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173
C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
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mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2024
VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 42 | $1.00
Details emerge in Visman manslaughter case Odin Rasco Staff writer
More than a year after her initial arrest in the case of a November 2022 drunk driving collision alleged to have caused the death of Camino resident Mason Visman, Erica Chambers, 36, appeared in El Dorado County Superior Court for a preliminary hearing Monday where it was determined the matter could move to a jury trial
if she did not choose to change her not-guilty plea. The evening of Nov. 11, 2022, a Toyota Prius entering onto Highway 50 from the tight turn onramp at Mosquito Road in Placerville was reportedly struck from behind by a MercedesBenz SUV driven by Chambers, according to a California Highway Patrol incident report. Chambers was arrested that night on suspicion of driving while under the influence after
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reportedly attempting to flee the scene. The next afternoon, Visman’s body, dressed in a tuxedo, was found on the other side of a guard rail adjacent to the where the accident had occurred. Visman, 34, was a Camino resident and son to Brad and Kandi Visman, who own Boa Vista Orchards. Both Chambers and Visman were in fancy dress ■ See DETAILS, page A8
EMPTY BOWLS FULL TABLES
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The 24th Empty Bowls fundraiser held at the Shakespeare Club in Placerville Saturday saw a change in operations this year, with the entire event being run by 60 Hands4Hope — Youth Making a Difference volunteers. Money raised by the event went to fight hunger locally and abroad, with funds going to the Upper Room Dining Hall, Hands4Hope Emergency Food Pantry and a program called Earth Angels in Ghana that aims to create a self-sustaining fish farm to feed locals. The event exceeded the attendance goal with more than 390 guests picking from bowls wrapped in paper, photo above, adding an element of surprise to what keepsake ceramic they would be able to take home at the end of the night. Specially made bowls were donated to the event by local artisans, right photo, a reminder of the empty bowls the fundraisers mean to fill in the effort against hunger. Some of the artisan-made bowls were mixed in with the stacks of bowls given at random to attendees, many which were crafted by local art students. Rylee, Karen and Jacob, from left, were three of the star Hands4Hope volunteers ready to serve ladlefuls of savory soups for attendees of the well-attended fundraising function. Mountain Democrat photos by Odin Rasco
$
– E S T. 18 51
195
DENTAL NEW PATIENT SPECIAL
Normally $485
Limited spaces available Call for details Placerville, CA
530-358-9100
Title 25 regs to help ‘bring back’ Grizzly Flat Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
Underinsured or uninsured property owners of Grizzly Flat whose homes burned in the Caldor Fire may soon be able to build small dwelling units on their property, free of fee obligations. El Dorado County Planning and Building Department staff have finished drafting an ordinance that will allow those rebuilding to do just that. “This is going to be life changing for (our) people,” said Matt Nunley, a Grizzly Flat resident who built sheds for his fellow neighbors following the disaster. “I’m excited to get going on this and the sawdust is going to be flying.” “This is the most The ordinance, inspired by Butte important thing you County’s emergency guys can vote on dwelling unit ordinance following its own for our community, wildfire disasters, went along with other into a first reading places that got during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. impacted by the Another reading, and Caldor Fire.” presumably approval of the emergency — Tobe Magidson, ordinance, is set to Grizzly Flat resident occur at the April 23 board meeting. The conversation to implement the ordinance is rooted back to August 2022, when Supervisor George Turnboo, whose district includes Grizzly Flat, presented the idea of exploring pallet, or “tiny homes,” as an option for underinsured or uninsured residents of the fire-torn community. That proposal has since manifested into the emergency ordinance that applies rules from California’s Title 25 building code of regulations. Those regulations allow leniency on how the dwelling units are built and can be constructed by owner-produced materials or milled lumber with review and approval from a building official. The county will exempt planning checks, inspections and county fees since the dwelling structures would be placed under its Caldor Fire Urgency Ordinance. Building permits would be valid for three years, minimum room dimensions would not be required and generators would be allowed as a sole power source during partial occupancy. Additionally, there would be no specified requirements for heating and temperature maintenance and electrical wiring would not be required. The ordinance is not intended to assist those with adequate insurance, those looking to construct a larger home or those who purchased property after the fire. ■ See TITLE 25, page A7
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