Awesome autos
Knowledge sprouts from a garden
The Hangtown Car Show brought out classics and more.
Kids are digging it at the Boys and Girls Club.
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Volume 170 • Issue 119 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, October 11, 2021
Repairs tested to open Mt. Murphy Bridge Eric Jaramishian Staff writer Pedestrians and vehicles started crossing Mt. Murphy Bridge in Coloma immediately after it passed a load-bearing test Friday morning conducted by El Dorado County Department of Transportation staff. DOT staff drove a three axeltruck over the bridge twice, once both ways, to check for any displacement and deformations to the bridge. The test went without a hitch and DOT director Rafael Martinez said the bridge would open by 11 a.m, deeming it safe to cross. Use of the bridge will be restricted to one vehicle crossing at
“The last couple of weeks have been pretty hard for commuting, getting out with the kids and getting places so we’re really grateful.” — Jocelyn O’Connor, Coloma resident a time and two-axle vehicles which exceed 12 tons and three-axle vehicles which exceed 19 tons are prohibited while workers inspect the bridge further for safety. The bridge’s current weight capacity is about a 10% reduction from normal limitations, according to Martinez. n
See Bridge, page 10
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
A three-axel truck drives across Mt. Murphy Bridge in Coloma as part of a load-bearing test Friday morning Oct. 8.
Gourdgeous delivery
Curtzwiler makes bid for District 5 Tahoe Daily Tribune SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — South Lake Tahoe resident Kenny Curtzwiler is again vying to become District 5 supervisor for El Dorado County. Curtzwiler is the second person to declare candidacy for the position along with South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace, Kenny Curtzwiler according to the El Dorado County Elections Department. Curtzwiler has called South Lake Tahoe home since he hitchhiked there from the Bay Area for a vacation in 1977 and decided to stay. “What makes me qualified for this position, I have been married for 40 years, built our dream home, raised three children and have owned a tree service, firewood business, construction clean up and hauling service since 1981,” Curtzwiler said in a statement. “I am a 20-year veteran having joined the Nevada Army National Guard at age 30. I retired as a major.” He said he held two jobs until he was 52 years old and has written articles as “The Skibum” for more than 20 years for local media, including the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Albert Fausel and his son AJ, 7, above, assist stage coach driver Davy “Doc” Wiser in delivering giant pumpkins to businesses on Main Street in downtown Placerville Oct. 5. Surprising businesses with his hefty offerings, Wiser has kept this tradition going every Halloween season for about 40 years. Giant gourds arrive at Placerville News Company, right photo. Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian
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See Curtzwiler, page 2
Coyan named general manager at GDPUD Thomas Frey Staff writer Adam Coyan is the new general manager at the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District. GDPUD’s general manager position has been open since Steve Palmer resigned in February 2020. Jeff Nelson served as interim general manager in the meantime and in August — about 18 months after Nelson picked up the interim tag — Coyan stepped into the general manager’s chair.
He was general manager for the Del Paso Manor Water District in Sacramento and had never been to the Georgetown area before interviewing and taking the job. But Coyan, 48, said it was a “natural progression.” “I saw a need that wasn’t being met,” Coyan explained. A lot of general managers run companies, especially utility districts, like an institution and they aren’t fiscally as responsible as they could be to ratepayers so I just thought I could n
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Mountain Democrat photo by Thomas Frey
See Coyan, page 11
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