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C ali forn ia’s Olde st Ne w spaper
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Volume 171 • Issue 43 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, April 11, 2022
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
A cyclist shares the road with vehicles at the intersection of Darlington Avenue and Cedar Ravine Road in Placerville April 7. Caltrans awarded Placerville more than $167,000 to conduct a multimodal study on Cedar Ravine Road in an effort to improve road access for all.
Funds to help study travel on Cedar Ravine Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
Mountain Democrat photo by Thomas Frey
Caltrans awarded $34.7 million to cities, counties, tribes and transit agencies statewide for transportation projects April 5 — Placerville will receive $167,634 for a Cedar Ravine Road multimodal study. The city of Placerville in partnership with Sacramento-based nonprofit Local Government Commission, which helps policymakers on topics like climate change and community design, will analyze and make recommendations on improving road access and connectivity in the Cedar Ravine Road area, according to a Caltrans news release. “These grants are funding the planning for sustainable and more resilient transportation projects that will prepare the state for rising sea levels, wildfires and other climate-related impacts,” said Caltrans Interim Director Steven Keck. Those conducting the study will engage residents, staff from Marshall Medical, area nursing facilities, Sierra Elementary School parents and faculty, nearby church members and office workers to develop options for accommodating all road travelers, including motorists, transit, pedestrians and cyclists. This study will not only analyze the challenges but also identify strategies and design changes that will improve safety and accommodate all users on Cedar Ravine Road and in the adjacent area. The study aims to develop plans and cost estimates that Placerville city leaders can use to implement improvements in the near future, continues the release. Funding comes from the Sustainable Communities Competitive and Technical Grants, which went to 57 agencies across the state for n
See Cedar Ravine, page A3
Juan Carlos Vazquez-Orozco is escorted into the El Dorado County Superior Court courthouse by a bailiff March 29. VazquezOrozco is charged with first degree murder and assault with a firearm. Four of his shots were allegedly inteded to hit and kill deputy Brian Ishmael while a fifth shot severely wounded San Joaquin County deputy Josh Tasabia.
Jury deliberating shooter’s role in Ishmael murder Thomas Frey Staff writer A jury began deliberations April 6 in Juan Carlos VazquezOrozco’s homicide trial. Vazquez-Orozco is accused of shooting and killing El Dorado County sheriff ’s deputy Brian Ishmael Oct. 23, 2019. Vazquez-Orozco is charged with murder in the first degree and assault with a firearm. He maintains he was shooting in self-defense when he pulled the trigger on the gun, taking 37-year-old Ishmael’s life and wounding San Joaquin County deputy Josh Tasabia, who was on a ridealong. He also shot at deputies Brian Shelton and Shawn Taroli. The defendant was living at 4740 Sand Ridge Road, a property owned by Christopher Ross. His job was to tend to
about 100 marijuana plants as part of an illegal grow operation on Ross’ property. Each plant was on target to yield about 3 pounds of marijuana. Vazquez-Orozco was 20 years old and sleeping in a tent with no bathroom or running water. He would be paid $200 a day once the crop was harvested. Deputy district attorney Joe Alexander estimated the plants were worth a combined $249,600 based off the testimony of Det. Michael Roberts, who said the going rate per pound was $800-$1,200 in 2019. When Vazquez-Orozco began working for Ross about a month before Oct. 23, 2019, he had been living in the United States for a little more than a year. He testified — through an interpreter — that when he lived in Mexico, he worked with
cattle and was paid 5,000 pesos a month — about $200-$250. “He’s making almost as much per day working in this marijuana garden as he would working a month running cattle in Mexico,” Alexander said. “That’s an incentive because he’s not going to get paid if there is no harvest.” He was given a .22 revolver not by Ross, but by a growing ring boss the prosecution identified with the name of Abelardo. Taking the stand, VazquezOrozco told his attorney Lori London he was given instructions that if robbers came on the property, “that I should scare them” and that he was “told to shoot.” While Vazquez-Orozco claimed he was acting in selfn
See Vazquez-Orozco, page A6
Placerville bowler hits USBC Open 50th time Ron Kirsh U.S. Bowling Congress LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Ron Mansfield of Placerville officially PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
became a member of an exclusive group last month as he participated at the U.S. Bowling Congress Open Championships for the 50th time. With family, friends and fellow competitors looking on, 31 bowlers from across the nation became the newest members of the tournament’s 50-Year Club. Each was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone. Then they proceeded to their respective lanes to do what they have loved to do for half a century. This ceremony at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas,
Nev., was extra special for Mansfield and John Pocekay of Martinez, who not only were reaching 50 consecutive years of participation at the same time, they also were sharing the lanes as teammates for the 50th time. The duo met while they were students at the University of California, Davis. They both made the bowling team and the rest, as they say, is history … a long history of bowling and friendship. “We were roommates as well as teammates at UC Davis and we instantly hit it off,” Pocekay said. “Back in 1972 we decided to try our talents at the USBC n
Courtesy photo
See mansfield, page A6
Ron Mansfield celebrates his 50th year of competing at the U.S. Bowling Congress Open Championships.
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