Med. specialist

n TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter

n RUBES by Leigh Rubin

n SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly

Voters favor Saunders, Seaman and Stovall for GDPUD posts

Krysten Kellum Editor

It’s looking like Georgetown Divide Public Utility District Directors Michael Saunders and Donna Seaman will continue to serve on the water district’s governing board, with newcomer Robert Stovall likely to join them as ballots are tallied in El Dorado County to fill three seats.

The latest election results reported just after midnight Nov. 9 show Saunders, who was elected to the GDPUD board in 2018 and currently serves as its president, with 2,003 votes, or 28.31%.

Incumbent Saunders, who lives in Cool, was first a member of GDPUD’s Finance Committee before being elected to its board of directors.

In response to Tuesday’s election results, Saunders told the Mountain Democrat, “This was a tough election cycle for our community and district as we went through evacuations and a wildfire.”

Saunders said he looks “forward to working with the community along with the board and staff to continue to build and strengthen the district for the present and for sustainability into the future.”

Appointed as a GDPUD director in early 2021 to fill a vacancy left by Dave Souza, Seaman has received 1,944 votes, 27.5%.

Seaman is a Cool resident with experience in the field of water and wastewater.

Seaman thanked voters for their support and “trust in me.” Seaman added she hopes to “continue to make GDPUD a wellrun and respected agency.”

With 1,939 votes, 27.4%, Stovall is ahead of Bonnie Neeley’s 1,123, 15.9%.

A Garden Valley resident, Stovall has contributed to GDPUD operations as a Finance Committee appointee.

“As the result of the voters’ choices, I believe that GDPUD will have a board that is willing to work together in addressing the many difficult decisions facing our water district,” Stovall shared in an emailed statement. “This will include but not be limited to 1.) Assessing the priorities for capital improvement expenditures in the face of the damage as a result of the Mosquito Fire, 2.) Exploring options to extend the irrigation season so that water is readily available to fight fires, 3.) Developing strategies to enhance the income of GDPUD to address increasing costs that will be a consequence of inflation to ensure fiscal responsibility in balancing immediate needs in addition to long term goals, and 4.) Evaluating funding opportunities that are available to the water district.”

Stovall added that he expects a series of public hearings to gather facts, public opinions and information to address residents’ concerns.

MIChAEL SAUNDERS

DONNA SEAMAN

ROBERT STOVALL

SUDOkU

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9

Solutions to puzzles in Classified section of newspaper.

HOROSCOPE by Holiday Mathis n TODAy

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ve learned what you can do, and you believe that if you continue to work hard, you’ll achieve your objective. So, you don’t bother to push things along or stress about them unnecessarily. You have the patience of an immortal. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s not hard for you to be positive and engaged; in fact, it’s your default. Cheerfulness is energy well spent because it not only makes your life better, it improves other people’s experience too. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re a generous soul and yet there are things you just shouldn’t lend: your car, your books or your advice. Lend an ear instead, and that will be a huge gift to someone who needs it. CANCER (June 22-July 22). An average teacher will show you the general way of things. A good teacher will get into the nitty-gritty. A great teacher will help you see and learn the patterns that matter. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re like a pen making spontaneous marks on the paper world — doodling for fun and profit, working out the intricacies of life with your whimsy. People describe what’s happening in the senses with words that apply across all five. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The word “sharp” can apply to a note that leans up, a line that cuts through, a cheese that curls the tongue... and your mind as you pursue fun conversation with smart people. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The thing inside you that wants to dance will be activated; the call of the music is irresistible. You don’t need a partner or a venue, only a beat. Your heart is the perfect instrument. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). A problem that gets everyone to unify efforts and work together for a solution is a good problem to have. You will communicate what needs to be accomplished and people will pull together. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re not envious of those who have what you would like. Instead, you feel happy for them, celebrating almost as though their success were your own. Very soon you will have similar gifts to these. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You see and celebrate things in a way all your own. Like a child naming a toy, you’ll personalize your world and add whimsy to your surroundings in the ways that you characterize things and what you call them. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Making sure things are done properly is important. Don’t start an endeavor without reading the instructions and/or map. It is likely that any shortcut you attempt will make things more difficult for you in the long run. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Mostly, you go with the flow. But you also recognize when it’s time to be disruptive. To outwardly express who you are on the inside takes daring. And to be accepted for that is a beautiful feeling.

Courtesy photo

Mar-Val management Troy Neidigh and Tyler Kidd present a prize of free groceries to Michelle Gomez and her husband.

Fire victim gets a little help to win free groceries

Kat Mendenhall Staff writer

Tyler Kidd, a company supervisor for Mar-Val Food Stores, wanted to do “something bigger and better” than in past years to mark the grocery’s 70 years in business. He organized a drawing for customers to win a TV and $12,000 in groceries, which the Georgetown community saw as an opportunity to help one of its own.

Almost 50 people entered the name of Michelle Gomez in the drawing and her name was picked.

In September Michelle, her husband and three children lost their Volcanoville home in the Mosquito Fire. Since then they have been moving from place to place.

“We’re truly grateful. This all came as a surprise,” Michelle said. “This community is very amazing, very tightknit, very supportive and it shows that everybody comes together at times like this.”

Michelle and her husband say they plan to give some of the gift cards to other families and neighbors who also lost their homes.

When Tyler presented Michelle and her husband with their prize Nov. 1 he said, “I hope that helps.”

Mar-Val is a family-owned grocer founded by Kidd’s grandfather Mardee Kidd and his brother Val in 1952. MarVal has been operating in Georgetown for 30 years.