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Volume 172 • Issue 46 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, April 24, 2023
Cameron Park likely shuttering a fire station Noel Stack Managing editor
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
Discontinuing emergency services out of Cameron Park Fire Department Station 88 on Alhambra Drive would allow for a fully staffed Station 89.
With reluctance, the Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors supported a fire service plan that will brown out Station 88 on Alhambra Drive. The plan presented by CPCSD General Manager André Pichly, following several discussions with Cal Fire and a CSD Ad Hoc Committee, includes a five-year service extension agreement with Cal Fire that will run July 1, 2023, to
June 30, 2028, during which time Cal Fire will continue to operate out of Station 89 on Country Club Drive using a nine-person staffing model (one three-person engine company with a staffing factor of three — three bodies per seat working three-day/72 hour shifts) and keep ambulance service in the district. “Although less than ideal, this staffing model allows the district to maintain reliable fire and emergency services at a base level with our current partners and provides time to explore
the future of our service in the bigger picture of other agencies and county responses to these needs,” Pichly notes in his staff report. Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit Chief Mike Blankenheim acknowledged, “Taking an engine out of the system is not safe for the system.” However, he said, agreeing with this plan will ensure one fully-staffed fire station and put less stress on Cameron Park’s firefighting personnel as vacancies, n See station 88, page A7
Parlin served NASA Solar System Ambassador teaches recall notice ‘hands-on’ astronomy Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
A surprise for District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin came at the kickoff of the public comment segment of Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, courtesy of some in her jurisdiction — a recall notice of intent. “Lori, this is not personal,” said Cool resident Lon Uso, as he served the papers to Parlin at the dais. Uso and other recall supporters gathered nearly 80 signatures for the notice of intent; they claim Parlin does not represent the community. “I do not believe she has the moral compass or ethics to sit on that dais,” Uso told the Mountain Democrat. “These are my reasons but I have heard from people they do not feel that she is representing our little community up here, that she is more
Sel Richard Staff writer
A
interested in other, more populous parts of the county and not all that interested in us.” When contacted for comment Parlin said she plans to respond to the proponents of the recall notice within the seven day required timeframe. She did not comment further. Uso did not give details on how the group will campaign for a recall if it goes through all proper channels to enact a recall election nor gave comment on prospects on potential
spark was ignited in little Michal Warzecha’s soul when his parents tuned in to a TV broadcast of the Apollo Soyuz test project. As the first crewed joint mission between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1975, it represented the inception of Russian/ American cooperation and the 6-year-old was enthralled. “I was totally caught up in it,” reminisced Warzecha. “Wow they’re flying in space! This is what astronauts do.” His interest in astronomy was further stoked upon being given a telescope a few years later. “It was a 50 mm from Kmart, but it worked.” A Polish immigrant, Warzecha grew up in Michigan playing with Legos, subsequently discovering an affinity for science and math. With
n See Parlin, page A3
n See Warzecha, page A6
Lori Parlin
Courtesy photo
NASA Solar System Ambassador Michal Warzecha of El Dorado Hills is ready to share his passion for space with the community.
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