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Volume 171 • Issue 63 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Friday, May 27, 2022
EDC Fire gets ‘good’ PPC rating Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
Just in time for Memorial Day, county facilities worker Justin Sarns places new memorial bricks to be mortared in at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument May 26.
A ‘shocking’ answer
El Dorado County Fire Protection District’s public protection classification service rating from the Insurance Services Office will shift to Class 3 from Class 4, effective Aug. 1. Chief Tim Cordero shared the achievement with the El Dorado County Fire Protection District Board of Directors May 19 during its meeting at Placerville Town Hall. Cordero broke down how the district is rated in emergency communications, water supply, community risk reduction and the fire department itself. The lower the number, the better. A Class 3 rating is an achievement only 16% of other fire districts in the U.S. can claim, according to El Dorado County Fire officials. “This is a proud moment for the agency,” Cordero n
notice
marks this Memorial Day
In observance of Memorial Day the Mountain Democrat will not publish Monday, May 30.
John Poimiroo Special to the Mountain Democrat
commemorate the day at the Veterans Monument (360 Fair Lane in Placerville) with somber military tradition and reflection upon those who After being asked to read the name of a veteran died for their country. Monday’s ceremony begins who died this past year, officers of the El Dorado at 11 a.m. and, in keeping with Decoration Day, County Veterans Alliance, which conducts those first to arrive will be given carnations to Memorial Day ceremonies at the El Dorado decorate memorials at the monument.” County Veterans Monument in Placerville, This year’s ceremony includes three flyovers considered, “Why by World War II read just one name? Navy and Marine Why not read the Corps “Texan” T-6 names of all El warbirds, led by Dorado County’s vets flight leader Chuck who passed away in Wahl of Cameron the preceding year?” Park accompanied by They said they aviators Jim Booth, were shocked Jim Eberhardt, Terry when they got the Tarditti and Craig answer. Green Valley Meyer; a parade Mortuary submitted of service flags led a list of more than by representatives 220 veterans. A of El Dorado separate healthcare County veterans organization knew of organizations and another 100, but for accompanied by privacy reasons was area Boy and Girl Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum unable to provide Scouts; presentation Memorial Day ceremonies at the El Dorado County Veterans their names. Five of colors by Civil Air Monument will take place at 11 a.m. May 30 in Placerville. other organizations in Patrol Squadron 85; the know replied it was too great a task to take on. patriotic music and service anthems performed by “We first thought there might be 20 or so and the Ponderosa High School Chamber Choir under were stunned to learn there were hundreds of the direction of Santiago Sabado; a memorial vets who died in the previous year. That ended wreath presentation; a three-volley rifle salute by up being many more than we could read within a combined veterans rifle team; Taps presented the ceremony,” said Gary Campbell, president of by Ponderosa High School bugler Alissa Thuesen; the Veterans Alliance. “And so, on Memorial Day pipes played by Sgt. Rob Roy, USA-Ret.; an we will list all those whose names provided on a invocation and benediction presented by Army poster board for attendees to read. Chaplain Lt. Col. Tim Thompson; with Staff Sgt. “Memorial Day honors and remembers those Ryan Saechao, USMC as Sergeant at Arms; Capt. who died serving the cause of freedom,” Campbell Jack Babbitt, USMC-Ret. as Officer in Charge and explained. “It was established following the Lt. Cmdr. Peter Wolfe, USCG-Ret. as Master of American Civil War to honor war dead and was Ceremonies. then called Decoration Day after the practice of decorating war graves. In El Dorado County, we n See Memorial Day, page A9 PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
See Rating, page A8
Mountain Democrat photo by Thomas Frey
Officer Andrew Brown of the California Highway Patrol writes a ticket ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
Placerville CHP plans extra enforcement Thomas Frey Staff writer As Friday afternoon rolls around, many people will make their way up Highway 50 to celebrate Memorial Day weekend in El Dorado County’s great outdoors. “Memorial Day is the traditional start to the summer travel season,” said Commander Lt. Rick Hatfield of the California Highway Patrol’s n
See CHP, page A10
Cemetery tax sent to the grave Eric Jaramishian Staff writer A ballot measure that, if approved, would have implemented a $9 per parcel tax for El Dorado County cemetery maintenance, improvements and preservation will not make its way into the November 2022 election. Emphasis on other ballot measures and potential struggles to find support motivated the county Board of Supervisors to scrap the idea May 24. A stacked 2020 ballot prompted the county to push the measure to 2022.
“I too really value our cemeteries and their historical value, but I am also aware our El Dorado County voters and residents just don’t have an appetite for taxes and fees,” said District 4 Supervisor and Chair Lori Parlin during Tuesday’s board meeting. County leaders determined a coalition would need to be formed to garner support for the proposed ballot measure. Cemetery Advisory Committee Chair Michael Roberts told the board he is positive the parcel tax would be “resisted with great enthusiasm” not only by the Taxpayers Association of El Dorado
County but also the community at large. Supervisors agreed to focus on other ballot measures such as the one that would increase the Transient Occupancy Tax by 2% in the West Slope and 4% in the Lake Tahoe area. The money that comes from the Transient Occupancy Tax, paid by tourists staying in the county in any lodging facility, is in part used for road maintenance and improvements. “There will never be a good time to do this. However, I agree now is not the right n
See Cemetery Tax, page A10
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