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– E S T. 18 51
– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 174 • ISSUE 71 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
Crews labor on Labor Day to douse Valley Fire Noel Stack Editor
Video still courtesy of EDH Fire Department
A Cal Fire plane drops retardant on flames burning near homes Monday afternoon to douse the Valley Fire.
Labor Day turned laborious for local firefighters when a vegetation fire broke out off Sweet Valley Road in Rescue Monday afternoon. Crews with the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado, Rescue Fire Department and El Dorado County Fire Protection District, as well as other agencies, responded to the Valley Fire, keeping the wildland blaze to 16 acres. Firefighters, working in near 100-degree heat, battled on the ground and in the air to contain flames that threatened nearby homes. As of Tuesday morning, Cal Fire reported the fire was 66% contained with forward progress stopped. No structures were reported
damaged or destroyed. Shortly after the fire started El Dorado County sheriff ’s officials announced a mandatory evacuation order for residents living on Sweet Valley Road, Hickok Road, Sands Road, Rough Ridge Road and later Kanaka Valley Road. Evacuation warnings were put in place for Deer Valley Road and Starbuck Road. The areas under mandatory evacuation order included Fat Kitty City Humane Society, which took to social media to ask for help housing its cats. Fortunately the order was downgraded to a warning before the felines headed to temporary homes. “We had many of our cats ready in carriers, preparing them to go to a safer spot, when we were advised that ■ See FIRE, page A9
Commission gives Take a journey to the bottom of Lake Tahoe grants, continues veteran outreach Jessica Weaver News release
Jo Carrerow
Mountain Democrat correspondent
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
Most requests for grants this year were covered by the El Dorado County Veterans Affairs Commission, but others didn’t make the cut, according to Chair Robert Reynolds who presented an annual report to the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26. Reynolds highlighted organizations included in the annual $175,000 allocation of county Transient Occupancy Tax funds, as well as those that didn’t qualify. Mini grants for 2024 were approved for El Dorado Post 119, American Legion, $10,000; Gilmore Hero Foundation, $10,000; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10165, $10,000; and VFW Sierra Nevada Post
2680, $10,000. Not approved for 2024 were: Calvary Chapel Food Ministry, $7,000; Center for Post Traumatic Growth, $10,000; and Shingle Springs Community Center, $10,000. Reynolds explained sometimes applicants denied because the number of veterans that are served by the grants can’t be determined. El Dorado Community Foundation vets the 501(c)(3) applications. There are two types of allocations, according to Reynolds, and the process starts with the mini grants. “We actually go through the mini grants and then we have a hard yearly copy,” Reynolds said. “What happens is we’ll look at the mini grants and if they’re doing a good job sending in all the reports and things like that as necessary we move those to a yearly grant. That way the county takes over at that time.” Fiscal year 2023-24 annual TOT grants awarded funding for Lake Tahoe Community College, $6,000; Snowline Hospice, $25,000; El Dorado County Veterans Alliance, $10,000; Sierra Chaplaincy, $4,000; Military Family Support Group-EDVR (Enlisted Distribution and Verification ■ See COMMISSION, page A2
DON’T MISS
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — On Friday, Sept. 5, the Tahoe Fund and Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation will livestream an ROV’s journey to the bottom of Lake Tahoe, giving everyone the opportunity to watch in real time as it reaches a depth of 1,570 feet. “Few people have had the opportunity to explore what’s under the surface of Lake Tahoe, the second deepest lake
■ See LIVESTREAM , page A10
Dave Warren sees a bright future for Placerville Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
Dave Warren’s story is one of community, family and a deep commitment to public service. A long-time Placerville resident, Warren will take up the mantle of Placerville city manager in October. Born in Alameda, Warren moved with his family to Placerville in 1978 when he was 12 years old. His parents, who owned a construction company, saw a growing opportunity in the area and decided to make the move. “It was much quieter up here. People were very friendly and it was great,” Warren recalled fondly. He spent his high school years at Ponderosa High School, where he was deeply involved in the electronics program and earned college credit. His early interest in electronics was replaced by an unexpected turn toward accounting, sparked by a suggestion from community college counselor David Zelinsky. Warren attended Cosumnes River College, which he recalled as being a great experience. “We just called it UBR;
Gold Mine
The
Published bi-monthly in the Mountain Democrat and Village Life
university behind Rally’s,” he quipped. Accounting was a field that seemed “recession-proof” to him and, importantly, “It clicked.” After transferring to California State University, Sacramento, Warren began his career in local government, initially working part-time for the city of Placerville while finishing his degree. “I had no plans of a long-term career with the city,” he admitted. “It was just an opportunity to get some hours and experience.” However, he quickly found his place. By 1994, he was working as an accounting assistant and gradually took on more responsibilities. “I was probably underqualified, but I learned a lot and excelled at it,” Warren said. Warren worked at the city until 1998, during which time he earned his bachelor’s degree. His next move took him to the Gold Trail School District, where he became chief fiscal officer at the age of 32. “It was a great place for me to learn,” he recalled. “I achieved my management wings there.” In 2002, the city of Placerville
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DAVE WARREN created an assistant finance director position, which Warren quickly applied for and secured. By 2004, he was appointed finance director. Over the years, he has seen the city’s finances evolve and experienced its ups and downs, especially during times of economic uncertainty. Throughout his career, Warren has managed a healthy work-life balance. He and his wife, Julie, married in 1989 after a whirlwind courtship. The two met in 1988 when he was driving near Thrifty’s on ■ See WARREN, page A2
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