Rafting Gone Wild

 

There were desperate attempts to save a woman in trouble on the water in Sacramento County, but Sunnyvale’s Sonia Rangel, couldn’t be saved from her day in the sun, celebrating her newly-obtained American citizenship near Discovery Park.

The 36-year-old mother, grandmother and bodybuilder recently died during a boating incident in the midst of the often drunken and often disorderly ‘Rage on the River.’

Eleven days later, other fans of what the county’s rivers have to offer are enjoying a very different kind of day afloat.

“Especially after a high stress day it’s pretty relaxing. It’s nice,” said Jan Atkinson of Folsom.

“It’s great to just come out and just forget it all and just relax on the water,” said Elk Grove’s Lisa Andrus.

Directors of Sacramento county’s regional parks are looking to inject the kind of calms river days Andrus enjoys, into big river event days like the Rafting Gone Wild floating fiesta planned for thousands to enjoy July 11.

That’s why they’ve issued an alcohol ban on American River Parkway from Hazel to Watt Avenue, trying to avoid the 12 arrests, boozy brawls and destruction of property that marred the event in 2012.

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