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Oak Ridge football team misconduct investigated Isaac Streeter Staff writer Village Life photos by Noel Stack
Two burn homes stand ready at the El Dorado Hills Fire Department Training Center in the EDH Business Park.
Fired up! EDH Fire Training Center ready to go
Oak Ridge High School’s football team is facing allegations of misconduct leading to the involvement of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, according to Principal Aaron Palm. “As some of you may be hearing, there was an incident involving members of our football team that has resulted in the involvement of local law enforcement,” reads a statement Palm issued to Oak Ridge families last week. “Please be assured that we are aware of the incident, are taking appropriate steps to investigate the facts and will take appropriate disciplinary action where warranted. Conduct of the type alleged to have incurred has no place in our school community and we are committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Due to the privacy rights
Noel Stack Managing editor
n See Investigation, page A6
A
t the corner of Bertelsen Parkway and Chief Fry Boulevard two beautiful houses sit on a hillside. But these homes aren’t part of the latest El Dorado Hills housing development; they’re designs to be breached, vented and filled with smoke and water. After years of planning the El Dorado Hills Fire Department Training Center is ready to help firefighters get real–world experience in a variety of scenarios — whether it’s searching for a fire victim in a back closet or rescuing a fellow firefighter who has fallen while venting an attic. The department’s first major exercise planned Aug. 11 had firefighters teaming up with PG&E crews to go through scenarios involving the utility company’s mock infrastructure built at the site. “It’s pretty awesome,” said EDH Deputy Fire Chief Dustin Hall as he stood in the training center’s cul-de-sac. “A lot of hard work went into this by a lot of people.” Hall, who has been a point person on the project since he joined the department in 2019, headed to one of the building’s fire-proof rooms where an accelerant known as Excelsior will be lit to fill the space with smoke. “The room is 100% protected,” he said, assuring no flames will escape. “The panels (on the walls and ceiling) … are designed to last 30 years.” Excelsior is a special product designed to burn clean and produce little smoke once it reaches open air. At times, Hall said, training will include burning pallet furniture, which could produce darker n See training center, page A6
60-acre Bass Lake Hills project going into EIR phase Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
El Dorado Hills Deputy Fire Chief Dustin Hall is all smiles at the entrance to one of the department’s burn buildings at the brand-new training center.
Residents have until Aug. 17 to provide written comments before El Dorado County drafts an environmental impact report for the proposed Town and Country Village development project in El Dorado Hills. The EIR will evaluate impacts of the proposed development such as air quality, biological resources, water quality, noise and wildfire potential. The county issued a notice of preparation for drafting the EIR in mid-July. Located north of Highway 50 east of Bass Lake Road on 60.5 acres, the property consists of a project development area and a program study area. Proposed structures inside the project development area, which are the northernmost and southernmost parts of the land consisting of just over 30 acres, include two five-story hotels, a three-story event center with two restaurants and a 7.9-acre portion of land n See Bass Lake Hills, page A4
INSIDE NEWS Vol. 30 n issue no. 16
n COUNTRY LIFE IN CAMERON PARK
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The ovely ranch-style home on 5 acres in Cameron Park Estates is a real charmer.
EDH resident Sherry Bliss Haase authors “Women of the Bible,” a book that encourages spiritual journey of the modern woman.
n Village Homes, B1
n Inside, B3
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