C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
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– Weekend Edition – mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2025
VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 66 | $1.00
Supes hope voters will renew library funding initiatives Jo Carrerow
Mountain Democrat correspondent
Photo by Andy Laughlin
An initiative to continue a parcel tax that helps fund the Georgetown Library is expected to appear on the June 2026 ballot.
Bibliophiles can soon check out two ballot measures coming next June to keep the Georgetown and South Lake Tahoe community libraries up and running. Supervisors Lori Parlin and Brian Veerkamp, who are on the Library Funding and Sustainability Ad Hoc Committee, took part in choosing to put two library funding initiatives on the ballot during the Aug. 12 El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting. “We do have very strong library support, so I’ve heard that folks are chomping at the bit to get out there and advocate for this,” Parlin said. “We want to make that happen for
them.” El Dorado County Library Director Bryce Lovell said the Library Funding and Sustainability Committee is taking a conservative and pensive approach as the primary election approaches next June due to “potentially increased fiscal and political uncertainty in November 2026. “Because of that thinking it is suggested the measures for Zone F and Zone G are placed on the ballot in June during the primary election,” Lovell added. The parcel taxes in zones G and F expire in fiscal year 2026-27. Zone G is in the Georgetown area and Zone F is South Lake Tahoe. ■ See LIBRARIES, page A5
McClintock pushes for federal Class is in session forest management reforms Chris Woodard Staff writer
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
Congressman Tom McClintock wants the federal government to get back into the timber business by strategically thinning overgrown areas in the National Forests. The goal is to bring in revenue and prevent catastrophic wildfires.
Congressman Tom McClintock is advancing two pieces of legislation he says will address decades of mismanagement in federal forests and help prevent devastating wildfires across California. The bills are H.R. 178, requiring the U.S. Forest Service to quickly suppress all wildfires, and H.R. 179, the Proven Forest Management Act of 2025, aimed at removing excess timber and streamlining environmental reviews. McClintock said both measures stem from the same premise: federal policy must ■ See BILLS, page A5
Carole Kendrick alters her plans and joins city leadership Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
Carole Kendrick
Sitting down with Carole Kendrick three months to the day on the job, she had the distinct feeling that she had made the right decision in moving to El Dorado County. “This community is extremely passionate,” Placerville’s new Community Development Director shared. “Percentage wise, I’ve seen more people involved here than I’ve seen in any jurisdiction I’ve worked for and as a planner, nothing brings me more joy than having a “I really do like it community involved, even up here, I mean, if they’re in opposition.” She does admit that everywhere I've there is a learning curve gone, the people and some adjustment are great.” going from a county with 2.5 million-plus residents Carole Kendrick to a city with a population Placerville Community of just over 10,000. Development Director “It’s a transition,” she said. “I think there’s a learning curve for me and just kind of learning how things work in a small town. But I’ve had nothing but support from the other department heads and Cleve and staff, and the Planning Commission and City Council, they’ve all been so welcoming.” Kendrick grew up in Riverside County, graduating from Rubidoux High School before finding a career in municipal planning. After attending Riverside City College and the University of Redlands, Kendrick went to work with Riverside County. “I kind of fell into planning,” she said. “I was a single mom and I applied to the county.” She was applying for an office assistant position and interviewed in several departments. “Planning interviewed me, and they said, ‘Do you know what planning is?,’” she recalled. “I said no.” Despite her honest answer she was brought on as a temporary employee in the Riverside County Planning Department. Soon after she was hired as a full-time employee, holding multiple positions in her time, including office assistant, Planning Commission secretary and land use technician to ■ See KENDRICK, page A5
Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
The school bells rang on Placerville Union School District campuses Thursday morning. Smiling faces, hugs and a few tears marked the beginning of the new school year. Niko Reese, center, and his twin brother, Leo, right of Placerville celebrate their 5th birthday on the first day of kindergarten with their mom, Makayla, right, after being checked in by Sierra Elementary School kindergarten teacher Kim Kozycz, left.
Above, big sister Dakota Markgraf, 11, of Placerville, center, walks her little sister Danika Else, 5, up the steps to her first day of kindergarten at Sierra on Aug. 14. Below, Ryatt Sims, 5, and her mom, Elisha of Placerville pose for a photo under a balloon arch before her first day of kindergarten and joining the Sierra Dragons family.