C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 175 • ISSUE 46 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2026
HANGTOWN OR BUST! City narrows
its projected budget deficit Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
City staff have reduced a projected budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year from more than $2 million to about $860,000, but officials warned at a recent meeting that difficult decisions remain as expenditures continue to outpace largely flat revenues. Finance Director Natalie Tornincasa told the Placerville City Council during a May 21 budget workshop the city’s initial status-quo budget carried a projected General Fund deficit of $974,452. Additional spending requests presented by department heads on April 30 increased the ■ See BUDGET, page A9
Wagons rolled into Placerville as the 77th Highway 50 Wagon Train came to its conclusion Saturday afternoon. People lined the street, some wearing western and old-time costumes, to celebrate the journey and Golden History Day. Clementine Montaño, 9 of El Dorado, left, waves an American flag as she and her mom Mollee, brother Desmond, 3, and sister, Flora, 7, (not pictured) welcome the Highway 50 Wagon Train as it makes its way down Main Street June 6, pictured above. At right, Sherie Fechner of Camino, left, and Lois Silverbush of Shingle Springs share a laugh while waiting for the Highway 50 Wagon Train on Saturday.
Photo courtesy of CHP – Placerville
A CHP patrol vehicle blocks the scene after a major crash on Green Valley Road in the El Dorado Hills area Monday afternoon.
Driver injured in head-on crash Shelly Thorene
Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
Staff writer
Emergency crews responded to a head-on collision with major injuries on Green Valley Road and Lexi Way in El Dorado Hills around 4:30 p.m. Monday. A 2012 BMW sedan traveling eastbound and driven by Riley Young, 20, of Rescue and a 2018 GMC Sierra truck traveling westbound and driven by Aleksandr Vechtomov, 40, of North Highlands collided head on, a wooden utility pole was also struck, according to the California Highway Patrol. Young suffered serious injuries and was flown to a local hospital, CHP officials shared. Information about the other driver’s condition was not available. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Larry Robinson of Placerville, left, shows James Navarini, 3, of Placerville how to pan for gold in front of Placerville Hardware during Golden History Days, left photo. At right, Hangtown Marshals patrol on Main Street, looking for ne’er do wells and horse thieves prior to the wagon train’s arrival on June 6.
CPCSD board backs El Dorado Ready ballot initiative
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
Noel Stack Editor
Buffalo Soldiers 10th Calvary, Company G of Northern California display historical items related to the Buffalo Soldiers’ journey in 1874. Left to right: Vice President Trooper O.C. Block, President William Terrell, Secretary/Treasurer Bernard Ivey and Bill Pettis, historian.
ROOFING • SOLAR • SIDING
1,750 OFF
$
up to
Mention CODE: MD
Your Next Project!
*Call for details. May not be combined with other offers, estimates or prior purchases. Quantities Limited.
2024
3811 Dividend Dr., Suite A, Shingle Springs (916) 985-9995 • (530) 672-9995 www.straightlineconstruction.com
Mountain Democrat
2010 2025
The Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors has given its support to El Dorado Ready, a ballot initiative that proposes a 3/8-cent sales tax increase throughout El Dorado County. The El Dorado County Emergency Preparedness, Healthcare Access and Wildfire Prevention Initiative is championed by El Dorado County fire departments and Marshall Hospital, both of which will benefit if a majority of county voters support the tax increase. Organizers submitted 14,784 signatures to the county Elections Department on May 6, with a petition vendor validating more than 11,000 of those signatures, according to Maia Schneider with Marshall. Elections staff will
1 DENTIST DENTIST!
#
Eleven Times! New Patients Always Welcome!
Jeff Little, DDS
General & Cosmetic Dentistry
“Look For My Column On Page 3 Today!”
■ See INITIATIVE, page A3
5.000% 5.30% 15 YEAR 15 YEAR 3.250 3.61 15YEAR YEAR 15 3.250 HOME LOAN3.250 HOME LOAN 15 YEAR 3.250 3.61 3.613.61 Fixed Rate
Annual Percerntage Rate
HOME HOME LOAN PLACERVILLE • 4040 El Dorado Road • 622-1492 • LOAN Purchase ReÀ nance Purchase • Refinance PLACERVILLE • 4040 El Dorado Road • 622-1492 HOME • LOAN Purchase ReÀ nance PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) 247 Main • 622-0833 •Advantage: Check the El Dorado Purchase ReÀ nance PLACERVILLE • (Downtown) 247Road Main • 622-1492 622-0833 4040 El Dorado
FixedMonthly Rate PaymentsAnnual PercentageperRate$1,000 Borrowed 180 of $7.91
Fixedof $7.03 Rate per Annual Percentage Rate Fixed Rate Annual Percentage Rate 180 Monthly Payments $1,000 Borrowed Fixed 180 Rate Annual Rate$1,000 Borrowed 180 Monthly Payments of $7.03 per $1,000 Borrowed Monthly Payments ofPercentage $7.03 per 180 Monthly Payments of $7.03 per $1,000 Borrowed
Check the El Dorado Advantage: PLACERVILLE • 4040Lawyer El Dorado Road • 622-1492 • feeReÀ Purchase nance ✓ Nothe application Check Advantage: • Pl• (Downtown) acerviEll e•Dorado Dr.Placerville & RayRoad W. PLACERVILLE &• 626-3400 Ray Lawyer • 626-3400 PLACERVILLE 247 Main Dr. 622-0833 4040 • 622-1492 Check theEl Dorado El Dorado Advantage: W. PLACERVILLE
PLACERVILLE •ValRay(Downtown) 247 Main • 622-0833 prepayment Notheapplication application fee ✓ No Check El Doradofeepenalty Advantage: DIAMOND SPRINGS •(Downtown) ynRoad 626-5701 W. PLACERVILLE • Pl•SPRINGS a694 cerviPll easant Dr.•247 &694 Lawyer • 626-3400 PLACERVILLE MailePleasant • 622-0833 DIAMOND Valley • 626-5701 application W.PARK PLACERVILLE & RayRoad Lawyer • 626-3400 Local processing andfee servicing prepayment NoNoapplication prepayment penalty vlee •Dr.•677-1601 ✓ ✓No feepenalty DIAMOND SPRINGS •a694 Pll easant Val leLawyer yDriRoad 626-5701 W.CAMERON PLACERVILLE ••Pl4060 cerviCameron Dr.•&PlPark Rayacervi 626-3400 CAMERON PARK • 4060Park Cameron ParkValDrive • 677-1601 Noprepayment prepayment DIAMOND Plvele•asant Local processing andpenalty servicing POLLOCK PINES• •4060 ✓ ✓No penalty Local processing and servicingDIAMOND CAMERON PARK Cameron •644-2363 SPRINGS •6462 694SPRINGS PlPony easantExpress Val• 694 leyDriTraiRoad •677-1601 626-5701ley Road • 626-5701 Local processing and servicing CAMERON EL DORADO •Cameron 3963 DriPony vDriTrai eCameron •v933-3002 POLLOCK PINES 6462 TrailDri•v644-2363 ✓ ✓Local processing and servicing POLLOCK PINESHILLS 6462 Pony•Park Express • •644-2363 CAMERON PARK • 4060 Park e • 677-1601 PARK • •4060 Park el Express 677-1601 Serving our local communities for over 54 years
Hwy. Member ELGEORGETOWN DORADO HILLS 3963 Park Dri3963 v•Trai e333-1101 •Pony 933-3002 POLLOCK PINES • 6462• •6310 Pony Express lPark • 644-2363 POLLOCK PINES •193 Express l • 644-2363 EL DORADO HILLS •6462 Drive • Trai 933-3002
Se Habla Espanol 800-874-9779 • •6310 193Driv•e•333-1101 MaximumServing loan $417,000.00, primary or vacation Member our local communities for overresidence. 54 years ELGEORGETOWN DORADO HILLS 3963Hwy. Park • 933-3002 ELOther DORADO HILLS 3963 Park ve • 933-3002 • 6310 Hwy. 193terms. •Dri333-1101 20% minimum on Espanol purchase. 25% nance. loans different Sepayment Habla Se GEORGETOWN Habla Espanol 800-874-9779 GEORGETOWN • 6310available Hwy. 193under • 6310 333-1101 Maximum loancash $417,000.00, primary or vacation residence. Member Serving ourdown local communities for over 54equity yearsrequired on refi GEORGETOWN • Hwy. 193 • 333-1101 Member Serving our local communities for over 54 years Payments do not include amountsonforpurchase. taxes and insurance premiums. 20% minimum down payment equity required on refinance. OtherEspanol loans available under different terms. Se Habla 800-874-9779 800-874-9779 Maximum loancash $417,000.00, primary or vacation25% residence. NMLSR ID 479256 Habla under Espanol 800-874-9779 Maximum loan $650,000, primary or vacation residence. Maximum loan $417,000.00, or25% vacation residence. 20% minimum cash down payment onprimary purchase. equity required on refinance. Other loansSeavailable different terms. 20% 20%minimum minimumcash cashdown downpayment paymentononpurchase. purchase. 25% 25%equity equityrequired requiredononrefinance. refinance. Other Otherloans loansavailable availableunder underdifferent differentterms. terms.
2 col (3.3”) x 1.5” Mountain Democrat 2 col (3.3”) x 1.5” Mountain Democrat 2 col (3.3”) x 1.5” Mountain Democrat