Helping hands
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
MJ’s Project assists local teens in need. Prospecting, B2 Wednesday, January 20, 2021
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Union Mine theater teacher arrested Noel Stack Managing editor Union Mine High School theater arts teacher Ryan Pullen was arrested Jan. 14 on suspicion of possession of child pornography, eavesdropping and child endangerment, El Dorado County sheriff ’s officials announced. The arrest came a day after authorities were contacted by Union Mine staff, who reported Pullen was in possession of a video depicting students in various stages of undress. “An investigation began immediately with EDSO student resource officers and detectives, which culminated in the arrest of Ryan during a search warrant on Thursday,” a sheriff ’s press release states. Pullen was not listed as being in custody at the El Dorado County Jail as of press time. “Detectives are reviewing the video to identify the victims and they will contact them individually,” the release continues. “This is still
Ryan Pullen
Village Life photo by Sel Richard
Dozens of parents and student athletes gather at El Dorado Hills Town Center Friday to support the Let Them Play movement, which calls for state leaders to allow school sports to resume.
Youth athletes, parents tell Legislature: ‘Let Them Play’ banned sports, California being one of them. “Mental Health America, the NCAA, Rowan University and Washington University have found that not playing sports has led to increased anxiety, depression, despair, High school athletes across the state gathered to obesity and diabetes.” appeal to the California Legislature to reassess guideSeveral student athletes stood to offer their take, lines for high school sports in more than 130 rallies including Luke Armstrong, an Oak Ridge junior and Friday afternoon, with El Dorado Hills Town Center varsity football player who has played since elemenbeing the epicenter for one event. tary school. “This was the first fall in seven years that “Our goal is to stand together and show the state that we want youth to start immediately in a safe man- I haven’t been able to play,” he said, disappointed at his inability to play during a season that would have ner,” said Oak Ridge High School parent Kristen been crucial for college recruitment. “We as football Roeder. “Thirty states played their basketball seasons players have missed out on and 35 states played their footthe opportunity to grow as a ball season. The science shows team, to strengthen our bond that sports can be played without and to build a brotherhood.” spreading COVID.” Cheerleading captain Roeder was inspired by the Sydney Sackmann, a senior at Facebook group Let Them Play Vista Del Lago High School, CA, a grass roots organization of — Kristen Roeder, said she’s hopeful she will be coaches and parents in California. back on the field this year. In under three weeks, the group Oak Ridge High School parent “I’ve been cheering since garnered more than 35,000 memsecond grade and have always bers. Roeder subsequently reached looked forward to that senior out to other parents and Town year,” she said, admitting that online practices and Center, who allowed the rally. “We started contactzoom camps are subpar. “I’m really hoping that by the ing area coaches, youth sport programs and student end of this year we get those Friday night lights.” athletes.” “I just wish we could be out there,” Oak Ridge Oak Ridge parent Rita Ferrero said she was eager junior Teagan Brown said. “Right now I’d probably to support the movement. “We’ve been watching and waiting for over 10 months while our California youth be getting ready to play a basketball game and I’m not, but other states can. For many athletes, their team is are suffering,” she told the crowd. “We have the tools their happy place and that’s taken away from a lot of to get the kids back playing and the evidence that it teams.” can be done.” Oak Ridge Freshman football player Coleton Welch Ferrero outlined three goals the group hopes to agrees. “I feel like I’m missing a part of my life right accomplish: to keep the pressure on legislators and the now,” he said. “I want to play and I think they should California Department of Public Health, to keep the let us play.” momentum going with the movement and to unite. Dylan Souza, who graduated this past fall from El Roeder pointed out that students are suffering without sports. “There are 3 million kids on the bench right now,” she said, adding that seven states have n See athletes, page A7
n
Sel Richard Staff writer
“After all, kids are an essential business.”
See teacher arrested, page A7
No local bad reactions to Moderna vaccine Dawn Hodson Staff writer State Department of Public Health officials have asked providers to halt administering doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine after reports that some people suffered allergic reactions. Monday El Dorado County officials said so far no residents have reported abnormal side effects. The state took action after six healthcare workers reported having a serious allergic reaction at a mass vaccination clinic at Petco Park, the Padre’s stadium in San Diego. No other similar clusters have been found in the state. Sunday Dr. Erica Pan of the state Department of Public Health recommended providers stop n
See Vaccine doses, page A7
3 COVID-19 deaths reported on Friday Thomas Frey Staff writer
Blankenheim named Cal Fire unit chief Dawn Hodson Staff writer The Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit welcomes home Mike Blankenheim as its new unit chief. Blankenheim returns to the Amador-El Dorado Unit after serving with the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit. Blankenheim replaces Unit Chief Scott Lindgren who retired Dec. 4 after nearly 29 years of service with Cal Fire. Blankenheim brings a wide range of experience to his new position, having worked in the fire service for the past 28 years. He started his career in 1992 as a volunteer firefighter for the Amador Fire Protection District. Married with a daughter and two grandchildren, he and his
wife live in Jackson. Working for the fire service seems to have been in Blankenheim’s destiny given his brother also works for Cal Fire and his father was a fire chief in Amador County. Two years after working as a volunteer firefighter Blankenheim was hired by Cal Fire where he served in a variety of positions. That experience includes working as a firefighter, fire apparatus engineer, paramedic, Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp fire crew captain, Emergency Command Center battalion chief and the North Division chief including Growlersburg Conservation Camp. Prior to being named unit chief of the Amador-El n
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Cal Fire’s new chief of its Amador-El Dorado Unit See Blankenheim, page A3 is Mike Blankenheim.
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El Dorado County has now seen a total of 44 COVID-19-related deaths since the virus outbreak in March 2020. Three new deaths were reported Friday afternoon — a Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz woman 65 or older, one Lake Tahoe region woman 65 or older and one north county man 65 or older. The county recorded 121 new COVID-19 cases Jan. 15 (7,515 total). Of those new cases seven are in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, 28 are in El Dorado Hills, seven are in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, two are in north county, 16 are in greater Placerville, 16 are in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue and 46 are in the Lake Tahoe region. One is awaiting address confirmation. Of the 121 cases, 28 are in patients age 0-17, 50 are 18-49, 23 are 50-64, 20 are 65 or older. Thirty-four COVID-19 patients are hospitalized with nine of those in the ICU, according to the most recent figures. With respect to the state’s tier assignment measures, the adjusted case rate is now 49.8 per 100,000; the positivity rate is 13.5% and the health equity quartile positivity rate is 16.1%. El Dorado County did not update its COVID-19 case data Monday due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
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