High flyin’ Bruins
Art in miniature
Good things come in small packages at the Gallery at 48 Natoma.
Ponderosa boys hoops improves to 19-0 with win over Lincoln.
Sports, A6
News, etc., B1
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Volume 171 • Issue 9 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Friday, January 21, 2022
CEDAC action plan
Education, career creation are essential drivers Eric Jaramishian Staff writer A new year means new focus for the Community and Economic Development Advisory Committee looking to target topics to enhance economic development in El Dorado County. CEDAC’s action plan, its roadmap for addressing different areas of economic development, highlights career creation, education, hemp and housing, among others. The committee brought the plan to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Jan. 11 — its goal to drive emphasis on keeping and attracting young, educated people in the county as they complete their education or trade apprenticeships, while also supporting start-up businesses for all demographics. CEDAC chair Glenn Krakow commented that the committee’s efforts were delayed last year but gave the suggestion to open more communication from the county’s secondary schools and community colleges so the public can realize its options when pursuing education. “When I was with the city of Placerville we had problems finding qualified people for waste management plants,” District 3 Supervisor Wendy Thomas said. “It is helpful to make some headway and make sure the community college programs align with the needs of the county.” Karkow suggested CEDAC gather information on all programs offered at county high schools and community colleges to present to the board so it can analyze what programs are needed relating to job creation. District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo brought up changes in the automotive industry such as the shift from gas to electric vehicles, to which District 5 Supervisor Sue Novasel noted that South Tahoe High School’s auto shop program has 10 new automotive bays, one of them exclusively for electric cars. “There are a lot of things going on in coming years that we have to get up to speed on,” said Turnboo. “I think that is a great program for the kids.” CEDAC will also continue to support the need for n
See CEDAC, page A2
March on Main Street n MLK Day events honor Dr. King, focus on voting rights Andrew Vonderschmitt Staff writer The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated Monday night in downtown Placerville. A day that marks what would have been the famous Civil Rights activist’s 93rd birthday brought local residents together to talk about voting rights, reflect on King’s message and march from Town Hall down to the Belltower and back, candles in hand. King’s actual birthday is Jan. 15 but the federal holiday is observed the third Monday in January. King’s family also marched Monday in Washington D.C., honoring his life work by demanding action on federal voting rights legislation held up in the U.S. Senate. That legislation, the Freedom to Vote Act, would expand voting opportunities and increase campaign finance transparency, while the John Lewis Voting Rights Mountain Democrat photo by Andrew Vonderschmitt Advancement Act would Marching through downtown and holding vigil on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, local residents keep restore key provisions the “dream” alive. in the 1965 Voting Rights Act the Supreme Justice Community in Saunders, John Savage, King and his daughter Court weakened in Sarah Saunders, Linda partnership with El Bernice King, as well 2013, according to Webster and Amrit as several speakers who Dorado Progressives, proponents. Bajwa. A musical took to the podium. Rural Resistance and Placerville’s program, Those speakers included performance came from Black Lives Matter put on by the El Dorado El Dorado County, Joan Stouffer and Mel Susan Sompkin, Gale County Peace and Chapman. featured video of Dr. Hesselgesser, Michael
2020 Census
How much did El Dorado County grow anyway? Eric Jaramishian Staff writer Data from the 2020 Census was released last year but what changes in population did it show for El Dorado County? Most new residents were counted PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
in El Dorado Hills but here’s how it broke down countywide. The county’s population increased by 10,127 residents from 181,058 in 2010 to 191,185 in 2020, an approximately 5.4% increase, according to U.S. Census data. El Dorado Hills contributed 8,439 to that 10-year span increase. Overall, El Dorado Hills’ population grew from 42,108 to 50,547. Comparatively, Cameron Park’s population increased by 653 from 18,228 in 2010 to 18,881 in 2020. County seat Placerville’s population is up by 349 from 10,389 to 10,747 in that same timeframe. Diamond Springs grew from 11,037 to 11,345. Pollock Pines’ population grew from 6,871 to 7,112 and South
El Dorado County population by area El Dorado Hills
Cameron Park
2010
Placerville
2020
Pollock Pines
South Lake Tahoe Mountain Democrat graph by Eric Jaramishian
Most population growth in El Dorado County was recorded in El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park, according to 2020 U.S. Census data. Lake Tahoe experienced a meager population decrease by 73, bringing it to a total of 21,330. The county’s
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population increase in the 10-year span was lower than adjacent counties like Placer County, where
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population increased by 15% from 348,432 to 404,739, and Sacramento County’s 11% population increase
from 1,418,788 to 1,585,055. Smaller Amador County saw its n
See Census, page A2
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