duty.

Officer Redding was also a champion in the fight against drunk driving. Officer Redding served as a Rocklin police officer for 4 years. The City Council described him as a man committed to his family, friends, his fellow officers and the community.

Members of the public are invited to attend a candlelight vigil on October 9, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in front of the Rocklin Police Station, 4080 Rocklin Road.

Introduction to Rocklin History Series

Recent archeological evidence indicates earliest human habitation of the Rocklin area at about 7,000 years ago. About 3000 year ago, perhaps as late as 1500 years ago, the Nisenan, sometimes called Southern Maidu, occupied the area. Although Euro-Americans severely disrupted their culture in the 19th century, descendents of these people still reside in South Placer County.

Although Euro-Americans were probably fishing and harvesting game in the Rocklin area in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, major Euro-American settlement started in the early 1850’s as fortune hunters sluiced for gold in Secret Ravine, that area of oaks and dredger tailings that we see today southeast of interstate 80 between Roseville and Loomis.

The area’s industrial development started in the mid to late 1850’s as the Argonauts abandoned their sluice boxes to quarry granite for public buildings in Sacramento and San Francisco. Boom times for Rocklin started in the mid-1860’s as Rocklin quarries supplied stone for construction of the transcontinental railroad between 1864 and 1869 and the railroad located a roundhouse in Rocklin in 1866 to service the extra engines needed for the trans-sierra run.

Rocklin’s granite industry survived lean times in the late 19th century but began to flourish in the late 1880’s and 1890’s as the quarries employed pneumatic technology and Finnish Immigrants came to control quarry ownership and dominate Rocklin’s social life. Labor strife and competition from cement-based concrete permanently decimated the industry in the early 20th century although one quarry continued to operate until 2004.

Rocklin’s round house operations moved to Roseville in 1908 displacing 300 workers. This event coupled with a declining granite industry attenuated Rocklin’s growth until high tech industries began to locate here and Highway 80 brought Rocklin within easy commute distance of Sacramento in the early 1960’s.

Most of today’s Rocklin occupies the southern 12,000 acres of the former Spring Valley Ranch. George Whitney founded this ranch in 1855 and transferred ownership to his son Joel Parker Whitney, called Parker then, in 1873. Buoyed by easy access to rail shipping, and employing cheap Chinese labor formerly employed in railroad construction, Parker built the ranch to 27,000 acres by the time of his death in 1913.

The articles in this series detail interesting aspects of Rocklin’s development. The information is from a variety of sources, most of which are mentioned within the text. In preparing these articles I talked to dozens of Rocklin’s old-timers. If I list their names here someone whom I’ve missed will feel slighted. Suffice it to say that I relied heavily on members of the Ruhkala family and Rocklin History Museum Project Manager Gene Johnson. Please contact me at

garyday@starstream.net if you need a reference
Gary Day

coming home
Rocklin High to welcome back grads with parade

By: Brad Alexander, The Placer Herald
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 4:27 PM PDT

Junior class officers, above, Courtney Buzdon and Emma Lyle pomp the skirting for the junior class float for Friday's homecoming game. Left, freshman class president Shaina Campbell, class representative Ashley Linnane and vice president Shannon Stowers (front to back) pomp the backdrop for the freshman class float for Friday's homecoming game. Brad Alexander/ The Placer Herald

This week Rocklin High School students are taking over their parents' houses to get ready for Friday's 10th annual homecoming.

From freshman to seniors, each class is preparing elaborate floats to represent their school pride. This year brings extra pressure to impress, as alumni from the nine graduating classes will be attending Rocklin's football game.

This year's theme is "Homecoming Across the Board," each class has taken on a different board game to represent their school pride as they attempt to out-do the other classes.

"It's exciting, we've been working so hard on this all year," said junior class representative Emma Lyle. The juniors hope their Jumanji-themed float really jumps out and makes an impression on the crowd.

The planning for the parade begins shortly after the previous year's homecoming. In May Activities Director John Thompson takes the newly elected student government on a camping trip to talk business.

"On the trip, the students select themes for the parade and I give them deadlines to meet throughout the year that builds up to this week," Thompson said. "They usually spend three or four hours just coming up with the theme."

Once the design plans and budget is organized, the building can begin. For some the building is the easiest part of the whole project.

Students must have a detailed materials list, including the cost of each item. The students have spent a large amount of their time tracing the aisles of local hardware stores.

"The budget is definitely one of the most difficult things," said Lyle. "Home Depot is like our new home."

The construction for the floats began early Saturday morning and often leads late into the evening. Each class feels the pressure to out perform the others. Some students consider the homecoming as a good chance for the whole school to feel united, even in competition.

"During the school year we have split lunches, but during homecoming week we all eat lunch together," said senior Kristian Klebofski. "The differently themed days give everyone a chance to be together and be involved."

The seniors hold the most experience as several four-year veterans are developing their Mousetrap themed float. However, even the freshman class feels like it has a chance to take the top spot with its Hungry, Hungry Hippos-themed float.

"We are worried about the seniors the most because they have all the experience. They have awesome people working on their float," said freshman class president Shaina Campbell. "But our class is very spirited. We won the last rally."

Throughout the school year, each class earns spirit points for getting involved with the school and their classmates in different rally activities, like dress-up days. The homecoming is a chance to pick up a huge number of points.

The freshmen stand in second place behind the seniors.

The floats and homecoming royalty will roll onto the field during halftime of Friday's football game. The Rocklin Thunder plays Reed High School after the alumni parade at 7 p.m.

The alumni parade will consist of 10 years of alumni handing the game ball to Rocklin High School varsity head coach Greg Benzel, who has coached every level of football at the school at some point in his career.

Amy Grant Monday, September 25 at 7PM ET
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Sun, Oct. 1 at 11AM ET The Blend - XM 25

Rocklin High to honor 10 classes

A parade of alumni will precede the varsity football game on Sept. 29 at the Rocklin High School Homecoming parade and football game.

Each graduating class will carry a banner announcing the year they graduated and the alumni will walk behind the banner.

"We've never done anything like this before," assistant principal Mark Douglas said.

Douglas said he is hoping for a big turnout.

Rocklin High School has graduated 3746 students since its first graduating class in 1997.

The number of graduating seniors has steadily increased from the first graduating class in 1997 of 240 students and last year, Rocklin High School graduated 528 students.

"We've got such a great following in the community, we stand to have a significant amount of kids show up," Douglas said.

Alumni who wish to attend the parade and football game do not need to contact the High School beforehand, all they need to do is show up to the game and check in at the gate, Douglas said.

Mark Douglas said he expects this year's seniors to be the biggest graduating class since it was the last class before Whitney High School opened up.

Alumni are asked to arrive in the stadium by 6:30 p.m. to be ready for the parade time.

Alumni arriving by this time will receive a special entry price of $5. After 6:30 p.m., regular ticket prices apply.

Another highlight of the ceremonies will be the game ball, which will be handed down by RHS football alumni representing each graduating year and presented to Head Coach Greg Benzel.

Event organizers said they have prepared for an excess of people with overflow parking and areas so that they don't have a repeat of a few years ago when more than 8000 people showed up for the homecoming game.

The homecoming parade with floats and royalty will take place at half time.

Regular admission for adults is $6 and $4 for students.

Collin Raye

Collin Raye - When You Say Your Prayers

Audio Codes From AcousticSpot.com

If you've ever wondered
When you pray at night
If it makes a difference
If it sets things right
Everytime we say our prayers
Whispered in the dark
Somewhere deep inside you
You know with all your heart
As sure as god's in heaven
There's someone who cares
And somebody's listening
When you say your prayers
A prayer can be a thank-you
A prayer can be a wish
A prayer can say I'm sorry
Like a hug or a kiss
It doesn't have to be just right
God hears you loud and clear
As long as it comes from your heart
It goes right to his ear
As sure as god's in heaven
There's someone who cares
And somebody's listening
When you say your prayers
As sure as god's in heaven
There's someone who cares
And somebody's listening
When you say your prayers
Just know somebody's listening
When you say your prayers

My Husband and i together on our wedding day Oct 21 2000 we had a wonderful wedding it well be 6 years together and i known my husband for about 11 years Now

Amy Grant Monday, September 25 at 7PM ET
She's done it all and you will hear about it as Amy Grant talks and plays for the XM Nation in the latest installment of Artist Confidential. Plus, you'll hear songs from her new album, Time Again...Amy Grant Live, before it hits stores Wednesday, September 26th. She's so much more than Country...or Pop...She's Amy Grant and she tells it and plays it like it is on XM's Artist Confidential.
Mon, Sept. 25 at 7PM ET The Message - XM 32
Weds, Sept. 27 at Noon ET The Message - XM 32
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Fall is Coming

MySpace Codes

With Minnie Pearl and Roy acuff at the Ryman is the coolest place to go when you are in Nashville Tn

next picture is David and i cross the street from the old Country music hall of Fame