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C a l i f o r n i a ’ s O l d e s t N e w s pa p e r – E s t. 18 51
Volume 170 • Issue 7 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Friday, January 15, 2021
How low will they go?
Vaccines available for those 65+ Thomas Frey Staff writer
COVID-19 vaccinations are now available in El Dorado County for anyone age 65 and older. Residents must register for a appointment at the El Dorado County Public Health Department in Placerville or South Lake Tahoe or at select Safeway pharmacies. Anyone who is in Phase 1A tiers 1-3, Phase 1B Tier 1 or older than the age of 65 regardless of employment status is eligible for the vaccine. Phase 1A includes critical and healthcare workers and 1B tier n
See Vaccines, page A2
Stay-at-home order lifted n EDC officials report 6 more deaths Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
The old Salmon Falls Bridge, built in 1925 and submerged in 1955, has been left high and dry with Folsom’s Lake’s storage currently at 280,211 acre-feet of its maximum capacity 977,000 acre-feet. The bridge once served the mining town of Salmon Falls.
Local lakes shrinking Mountain Democrat staff
Photo by Lucy D’Mot
The eastern reaches of Jenkinson Lake in Pollock Pines are but an exposed lakebed of late with the reservoir holding 25,807 acre-feet of its 41,033 acrefoot capacity.
Water supplies in El Dorado County lakes are dropping. In a report to the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors Monday Operations Director Dan Corcoran said the water agency expects to have adequate water supplies for 2021 but continues to be diligent regarding signs of a possible multiyear rainfall shortage. This week water levels at local reservoirs are 13,200 acre-feet at Caples (max 22,340), 2,350 acre-feet at Silver (max 8,640), 25,870 acre-feet at Jenkinson (max 41,033), 280,211 acre-feet at Folsom (max 977,000) and 260 at Weber (max 1,125). Last year at this time Jenkinson was 80% n
Thomas Frey Staff writer Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday the Sacramento region, which includes El Dorado County, could exit the regional stayat-home order, effective immediately. “This is based on the state’s four-week projection putting the region’s ICU capacity at 19.1%, above the 15% threshold announced last month,” said Carla Hass, director of communications and outreach for El Dorado County. Even though the order has been lifted El Dorado County remains in the most restrictive, n
See Order lifted, page A6
notice
In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday the Mountain Democrat will not publish Monday, Jan. 18.
See Lakes, page A3
Chen all smiles as Therapy Stores survives appeal Thomas Frey Staff writer Moments before the Placerville City Council denied the appeal of a conditional use permit for Therapy Stores and its owner Jing Chen to open at 339 Main St. in Placerville, Chen let loose a big smile. It was a smile she waited nearly three months to show. Once Combellack’s closed its doors after more than 130 years of operating on Main Street, Chen purchased the building with plans to put a Therapy Stores there. Since there are more than five Therapy Stores locations (11 total), it is considered a formula business, which requires a conditional use permit from the Placerville Planning Commission to open in the city’s historical district. The topic originally appeared on the Planning Commission agenda on election night Nov. 3 but was quickly
moved to Nov. 17 so there could be more of a discussion. That exchange of views went on for hours, with callers from chiming in for and against the formula business coming to town. It was continued to the Dec. 1 meeting where a decision was made. At the Dec. 1 meeting the Planning Commission quickly came to the decision to approve the permit for Therapy Stores, but commissioners knew what was in store. “Regardless of what we do there will be an appeal,” said Planning Commissioner Michael Frenn before the meeting concluded. On Dec. 10 Sacramento attorney Patrick Soluri filed an appeal on behalf of the Placerville Downtown Association and Friends of Historic Hangtown. Soluri and a representative of the PDA each gave statements Tuesday night as the City Council heard the appeal for why the permit should not
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be approved for downtown “This is a capitalist Therapy Stores. Placerville. “Larger She went on environment. Competition businesses have to say local makes us work harder and this kind of stores have unequal power,” an unwritten makes us work smarter. I Soluri said. don’t think I should apologize agreement “They can talk to not to sell for that.” the distributors each other’s and basically say, — Jing Chen, owner of Therapy Stores products. ‘Hey you know Dolly Wager, what? We’ve an owner of got 12 locations. You need to shut Lofty Lou’s on Main Street, said that out these other small operators. You was news to her. need to stop selling these items to “This unsaid rule of competition — those operators or we’re going to stop never heard of it,” Wager said. Mayerhofer echoed Soluri’s working with you.’” sentiments, saying Therapy Stores Soluri also said large businesses can afford to “purchase in bulk and have greater access to capital and can get loans easier. Soluri compared in greater variety than the mom and Therapy Stores to worldwide clothing pops’ budgets will allow.” Soluri and Mayerhofer used up and accessories retailer Gap. their entire 20 minute allotment. Heidi Mayerhofer, representing Jing Chen had 20 minutes to respond the PDA, said Therapy Stores carries dozens of duplicate lines that are already sold by other stores in n See Therapy Stores, page A7
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