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Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
The Civil Air Patrol Squadron 85 Color Guard presents the colors at the start of the 2025 Veterans Day Ceremony at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument in Placerville on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Veterans Day honors the brave Shelly Thorene Staff writer
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
This photo was made with a Canon 5D MarkIV mounted on a tripod for a 28 second exposure. It captures an aurora in the northern sky as seen in Placerville around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Solar flares lights up the northern sky Shelly Thorene Staff writer
T
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
hree powerful solar plasma bursts traveled in the direction of Earth this week creating a dazzling display of color and light across the northern hemisphere. The geomagnetic storm was a level G4 and had the potential to disrupt radio and GPS
communications and caused auroras to be visible across much of the northern U.S. and as far south as Alabama. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines an aurora as āthe light in the upper atmosphere is caused by energetic electrons zipping down the magnetic field lines of Earth and colliding with the atoms and molecules of the atmosphere (primarily O and N2). When the electrons collide with the atmosphere, they transfer momentum energy into excited states of the atom or molecule. When the
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ocal veterans and their families were honored at the Veterans Day ceremony held at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument on Tuesday. Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is observed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to mark the armistice between the Allies of World War I and Germany. At 11 a.m., Officer in Charge Capt. Jack Babbitt USMC (ret.) and Sgt. at Arms Sgt. Tyler Dennis, USMC, issued a call to order, which was followed by a presentation of the colors by Civil Ai r Patrol Squadron 85 and the Pledge of Allegiance. Master of Ceremonies Joe Thuesen, Marine Corps veteran, recognized and honored recipients of Medals of Honor from all branches of the service. Thuesen also recognized those who had been held as prisoners of war and Gold Star families. The Ponderosa High School Chamber Choir, under the direction of Craig Mason, sang the the official service anthems
ā See SOLAR FLARES, page A4
ā See CEREMONY, page A5
Veteran of the Year Jim Wassner, U.S. Army, center, holds a plaque presented to him at the ceremony as Master of ceremonies Joseph Thuesen, USMC veteran, left, and Chaplain Lt. Colonel Tim Thompson, USA (retired), right, look on.
EID board adopts new capital improvement plan Chris Woodard Staff writer
The El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors unanimously adopted its 2026ā 30 Capital Improvement Plan on Nov. 10 after a presentation outlining major completed, ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects across the district. Director of Engineering John Money presented the final 2026ā30 CIP for adoption. A draft version was reviewed in a board meeting on Oct. 27, and the only change since was the addition of $50,000 to the tank
and reservoir master plan to inspect wastewater equalization tanks at the districtās two wastewater treatment plants. Money highlighted several completed or nearly completed projects, beginning with the replacement of Flume 47, a 230-foot wooden flume now rebuilt as a concrete canal. He said the concrete structures protect against landslides, rockfall and wildfire, and provide safer access for staff who patrol canals three times a week. He also noted the completion of the Silver Lake East Campground water system,
the final requirement under the districtās FERC Project 184 relicensing. The system will be transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. Other highlighted projects included the installation of 15 new generators funded by a FEMA reimbursable grant, rehabilitation of the Bass Lake tanks and construction of the Sly Park intertie, a new 22-inch pipeline and pump station connecting Reservoir 1 and Reservoir A. The intertie is on schedule and positions the district to receive a $10 million Department of Water Resources grant.
Money also reviewed ongoing rehabilitation at Reservoirs 4 and 7, emergency replacement of the Reservoir 1 floating cover, and valve and actuator replacement work at the Reservoir A water treatment plant. Looking forward, he described significant upcoming projects, including the Silver Lake Dam replacement and major work at the El Dorado Hills Water Treatment Plant. Directors discussed funding limitations and emphasized the need for continued public communication about longterm infrastructure needs.