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i n e l d o r a d o h i l l s n August 18, 2022
Village Life photo by Thomas Frey
Oak Ridge is ready for redemption after finishing 3-7 last season. The majority of the Trojans’ starting lineup returns.
Trojans’ varsity squad back with
a vengeance Thomas Frey Staff writer
A
s soon as the 2021 season ended, the Trojans got to work — ready to improve after a dismal 3-7 record. “Everyone knows how it felt; it sucks,” senior Jake Hall said. “I think it’s the worst record we’ve ever had in Oak Ridge history. That’s obviously something that’s not easy to live with.” The demeanor on the field this season is different for the Trojans, who welcome back many starters. The team doesn’t waste a single second on the practice field, whether it be senior quarterback Maddox Varella working on routes with returning
Sophia torres
EDH teen suffers fatal injuries
receivers Sebastian Sutton, Tyler Guthmiller, John Hayward and more or in defensive drills where guys like Connor Dasmann, Dwight Martin III and Hall are giving the game everything they have, looking for any way to gain an edge. Last season Varella arrived at Oak Ridge about two months before the season began and was in a stiff quarterback battle. He earned the starting job after coming off the bench and leading the Trojans to a 28-27 comeback win over Elk Grove in the third week and never handed the keys back; finishing the season as the passing yards leader in El Dorado County. n
Sel Richard Staff writer An El Dorado Hills family suffered an unimaginable loss Aug. 1. Known for being disciplined and competitive, Sophia Torres was described as having a “beat to her own drum” spirit and fiercely loving her friends and family. She succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident just 10 days before her 14th birthday.
See Trojans, page A4
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See Sophia, page A3
Bridlewood roundabout nabs preliminary funding Sel Richard Staff writer The proposed roundabout at the Bridlewood Drive and Bass Lake Road intersection continues to gain traction with the recent approval of $744,400 in funding by the El Dorado County Transportation Commission. “That is just barely enough for the environmental studies and the design,” noted Director of Transportation Rafael Martinez, who pegged construction costs at an additional $1.5 to $2 million. The project is not yet approved, although Martinez said the funds will allow the commission to consider the roundabout for inclusion into El Dorado County’s regional transportation plan as well as its capital
improvement program as a forthcoming project. The recently approved capital is an allocation from Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality state funds. “This would improve quality of air because you can keep the traffic moving as opposed to everybody coming to a stop,” District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl explained as to CMAQ applicability. Martinez assured CMAQ is only the first of several state and federal grants the department plans to pursue. “All of those are heavy into alternative modes of traffic implementation such as roundabouts, bike lanes, pedestrian paths, sidewalks,” he said. “This would be a perfect candidate for a greenhouse gas reduction grant.” In a July 20 meeting with Bridlewood Drive residents, the roundabout was presented by the DOT as
a solution for traffic calming in a location where other typical implementations are unwarranted. According to state guidelines, traffic and accident volume do not currently justify measures such as stop signs, signalization or even left-turn pockets at that intersection, Martinez explained. “That was hard for them to hear,” he conceded, adding he was, however, encouraged by a smattering of attendees willing to entertain a roundabout. Bridlewood resident Ron Cassity complemented Martinez on his presentation to the community. “He had a lot of material to present in a short time,” Cassity said of the meeting attended by approximately 100 neighbors, both online and in-person. “He did n
See roundabout, page A4
INSIDE NEWS Vol. 29
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issue no. 32
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charming cabin in the woods
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The report is in
This Placerville property offers peace and quiet in a forested setting.
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El Dorado County Grand Jury’s investigatory findings released.
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