Great catch!
Bluegrass festival
Local teen perseveres tough weather to win a boat.
WinterWonderGrass brings big acts to the Tahoe area.
Sports, A6
News, etc., B1
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Volume 171 • Issue 36 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Friday, March 25, 2022
Jury’s verdict: Popejoy not guilty Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
Bradley Popejoy testifies in El Dorado County Superior Court March 23.
Petition pleads for FEMA individual assistance Thomas Frey Staff writer More than 700 people have signed a petition that will be sent to President Joe Biden, pleading him to grant Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance money to the people of Grizzly Flat who lost their homes in the Caldor Fire last year. On social media El Dorado County officials shared a link to its iPetitions online campaign Monday, asking residents to join the effort. “Nearly 40% of these families did not have homeowners insurance or were underinsured for a catastrophic event like the Caldor Fire due to the exorbitant cost of fire insurance in our region,” reads the petition, which can be found at tinyurl.com/ yc4p8rca. The Caldor Fire PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
forced more than 50,000 people to evacuate their homes and destroyed more than 1,000 structures, most of which were homes. Many families with children and senior citizens are now homeless, notes the petition. “I know first hand how desperate the neighbors in Grizzly Flat are,” states El Dorado County Supervisor Wendy Thomas in a comment on the iPetition webpage. “The entire community was destroyed … They have nothing to rebuild their lives and we need you to overturn FEMA’s decision and provide individual assistance.” On Sept. 2 Biden authorized FEMA funds to California to supplement response efforts due to the emergency conditions. Less than two weeks later Biden visited the area and met with El Dorado County Chief Administrative Officer Don Ashton, where he told him people affected by the fire would receive FEMA individual assistance, according to the petition. But in October El Dorado County officials found out they were denied that individual assistance. The denial letter sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom explained that while damage to infrastructure was “significant,” FEMA n
See FEMA, page A7
“I had real fear for my family”
A jury returned a not guilty verdict Thursday in a trial of a man accused of brandishing a firearm “in an angry or threatening manner” at three teenage girls who made obscene gestures as they drove by his Placerville home. Prosecutors with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office claimed Bradley Popejoy’s action was out of anger and not self-defense. The defense argued the three 17-year-olds were harassing the Popejoys in front of their home Aug. 29, 2020. In courtroom testimony Tuesday, Annette Popejoy said her family moved out of their Placerville home of 18 years following the incident. Both Annette and Bradley testified this week with Annette telling the jury why they had to move from their Mosquito Road address. “After that incident happened I didn’t feel safe any longer,” Annette said. “It just started affecting me more and more.”
— Bradley Popejoy, Placerville resident Annette revealed to court she was talking to her brother on the phone outside of her house that evening while the Popejoys’ three children were playing inside. She recalled taking notice of a silver Audi with Black Lives Matter signs on the back passing by their home multiple times before middle fingers were exchanged between one of the three teenagers in the car and herself. Annette said it is not in her character to be rude to anyone like that. “It was just so in my face I didn’t know how to react,” Annette said. In trial proceedings last week, Abegale Jones, who was driving the car, testified that one of her passengers was first to flip off Annette in reaction to Trump flags hanging on the Popejoys’ fence. Jones said she originally thought Annette initiated the exchange. n
See not guilty, page A8
Play ball!
Photos by Laurie Edwards
The Hangtown Dodgers proudly show their team’s flag as they join other Hangtown Little League teams in the opening day parade March 19 at the stadium at Union Mine High School. Thirty-four teams participated in the parade. The league’s season is now in full swing.
T-ball players line up to give Smokey Bear a high-five.
Smokey Bear, left, threw the first ceremonial pitch to 14-year-old Ian Enders, who played in every division of Hangtown Little League and now holds a spot on the UMHS freshman baseball team roster. Major-leaguers join in the parade, right photo.
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