C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2026
VOLUME 175 • ISSUE 21 | $1.00
EDSO deputies, suspect shot
EDH resident named
Woman of the Year
Shelly Thorene Staff writer
News release
Two El Dorado County sheriff ’s deputies and a suspect sustained gunshot wounds during an incident in Camino Thursday morning. The El Dorado County Sheriff ’s Office responded to a residence on Mountain View Drive at around 7:25 a.m. after PG&E employees reported they were shot at while working in the area; one person was injured. EDSO Sgt. Jesse Dacanay told the
SACRAMENTO — Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) named Mary Chan of El Dorado Hills as Senate District 4’s Veteran Woman of the Year for 2026. Chan is recognized for her extraordinary service to our nation MARY CHAN and community. She is a retired colonel with 34 years of combined enlisted and commissioned service in the California Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve. She exemplifies leadership, dedication and selfless commitment, qualities that have enriched Senate District 4 and inspired many others. “Mary Chan’s remarkable journey, from immigrant to trailblazing military leader and tireless community advocate, embodies the spirit of service that defines Senate District 4,” said Alvarado-Gil. Born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, Chan immigrated to the United States in 1963 with her family, overcoming challenges including language barriers. She began her career with an internship and position in the office of then-Secretary of State March Fong Eu. She enlisted in the California Army National Guard in 1978 under the Civilian Acquired Skills Program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1981. She rose to colonel, serving in roles such as: • Teacher, advisor and counselor officer at the California Military Academy (helping graduate over 1,000 second lieutenants) ■ See CHAN, page A7
Mountain Democrat SWAT was deployed and officers spent three hours attempting to deescalate the situation before the shooting occurred around 11:25 a.m. The two deputies and suspect were transported by medics to area hospitals. Dacanay shared that the deputies are in stable condition. No information about the suspect was available at press time. Sheriff ’s officials noted Thursday afternoon that the area was still an active crime scene with law enforcement present.
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
Federated Church facilities manager Mary Morisset, Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes and El Dorado County Historical Society board members Jacob Rigoli and Sean Manwaring, left to right, pose in from of M.E. Church, a historical site in Placerville they’ve helped preserve.
Interim county LABOR OF LOVE CAO officially takes the top job Faith & gifts help restore M.E. Church Shelly Thorene
Carla Hass
Staff writer
El Dorado County Chief Administrative Office
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on March 10 unanimously appointed Sue Phillips (Hennike) as the county’s chief administrative officer, effective March 21. Phillips previously served as acting and interim CAO since midAugust 2025. “Ms. Phillips’ deep institutional knowledge gained through positions of increased responsibility and authority, professionalism, commitment to public service and collaborative leadership style has prepared her to lead
M at the highest level,” said board Chair Brooke Laine. “She is exceptionally well suited to lead our organization and continue delivering essential services to the residents of El Dorado County and as such, has the entire board’s support to help make her tenure successful for the benefit of our residents.” Phillips brings 24 years of experience with El Dorado County and extensive expertise in county policy, budgeting and intergovernmental collaboration. Since August 2023, she served as assistant CAO, helping oversee county operations and coordinating the preparation of the county’s annual budget. In that role, she also oversaw the Emergency Medical Services Agency and the Office of Wildfire
ethodist Episcopal Church on Thompson Way has been moved, hidden within another structure, forgotten, disassembled and moved again. Over the years, its fate thankfully landed in the hands of folks who took interest in preserving the oldest surviving church in El Dorado County. Once again, the 175-yearold church, which sits adjacent to El Dorado County Federated Church was restored, funded by a generous gift from a private donor, a grant from The Latrobe Fund and help from the El Dorado County Historical Society. “The church (M.E.) has not always been held in high esteem. It has not always been well cared for,” noted Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes with Federated Church. “It was treated like a barn to store things. The last true restoration was in the mid 1990s.” Most recently, there was extensive damage to the wood siding and trim from thousands of
■ See CAO, page A9
■ See M.E. CHURCH, page A10
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Courtesy photos
Workers recently constructed a new roof to M.E. Church, above, and repaired the holes made by woodpeckers in the siding, trim and cupola. Below, the M.E. Church is shown at its first location near the corner of Cedar Ravine and Main Street.