GET OUTSIDE!
Golden day
Hate the snow? Coloma’s rich history offers much to explore.
James Marshall’s discovery commemorated.
Outside with Charlie, A6
171
st
News, etc., B1 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 171 • Issue 7 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, January 17, 2022
Mountain Democrat photo by Thomas Frey
Marshall Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Cindy Rice stands next to one of the beds available for COVID-19 patients who will come when the hospital becomes a regional COVID19 surge center.
Marshall ready to serve as COVID surge hospital Thomas Frey Staff writer Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
The 2004 Gateway Hotel project on Smith Flat and Jacquier roads in Placerville was abandoned. Grading and foundation work went in before the development became financially insolvent.
Abandoned Placerville hotel site may see construction Andrew Vonderschmitt Staff writer Barring a few concerns over parking and noise pollution, community members overwhelmingly supported a proposed 106-room hotel development at the Jan. 4 Placerville Planning Commission meeting. The Mackinaw Hotel would be built at 3001 Jacquier Road, at the corner of Smith Flat and Jacquier roads in Placerville — a site where concrete foundations still sit after they were poured for a previously proposed hotel some 18 years ago. Planning commissioners considered a site plan review and variance requests from applicant Apple Hill Hospitality LLC and Eat.Drink.Sleep developer Brett Miller. PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
Courtesy rendering
The 106-room Makinaw Hotel proposed for Placerville would go in as soon as 2023. Variance requests include building height that would exceed by 6 feet 7 inches the allowed 40 feet and an increase of allowed compact parking spaces. Development Services Director Pierre Rivas gave a little history
lesson on the site. Various proposed developments have been approved in the past, including in 1986 a 100-room hotel and restaurant; in 1988 a gas station, mini mart, 104-room hotel and Pea Soup Andersen’s; in 1997 a North Point
Travel Center, gas station and car wash; in 2004 the 102-room Gateway Hotel or Holiday Inn Express; and in 2017 the 102room Hampton Inn and Suites. The Gateway Hotel n
See Hotel, page A7
When the state approached Marshall Hospital leadership about becoming a COVID-19 surge facility, CEO Siri Nelson said she felt it was the hospital’s obligation to help support the county, region and state anyway it can. The state will provide the resources for the 111bed hospital to add approximately 45 beds to house regional COVID-19 patients overflowing from other area hospitals. “El Dorado County is our service area but we think it’s important to support health care as much as we can throughout the state,” Nelson said. “When the state comes and says ‘Can you help?’ — we do everything we can to do that.” The state will provide about 60 traveling nurses, who have worked throughout the pandemic to cover those 45 beds, according to Marshall Chief Nursing Officer Cindy Rice. “It could start at any time,” Rice said. “We’re anticipating probably in the next couple of weeks we would be seeing patients.” Finding rooms for the beds is something Nelson, Rice and Executive Director of Facilities and Support Services Takamori Saito have been diligently working on. “We had some natural areas that would lend themself to surging space,” Saito said. “Our goal is making sure the space is safe for patient care.” The hospital won’t fill the 45 beds immediately; instead Marshall staff said they expect to work up to that number over time. Nelson, Rice, Saito and other Marshall officials came up with a plan to add more beds if needed when the pandemic began in 2020. “When the state approached us we basically just took those old plans and said, ‘Is it still relevant and how can we use all the planning work we’ve already done?’” Nelson said. Nelson added that additional staff will provide much needed relief to the Marshall healthcare workers, who have worked tirelessly since the pandemic began. “Our staff is tired,” Nelson said. “We’ve been very busy and we’ve had staff out on either COVID precautions because they’ve been exposed or they’ve tested positive so they need to stay home.”
Rescuing Russ
Tahoe PAWS and TLC 4 Furry Friends rescuer Leona Allen helps Russ the pit bull mix off a South Lake Tahoe mountain last month.
Runaway dog found by skiers after five months n
Thomas Frey Staff writer When Russ, a pit bull mix, ran away in August as the Caldor Fire was inching toward South Lake Tahoe, his owner thought he would never see his best friend again. In a post to social media animal rescuers with the nonprofit Tahoe PAWS & TLC 4 Furry Friends told Russ’ harrowing tale. n
Photo courtesy of Tahoe PAWS & TLC 4 Furry Friends
See Rescue, page A3
CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE (530) SENIOR DISCOUNTS VETERAN DISCOUNTS Thank You for your Service
Non-Contact Heater Tune-up
NOW ONLY
58
303-2220 $
www.airtechpros.com Lic#955202
A Properly Tuned-Up Air Conditioner Will: • Cool Your Home More Effectively • Lower Your Monthly Utility Bills
Please mention coupon when scheduling your service. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Please present coupon. Not good with any other offer. Expires 01.31.22 Air Tech HVAC • 530-303-2220