C ali forn ia’s Olde st Ne w spaper
171
– E s t. 18 51
st
Merry Christmas from all of us at the Mountain Democrat Friday, December 23, 2022
Volume 171 • Issue 150 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Snow day
Sheriff leaving on a high note Noel Stack Managing editor
Photos by Laurie Edwards
On Dec. 17 and 18 the Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit held its annual Christmas open house at El Dorado Station 43. This year participants arrived to find snow spread out over the fire station grounds, where Fire Capt. Justin Rhames, pictured at right, had a little fun with some of the youngsters throwing snowballs. Funds and toys collected at the event will be donated to two local nonprofit organizations serving at-risk youth — New Morning Youth & Family Services and CASA El Dorado.
The Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit Station 43 crew, above left, made extra effort in preparing for this year’s open house event. Two-year-old Geneva Edland, above right, of Placerville shows off her very own Cal Fire helmet and badge as she sits in the driver’s seat of a fire truck. Hunter Bradstreet, 7, of El Dorado, left photo, enjoys a sled ride as Cal Fire Battalion Chief Joshua Vickers throws a shovel of snow in a friendly snow fight.
“John D’Agostini saved my son’s life.” Tearful mother Kelley Nalewaja joined many others in thanking El Dorado County’s retiring sheriff by sharing a very personal story at the county Board of Supervisors Dec. 13 meeting. “My son was 19. He was in the midst of addiction,” she recalled of the incident 10 years ago in which her son was arrested and she frantically called the sheriff for advice. “John told me to take a breath and to let them do their job and that he’s got me and that he’s got my kid,” she recalled. “As an El Dorado Hills mother of what some might describe as a white, privileged child, I was scared sh**less … but John said, ‘I’ve got you. I’ve got your son. Don’t bail him out. It’s going to be OK.’ “I had to sit there and see my baby with his little blue eyes scared to death in his little orange jumpsuit behind the glass … and tell him, ‘I’m sorry. You’re going to have to face your consequence; I can’t bail you out,’” she continued. “And that turned my son’s life around.” D’Agostini’s compassion, his willingness
Sheriff John D’Agostini to pick up the phone no matter the hour, his authenticity and respect for the law were lauded by many speaking at the board meeting and calling in during public comment. “He’s got an uncanny ability to make the people he’s speaking with feel like the only people in the room and that authenticity is something that’s unparalleled,” said newly elected county Assessor John DeVille, who began working in El Dorado County in the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office fiscal division. “Whether he’s talking to somebody in dispatch, somebody in fiscal, a deputy — when he’s speaking with you, he connects.” Camino resident Sue Taylor commended D’Agostini for being invested in the community — solving n
See D’Agostini, page A6
notice
In observance of Christmas, the Mountain Democrat will not publish Monday, Dec. 26.
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
END OF YEAR SPECIAL!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SOLAR TAX CREDIT WHILE IT LASTS! WHY GO SOLAR? • Reduce Electric Bill • Increase Your Home Value • Protect Rising Energy Costs
• Tax Incentives • Protects Your Roof • Solar is Reliable
Mountain Demo crat
2200 1202
Your #1 Locally Owned Solar Installer CSLB # 1065773
(530) 344-3237 • 3867 Dividend Drive, Suite A, Shingle Springs • info@SolarSavingsDirect.com • solarsavingsdirect.com
You’ll Love The Positive Way We Do Things Differently!
Folsom Buick GMC Look For our DeCeMber ServiCe SPeCiALS oN PAGe A10 WE ARE PROFESSIONAL GRADE
916-355-1414
Folsom Automall 12640 Automall Cir
Northern California’s Premier GM Dealer
www.folsombuickgmc.com