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• CAMERON PARK 3321 Durock Rd Bldg A (530) 676-2446 • EL DORADO HILLS 4640 Post Street (916) 293-5665 • PLACERVILLE 85 Placerville Dr. (530) 622-6956
C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Weekend Edition – VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 80 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025
Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene Mountain Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene
Paul England, 69, of Placerville suffers from congestive heart failure but said his symptoms have improved after having a Barostim device implanted on his carotid artery.
‘I am not giving up’ Heart attack survivor thrives thanks to medical device
Shelly Thorene Staff writer
I
n March 2018, Placerville resident Paul England, 69, suffered a massive “widowmaker” heart attack while skiing at Alpine Meadows. A widowmaker heart attack occurs when there is a blockage of the left anterior descending artery, which supplies 50% of the heart muscle’s blood supply. Stormy conditions on the slopes that day prevented him from being air lifted out and he was transported by ground ambulance to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno. England said it was “a worst case scenario. The storm was big and there also was 8 inches of snow in Reno.” Immediate treatment is crucial for a person’s survival and England believes the delay in treatment may have exacerbated his heart damage. A surgeon at Renown placed a stent in the artery to open it up. England said his heart stopped two times while he was in recovery and they had to use paddles to get it going again. The subsequent damage left England, at age 61, with congestive heart failure. The condition and the medications prescribed afterward affected his energy level,
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
■ See DEVICE, page A5
U.S. Forest Service aquatic biological technician Noah Hawthorne of Folsom, second from left, uses a battery operated electrofishing device to allow students to net fish in order to measure, weigh and collect genetic samples on the South Fork of the Rubicon River. The device sends a current through the water which temporarily stuns the fish.
Students sample Sierra waters at
Watershed Education Summit
Shelly Thorene Staff writer
O
ver 400 applicants from eight area high schools applied and 63 were selected to participate in the four-day Watershed Education Summit within the South Fork American River Watershed Sept. 24-27. The program, in its 28th year, is funded by the El Dorado and Georgetown Divide Resources Conservation Districts and works with the U.S. Forest Service to provide students with hands-on water monitoring activities in a real world setting. Through this program, students contribute to finding solutions for both the local community and broader environmental challenges. Lorenzo Saunders delivered a Native American cultural education and storytelling session during the opening ceremonies. On Friday night, the Placerville Community
Photo by Amara Smallwood
Aquatic biologist Jeff Made, second from right, leads Golden Sierra High students in a lesson on identifying benthic macro invertebrates found living in the stream at Jones Fork. Left to right, sophomore Angela Cuellarmendez, senior Katherine Harbuck, Jeff Made and senior Arienne Sasse. Observatory hosted a “sky walk” presentation, focusing on the night sky. “Twenty-eight years of
student-led data collection provides a continuous data point ■ See WATERSHED, page A10
Parks and Rec lists year’s accomplishments, challenges, goals Jo Carrerow
Mountain Democrat correspondent El Dorado County Parks and Recreation Commissioner Wayne Lowery, District 1, presented an annual report to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors last week, sharing challenges, namely funding, and goals for improving parks and recreation opportunities in the community “This last year, we’ve had a number of public meetings, which is an opportunity for the public to share concerns, interests, new ideas and support for the park system for El Dorado County,” Lowery said. High on the commission’s recent list of accomplishments was the completion of the 2025 Park & Trails Master Plan, approved by supervisors on March 25. Commissioners have also attended Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor meetings in Folsom and, at the direction of the board, began discussions about e-bike policies, Lowery said. Although there are no county parks in District 1, which covers a large chunk of El Dorado Hills, 29 public parks are located there and, Lowery noted, the El Dorado Hills Community Services District recently finalized the purchase of the second half
of the old golf course. In addition, there “We want to attend to the recreation are a number of private parks maintained needs of Grizzly Flat. We don’t want to by homeowners associations “so the park ever forget that their needs,” he explained. system down there is pretty solid,” he said. “They’re kind of invisible because they’re Still, there’s an opportunity for more. up the hill and they’re hard to get to, but Bass Lake Regional Park covers 44 acres, their needs are important and we need to mostly undeveloped, and was once eyed by keep that on the horizon.” county officials. “In District 3, “I think there’s we participated “We’ve got some excellent parks and celebrated the a huge potential for a partnership unveilings of events out there and we really want between the county, in the Old Depot you to be proud of them ...” the school district Bike Park, Railroad and El Dorado Hills — Parks and Rec Commisioner Wayne Lowery Park, Dog Park, and CSD to make that the El Dorado Trail a fantastic park pedestrian overwith an outdoor education component,” crossing just recently,” Lowery continued. Lowery maintained. “It’s a Sly Park-ish There is new play equipment at the sort of thing with a lot of educational Railroad Park “and Joe’s Skate Park opportunities, day camps, trails and continues to be very popular,” he said. whatnot. A real value to the west slope.” In District 4, northern county, the In District 2, which covers the southern commission tracked progress of the portion of El Dorado County’s western Chili Bar site options presents by Lebeck slope, a skate park was added in Pioneer Engineering. Commissioners also attended Park. The skate park and disc golf park get the Rubicon Trail grant project public a lot of action, but they’d like to see more meeting with federal representatives and Placer County officials. people use the horse arena and sports “District 4 also enjoys its proximity field, Lowery said. “And of course Grizzly Flat needs a park ■ See PARKS, page A5 of some type,” he added.