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– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 175 • ISSUE 22 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2026
Mountain Democrat file photo by Shelly Thorene
The 2025 Highway 50 Wagon Train rolls through downtown Placerville. Mounting costs have put the moving history event in jeopardy. Mountain Democrat photos by Shelly Thorene
Pallbearers in training carry a casket to a waiting hearse from Chapel of the Pines after a mock funeral for a fellow firefighter at Vintage Grace in El Dorado Hills on March 6.
RESPECT & HONOR
EDH Fire hosts solemn training Noel Stack and Shelly Thorene Mountain Democrat
T
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he loss was 20 years ago. But honor guard students treated the training funeral for El Dorado County Fire Capt. Matthew Keck with such precision and care, it felt like yesterday. Keck lost his battle to occupational cancer Jan. 21, 2006. His sister Amanda Keck of Grizzly Flat attended the March 6 training funeral in El Dorado Hills honoring her brother. “It showed huge respect for the type of man he was and I’m glad others got to see that,” she shared. Around 20 law enforcement officers and emergency medical service personnel underwent the 40-hour basic honor guard training session hosted by the El Dorado Hills
roll along, wagon train
Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
A
fter more than 75 years of near constant wagon train reenactments, people behind the Highway 50 Wagon Train ponder whether they can continue to retrace the Gold Rush era journey from South Lake Tahoe to Placerville. From the back of a horse, Steve Downer keeps watch over the moving piece of California history as the annual event has, in recent years, come against some serious economic burdens that threaten the beloved tradition. ■ See WAGON TRAIN, page A8
SHOOTING UPDATE
Oakland fire fighter Joshua Yumul, left, presents a folded flag to Amanda Keck, sister of El Dorado County firefighter Captain Matthew Steven Keck, who lost his battle with occupational cancer at age 36 in January 2006. Seated left to right, with her are El Dorado County Fire Chief Tim Cordero, El Dorado Hills Fire Chief Michael Lilienthal and El Dorado Hills Fire Capt. (Ret.) Matt Beckett. Fire Department and led by Goshen, Ind., Police Department Lt. Randy Kantner (ret.) the first week of March. The fiveday program consisted of four days of training
accompanied by a 200page student manual and reference guide, and culminated on the fifth day with the full honors training funeral at Vintage Grace.
Deputies, suspect identified; two remain hospitalized Noel Stack Editor
The training covered the handling of firearms in formation, casket movement, color guard movement, firing
El Dorado County sheriff ’s deputies Joshua Stillman and Craig Reimche “face an incredibly long and grueling road to recovery,” the Deputy Sheriff ’s Association of El Dorado County shared following a March 12 shooting in which suspect
■ See TRAINING, page A5
■ See UPDATE, page A9
City’s mid-year budget shows promise with caveats Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
City staff reported a modest improvement in Placerville’s financial outlook during a mid-year budget update presented to the City Council on March 10, with revenue expected to slightly exceed projections and a previously anticipated deficit reduced. Interim Finance Director Natalie Tornincasa told the council the city is forecast to bring in about $11.1 million in general fund revenue this fiscal year, about $61,000 above the adopted budget. At the same time, expenditures
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are expected to come in about $188,000 below budget. “We’re forecasting to come in $61,000 over budget in revenue,” Tornincasa said. “And we’re forecasting expenditures to come in under budget.” Because of transfers and anticipated liability costs, the city is still projecting a deficit in the general fund, but the shortfall is expected to shrink from about $300,000 to roughly $178,000. The mid-year review evaluates the city’s finances alongside several local economic indicators, including unemployment rates, housing sales and inflation.
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Placerville’s unemployment rate increased over the past year, rising from 3.9% in January to 5.5% in December. Tornincasa said the city’s unemployment rate in 2025 averaged 5.5%, slightly higher than the 5% average in El Dorado County and Sacramento. Housing activity in the greater Placerville area increased, with an average of 18 homes sold per month in 2025 compared with 16 per month in 2024. A total of 212 homes were sold in 2025, up from 193 the previous year. The average home price rose to about ■ See BUDGET, page A8
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Annual Percerntage Rate
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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.
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