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CDPH plans prompt needle exchange ban Odin Rasco Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian
A picnic table and a half-court basketball court sit idle on the property of what used to be Walt Tyler Elementary School in Grizzly Flat Feb. 23. The cost to reconstruct the school is around $9 million, a sum the Pioneer Union School District is seeking through various means.
Funds to rebuild Grizzly Flat school millions short Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
As Grizzly Flat continues to recover more than two years after the Caldor Fire, the community is facing hurdles in rebuilding its elementary school. Students with Grizzly Flat addresses are attending Pioneer Elementary School in Somerset, a commute that takes parents 30-45 minutes. Meanwhile administrators at Pioneer Union School District, which includes Pioneer Elementary and Grizzly Flat’s razed Walt Tyler Elementary, are working to fill funding gaps. The price tag to build a new elementary school in
Walt Tyler Elementary School served students in kindergarten through fifth grade, consisting of two classrooms, an office and bathrooms. Grizzly Flat is around $9 million, according to Pioneer School District Chief Business Officer Kelly Howard.
we ever imagined it would cost,” Howard said.
Insurance is paying $4 million to the district, leaving it roughly $5 million short. “It is way more than
Staff writer
A new development in the ongoing county opposition to groups such as the Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition came Feb. 27 when the Placerville City Council voted 4-1 to temporarily ban needle exchange programs in the city. SHRC’s license to operate in the region was renewed by the California Department of Public Health, but it appears officials paid attention to El Dorado County’s wishes — the coalition would no longer be allowed to operate in unincorporated parts of the county. Instead, the new area of operation for SHRC in the county was limited to the city of Placerville, a decision that didn’t sit well with city leadership. The Board of Supervisors and the City Council have both reached out to state officials regarding SHRC, requesting CDPH not renew the group’s license to operate within the county. Concerns with SHRC’s approach have been raised by El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, Placerville Chief of Police Joe Wren, El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson and others, who claim the coalition has done more harm than good. During the Dec. 12, 2023, Board of Supervisors meeting, the board passed Ordinance 5189, an urgency ordinance that prohibits operation of syringe exchange programs in unincorporated areas of the county. Main talking points touched on increased syringe waste, overdose deaths and the impacts of crime and homelessness on the county. “The unfettered use of fentanyl and other illicit drugs has already fueled an epidemic of crime, homelessness and overdose deaths in this state and a nonsensical needle exchange program would make that deadly situation even worse,” Pierson states in a press release issued following the urgency ordinance’s passing. CDPH representatives previously responded to claims made regarding the impacts of needle exchange programs in the county. “Studies have demonstrated there is no correlation between the presence of a syringe program in
n See SCHOOL, page A6
n See BAN, page A7
Tahoe digging out Katelyn Welsh Tahoe Daily Tribune
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Residents, businesses and resorts in South Lake Tahoe are digging
out after a multi-day blizzard that brought high winds and feet of snow to the region. OpenSnow.com reports a storm total of 58 inches of snow at Heavenly Mountain Resort, 78 at Sierraat-Tahoe and 62 at Kirkwood Mountain Resort. Throughout the storm ski resorts, highways and businesses shut down. White-out conditions forced the closure of Interstate 80 Friday, March 1, through Monday, March 4. While Highway 50 remained open for the most part, on Sunday a snow slide came down on motorists traveling over Echo Summit. No injuries were reported as Caltrans workers
freed vehicles from snow. Some ski resorts remained closed Monday as operators caught up with the storm; other resort managers announced delayed openings or limited lifts running. Sierra-at-Tahoe was one of the resorts closed to the public Monday while staff readied for a possible re-opening Tuesday. A Monday morning update from Sierra-atTahoe’s snow reporter reads, “Alas, the sun is starting to shine across the feet of snow we’ve received in the last four days. We will update storm snow totals once patrol can access the top of the mountain but we are estimating almost
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A snowplow collided with a vehicle that was reportedly traveling on Pioneer Trail on the wrong side of the road Saturday in South Lake Tahoe. 6 feet up top — this includes heavily wind blown areas + cornice build up.” Those looking to travel
into the Tahoe Basin are advised to carry chains. Caltrans officials note even vehicles with fourwheel or all-wheel drive
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are required to carry traction devices in chain control areas. For the n See DIGGING OUT, page A7
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