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VOLUME 171 • ISSUE 1 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022
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Adult-use cannabis shops OK’d in county Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
California Department of Water Resources photos by Andrew Innerarity
California Department of Water Resources staff takes measurements Thursday in the first snow survey of the 2022 season at Phillips Station.
Winter storms give Sierra snowpack a strong start California Department of Water Resources News release The Department of Water Resources conducted the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit Thursday. The manual survey recorded 78.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 20 inches, which is 202% of average for the survey location for this date. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide the snowpack is 160% of average for this date. “We could not have asked for a better December in terms of Sierra snow and rain,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “But Californians need to be aware that even these big storms may not refill our major reservoirs during the next few months. We need more storms and average temperatures
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Sean de Guzman, manager of the California Department of Water Resources Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Section, reads survey findings to members of the news media. this winter and spring and we can’t be sure it’s coming. So, it’s important we continue to do our part to keep conserving — we will need that water this summer.”
In the
DWR staff says it will take more than an average year to recover from drought following last winter’s ■
Three El Dorado County cannabis businesses got the green light from the Planning Commission to sell cannabis and cannabis-related products for both medical and adultuse recreational purposes. Two of these businesses, Pure Life Collective in Diamond Springs and Foothill Health and Wellness in Shingle Springs, currently operate as medical cannabis dispensaries and the third, Dividend Distribution in Shingle Springs, will operate as a medical and recreational cannabisdistribution business. The three businesses’ owners applied for commercial cannabis use permits, required for the operation of commercial cannabis businesses in unincorporated county areas, all approved by the county Planning Commission at its Dec. 9 meeting. They now await final approval from the Department of Cannabis Control before adult-use sales can be made. Owners Kelly Chiusano and Summer Bradley-Chiusano opened Pure Life in 2011, located at the intersection of Odd Fellows and Pleasant Valley roads, and were looking to expand their business. They also this year opened the second adult-use dispensary in the city of Placerville, Sacred Roots. The proposed permit called for an expansion of Pure Life’s office space into an adjacent building in the same plaza. “We have had no complaints since opening and we have been members of our local community, providing safe access to cannabis and cannabis products,” Kelly said. “We are looking forward to moving this along to get our licensing so we can be a regular business like everyone else.” The second business to have its permit approved, Foothill Health and Wellness, has been operating since 2014 on the intersection of Dividend Drive and Business Drive at the Barnett Business Park. No changes will be made to the business other than the retail of adult-use recreational cannabis. Foothill Health and Wellness permit applicant Adam Berk, who
See SNOW SURVEY, page A2
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See CANNABIS, page A6
NEWS 2021 in
The Mountain Democrat staff looks back on top news stories of 2021
Pair of Diamond Springs murders unsolved Eric Jaramishian Staff writer Law enforcement officers continue to investigate two deaths that occurred on Fowler Lane in Diamond Springs within a week of each other. El Dorado County sheriff ’s deputies swarmed the area north of Toyan Drive the evening of July 9 to investigate the “suspicious death” of 63-yearold Diamond Springs resident Jeanie Cilley. Investigators ruled her death as a homicide the next day and launched an investigation. The Sheriff ’s Office declined at the time to release details on how the victim died or if the address where they found her was her home.
Neighbors said two men moved into the home where Cilley’s body was found a month before her death. Five days later investigators were faced with another “suspicious death.” A man whose name has not been released by the Sheriff ’s Office and was a “person of interest” was found deceased on Fowler Lane just blocks from the home where Cilley’s body was found. Sheriff ’s deputies got a call early the morning of July 14, when “the person of interest’s” body was found just south of Panther Lane. Investigators blocked off the street with road barriers and crime tape to search for clues. It is unknown as of press time if the man was related to Cilley.
Both investigations are still ongoing. No arrests have been made in the cases and EDSO continues to follow all investigative leads.