NEWS, ETC,
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El Dorado, Ponderosa championship runs come to an end.
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MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020
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VOLUME 169 • ISSUE 28
STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS
EDC getting things done but still facing challenges But the District 3 supervisor’s State of the County address wasn’t all dark clouds on what turned out to be a very sunny day at Rolling Hills Christian Church, where the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce hosted its monthly luncheon March 4. Now in his last year as a supervisor, Veerkamp touted the county’s achievements over the last several years, including the development and implementation of a strategic plan that has moved the county forward with a more business-like structure. He also stressed the board’s efforts to build a great team from the top down. “You cannot do anything without a team working together,” Veerkamp said, adding that the strategic plan includes a goal-oriented action plan and
n Development of strategic plan
moving county forward Noel Stack Staff writer
California state leaders can expect what will likely be a lengthy list of complaints from El Dorado County in the coming months. As El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Chairman Brian Veerkamp put it, “This is a politically correct way to say, ‘We’ve got problems and you’re not helping.’” Broken promises on road funding, a lack of action on the homeless and homeowners insurance crises and addressing PG&E’s “weird games” top the list.
n
See SOTC, page A9
Democrat photo by Noel Stack
El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Chairman Brian Veerkamp delivers his State of the County address Wednesday, March 4, at Rolling Hills Christian Church in El Dorado Hills.
National Park proposal gets reality check Pat Lakey Staff writer An apparent attempt to make an endrun around the Placerville Recreation and Parks Commission by the proponent of making a chunk of the city and surrounding areas into a national park was thwarted at a recent Placerville City Council meeting, with a former mayor calling “foul” on the maneuver and revealing what, he said, is the full playbook of the game. Jennifer Chapman, who lives on Clay Street in Placerville and frequently approaches the City Council regarding speeding vehicles and other problems she sees there, sat stone-faced Feb. 25 as ex-mayor John Clerici stood just a few feet away from her at the podium and blasted what he suspects is the motive behind Chapman’s recent effort to attain federal National Park status for, ostensibly, the Highway 50 and 49 corridors. Chapman had made a presentation regarding her vision earlier last month to the city Recreation and Parks Commission, whose members ultimately told her the plan as it stands now is too vague, too far reaching, with no clear funding mechanism nor indication regarding whether the National Park Service wants to participate, among other concerns. Chapman and her backers were told they could come back before the commission, if they wished, after making pertinent changes. Instead of doing that, however, n
See NATIONAL PARKS, page A9
Democrat photo by Jana Rossi
An Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter lands at Marina Village Middle School last month. The crew came to campus to teach students about the importance of being respectful and avoiding harmful substances.
Black Hawk crew shares important message with middle-schoolers Jana Rossi Staff writer
M
arina Village Middle School students had the unique opportunity of watching an Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter land on their school field Feb. 25. The entire student body, along with
students from neighboring Lake Forest Elementary School and a few neighbors lined the fences watching this utility machine circle the field and descend into a graceful landing right before their eyes. “Very cool — once-in-alifetime experience,” said eighthgrader Jordan Lindemann.
Student Arda Askin, who is considering joining the Navy when he is old enough, told the Mountain Democrat this experience meant the world to him. While student Scott Corner said he wanted to jump in the helicopter like Jason Bourne. n
See BLACK HAWK, page A3
First coronavirus death in California reported in Placer County n Officials say no EDC residents were aboard cruise ship with victim Dawn Hodson Staff writer The first Californian to die of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was announced by Placer County health officials Wednesday. The person who died was a 71-year-old resident of Rocklin. Neither the person’s name nor gender is being released. Health officials said they believe the patient was exposed to the virus while on the Grand Princess cruise ship that left San Francisco Feb. 11 for a round trip to Mexico, returning on Feb. 21. The person was one of at least two people who tested positive for the virus on the cruise ship. The elderly patient, who had underlying health
conditions, tested positive on Tuesday and was subsequently isolated at Kaiser Roseville in “critically ill” condition. He died early Wednesday morning, March 4. Ten health care workers and five emergency responders who were exposed to the patient are now in quarantine, according to officials. More than 50% of the other passengers on the cruise ship were from California. However, as of Friday, El Dorado County officials said none of them was from El Dorado County. Hours after the patient’s death was announced, on Wednesday afternoon Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency during a press conference. Newsom said the emergency proclamation was intended to help procure supplies and resources
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quickly. That order included the directive that all commercial and Medi-Cal health plans regulated by the department to immediately reduce costsharing to zero for all medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19. That included waiving cost-sharing for emergency room, urgent care or provider office visits when the purpose of the visit is to be screened and tested for COVID-19. Statewide, the California Department of Public Health reports there were a total of 60 positive cases of coronavirus as of March 5. Twenty-four of those cases were from repatriation flights, 18 were travel related, seven were due to person-to-person n
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