C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
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– Weekend Edition – mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026
VOLUME 175 • ISSUE 41 | $1.00
John Marchant is a superSTAR ■ Longtime
volunteer named named 2026 Senior of the Year
Special to the Mountain Democrat
E Courtesy photo
Silver Star mom Tiffany Lynn Andrews will be the guest speaker at the May 25 Memorial Day ceremony at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument. The program begins at 11 a.m. in Placerville.
Memorial Day ceremony honors stars among us Joseph Thuesen
Special to the Mountain Democrat
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or most gathered at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument on Memorial Day, it is a time to remember the fallen and to honor those who have paid the ultimate price. But for soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, Gold Star families and the wounded warriors of Silver Star Families sitting quietly in the crowd, the war never ends. At this year’s event in Placerville the guest speaker at the podium will not be a retired general. It will be local mother Tiffany Lynn Andrews, who knows the heavy toll of war better than most. Her son did not die on foreign soil, but he came home with grievous and catastrophic wounds. She watched him fight for his life and she fought alongside him for his recovery. On Aug. 26, 2021, Tiffany’s oldest son, U.S. Marine Sgt. Tyler J. Vargas Andrews was critically injured when a suicide bombing occurred at the Abbey Gate, Kabul, Afghanistan. Thirteen American service members would be killed in addition to many Afghan citizens. Seventeen American service members were
also severely wounded. Sgt. Vargas Andrews’ catastrophic injuries included losing his right arm and left leg, as well as receiving other critical internal injuries. He was airlifted to Germany for emergency surgical treatment and would later require almost 50 surgeries and multipleyear-long hospitalizations at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. Upon initial notification of her son being wounded, Tiffany immediately traveled to Germany, leaving her younger children and her law firm, to be by her eldest son’s side. When she later returned to the U.S., She would become widely known for her role as the primary caregiver for her son, while simultaneously juggling care responsibilities for her children as well as her professional obligations. As Tiffany steps up to the mic, those attending may feel a familiar, tightening knot in their chest as they listen to her story. This young Marine has survived the impossible, leaving many to ask: Do we truly know how to honor and remember those who have sacrificed their life, and help those who served and sacrificed their body and mind, once the uniform comes off ? At 11 a.m. on Monday, May 25, at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument (located east of the El Dorado County offices, 360 Fair Lane, Placerville) everyone is invited to honor those who have served the cause of freedom and remember those stars among us who have made the ultimate sacrifice as well as honor those who have placed service and selfless sacrifice above all else.
About the monument The El Dorado County Veterans Monument ceremonies were first dedicated on Nov. 11, 2006, after being envisioned by U.S. Marine and Navy Cross recipient Richard W. Buchanan. ■ See CEREMONY, page A8
l Dorado Hills resident John Marchant earned the prestigious title of 2026 El Dorado County Senior of the Year Award presented at the May 19 county Board of Supervisors meeting. This annual honor, hosted by the Area Agency on Aging and the Commission on Aging, celebrates residents aged 60 and older who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service in our community. “John Marchant is more than a volunteer; he is a living testament to the spirit of El Dorado County,” reads the nomination letter submitted. “His 95 years of life have been defined by an unwavering commitment to his country, to public safety and the well-being of his fellow citizens. He is the exemplary choice for the 2026 Senior of the Year.” Marchant was recognized for his exceptional 18-year commitment to the Sheriff ’s Team of Active Retirees program. He continues to serve the community weekly at the El Dorado County Sheriff ’s Office substation in El Dorado Hills Town Center.
Photo courtesy of Kathy Hatten
El Dorado County Senior of the Year John Marchant, left, and Sheriff Jeff Leikauf are all smiles after Marchant received his award. The El Dorado Hills resident has volunteered as an EDSO STAR for nearly two decades. The presentation took place before a packed house, celebrating five incredible finalists before naming Marchant the overall recipient. He was deeply moved by the surprise honor, especially with the sheriff, undersheriff and many of his fellow STAR volunteers arriving in person to
support him. “John is the gold standard for what a STAR volunteer should be,” shared John Cook, chief of the El Dorado Hills substation. “He does not just show up; he leads with a positive attitude that is infectious to everyone at the station.” Marchant is also a veteran and in 2025
he was selected as an honored veteran by the Honor Flight Bay Area. He serves as an assistant volunteer traveling to American Legion posts, VFW meetings and senior communities giving presentations about the Honor Flight program ensuring other ■ See MARCHANT, page A9
Probation Department gets new chief Noel Stack Editor
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has made official Kaci Smith’s promotion to chief probation officer. Smith had been serving as interim with the Probation Department since last fall before her official appointment to the leadership role on May 19. “It has been my honor to serve as a probation officer in El Dorado County for the entirety of my career,” Smith shared at Tuesday’s board meeting. “Thank you for trusting me and believing in me to lead an outstanding public safety agency. Having the opportunity to live and work in a community that not only values public safety, but prioritizes it is truly a blessing.” Over the last nine months, Smith said she has appreciated the board’s open communication with the Probation Department. “I will continue to strengthen probation’s relationship and reputation with all of our partners, and capitalize on collaborative efforts to keep our community safe,” Smith said. “This county is a special place to work and live, and the Probation Department intends on
Courtesy photo
Kaci Smith is El Dorado County’s new chief probation officer, officially taking the role May 30. contributing to all the ways that keeps it that way.” The new chief probation officer also thanked her team, several of whom attended the board meeting. “You are an exceptional group of officers and professionals with passion to make real change,” Smith commented. ”Thank you for the support and
allowing me … to lead you to the next level. We are and will remain the best probation department in the state, and we are just getting started.” Applause followed Smith’s comments and the supervisors, who were part of the interview process, congratulated her. “I just think Kaci’s going to do a fine job. I really do,” District 2 Supervisor George
Turnboo said. District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin agreed and thanked Smith for “stepping in and stepping up.” “While you’ve been the interim, I have so appreciated your communication style, your collaboration with everyone,” Parlin told the new chief probation officer. “You’ve helped me understand issues in the department, and I’ve seen the collaboration amongst … not just your team, but the county as a whole … and I just love that.” “What was very impressive was the fact that over these last nine months, you would show up in our chambers and just listen to the board, just get a feel for how we do things and the types of issues that we’re dealing with that had nothing to do with probation,” added District 5 Supervisor and board Chair Brooke Laine. “It really … demonstrated your dedication, and we know we made the right choice.” District 3 Supervisor Brian Veerkamp made the motion, seconded by Supervisor Parlin, to appoint Smith to the position of chief probation officer effective May 30 at step 2 of the salary range (annual salary ■ See SMITH, page A9