POWER UP
When The Grid Goes Down!
Mountain D emocrat 202
4
2 200 120 4
Solar & Battery Backup Zero down financing! Call Today & Save Tomorrow!
(530) 298-0019 • solarsavingsdirect.com 3867 Dividend Dr., #A, Shingle Springs
C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Weekend Edition – FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2025
VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 50 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Mountain Democrat photo by Andrew Vonderschmitt
Aquatics Coordinator D.J. Kraus, left, General Manager Evelyn Harm, center, and General Manager Graham Brewer are looking forward to a lively summer season at the Placerville Aquatics Center.
Stay cool in the pool Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
Cal Fire’s 18,000 horsepower, four engine C-130 air tanker drops a load of retardant on the Bonanza fire as seen from China Hill Road near Highway 49 on Tuesday. The tanker is capable of carrying 4,000 gallons of retardant and reaches fires faster than the S-2 tankers.
Bonanza Fire scorches 181 acres Shelly Thorene
Board of Directors meeting, sharing that the area had no fire history since the 1950s, Around 181 acres burned which was very concerning in a wildland fire that to those coordinating the broke out around 2:30 p.m. firefight. Tuesday, June 17. “Had it gone a little farther The Bonanza Fire ignited it would have been a major in the 5200 block of disaster,” Martin noted. Bonanza Auto Road across Cal Fire Amador-El from Hollandview Drive, Dorado Unit coordinated three miles east of Shingle firefighting efforts with Springs. Flames moved east the El Dorado County Fire toward Highway 49 and the Protection District, El community of El Dorado. Dorado County Sheriff ’s Cal Fire Public Office, Eldorado National Information Officer Wendy Forest’s firefighting crew, Oaks told the Mountain El Dorado Hills Fire Democrat two structures Department, Cameron and one outbuilding were Park Fire Department, destroyed, one utility Tribal Fire, Garden Valley Mailboxes on Bumper Road were hit with fire structure had more than Fire Protection District, retardant from an air tanker flyover protecting 50% damage and 20 Mosquito Fire Department homes in the area. vehicles at the Bonanza and BLM Fire as well as Auto Dismantlers went up Growlersburg and Pine in flames. As of Cal Fire’s latest report released Grove inmate hand crews. Heavy air support prior to press time, the fire was 45% contained. included air tankers flying in and out of Cal Fire’s Fire Chief Dustin Martin with the Cameron McClellan Airtanker Base, spotters and several Park Fire Department gave an update at the June 18 Cameron Park Community Services District ■ See BONANZA FIRE, page A5
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
Staff writer
A tight budget won’t pull the plug on summer fun at the Placerville Aquatics Center. The pool will remain open every day through Aug. 3, according to city Community Services Director Denis Nishihara. “We’re gonna try to keep all of the essential services,” Nishihara told the Mountain Democrat. “Then take a look at our operations, looking at only keeping the pool open for the public swim on Saturdays and Sundays and limiting the public swim for like three hours a day Monday through Friday.” Nishihara said with the many priorities his department juggles he strived to retain as many ■ See POOL, page A5
Placerville prepares to tighten its belt Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
The Placerville City Council considered a nearly $25 million budget proposed by staff at its regular meeting on June 10 after two budget workshops that addressed budget needs, shortfalls, wants and possible cuts.
Revenue Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Dave Warren went over the forecasted revenue for the 2025-26 city’s General Fund. Sales tax revenue — estimated at $6,249,799 — accounts for roughly 56% of cash in the General Fund. Last year, in the quarter ending in December, ■ See BUDGET, page A9
No King protests span 24 miles, 11 overpasses Shelly Thorene Staff writer
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
About 220 protestors gathered on the Bedford Avenue pedestrian overcrossing for the No King protest June 14. Rallies were organized by Indivisible El Dorado for 11 Highway 50 overcrossings from Camino to East Bidwell in Folsom.
Protestors gathered on overpasses from Camino to Folsom on June 14, taking part in a nationwide protest dubbed No King. About 1,000 protestors on the East Bidwell Street overpass and along the roadway into the city participated with Indivisible El Dorado’s estimated 1,422 protestors who turned out for the event held on Flag Day, which also happened to be President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. “We got 500 more than we expected,” said Gina Abrams with Indivisible El Dorado. “Some people traveling eastbound on Highway 50 saw what we were doing and stopped to join in.” She called the protest “peaceful and joyful,” for the most part, noting that while she was in a parking lot with a group getting ready a man told her, “Go home and bake a cake.” “We are committed to non-violence and our training is on how to protest peacefully,” she shared. Twenty-six captains with Indivisible El Dorado received training beforehand on safety, de-escalation and a segment “know your rights.” Scouts were sent out days ahead of time to make sure each overpass selected had parking nearby and was safe for a gathering. Abrams said at least ■ See PROTEST, page A5