SPECIAL SPECIAL DEALS!
FREE
ALIGNMENT CHECK BRAKE INSPECTION BATTERY CHECK AIR CHECK
Good at participating dealers. See store for details. Not good with other offers. Expires 10/30/24.
89 99 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT 10 %OFF SHOCKS & STRUTS $
Most vehicles.
On Labor. Most vehicles. Installation required.
Good at participating dealers. See store for details. Not good with other offers. Expires 10/30/24.
PLACERVILLE • 85 Placerville Drive (530) 303-8962 • JACKSON 705 S. State Highway 49 • (209) 560-6676 C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Weekend Edition – VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 88 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2024
Celebrating a century
Your Vision, Our Expertise!
Call TODAY for Your
FREE ESTIMATE & 3D Design! (530) 622-8477
Visit our Showroom at 386 Placerville Drive
Lover’s Leap climb turns fatal Eric Jaramishian Senior staff writer
Mountain Democrat photos by Odin Rasco
Marines Private 1st Class Greyson LeCheminant prepares to make another cut into Ray Groves’ birthday cake with a ceremonial saber. It is tradition for the oldest and youngest Marine at an event to cut the cake in tandem.
American Legion hosts WWII vet’s 100th birthday Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
A
merican Legion Post 119 in Placerville was packed with partygoers Saturday, Aug. 31, as more than 100 people gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of World War II veteran Ray Groves. As seats filled up at the tables and the bar with friends and family ready to bite into the burgers served up for lunch, Groves’ son Jeff stood at the front of the hall and regaled the crowd with an abridged version of Ray’s life story. “We’re here to honor a very special man who has been in our lives for
a very long time,” Jeff began. After Jeff ’s speech was over, attendees to the party were witness to a spectacular cakecutting ceremony. In accordance with Marines tradition, the birthday cake was cut by the oldest and youngest Marine in the room, Ray and Private 1st Class Greyson LeCheminant. The cutting implement was no mere cake-knife, either, but a ceremonial saber lent to the pair by Sgt. Tyler Dennis. After the cake had been cut and “Happy Birthday to You” had been sung, a barbershop quartet
serenaded the hall with a rendition of the “Marines’ Hymn.” One hundred years prior to the celebration, Ray was born in Illinois. His family moved twice in his early childhood, first to Brownsville and then to San Francisco when Ray was 8 years old. He would attend both middle and high school in San Francisco, where he picked up basketball as a prevailing interest, according to Jeff. Ray began working at ranches, where he learned to “rope and ride” and develop a love for the cowboy
lifestyle. That life had to be put on hold in 1942 when the United States officially entered into WWII; Ray, like many a young patriot, signed on to serve. He ultimately served three years in the Pacific Theater as a Marine before returning home. When he got back, Ray was offered a job “up in the woods above Placerville,” where he worked with loggers and would top trees. Many of the Groves family followed him up the hill, setting roots in El Dorado County that continue to this day. ■ See PARTY, page A5
MAIL LABEL
Ray Groves, right, sits with friends at his 100th birthday party held at American Legion Post 119 in Placerville Saturday, Aug. 31. Groves served as a Marine during World War II prior to a career based in El Dorado County.
A climbing accident on Lover’s Leap in Twin Bridges led to the death of an Ohio woman Aug. 29. The El Dorado County Sheriff ’s Office Search and Rescue team, along with Echo 1, responded to the incident around 5 p.m. and assisted with recovery. Janel Mathews, 30, and a partner were climbing on the east face of Lover’s Leap on an expert level route called Fantasia when the accident happened, according to EDSO Sgt. Kyle Parker. “Unfortunately, Ms. Mathews died as a result of the injury sustained during the fall,” Parker said. “From all indications, Ms. Mathews was an experienced climber and was wearing appropriate climbing equipment at the time of the incident.” EDSO has closed the investigation, Parker said. No further details were provided.
EID board reviews its hookup fees Dawn Hodson
Mountain Democrat correspondent The El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors recently received a presentation on proposed changes to future facility connection charges. Sanjay Gaur, president and project manager of Water Resources Economics, the firm that conducted the study along with EID staff, presented the results. FCCs are one-time connection fees paid by new water, wastewater and/or recycled water customers. FCCs are also assessed to existing customers requiring increased system capacity. The receipts from this charge are used to finance the development of growth-related or capacityrelated water, wastewater and recycled water facilities. Staff noted the last FCC update was done in 2013 although FCCs have been escalated annually according to a construction cost index. EID’s current FCCs incorporate elements of three widely accepted connection fee methods: the buy-in method which is based on the value of existing capital assets; the incremental cost method which is based on the cost of growthrelated capital improvement plan; and the hybrid method which is a combination of the two methods. The proposed updated water FCC is $33,809 per equivalent dwelling unit, which is an $8,631 increase from the current water FCC. The increase is primarily attributable to the costs of future CIP projects necessary to expand the ■ See EID, page A5
Lic # 559305
Serving Sacramento & Surrounding Areas Since 1979
Get More with Gilmore Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Drains Free Estimates & Free Second Opinions on A/C System Replacements. Call Today!
SCHEDULE NOW:
(530) 303-2727 GilmoreAir.com