C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 173 • ISSUE 105 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024
Community mourns public servant Hidahl Eric Jaramishian
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl’s seat is covered by his jacket, decorated with pins, which he wore during Board of Supervisors’ meetings, and a wreath is placed in front of his name tag as his colleagues and fellow board members recognize and honor his life and service to the county Nov. 5.
take the seat at that time, leaving the county with a four-person Senior staff writer board for the remainder of 2024. El Dorado County District Ferrero said Hidahl encouraged 1 Supervisor John Hidahl him to run for the District 1 seat unexpectedly died at his El Dorado and shared his knowledge of all Hills home Saturday afternoon, it happenings in the area with the was announced Sunday morning. newly-elected supervisor. Hidahl, a 46-year EDH resident, “I know I have got some big was wrapping up his final term shoes to fill, and it is going to as supervisor and running in the be hard for me to move forward upcoming election for a seat on the without his institutional knowledge EDH Fire Board, on which he had and being able to bounce things previously served for 33 years. off of him,” Ferrero said. “I give my “Supervisor Hidahl was a sincerest condolences to his family dedicated and devoted public and loved ones.” servant who loved his country, his JOHN HIDAHL John is survived by his wife county and his community,” reads a Eileen of 52 years and his five social media post signed by board daughters, all whom they raised Chair Wendy Thomas and Chief together in El Dorado Hills. The Administrative Officer Tiffany Schmid. “He will be family has asked for privacy during this time; details deeply missed by all those who knew him.” on his funeral service will be shared when more District 1 assistant Cindy Munt called Hidahl information becomes available. “amazing, dedicated and incomparable” in an email Hidahl, a Ceres native, has lived in El Dorado sent out Sunday. “I feel blessed to have been able to County for most of his adult life. He served on the El work for such an honorable man who truly believed Dorado Hills County Water District (fire department) in ‘service before self,’” she continued. “Please pray for 33 years and was elected twice to represent the for his family and countless friends.” county’s District 1 on the Board of Supervisors. No special election will be held to fill Hidahl’s seat for the remainder of his term, which ends in January. EDH Fire officials remembered Hidahl online Successor Greg Ferrero, elected earlier this year, will
■ See HIDAHL, page A9
Midnight blaze Safe (and sane?) Halloween quickly doused Odin Rasco Senior staff writer
A wildfire in a remote part of El Dorado County was quickly contained by local firefighters early Monday, Nov. 4. First spotted shortly after midnight, firefighters from Cal Fire and other nearby agencies rushed to the scene of a fire in the Tiger Lily area, southeast of Diamond Springs. The fire sprang up in a grassy area spotted with oak trees, according to reports, and threatened to spread quickly as winds began to pick up. Multiple engines and water tenders were dispatched to the blaze, with forward progress stopped within half an hour of when firefighters first got the call. The fire was contained at 1.14 acres in size, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. No structures were damaged by the fire, and no injuries were reported, according to Wendy Oaks, a Cal Fire representative. The cause of the fire has not been determined at this time, Oaks said.
MAIL LABEL
DECISION 2024 LOOKING FOR ELECTION RESULTS? LOG ONTO MTDEMOCRAT.COM Mountain Democrat photo by Odin Rasco
Placerville’s Main Street was transformed into a Halloween hotspot as a crowd of costumed candy-seekers of all ages took to the town Oct. 31. The Brazzel family came to Main Street dressed like a construction site, perhaps as an homage to the continuous construction along Broadway in recent months. ■ SEE MORE PHOTOS ON A10
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