— PUBLIC NOTICE — PG&E cuts a deal with Gov. Newsom to remove up to 75% of the benefits of Solar Power! 672 PLEASANT VALLEY RD., DIAMOND SPRINGS • (530) 683-5518
172
Lic#1039193
CAL
– E s t. 18 51
Volume 172 • Issue 20 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
FOR MORE INFORMATION
SUN CONSTRUCTION
C ali forn ia’s Olde st Ne w spaper
nd
SEE PAGE B12
DA drops animal hero in the sky Local Air Force pilot earns Distinguished Flying Cross abuse charges Odin Rasco Staff writer
John Poimiroo Mountain Democrat contributor
T
ensions arose among more than 450 Afghan refugees aboard Reach 651 (the callsign of a US Air Force C-17 cargo plane) as the 292-ton transport circled above Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Aug. 22, 2021. With more than 100 of these massive cargo planes evacuating 114,000 refugees from Afghanistan that day, transports were stacked high above Qatar as they awaited clearance to land. Each had its own in-air crisis, but conditions on Reach 651 were particularly critical. The huge cargo plane had been aloft for hours, had only one small toilet and no air conditioning as it flew through stifling subtropic air … and it was running out of gas. Efforts to explain what was happening to a cabin packed with anxious passengers were complicated by language and cultural barriers. Commanding the air transport was Maj. Drew Dela Cruz, a 2007 graduate of El Dorado Hills’ Oak Ridge High School and in 2012, the U.S. Air Force Academy. He knew inflight refueling procedures by heart as he’d piloted Air Force KC-135 tankers previously, but now he was on the thirsty end of the hose and he had an emergency on board. The crew of Reach 651 had been briefed earlier that day that saboteurs planned to attack Hamid Karzai International Airport in
Charges of animal cruelty against a Shingle Springs veterinarian have been dropped, according to officials with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office. Dr. Dean Bader, Dr. Dean Bader a veterinarian and former Shingle Springs resident, faced three felony charges of animal abuse and one misdemeanor charge of failure to report animal abuse in connection to the largest animal hoarding case in the county’s history. “After a thorough review of the evidence and the evidence offered by the defense, we could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” stated Savannah Broddrick with the DA’s Office. The charges stem from a 2019 case where two Shingle Springs residents, Alma and Charel Winston, were hoarding more than 300 animals in inhumane conditions. The Winstons n See bader, page A9
County looks to improve disaster response Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
Courtesy photos
Maj. Drew Dela Cruz, a former El Dorado Hills resident, received the Distinguished Flying Cross late last year for his life-saving decisions during the Afghan evacuation.
El Dorado County staff has had its hands full in recent years working on emergency preparedness, response and recovery when faced with disasters in addition to regular duties. The county will hire a consultant to find ways to meet increasing demands for services and communications amid calamities, which the county Board of Supervisors suggested could be improved during its Feb. 14 meeting. With what seems to be a trend of natural disasters hitting the county year after year, such as the Caldor and Mosquito fires and the series of storms that caused flooding and damage in the early days of 2023, District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin recommended hiring a consultant to evaluate the structure of the county’s Office of Emergency Services and overall response and recovery efforts to disaster. “We just seem to be in crisis mode every year,” Parlin said. “District 4 specifically has gotten hit pretty hard and I do hear from the public a lot on why we don’t do certain things … I think our constituents think we are in charge of everything
n See Cross, page A5
U.S. Air Force Maj. Drew Dela Cruz accepts his award during a special ceremony. When he’s not deployed Dela Cruz is stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield.
1 DENTIST DENTIST!
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
#
Celebrating
Eight Times! New Patients Always Welcome!
Jeff Little, DDS
General & Cosmetic Dentistry
“Look For My Column On Page 3 Today!”
39 years
n See Disaster response, page A6
4.875% 5.17% 1515YEAR YEAR3.250 3.2503.61 3.61
Call us to help you plan trips of a lifetime anywhere in the world!
HOME LOAN HOME LOAN El Dorado Hills
Fixed RateFixed Rate
Annual Percentage Annual Rate Percentage Rate
• ReÀ• nance Purchase Purchase ReÀnance PLACERVILLE • 4040 El Dorado • 622-1492 PLACERVILLE • 4040 ElRoadDorado Road • 622-1492
180180 Monthly ofof $7.84 per $1,000Borrowed Borrowed 180 Monthly Payments of $7.03 per $1,000 Borrowed MonthlyPayments Payments $7.03 per $1,000
1984-2023
Ask the ExpErts
Travel
Check the El Dorado Advantage: Check the El Dorado Advantage: PLACERVILLE • (Downtown)• (Downtown) 247 Main •247 622-0833 PLACERVILLE Main • 622-0833
✓ No application fee fee ✓ No application W. PLACERVILLE • Placervil e• PlDr.acervi & Rayl e Lawyer W. PLACERVILLE Dr. & Ray• 626-3400 Lawyer • 626-3400 ✓ No prepayment penalty penalty ✓ No prepayment DIAMONDDIAMOND SPRINGS SPRINGS • 694 Pleasant y RoadVal• l626-5701 • 694ValPlleasant ey Road • 626-5701 ✓ Local ✓processing and servicing Local processing and servicing CAMERONCAMERON PARK • 4060PARKCameron DrivePark • 677-1601 • 4060Park Cameron Drive • 677-1601
2022
916-933-0476 800-963-SAIL 3941 Park Dr., Ste 90, EDH www.edhtravel.com CST #2012537-10
POLLOCKPOLLOCK PINES • 6462 Express l • 644-2363 PINESPony• 6462 PonyTraiExpress Trail • 644-2363 EL DORADO HILLS • 3963 DrivePark • 933-3002 EL DORADO HILLSPark• 3963 Drive • 933-3002 Serving our local communities over yearsGEORGETOWN • 6310 Hwy.• 6310 193 •Hwy. 333-1101 GEORGETOWN 193 • 333-1101 Member Serving ourServing local communities for over for 54foryears Member our local communities over 61 54 years
Se Habla800-874-9779 Espanol 800-874-9779 Maximum loan$417,000.00, $650,000, vacationresidence. residence. Se Habla Espanol Maximum Maximum loan $417,000.00, primary orprimary vacationorresidence. loan vacation NMLSR ID 479256 20% minimum downcash payment purchase. 25% equity25% required refinance. Other loansOther available different 20%cash minimum downonpayment on purchase. equityonrequired on refi nance. loansunder available underterms. different terms.
Experience the WOW! 2 col (3.3”) 1.5” Mountain Democrat 2 colx (3.3”) x 1.5” Mountain Democrat
Are Your Sliding Glass Doors & Windows Stuck or Hard to Open?
We Can Fix That!
GO FROM STRUGGLING TO THE ONE FINGER SLIDE!
330 Green Valley Road, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 windowsceensolutions.com
916.906.2033