a Digital Content Producer with 25 News KXXV and 15 ABC KRHD Texas (KXXV) — Runners will fill Cameron Park and Waco’s downtown riverfront on Saturday as the city hosts three racing events throughout the day The action begins with the Toughest ‘N Texas Trail Runs where participants will run distances from 5K to 50K across Cameron Park Races will start in the early morning and continue into the late afternoon a playful and family-friendly event hosted by the Junior League of Waco Held on the historic Waco Suspension Bridge the short-distance race runs from morning until around noon and supports early childhood education initiatives the popular Light Up the Dark 5K will take over part of downtown The nighttime race will result in the temporary closure of University Parks Drive between Washington Avenue and the Herring Street Bridge from 5 to 9 p.m The Washington Avenue Bridge and Pecan Bottoms parking lot will remain open to traffic and attendees City officials advise residents and visitors to plan ahead as the events are expected to bring additional traffic and activity to the area The man accused in connection with a deadly shooting in Cameron County has been sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday Juan Alvarez pleaded guilty in connection to the fatal March 2023 shooting in Cameron Park Andrew Lee Torres was found dead in a vehicle; he had been shot 12 times RELATED STORY: Man pleads guilty in fatal Cameron Park shooting Alvarez was arrested shortly after the shooting For 29 years Cal Fire has served as the Cameron Park Fire Department and that relationship will continue for at least another five years Photo courtesy of the Cameron Park Community Services District After exploring other options that didn’t pan out the Cameron Park Community Services Board of Directors went back to the tried and true — approving April 16 a new five-year agreement with Cal Fire to provide fire protection services “This agreement took a lot of time and hard work … and we’re happy to have it,” said CPCSD General Manager Maurice Johnson A structural budget deficit sent the district searching for new fire service options about 18 months ago studies were started (though not all completed) and it was recommended that the district begin annexation negotiations with the El Dorado Hills Fire Department of which GM Johnson was the fire chief at the time Discussions came to a halt in February when it was determined the Cameron Park CSD couldn’t afford a contract with EDH Fire which was estimated at $6,393,000 a year plus onetime expenses of $1.5 million The five-year agreement approved 4-0 last week with Cal Fire includes the following locked-in The contract maintains the current staffing levels at both Station 88 and Station 89 — two personnel staffed daily at each plus a battalion chief providing oversight and command Cal Fire had proposed closing Station 88 to cut costs much to Cameron Park residents’ discontent "The agreement also includes a one-year intent to terminate clause allowing either the district or Cal Fire to terminate the contract with one year’s notice if necessary,” Johnson’s staff report notes any proposed increases or decreases in staffing levels will be subject to discussions between the District and Cal Fire should the need arise." Acknowledging the CSD still has budget challenges Johnson told directors and the public that staff has already started looking at cost-cutting and revenue-generating strategies to ensure the district has enough to cover the cost of the contract especially as it jumps to more than $4 million in years four and five Cal Fire has provided the Cameron Park CSD with fire protection emergency medical services and overall fire and medical response management for the past 29 years the community’s ambulance service was transferred to EDH Fire which now operates the medic unit out of Station 86 on Bass Lake Road — a short distance from where it was housed at Cameron Park Fire Station 89 on Country Club Drive Vice President Katie Gilchrest and Directors Sidney Bazett and Monique Scobey voted in favor of the Cal Fire contract Director Tim Israel was absent from the April 16 meeting Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates Receive occasional local offers from our website and its advertisers summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account A 19-year-old will spend the next 30 years in prison after pleading guilty in connection with a fatal March 2023 shooting in Cameron Park Juan Alvarez learned his fate Wednesday after a Cameron County jury sentenced him Investigators said Alvarez fatally shot 21-year-old Andrew Lee Torres who was found dead in a vehicle that crashed after he was shot Torres’ family was in the courtroom, holding each other tight and crying as they learned the fate of the man who pleaded guilty to Andrew’s death. “It's a shame that his life was taken away in this manner," Torres’ uncle “Now we have a pain — the whole family has a pain that we're going to carry for the rest of our life." Juan said his nephew was a kind-hearted young man who wanted to get into law enforcement “He had a lot going for him as a young boy,” Juan said The young age of both the victim and convicted murderer raises concerns for Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz.  Saenz said he’s seen a recent trend of certifying young suspects as adults to go to trial.   they just arrested another juvenile last night,” Saenz said “We just certified another one last week we're moving to certify another one next week." and schools need to come together to help address and recognize the problem of young adult involved in crimes I don't see it stopping,” Saenz said organizations — because it is a problem that needs to be addressed the Torres family said they will continue to honor Andrew and his smile “He would come in with a big smile on his face “The smile showed the kind of character Watch the video above for the full story.  Cameron Park CSD officials plan to activate the gate at Cameron Park Lake on May 15 visitors to Cameron Park Lake will have to pay a $5.50 daily fee for vehicle access to the property as the newly installed gate will be online — ready to take Cameron Park Community Services District annual passes credit and debit cards as well as other electronic forms of payment like Apple Pay “We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for people to access the lake,” said interim CPCSD General Manager Maurice Johnson The gate replaces a once-staffed kiosk but didn’t come without controversy Previous GM Alan Gardner spearheaded the project Gardner later proposed a $10 per vehicle fee CPCSD directors and residents vehemently opposed that suggestion and also expressed frustrations at the cost and long delays encountered during construction and installation Johnson’s proposal of $5.50 (50 cents of which will offset transaction fees charged to the district) was more palatable to the board and public Directors approved the fee 4-0 with board President Dawn Wolfson Vice President Katie Gilchrest and Directors Sidney Bazett and Monique Scobey voting in favor Johnson shared the total project cost was approximately $100,000 and included:  • Electrical and communications system installation • Emergency apparatus preemption system access • Installation of the automated robotic entry arm • Integration of high-resolution security cameras and a multi-modal payment system Annual revenue is expected to come in at around $93,500 with that money designated to offset some of the initial purchase cost fund ongoing maintenance and operations support of the gate system and contribute to general upkeep and improvements at Cameron Park Lake the $5.50 daily fee will apply to all vehicles Board members did express an interest in creating a resident and non-resident fee structure which Johnson confirmed could be done at a later date Cameron Park Lake is located at 2989 Cambridge Road in Cameron Park The recreation area includes a man-made lake paved parking and a gazebo with picnic areas that are rentable A Cameron County jury will decide the fate of a man who pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal March 2023 shooting in Cameron Park Court records show Juan Alvarez pleaded guilty to murder on Monday in connection with the death of Andrew Lee Torres Torres was found dead in a vehicle that crashed after he had been shot nine times at Cameron Park PREVIOUS STORY: Teen arrested on murder charge in connection with Cameron Park shooting He was 17 years old at the time of the arrest Jurors were at the Cameron County courthouse on Tuesday for the punishment phase of Alvarez’s trial to decide his sentencing.  The jurors were sent home Tuesday evening and will be back to resume the punishment phase on Wednesday morning.  Texas (KXXV) — Cameron Park residents voice concerns over speeding and safety in the area — numerous car wrecks have occurred due to speeding and blind curves Nicole Perez and Rusty Steed say they've been going to Cameron Park their entire lives so we see a lot of accidents over the past 20 years mostly due to people driving way too fast," Rusty said saying they're scared for people at the park because of reckless drivers in the area "We see wrecks out here all the time," Rusty said The couple has been documenting car crashes for many years to help advocate for speed and traffic control devices throughout the park you can see some of the damage from wrecks over the years Nicole and Rusty tell 25 News they understand the city has limited resources I don't want to see someone get killed and I don't want to see either one of us get killed," Nicole said the couple says they've reached out to the city to implement traffic control devices with no luck it's going to be when and I would just like to see something done before then," Rusty said The City of Waco says there are challenges associated with certain solutions such as speed bumps impacting emergency response times Texas (KXXV) — Cameron Park Zoo has announced the death of its juvenile black bear 'Kenai.' The zoo said Kenai's journey began in Alaska where he was discovered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists he was rehabilitated over the winter months at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage the Alaska Zoo and Cameron Park Zoo collaborated to bring Kenai to Waco Due to his playful spirit and unique backstory— he quickly became a favorite among staff and visitors Kenai began showing decreased appetite and activity levels Further examination revealed a mass on his right kidney the zoo collectively decided to euthanize him humanely Cameron Park Zoo said Kenai was estimated to be around two-years-old at the time of his passing Texas (KXXV) — Cameron Park Zoo announced the arrival of a father and son Sumatran tiger duo from the Memphis Zoo on Friday The father Gusti was born in 2017 and his son Nakal was born in 2023 Cameron Park Zoo is home to one female Sumatran tiger who is 18 years old and was born on May 24 at the National Zoological Park — while Maharani will remain a vital part of the zoo's conservation efforts it is important to note that Gusti and Nakal will not be paired with her," the zoo said "We are thrilled to welcome Gusti and Nakal to Cameron Park Zoo" said Brendan Wiley "This addition not only supports the conservation efforts for Sumatran tigers but also enriches our community's understanding of these incredible creatures." There were also new animal births at the zoo — a female gerenuk was born on October 6 and named Marcella (Marci) "Marci's mother is Cornelia and her father is Kronk known for their remarkable ability to stand upright on their hind legs," zoo officials said "This fascinating adaptation allows them to reach leaves high up in trees and tall bushes highlighting their incredible agility and feeding behavior." Six horned pit vipers were born on July 20 — horned pit vipers are native to Vietnam and southern China and are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature) as near threatened El Dorado County Sheriff's deputies lead Cameron Park man Michael Steven Raphael to a waiting patrol car Raphael was arrested in connection to an investigation on child sexual abuse material El Dorado County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a Cameron Park man Thursday for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material was arrested as deputies executed a search warrant at his residence as part of an investigation into multiple tips which alleged he was in possession of child porn The investigation into Raphael was conducted by EDSO's High-Tech Crimes Unit which has members who belong to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force The unit began looking into Raphael following receipt of multiple CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Investigators report they uncovered digital evidence of hundreds of offensive videos and that the search warrant executed at Raphael's home discovered more evidence Raphael was booked into the El Dorado County Jail for felony charges for child porn possession; he has since been released on bail A 16-year-old pleaded guilty to murder in connection with a fatal shooting during a Cameron Park house party in 2023 according to Cameron County District Attorney Luis V Manuel Faustino Martinez also pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the death Martinez was identified as the teen who authorities said shot and killed Jose Alejandro Castillo Villarreal on May 13 Martinez broke into his ex-girlfriend’s house and stole a gun He later went to a house party and shot Villarreal three times before fleeing the scene.  Martinez pointed the gun at two individuals while escaping adding that he then wrapped the gun in towels and then buried it in his backyard “The Defendant’s actions resulted in the tragic loss of a young life and put others in grave danger,” Saenz said in a statement.  “This case underscores the seriousness with which we take violent crimes committed by juveniles When young offenders choose to engage in deadly violence they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” Sentencing for Martinez is set for Thursday Children of all ages, dressed in all costume types, await to hear the results of a costume contest held during the Halloween Monster Mash in Cameron Park. Families gathered at the CSD campus, filled with many vehicles from businesses, organizations and community members, to participate in early Halloween celebrations. Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian Dressed as an astronaut, Weston Harding, 6, grabs a piece of candy from a bucket while trunk-or-treating at the Cameron Park Community Services District Oct. 18. Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian Mike, Kimberly and Jake McLennan, 10, show off their costumes inspired by the animated movie "Brave" during the Cameron Park Community Services District's Halloween Monster Mash event Oct. 18 at the CSD campus while being photo bombed by Joe Nielson of Tumble time Gymnastics (behind). Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian Mikelle Garst of Cameron Park, 12, shows off her winnings for placing first in a costume contest as Sabrina the Teenage Witch during the CPCSD Halloween Monster Mash event Oct. 18. Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian Though the pool was too cold for a pumpkin plunge, the Cameron Park CSD staff gave children a chance to snatch a gourd of their choosing. Jessie Morgenstern, 5, walks away with her prize pumpkin dressed as a flight attendant. Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office lend a hand in the Halloween celebrations, bringing their own special truck. Deputy Freeman takes the finger prints of the Incredible Hulk (Stevie Davis, 4) while he and his father, owner of Forest Ridge Dental Group Stephen Davis, watch the process. Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian Cameron Park Community Services District receptionist Kay Mullins never misses an opportunity to go all out for Halloween. Dressed as a witch, the Mystic Madame Mullins looks into her magic ball after helping run the show during CPCSD's Halloween Monster Mash Oct. 18. Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian The Cameron Park Community Services District campus turned into a place of haunted fun on the evening of Oct. 18. Boos and treats were offered during the Halloween Monster Mash, as children and their families dressed up as their favorite creatures and characters made their way around the trunk-or-treat event. The kids got to show off their costumes in a costume contest while checking out decorated car trunks acting as trick-or-treat stations with candy and games to play. Those who registered for the event first participated in a pumpkin snatch near the pool for a chance to take home a gourd, but all went home with sweets and smiles on their faces after the family-friendly event.  Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates. Each day's obituaries, delivered to your inbox. Receive occasional local offers from our website and its advertisers. Get our expert short-term forecast, summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather. We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen! Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. The neighborhood is financially separate from the airport and streets are maintained by a resident-created bond facility that funds renovation and maintenance of all pavement surfaces Cameron Park had to make some defining changes to traditional street designs the streets in Cameron Park are exceptionally wide more reminiscent of a runway than a traditional residential street and the street signs are mounted close to the ground to avoid impeding planes with wide wingspans Stop signs which are usually mounted at a minimum of five-feet tall in rural areas could basically be stuck directly into the ground in Cameron Park are mounted at knee-height to minimize interference with taxiing planes and some homes even have their planes parked outside One home has a chrome twin-prop plane parked next to an orange Cessna-sized plane and the open hangar door reveals a golf cart the type of people who have both the desire and the means to own a home with direct access to an airport and own and operate private planes also have an affinity for cars the town of Cameron Park hosts a definitely-not-dystopian-at-all event called “Props and Rodders,” where residents can bring their aircraft and/or classic cars to “show strength in community” at the Cameron Park Airpark the show is primarily populated by vintage American cars with flame paint jobs complete with live ‘80s rock tribute bands and a strong police presence to keep everyone feeling extra safe A version of this article originally appeared on Jalopnik your Neighborhood Reporter with Good Morning Texas Texas (KXXV — Cameron Park Zoo's Penguin Shores Exhibit made a splashing debut despite the Texas heat 22 South African black-footed penguins and one black-footed cat were welcomed by the Waco community Director of the zoo kicked off the opening ceremony festivities with opening remarks thanking all who were part of this project Heather Healy also spoke with with Deputy Director of the zoo on Good Morning Texas on his thoughts of opening day The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2025 Leanne Stoddard and Colette Thiel take the oath of office at the installation luncheon last month Mountain Democrat photos by Andrew Vonderschmitt Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber president awards Fred Ott with the Larry Cameron Award for community service presents Mike Sproull of the Food Bank of El Dorado County with the Public Service Award The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce membership is looking forward to a fabulous 2025 and got the year off to a successful start with its Business Awards and Installation of the Board of Directors luncheon welcomed members and guests to the celebration at Red Hawk Casino's Koto Buffet El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf dutifully handled the honor of installing the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2025: Colette Thiel The highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of special awards The Food Bank of El Dorado County was recognized with the Public Service Award presented by Joe Patterson Mike Sproull accepted the award and thanked the community and the chamber for all the support given to the food bank Todd White also presented a certificate to the food bank from California State Sen Thiel took the podium to announce the winner of the Larry Cameron Award — Fred Ott This award is given for unselfish community service and continued support One of the early organizers of the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber still offers guidance and assists with many community endeavors Chamber Ambassador of the Year was Bev Dierks DNA Golf Academy earned the Start-up Business of the Year award For doing just about everything that needs to be done Leanna Stoddard was named Chamber MVP Business of the Year went to James White Insurance For her outstanding leadership and her commitment to the chamber Thiel was presented with a special Leadership Award and a rose from Ott Thiel thanked everyone for making “the community a better place.” She invited all members to get involved and attend chamber events. To learn more email President@sscpchamber.org The next Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber lunch is Feb executive director of the El Dorado Community Foundation There is a Bags and Beans Cornhole event March 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Serene Ranch, 5601 Gold Hill Road in Placerville. For more information about competing or attending call (530) 677-8000 or go to sscpchamber.org WATCH: Cameron Park Zoo’s new education center and animal hospital will extend the reach of the zoo’s teaching efforts and improve veterinary care for zoo animals Cameron Park Zoo’s new education center and animal hospital Audio-visual hookups throughout the separate facilities under the same roof will allow two-way communication with far-flung classrooms and veterinarians Cameron Park Zoo Director Brendan Wiley said Friday after the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Corwin and Jaynes Education Center and Carol Schmidhauser Veterinary Hospital Members of the public gather Friday afternoon in Cameron Park Zoo’s new education building for an unveiling of the facility The educational and veterinary facilities are separate but housed under the same roof “Technology factored into this building will allow us to do remote programming into schools throughout our community so now we’ll be able to have impact on their environmental education programs,” Wiley said The audio-video streaming equipment built into the animal hospital likewise will allow video conferencing with remote veterinarians and sharing of training and research “Whether it’s from the vet hospital here to a classroom at Texas A&M or to a biology class at an area high school we can share our research and tell our story,” Wiley said The new veterinary hospital facility will also allow staff to take another step up improving care for overall health and welfare of animals at the zoo A dedicated radiology room in Cameron Park Zoo's new veterinary hospital will allow staff to conduct radiology or endoscopy procedures simultaneously with other procedures a separate radiology room and separate sterile surgery room,” Kusmierczyk said “Those are all things we used to have to do in one single room.” The new facility and its new equipment expands the treatment activities the veterinary staff can provide for animals at the same time “We also have a lot of animal holding that adds to our space whether it’s quarantining newly arrived animals or hospitalizing animals that need continued care,” Kusmierczyk said Cameron Park Zoo staff prepare for Friday's ribbon cutting ceremony The total budget for the education center and animal hospital together was $17.7 million from county Waco facilities director Derrick Oltmann said About $9.4 million from a $14.5 million bond McLennan County voters passed in 2019 went to the project The city contributed another almost $5.7 million and the Cameron Park Zoological and Botanical Society contributed almost $2.6 million WATCH NOW: Cameron Park Zoo visitors took on the blazing heat Thursday to catch their first look at Waco’s coolest birds at the grand opening of the long-anticipated Penguin Shores exhibit Larry Jaynes led the effort to pass the 2019 countywide bond to fund part of the cost of the new education center and veterinary hospital at Cameron Park Zoo has also been a longtime supporter of the Cameron Park Zoological and Botanical Society and supported the zoo's move to its current location in 1993 The $14.5 million bond also funded a new hoofstock barn and part of the $12.8 million Gloria and F.M Young Penguin Shores Exhibit that opened in August with 11 pairs of South African penguins and a black-footed cat and Jaynes Education Center also includes classrooms The Carol Schmidhauser Veterinary Hospital houses a surgical suite and environmentally controlled holding spaces for animals under care or observation The two new facilities are intended to offer a new hub for public education and professional development in animal care for years to come The namesake for the facilities include Rosella Estes and Stephen Corwin who supported the zoo’s move to its current location in 1993 who supported the 2019 bond issue that partially funded the construction who were with the zoo when it moved to its current location and retired last year as director of the zoo and the zoo society tour the Carol Schmidhauser Veterinary Hospital during its unveiling Cameron Park spokesperson Duane McGregor and Nell Hawkins Officials said the Carol Schmidhauser Veterinary Hospital will expand the zoo's animal treatment capacity Cameron Park Zoo Director Brendan Wiley speaks in front of the ceremonial ribbon as Waco Mayor Jim Holms readies the oversize scissors Waco Mayor Jim Holms cuts the ribbon Friday on Cameron Park Zoo's new veterinary and educational complex Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter will extend the reach of the zoo’s teac… Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Texas (KXXV) — Cameron Park Zoo's upcoming Penguin Shores exhibit is ready for its August 8th debut getting acclimated to the Waco Weather and preparing for life in Central Texas The goal for the zoo opening the exhibit is to show conservation efforts and to be a helping hand in preventing the extinction of the feathered friends The Penguin Shores exhibit opens to the public at 10 a.m It’s not every day that these black and white birds can be seen in Central Texas “They’ve been here for a little over a month now,” said Duane Hills Deputy Zoo Director for the Cameron Park Zoo They’re getting used to the weather in Waco during the summer ahead of the debut of the penguin shores zoo exhibit “We wanted to make sure they were acclimated and plus they have to have a quarantine period," Hills said they undergo about 30 days of quarantine to make sure they’re not carrying any infectious disease or anything that can spread to the other animals in our population." Who are the new feathered friends and how are they taking to the Texas heat they are native to the southern coast of Africa so when you look at where they are naturally the temperature is pretty comparable to what you find here in Waco these individual birds came from Fort Worth so they’re already acclimated to specifically Texas heat,” Hills said 22 of them transferred from the Fort Worth Zoo: 11 girls with purple name tags “We are looking to breed — they are currently endangered their numbers have declined drastically," Hills said their populations have declined by about 90 percent so we definitely want to do our part to make sure these animals don’t become extinct and they can stay around for a really long time." They're sticking around to enjoy the life that the enclosure offers “We have a very elaborate life support system which is in back of house — that’s how we moderate temperature Currently this temperature is at 55 degrees,” Hills said The goal is to educate Central Texas about the new feathered friends get to know the 22 penguins that we have here and then we can tell their story and talk about why wildlife conservation is so important,” Hills said Texas (KXXV) — Cameron Park Zoo's "beloved" 43-year-old Southern White Rhinoceros The zoo made the announcement saying that the median life expectancy for southern white rhinoceroses is 36.5 years making Jabba one of the oldest males in global zoo populations — there are currently three other males older than Jabba "Jabba was a cherished member of the Cameron Park Zoo family known for his gentle demeanor and affectionate nature," the zoo said "He particularly enjoyed his morning scratches from his dedicated care team and had a fondness for oatmeal Jabba was receiving daily veterinary care for chronic foot and hoof issues due to his advanced age." A necropsy has been performed to determine his exact cause of death — final results are pending "Southern White Rhinoceroses are classified as near threatened by conservation organizations due to various threats in their native habitats," Cameron Park Zoo said "With a global zoo population of 726 individuals is keenly felt within the global conservation community."