PLACERVILLE • 85 Placerville Drive • (530) 303-8962 F JACKSON • 705 S. State Highway 49 • (209) 560-6676
FREE
ALIGNMENT CHECK BRAKE INSPECTION BATTERY CHECK AIR CHECK
Good at participating dealers. See store for details. Not good with other offers. Expires 4/30/24.
89 99 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT 10 %OFF SHOCKS & STRUTS
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On Labor. Most vehicles. Installation required.
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173
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C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
mtdemocrat.com
MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2024
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VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 40 | $1.00
Gov’t center security officers hit the pavement Sheriff Security Officer Michael Cannon can be seen at the Government Center in Placerville Tuesday afternoon finishing his patrol and checking for unlocked doors.
Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
A new security detail has been added to the El Dorado County Government Center and surrounding areas in the form of sheriff security officers on patrol to help deter crime and address safety issues. On April 1 SSO Kyle Potter handled a potential loiterer without issue at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, another area where the new security officers patrol. He then headed back to the government center, patrolled near the library and made his way to the homeless shelter a short distance
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
away, where he helped a transient determine if she missed a court date. Another woman coming out of the navigation center thanked Potter for being present around the area. “For the most part, reception has been good for us,” Potter said. The next day SSO Michael Cannon patrolled county buildings toward the end of his shift and checked for any unlocked doors that should be locked. Cannon found one, went inside the building to inform employees and reminded them to lock the doors. “I always check the doors,” Cannon ■ See PATROL, page A3
Spring snow Coloma-Lotus area earns its Firewise status Odin Rasco Staff writer
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Another El Dorado County community has received certification as a Firewise USA Community in recognition of the efforts of residents and the Coloma-Lotus Fire Safe Council. Following on the heels of sections of Placerville and surrounding areas, which were recognized by the Firewise USA Program in November, the Coloma-Lotus area has become the seventh Firewise Community in the greater Placerville region. The Firewise
USA Program was established to recognize communities prepared for fires by making homes and other properties fire resistant and promote measures such as defensible space. The ColomaLotus community encompasses Coloma, Lotus, Arrowbee, Riverwood and a section of Garden Valley. Signs declaring the newly announced designation are set to be installed on Lotus Road, Highway 49 and the intersection of Marshall and Mt. Murphy roads, as well as in the Arrowbee and Riverwood neighborhoods. The Firewise USA recognition is just one part of an ongoing collaboration between communities and their Fire Safe Councils; the Coloma-Lotus FSC has a three-year plan focused on empowering and educating residents. Outreach events, defensible space creation and home hardening training paired with wildfire risk assessments are all key parts of the plan, allowing the community to renew their Firewise status in three years’ time. Efforts made by residents in those three years make a difference; time or money spent on labor to harden a home or create defensible space ought to be tracked by community residents so that the information can be included in the renewal application, according to Coloma-Lotus FSC Council Chair Bob Hess. ■ See FIREWISE, page A6
Mountain Democrat photos by Noel Stack
Fluffy snowflakes fell in Placerville Thursday afternoon, blanketing the fresh spring grass and flowers. Above, a snow-covered Welcome to Placerville sign greets drivers on Highway 50 as they make their way into town. Below, drivers navigate wet roads around the Belltower in downtown Placerville. The snow in town stuck to the ground, trees and rooftops in some places but it didn’t impact traffic around the city.
Spring storm hits county with unseasonal snow Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
E
l Dorado County was hit with a cold surprise Thursday as Sierra snowflakes fell in foothill communities throughout the afternoon. Despite vehicles and vegetation frosting more than usual for April, effects of the storm were minimal. Snow fell as low as 1,200 feet in elevation, all the way down to Cameron Park. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort reported 9 inches of snow falling at its summit. Another 1 to 2 inches of snow was expected to fall Friday night at the summit, the resort’s website reported. As of Friday morning, chain controls were set up on Highway 50 near Kyburz and while traffic was moving slow, the road was open all the way to South Lake Tahoe. ■ See SPRING SNOW, page A6
Spring flowers on Main Street didn’t look like they appreciated the cold white stuff falling from the sky, above left. Succulents in a nearby bicycle planter, above right, also had a layer of snow on top. It snowed on and off in Placerville throughout Thursday and early Friday morning but temperatures were expected to warm up over the weekend.