It’s time once again for youngsters to test their fishing skills at Placerville’s Lumsden Park Don’t miss out on Placerville's 38th annual Spring Fishing Derby The fishing derby is open to all kids in preschool through eighth grade This event is sponsored by the city of Placerville Community Services Department the El Dorado County Fish & Game Commission the Placerville Kiwanis Club and the Placerville Lions Club All participants should bring their own fishing equipment Lumsden Park is located at 3144 Wiltse Road 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 Laotian-born artist who previously lived in San Francisco was reported missing the day after Christmas from his South Sacramento home and now his roommate has been arrested in connection with his death Sayasane, 75, was reported missing on December 28 by family members after he was last seen on Christmas Day near his home at 40th Street and 41st Avenue in South Sacramento and authorities listed him as an at-risk missing person his body has been discovered in some woods in Placerville As KCRA reports via court documents authorities believe that Sayasane died on or around December 26 Authorities have not yet established a motive for the crime but they say that Dougherty had help from his 74-year-old father in disposing of Sayasane's body around December 31 The body was found near Old Toll Road in Placerville at which point this became a homicide investigation The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office tells SFGate that both Dougherty men were arrested in separate locations in Petaluma on April 17 Benjamin Dougherty has been charged with first-degree murder and Robert Dougherty has been charged with being an accessory after the fact KCRA reports that Robert Dougherty had a hearing before a judge today Sayasane, a refugee from Laos, was living in San Francisco 20 years ago and teaching art at the deYoung and the YMCA when he produced a book of paintings of Golden Gate Park titled The Park in the City He befriended Rolling Stone journalist Ben Fong-Torres around that time, and Fong-Torres wrote this brief profile of him and his love of karaoke the former Richmond District dim sum restaurant that had a karaoke bar and he had great times expressing himself through art and music." San Mateo County had fired embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus’s alleged romantic partner after she gave him a $246K job but even now that she may be on the verge of being removed from office she just went and flat-out rehired him anyway SF drag queen Panda Dulce did not give up on Drag Queen Story Hour when the Proud Boys violently stormed her reading in 2022 and it has its West Coast premiere tonight at the SFFILM Festival Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox Barmann is a fiction writer and web editor who's lived in San Francisco for 20+ years Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox One man was arrested after a shooting incident in Placerville on Monday a shooting occurred at a residence on the 5600 block of Rocky Ridge Road prompting a swift response from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Authorities reported that a 56-year-old male victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following the assault Deputies identified the suspect as 57-year-old Sven Gosta Metour of Placerville Metour was apprehended in his vehicle and taken into custody without incident He was subsequently arrested and booked into the El Dorado County Jail on charges of assault with a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm Cal Fire firefighters make their way down the driveway after helping extinguish a garage and small wildland fire on Oak Terrace Road in Placerville Saturday afternoon Firefighters wrap up a hose no longer needed after crews doused a fire caused by an explosion in a quiet Placerville neighborhood A garage explosion jolted Placerville residents Saturday afternoon prompting an aggressive response from emergency personnel Engines from the El Dorado County Fire Protections District Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District and Cal Fire descended upon an Oak Terrace Road home around 12:30 p.m The Engine 25 crew arrived first to find a garage “fully involved” with flames spreading to nearby woodland according to EDCFPD Division Chief Paul Dutch Flames scorched about a quarter of an acre before crews stopped the fire’s forward momentum roughly 15 minutes after arriving on scene Neighbor Bryan Vyverberg was one of at least two people who called 911 after the incident “I heard two explosions — a small one and a big one,” he told the Mountain Democrat was the second to report the incident and Vyverberg said just minutes later he heard first responders arrive No one was injured in the incident but the detached As to the cause of the explosion and subsequent fire “It sounds like there might have been a flash explosion while (the home’s resident) was working on his vehicle blocking traffic to the street for about two hours Email notifications are only sent once a day Investigators from the Placerville Police Department survey the scene of a stabbing that took place outside the Placerville branch of the El Dorado County Library early Thursday A section of the grounds outside of the Placerville library were taped off by police Thursday as they investigated a reported stabbing “Ever since the homeless navigation center was moved to Fair Lane the safety of county employees and members of the public has been adversely affected,” El Dorado County Auditor-Controller Joe Harn told the Mountain Democrat in response to the incident Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains Placerville 'strikes gold' with $20 million broadband project California will soon be a place with a municipally owned open-access fiber network as the city of 10,000 looks to provide its residents and businesses with local choice and more affordable broadband service The years-long effort was launched after frustration with what the city’s 2021 Broadband Master Plan described as the “equivalent of an ISP (Comcast) Monopoly.” “Because of this,” the plan noted “residents and businesses in Placerville are exposed to the common limitations of monopolies” – a high-priced reality that prompted 98 percent of city survey respondents to say “yes” to a municipally owned network we can now move ahead with the Placerville Broadband project high-speed [I]nternet to more than 1,300 unserved residents,” Mayor Neau added noting how the Placerville “project is not just about improving connectivity – it’s about opportunity and preparing our city for the future.” It’s one of four grants (totaling $86.5 million) the CPUC awarded to fund fiber network construction but also in the rural environs just outside the city in the communities of Indian Creek Two days prior to the CPUC finalizing the Placerville grant, Steve McCargar, senior management analyst the city hired to oversee the broadband project, updated the city council on where the project stands and the rapid construction timeline tied to the grant He told city councilors the grant “actually covers about 69 percent of the total network within the city So that's a real heck of a good head start,” adding that “the design is all but complete at this point.” That design work was paid for with a $500,000 Local Area Technical Assistance grant from the state that was used to hire engineers and outside consultants, McCargar told local news outlet the Mountain Democrat In the run up to the FFA grant announcement, McCargar said the city has been busy getting the project “shovel-ready,” which included ascertaining potential construction challenges such as trees or roots being in the way of the planned fiber path as well as figuring out how the city would deploy fiber along area bridges the city has been laying conduit as part of ongoing road maintenance work “For years now the city, anytime they’re doing any type of work on the roads they’re going to lay conduit,” McCargar told the Mountain Democrat “Which is relatively inexpensive to put in at the same time So then when it comes time to actually build the project out it’s just a matter of running the fiber under the streets and to where we want them to go So there’s a lot of forethought in that.”The grant will pay for the deployment of 40 miles of underground fiber the finished network would need 142 miles of fiber to serve all 5,832 locations in the city Because the FFA grant is funded by federal Rescue Plan dollars that need to be spent by the end of 2026 McCargar noted the project would need to be completed in about 18 months which is why he was requesting city council approval to move forward with the issuance of an RFQ to solicit independent ISPs to join the network and “We would like to give competitive advantages to at least two of the top ISPs chosen (from the RFQ process) to offer service over the network,” McCargar said noting that a key consideration is to work with those ISPs to ensure the “highest possible take rate” and to “generate community excitement and anticipation.” Subscription prices have not yet been determined the city intends to have ISPs offer several tiers of more affordable service that provide up to gig speed connections – with a “lower speed” plan that would be free for income-eligible households one councilor said “this is a huge game changer for the city” before asking if “the big guys” would use the network McCargar said: “there are actually dozens and dozens of small ISPs that are in no way connected to the AT&T's or the Comcasts Because of the technology (fiber) they can hook into our network and they can provide the service.” the city council unanimously approved the request to move forward with the issuance of an RFQ The FFA grant Placerville and the surrounding rural communities received are part of a broader $6 billion California “Broadband For All” initiative aimed at boosting broadband competition and driving down costs statewide Placerville’s fiber network will connect to the California middle-mile network, known as Golden State Net (“GSN”) which was specifically funded to help reduce the costs of building last mile networks in extending broadband access to underserved both of whom have called on state leaders to focus funding on community broadband initiatives.Still even with this historic round of state and federal funding it likely won’t be enough to get the job done completely Since the initial round of applications for the $2 billion FFA program closed in September 2023 the CPUC has received and reviewed 484 grant applications from every county in the state totaling more than $4.6 billion in requests A version of this article was originally published on the website of the Institute for Local Self Reliance's Community Broadband Networks Initiative on Oct. 29, 2024 ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative has been working in partnership with both CADE and DELA for the past several years Already have an account? Sign in public and private leaders discussed how they choose where Other broadband resources are doing the job Operators turn to gas and coal to meet data’s power demands Virginia is known as the 'Data Center Capital of the World.' El Dorado County firefighters stand on the hillside near Lo-Hi Way and Forni Road as they extinguish one of two fires which sprang up near In-N-Out and Spirit Halloween Friday afternoon A block of businesses including In-N-Out and Spirit Halloween located off of Forni Road in Placerville were temporarily under evacuation warnings the afternoon of Friday 18 as two fires scorched the neighboring hillside Smoke was first spotted rising behind the businesses shortly after 12:40 p.m. with half an acre of vegetation burning by the time first responders arrived on the scene El Dorado County Fire Protection District and other fire agencies responded to the call with California Highway Patrol officers assisting by quickly closing off access to the parking areas and adjoining roadway to leave room for fire services to maneuver unimpeded Nearby Lo-Hi Way also evacuated for close to an hour There were two separate fires burning concurrently in the area according to Cal Fire investigator Jeff Michel "At this time we do not know if they started separately or were spot fires that's all up in the air right now," Michel said Forward progress on both fires was stopped by 1:10 p.m Unconfirmed witness reports indicate two individuals were seen walking away from the area the fires started at around the time they began The cause of the two fires is still under investigation and firefighters continue to clear away brush and extinguish hot embers and debris as they work to achieve containment The one non-incumbent running for a seat on Placerville's City Council Ryan Carter felt the call to get more involved in the community and its government when he returned to Placerville in 2020 with four generations of his family currently live in the Placerville area He currently serves on the city's Planning Commission and is a member of the Measure H & L Committee experiences that he says have been "eye-opening." With Placerville's most recent budget requiring strategic cuts to meet costs Carter's top priority is keeping the city in a fiscally responsible state facing structural deficits that they're kind of trapped with," Carter explained but we are close enough to those problems that we really have to make sure we keep ahead of costs The city has done great jobs with its budgets staying lean on good years and paying off pensions and treatment plant costs we need to stay cautious of our fixed costs." Carter applauds the efforts to upgrade the roads and walkability of Broadway and Placerville Drive but feels some city regulation has held back businesses "Things like the limitations on signage we have can be a real burden on business owners that I think we can revisit," Carter said Speaking to the ongoing discussion regarding public events on Main Street Carter emphasized his appreciation of the moments the community can come together to celebrate "I'm a huge fan of Main Street events; I think they are an integral part of the Placerville experience," Carter said "I know there are cost-related issues to take into account which I believe there have to be better ways of going about them than the city has been but I'd like to see at least eight annual events held across the year." which blesses the table the mandala will be made on as well as the room as a whole includes a collection of instruments and chanting Geshe Phuntsho of the Gaden Shartse Norling Monastery speaks to the audience gathered at the Federated Church in Placerville as the opening ceremony began Jan who will be touring across the country for two years started their visit to Placerville by blessing the space as they prepare to create a mandala depicting the Wheel of Life Local member of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Pedro Olvera sings the Eagle Song during the opening ceremony during a pet blessing event at Federated Church on Jan The Sacred Arts of Tibet Tour of Gaden Shartse Norling Monastery hosted by Placerville Friends of Tibet at Federated Church has returned to the foothills During their time here the Tibetan Buddhist monks will compete a Wheel of Life sand mandala at the church and host community events The tour continues in Placerville through Jan. 12 and then moves to Folsom. Check out the full schedule of events at placervillefriendsoftibet.org DAR Regent Rebecca Parks and DAR Historian Lori Nalley join Placerville Mayor  John Clerici and DAR member Sally Long Johns for a photo at the meeting where Clerici shared tales from Placerville’s history as well as plans for the present and future Placerville Mayor John Clerici recently spoke to the El Dorado Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution at the February meeting He entertained the chapter members with fun facts and shared current issues for the city of Placerville Placerville was a gold discovery town that became a city in 1854 "Hangtown," only three people were ever hanged here  — all on the same day Agriculture and timber have long been important to the city 1 industry now is health care (Marshall Hospital) He described Placerville as a service community with a tourist element Challenges facing the city today are aging infrastructure lack of housing for workers who want to move here and homelessness Clerici noted that organizations like DAR are essential to the community and he would like to see more efforts to recognize historical events The mayor answered many questions from the members This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Postal Service office located on Main Street in Placerville was recently nominated to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places Lewis and a unique piece of Placerville history still adorns a wall in the former post office A long-standing Placerville location may soon be added to the National Register of Historic Places following a decision made by the California State Historical Resources Commission Nov The former United States Postal Service office located on Main Street next to Bedford Avenue was placed on a short list of locations nominated for placement on the historic place register that were discussed during the commission's November meeting Other locations nominated include a Southern Pacific Railroad Station and tower in Oakland the Ryan Historic District in eastern Death Valley and a church associated with the longest established African American congregation in Santa Barbara nestled next to the large redwood that long served as the city's Christmas Tree was constructed in 1939 as part of the Work Projects Administration and Franklin D who worked in the Office of the Supervising Architect for the U.S The building retains multiple elements of its nearly 100-year history including a heavy steel vault door and mural called "Forest Genetics" created by Tom E Lewis in 1941 for the Federal Works Treasury Section of Fine Arts The mural's title refers to the Institute of Forest Genetics established in Placerville in 1925 The facility was donated to the United States Forest Service and aids in the research of wood production disease resistance and environmental resilience has been forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places an official with the National Parks Service who will make the final decision regarding its designation Construction on improved pedestrian facilities along Placerville Drive are expected to begin after this year's fair in June Pedestrian connectivity is coming to Placerville Drive The Placerville Drive Pedestrian Connectivity Project will construct new sidewalks with curbs and gutters from Fair Lane to Armory Drive and will include improvements at the fairgrounds crosswalk “This project is really exciting,” said Melissa McConnell “We have an immediate need to get pedestrian safety in this corridor.” The sidewalk will start at Fair Lane on the west side of Placerville Drive beyond the fairgrounds entrance to a new crosswalk in front of the gas station meeting up with the new sidewalk in front of the El Dorado County Historical Museum on the east side continuing to Armory Drive This is one of more than 20 capital improvement projects in the works in Placerville including the much-debated Clay Street bridge replacement and the multi-level bicycle and pedestrian facilities and bridge replacement project on Placerville Drive It's nice to have a quick and easy project on the books “This has probably been our fastest delivery timeframe in a long while." The project is funded through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program and it has stayed well within budget “Our construction costs fit within the funding,” said McConnell adding that the quick turn around of the project help keep the project under budget Requests for construction bids will be released in the spring construction is targeted to begin just after the 2025 El Dorado County Fair concludes aiming to not interfere with those festivities said the ultimate goal of the project is pedestrian safety but they focused significantly on being low impact to traffic flow and business frontage adding the challenge was to make it safe while being low impact “(We're) trying to protect pedestrians without impacting property owners or impacting turning movements.” A highlight of the project is the relocation and upgrade of the crosswalk currently located in front of the fairgrounds entrance more visible crosswalk approximately 100 feet north in front of the VP Racing Fuels gas station This upgrade will improve pedestrian and driver sight distance and include rapid flashing beacons at the crosswalk yield markings and signs in advance of the crosswalk advance warning pavement markings and ADA compliant curb ramps “The crosswalk improvements are a benefit,” said McConnell “Moving it over will improve visibility and it’s going to work better for the fairgrounds.” has been on the project since it began in 2023 “We want to keep community members in the loop every step of the way,”  said DeMalo whose role in the project is public outreach “We always say part of outreach is education,” she added explaining that Aim Consulting’s role is as an extension of the city of Placerville “(making) sure we serve the community members and businesses.” Stephen (Stevie) Robbins was last seen by family in Placerville Dec Friends and family are on the lookout for any information regarding the location of Stephen Perry Robbins Robbins was last seen by family members Sunday on Clay Street in Placerville; attempts to contact him since have been met with dropped calls and unanswered texts short blonde hair and blue eyes; he is 31 years old Anyone with any information related to Robbins' location is asked to contact the Placerville Police Department at (530) 642-5280; the case number is 24-1859 An ofrenda on display at Arts and Culture El Dorado's Switchboard Gallery on Main Street in Placerville The ofrendas are altars made to honor loved ones and ancestors or sometimes pets or celebrities who have died this altar honoring lost abuelitos (grandfathers) comes in the form of a handmade shelf and a small table placed in front of it such as the familiar orange marigolds and photos of the departed personal significance like old hats and a guitar A closer look at the abuelitos ofrenda shows a table set for a game of cards with a bottle shot glass and cigars ready for the spirits A celebration of the spirits is coming back to Main Street Placerville Saturday with Arts and Culture El Dorado's popular Sugar Skull Art Walk event returning for a second year For the past month ACED's Switchboard Gallery has been home to community-made ofrendas — altars made to honor loved ones and ancestors who have passed away many of the ofrendas on display were made by locals who were born in other countries who has served as project manager for the Day of the Dead celebration designed in accordance with the artist's own inspiration and aesthetic interests some common threads are present almost universally The altars typically feature vibrant orange and yellow marigolds or their petals as the Mexican marigold is believed to invite good spirits The altars also feature offerings of food (bread is a common one) photographs or pictures of dead loved ones and small items of significance to the people the altars are meant to honor is recognized by the United Nations Education Science and Culture Organization as an intangible world heritage art form The celebration of the dead isn't limited to just the ofrendas as the art walk community celebration will feature performers from a variety of traditions There will be a Sacramento-based mariachi band Elena DeLacy and Daniel Torres and dancers from Aztec and Oaxacan tradition In addition to the performances which will take place along the walk from the Switchboard Gallery and down Main Street food such as tamales and champurrado will be offered Though a celebration of the dead may lead some to believe the procession and events will be a dour Velasco encourages those who want to participate or watch the event to bring high spirits and energy "This is a joyful celebration," Velasco explained carry streamers and flowers and bring a lot of energy." Velsaco is excited to bring the community event back for a second year and for the ofrendas to be on display for a fifth year at ACED's gallery "It's the opportunity to use art as a bridge between communities and create space for people who often don't feel like they have any," Velasco said The community event is set to begin at the Switchboard Gallery on Main Street Nov walk along the street toward City Hall and conclude with a series of performances that are expected to end around 8:30/9 p.m Kubota High Limit Racing ran its third event of an 11-race West Coast swing on Saturday at Placerville Speedway with a $12,000-to-win program James McFadden raced to his second series win of the season at the California bullring narrowly edging home-state racer Justin Sanders by 0.246 seconds for the top prize California native Andy Forsberg and Cory Eliason rounded out the top-five Twenty-four drivers were running at the finish with 20 of those finishing on the lead lap See below for Saturday's Kubota High Limit Racing results at Placerville Speedway Get the most important Racing stories delivered straight to your inbox Posted by | Mar 30, 2025 12:32 pm | , PLACERVILLE- Fremont’s Shane Golobic took the lead on lap 15 and went on to score his 17thcareer Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour victory on opening night at Placerville Speedway.  Golobic’s triumph during the “Thrill on the Hill” topped a solid 41-car field and came aboard the familiar Matt Wood Racing/ NOS Energy Drink No “It feels good to get another win in Placerville with SCCT,” commented Golobic “I wasn’t sure how the track would be in the feature but it turned out good and got a little tricky with the curb Dominic Scelzi made it close at the end and I could feel his pressure on the bottom Two-time and reigning SCCT champion Andy Forsberg started on the pole of the Shop Kyle Larson main event by way of capturing the High Sierra Industries Dash The Auburn veteran climbed out to the early lead in the 35-lap contest and attempted to keep Golobic at bay once lapped traffic came into play.  Suisun City’s Chance Grasty and Modesto’s Tony Gomes all bunched up A caution period brought the hot and hectic action to a stop but the intensity continued once going back green.  Golobic hounded Forsberg in exciting fashion and made a bold move up high to grab the lead as they crossed the line to finish lap 15 Once out front the three-time Trophy Cup champion had his way with things as racing behind him continued to keep fans on the edge of their seats.  Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi started from row five and methodically worked his way forward while running the lower portion of the speedway He moved into the top five with 10 circuitsr left and then claimed second with five to go A final race shootout saw Scelzi try his best to do something with the leader but Golobic was too smooth upstairs and crossed the checkered flag for the win.  Scelzi came home in second to cap off an impressive run aboard the Scelzi Ent After winning last week’s Placerville point opener Forsberg came back to round out the podium at the helm of the Pacific Highway Rentals No Sacramento’s Austin Wood had another tremendous night finishing in fourth while Aromas driver Justin Sanders completed the top five Rounding out the top 10 in the feature were Grasty Becker’s run from 17th to eighth netted him the Pit Stop USA Hard Charger Award.  a strong field of 41 Winged Sprint Cars competed on opening night which saw Tony Gomes earn the Sierra Foothills Wine Services Fast Time Award by clocking a 10.521 around the quarter mile.  The companion Nor-Cal Dwarf Car Association main event provided several thrills of its own In the end it was local product Shawn Whitney grabbing the checkered to earn yet another victory on the red clay Jace Badeker and Brenden Shrum rounded out the top five.  The Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour returns to action on Saturday April 19th at Merced Speedway.  Placerville Speedway is back at it this coming Saturday April 5th with the “Prospectors Pursuit” featuring Winged Sprint Cars Sprint Car Challenge Tour Thrill on the Hill Placerville Speedway March 29 Shop Kyle Larson A Main 35 Laps  King Racing Products Heat 3 8 Laps  About UsPrivacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsContact UsSubscribe for FREE! 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Make sure you get those nominations in before voting begins presenting her with State Senate Resolution No at the March 11 Placerville City Council meeting At left is Councilmember Ryan Carter with Mayor John Clerici on the right The annual recognition of Placerville's Woman of the Year from District 4 Sen Marie Alvarado-Gil’s office was bestowed on local Ruth Carter at the March 11 regular Placerville City Council meeting “This is the first time that I've done a City of Placerville Woman of the Year,” said Alvarado-Gil “I feel a great honor and deep admiration to be standing before you today to recognize one extraordinary woman.” Alvarado-Gill called Carter a beacon of service “Beyond her professional success Ruth's heart for community service is unparalleled,” she said acknowledging Carter’s commitment to helping those in need Ruth has spent her life advocating for the homeless and the hungry,” continued Avarado-Gil “She never forgets where she came from and she always strives to uplift those in need.” Alvarado-Gil said Carter’s life had been guided by the golden rule and a belief in “paying it forward.” Carter serves as a board member of the El Dorado County Association of Realtors and a member of its internship committee Alvarado-Gil pointed out that Carter helped shape the future of the profession by guiding and mentoring aspiring Realtors with wisdom and generosity “Ruth Carter is not just the woman of the year,” concluded Alvarado-Gil of service and of unwavering commitment to her community.”  After a brief pause to take photos the newly minted Woman of the Year took to the podium to accept the recognition “I'm very ill prepared for this,” said Carter She went on to say she believed Placerville to be “a city built on volunteerism.” “I look around this room and I know every single person in here volunteers for something,” said Carter talent and treasure in different ways in this community.” “Thank you very much," Mayor John Clerici said to Carter “It’s like we always say and you mentioned it this town doesn't get anywhere without the folks that pitch in on their own time and of their own efforts to to get things done in Placerville.” CA – A Placerville man has been convicted of igniting two blazes in August of last year; one was contained quickly and the other forced thousands to evacuate 48-year-old Jason Robinette was found guilty of two counts of arson in El Dorado County Superior Court late last week for sparking the Crozier and Mosquito fires on August 6 While the Mosquito Fire began first and was in the same general vicinity as the Crozier Fire The Crozier Fire broke out a few hours later eventually scorching 1,960 acres in El Dorado County After investigators concluded that both fires were started on purpose Robinette was taken into custody and later found guilty CAL Fire added that despite having the same name this Mosquito Fire should not be confused with the September 2022 blaze that burned 76,788 acres CAL Fire officials praised this as a major win in the battle against crimes linked to wildfires Agencies involved in this case included CAL Fire Law Enforcement Forest Service’s Law Enforcement and Investigations Office the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office Robinette’s sentencing hearing is set for about a month from now Written by Tracey Petersen Sign up for our Breaking News Alerts and the myMotherLode.com Daily Newsletters by clicking here. Report breaking news, traffic or weather to our News Hotline (209) 532-6397. Send Mother Lode News Story photos to news@clarkebroadcasting.com 2025 – El Dorado County Sheriff's Office officials report that on March 24 El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Central Dispatch received a phone call indicating that a shooting had occurred at a residence in the 5600 block of Rocky Ridge Rd Deputies from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office immediately responded to the area The victim in the assault was a 56-year-old male who had been transported to a local area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  Deputies contacted the suspect in the assault was identified as Sven Gosta Metour Metour was contacted in his vehicle and taken into custody without incident Metour was subsequently arrested and booked into the El Dorado County Jail Placerville for the following charges: Assault with a firearm - PC 245(a)(2) and Felon in possession of a firearm PC 29800(a)(1) Due to the active nature of the investigation A wall goes up for a building being constructed at The Crossings at El Dorado Aug Construction for the entire lot will finish in spring of 2025 Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian Earthwork and construction keep crews busy at The Crossings on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville on Missouri Flat Road in Placerville construction of retail space is under way owned by general contracting company Grado Construction will include future retail tenants like Boots Barn All are ready to go when the 125,000-square-foot center opens retail development right on Missouri Flat is finally occurring,” said Grado Construction owner Leonard Grado and a recently constructed 7/11 is expected to have its grand opening Sept More businesses are expected to begin operating by springs of 2025 the stores will help keep commerce in the county giving a local option to those who might be inclined to shop and dine in other areas of the greater Sacramento area you lose the jobs because younger people will go to Folsom and work down there,” Grado said I see the developments that I'm doing up here as a quality-of-life issue If you can retail here and not have to drive 40 minutes to go shopping in Folsom and then 40 minutes back you've just gained two hours in your day and saved $20 in fuel The shopping center is expected to generate a couple hundred jobs while generating approximately $45 million to $50 million in annual sales Another benefit the developer touts is the amount of property tax that will be paid to the county; roughly $350,000 The location of Placerville in relation to the county is prime for the retail expansion and has generated interest for potential tenants due to its intersection of Highways 49 and 50 the entire west slope is going to shop in Placerville; west of Strawberry and possibly Pollock Pines and Camino are all going to shop in Placerville,” he said “Much nicer to shop local than to have to go all the way to Folsom if you're from Camino we want to make retailing available locally instead of having people drive down the hill,” Grado added Future plans on Grado's development agenda include an RV campground and hotel adjacent to the The Crossings property Grado’s eyes are set on the success of The Crossings “We’ve appreciated the work at the agencies in the county to help bring this to fruition El Dorado Irrigation District and El Dorado Fire Protection District because none of this happens in a vacuum and we don’t take those commitments lightly from the standpoint of what it takes to get it all over the finish line,” Grado said A man was shot yesterday afternoon in Placerville leading to an investigation by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office the sheriff's office received a call reporting a shooting on Rocky Ridge Road in Placerville Deputies responded to the area and found a 56-year old man from Placerville who had been shot The man was brought to a local hospital with a non-life threatening injury Metour was arrested without incident and booked into the El Dorado County Jail on the charges of assault with a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm Officials say that since the investigation is still ongoing they are not able to release any additional information at this time Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device The Placerville City Council held a special meeting on March 5 to interview candidates for vacancies on the Planning and Recreation and Parks commissions Councilors were looking to fill two seats on each commission For the Recreation and Parks Commission nine qualified applications were received Michael Potter and Alyssa Stratton were all interviewed were both appointed to seats with terms ending on March 1 They will join commission Chair Larissa Lujan Commissioner Lynne Spencer and Commissioner Tony Windle at the next regularly scheduled meeting The commission generally meets the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m Six qualified applications were received for Planning Commission appointments Silvester and Stratton were both offered seats with terms also ending on March 1 They will join commission Chair Kristine Kiehne Commissioner Amy Lepper and Commissioner Kirk Smith at the next regularly scheduled meeting currently set for March 16 at 6 p.m Geshe Lundup Phuntshok and Venerable Surya Bishit chant as they begin the dissolution ceremony on Saturday The completed mandala depicted the Wheel of Life The mandala includes elements representing ignorance Members of the Placerville Friends of Tibet and volunteers who helped on this leg of the monks' tour were thanked before the dissolution with white scarves As the dissolution ceremony draws to a close the monks begin to sweep away the mandala until nothing remains but a pile of blessed sand The sand was collected into small bags and handed to attendees of the ceremony The Tibetan Buddhist monk Venerable Lobsang Yeshe from the Gaden Shartse Norling Monastery in Southern India performs a blessing at the Mountain Democrat on Jan The Tibetan monks from the Gaden Shartse Norling Monastery concluded their 10-day visit to Placerville with a dissolution ceremony on Saturday A reflection on the impermanence of all things the ceremony involves the ritual sweeping away and destruction of the mandala the monks had spent more than a creating out of 35 different kinds of colored sand "Every moment is a precious moment to apply yourself to be a better person you could have your life plucked from you," Geshe Phuntsho told the crowd as the ceremony began "Dissolution isn't just happening on this table; it happens within ourselves we are exhausting our energy and changing." drew a large crowd of volunteers and community members Groups of monks take two-year tours abroad from their monastery to spread goodwill and raise funds for the monastery With groups visiting almost every year for more than 20 years now Placerville has become a perennial stop on their trip The monks will visit Folsom at 1580 Creekside Drive Jan. 14-19 before heading to the next stop on their travels. Check out the remaining schedule of events at placervillefriendsoftibet.org Posted by | Mar 11, 2025 12:13 pm | , Placerville Speedway is prepared to open its 60th season of action on Saturday by honoring a man that had a key role in making it all possible with the 22nd annual “Tribute to Al Hinds” tackling the red clay Divisions set to christen the Berco Redwood/ Hoosier Tires championship season will include the Thompson’s Family of Dealerships Winged Sprint Cars the Red Hawk Resort + Casino Pure Stocks Late Models and the BCRA Lightning Sprints.  Please note the grandstands will open at 4pmthis season Live music and Coors Light/ Coors Banquet Happy Hour will continue to be held from 4-6pm.  The Tribute to Al Hinds began in 2004 following the passing of early track promoter and mentor a longtime Placerville resident and true race fan that touched the lives of many Hinds was the second promoter of Placerville Speedway He took operation of the track with business partner Richard Hirst from its founder three years after it first opened when the facility was built around an existing community football field The operator of a local machine shop by trade he enjoyed sitting with some of his best friends every night in the grandstands at Placerville Speedway and loved watching young talent make a name for themselves in the sport The inaugural Tribute to Al Hinds was captured by Roger Crockett while last season saw Shane Golobic snag his initial triumph in the event.  Track champions last season with the Thompson’s Dealerships Winged 360 Sprint Cars Red Hawk Resort + Casino Pure Stocks and Ltd Late Models included Auburn’s Andy Forsberg Oakley’s Nick Baldwin and Martinez’ Anthony Slaney respectively Grandstand seating at the Tribute to Al Hinds will be general admission on Saturday March 15th except for the reserved seats allocated to season ticket holders that are marked Adult tickets cost $18, while seniors 62+, military and juniors 12-17 will be $16. Kids 6-11 cost $8 and those five and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online via https://www.eventsprout.com/event/psr031525 Happy Hour is offereduntil 6pm in the grandstands featuring live music with discounted Coors Light and Coors Original at the beer booth The pit meeting will be held at 4:45pm with cars on track at 5:15 ADCO Driveline qualifying and racing will follow.  For those who can’t make it to the track, CaliDirt.TV will provide live flag-to-flag coverage of every Placerville Speedway point race this season. The live streaming service also includes each event with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour. Fans can purchase through a cost savings monthly membership or on a per race basis via https://calidirt.tv/ The Placerville Speedway is located on the beautiful El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville, California. Take Hwy US-50 to Forni Road/Placerville Drive exit. Then go north on Placerville Drive to the Fairgrounds. The physical address is 100 Placerville Dr., Placerville, CA 95667. For more information on the Placerville Speedway log onto http://www.placervillespeedway.com The quarter-mile clay oval is operated by Russell Motorsports Incorporated which can be reached at the track business office at 530-344-7592. Contact Kami Arnold or Scott Russell directly for sponsorship opportunities at the office.  Join over 20,000 followers of Placerville Speedway on Facebook, where you can keep abreast of updates for the 2025 season. You can also find Placerville Speedway on X/Twitter by following us https://twitter.com/pvillespeedway– In addition Ltd Late Models and BCRA Lightning Sprints | 22nd annual Tribute to Al Hinds Championship Opener Mini Trucks and Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Tour | Sluice Box Bonanza Saturday March 29: Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour and Nor-Cal Dwarf Cars | Thrill on the Hill- SCCT Opening Night Photos by Tim Holland and Petersen Media  Print A wildfire ignited northeast of Placerville early Wednesday prompting evacuation warnings for communities in El Dorado County The Crozier fire started at 1:21 a.m according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection The cause of the fire is under investigation The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders and warnings for residences in the Mosquito/Swansboro communities around 2 a.m The evacuation order was issued for neighborhoods that are north and northeast from the Mosquito Airport to the fire line Evacuation warning zones — meaning there is impending danger to life and property and an order to leave may follow — have been extended in the last several hours to include areas north to Quintet and south of the evacuation order zone The community of Volcanoville is also under an evacuation warning Residents can check Perimetermap.com for more information on evacuation areas. Climate & Environment Fire weather days have increased in Western U.S with some of the largest jumps in California according to a new report by Climate Central a nonprofit news outlet that reports on climate change there is a temporary evacuation point at the Placerville Library get water and snacks and determine the next steps Pets on a leash or in kennels are welcome at the evacuation point The El Dorado County Animal Services Shelter, at 6435 Capitol Ave. in Diamond Springs, will be open to house animals displaced by the evacuation order. If no one answers the door, please call (530) 621-5795 The Crozier fire is the latest blaze in an already explosive fire season. Wildfires have scorched more than 798,000 acres and destroyed or damaged more than 1,100 structures statewide this year, according to Cal Fire. Karen Garcia is a reporter on the Fast Break Desk, the team that has a pulse on breaking news at the Los Angeles Times. She was previously a reporter on the Utility Journalism Team, which focused on service journalism. Her previous stints include reporting for the San Luis Obispo New Times and KCBX Central Coast Public Radio. Hollywood Inc. California Entertainment & Arts Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.