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– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 175 • ISSUE 42 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2026
Cougars are NorCal volleyball champs Noel Stack
The El Dorado High School varsity boys volleyball team celebrates after winning the 2026 CIF State Volleyball Regional Championship, Division IV.
Editor
Cougar Pride brought down the house Saturday evening when the El Dorado High School varsity boys volleyball squad won the 2026 CIF State Volleyball Regional Championship, Division IV. The Cougars took down the Balboa High School Buccaneers from San Francisco in five sets on the home court in Placerville and Saturday, May 30, will face the Point Loma High School Pointers at Fresno City College in the state championship. This is the first regional championship for EDHS boys volleyball and the first trip to states, head coach Jim Curtis shared. El Dorado started the match on
Mountain Democrat photo by Noel Stack
a mission, taking the first set 25-15. The Cougars went up a quick 9-2, prompting a Buccaneer timeout. The teams traded points before El Dorado once again took control thanks in part to a decisive kill from grad and team captain Cadence Hoyt, who had an impressive 30 kills in the entire match and was named player of the game. A free ball on the set point led to a kill from recent grad Quinton Maciel to seal the deal. Balboa responded and notched its first victory in the second set. The score went back and forth early and the Cougars jumped ahead 8-3 thanks to excellent work at the net by Hoyt and teammates Koa Stevens and Christian ■ See CHAMPS, page A9
Waste rates going Shine on Class of 2026 up in Placerville Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
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The Placerville City Council unanimously approved a rate increase for El Dorado Disposal residential and commercial solid waste and recycling services during a public hearing May 12, with the new rates taking effect July 1. The increase is based on a 3.09% rise in the California Consumer Price Index, as allowed under the city’s collection franchise agreement with El Dorado Disposal, a Waste Connections company. The agreement also includes provisions for fuel adjustments tied to diesel fuel pricing. For residential customers using the most common 35-gallon trash cart, monthly rates will increase from $33.06 to $34.08, a $1.02 increase. Senior customers with the same cart size will see
rates rise from $24.64 to $25.40. Commercial customers with a 3-yard front-end load service will see rates increase from $357.61 to $368.65 per month. In a presentation to the council, Waste Connections regional manager Sue VanDelinder said the company serves more than 3,000 residential customers and 400 commercial businesses within Placerville city limits. “We diverted over 2,000 tons of organics out of the landfill this year within the city limits,” VanDelinder said. “And over just about 1,400 tons of recycling.” VanDelinder, a longtime El Dorado County resident who previously represented El Dorado Disposal before moving into a broader regional role with Waste Connections, highlighted several programs aimed at reducing landfill waste and improving recycling efforts. She said the company’s voucher programs for bulky-item pickup, oil and battery collection, and electronic waste disposal have continued to grow in popularity. “One of the things that we changed this last year was we moved to a battery bag program instead of a battery jug program,” VanDelinder said. “We found that we’re getting more and more of the batteries out of the waste stream, less fire.” VanDelinder ■ See RATES, page A8
DON’T MISS
Mountain Democrat photo by Andrew Vonderschmitt
High school seniors from El Dorado, Ponderosa, Union Mine and Oak Ridge became high school graduates last week following commencement ceremonies in the county. Hats flew and tears flowed as these young people marked the end of one chapter and turned the page to another. Congratulations, Class of 2026! We wish you success and happiness in whatever comes next. El Dorado High School graduates toss their caps high in the sky after the May 21 ceremony on the Placerville campus.
Former band teacher may plead guilty Odin Rasco
minor at the victim’s home in Paul Varoff, the retired Sacramento high school band teacher County accused of multiple sex between Jan. crimes involving children 1 and Aug. younger than 18 and 31, 2023. The 14, may change his not complaint guilty pleas in the coming additionally weeks, according to alleged Varoff PAUL VAROFF discussion during a prehad engaged pretrial hearing held the in sexual acts morning of Friday, May 22, in El with a minor in his office at Oak Dorado County Superior Court’s Ridge High School between Jan. Department 1. 1 and Feb. 28, 2023. Varoff was arrested Jan. 26 Varoff worked as an educator by El Dorado County Sheriff ’s for more than three decades Office deputies after allegations before retiring from the El of misconduct had been shared Dorado Hills school at the end of with EDSO and the El Dorado the 2022-23 school year. Though County District Attorney’s he was retired, a statement Office. The criminal complaint released by the El Dorado Union first filed against Varoff alleges High School District indicated he engaged in sex acts with a he had “periodically worked with Mountain Democrat correspondent
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the district in a limited support role” since. Friday’s hearing was largely administrative, with the charges against Varoff being amended for technical reasons that did not change the severity or number of charges against him. Not guilty pleas and denials to all special allegations were again entered from Varoff, though his attorney David Brooks did indicate to the court that he anticipated a quick end to the case to be forthcoming. “This case is ripe for resolution,” Brooks told Judge Jamie Pesce, adding he anticipated a change in plea before the case came to trial. Unless a change in plea comes beforehand, Varoff is next scheduled to appear in court on June 12 to set the date of a pretrial hearing.
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