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Shasta man a suspect in social media stalking n Threats and explicit photos sent to
Heavy winds whipped across the county over the weekend, toppling many trees, including one which landed squarely on a Pollock Pines mobile home at around 10 p.m. Sunday, above. The home was redtagged by first responders, leaving resident Ron Zigelhofer “with only the clothes on his back,” according to his brother Randy Zigelhofer. Jeff Thomas, right photo, looks at the work left to be done after hours of clearing fallen tree debris next to the mobile home at Snowline Mobile Home Park. “It looks like they’re going to have to just condemn it; there’s just too much damage done,” Thomas said while looking at the home, almost torn in half by the weight of the fallen tree.
girls at local youth shelter Mountain Democrat staff
Mountain Democrat photos by Odin Rasco
AT&T moves to drop obligation to provide landline service Odin Rasco Staff writer
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Applications recently filed by telecommunications company AT&T to the California Public Utilities Commission has Californians concerned about their landlines, though the company claims nobody will lose service. The communications
giant is moving to drop its status as the carrier of last resort in regions throughout California, a position of obligation that requires AT&T to offer basic landline services in many areas across the state. Basic service is a set of nine service elements, including Lifeline rates for eligible customers, free access to 911 and operator services, according to information published by the CPUC. AT&T is the largest COLR in California and is required to provide traditional landline service to any potential customer in its obligation areas. The application filed by AT&T, A.23-03003, would remove its COLR status without designating another company to replace it. In El Dorado County ATT’s request would remove its COLR designation in the
following censusdesignated places and their surrounding areas: Auburn Lake Trails Cameron Park Camino Cold Springs Coloma Diamond Springs El Dorado Hills Georgetown Grizzly Flat Meyers Placerville Pollock Pines Shingle Springs South Lake Tahoe Tahoma A location without a COLR may be left with no landline telephone company serving that area, meaning customers might have to switch to cellular phones or VoIP, voice over internet, which would be difficult or infeasible for rural residents with spotty reception or limited internet infrastructure. CPUC may deny AT&T’s proposal; if it does not, no carriers would be
required to provide service in the area, though they may choose to offer services or volunteer to become the new COLR, according to information on the CPUC web site. AT&T is also attempting to step away from its designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier; this designation provides the company federal financial assistance from the Universal Service Fund to provide high quality and affordable service to customers of all income levels. One program funded by this federal assistance is Lifeline, which is distinct from the California-funded LifeLine program that covers the monthly service costs for telephone service to eligible residents. In looking to end its involvement as n See AT&T, page A5
A 19-year-old Shasta County man reportedly used social media to send explicit images and videos of himself to girls staying at a Placerville youth shelter. Police were called to the shelter Jan. 13 to investigate. The suspect progressed to sending threatening images and videos, including of him holding firearms, according to the Placerville Police Department. Detectives with PPD’s Crime Reduction Unit identified Ryan Byers as a suspect and on Feb. 2 the El Dorado County Superior Court granted an arrest warrant for Byers and a search warrant for his home. The explicit images and threats were all made using the social media app Instagram. Byers’ threats to his victims warned he would come to the shelter to sexually assault and shoot them. During a search of Byers’ residence, numerous firearms and ammunition were located, according to PPD. The firearms were the same ones displayed by Byers in the threatening Instagram messages he sent. Detectives say they seized additional evidence, including electronic devices, that will undergo forensic analysis. With the assistance of the Shasta County Sheriff ’s Office, Byers was taken into custody without n See STALKING, page A3
Residents oppose perinatal rehab center plans Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
Many Rescue residents are in opposition of a proposed 30-bed substance treatment center proposed in the rural community. The project is expected to break ground in March. Native Directions Inc., a Manteca-based tribal entity that provides “culturally relevant and clientcentered treatment services for Native Americans and others experiencing chemical dependency,” put in an application to the Department of Health Care Services, in collaboration with housing nonprofit HomeCA, to construct a substance use disorder treatment center off Deer Valley Road. New Tribal Youth Perinatal Residential SUD would include construction of three buildings, including a 7,400-square-foot facility that would accommodate 16 family units and a child center. Housing for Native Directions staff and private counseling offices are also part of plans. n See REHAB CENTER, page A8
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