Eileen Hidahl clutched her hands and shared a smile after two signs were unveiled in front of El Dorado Hills Fire Station 85 honoring her late husband John Hidahl. The ceremony took place March 19 with dozens in attendance.
“John left us too soon but he made a huge impact on our county, especially El Dorado Hills,” District 1 Supervisor Greg Ferrero said.
“He was a great person,” District 2 Supervisor George Turnboo shared. “He dedicated his life to this community.”
Hidahl, a 46-year El Dorado Hills resident, unexpectedly died at his home on Nov. 2, 2024. At
Arson suspect arrested after Pollock Pines blaze
Wendy Oaks Cal Fire
On March 21, Cal Fire Law Enforcement o cers arrested Mark Mastin, 53, of Modesto, on suspicion of starting the Deep Fire in Pollock Pines.
Mastin was booked into the El Dorado County Jail on charges of arson related to
the Deep Fire, which was reported in the early morning hours of March 20 and burned approximately 2 acres in the Randolph Canyon Road area.
The fire involved heavy brush, timber and slash. While mopping up the Deep Fire on Saturday, Cal Fire firefighters located a male subject near the fire area. Due to the suspicious circumstances, Cal Fire law enforcement o cers were requested. The individual, later identified as Mastin, claimed he had been disoriented in the area for the past two days. Firefighters assisted Mastin out of the canyon and provided a medical evaluation, along with food and water.
Following an interview, Cal Fire law enforcement o cers determined Mastin was responsible for
REMEMBERING AN ICON
Community mourns, celebrates Davey ‘Doc’ Wiser
Shelly “Queen” Thorene
Sta writer
There aren’t enough words to describe the loss of El Dorado County’s beloved cowboy Davey “Doc” Wiser who died on March 16. Wiser, 84, was best known for his passion for preserving local history and his belief that he was born 100 years too late. For a man born in the wrong century, he continued to work hard in the present to keep Gold Rush history alive in El Dorado County.
Wiser was born Nov. 11, 1941, in Los Angeles and was the son of a conductor and grandson of a boilermaker. According to an early interview, Wiser said his love of the Wild West began when he was a boy attending the 9-cent Saturday matinees at the theater in the Los Angeles suburb of Eagle Rock. Wiser was quoted as saying, “Randolph Scott, now there was a hero, and don’t forget Ken Maynard and Bob Steele, Hoot Gibson, all of them.” Wiser said he was a fan of Hopalong Cassidy and that his mother sewed him an outfit to look like him.
He was hired right out of high school by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1960 as a brakeman and rode inside caboose 1094, which incidentally was built in 1941. The caboose went to Roseville for salvage in 1970 and Wiser went on to conduct the Coast Starlight, which ran daily between Los Angeles and Seattle. Caboose 1094 was purchased for use as an art studio in Pleasant Valley and later donated to the El Dorado Western Railroad where Wiser was a volunteer.
In 1975, when Wiser was
brought
to
introduced to El Dorado County he found out about the Highway 50 Wagon Train and Placerville’s love for Old West events. Wiser, who already owned a buggy and stagecoach, was just looking for a place to use them. In 1977, Wiser began working out of the railroad’s Roseville hub as a
conductor and moved to Camino. He became involved with the Highway 50 Association in 1978. During Wagon Train Days he wore a top hat, coat and tails and began carrying a doctor’s bag, a bottle of Jack Daniels and a bottle of Excedrin, transforming himself
Mountain Democrat le photos by Shelly Thorene
Davey “Doc” Wiser and Beetle Bailey were an instantly recognizable team in El Dorado County — posing for countless tourist photos and having a great time doing so. Beetle Bailey died in 2020.
Davey “Doc” Wiser
history
life in El Dorado County. He was a gentleman and a cowboy born in the wrong century. The community will deeply miss him.
MISS
ESSENTIALS
OBITUARIES
Jerry Bluemel
Sep. 17, 1941 – Mar. 9, 2026
Jerry passed away peacefully following a cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife, Lucy, of 60 years, his son, Scott, his daughter, Deanna, grandchildren, Tyler, Casey and Logan, and numerous other loved ones.
He proudly served in the U.S. Army in Frankfurt, Germany from 1961 to 1964. He joined the California Patrol in 1966 and retired as a Sergeant after 33 years. After retirement he worked as Chairman of Oral Boards for the Department of Corrections for 25.
Thereafter he poured wine for several wineries in the Camino area. He loved hiking, travel, golf and football - primarily the Green Bay Packers. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus as a fourth degree and American Legion Placerville Post 119. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to CHP Widows & Orphans fund.
There will be a Funeral Mass on April 1 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Church, Placerville, with a reception immediately following.
Delmos L Jefferson
Feb. 4, 1943 – Mar. 17, 2026
Delmos passed away at home due to natural causes, surrounded by family.
Husband to Caroline Jefferson, married for 67 years, he leaves behind his wife Caroline, 3 adult children, 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Delmos was heavily involved in the Rubicon, Jeepers Jamboree and The El Dorado Jeep Herders. He also hosted Lower Ice House Lake Campground for 8+ years.
Delmos did not want a funeral, but will have a celebration of life as soon as his wife Caroline is strong enough to attend.
Hendrik William John (BJ)
Hunting
Dec. 2, 1934 – Feb. 17, 2026
Hendrik William John (BJ) Hunting died peacefully on February 17, 2026. He is survived by his wife of 71 years Donna Hunting, 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 5 greatgrandchildren.
BJ was born December 2,1934 to William and Vivian Hunting. He worked for 30+ years as a lineman and technician for Pacific Telephone before retiring in 1987. He then worked in telecommunications in the Silicon Valley before permanently retiring in 2001. To earn extra money he learned to be a mechanic from his father, and repaired friends and co-workers cars after hours in the family garage.
Other than his family, one of his proudest accomplishments was achieving his private pilot license. He routinely took friends and family on short trips to share his love for aviation. BJ also loved classic cars from the years when he was a young man.
BJ was always quick with a joke, even to strangers, nurses and waiters/waitresses that he just met. He also had a love for an occasional Manhattan.
BJ volunteered in the community as a baseball coach and umpire while his children were young, and for the El Dorado sheriffs STAR - Sheriff’s Team of Active Retiree and the Placerville police department SHIELD program in retirement. His smile and continual optimism will be missed by all.
The family will have a celebration of life on Saturday March 28, 2026 at the Folsom Community Center from 11-2.
David Martin Perez
Jan. 28, 1950 - Jan. 11, 2026
David Martin Perez, 75, passed away on January 11, 2026.
Born in Kansas City, Kansas, he spent his childhood in rural Nebraska until 1967 when his family moved to California.
David proudly served in the United States Army from 19741980. He married the love of his life, Mary, in 1980 and is the proud father of 2 sons, Miguel, (Mike) and Ryan. In 1997 they moved to Placerville, CA. David was passionate about his profession as a Doctor of Chiropractic and worked alongside Dr. Keith Jackson of Jackson Chiropractic from 1997 until he retired in 2012. He believed in a holistic approach to health, his motto, “Salus populi lex suprema est” — “Public health is the supreme law”. He found purpose in supporting youth athletics, wrestling and football in particular. He volunteered at Herbert Green Middle School and Union Mine High School where his son Ryan attended. He was a field doctor and chain crew member for UM from 1999 -2013.
David and Mary found their way back home to Santa Clara, CA in 2022 to be closer to family. David leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Mary and his sons Miguel and Ryan and many family members. David will be laid to rest with military honors.
Funeral services will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery May 15, 2026 at 2:30 PM, 5810 Midway RD, Dixon, CA. There will be a reception following to be held at Bud’s Pub and Grill in Dixon, 100 S. First Street; 707-678-4745.
from A1
into the lovable character, Davey “Doc” Wiser.
For over two decades, Doc, his wife Sherry and a whole crew of volunteers could be seen regularly near the Bell Tower on third Saturdays in Old West attire attending Wiser’s Overland Stage with his horses, Jet and Beetle Bailey. Shouts of “stagecoach coming!” were heard as hooves met concrete in a full gallop down Stage Coach Alley. The rides were always free and Wiser handed out wooden tokens and teddy bears to the children, all on his own dime.
Mike Kobus, a longtime friend, said, “He was an icon in the El Dorado County community,” adding Wiser appreciated the recent Historical Preservation Award from the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce for his lifelong work of celebrating Gold Rush history. Kobus shared, “(He) became very emotional when I read what I wrote about him. He’s with his horse Sophie now.”
District 3 Supervisor Brian Veerkamp and longtime friend told the Mountain Democrat, “We had a long-standing rapport with everything from the pumpkin delivery downtown, Kiwanis Club, wagon train and 33-34 years of competing in the wheelbarrow races together. He was one of a kind. He never shied away from giving his opinion. He had a fire in his belly.” Veerkamp said he met with Davey recently and prayed with him. Losing Wiser leaves a big hole in El Dorado County, Veerkamp said, adding, “Through Kiwanis, we will be working on ways to honor him.”
Steve Downer, president of the Highway 50 Association Wagon Train, fondly remembers Doc, calling him “Theresa’s husband” as the result of a longstanding joke. Downer said while Doc was president of the Wagon Train in the 1980s, “He was always present with a sense of humor and positive attitude. He was a simple man with a big heart.”
Downer remembered Doc
was the Wagon Train’s wake-up call at 5 a.m., “He would walk through the camp with an echoing call ‘EVERYBODY UP!’ and sometimes added a custom message to certain folks that would create laughter first thing in the morning.”
Tim Smith worked as an engineer with Wiser on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Smith recalled, “Work was fun in his presence. He was always a joy to be around. He used to celebrate his birthdays at Vineyard House in Coloma. We’d gather together in old west/ Gold Rush outfits and have a nice dinner. After dinner we’d go across the street and make a toast to Louisa Chalmers . . . we even poured a little champagne on her grave. Doc and Chalmers shared the same birthday. We must have been a sight to see. Doc always called me sheriff and I called him outlaw like kids playing a game of cowboys and Indians. Usually, if you didn’t already have a nickname, he just called you either a varmint or a critter. He was a riot. Davey was as authentic in his real life as he was during his appearances as Doc. I will truly miss his genuine smile, wit and friendliness. He never knew a stranger and I must lament, the likes of which may not pass this way again. RIP old friend.”
Darlene Herrera, her husband Frank and brother-in-law David Van Buskirk owned the historical Vineyard House Restaurant, Bar and Bed and Breakfast in Coloma from 1970 until 1995. Herrera said, “Davey
spent most of those years having a big birthday party for himself and all of his friends. He and Louisa Chalmers shared the same birthday and he felt a strong kinship with her. He rented all seven hotel rooms and hosted a lavish party for all. He filled the rooms with flowers and once, my mother, Eva chased him all around the kitchen in the morning because he came downstairs in his long red underwear. She would not have that in her kitchen. He drove many brides to their weddings at the church around the corner. My mother was an El Dorado Rose and rode in the wagon with Davey.”
Susan LaFrance rode with Davey on the Pony Express Re-ride for many years. She said his sense of humor was “unrivaled” and there were “many good stories from a larger than life personality.”
She added, “I am proud to have called him my friend. Life was always an adventure with him.”
Former Placerville Mayor Patty Borelli said, “I absolutely loved Davey Doc. He used to call me ‘Patty Cake.’ He and my husband Carl were good friends. They came up with the idea to name the alley behind Main Street ‘Stage Coach Alley.’
He was a pioneer at heart and did so much to bring folks downtown and advocate for the Placerville area and the wagon train.”
Wiser’s neighbor Lynette Pullin said her family moved to the area,
next door to Wiser, 30 years ago. When her two boys, teenagers at the time, first rode their dirt bikes on Wiser’s property, they told her he came out of his house with a shotgun, she recalled. Naturally, she confronted Wiser and said, “He was just protecting his property. We became friends. He gave my grandson rides up top on the stagecoach. He brought me egg cartons for the chickens. Doc was a great guy. He was a legend here.”
El Dorado County Historical Society President Jill Kearney said she had the honor and privilege of working with Doc on the El Dorado Western Railroad. “He loved to make history come alive,” she shared. “He’s one of those people we wish we could clone. We’re going to miss him.”
The stagecoach crew and the Marshals gathered downtown Saturday for a memorial stagecoach ride for Davey. Marshal Ron Harris said, “The Marshals wore black arm bands, we said a prayer for his family and dedicated the stagecoach in his name.”
As a photographer for the Mountain Democrat, I had the opportunity to photograph Davey on countless occasions. He always greeted me with a smile and would yell out “Queen Thorene” whenever he saw me. I was invited to ride up top on the stagecoach once and remember holding on to my camera for dear life while shooting photos during the gallop down Stage Coach Alley. Many on the Mountain Democrat team throughout the years have fond memories of Davey, including him bringing by his infamous grape
the
and presenting a shot of
a special
to
slushies toward the end of
workday
tequila in
glass
current Editor Noel Stack, who had the honor one year of riding with Doc in his buggy during the Wagon Train.
Courtesy photo
Davey “Doc” Wiser and his stagecoach, left, make their way through downtown Placerville. For years, Davey and his crew offered stagecoach rides through the historical downtown. At right, when he wasn’t on a horse, Davey Wiser was working on the railroad as a founding member and volunteer with the El Dorado Western Railroad.
Photo by Bill Robinson
Mountain Democrat file photo
Davey “Doc” Wiser rides in his buggy during the Highway 50 Wagon Train event.
Mountain Democrat file photo
The John M. Studebaker Wheelbarrow Race at the El Dorado County Fair appears to have gotten the best of Davey Wiser in this 2017 photo.
Photo by Ron Harris
Motherlode Coach and Carriage owner Dan Ditrich, right, removes his hat as Hangtown Marshal Randall Mitchell, left, leads a group of Marshals, stage coach crew members and friends in prayer for Davey “Doc” Wiser downtown on Sunday.
Fireworks barge recovery underway in Lake Tahoe
News release
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Recovery efforts are now actively underway to remove the sunken fireworks barge from the waters offshore of Ski Beach in Incline Village. This highly technical and physically demanding salvage operation began on March 16.
Dive teams, marine crews and agency partners are working in close coordination to locate, secure and begin extracting debris from the lakebed, with some materials resting at depths approaching 160 feet. The barge sank last July during a storm.
From the outset, the work has been methodical. Each day begins with planning
and safety briefings involving multiple agencies, followed by carefully staged operations on the water. A remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, was first deployed to locate the barge and establish precise working zones. Divers then began descending along secured lines to recover debris and assess conditions on the lakebed.
Progress is steady, but intentionally cautious.
At depth, visibility quickly drops to near zero once sediment is disturbed, requiring divers to rely on training and touch to locate and rig debris. Many of the materials, particularly large firework tubes, are heavy and irregularly
dives to secure a single piece.
Evi wearing new gear
Noel Stack Editor
Four months after a fundraiser was launched to buy El Dorado County Sheri ’s
O ce K9 o cer Evi a properly fitted patrol vest, the pup has her new safety gear.
Deputy Walker Combs, her handler and dad, shared the good news that the vest arrived on March 23. Evi is a Belgian Malinois from Germany. She joined EDSO in 2023. “She’s safer because of everyone who stepped up to help us fund a correctly fitting vest for her,” noted Ann McQuillen, owner of Competition K9 in Placerville, who spearheaded the fundraiser with the El Dorado County Canine Association. “Thanks to everyone who helped.”
Surveyor’s site gets upgraded
Carla Hass
El Dorado County Chief Administrative O ce
El Dorado County’s Surveyor O ce has updated the county’s long-standing GOTNET site with a modern replacement, now available as the EDC GIS Viewer. Through this updated viewer, users can search for property information by address or APN and access key parcel-related details. The legacy GOTNET system will be decommissioned and no longer available after March 31; users are encouraged to transition to the new viewer as soon as possible. In addition to the updated viewer, the Surveyor’s O ce has launched a new online resource that connects users to essential resources, including the county’s open data catalog, which provides free access to authoritative GIS datasets. Through the catalog,
SEALING TEETH WITH PROTECTIVE BARRIERS
Because the occlusal (chewing) surfaces of molar and premolar teeth have grooves, called “fissures,” that trap food and accumulate bacteria-laden plaque, they are particularly susceptible to decay. These fissures can be deep and difficult to clean, which is why dentists often recommend that they be treated with “sealants.” These plastic coatings, which are brushed on the biting surfaces of the back teeth, quickly harden into protective barriers that seal out food, plaque, and bacteria. Because this treatment is so effective at preventing tooth decay, it is generally recommended for young children. However, the use of sealants is not limited to youngsters since adults can also benefit from their application. If sealants prevent one cavity, they are worth the cost.
We will be happy to discuss any dental concerns, such as sealants. Any time you have a question, please don’t hesitate to ask. Good dentistry is more than excellent clinical skills and state-of-the-art equipment. We feel that mutual trust is also a factor in the success of your treatment. Our entire staff believes that open communication can help build this trust. Please call us to schedule an appointment. We offer “Tooth Print,” which is an impression of a child’s full mouth. About the size of a small wafer, the impression is given to the parent/ guardian for the family album or for ID for a missing child. P.S. While dental sealants only protect the surfaces upon which they are placed, fluoride helps protect all tooth surfaces from decay and cavities.
Visit us at: www.jefflittledds.com
users can explore, preview and download data in multiple formats, enabling e cient use in mapping software, analysis tools and online applications. This ensures that residents, professionals and county sta have reliable, current information at their fingertips.
The Geospatial Hub can be found at gis-eldoradocounty.hub.arcgis. com.
The updated viewer can be found at experience.arcgis.com/experience/58 a5b752c549418285583fc4c0301c29.
“These tools give the community faster, clearer access to essential geographic information. By modernizing our systems, we’re making it easier for residents, businesses and county sta to find the data they need to make informed decisions,” said Jennifer Carlton, senior GIS analyst.
Fire districts ready to consolidate
El Dorado County Fire Protection District
News release
El Dorado County Fire Protection District will host a public badge pinning and swearing-in ceremony on Saturday, March 28, recognizing a historical milestone: the annexation of the Diamond Springs–El Dorado Fire Protection District into El Dorado County Fire Protection District.
The ceremony will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Fire Station 49 at 501 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, and will include the formal swearing-in of Diamond Springs–El Dorado Fire Protection District personnel into El Dorado County Fire Protection District, along with a badge pinning ceremony recognizing newly hired and recently promoted members.
The annexation is expected to receive final approval from the El Dorado Local Agency Formation Commission following the conclusion
of the protest hearing period at its March 25 meeting.
This milestone represents the culmination of a multi-year collaborative e ort between the two agencies, which have operated under shared services agreements since 2022 to align operations, enhance service delivery and strengthen regional fire protection.
“This annexation represents years of hard work, collaboration, and commitment from members of both organizations,” said EDCFPD Fire Chief Tim Cordero.
“More importantly, it reflects the strengthening of our fire service family and our continued commitment to providing the highest level of service to the communities we serve.”
During the ceremony, El Dorado County Fire will recognize multiple personnel through ceremonial badge
■ See CEREMONY, page A9
Photo courtesy of Parker Diving Service
A highly skilled team is methodically pulling up the debris from a fireworks barge that sank in Lake Tahoe last summer.
■ See SALVAGE, page A8
OPINION
California Matters
CA governor candidates, voters seem disengaged
The shortage and costs of housing are, by any rational standard, one of California’s most pressing issues, which is why several thousand advocates of a ordable shelter gathered in Sacramento last week to ponder potential solutions.
Housing California, the event’s sponsor, invited candidates for governor to participate in a panel discussion of how they would approach the housing crisis.
Neither of the two Republican candidates, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, appeared, which was not surprising given the left-leaning tenor of the event.
It was, however, odd that only four of the eight Democratic candidates showed up, since it was a terrific opportunity for them to impress a large audience of political activists, with just a few weeks remaining before voters begin marking and mailing their ballots for the June 2 primary election.
Of the four who participated in the housing panel, just one candidate, billionaire Tom Steyer, is in the top tier of candidates, as revealed in a new poll by the UC-Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, with just barely 10% support.
The other three — state school Superintendent Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former state Controller Betty Yee — collectively garnered just 6% support among the sample of voters, with Thurmond and Yee at 1% each.
This should be a referendum on how California deals with not only housing and homelessness but the many other issues that Gavin Newsom will leave behind when he exits the o ce next January …
Although California is a thoroughly blue state, the two Republicans were 1 and 2 in the poll, thus feeding worries among Democratic leaders that they could wind up that way in the June 2 voting if none of the Democrats catches fire.
Among the Democrats, Congressman Eric Swalwell and former Congresswoman Katie Porter polled highest at 13% each, followed by Steyer at 10%, former Attorney General Xavier Becerra at 5%, with Villaraigosa and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan at 4%.
Mark DiCamillo, director of the poll, told the Los Angeles Times he is stunned by how fragmented
■ See WALTERS, page A5
Letters to the Editor
Join in protest
EDITOR:
On top of the ICE roundups, detainment and murder of immigrants and American citizens, the Department of Justice’s continued stonewalling and mismanagement of the Epstein files, the ransacking of Social Security by juvenescent DOGE employees, the prospect of mass deportation centers coming our way soon, the whole-scale erasure of the NEH and NEA, the bombing of fishing boats in the Caribbean, the House passage of the SAVE ACT which will disenfranchise millions of voters and the president’s shady billion dollar business deals with the governments of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai, our administration has now launched an ill-conceived, chaotic war with Iran for which there is no consistent or coherent rationale.
This daily onslaught of grim news coming at us every which way squares with Steve Bannon’s strategy to employ “muzzle velocity”: hitting the media — and by extension, our nation’s citizenry — with so many impromptu, slapdash executive orders and mean-spirited crises that all too often
we are rendered cynical, dumbfounded and without agency.
What are we to think? How are we to act? Such a state of paralysis empowers an authoritarian leader, paving the way for a fascist state, which according to many is where we already are. With our government’s legislative and judicial branches catering to the enormous, careening ego of the chief executive, we have only ourselves — the citizenry — to reclaim our country.
We can start by making our voices heard on No Kings Day 3, Saturday, March 28. From 9-11 a.m. thousands of El Dorado County patriots will exercise our First Amendment rights by peacefully assembling at Highway 50 overpasses as well as at the Highway 49 bridge in Coloma, the El Dorado County Courthouse in Placerville and El Dorado Hills Town Center. Armed with banners, signs and joyful resolve, we will be joining millions of others across the United States in what promises to be the largest collective demonstration this country has ever witnessed.
Our protest is our vow to not only restore
■ See LETTERS, page A5
The Rural Life
Finding a politician who lives his faith — for real
From the time I first heard him speak last July, I’ve been transfixed by James Talarico, now the Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas. As I joked to a friend that month, “I think I’m in love.”
It’s not because of the political views of this 36-year-old former middle-school teacher and Christian seminarian; some of his takes are too far left for me. It’s because I’m so sickened by the foul state of our current political climate that, as conservative commentator David French puts it, “The idea a politician might actually run a race without rancor and hatred can feel intoxicating — even if you have theological or ideological disagreements with him.” Talarico’s campaign message focuses on unity, compassion and
understanding. Or, as French noted in a recent opinion piece, he’s “one of the few Christian politicians in the United States who acts like a Christian.” That’s in sharp contrast with politicians and pundits who profess Christianity yet seemingly ignore the essential precepts of Jesus.
Noting that economic justice is mentioned 3,000 times in biblical Scripture, Talarico routinely cites feeding the hungry, healing the sick and welcoming the stranger as “three things we’re told to do ad nauseam.”
“My faith teaches me to love my neighbor as myself,” he said in a CBS interview shortly after his primary victory, “not just my neighbor who looks like me, or prays like me or votes like me.”
He elaborated in his victory speech.
“I’m tired of being told to hate my neighbor. It’s been more than 10 years
“The idea a politician might actually run a race without rancor and hatred can feel intoxicating — even if you have theological or ideological disagreements with him.”
of … politics as blood sport, politics as trolling and ‘owning’ … as total war. It tears families apart. It ends friendships and it leaves us all feeling terrible all the time.”
His criticisms aren’t limited to Republicans, either. On Ezra Klein’s podcast, he said the politics of anger and division occur on both sides of the aisle, and that the national Democratic Party can be “pretty condescending” to conservative voters.
“You can’t love God and hate other people,” he told Klein, reinforcing his point with the biblical parable of the good Samaritan.
“Today, being a good Samaritan just means helping people to the side of the road — which is good, you should do that. But for listeners in the first century, the Samaritans were not just a di erent religious group. The Samaritans were their sworn
enemies.” Thus, he added, Jesus was “pushing the boundaries on how we define ‘neighbor’ and who we’re supposed to love.” Later in the conversation, he admitted loving our enemies is a really, really tough assignment.
“It’s the hardest love to fulfill in our lives, but it is absolutely necessary if we’re going to save the American experiment.”
Podcast giant Joe Rogan, a vocal critic of the modern Democratic Party, was captivated by Talarico’s approach to faith and politics and his ideas for building a broad coalition.
“You need to run for president,” he exclaimed toward the end of their nearly three-hour conversation in July. “We need someone who’s actually a good person.”
■ See FORSBERG MEYER, page A5
JENNIFER FORSBERG MEYER
DAN WALTERS
and disengaged voters are about choosing the state’s next governor.
“This is historic for me,” DiCamillo said, “and especially given that none of the candidates have really a positive image rating with voters, also startling. I mean, perhaps one of the reasons why voters are disengaged, they’re just not enthusiastic about any of the candidates. They’re kind of sleepwalking to this election.”
The lethargic nature of the contest is also demonstrated by the inability of the
California Federation of Unions to settle on one Democrat, instead giving endorsements to four of the eight.
One could say, therefore, that the passive attitude of candidates vis-a-vis this week’s housing conference captures the broader lack of enthusiasm among candidates and voters.
This should be a referendum on how California deals with not only housing and homelessness but the many other issues that Gavin Newsom will leave behind when he exits the o ce
Continued from A4
Talarico’s exploding popularity hasn’t gone unnoticed on the right, and the knives are out.
“We have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!” President Trump posted, revealing his concern that Talarico could win the valuable Texas Senate seat.
GOP consultant Brendan Steinhauser told Fox News Digital that Republicans are going to try to “brand” Talarico “a far-left radical so that center-right voters and independent voters in the state don’t choose him over the Republican nominee.”
Misleading information on Talarico abounds, depicting him as a Trumphating radical who would open borders and allow biological boys to compete in girls’ sports — accusations that ignore the nuance of his positions.
Elon Musk’s pro-Trump political action committee spread a video deceptively edited to imply Talarico calls for “a giant welcome mat” at the border, while leaving out the rest of the quote, which calls for “a lock on the door.”
“Anyone who means to do us harm needs to be kept out,” Talarico told Klein, adding that dangerous individuals must be “deported immediately. Public safety is the most important thing a government does.”
On the issue of trans athletes in sports, Talarico was against the Texas bill that bans it “in every instance across every age group, even T-ball,
our constitutional democracy but also revivify, reunify and reimagine a nation that cares for all its people and respects the integrity and sovereignty of nation-states across the world. We welcome all who feel similarly to stand with us. In the words and spirit of poet June Jordan: “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
MOIRA MAGNESON Placerville
Excellent deception
EDITOR:
John O’Shea in his pro illegal immigration letter uses the common tactic of combining legal and illegal immigration as if they were the same thing. He talks of speaking the same
next January, almost certainly embarking on a quest for the White House.
However, the gubernatorial campaign so far has revealed very few di erences among the eight Democratic candidates on those issues, nor any truly novel proposals. In response to questions about housing, homelessness, health care and living costs, the four who did participate in the March 19 panel generally responded that they would spend a lot more money and impose new taxes on corporations and
before kids even hit puberty.” Instead, he prefers working collaboratively to maintain safety and fairness in sports.
“And there are going to be rules where sometimes it’s not allowed. That’s actually how you solve a public policy problem with love for trans folks but also for our athletes, who need a fair shot at competition,” he told Klein.
Again — that love-for-all-people absolutism.
Rob Sellers, professor of theology emeritus, writes in Baptist News Global about an “ironic twist in perspective” when it comes to critics of Talarico.
“Some of the very same faultfinders were once Christian teenagers who wore WWJD [“what would Jesus do?”] bracelets. Now they’re trying to shame him for living out his faith publicly.” That is, they’re calling him a radical liberal for following the words of Jesus precisely.
Is Talarico’s take on Christianity itself correct? In his interview with Klein, Talarico suggests, “Jesus should have a say in what Christianity means.” He refers doubters to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount — which teaches about kindness, integrity and love — for what he calls ”Christianity 101.”
It’s hard to argue against that.
Jennifer Forsberg Meyer is a columnist with the Mountain Democrat and the author of “Friends With Four Legs.” Leave a comment for her online or, for a reply, reach her at jfmfeedback@gmail.com.
language or religious a liation in an attempt to label anyone who disagrees with him as xenophobic. In reality those above factors have absolutely nothing to do with whether one is legal or illegal. He talks of me enlightening you with my opinion as to who is responsible for the mass invasion of illegal aliens across our border. My opinion? Just about everyone but Mr. O’Shea has heard of the approximately 13 million illegals that came across in the Biden years, including who knows how many possible Iranian sleeper cells. He talks of ICE tactics. Look at what they have to deal with. Sanctuary cities and states that actively promote illegal
wealthy Californians to pay for it. Given the paucity of new ideas and the overall lethargy, one could almost hope that Hilton and Bianco do finish 1-2 and give the state a Republican governor for the first time in two decades. The Capitol conflict that would ensue as a GOP governor battles with a Legislature dominated by Democrats would at least be interesting. It would be karmic justice for a Democratic Party that apparently is incapable of generating enough energy to power a light bulb.
Dan Walters is a journalist who writes for CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
PPD CRIME LOG
The following was taken from PPD reports:
March 1
3:02 a.m. Petty theft was reported at a gas station on Placerville Drive.
1:53 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Wildlife Way.
3:35 p.m. Battery was reported on Marshall Way.
March 2
12:22 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a grocery store on Fair Lane. 5:55 p.m. Battery was reported on Woodridge Court.
March 5
7:53 p.m. Trespassing was reported on Broadway.
March 6
6:12 a.m. Battery was reported at a gas station on Forni Road. 5:09 p.m. Trespassing was reported at a gas station on Forni Road. 10:10 p.m. Petty theft was reported at a grocery store on Placerville Drive.
March 7
2:30 p.m. Battery was reported on Main Street.
2:46 p.m. Petty theft was reported at a grocery store on Placerville Drive. 3:30 p.m. Petty theft was reported on Turner Street.
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activity in defiance of the law that the left keeps saying no one is above.
What it boils down to is this: the left’s support of illegal immigration is political power. Those millions will count in the next census for creation of more congressional districts. Their long-term goal is one party national control. They lament the loss of life like that poor Ukrainian girl killed on the train, but view the goal of making America a progressive socialist country as worth the sacrifice.
GEORGE ALGER Placerville
Forsberg Meyer
SPORTS
Dylan Bloomfield surges to Tribute to Al Hinds victory
Gary
Thomas Placerville Speedway
Oakley’s Dylan Bloomfield got by Justyn Cox with nine laps remaining in the feature to record his first career Tribute to Al Hinds triumph on Saturday night at Placerville Speedway.
Fellow winners on opening night were defending champion Rod Oliver with the Kings Meats Ltd. Late Models, Tyler Lightfoot with the Red Hawk Casino Pure Stocks and Greg Dennett with the BCRA Lightning Sprints presented by Quick Change Liquid Energy.
The victory for Bloomfield marked his second career win at Placerville Speedway after bringing home the Winged Sprint Car portion of the Triple Crown last season.
The 30-lap Thompson’s Family of Dealerships Winged 360 Sprint Car main event began with Clarksburg’s Cox jumping into the lead. The 2023 SCCT champion looked strong early and kept the field at bay as drivers fought it out behind him.
A well-prepared surface made for some fast and furious racing at the Tribute to Al Hinds. A pair of cautions kept drivers out of tra c, but when
they did reach it, things began to heat up.
Bloomfield made an excellent move to grab the top spot on lap 21 and withstood multiple restarts to take the Ed Entz checkered flag for his initial Tribute to Al Hinds victory. Cox put together a solid opening night to come home second, followed by Sacramento’s Austin Wood, Redding’s Max Mittry and Roseville’s Colby Copeland.
Rounding out the top 10 in the feature were Chance Grasty, Andy Forsberg, Seth Standley, Jake Morgan and John Clarke. Bloomfield began the evening by blistering the quarter mile in 10.499 seconds to earn the ADCO Driveline and Custom Exhaust Fast Time Award in the 23-car field. With the Kings Meats Ltd. Late Models, it was Mcginnis who rocketed out to the lead and would go on to dominate the early stages of the main event.
Defending Ltd. Late Model champion Rod Oliver sliced his way into second on lap eight and began to give chase after the leader. Oliver hounded the rear of Mcginnis for several circuits, before carving his way
■ See SPEEDWAY, page A7
and drilling down on that area. You love to do the thing you are wired to do. When you answer to your own preferences, you get better and better at it.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You sometimes don’t recognize the rhythm you’re locked in until you fall out of it, feel the tension of being outside the beat and make the choice to get back in step. The metaphor can be aptly applied to your personal life today.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When tasks are uncontained, they oat like ghosts. They feel in nite. Make one running list, not ve mental ones. When everything is written down in one place, the nervous system relaxes a bit. Getting things scheduled will relieve anxiety.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The thing to do with your feelings is not to assess them, not to judge whether they are good or bad, correlate them with events or compare them to other emotions you had a year ago. The thing to do with your feelings is just to feel them.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Speed and decisiveness will work for you. You will lay down a boundary, and it’s best done quickly, right from the start. One form this might take: redirecting a conversation that’s headed in a direction you simply don’t want to go.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Right now, a job seems hard, but don’t let that stop you from rolling up your sleeves and getting into it. With repetition, the task will get easier and take up less energy. You’re just getting used to the motion of it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You pride yourself on independence, but today it bene ts you to collaborate even if you don’t really need to. Don’t worry, it won’t dilute your originality. The right alliance will actually sharpen your thinking and stretch your vision.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There is no relationship decision that is worth agonizing over right now. Consider not making a decision at all. Being able to live in the tension of an in-between state can be a kind of art form, and you’re uniquely poised to bene t from hovering in today’s state of possibility.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Oddly enough, sometimes you’d rather work than think about fun because conjuring fun can be
of
Photo by Tim Holland
Dylan Bloomfield notched his second win at Placerville Speedway on March 21.
Richard Brace Jr. and Anthony Slaney.
Placerville’s Lightfoot blasted out to the lead the 25-lap Red Hawk Casino Pure Stock
as he looked for his second career
Seven-time track champion Nick Baldwin moved to second on lap 11 and then moved in on the leader. Baldwin gave Lightfoot everything he could handle right down to the checkered flag. Lightfoot drove a magnificent race though and brought home the win ahead of Baldwin, Kevin Jinkerson, Wayne Trimble and Kenny Bernstein.
The traveling BCRA Lightning Sprints put on a fantastic show at the Tribute to Al Hinds. Their 20-lap main event was a lightningfast affair that saw the legendary Scott Kinney lead the initial eight circuits.
BCRA President and defending champion Dennett then blasted to the top spot on lap nine and led the remaining distance for another triumph in Old Hangtown. Dakota Albright, Matt Land, Bradley Schmidt and Justin Norton rounded out the top five.
Placerville Speedway returns to action on Saturday March 28, with the Sluice Box Bonanza featuring Winged 360 Sprint Cars, Pure Stocks, Mini Trucks and the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprints. Race Results
on the Blue Devils’ field on Tuesday in their three-game series, which ends on the
on Thursday, March 26. That game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
Photo by Mike Bush
Oak Ridge High School baseball pitcher Noah Nowaski throws a pitch in Monday’s Sierra Foothill League home game against Davis High’s squad. The Trojans led 4-3 and scored six more runs to post a 10-3 win. Oak Ridge improved
overall. The two teams met again
Trojans’ field
These are short, highly controlled dives, sometimes limited to 10 minutes, and they demand both physical endurance and precision.
Crews have already recovered a range of debris, including firework components, with additional materials identified for retrieval.
As work has progressed, logistical challenges have become more apparent. Sonar mapping revealed a steep underwater shelf along the planned recovery path, where the lakebed drops sharply from approximately 80 feet to over 150 feet within a short distance. This requires careful repositioning of the barge during extraction to prevent instability.
To prepare for lifting operations, teams have installed a network of heavy-duty lines, known as hawsers, along with lift bags designed to gradually raise the structure. By March 18, four of six primary lift lines had been set, with additional rigging completed shortly after.
As expected with a project of this scale, there have been setbacks. Mechanical issues, including a seized air compressor and engine challenges, caused temporary delays earlier in the week, but
both have since been resolved.
On March 20, crews reached an important milestone when the barge began to lift, rising approximately 40 feet off the lakebed before two primary lines failed under pressure. The release sent several lift bags rapidly to the surface.
No divers were in the water at the time, and established safety protocols ensured there were no injuries.
Following the incident, crews determined that uneven air distribution, caused by a kinked airline, placed excessive strain on certain lines. The team is now replacing the original 1.5-inch lines with heavier 2-inch hawsers and upgrading air systems to ensure a more balanced lift.
While much of the work is taking place offshore, public activity has added another layer of complexity.
Despite clearly marked safety zones, some boaters, paddleboarders, and kayakers have approached or entered restricted areas. Even when outside the perimeter, fast-moving boats can create wakes that disrupt sensitive equipment and temporarily halt operations.
Onshore, IVGID staff and park ambassadors have played an important role in maintaining the beach closure and preventing unauthorized access. Additional signage and coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and TRPA continue to reinforce the need to stay clear of the work zone.
Crews have also noted concerns with exposed lift bags, some visible at the surface and others just below. These can pose a safety risk if approached or disturbed.
This is not a routine recovery effort. Divers are working in deep, cold water with limited visibility while managing heavy materials and complex rigging systems. Every step is calculated, and safety remains the top priority.
Weather conditions also continue to influence the timeline, with wind already causing periodic pauses in operations. Teams are monitoring conditions closely and adjusting plans as needed. The immediate focus remains on safely lifting and repositioning the barge so it can be brought to shore. While the process may appear slow, it is progressing as intended, with careful attention to safety and detail at every stage.
John
for
of the sign dedicated to the late county supervisor and fire board director.
the time he was wrapping up his final term as El Dorado County’s District 1 supervisor and running in the Nov. 5, 2024, election for a seat on the EDH Fire Board (he won), on which he had previously served for 33 years. He and Eileen had been married for 52 years and they raised five daughters. Daughter Maureen Lawrence spoke at the dedication event, thanking all those in attendance for honoring her father and working with him throughout the years. She noted her dad was “never one to sit back and watch others do the hard work.”
“His legacy will live on through this memorial,” she added. “He would be humbled and honored by that.”
Cal
jumped into action when a
on
Fire Continued from A1
intentionally and recklessly igniting the vegetation fire. He was taken into custody and charged under California Penal Code 452(c), unlawfully causing a fire to a structure or forest land. As of Tuesday morning he was listed in custody in lieu of $40,000 bail.
Ceremony
Continued from A3
pinning, including the incoming DSEDFPD firefighters, engineers, captains, a division chief and a fire inspector. Administrative staff will also be recognized. The event will also include the formal pinning of firefighters, engineers and captains who have recently promoted.
Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend the ceremony.
The annexation brings together two agencies with longstanding histories of service in El Dorado County, combining their personnel, resources and traditions into a unified organization focused on the future of fire protection and emergency services in the region.
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Cal Fire urges the public to remain vigilant, maintain situational awareness and report any suspicious activity. If you see something concerning, do not hesitate to notify authorities. To report suspicious fire activity call the secure Arson Hotline at (800) 468-4408.
• Hauling • Irrigation • Retaining Walls • Concrete • Arti cal Grass • Weed Whacking and More!
AL-ANON is here for you if you are bothered by someone else’s drinking. Call for meeting times. (916) 334-2970. https://sacal-anon.blogspot.com
PLAY CRIBBAGE
Join the Gold Country CribbersWe Play - We Teach - We Have Fun Wednesdays 4:00 PM, Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA, 916-2122465 or 916-768-4452
HANGTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS CLUB: Come play tennis for fitness, fun & friendship. Meet at El Dorado HS tennis courts on Acacia St., Placerville, Wednesdays 9-11 except June -August, hours 9-11. Social activities & monthly tennis clinics. Some tennis ability required. Call Trisha 530-651-8121. Come and enjoy a paid lunch with the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA), for the CalPERS retirees and spouses. The meetings are held at 11:30 AM on March 16, May 18, July 20, September 21, and November 16, 2026. The location is at the Denny’s Restaurant, 3446 Coach Lane in Cameron Park. Call 530 919 7515 for information and programs. Do you have an announcement that you would like to include here?
Contact Elizabeth Hansen (530) 344-5028 or ehansen@mtdemocrat.net
...to our
NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION sponsors
...And to our generous subscribers who donate their vacation credits to the fund.
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Adco Driveline and Custom Exhaust
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ARCO AM/PM
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Edwards A-1 Appliance
El Dorado Irrigation District
EN2 Resources, Inc.
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The Mountain Democrat’s Newspapers in Education program (NIE) was established in 2002 to provide and educational service arm for the newspaper.
NIE’s goal is to assist schools, teachers and parents in developing future readers who can use the newspaper to enrich their own lives and participate responsibly in their community, state and nation.
Not only does the Mountain Democrat provide valuable information on a wide range of topics daily, it also can be used as a resource for teaching numerous skills to various age groups and in many different disciplines. It helps students connect classroom lessons to the real world around them and develop a positive and
relevant lifetime reading habit. A study released by the Newspaper Association of America Foundation shows data indicating students in NIE programs do 10 percent better on standardized tests and that significant increases in student performances occur, especially in middle schools.
Donations from our sponsors allow our educators to order the newspaper for their classrooms free of charge. These sponsorships contribute to literacy and allow thousands of teachers and students in El Dorado County to learn from a living textbook, the Mountain Democrat, and develop a life-long reading habit that will benefit them throughout their lives.
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Hidahl Continued from A1
Mountain Democrat photo by Noel Stack
Hidahl’s family, friends and colleagues gather
a photo in front
Photo courtesy of Cal Fire AEU
Fire crews
fire started in the Randolph Canyon Road area of Pollock Pines
March 20. A Modesto man is suspected of starting the blaze.
INDEPENDENT LIVING, ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE
NEWS, IN THE KNOW
Stellar Students
Congratulations to Clayton Jacobs of Cameron Park who recently graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology.
March 25
Sacramento Metro Chamber and Sutter Health present the Sacramento Speakers Series at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. featuring environmental activist, documentary lmmaker and author Céline Cousteau. For tickets and more information visit sacramentospeakers. com.
March 26
Senior Helpers Cameron Park will host a Caregiver and Person Living with Dementia Support Group, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Gilmore Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills. Join American River Conservancy for Fishing on the Farm from 4:30 p.m. to sunset. A detailed email will be sent once you register online at ARConservancy.org.
The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce will host a Chamber Mixer at Grapes and Ivy in Diamond Springs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information visit eldoradocounty.org.
Valhalla Tahoe presents Tahoe Improv Players - Another Dinner and Comedy Show at the Lake Tahoe Golf Course from 6-9 p.m. For tickets and more information visit valhallatahoe.com.
March 27
The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce will host its Networking Luncheon with guest speakers El Dorado Generator and Germinator’s Lauren Hernandez and Lexi Boeger from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Koto Bu et as Red Hawk Casino. For more information call (530) 6778000 or visit sscpchamber. org.
1850 Wine Cellars will host Name That Tune With Emily from 5-7 p.m. For more information visit 1850winecellars.com.
Art on center, the Center for Native, Latino & Indigenous Arts will host an Opening Reception for Echoes of the Past 50 Years of Native, Latino & Indigenous Resilience from 6-8 p.m. For more information email artoncenteredc@gmail.com or call (530) 626-3314.
March 28
El Dorado County Historical Society and Fountain and Tallman Museum presents the Walking Tour: Georgetown – Pride of the Mountains with local historian Guy Nixon from 9-10:30 a.m. For more information visit edchs. org.
UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County host the Irrigation Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden. Learn how to provide your plants with the water they need and reduce your water bill. To register visit tinyurl. com/3mkf6zc4.
Toogood Winery Tasting Room in Fairplay will host a Bottle Your Own Wine event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information visit toogoodwinery.com.
The Cameron Park Community Services District
On a mission of MORAL REHABILITATION
Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
New Beginnings Gold Country is celebrating its sweet 16 anniversary this year while preparing an expansion into Nevada.
When Randy Haskins walks down Main Street, Placerville he sometimes hears people trying to explain what his organization does.
Recently, outside the Main Street location, he overheard two young women peering through the window.
“Yeah, they do. They help people and they’re prisoners,” one said, struggling to describe it.
Haskins let them talk, then followed at a polite distance before stepping in.
“That wasn’t bad,” he told them. “But let me tell you what it is that we do.”
What Haskins does is complicated, layered and rooted in his own past. As founder and executive director of New Beginnings Gold Country, he runs a faithbased reentry program that helps people leaving jail and prison with housing, work, community and what he calls “moral rehabilitation.”
It’s a far cry from the life he once led.
Theft at 13 to 13 prison stays
Haskins’ story starts at age 13, when he was first arrested for stealing a 280ZX Turbo in Cameron Park.
“We drove it like we stole it,” he said.
By then, there had already been marijuana use and a couple of burglaries. That first arrest led to boys ranches, juvenile halls and, eventually, the California Youth Authority. After he turned 18, the pattern continued.
“I’ve been to prison 13 times, four terms,” Haskins said. “Violated my parole nine times.”
The turning point came on Dec. 10, 2002, after yet another arrest on a methamphetamine case. By then, he said, he knew the system so well he could practically predict the outcome.
“They had the dope, they had the confidential informant, they had the audio, they had the video,” he said. “It was a wrap, and I just didn’t want to live like that anymore.”
Haskins described that day as the moment he realized he had done, in his words, “a piss poor
job” of managing his own life.
“What I needed was a manager,” he said. “It was clear as day at this point that it was totally out of control.”
With nothing else working, he decided to try something he had mostly dismissed.
“I decided I would try this religion thing,” he said. “Because people that were going to church on Sundays weren’t going to prison on Mondays. That was my thinking.”
Volunteers from a local church began visiting the jail.
“These country bumpkins came into the jail, and they told me about this God that died on a cross for me,” he said. “I did not understand that.”
A second chance
Haskins was sentenced to 12 years in prison in Kentucky but served 33 months. In that state, he said, everyone goes before the parole board. Getting out on a first appearance is possible, but not common.
He credits another volunteer — one who had been visiting the prison for months — with helping him survive on the outside.
“He picked me up,” Haskins said. “He helped me get a place, he let me borrow one of his vehicles, helped me get a job. And then from there, I was just kind of on my own to put forth the e ort that needed to be done to get out of the situation I got myself into.”
Eventually, Haskins moved back to El Dorado County in 2008, worked for his brother’s tree service and then joined a ministry called U-Turn for Christ in Camino. When that season ended, the call
to help people coming out of incarceration remained.
In January 2010, he walked into his pastor’s o ce.
“I told him, I think I’m called to prison ministry,” Haskins said.
At first, his goal was simple: be for others what that Kentucky volunteer had been for him — someone to meet them at the gate and walk alongside them.
Thrift store equals a lifeline
The financial engine for that vision turned out to be a thrift store.
The original shop wasn’t started by Haskins. A woman named Liz opened it nearly 19 years ago to support her nephew, a missionary overseas after a major tsunami. When he died of a tropical illness, she lost heart and put the store up
for sale.
Haskins heard about the opportunity and brushed it o at first. By the next morning, he said, he felt compelled to look again and ask questions. He ended up giving Liz a down payment and making payments over three years to take over the store.
“We had no idea what we were doing,” he said. “We just wanted to be on the street.”
Since then, that single shop has grown into multiple locations, including a Main Street storefront. Like Snowline Hospice and other nonprofit thrift stores, New Beginnings’ retail operations are more about presence than profit.
“It’s not a huge moneymaker,” Haskins said. “But it’s a great face for the organization.
Courtesy photo
New Beginnings Thrift is a staple in the community and it takes an entire village to run it.
Courtesy photo
Above, the community that surrounds Randy Haskins is one of support and dignity as seen here while over 20 individuals gather to support a client at a court appearance. Below, Sheriff Jeff Leikauf is the only member of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department that remembers when Haskins was often interacting with deputies in his younger days, said Haskins.
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Wheelbarrow Races return for 82nd year
Placerville Kiwanis News release
One of El Dorado County’s most anticipated traditions is returning, June 20, and organizers are urging participants to plan ahead as registration opens for the 82nd annual Wheelbarrow Races.
Race spots are expected to fill quickly as interest in the historical event continues to grow. In 2025, multiple races sold out before race day, reflecting increasing popularity among longtime locals and first-time participants. Organizers expect similar or greater demand this year.
“The Wheelbarrow Races have become a must-do experience for individuals, teams, and families,” said Dina Gentry, presidentelect of Kiwanis and chair of this year’s planning committee. “We strongly encourage racers to register early to secure their place and avoid disappointment.”
Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Placerville, the races serve as the organization’s signature annual fundraiser. Proceeds support students and youth-focused
programs throughout Placerville and El Dorado County, including scholarships and community initiatives aimed at strengthening education and opportunity.
The event celebrates Placerville’s Gold Rush heritage with a community wide competition that draws racers and spectators from across the region. Participants navigate an obstacle course set up on the racetrack at Placerville Speedway during the El Dorado County Fair, combining athleticism,
teamwork and entertainment.
Businesses and organizations that sponsor the event receive public exposure through promotional efforts and raceday visibility. For sponsorship information, contact Paul Zappettini at (916) 425-8909. Organizers said early registration is the best way to guarantee participation. Registration and more information is available at studebakerwheelbarrowraces. com.
Amateur winemakers’ efforts to be judged
Stacey Vreeken News release
The El Dorado Home Winemakers Club, the group that gathers to promote and improve home winemaking, will have its wines professionally judged March 28.
The competition, hosted by the El Dorado County Fair, has been held for more than 10 years and will take place at the fairgrounds.
“One of the principal objectives of the competition, aside from bragging rights, is to help amateur
winemakers improve their winemaking skills with the feedback they receive from the judges,” said Michael Frenn, club member and judge coordinator. “A great deal of emphasis has been placed on recruiting quality judges from the industry to evaluate the wines submitted.”
The Amateur Winemakers Competition is separate from the Commercial Wine Competition, which will not be held this year. According to the fair association who has sponsored the competition, it is not cost effective for the nonprofit. However, the Home Winemakers Club plans to conduct its competition for the
foreseeable future.
“The Amateur Winemakers Competition represents the spirit of the fair, an agricultural product from the surrounding communities, the potential of which is expanded by going from a simple fruit, into a beverage which has been culturally significant to civilizations over many hundreds of centuries,” said Frenn. “It represents local pride in agriculture and craft.
The Home Winemakers Club brings together in social and learning activities those people in the community who share this common interest.”
The judges, chosen from throughout the region, will form panels
to evaluate red, white, rosé and fruit wines based on appearance, color, aroma, body, taste and overall quality in addition to other attributes.
The club provides access to a wide array of winemaking equipment, access to a mentoring program, contact with local wineries and group grape harvest purchase opportunities. The Home Winemakers host several events in addition to meeting once a month, including meetings with professional winemakers, forums on vineyard management and social gatherings. More information about the Home Winemakers Club can be found at edhwm.net.
Celebrate Easter with Crepes and Bubbles
News release
Myka Estates, 3405 Carson Court in Placerville, is having an Easter Brunch, Sunday, April 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bring the family and relax on Easter Sunday with Crepes & Bubbles. There will be a menu of four different crepes by Chef Lisa Scott paired with Myka Estate sparkling cocktails, sparkling blanc de noir, sparkling hard cider, or wines of your choice. The regular menu items will also be available.
Buy three or more bottles of wine and pick and egg from the Easter basket to unlock special deals and enjoy other savings all day.
The crepes menu is: Prosciutto,
caramelized onions, Gruyere and Dijon cream; Wild mushroom ragu topped with shaved Parmesan; Crepe Suzette flambéed in orange liqueur; and whipped ricotta, strawberries, chocolate chips and chocolate sauce. The sparkling cocktails are: Strawberry, rosé and mint sangria topped with Blanc de Noir; and Sparkling hard apple cider Moscow mule
Make a complimentary reservation at mykaestates.com/event/easterbrunch/ to reserve a table. All fees will be charged the day of. Please notify us in advance with any dietary restrictions.
For more information call (530) 644-3474 or visit mykaestates.com.
Courtesy photo
Participants navigate an obstacle course set up on the racetrack at Placerville Speedway during the El Dorado County Fair, combining athleticism, teamwork and entertainment.
GROW FOR IT!
Scents of spring shrubs
Ahhhh … spring! California foothill spring-flowering shrubs are not only stunning to look at but also provide alluring fragrances. In planning for the future, here are some of the most fragrant earlyblooming spring shrubs that you can add to your garden, providing the promise that winter will soon be ending. Let’s start with common lilacs, Syringa vulgaris. There is nothing quite like the air being perfumed by these springtime favorites. They are also loved for their toughness and reliability. Once established, these shrubs can live for more than 100 years. The floral stems are great for cutting and bringing inside to
Pauline Atkins UCCE Master Gardener of El Dorado County
enjoy. Pollinators such as butterflies seek out lilacs. The blooms usually come in a fluffy variety of purple colors, from pale to very dark. There are also varieties of white, cream and pink. Even though it is not in the same botanical family as common lilacs, you may want to consider California wild lilac, Ceanothus spp. A native, drought-tolerant,
fragrant perennial shrub, it can also act as a ground cover. This beloved native shrub turns California hillsides blue. They do well in infertile conditions, have natural nitrogen-fixing abilities and do not need feeding. They appreciate the Mediterranean climate. Bees and butterflies love them! Who could resist the early blooms and fragrance of the sweet box plant, Sarcococca? Its tiny white flowers, with a vanilla scent, fill the air for weeks in February and March. Dark green-leafed, this evergreen ornamental shrub is outstanding. It thrives in partial shade, is tolerant of tree roots and low irrigation, and does well in a large container. Another plus: Deer do not seem to like them.
The intoxicating
PHILANTHROPY WITH PURPOSE
Why holding your charitable funds at the foundation
matters
In an earlier column, we shared how the El Dorado Community Foundation works behind the scenes to strengthen local philanthropy and respond to community needs. An important question often follows: Why should donors choose to give through the foundation and hold their charitable funds there?
The answer is simple yet powerful: Doing so amplifies impact, protects donor intent and keeps generosity rooted in the community it is meant to serve. When individuals, families, businesses and organizations establish funds at the El Dorado Community Foundation, they are not just making a gift; they are creating a long-term charitable partnership. Funds held with the foundation are professionally invested, carefully stewarded and governed
by policies designed to ensure compliance, accountability and transparency. This structure allows donors to focus on what matters most — their philanthropic goals — while the foundation handles the complexity behind the scenes. One of the most meaningful benefits of holding funds at the El Dorado Community Foundation is the assurance that donor intent is honored over time. Whether a donor wants to support education, environmental stewardship, arts and culture, human services or a specific nonprofit, the foundation serves as a permanent guardian
Rehabilitation Continued from B1 the community.”
The ministry behind the storefront has expanded into a reentry program with beds, work opportunities and peer support for people leaving incarceration who are “serious about making some life changing decisions.”
Lifting others up
Haskins spoke bluntly about why this work is needed. He noted that recidivism — the rate at which people return to custody — “hovers at about 68%” over three years.
“You take 100 people that left jail or prison, and within three years, 68 of them have gone back,” he said. He remembers being released with $200 and a bus ticket, arriving home broke and in crisis.
“That crisis is food, shelter and clothing,” he said. “And what animal isn’t going to do whatever it takes to survive?”
Local jails can be even harsher, he
scent of winter daphne, Daphne odora, will make guests in your spring garden say, “What smells so good?” Clusters of the scented pink and white flowers open gradually, but when they do, you immediately know daphne is blooming. The fragrance is exquisite. Good drainage is key to successfully growing this shrub. Add ample compost to lighten the soil so it will drain quickly. Ideal in large pots, situate it in partial shade near your door so you can enjoy its delightful floral perfume as you are leaving or coming home.
Once established, the luscious fourpetaled, citrus-scented white blooms of the native California mock orange, Philadelphus lewisii, can beautifully frame a garden gate
of those wishes. Long after individual circumstances change, charitable priorities remain protected and are carried forward with close attention to the donor’s intent. Local expertise is another key advantage. As a place-based foundation, the El Dorado Community Foundation maintains a broad, up-to-date understanding of El Dorado County’s needs, opportunities and challenges. It works closely with nonprofits, schools, public agencies and community leaders, offering insight that national institutions cannot replicate. This allows the foundation to help donors identify opportunities for impact and respond thoughtfully to both immediate needs and emerging issues.
Holding funds locally also strengthens nonprofits in practical ways. Grants made through the El Dorado Community Foundation are supported by due diligence, financial oversight and relationshipbuilding to help ensure charitable dollars
said, describing people released in the same tank top and shorts they were arrested in, sometimes into winter weather, and told simply to stay out of trouble.
Still, Haskins insists that change has to start with the individual.
“Everybody that gets arrested and comes out, they have choices,” he said. “You have to start with that desire to make good choices. Even though the odds are against you, you still have to take responsibility.”
Over time, New Beginnings has evolved beyond basic support into what Haskins calls a peer mentorship organization. Graduates who stabilize and rebuild their lives return to guide those behind them.
“Our goal is not that these people wouldn’t return to jail or prison or drugs or alcohol,” he said. “We’re shooting at a higher target — that peer mentorship that would go back and say, ‘You can make it too, and this is how I did it.’”
or trellis. This native plant was discovered and collected in 1806 by Lewis and Clark during their famous overland expedition to the West. It is a tough, drought-tolerant shrub that needs little supplemental water. The early-season nectar supports pollinators including bees, birds and insects. The arching woody branches provide nesting cover for birds. Easy to grow, plant in full or partial sun using average garden soil.
If one of your gardening goals is to experience a scentsational springtime yard, consider adding some of these uniquely fragrant shrubs. The moment you get a delightful whiff, you will wonder how you ever lived without them.
Join the UCCE Master Gardeners
are used effectively. Beyond grantmaking, the foundation invests in nonprofit capacity through training, collaboration and technical assistance, helping organizations become more resilient and sustainable over time.
For donors, a fund at the foundation offers flexibility. Donor-advised funds, scholarship funds, field-of-interest funds, designated funds and agency funds can all be tailored to meet different goals. Donors may choose to be actively involved in recommending grants or take a more handsoff approach, trusting the foundation to carry out their intent. As charitable priorities evolve, funds can adapt while remaining anchored in the donor’s original purpose.
There arealso important administrative and legal benefits. The foundation manages compliance with charitable regulations, grant agreements, reporting and recordkeeping — tasks that are often time-consuming
Mending fences
and complex when handled independently. Modest administrative fees support this stewardship, ensuring funds are managed responsibly while sustaining the foundation’s ability to serve the community for future generations.
Perhaps most importantly, holding funds at the El Dorado Community Foundation keeps charitable assets working locally. While many donors could choose national or commercial charitable platforms, funds held at the foundation remain connected to El Dorado County. Investment earnings, grantmaking and community leadership all stay close to home, reinforcing a cycle of local impact.
Choosing to give through the El Dorado Community Foundation is ultimately an act of trust — trust in local knowledge, in careful stewardship and in the belief that philanthropy is strongest when it is rooted in community.
By holding funds with the foundation, donors help build a permanent charitable resource that supports today’s needs
Part of that transformation involves changing how the broader community sees former inmates — and how former inmates see themselves.
Haskins points to his relationship with El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, who knew him in his criminal days and now shares stages with him at community events.
“There’s nothing better than to watch the healing happen between, as you say, an ex con and a sheriff,” Haskins said. “That healing that happens within that individual, feeling that acceptance that I’m not that anymore, is amazing.”
He believes the healing goes both ways, challenging stereotypes on each side of the badge.
Crossing into Nevada
In recent years, Haskins has taken the New Beginnings model across state lines.
A casual trip to Placerville Speedway reconnected him with local racing and introduced him to an evangelist from Dayton, Nevada, who runs a John 3:16 race car. Visiting the man’s shop took Haskins through Carson City, where he began to learn how few reentry services existed for people leaving the prison there.
“Nevada doesn’t have much,” he said. “Carson City has zero when it comes to those that are coming out of jail and the prison right there.”
He began making regular trips, sometimes camping in his toy hauler in a Walmart parking lot while he walked neighborhoods, met residents and sat down with the sheriff and the mayor.
for the Irrigation Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden. Learn how to provide your plants with the water they need and reduce your water bill. To register visit tinyurl. com/3mkf6zc4. For more information about UC Master Gardener classes, events and garden resources visit mgeldorado.ucanr. edu.
while safeguarding tomorrow’s possibilities. Your generosity is personal. The impact is collective. Working with the El Dorado Community Foundation allows both to endure. Readers are invited to learn more at eldoradocf.org or visit the Placerville office at 312 Main St., Placerville to discuss philanthropic goals. The El Dorado Community Foundation is dedicated to strengthening the community now and for future generations. The foundation fulfills this mission by encouraging private giving for the good of the communities of El Dorado County, building and maintaining a community resource fund to respond to community need during disasters, providing a flexible tax-exempt vehicle for donors with varied charitable interests and abilities to give and serving as a catalyst, convener and partner in shaping effective responses to community problems and opportunities. Learn more at eldoradocf.org.
Two and a half years later, New Beginnings has a house in Carson City, fully furnished and open to clients. The work there is funded entirely by individual donors and local churches, Haskins said, with no government contracts.
A simple formula
Haskins is the first to say he is not a polished nonprofit executive.
“I’m not an educated guy,” he said. “Barely graduated high school. Before I was given the Bible to read, I had a third grade level reading. Now I’m probably like in a 10th or 11th grade. My daughter helps me with my emails.”
He sees the last 16 years in Placerville — 11 beds, multiple thrift stores and countless trial-and-error lessons — as training for what comes next, particularly in Nevada, where he believes the need is vast and unmet. He can’t say exactly how it will unfold, but he is clear on the vision.
“Imagine a world where there is less crime, less violence,” he said. “Imagine a world where it’s those that broke it that are being a part of fixing it.”
For Haskins, the core idea boils down to four words.
“It’s just as simple as ‘more God, less crime,’” he said. “If I do what the Bible tells me to do, I’m not out there stealing from my neighbor. I’m not out there carjacking. It’s a heart transformation, inward out. It’s a relationship with God. That’s what we really do — to raise up shepherds, to raise up peer supporters, to help those behind them.”
Learn more about New Beginnings Gold Country at newbeginnings goldcountry.org.
Amy Pooley El Dorado Community Foundation
Photo by Pauline Atkins
The winter daphne has an intoxicating scent.
El Dorado County administrators honored
Whitney Burke
El Dorado County O ce of Education
Several educational leaders from the El Dorado County O ce of Education
and El Dorado County school districts were recognized for their outstanding leadership and service during the Association of California School Administrators
Region 2 Awards Gala, held March 13 at the Orchard Creek Ballroom at Sun City Lincoln Hills.
The annual gala celebrates exceptional
administrators and educational leaders across Region 2 who demonstrate excellence in leadership, dedication to students and a commitment to strengthening schools and communities.
ACSA’s Region 2 encompasses the Northern California counties of Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter and Yuba.
Several leaders from El Dorado County received accolades for their service.
Special Region 2
Administrator of the Year — Sam LaCara Award
• Category: Sam LaCara Administrator of the Year: Carey Buchanan, director, alternative programs, El Dorado County O ce of Education
Administrator awards
• Category: Classified leader: Meghan McAndrews, director, transportation, El Dorado County O ce of Education
• Category:
Superintendent: Dr Todd Cutler, superintendent, Lake Tahoe Unified School
will host Eggstreme Egg Hunt, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rassmussen Park in Cameron Park. For more information visit cameronpark. org.
Findleton Estate Winery in Camino will host Mystery Wine Tasting Day from noon to 4 p.m. Put your palate to the test & challenge your wine-tasting skills with six mystery wines. Correct guesses will win fun prizes. The event will also include wine trivia for the amateur sommeliers. Learn more at nzinwines.com.
The El Dorado Hills Community Services District will host its Aqua Egg Hunt at the Community Pool from 1-3 p.m.
District
• Category: Secondary principal: Aaron Palm, principal, Oak Ridge High School, El Dorado Union High School District
• Category: Principal/ alternative education administrator: Jennifer Myers, Independence High School, El Dorado Union High School
• Category: Secondary co-administrator: Rich Modesti, assistant principal, Union Mine High School, El Dorado Union High School District
The ACSA Region 2 Awards highlight the important role educational leaders play in shaping successful schools and supporting
For more information visit eldoradohillscsd.org.
Sierra Vista Winery will host Live Request Jukebox by Love + Honey from 4-7 p.m. For more information visit sierravistawinery.com.
The Atrium Gallery at El Dorado Hills Town Center will host Spring Studio Artists Exhibition reception from 5-8 p.m. For more information visit edhtowncenter.com.
Ron Mans eld Memorial Scholarship Bowling Tournament will take place at Knotty Pine Lanes in Pollock Pines at 10 a.m. Fore more information email edwgga@ gmail.com.
student achievement across the region.
ACSA is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the United States, serving more than 17,000 California educators. ACSA’s top priority is advocating for public school students in kindergarten through grade 12 and for adult learners. Its mission is to be the driving force for an equitable, world-class education system and the development and support of educational leaders who meet the diverse needs of all California students. For more information about ACSA Region 2 visit regions.acsa.org/2.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Citrus Heights will host an Egg Hunt from 10 a.m. to
Courtesy photo
EDCOE leadership, Meghan McAndrews, Amy Andersen, Michael Gillespie, Carey Buchanan and Wendy Frederickson, from left, attended the gala celebrating fellow administrators.
