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2010
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– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 99 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2024
OLD-FASHIONED FUN City Council candidates talk top issues Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
The three candidates vying for the two Placerville City Council seats up for grabs in November’s election met at Placerville Town Hall earlier this month to participate in the League of Women Voters of El Dorado County Candidate Forum. Over the course of an hour the three council hopefuls — Ryan Carter, Jackie Neau and Michael Saragosa — fielded questions submitted by community members and read by moderator Betsy Kerr which touched on some of the hottest topics city residents are concerned about, including campaign funds, budgeting priorities, historic district designation for Main Street, the potential Clay Street Bridge realignment and more. Between opening and closing statements, the three candidates emphasized their personal priorities in the campaign, with each also giving a truncated list of their bonafides. Carter, the sole non-incumbent running, focused on his local ties to the community, with four generations of his family living in Placerville concurrently, and vowed to be an advocate for small businesses and residents. “I want to be able to look at my grandchildren in the eyes and say I at least tried to do something to keep this place as beautiful and comfortable as I could for them,” Carter said at
Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian
Guests experienced California’s rich Gold Rush history during Coloma Gold Rush Live at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park Oct. 11-13. The park was converted into a mining town complete with actors dressed in period costume who shared with visitors what life was like in the days of the ’49ers.
■ See FORUM, page A5
Officials, residents uneasy about mountain lions Eric Jaramishian Senior staff writer
El Dorado County leaders are taking steps to address growing mountain lion concerns, calling on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to change how it issues nonlethal and lethal depredation permits. In its latest move, the
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Board of Supervisors on Oct. 8 approved sending a letter to CDFW, which addresses consistency, timeliness and streamlining the permitting process as issues needing improvement. The county is also looking into whether a specific policy for El Dorado County can be implemented. CDFW code 4801 states nonlethal permits are issued if a property owner has suffered livestock or pet loss, which the county is claiming has changed the mountain lion dynamic in the county. “This CDFW management policy for mountain lions has put El Dorado County into crisis mode,” a draft of the letter states from Board Chair Wendy Thomas. ■ See LIONS, page A5
“Monterey Jack,” above, leads a group carrying a coffin through the camp. Life was sometimes harsh (and short) for those trying to seek that elusive gold nugget. Jack Climer of San Andreas, at right, teaches the bad habit of gambling to siblings Carson, 6, and Sophie Unchurch, 8, during a game of Pharaoh, a common pastime during the Gold Rush days. Don’t worry, parents, no money changed hands. In 1848, James Marshall found shining flecks of gold in the tailrace of the sawmill he was building in partnership with John Sutter. The discovery in present-day Coloma sparked California’s famous Gold Rush and led to the greatest voluntary mass migration of people in the western hemisphere.
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Mountain Democrat
2010 2023
HOME LOAN HOME LOAN
Fixed RateFixed Rate
Annual Percentage Annual Percentage Rate Rate
• ReÀ• nance Purchase ReÀnance PLACERVILLE Purchase PLACERVILLE 4040 ElRoad Dorado• 622-1492 Road • 622-1492 • 4040 El •Dorado
180180 Monthly per $1,000Borrowed Borrowed MonthlyPayments Payments of $7.91 $7.03 $1,000 180 Monthly Payments of $7.03 ofper $1,000per Borrowed
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