NASCAR goes karting

Jaramishian Staff writer

Western Midget Racing 2022 Rookie of the Year Logan Mitchell, 23, traveled from Santa Cruz to Red Hawk Casino’s The Apex to meet his NASCAR racing hero — Elk Grove native Kyle Larson. Mitchell, along with other NASCAR fans, got the chance to qualify to race against 2021 NASCAR Cup Series

Obituaries

Obituaries on this page are written and paid for by the families or funeral homes. They are edited minimally by the Mountain Democrat. To submit an obituary, call (530) 622-1255, e-mail obits@mtdemocrat.net, fax (530) 344-5092, or visit mtdemocrat.com under “Submission Forms” at the bottom of the website. Include contact information with all submissions.

Craig Stewart Osmer

May 27, 1947 –Jan. 30, 2023

Craig Stewart Osmer, known to his friends as “Oz”, passed at the age of 75 on January 30, 2023 at home in Grizzly Flats, California, following a long battle with cancer. His wife, Melanie Edman-Osmer was with him at the time of death.

Born May 27th, 1947 in Oakland, Calif., Craig was a fifth-generation Californian, spending much of his childhood in Pleasant Hill and graduating from Pleasant Hill High in 1965.

Directly out of high school, Craig enlisted in the Navy and joined the Sea Bees and was sent to Vietnam where he served two tours. He was very proud of his service and recently had volunteered to help fellow vets travel to and from doctor appointments at Mather and Travis.

In the 70s, Craig had an insurance business in Southern California, but much of his career was spent in auto sales where he would often greet customers with a cheerful “good after-morning!”

Craig absolutely loved karaoke and was well known in local karaoke circles as a real crooner who made friends everywhere he went!

Craig is survived by his brother, Trent Osmer of Carson City, Nevada, and his sisters; Cindy Banks of Michigan and Gayle Baggaley of Rancho Murietta. He has one son, Craig Stewart Osmer, Jr., who along with his wife Carrie Osmer have three daughters. Craig’s granddaughters, Taylor Osmer, Tamara Osmer and Samantha Osmer were the light of his eye!

Craig also helped raise his two step-sons, Connor Edman of Santa Rosa and Tanner Edman of Davis.

He has 15 nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Vivian May Osmer and his father George Stewart Osmer, his first wife, Sandy Osmer, and a daughter who was lost at birth.

Donations can be made in his honor to Snowline Hospice as well as the Kiwanis House at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

A celebration of life will be held in late April. Please contact his wife for details.

James Edward “Chappy” Chapman

Apr. 20, 1942 – Nov. 27, 2022

Jim was born in Placerville, Calif. He was proud to be a lifelong resident. He was a graduate of El Dorado High School and a veteran of the United States Navy. When he returned from his service he had many di erent jobs. He worked for El Dorado Limestone Company and El Dorado County Road Department. He was co-owner of John S. Hocking Company, driving his lowbed and operating his crane, hauling immense loads for SMUD, Bigge Drayage Company and others. He also worked for Ed Akin Trucking and Doug Veerkamp General Eng. Inc. In 1996 he began teaching heavy equipment maintenance & repair for Sacramento County O ce of Education. Upon retirement from teaching, he returned to Doug Veerkamp General Eng. Inc., where he restored antique Caterpillar tractors and various makes of antique trucks for Doug & Matt’s impressive collection. Jim said it was like working at Disneyland. A job he enjoyed immensely.

Jim had countless hobbies. The thing that he loved the most was operating his Caterpillar bulldozer, Snorty. There were numerous friendships created by doing earth moving all around El Dorado County and beyond. He enjoyed wood work and metal work and made many beautiful pieces. In later years he took an interest in machining and was quite talented at it. The restoration of his 1956 Ford pickup was an amazing accomplishment and he was able to take it to several car shows, winning a first place trophy at Sacramento Autorama. He had a life well lived.

Jim was proceeded in death by his father Maurice Chapman, mother Nona Sweeney Chapman, sister Sharon Redding, daughter Stephanie Chapman Pope and son Timothy Chapman. He is survived by his loving wife Bonnie Chapman, grandchildren Mercedes Chapman, Wyatt Pope, Isaac Chapman, Owen Pope and Eric Chapman. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Margie Carrick (Mike), and his former wife Marilyn Chapman. He had very close and loving relationships with his nephews and nieces and is survived by Adam Cole (Elly), Jim Cole (Tina), Laura Mosher, Tom Redding (Shelbi), Ti any Baxter (Brett), Annique Jeske (Ben) and several other great-nephews and great-nieces who adored him.

His friends were abundant and he will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him.

A Celebration of Life will take place July 1, 2023. Details to follow at a later date.

Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to Snowline Hospice of Placerville, 6520 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, Calif. 95619

Dennis Neal Curran

Jan. 31, 1952 – Jan. 26, 2023

Born in Bedford, OH to Raymond Neal Curran and Kathleen Chloe Curran. He was the 2nd of 8 children. At age 3 he and his family moved to Southern CA. He attended St. Frances and St. Dorothy Catholic Schools and Williams School in Glendora. He graduated Glendora High in 1970 and joined the Laborer’s Union of Southern Calif. In 1980 he moved to Sacramento and joined the Northern California Local 185 Hod Carriers. He retired following 30 years of work. After retirement he drove school buses for El Dorado Union School District and Camino School. He worked at Camino School for 7 years, as a custodian and worked up to and retired as maintenance supervisor.

In 1998 he and his wife Linda built a home in Grizzly Flats where they both were volunteer firefighter/EMTs as members of Pioneer Fire Protection District, a position he thoroughly enjoyed and took great joy in serving his community. He always enjoyed motorcycling and over the years belonged to the River City Beamers and Hangtown Riders. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus. In 2001 he and Linda moved to Pollock Pines.

Dennis is survived by his wife Linda Curran with whom he celebrated 24 years of marriage on Jan. 24; his daughter Crystal (Bart) Moran of Spring Hill, Tenn; son Christopher Curran of Perris, Calif; step-daughters Tamara Scott of Placerville, Calif and Tracy Fischbeck of Diamond Springs, Calif; grand children Noah and Jessenia Moran; Cruz, Levi, Alexis and Leila Curran; step-grand children Cheryl Jasper (Ty) Nishikawa, Katie (Alex) Kaderabek, Breeanna Winn, Kyle Scott, Connor Fischbeck and Lucas McRoberts; step-great grand children Madelynn Rapp and Ayden Winn. His 6 surviving siblings include Tim (Mary) Curran of Ramona, Calif; Barbara (Sam) Stevens of Chula Vista, Calif; David Curran of Wildomar, Calif; Becky Curran and John (Clorinda) Curran of La Verne, Calif; Dan (Lee) of Waianae, HI; and sister-in-law Sara (Michael Curran d.) McNerney of Missoula, Mont. He is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and his previous wife Charlene Humphrey of 29 Palms, Calif.

Services will be held Feb. 14, 2023 10:30 AM Rosary 11 AM Funeral Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 3109 Sacramento St., Placerville, Calif.

A reception in the church hall will follow the ceremony. In lieu of flowers please donate to: Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Pt. Dr., Tampa, Fla. 33607 https://donate.lovetotherescue.org

Alexander (Al) E. Herron, Jr.

1955 – Jan. 13, 2023

Alexander (Al) E. Herron, Jr. passed away of complications due to cancer at Marshall hospital on the afternoon of Jan. 13, 2023. His family and friends were in attendance. Al was born in Whittier, Calif. in 1955. Al grew up in Rialto, Calif., racing motorcycles with his brother, Patrick (Pat). He met wife, Gail, in 1983 while still living in Southern California. They married in 1987 and moved to Placerville in 1995. He was employed for 21 years by Gencorp/Aerojet of Rancho Cordova. A lifelong lover of flying, Al purchased his first plane in 1988. He sold it after the move to Placerville to invest in a homebuilt plane kit which he assembled in their garage. An active member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Al completed the plane (RV-7A) in 2008. He and Gail spent many hours flying to visit family and attend air shows. Al was preceded in death by his parents, Alexander Herron Sr., and Jeanette (Hodges) Herron, and half-brother, Larry Schildberg. Al is survived by wife, Gail, brother Pat and many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of life will be held at the EAA hangar at the Placerville airport on April 29, 2023.

Crime Log

The following was taken from El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office logs:

Jan. 29

11 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 47-year-old man suspected of illegally carrying a concealed, loaded weapon on Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park. He was later released.

Jan. 30

7:43 a.m. Burglary was reported at a ranch on Badger Hill Road in Pollock Pines.

10:09 a.m. Grand theft was reported at a business on Durock Road in Cameron Park.

4:24 p.m. Battery was reported at a gas station on Pleasant Valley Road in Placerville.

5:41 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 39-year-old woman suspected of assault and disorderly conduct on Golden Center Drive in Placerville. She was released on $2,000 bail.

5:47 p.m. Petty theft was reported at a store on Palmer Drive in Cameron Park.

10:03 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Town Center Boulevard in El Dorado Hills.

Jan. 31

9:31 a.m. Battery was reported on Wrights Lake Road in Kyburz.

9:58 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 38-year-old man suspected of battery and possession of a controlled substance on Highway

Lake

50 at Cameron Park Drive in Cameron Park. He was later released.

11:22 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 38-year-old woman suspected of burglary on Illinois Canyon Road in Georgetown. She was released on $50,000 bail.

1:43 p.m. Deputies booked into jail a 41-year-old woman suspected of causing injury to an elder/ dependent adult on Old Bass Lake Road in El Dorado Hills. She was listed in custody inline of $75,000 bail.

2:10 p.m. Grand theft was reported in Placerville (street not specified).

9:54 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Pioneer Drive in Grizzly Flat.

Feb. 1

10:52 a.m. Deputies booked into jail a 23-year-old man suspected of injuring an elder/dependent adult and vandalism on Deer Valley Road in Rescue. He was released on $75,00 bail.

1:59 p.m. Burglary was reported on Gilmore Road in Pollock Pines. 2:34 p.m. Vandalism was reported at a business on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville.

6:43 p.m. Vandalism was reported at a restaurant on Pleasant Valley Road in El Dorado.

7:30 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers