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Inside, A6
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020
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Y T E F F RA VOLUME 169 • ISSUE 120
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County to spend $1.2 million on generators Dawn Hodson Staff writer El Dorado County is putting $1.2 million toward the purchase of four generators to power county facilities during PG&E public safety power shutoffs. The new generators are part of a revised capital workplan approved at the Board of Supervisors’ Sept. 18 meeting. At the time the workplan did not include year-end fund balance adjustments or final carryover projects. County staff recommended using savings from last year’s budget to buy the generators. One generator will be for the jail in Placerville. Staff explained that during the last power
shutdown the main generator at the jail failed due to a bad water pump. That generator is more than 30 years old. Staff recommended buying a new generator and keeping the existing one as a backup. A second portable generator was proposed to run Building A at the El Dorado County Government Center during a power shutoff and as a back-up generator if needed at a different county facility. A third portable generator is proposed for the main library in Placerville and as a back-up generator if needed elsewhere. The fourth generator will be used in Building C at the Government Center where the Elections Department is headquartered. Elections received
funding of $225,000 to put toward a new generator. The generator was scheduled for delivery and installation Oct. 12. Once in place the existing portable generator will be moved to Briw Road, which will allow Health and Human Services to maintain operations in case of a power shutdown. Funding for the generators is a combination of grant funding from the Sheriff ’s Office ($293,490) and carryover savings from prior accumulated capital outlay projects. Supervisors Shiva Frentzen, Sue Novasel, John Hidahl and Lori Parlin voted to approve the purchase with Supervisor Brian Veerkamp absent for the vote.
Remote workers find new home at Lake Tahoe Claire McArthur Tahoe Daily Tribune
Mountain Democrat photo by Thomas Frey
Union Mine High School’s new Athletic Director Matt Ray has a rich history of developing athletes through strength and conditioning. Ray built the strength and conditioning program at Antelope High School and is bringing something similar to Union Mine.
Ray brings winning ways to Union Mine n New AD built Antelope football into winner from scratch Thomas Frey Staff writer
W
hen Matt Ray sat down to interview with Union Mine High School Principal Paul Neville for the school’s vacant athletic director position earlier this year, he was intrigued immediately by how much his vision for the future meshed with Neville’s. Ray had built a football and weightlifting program from scratch
when Antelope High School opened in 2008 and grew the Titans into a regional power before stepping down following the 2019 season. The more Ray and Neville talked, the more Neville — who comes from an athletics background himself — noticed that Ray’s philosophies in terms of athletics, academics and an overall high school experience for students was what he was looking for. “He has a very clear vision about what a successful football program and athletic program looks and feels like and
he has the background and knowledge to deliver on that vision,” Neville said.
High school and college Ray’s entire life has led him to this moment. His father and grandfather were both longtime head football coaches at Quincy High School in Quincy and Matt played quarterback for his father. He also played baseball, basketball and ran track at Quincy. But n
When the pandemic hit in March Nic Owens’ job at a renewable infrastructure company in San Francisco, like so many others, transitioned to work-from-home. Though his company could be flexible at times with remote working in pre-COVID times, it wasn’t the norm, nor was it something Owens was entirely excited about. “Personally, I didn’t think I would thrive working from home,” said Owens. “But it ended up working out.” Unfortunately, actually owning his own home to work remotely from in the Bay Area was not an option. “I always knew that no matter how much I make, I don’t think I’d be able to afford property in San Francisco. Even if I did have the money, I don’t think that’s what the value of the home should be. It would just be so hard to justify that,” explained Owens. “Tahoe has always been like a second home to me. I grew up coming here a lot, especially in the winter. It’s been a dream of mine to live up here full time.” After getting the green light from his company to work remotely permanently — something other coworkers took advantage of too, fleeing back to their home states
See RAY, page A8
n
See REMOTE WORKERS, page A7
Empty Bowls fills hearts Kevin Christensen Staff writer The 20th annual Empty Bowls Supper carried on Friday evening at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. The benefit was sponsored by the El Dorado Peace and Justice Community with young volunteers from Hands4Hope pitching in. Smaller than in the past, the evening was held outdoors this year with masks required due to COVID-19 restrictions. Chef John Sanders and Old Town Grill’s Friday night Dinner for a Cause n
See EMPTY BOWLS, page A6
Mountain Democrat photos by Kevin Christensen
Diane West of Placerville, at left in left photo, assists Mahala Guggino, center, and Sherry Young, also both of Placerville in choosing bowls at the Empty Bowls Supper last Friday at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. Hands4Hope volunteers Melanie Archiga, 17, Annabel Maguire, 18, and Kiern Wisks, 16, right photo, serve up to-go dinner orders prepared by Old Town Grill Chef John Sanders and his kitchen team for event attendees.
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