■ AREA STARS WILL SHINE Local nonprofit hosts a unique talent show. ■ INSIDE, B3
I N E L D O R A D O H I L L S ■ FEBRUARY 18, 2026
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The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a dangerous threat to wine grapes, one of several reasons why El Dorado County isn’t holding back in its efforts to eradicate the insect.
UNWANTED
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Oak Ridge High School’s Academic Decathlon took home the trophy in El Dorado County’s competition earlier this month. Next up is the state event in March.
Trojans tops in Academic Decathlon Whitney Burke El Dorado County Office of Education
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aturday, Feb. 7, marked the culmination of the El Dorado County Academic Decathlon, which showcased the talent of local high school students across multiple disciplines. Oak Ridge High School emerged as the victor, securing a spot in the upcoming state competition scheduled for March. The regional competition featured intense matchups among El Dorado, Ponderosa, Union Mine, Oak Ridge and Mountainside Middle College high schools. Decathlon teams are made up of students from all academic levels — honors, scholastic and varsity — who, throughout the season, demonstrated their expertise across seven rigorous objective tests, as well as an essay, speech and interview.
Glassy-winged sharpshooter a threat in EDC Noel Stack Editor
The following organizations helped recruit volunteers: the Rotary Club of Placerville, Kiwanis Club of Placerville, El Dorado Union High School District Board of Trustees, Assistance League Sierra Foothills, American Association of University Women, El Dorado County Office of Education, Marshall Medical, Ag in the Classroom, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra, California Highway Patrol Senior Volunteer Program and California Retired Teachers Association El Dorado Division 73. Dr. Ed Manansala, El Dorado County superintendent of schools, shared his appreciation. “We are fortunate to be part of a community so committed to the success and well-being of our students,” said Manansala. “This achievement reflects the
Wanting to protect El Dorado County’s multi-million-dollar grape industry, Agriculture Department staff and pest control specialists have declared war against the glassy-winged sharpshooter. Discovered in fall 2024 in El Dorado Hills’ Serrano community, the sap-sucking insect is a vector of Pierce’s Disease, which is caused by bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, according to a presentation made to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 3. “This bacteria clogs the water-conducting vessels in grapevines,” explained Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Corrie Larsen, who leads the glassy-winged sharpshooter eradication effort. “Grapevines that have been affected with Pierce’s Disease will look chlorotic … leaves start to yellow. They’ll look scorched, like they’re drought stressed,
■ See ACADEMIC DECATHLON, page A4
■ See PEST, page A4
Olympic hopes on hold but not out of reach Sel Richard
at both schools, but in 2022 was recruited to bobsled after completing a combine, a series of athletic tests Village Life correspondent including sprints, jumps and throws, at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center. ak Ridge High School alum Brandon Jetter Since then Jetter has split his winters between Park knows what it means to be so close yet so City, Utah, and Lake Placid, N.Y., where the only far away. As an Olympic hopeful in bobsled, bobsled tracks in the country Jetter competed hard for four are housed. Since American years but last month it was “I’ll definitely be competing in Olympic athletes do not announced he was among the receive government funding, final contenders to be considsomething, just not quite sure he worked remotely, doing ered for the Olympic team but what that’s going to look like yet.” media post production on his not named as one of the six laptop between runs. push athletes chosen to go to “I would be working and — ORHS alum Brandon Jetter Italy. then a few minutes before my “I haven’t decided if I’m start time I would start warmgoing to try again for 2030,” ing up,” he said, describing his years in training. Jetter Jetter told Village Life. competed on the Canadian and United States circuit Jetter graduated from Oak Ridge in 2015 and from Univeristy of California, Davis, in 2021 double ■ See JETTER, page A5 majoring in political science and history. He ran track
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Brandon Jetter, in back, launches forward at the push start in Lake Placid, N.Y., during the 2024 USA Bobsled Selection Races.
Love me tender, love me true. All my dreams fulfilled. For my darling, I love you. And I always will
Village Life photos by Noel Stack
Seniors shared the love at the annual Senior Valentine’s Day Luncheon hosted by the El Dorado Hills Community Services District on Feb. 13. More than 200 enjoyed a delicious meal provided by West Coast Events, entertainment from an Elvis impersonator that got dozens on the dance floor, ice cream sundaes served by the Rotary Club of El Dorado Hills and a raffle.
INSIDE NEWS VOL. 33 ■ ISSUE NO. 4 FOR GUARANTEED WEEKLY DELIVERY, SUBSCRIBE BY CALLING 530 3445000
■ STUNNING CRAFTSMANSHIP
■ FOUNDATION GIVES BACK
This gorgeous El Dorado Hills home boasts refined luxury and spectacular views.
El Dorado Hills Area Foundation members celebrate another year of supporting nonprofits.
■ VILLAGE HOMES, B1
■ INSIDE, B2
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