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Placerville Downtown Association
Merchants group ‘breaks up’ with city Pat Lakey Staff writer
Democrat photos by Dylan Svoboda
El Dorado High School student Annabel Maguire takes the podium with her speech on gun violence in front of a packed house at Placerville Town Hall Monday. The community gathered for a celebration, vigil and march to honor Martin Luther King Jr.
His message is alive vigil honors Martin Luther King Jr.
Dylan Svoboda Staff writer The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. was on full display during a celebration honoring the fallen civil rights hero Monday evening at Placerville’s Town Hall. Dozens packed the Main Street hall as they enjoyed uplifting folk songs from the New Freedom Choir, poems from local authors, Martin Luther King Jr. quotes read by young students and powerful speeches from area high school activists. Throughout the evening, one
message stood above all else: the youth’s role in maintaining and furthering the morals passed down by Martin Luther King Jr. Inspired by the harrowing Parkland shooting on Valentine’s Day 2018, El Dorado High School student Annabel Maguire has become a vocal advocate for gun control efforts. During the ceremony, she spoke of the difficulties of being a student in an era full of gun violence. “Gun violence has wreaked havoc on our country for many years and it’s time we stand against it,” she said. “... The fight against gun violence will
not be easy and the NRA will not fall quietly.” King Jr. was assassinated a year before the Stonewall riots and subsequent emergence of the gay rights movement but his words and efforts can be seen as partial inspiration. Taylor Clark, an Oak Ridge High School student, provided some valuable lessons she’s learned through participation in LGBTQ student groups and discovering herself as a queer individual. “I spent a very long time, from n
See MLK, page A9
Marchers, left, head down Main Street carrying candles and signs with messages of peace. Oak Ridge High School student Taylor Clark, right, shared valuable lessons she’s learned through participation in LGBTQ student groups.
It was clear to almost everyone in town that the Placerville Downtown Association and city officials weren’t exactly getting along — still, it came as a surprise of sorts last week when the PDA publicly declared the relationship over, telling the City Council it can keep the thousands of dollars it normally gives the promotional organization each year. “They broke up with “We have you before fallen apart. you could break up We don’t even with them,” have (elected) quipped Placerville officers. We have resident self-appointed John Clerici during public officers.” comment on — Mary Meader, the matter, Placerville Downtown which was Association member on the and owner of Placerville Tuesday night News Co. agenda for consideration of delaying of the usual granting of between $11,000 and $12,000 to the PDA to help pay for promotional costs and special events such as the Festival of Lights at Christmastime. Due to recent upheavals in the PDA’s leadership, city officials were concerned, according to the text of the agenda. Clerici, a former City Council member, said the PDA’s announcement that not only would the holiday festival be in danger due to the PDA no longer wishing to accept the city’s contribution and concomitant partnership — that other amenities like the flower baskets along Main Street also could be in jeopardy — but he didn’t appear too concerned. “My gut tells me there will be plenty of money to do the Festival of Lights,” n
See Merchants group, page A9
Dead boy’s father ID’d by police; still no word on cause of death Pat Lakey Staff writer Placerville police have released the name of the father of an 11-yearold boy whose recent death officials termed “suspicious,” although there still is no word on why the case drew law enforcement attention. No presumed cause of death has been explained by police, leaving the public to speculate on what possibly could have happened to Roman Anthony Lopez, who came to the public’s attention when he was reported missing from a home not far from downtown Placerville Saturday, Jan. 11. The child became the focus of searches by officials and citizen volunteers throughout that day and night, with the community in the vicinity of Coloma and Bee streets breathing a collective sigh of relief when it was reported the next day
that Roman had been “located”; the Police Department thanked those who helped search for the boy in the text of that missive. Later that day, however, police, now having organized a press conference, once again would issue more information: Yes, Roman was found — but he was dead, and his passing apparently is suspicious. Crime scene investigators including personnel from the El Dorado County Sheriff ’s and District Attorney’s offices worked several hours Sunday at 2892 Coloma St., gathering evidence for what potentially could be termed a crime. Without more information from the police, the public has been speculating regarding the boy’s death, with comments on social media showing puzzlement and frustration — and n
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See Roman Lopez, page A6
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Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
The community left balloons, flowers, candles and other tokens of sympathy outside of the Placerville home where Roman Lopez lived.
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