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C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
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– Weekend Edition – VOLUME 175 • ISSUE 53 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2026
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Catalytic converter sparks multiple fires in Somerset Shelly Thorene Staff writer
A vehicle’s catalytic converter set off 20 separate fires on the east side of Mt. Aukum Road near Somerset around 1:44 p.m. Tuesday, according to Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit Public Information Officer Wendy Oaks. Firefighters quickly responded and extinguished most of the fires with three of the fires growing to a combined total of 8 acres. Forward progress was stopped at approximately 3:40 p.m. with both crews on the ■ See FIRES, page A5
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America, hen in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations
W Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
Trevor Rudolph parked his vehicle on Oak Leaf Circle to keep an eye on the firefighting efforts near his home and to determine if he needed to load up cows, goats and other livestock during the Happy Fire on June 30.
Editor
Stressing the “if,” not “when,” the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors recently discussed
how to best disburse tax revenue should Costco come to El Dorado Hills. “El Dorado County has never seen a project like Costco before,” District 1 Supervisor
Greg Ferrero said at the June 23 meeting. “This project, if approved, will likely help the county’s budget for years to ■ See COSTCO, page A8
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
July 4th CONTEST ENTRIES
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
Noel Stack
Photo by Mandy Gough
for special
Declaration of Independence
County exploring how to parcel out potential Costco revenue
Emma Gough, 13, embodies the American Spirit as she presents Old Glory at opening ceremonies of a recent Gold Rush Gymkhana barrel racing competition at a Shingle Springs stable. As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, let’s all appreciate the freedoms we have.
K INSIDE
■ See DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, page A6