FIND THE BIRDS
Gorgeous art
Grab your binoculars and get outside, it’s time for TINS’ bird hunt. Inside, A6
Talented artists display works at Placerville gallery.
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 170 • Issue 18 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Friday, February 12, 2021
Commission appointment draws controversy Dawn Hodson Staff writer Cameron Park resident, local business owner and Army veteran Chris Cockrell has been appointed to the El Dorado County Veterans Affairs Commission. But his nomination for the position has been drawing controversy since nominees were announced Jan. 5, as some say Cockrell is associated with the Hangtown Proud Boys. Cockrell and his
supporters contest the allegations while others point to a video captured at a December Toys for Tots event in Placerville they argue is proof. In the video, which went viral, Cockrell is seen dressed as Santa Claus posing for a photo with members of the Hangtown Proud Boys and joining them in holding up the OK hand gesture — a gesture, which means OK but also has in more recent years been reappropriated as a
symbol of white power. The Anti-Defamation League describes the Proud Boys, which has chapters across the country, as an “unconventional strain of American right-wing extremism.” The president of the Hangtown Proud Boys in December told the Mountain Democrat his group is not racist, instead he said it is a “patriotic group of men who are like-minded.” But the Proud Boys group has a reputation that goes far beyond
Chris Cockrell Placerville city limits. After the Jan. 6 insurrection of the U.S. Capitol, in which members of the n
See Appointment, page A3
Courtesy photo
Chris Cockrell, dressed as Santa Claus, is pictured posing for a photo with the Hangtown Proud Boys at a Toys for Tots drive in Placerville in December 2020.
Man found dead near Broadway encampment Democrat staff
Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
El Dorado County officials are looking into long-term housing options, including acquiring properties like Hangtown Motel in Placervile.
County eyes purchasing Placerville motel for homeless Dawn Hodson Staff writer
E
l Dorado County officials are considering acquiring a motel in Placerville to house the homeless. At a special meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Monday the board unanimously approved having
“We do not have a specific project plan as of yet. We are just making inquiries as to potential projects and their scalability, given the time we have to submit for this funding.” — Don Semon, director of Health and Human Services Chief Administrative Officer Don Ashton, or his designee, act as the real estate negotiator on
behalf of the county and enter into negotiations for a property n
See motel, page A7
Placerville police are investigating the death of a man whose body was reportedly found Tuesday morning down an embankment off Broadway in Placerville. A pedestrian called into dispatch at about 7:34 a.m. to report discovering the decedent near what police say is a “known transient camp location,” according to a statement from Placerville Police Department officials. One of the camp’s occupants on Wednesday told the Mountain Democrat the man was found on the south side of Broadway, across the street from the camp. Police report the man was last seen Feb. 8 at the transient camp, allegedly consuming alcohol. Witnesses said he left at about 7 p.m. that night. “Nothing suspicious was located at the scene that would point to any foul play,” said Chief Joe Wren. There was also no trauma to the body that would indicate the man was hit by a vehicle or assaulted, according to Wren. Investigators now await the coroner’s report to learn more. Police say the decedent is “known” to the department and next of kin has not been notified. The El Dorado County Sheriff ’s Office Crime Scene Investigation team is assisting in the investigation to determine cause of death. Initial work by detectives reportedly found “nothing of suspicion.” Authorities say an autopsy, including toxicology report, is pending. Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to contact the Placerville Police Department at (530) 642-5210.
Coronavirus numbers trending downward in county n Frustration over vaccine
continues; county focusing on disadvantaged communities Cheyanne Neuffer Tahoe Daily Tribune Despite six additional deaths in the last week and 82 in the last 76 days, making 86 since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, coronavirus numbers in El Dorado County are beginning to look more promising. “We are trending in the right direction but it is going to take time to get there,” said El Dorado County’s Communications Director Carla Hass during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. The county’s adjusted case rate is at 10.5 but needs to be at seven to start thinking about moving tiers, which would loosen restrictions on local businesses.
Once the adjusted case rate remains at seven or below for two weeks, the county will be eligible to move tiers as outlined in the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Hass said that the county numbers are showing the area is in good shape, or at least better shape than a few weeks ago. The adjusted case rate is based on several factors, including population size, testing volume, positivity rate and health equity quartile positively rate. Regardless of population size, an adjusted case rate of seven is what all counties need to be at to be eligible for the red tier. While county numbers are moving in the right direction, residents are continuing to find it difficult to receive vaccine. “We can only do as much as we can with the supply we are given,” Hass said. Since the vaccine became available the county has received a total of 26,600 doses, which is .38% of the state’s total vaccine allotment. That percentage hasn’t changed and is relative to El Dorado County’s
overall population size. As of Monday the county has administered 22,000 of the 26,000 vaccine doses available. Hass said Placerville is administering about 156 doses every day and South Lake Tahoe is doing about 96 a day. The county website still shows it is not taking appointments and all clinics are completely booked Residents who have received the first dose should get a follow-up email scheduling their second dose. Hass said six clinics have been opened for second doses — four of them filling up within hours. She said those needing their second dose should respond as fast as possible after receiving notification. Hass urged people who are waiting for second doses to remain patient. The second dose can be taken up to six weeks after the first. “I know it’s difficult to be patient with anxiety,” she said. n See covid, page A6
SOLAR + BATTERY IS NOW AFFORDABLE! • 10KW solar plus 18.9KWH Battery installed for just $236 per month and see if you qualify for $17,000 in tax credits • Includes Premium US made 340 Watt solar panels and Premium microinverters each with 25 year manufacturer and labor warranty
26% Solar Federal Tax Credit extended through the end of 2021 Financing with 1.49%APR and ZERO Out Of Pocket!
(530) 344-3237 • 4420 Commodity Way, Suite A, Shingle Springs • info@SolarSavingsDirect.com • solarsavingsdirect.com Call (530) 344-5000 for convenient home delivery and free online access to www.mtdemocrat.com