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– E S T. 18 51
– Weekend Edition – mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024
DECISION 2024
Meet EID Division 3 candidate Charles Mansfield
VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 90 | $1.00
A heartfelt thank you
Dawn Hodson
Mountain Democrat correspondent Charles Mansfield has thrown his hat in the ring to serve as the next El Dorado Irrigation District Division 3 director. Born and raised in El Dorado County, Mansfield comes from a family of local farmers. He’s currently the vice CHARLES MANSFIELD president of operations and manager of Goldbud Farms, which manages and consults on more than 250 acres that grow diverse crops across the county. A wine and viticulture graduate of Cal Poly, ■ See MANSFIELD, page A5
Meet EID Division 3 candidate Bradley Popejoy Dawn Hodson
Mountain Democrat correspondent Running for the Division 3 director’s seat on the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors is Bradley Popejoy. Born and raised in El Dorado County, Popejoy describes himself as a blue collar entrepreneur who has been his own BRADLEY POPEJOY boss most of his life. He currently owns and operates Popejoy’s Water and Trucking. Popejoy said when he’s not working, he takes an active role in supporting the community by assisting those who have been impacted by wildfires and other natural disasters, setting up services to help those displaced by natural disasters and, along with his family, feeding those in need. Popejoy said hard work has not only made his own company successful, he has also poured his ■ See POPEJOY, page A4
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
El Dorado Adventist School students and staff welcomed U.S. service members and law enforcement during the Placerville school’s annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Above, students line up to give members of the military tokens of appreciation for their service and sacrifice to the United States. ■ SEE MORE 9/11 TRIBUTE PHOTOS ON A10
Details emerge in county jail AIDS death lawsuit Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
New information has come to light related to a lawsuit filed against El Dorado County which alleges the AIDS-related death of a county jail inmate was caused by inadequate medical care services. As previously reported by the Mountain Democrat, lifelong county resident Nicholas Overfield developed AIDS and died at the age of 38 shortly after a two-month stint in the county jail in 2022. Nick had been diagnosed with HIV in 2017 and had been prescribed an antiretroviral medication to keep his condition from worsening, according to his mother Lesley
Overfield. Nick’s last stint in jail began when he was arrested for failing to appear in court in February 2022 for a burglary charge. Although Wellpath, the company contracted to provide medical services at the jail, had been made aware of Nick’s health condition — and had provided necessary treatment to him during a previous stay in jail — Lesley claims they failed to provide him proper treatment while in custody in 2022, leading to his developing AIDS and dying just 63 days after entering the jail. On Jan. 12, 2024, Oakland-based law firm Pointer and Buelna LLP filed a civil rights suit ■ See LAWSUIT, page A5
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