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Mountain Democrat
2022
Inside, A6
172
News, ect. B1
C ali forn ia’s Olde st Ne w spaper
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Volume 172 • Issue 4 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
2010 2022
In the
NEWS in
2022
The Mountain Democrat looks back on some of the top headlines of the past year. See Friday’s edition for more top stories.
Justice for Jane finally served Mountain Democrat staff In mid July 2022 Michael Green pleaded no contest to second-degree murder for the 1985 killing of Jane Anker Hylton — a crime once thought committed by another man, Ricky Davis, who undeservedly served 15 years in state prison — and two months later he received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison, bringing closure for the nearly four-decade-old homicide. “Justice has been served but it took too long and some awful mistakes were made in the past to get to this moment,” said El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, who discovered Davis’ wrongful conviction and, along with the California Innocence Project, led the effort to exonerate him. “I have personally apologized to Ricky Davis and also want to say we are sorry to Jane Hylton’s family for the mistakes in handling this case in the
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
A New Leaf Tree Service crew member works to remove a downed 80-foot-tall tree Friday afternoon that fell on an Anderson Way home in Placerville. No injuries were reported but the house sustained major damage.
Mother Nature continues to pack a potent punch Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
An 80-foot tall tree crashing into a bedroom could be one heck of a wake-up call — except Placerville resident Ron Taylor apparently slept through it all. Kori Taylor told the Mountain Democrat her husband went to bed at their Anderson Way home while she made a late dinner Jan. 4, but Mother Nature didn’t let him get a restful night’s sleep. The house began to rumble and the lights went out right as Kori heard a huge crash, she shared. The tree barely missed Ron, who was fortunately not injured. “It looked as if a bomb had gone off inside our bedroom,” Kori described. “I could see the night sky and feel the rain and (saw)
n
See JUstice, page A7
Central EDH Specific Plan denied Mountain Democrat staff The El Dorado County Planning Commission in June 2022 rejected Parker Development’s Central El Dorado Hills Specific Plan, which proposes to build hundreds of homes on the old golf course along El Dorado Hills Boulevard. The long-planned and debated project requires a General Plan amendment to allow zoning of the golf course property to be changed from recreational facilities-high intensity to medium and high density residential. CEDHSP includes the Pedregal and Serrano Westside (golf course property) developments with 237 residential units specified for the Pedregal area, while Serrano Westside would house 763 units. Density ranges between less than one to more than 20 units per acre, with the highest density slated for the golf course parcel. Eleven acres are set aside for civic-limited commercial use and a 15-acre village park would sit alongside Highway 50. The plan also calls for a total 190 acres of open space/parks and 1.5 miles of a Class I bike and pedestrian trail. “Frankly, we are proud of this project that we
Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco
Lights on the downtown Placerville Christmas tree hang off fallen branches downed by powerful winds that came through the area late Monday night and early Tuesday morning. jagged shapes with no color.” Fearing she lost her husband, Kori said she called out to Ron, who seemed to wake confused. Kori explained to Ron what happened, to which he replied, “I woke up with wet bark
on my face.” “It seems funny now, but it was the best sound I’ve heard in a long while,” Kori said of her husband’s response. “I praise God because, looking at the room, we both knew it was due to Him we are both alive.”
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The couple and their three pets went to a hotel since their house is too damaged. Kori’s daughter-in-law Mandi Sousa set up a gofundme to help support the Taylors’ n
See Storm, page A9
n
See rezone page A7
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