Mountain Democrat, Monday, April 1, 2024

While

it left the door open for the Caldor Fire

survivors to file a federal lawsuit. Now they are looking to hire a law firm to legally represent them.

One law firm expressed interest in taking on the case, but the attorneys need the claims of all who filed in 2023. The firm is not being named at this time.

Grizzly Flat residents Tabatha Walker, Jon Jochem and R.W. MacNeil lead the e ort against the Forest Service, which started in August of last year with support of Grizzly Flat residents, as well as those from outside the community also a ected by the Caldor Fire.

Their justification is that the USFS did not conduct su cient forest management work, which significantly contributed to the Caldor Fire burning more than 220,000 acres

■

wasn’t the field I wanted to be in,” Hall explained. “I moved and I gave animal services a try. That was 18 years ago and I’m still excited to go to work.”

Prior to his new position with El Dorado County, Hall worked for three years in Rancho Cordova as a supervising animal services o cer in charge of neighborhood services that encompassed both animal services and code enforcement. Prior to his time in Rancho Cordova, he had worked in Contra Costa County for 14 years.

Hall

“I

■

that

The new position and new county have already presented Hall with opportunities and challenges he describes as unique to El Dorado County, owing to its size and the potent mix of communities amongst wilderness, and therefore, wildlife.

Hall’s focus for the county’s approach to animal

■ See HALL, page A2

Vivian Margaret

Carpender

March 2, 1930 – Feb. 27, 2024

Vivian Margaret Carpender passed away in Placerville, California on February 27 at the age of 93.

Vivian was born on March 2, 1930 in Modesto, California to Everett William Dexter Capwell Fox and Bertha Beatrice (Sweet) Fox. She was the fourth of nine children. She married Thomas Elwyn Carpender on June 9, 1951 and they celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary before Tom’s death in September of 2021. Vivian and Tom raised 5 children. Surviving children are Tommee Briggs of Wickenberg, AZ, Janie Carpender of Placerville, Sally Moore of Shingle Springs, and James Roberson of Placerville. Vivian is also survived by her sisters Sally Carr of Placerville and Carole Goold of Shingle Springs. She has 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Vivian moved from Modesto to El Dorado County when she was 7 and spent most of the rest of her life here. She attended El Dorado High School (where she met her husband, Tom), attended Modesto Junior College, San Jose State College, and graduated from Sacramento State University in 1958. She taught mainly for the Mother Lode School District and the Gold Trail School District for a total of 37 years before her retirement in 1989. She taught Kindergarten for the majority of those years and was beloved by her students and their families. She was a charter member of the local People-to-People Chapter and was a founding member of the local Delta Kappa Gamma Chapter. Vivian was a 4-H All Star in high school and was a 4-H leader as a parent. She was a Girl Scout leader, a volunteer in the SHARE food closet program for 12 years, served on the Juvenile Service Council for more than 20 years, was active in the Federated Church for over 65 years, and was the Golden Rose of El Dorado County in 2010. Her kindness and involvement in service organizations impacted the lives of students, community members, and individuals worldwide. She will be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the Federated Church in Placerville at 1 PM. If you wish to make donations in Memory of Vivian they may be made to either Snowline Hospice or the Federated Church.

Pauline Lucile Gunn

Feb. 16, 1924 – Mar. 16, 2024

Pauline Lucile Gunn, age 100, of Shingle Springs, California passed away peacefully on March 16, 2024. She was born on February 16, 1924 in Republic, Kansas to Simon and Bertha Van Nortwick. She married her Republic High School sweetheart Merrill L. Gunn in 1943.

Merrill and Pauline farmed in the Republic area for eight years before moving to California where they made their home first in Camarillo and then in Placerville.

Pauline is preceded in death by her husband and her daughter Peggy Boedecker. She is survived by her daughters Julie Lonsdale of Shingle Springs, California and Susan (Michael) Davis of Austin, Texas and by her five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. At Pauline’s request there will be no services.

Richard Bettencourt

April 10, 1943 – March 21, 2024

Richard Bettencourt died peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Kaiser hospital of complications from congestive heart failure. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend. He was 80 years old.

Rich was a native of the Delta region and a graduate of Galt High School and Fresno State. He served in the Army and taught auto shop, which he left to start his own cabinet shop in his garage. Over many years, he built his custom cabinet shop into a thriving business. Rich and Mike’s Cabinets is still going strong under his longtime business partner and dear friend, Mike.

He was generous with his wisdom and advice and was a mentor to many. He was a builder of everything, from race cars to sand cars for his kids and grandkids, from playhouses to furniture. He built his first car from the ground up, a Model A, as a teenager and loved everything about cars, from building and racing them to driving them. He was a careful craftsman and a thoughtful planner and problem solver. He had a loud, hearty laugh and a wealth of funny sayings. He loved his family, his friends, nature, his dog and cars.

Rich is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, LeAnn, his two daughters Lisa and Laura, 4 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and his two sisters, Janice and Judy. He is also survived by his Mustang and his Pinto, various cars, trucks, campers, and a boat. His service will be at the Church of Our Saviour in Placerville on April 2 at 11am.

Orland Darwane

Pevehouse

Age 84, of Placerville, California passed away Friday March 15th, 2024.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life to honor him.

Family and friends will gather in Orland’s memory from 10am to 2pm Friday, April 12th, 2024.

Placerville Grange Hall 4765 Pleasant Valley Grange Road Placerville CA 95667.

Originally from Los Angeles, Orland was a lifelong builder and craftsman. He helped open the Home Depot in Placerville, working in the lumber department. He always had a laugh and a smile for everyone.

He is survived by his son Matthew Pevehouse of St. Louis, Missouri, daughter Suzanne PevehouseReyes of Temecula, California, sister Debbie Sirna of Sacramento, wife Janet Pevehouse of Placerville, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He will be greatly missed by all.

The following was taken from El Dorado County Sheri ’s O ce logs:

March 22

5:24 p.m. Battery was reported at a store on

5:47

7:54

8:14

Hall Continued from A1

services is based on prioritization of public safety and animal welfare.

“I want to focus on providing really good services and improving the quality of life for animals and animal owners,” Hall said. “The quality of life that’s o ered to the animals in this shelter is second to none.” Hall credited that quality of life to Animal Services’ sta as well as its volunteer program.

The dedication of sta at the county animal shelter in Diamond Springs is hard to ignore, with flyers stating, “We never give up!” showing success stories such as finding a forever home for a dog who was housed in the shelter for more than two years. Volunteers come by to care for and walk animals, providing socializing that has led to inspiring success stories for animals that may not have had a chance otherwise.

“We have an outstanding group of volunteers that gets animals out on runs in the yard or out on walks,” Hall described. “We’re fortunate to have a pasture with a lot of outdoor areas, we can get the dogs out into the sun. It’s extremely unique, the care that is given to animals here, and with that, our adoption rate is really high. We have a great live outcome and we work with animals. There are some dogs that come in shut down or who have never been on a leash before. They might come in not even able to walk because they are so fearful and now they’re wagging their tails when you approach them.”

The strength of the sta and the volunteer program is something Hall credits to Brzezinski’s leadership. Hall expressed his excitement for the future — “I see myself being here for a long time” — and described what his general roadmap for that future looks like.

Traditionally perceived/referred to as animal control, Hall emphasizes how modern animal services is much more involved in being community partners rather than just a means of law/code enforcement. The county’s animal services encompasses outreach, calls when there are wild animals where they oughtn’t be, pet vaccinations and more. An example of the community partnership approach Hall highlighted is the animal shelter’s food pantry that can help pet owners feed their pet in case they need assistance.

“We give out a lot of food to the residents and the community that needs it and by doing that the hope is to keep the animals in their home. If we can provide some level of assistance, we could stop that animal from coming to the shelter in the first place. So, we’ll do whatever it takes to get that done,” Hall explained.

When Hall isn’t working, he spends time with his family and his own gaggle of animals, including horses, dogs, a mini donkey and more. He is a father of two, with a third on the way.

Considering his new role and his life on the whole, Hall remarked, “I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”

Sandhill cranes making return to Lake Tahoe

Mountain Democrat sta

As spring returns to Lake Tahoe, a story of resilience and resurgence is also unfolding. It’s the migration of the sandhill cranes — magnificent birds that once upon a time had all but vanished from the Tahoe region.

“March is a big month for sandhill crane migration over and through the Tahoe region, as thousands of nocturnally migrating cranes will pass overhead,” said Tahoe Institute for Natural Science Executive Director Will Richardson, “but more and more, these cranes are stopping to spend the summer here.”

Formerly a popular game bird, in 1944 only an estimated three to four pairs were believed to nest in the entire state of California. In 1970 lawmakers in the state took decisive action granting sandhill cranes “fully protected” status. Six years later nests were documented in the Sierra Valley, but it was still many decades before they started to reach the Tahoe region.

In 2015 a milestone was reached when a breeding pair with a colt was discovered at Teichert Ponds in Truckee. In 2018 a pair began nesting at Grass Lake near Luther Pass, the first documented breeders in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

“It’s thrilling that these birds have recovered to the point that an increasing number of pairs are breeding in our region, something they likely hadn’t done in over 150 years,” said Richardson. “People need to be mindful that they are still highly susceptible to disturbance and should be given plenty of space whenever a nest or a pair with a colt is found.”

The big winter of 2023 led to a major uptick in attempted nesting in Tahoe, with additional breeding either suspected or confirmed at Pope Marsh, Washoe Meadows State Park and the Upper Truckee Marsh. Unfortunately, not all of these nests were successful last year.

“We believe that the Upper Truckee Marsh nest likely failed due to disturbance from recreational paddlers despite the fact that the California Tahoe Conservancy posted clear signage for paddlers to stay away from the active nest,” said Richardson. “Other nesting sites, such as those at Washoe Meadows State Park or the Teichert Ponds in Truckee may be subject to disturbance from people walking their dogs o leash.

The resurgence of sandhill cranes in Tahoe is a testament to conservation e orts and the resilience of nature.

Growing

Still, it’s imperative the public remain vigilant stewards of these fragile habitats. As these birds reclaim their ancestral nesting grounds, Tahoe residents and visitors are asked to a ord them the space and respect they deserve.

About the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science

Founded in 2010, the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science is a member-supported nonprofit organization providing education and research. TINS provides programs for all ages, from presentations to citizen science projects to guided nature outings. The organization

First

The Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit held a multi-agency rescue course March 11-15.

The training, a 40-hour, five-day course o ered through the O ce of the State Fire Marshal, instructs first responders on river terminology, hydrology, personal protective

and incident command structure for water emergencies.

Once they are out of the classroom,

trainees dipped their toes into the American River to learn skills in swimming, victim management, hydraulic features and to navigate hazardous materials in flowing water.

As the week went on, the course got more technical as first responders learned to make rope systems and how to use non-motorized boats for rescues. Students also were put in a nighttime search, stabilize and rescue scenario.

The culmination of the class tested the trainees with realistic scenarios to work as a team to respond to foot entrapments, vehicles in water and missing persons.

■ See TRAINING, page A6

Peripheral

conducts ongoing biological research in the Tahoe-Sierra region, contributing important data to help

improve management decisions regarding wildlife. For more information visit tinsweb.org.

is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and may also lead to serious balance problems. This

In

Photo

Courtesy photo

of the

of the

California Commentary

The annual World Happiness Report was released last month, and it shockingly found that the United States failed to rank in the top 20 happiest countries.

Perhaps in response, former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon has created a first-in-the-nation group to study the issue, called the Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes. The committee recently had its first hearing.

“Because if we have everybody clothed, everybody housed, everybody has a job and they’re miserable, then we’ve failed at what we’re trying to do,” he said, adding that lawmakers should make happiness a priority for policy makers.

But while Rendon’s concern is appreciated, and the state already involves itself in a great many aspects of our lives, happiness is not the government’s to give. So, what is a government to do when its populace, as Rendon claims, is miserable?

Well, our Founding Fathers gave us the right to pursue happiness and, in that regard, the state, as a guardian of our rights, has something it can do:

Get out of the way!

California is one of the highest taxed states in the country; we are at the top or near the top in every major tax category besides property taxes. Even then, with Proposition 13’s protections, we are not a low property tax state; we’re somewhere in the middle.

When it comes to starting a business, California is one of the worst. Recently, the nonpartisan Tax Foundation ranked California 48th in its 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index. California is No. 3 in Americans for Tax Reform’s “judicial hellhole” list because the state’s “novel theories of liability” are burdening small businesses and bogging down the state’s economy.

Pile all the extra mandates, rules, regulations, permits and fees and you see why many California businesses are choosing to relocate or expand to other states.

Margaret Thatcher said, “The problem with Socialism is you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

Under President Joe Biden, and in a corollary relating to the leftist government of California, that is the plan for hardworking Americans and Californians: confiscate more money from the producers in this country until it collapses.

Biden said it in his State of the Union Speech that “rich” people “need and should pay their fair share of taxes,” as if the higher income earners in this country don’t pay enough in taxes. And what is a “fair share” of taxes that one should pay? What seems fair is that we should all pay the same amount or percentage to the government. One man, one vote, right? Why should higher income earners pay 10 times the price for the same loaf of bread or for the same government?

Let’s look at history. It turns out that in the last 40 years, the share of income taxes paid by the “so-called” rich has more than doubled. And that’s when the highest marginal tax rate has

Letters to the Editor

Votes are in

EDITOR:

Ipromised follow-up on this months ago, when I noted in online comments that Congressman Tom McClintock voted nay to authorize funding for the Department of Defense. Some criticized my post by pointing out that the National Defense Authorization Act didn’t actually appropriate any federal funds. I responded by saying that we’d see how the congressman eventually voted on the actual funding.

Well, Friday, March 22, was the vote on the actual appropriation bill. On the question of whether to fund the continued operations of the Department of Defense and five other departments, show pony McClintock voted nay and workhorse Kevin Kiley voted aye.

TOM CUMPSTON Placerville

Rule of law and rights

EDITOR:

California is one of the states where citizens can create new laws, repeal laws and amend the State Constitution through the ballot initiative process. This was put into place in 1933, allowing one to file request through the Attorney General’s O ce to circulate petitions to place an initiative on the ballot.

Over the years, and particularly more recently, voters have found they have been fooled or intentionally made to be confused when the Attorney General’s O ce changes the title of a ballot measure. Everyone remembers the 2018 Gas Tax initiative.

And then there was Proposition 47, which reduced the charges of many crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, such as rape of an unconscious person — a ballot initiative the AG called The Safe Neighborhood & School Act. Through the majority’s vote, this allowed an individual to steal up to $950, per incident, without even receiving a slap on the hand.

Right now petitions are being circulated through

been halved.

In 1980 the top tax rate was 70%, yet the top 1% of taxpayers paid 19.3% of all personal income taxes. By 2020, with the top tax rate being almost halved to 37%, the top 1% percent paid 42.3%of all personal income taxes.

If we use the top 5% of taxpayers then the total percentage of personal income taxes paid by that group goes from 37.1% in 1980 to 62.7% in 2020. History is consistent in this scenario: when tax rates go down, government tax collections go up significantly, especially for the “rich.”

If Biden wants more taxes from the rich, you do it by lowering tax rates, not raising them. When you lower tax rates people work harder and are more productive. But for leftists, it’s not about more revenue. It’s about spreading misery, punishing success and more government control — controlling all the money, even if there is less of it. Confiscatory tax rates always lower revenue. It’s simple economics.

California is in the same sinking ship. California’s top 1% of taxpayers pay more than 50% of all income taxes

our county and state to amend Prop. 47 and place an initiative on the November ballot correcting the many wrongs of Prop. 47 that were supported by the likes of Gov. Gavin Newsom, former attorney general Xavier Becerra and current AG Rob Bonta, as well as the radical left DAs in Los Angeles and the recalled DA of San Francisco. All of whom received campaign donations from George Soros. Prop. 47 reform is supported by El Dorado County Sheri Je Leikauf and District Attorney Vern Pierson, along with DAs and law enforcement o cers across the state.

The other petition being circulated to also be placed on the November ballot is the Protect Kids CA Act. Unfortunately, too many parents and their families are not aware that progressives in the state Legislature and Gov. Newsom passed bills over the last couple of years that removed the rights of parents to be notified by their child’s school if their child wishes to change their gender or even have an abortion.

The Protect Kids CA Act requires schools to notify parents if their child requests to be treated as a di erent gender and requires parental consent before a school socially transitions a child.

Additionally, this initiative protects girls opportunities, safety and privacy by ensuring girls school sports programs are female only and sexsegregated school facilities are based on biological sex. The Protect Kids CA Act also prevents the sterilization of children by prohibiting puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, genital surgeries and mastectomies for minors.

When it comes to parents’ rights, this has become a growing concern not just in urban schools, but also our county and other rural communities. It is time to return the rule of law to California and give parents back their constitutional rights. Sign both petitions at the El Dorado County Republican Headquarters. Call (530) 410-6119 or visit edccgop.com for more information.

TERRY GHERARDI

Executive director, El Dorado County Republican Party

collected, especially since the state raised the top tax rate from 13.3% to 14.4%. And high-income earners are leaving. Remember golfer Phil Mickelson? He earns in the tens of millions annually and he left for a no income tax state, Florida. Je Bezos just left Washington for Florida. Why?

Partly because of a new Washington state 7% capital gain tax. He just sold $8.5 billion in Amazon stock and saved himself about $600 million in taxes. It paid for his new Miami mansion about seven times over.

California has even pitched a new type of regressive plan: people who make more money pay more for goods and services. If you make say $50,000 a year, a loaf of bread will cost $2; if you make $100,000 a year the same loaf will cost $4 and if you make $200,000 a year it will cost you $10. The state doesn’t don’t own the bakeries yet (that’s possibly in the future), but leftist state legislators who do control utility prices are about to create a surcharge for electricity based on your income. Make less than $28,000 a year, it’s zero. But make

between $28,000 and $69,000 a year and you will be surcharged up to $408 annually, earn $69,001 to $180,000 and you’ll pay up

Coupal Continued from A4

It could also explain why a U-Haul from Sacramento to Boise costs $2,409 but only costs $467 the other way around.

If the state Legislature was truly concerned about the happiness of its residents, they would lower taxes and give those struggling to get by in this state the peace of mind of a little more money in their pockets.

If that’s too much to ask amid the current budget uncertainty, it could simply investigate how it spends the money it already has before asking us for more. With examples like the rampant fraud at the Employment Development Department, the boondoggle of the bullet train to nowhere and the billions that have gone to homelessness while the problem only gets worse, the state isn’t without places to look when it comes to finding cost savings.

The Legislature could also end its lawsuit against the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act (TPA).

TPA would close court-created loopholes in Prop. 13 as well as providing additional taxpayer safeguards like giving Californians the right to vote on all new state and local taxes.

It is especially needed now because the urge for new taxes has never been greater as the state goes from a $100 billion surplus to a more than $60 billion deficit, with multiple years of projected shortfalls on the horizon.

California voters should have the right to vote on future taxes to ensure their voice is heard on when and how new revenue is raised and spent.

The governor, legislative leadership and public

employee unions oppose the voters having this right, and instead want the power to raise unlimited taxes for unlimited spending, without any say from the voters who are paying those taxes — and they are suing to keep it off the ballot.

People are the happiest when they feel in control of their lives. The Legislature’s Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes would be wise to find more ways to stay out of our business and remember that government is responsible to us, not the other way around.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Weitzman Continued from A4

U-Haul trailers leaving California to Texas is about $500. California’s working population is decreasing by 200,000 annually, which is being partially replaced by at least 100,000 illegal aliens (remember Biden in his SOTU correctly called them illegals). With 200,000 “producers” being replaced by 100,000 “takers” annually, the collapse is coming. New York recently reported it is spending nearly $400 a day on its now 200,000 illegal aliens. How long can they keep that up? Hence a similar exodus is occurring in New York as the rich flock to Florida while New York faces a pending implosion of the government, and the state can’t print money. Good luck.

Larry Weitzman is a former El Dorado County resident.

Celebrity golf tourney ticket sales begin

News release

Tickets for the 35th American Century Championship, South Lake Tahoe’s celebrity golf tournament featuring sports and entertainment superstars, go on sale online, April 1 at americancenturychampionship.com.

Daily grounds tickets and week-long grounds badges for the July 10-14 tournament will be available online beginning at midnight, April 1 at eventbrite.com. The link becomes active on April 1 and tickets are only available online through the official American Century Championship channel.

Tickets for Wednesday’s practice round and Thursday’s celebrity-amateur are $40 each day; with tournament rounds Friday, Saturday and Sunday at $50 daily. A grounds badge for all five days, Wednesday through Sunday, is $150. With a limited number of tickets available, fans are encouraged to act now to secure their spot among the stars. All ticket purchases will be online with no tickets available at the gate.

For active duty and retired veterans, a limited supply of complimentary tickets for one person plus a guest for either Wednesday or Thursday rounds is also available, two tickets maximum. Visit acc.spinzo.com for instructions.

7138 eldorado-ca.aauw.net

AMERICAN LEGION POST 119 welcomes Veterans and guests to attend our monthly membership dinner and meeting the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM.

Legionpost119.org

El DORADO COUNTY AMATEUR

RADIO CLUB Dedicated to all aspects of ham radio. Meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the El Dorado Sheriff’s office, 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, 6:30 pm. Visitors and non-hams welcome. Info at www.edcarc.net

LEARN & PLAY CRIBBAGE

Cribbage is a fun, fast paced game that will surely keep you on your toes! **All skill levels **Learn to play by ACC Rules (American Cribbage Congress) **Beginner instruction available **Compete in weekly Cribbage tournaments. Call 916-7684452 for more information. Gold Country Cribbers play Wednesday afternoon 4:30 pm at Moni Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA. 95762

Struggling with life? CELEBRATE RECOVERY is for any Hurt, Habit or Hang-up. We are a faith-based recovery program for life’s issues and struggles. Join us Thursday nights at 6:30pm at Green Valley Church, 3500 Green Valley Rd, Placerville. Doors open at 6:15pm. Children’s programs are available for ages 3 months to 18 years old. Email: celebrate@greenvalley.church. Find us on Facebook: https://m.facebook. com/crgvcc/

DEMOCRATS – Come meet with the United Democrats of El Dorado County at Round Table Pizza–Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville at noon on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Call (530)391-6414 or see edcdems.org for more information.

GOLD RUSH CHORUS now welcomes both men and women to share the joy of singing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. To learn more or to book a performance, call Howard at (530) 647-6513 or Kent (530) 651-3575

HANGTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS CLUB. Come play tennis for fun and friendship. Meet at El Dorado High School, Acacia Street, Placerville, Wed 9 AM – 11 AM. (June - Aug 8 AM –10 AM). Social activities, lessons. Minimal cost. Not a beginners group. Some tennis experience/ability required. Call Cindy 805-540-8654.

MONDAY CLUB BRIDGE seeks more players. The club is a very informal, friendly group and invites interested men and women party bridge players to join. The club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant on Fair Lane in Placerville at 10:00 am. For more information, call (530) 622-1180.

Addiction or Relationship problem? Call 530 231-7728

our free counseling can help you.

Positive Realism, 3430 Robin Ln., Cameron Park. Meet first and third Wednesday of every month, 7pm. Come and have a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) for CalPERS retirees and spouses. The meetings are held May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18, 2024 at Denny’s (3446 Coach Lane) Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for programs and information.

SENIOR PEER COUNSELING

Seniors 55 and over who are grieving, depressed or having issues related to aging can meet one-on-one with a caring senior, professionally supervised and trained to listen and encourage. Call (530)621-6304 to leave a message and get started.

TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY

Our mission is to educate the public on tax issues that affect them. Our meetings are held every Monday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 at Denny’s Restaurant, Fair Lane Drive, Placerville. Meetings are open to the public. For more information call Louis (530) 622-6763. We are a non-partisan organization.

Bridge

permitted

Training

Continued from A1

Lawsuit Continued from A1

of land and destroying nearly the entire community of Grizzly Flat.

The number of people who submitted claims in 2023 was between 150 to 300, according to Jochem.

The law firm wants those claims within a couple of weeks to get the case going, according to Jochem. The deadline for submitting all claims and hiring a law firm is June.

if

with emergency services if needed.

Another concrete pour, planned for the north side of the project, is schedufor led to take place April 12 through April 13. This pour will utilize a concrete batch plant set up near Finnon Lake and not require another Trip to Green.

For questions regarding this construction, contact the DOT’s main line at (530) 621-5900 (select Option 3 for Engineering).

Continued from A3

Once completed, 19 participants from Cal Fire and the El Dorado County and Diamond Springs-El Dorado fire protection districts, Stanislaus Consolidated, Rescue and El Dorado Hills fire departments, as well as personnel from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office, became certified river and flood rescue technicians.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Kallan Richards, with help from EDC Fire Capt. Derek Duncan, facilitated the training and highlighted its

importance to first responders.

“Over the last several years, the region has seen an increase in river and flood emergencies, including the flooding event on New Year’s Day in 2023, and increases in recreation on the rivers in the Sierra Nevada foothills,” Richards said.

“These incidents pose a significant risk to first responders, so it’s very important that we conduct this training to keep our folks safe and proficient to manage these incidents.”

“(The law firm) obviously committed a lot of resources just to review these claims,” Jochem said. “I think this is our best chance at this point, otherwise we would be under a very tight deadline to find someone else.”

So far, 75 individuals have put in their claims to the law firm. Jochem said the total value of those 75 claims is $839 million, a number that could rise even higher if more claims are submitted.

“A large portion of (the claims) are from Grizzly Flat, but there were also claimants I talked to that have large acreage near Pollock Pines and further up that lost hundreds of acres of timber,” Jochem said. “Their claims are quite large, because they lost huge amounts of property, timber, heavy equipment and a number of other things.”

Those spearheading this e ort are hoping to get all victims of the Caldor Fire involved. The more claimants and the larger the claims, the more appealing it will be to law firms, Jochem said.

“Anyone who submitted a claim by the deadline and wants to participate, we would love to have them,” Jochem said.

Those who are looking for information on how to submit a claim to the law firm can email caldorclaim@ gmail.com or they can go to the website CaldorClaim.org. These are instructional resources that do not act as an avenue for submitting the actual claims.

“The biggest takeaway for us is that the Forest Service knew about the risk to the community for 20 years prior to the fire and did little about it,” Jochem said. “The community itself stepped up and did tons of work to mitigate the risk on private property but there was nothing we could do about the Forest Service land surrounding the community.”

The fire victims believe the agency’s unfinished fire mitigation projects, including the Trestle Forest Health Project, could have spared the community of destruction if completed.

“It’s obvious that there was so much negligence or no follow through on doing what the Forest Service was supposed to do with the Trestle Project,” Walker said. “I mean, how many people su ered because they didn’t do what they were paid to do?”

Many who did not have adequate insurance or didn’t have the money to rebuild have moved out of the area or are living in trailers.

Though he didn’t lose his house specifically, the trees around Jochem’s property are gone and many of his neighbors have relocated.

“It’s kind of a house in the middle of a barren landscape,” Jochem said. “The vast majority of people up there that I’ve been working with lost everything; their house, property and a significant percentage had no insurance so they got nothing back.”

MacNeil, also known in the community as “Mac,” was one such person who lost his home. His family has been in Grizzly Flat for 100 years and Mac himself made the forest community his home in 1979. Now he lives in a trailer on his property.

“We are really happy for those who are able to build again, but the rest of us are still stuck sitting in trailers and just don’t have the money to rebuild,” Mac said.

Service and

Courtesy photo

Footings for the new bridge to Mosquito are being contructed on ridges to the north and south of the South Fork of the American River.

Grizzly Flat resident Marie Almeida sits with her friend Tabatha Walker outside her trailer on her property in 2022. Many Grizzly Flat locals have not been able to rebuild following the 2021 Caldor Fire disaster that destroyed the small community, which the residents say the U.S. Forest Service was negligent in preventing.

Mountain Democrat le photo by Eric Jaramishian

2; and Georgetown Library, 1:30 p.m. April 6. For

National

The fifth Gold Country Horse Day takes place at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville on Saturday, April 6. This event is hosted by Buckaroo Leather products in Diamond Springs and has been a success for local horsemen for the past few years.

“Buckaroo John” Brand and his team of seasoned leather craftsmen have provided quality Leather Tack for horses and mules for 44 years. Brand came up with the idea of Gold Country Horse Day to offer horsemen the opportunity to enjoy the talents of dynamic clinicians and presentation of horse handling and safety by professionals for a very low cost and enjoy the fellowship of other horse lovers.

The famous Buckaroo Leather Trailer and Buckaroo John Brand will be on site, as will other vendor booths offering horse related products so the attendees can spend a day learning and adding to their horse care arsenal.

Learn more at the website, goldcountryhorseday.com.

Horse

Day clinicians & presentations

• Susan Wirgler: What your horse really wants and meeds from You

• Martina Bone: 10 musthave techniques to improve

balance for you and your horse

• Hanna Rokni: Mounted archery demonstration with Shabdiz Mounted Archers

Equine emergency & disaster preparedness

• The HALTER Project,

established in 2013, is a grassroots project based in Sonoma County dedicated to the safety and welfare of people and animals in emergencies and disasters. HALTER Project has a two-fold mission supporting planning and preparedness for animals and people.

HALTER Project also provides support to first responders for training and equipment to assist animals in emergencies. This includes sponsorship and scholarships for Animal Technical Rescue Certification, grants for animal rescue equipment, collaborative development and delivery of teaching tools, and fundraising assistance to agencies and NGOs providing animal technical rescue services.

• El Dorado County Search and Rescue The Mounted Team, formed in 1973, is a group of dedicated horsemen and women who want to use their expertise to help people in need. The group felt that the unique abilities of the horse would be an asset in finding lost persons in and around El Dorado County. The main advantages of the horseand-rider team of mounted searchers are greater mobility, better vision, higher loadbearing ability, and increased sensory resources from the animal itself. Members must

n See HORSE DAY, page B4

Soroptimists to provide career guidance, mentorship

News release

Are you a high school girl interested in going to college? Do you want guidance on how to set and achieve your career goals? Would you like access to professional role models and mentors?

The Sacramento Fine Arts Center in Carmichael presents Awash with Color, an annual art show featuring

April

Get the resources you need to plan your future through the Soroptimist Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls program, which aims to help girls grow to be strong, successful and happy adults.

Soroptimist International of Placerville will host a day-long conference for secondary schoolage girls, where they will learn about career opportunities, setting and achieving goals, and overcoming obstacles to success. The Dream It, Be It event will take place 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 6 at Union Mine High School (Library). Girls and their parents/guardians can learn more and sign up for the program by visiting our “Event” on the Facebook page (siplacerville) or email questions to siplacerville@ soroptimist.net. Throughout the day, the girls will attend sessions based on the following topics:

• Discovering your dreams

• Exploring careers

• Creating achievable goals

• Rising above obstacles

• Turning failure into success

• Balancing your stress

• Putting dreams into action

“Because we don’t expect that all girls will know what they want to do for the rest of their

lives and we also know that plans change, the skills developed through the day can be applied to any goals the girls identify throughout their education and careers,” said Lynne Rogers, club president. “The girls will also have the opportunity to speak with working women and perhaps arrange a mentorship with a woman whose career interests them.”

In addition to learning important life skills, the girls will also leave with a variety of other resources and fun items, including a dream journal for keeping track of their goals and a certificate for participating. There will be a drawing for a laptop at day’s end.

Dream It, Be It joins with the long-running Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women to create the Soroptimist Dream Programs, which provide sustainable, measurable change for women and girls and ensure they have access to the education and training needed to reach their full potential and live their dreams. The Live Your Dream Awards assist women by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and job prospects.

Soroptimist International of Placerville is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a causerelated philanthropic federation of clubs improving the lives of women and girls through

social and economic empowerment. The Placerville Soroptimists join 1,300 Soroptimist clubs in 20 countries and territories that empower women and girls through volunteer projects, such as cash grants for education, hands-on efforts to end domestic violence, career mentoring for girls, women’s health initiatives and many other community-based projects. For more information on how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls visit Soroptimist.org.

Stand Up For MORE Comedy Night Stand Up For MORE Comedy Night

Friday April 26, 2024

Friday April 1, 2022

El Dorado County Fair & Event Center

100 Placerville Dr., Placerville

El Dorado County Fair & 5:00 – 9:00 pm

The 8th Annual Stand Up For MORE Comedy Night will be in partnership with the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce to o er wonderful entertainment along with a delicious meal catered by John Sanders. Shake o the stress of the week with this hilarious, fundraising showcase. Our Headliner, the hilarious Dennis Blair, who has been described as a Renaissance man. He is an accomplished screenwriter, award-winning songwriter, and comedic actor. Yet he is probably best known for the caustic observations and musical satires of his live comedy performances. Also featured is the amazingly talented Derrick Leonard, whose laser-sharp humor will have you in stitches!

Admission: $60 per person; $100 per couple

Tickets available at: MORE, 399 Placerville Drive Online at: www.morerehab.org

Courtesy photo

Meet fellow horse lovers and learn more about horses at the upcoming Gold Country Horse Day on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.

COMICS

■ SHOE by Jeff MacNelly

■ TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

■ RUBES by Leigh Rubin

the Sierra have partnered with Marcella Foundation to launch Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for 8,000 children living in El Dorado County. Each month Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will provide an age-appropriate book for each registered child, absolutely free to the family. All 8,000 children ages 0 to their 5th birthday living in El Dorado County can enroll now to receive a free monthly book. Any child in the home can register and books are available in both English and Spanish.

■ SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

Complete

HOROSCOPE by Holiday Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19). If the fool seeks happiness in the distance, then you happily t the de nition today. You’ll scratch your itch to travel, research or merely dream about other places and ways to experience joy.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re fully aware of the serious business in need of tending, but since you’re versatile, talented and able to work in an array of tones, you’ll choose the one that’s most conducive to fun.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). To sing along with life is to embrace the melodies and rhythms of the unknown. Anyone chiming into a song they’ve never heard is going to hit strange notes, but don’t let it stop you from nding the harmony.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). There’s a circus around you, and you’ll get to choose a role. Better to be a juggler than a lion tamer. If you’re a fool, you’re the wise sort with the humility to laugh at yourself and the luck to stumble upon the wisdom in folly.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll embrace the foolish notion that you can have it all, and for moments it will seem like you’re actually succeeding at it, or at least that you’re having it “most.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Perhaps fools rush in where angels fear to tread, but you never claimed to be an angel. You’ve a need for speed, and you’re in the perfect place to enjoy a heady blast of fresh adventure.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ve a unique worldview and you will relieve su ering when you share your

observations, which interest and distract people. “A clown is like an aspirin, only he works twice as fast.”

-- Groucho Marx SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It is said that a wise person learns from the mistakes of others, but a fool insists on making their own. Even so, you’d rather be a fool today because the learning is bespoke, complete and a lot more fun.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). First, set your tone, then make your move because much will depend on the spirit of your metaphorical soundtrack. Action makes things happen. Comedy makes it happen to the accompaniment of a bassoon.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The fool speaks, the wise listens, and the artist hangs back with a camera, paints, notebooks, pens and other tools to capture the madness and turn it into something that speaks to the human condition.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Even in the midst of folly there are opportunities and lessons. You’ll join in with imperfect situations because you recognize that wisdom is not about superiority but about understanding the human condition.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). To the typical outsider, it seems the insiders are one united front, getting along swimmingly and having the best of times, too. But you’re not fooled by the view through the rose-colored window. Groups are usually held together by tension.

our area. While improving children’s literacy skills by the third grade is our most pressing goal, this program aims to help families build literacy skills at home and cultivate a love of reading at a young age.”

Improving early childhood literacy with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates opportunities for children to thrive and succeed in school, helping their communities grow and prosper.

“We believe that parents are a child’s first teacher. The first years of life are critical for a child’s learning and development, and the Imagination Library encourages connection and bonding between caregivers and children during those critical years,” said Kathi Guerrero, executive director of First 5 El Dorado.

The Marcella Foundation, founded in 2023 by South Lake Tahoe native Sean Fannan, operates with a mission to think big and make a di erence in South Lake Tahoe and beyond in three key areas: feed, read and lead.

“We are thrilled to partner with so many amazing organizations to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the region,” said Melissa Uppendahl, executive director of Marcella Foundation. “This is truly a collaborative e ort to improve outcomes for all children living in

“We’re excited to bring this program to our region.” Children in homes with more extensive home libraries are known to read more, have higher-level reading skills and attain more years of education than those with access to fewer books. “If children enroll in the Imagination Library at birth, they will receive over 60 books by the time they enter kindergarten. We’re excited to help families build their home libraries and encourage a culture of reading at home,” said Bryce Lovell, director of El Dorado County Library Services. “Children who are read to at an early age and who spend time with books are more likely to become ■ See LIBRARY, page B4

SUDOKU

Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority recognized at California industry awards ceremony

STATELINE, NEV. — The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and its agency of record, Noble Studios, were presented with the Visit California’s Poppy Award recognizing the creativity and e ectiveness in tourism marketing for the destination’s Awe ‘and then’ Some paid brand campaign under $1 million. See visitlaketahoe.com.

Visit California received hundreds of submissions this year for its Poppy Awards that recognize some of the best work in the industry. Winners were announced last month at the Poppy Awards gala that closed out Outlook Forum in Greater Palm Springs.

The comprehensive research-driven renaming and rebranding initiative, Awe ‘and then’ Some was created by Noble Studios to assist the organization’s evolving move into the future. The journey for the multifaceted campaign was rooted in collaboration between LTVA, its board of directors, marketing, sales, and PR committees with Noble Studios. The strategic approach painted a complete picture of the “total Tahoe” experience, immersing visitors in awe-inspiring landscapes, vibrant entertainment, sustainable messaging, and the combination of indoor and outdoor recreation famous to the area.

“Our commitment to highlighting responsible tourism messages is forefront and to be recognized for that e ort is gratifying,” said Carol Chaplin, president & CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “Through the power of our collaboration with sta , board of directors and the entire Noble Studios team, a memorable and e ective campaign was developed that resonates with our audiences.” With a deep understanding of the target audience

that included locals and visitors, the rebranding put special emphasis on sustainability audiences. The linchpin of unified values and clarified messaging, embraced locals and brought together stakeholders, behind a sustainability philosophy that sets Visit Lake Tahoe up for the future. The campaign’s ad creative inspired travelers by highlighting the emotional connection and unique experiences available at Lake Tahoe while reminding audiences to preserve the timeless wonder of Tahoe.

The Awe ‘and then’ Some results generated an impressive 135 million impressions, video 3.3 million views (a 51% view rate) and the clickthrough rate for paid social came in at 0.72%. Clicks clocked in at 327,000, while a 66% increase in average session duration from paid search yearover-year points to increased engagement with Visit Lake Tahoe. In total, the campaign yielded a 279% increase in partner referrals from paid search.

The rebrand drove a ected bookings and stays. Hotel occupancy grew 10% year-over-year (56% vs. 50.8%). Lake Tahoe also saw higher overnight stays compared to benchmarks, plus increased average visitor spending. Lodging referral conversion rates increased 27% from paid tra c. Out-of-state, anywhere but California and Nevada, lodging referrals rose 24% from paid media and 88% from paid search. The gains across tra c, bookings and revenue metrics showcase the rebrand’s role in propelling Lake Tahoe tourism growth.

The campaign drove a 129% increase in interaction rate across all campaigns while decreasing cost per conversion by 24% across the board. These gains in e ciency and engagement highlight the success of the redesigned ad creative and targeting strategies.

Library Continued from B2

proficient readers, and with that skill, they are better equipped to learn, discover and grow.” Register a child at marcellafoundation.org/dolly.

About Imagination Library

Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has gifted over 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and community partners. The Imagination Library mails more than 2.6 million high-quality, ageappropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age 5 — at no cost to families. Parton envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to “dream more, learn more, care more and be more.” Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information visit imaginationlibrary.com.

Horse Day

Continued from B1

own a horse or always have one available. They must also have a safe form of horse transport. The members are trained in CPR, first aid, map & compass, man-tracking, crime scene investigation, and search techniques, in addition to their horse training.

• The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team is a nonprofit

Know Continued from B1

Falcon’s Eye Theatre at Folsom Lake College presents “Cabaret,” April 5-14 at Harris Center for the Arts, 10 College Parkway in Folsom. For tickets and more information visit harriscenter.net or call (916) 6086888.

Breabach will perform at The Sofia in Sacramento. For tickets and more information call (916) 443-5300 or visit bstreettheatre.org.

April 6

The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 512 invites the public to its “famous pancake breakfast,” 8-11 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month, April through October, at the Placerville Airport, 3501 Airport Road. Enjoy airplanes on display, breakfast, old cars, old friends and the Placerville airport. Proceeds go to the Sunny Atkin Scholarship Fund for students of aeronautical related studies.

Now

Marshall Hospital Auxiliary is looking for volunteers. Help people and make new friends. Interviews are held monthly. For more information call Norma at (530) 676-1844 or email grizzyq98@gmail. com.

Aspiring El Dorado Rose applications are available. Candidate qualifications: is 60 years or older; has been a resident of El Dorado County for a minimum of 10 years; and has contributed volunteer services throughout her life. A candidate must be sponsored by a

organization dedicated to helping animals and their owners in the community who need rescue and evacuation during an emergency. The sheriff’s office partnered with highly skilled and well-trained volunteers from the community to form HEART and continues to welcome new HEART volunteers to the team today. The Sheriff’s HEART carries out animal rescue and evacuation functions for Nevada

The Public Square

business, club, organization or an individual. The sponsor submits the application and pays an entry fee. Both are due April 20 and need to be submitted to El Dorado Rose c/o El Dorado Rose Corporation, P.O. Box 282, Placerville, CA 95667. The entry fee covers admission to the Rose Ball for the candidate. For more information call Diane Lehr at (530) 845-2513.

Registration is now open for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra Golf for Kids Sake tournament and fundraiser at the Serrano Country Club on May 20. To register call (530) 626-1222, ext. 104, or visit bbbsns.org/events/golf-event.

Registration is now open for the Bist Sandigo Golf Tournament at the Cameron Park Country Club June 10. For more information and to register call (916) 798-4746 or visit purelyhope.org.

Registration is now open for the 41st annual Bob West Drive for Marshall golf tournament scheduled for June 21 and hosted once again at Cold Springs Golf & Country Club in Placerville. To register visit marshallfound.org/golf-registration/?blm_aid=30898.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2680 in El Dorado County invites veterans of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War as well as those seeing action in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries during the war on terror plus those serving peace-keeping missions throughout the globe to become VFW members. For more information call (530) 499-2950.

County.

• South County Large Animal Emergency Rescue has a dedicated group of volunteers who are trained to work under the direction of county Office of Emergency Services specifically through Animal Services endeavoring to evacuate the large animals. The group supplies the volunteers, the trucks and trailers.

• California Veterinary Emergency Team –The One Health Institute at UC Davis is active all over the world, working at the interface of animals, people, plants and the environment to solve complex problems that impact health and conservation. Scientists and educators are working throughout the UC Davis campus, the UC system, state and federal agencies, and globally to advance the health of animals, people and the environment.

Clinic topics and demonstrations include: Helping the “down” equine; Large animal rescue: what is it, who does it, and how to request help in an incident involving equines; and preparing your barn, ranch, animals (and you) for disasters.