FREGOSO FLIES
Artists wanted
Local teen and slopestyle skier finding his line in Futures Tour.
Placerville Arts Association accepting works from all for its spring show.
Sports, A6
News, etc., B1
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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
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Volume 170 • Issue 30 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
FRIday, MARCH 12, 2021
County formula business ordinance shot down Dawn Hodson Staff writer An urgency ordinance proposed by El Dorado County Supervisors Lori Parlin and George Turnboo that would restrict formula businesses in the county was shot down Tuesday at the Board of Supervisors meeting. Parlin and Turnboo proposed the ordinance based on concerns the rural character of the county was threatened by formula businesses like Dollar General and other chain stores. The ordinance would have imposed restrictions on chain stores pending a study that considered zoning and other land use regulations where the projects were proposed. Both Turnboo and Parlin represent districts that include rural areas where Dollar General has tried to
move in. Three Dollar General stores have been proposed in the county in recent years. A Dollar General was planned for Georgetown by developer SimonCRE Abbie but was abandoned after a lawsuit would have forced the builder to prepare an environmental impact report. Another project application for a Dollar General in Cool is currently being processed by the county. Woodcrest Companies plans to build a 9,100-square-foot retail store on Northside Drive and lease it to Dollar General. After hearing opposition from residents and because of a design overlay on the property, the Board of Supervisors last summer directed Woodcrest to conduct a “focused” environmental impact report on n
See Formula Businesses, page A8
Mountain Democrat photo by Dawn Hodson
An empty lot near the corner of Fairplay Road and Mt. Aukum Road is where a Dollar General is planned for Fair Play. At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting the board turned down a proposed urgency ordinance that would have temporarily blocked the Dollar General from being built.
COVID-19 cases trending down
Unmasked intentions
Dawn Hodson Staff writer
Mountain Democrat photo by Andrew Vonderschmitt
A large banner hung in front of Apple Bistro off Highway 50 in Placerville states the restaurant’s no-mask policy despite state requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The bakery/eatery’s health permit was pulled in late July after it continued to operate in violation of state COVID-19 health code. Each day Apple Bistro continues to operate without a permit a fine of $500 is incurred, according to El Dorado County officials. As of March 1 Apple Bistro has racked up $98,200 in fines.
In the latest COVID-19 update to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams said the most recent three-month trend shows there has been a significant drop in the number of cases in the county. The case rate varies by region with South Lake Tahoe, Placerville, El Dorado Hills and the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park having the highest case rates and south county having the lowest, according to county data. Deaths reported through March 10 total 103. During the first nine months of the pandemic there were four deaths; over the next four months there were 96 deaths. Williams said the deaths are related to the extent COVID-19 was circulating in the community at the time. El Dorado County remains in the red, second-most restrictive tier of the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Asked by Board Chairman John Hidahl how soon the county will be in the next less-restrictive tier, the orange tier, Williams said the state may begin to n
See covid cases, page A9
Arrest made in attempted arson Bloomin’ lovely Democrat staff A Mt. Aukum/ Outingdale area man who reportedly poured gasoline on an elderly woman’s Mt. Aukum home, waved a hammer around and banged on the door was arrested March 4 after leading El Dorado County sheriff ’s deputies in a pursuit that ended with the suspect crashing his vehicle. Before fleeing, Brian Steffes, 33, lit pieces of paper on fire in an attempt to ignite the gasoline, sheriff ’s officials said. While in route to the Mt. Aukum home, deputies encountered Steffes driving a Ford pickup. Steffes then reportedly tried to
Brian Steffes evade deputies but he drove the truck off the roadway, hitting an embankment and rolling the vehicle onto its side. Steffes was taken into custody and later booked at the El Dorado County Jail on charges of misdemeanor evading, criminal threats and attempted arson. His bail was set at $177,000.00.
Photo by David Yapp Courtesy photo
The attempted arson suspect fled the scene in this Ford truck, reportedly trying to evade law enforcement before colliding into an embankment.
Blossoms burst from a pear tree along Main Street in downtown Placerville, pictured on a sunny afternoon last week, as winter’s bare branches wake up to spring. Spring is on its way in El Dorado County with daylight saving time beginning at 2 a.m. Sunday morning and the first day of spring March 20.
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