C a l i f o r n i a ’ s O l d e s t N e w s pa p e r – E s t. 18 51
MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2020
Volume 169 • Issue 75 | 75¢
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Coronavirus dims Fourth of July events Dawn Hodson Staff writer Due to COVID-19 concerns, some Fourth of July parades and other celebratory events in El Dorado County have been canceled. Pyrotechnical displays everywhere are pretty much out of the picture with the Family Blast at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville and the Fireworks and Freedom Concert at El Dorado Hills Town Center having been canceled along with all those at Lake Tahoe — including those at South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, Kings Beach, Truckee and the North Shore. Cal Expo has also canceled its celebration. However an Entertainment and Fireworks spectacular is still planned for Friday, July 3 at Folsom Ranch in Folsom. Gates open at 7 p.m. with the program beginning at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 a carload or $50 at the gate. Buy tickets online at etix.com/ ticket/p/3835841/star-spangled-drivein-folsom-folsom-ranch-south-ofhighway-50. The popular Folsom Pro Rodeo has been postponed due to COVID19 concerns and instead the Greater Folsom Partnership (GFP) has decided to tentatively move it to the Labor Day weekend. But area rodeo fans may still be able to enjoy a fun, patriotic event as the GFP is in the planning stages of a special July 4 tribute that will honor the holiday (as the rodeo has done for 60 years), the resilience of our country and at the same time adhere to the social distance guidelines. The Pollock Pines-Camino Rotary has announced it will not be sponsoring the traditional Pollock Pines Independence Day Parade this year out of concern for the COVID-19 situation. A press release from Pat Atkins, resident of the Pollock Pines-Camino Rotary, states, “We appreciate how much the community looks forward to this tradition and with cancellations of all the events and other celebrations that we have all been subjected to due to the coronavirus, it’s very hard to accept one more event cancellation. “We will be looking forward to, and will prepare for, a bigger and better 2021 Independence Day Parade. Thank you to all the community members and businesses who have supported the parade over the past many years. We know that this event is very special to our community and, again, we look forward to offering a robust 2021 event.” Pleasant Valley won’t be holding a
Democrat photos by Krysten Kellum
The hangman over the Hangman’s Tree Ice Cream Saloon reappeared last week after a brief hiatus. Discussion of keeping or removing the hangman dummy, Placerville’s “Old Hangtown” nickname and the noose on the city seal dominated public comment at the June 23 Placerville City Council meeting.
Placerville City Council ponders: time to hang up Pat Lakey Staff witer
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‘Old Hangtown?’
he simmering controversy over the name “Hangtown” along with the dummy dubbed George that hangs over the Hangman’s Tree Ice Cream Saloon on Main Street, all the hangman’s nooses peppered on city street signs, on business logos and merchandise — boiled over into the laps of the Placerville City Council last week. Acknowledging the city had received dozens and dozens of letters and other written communication regarding getting rid of the moniker Hangtown on the sign that greets eastbound Highway 50 traffic coming into town and getting rid of any such reference in all official city-sanctioned venues, the council discussed the matter for more than an hour during the public comment portion of the Tuesday meeting, held through Zoom. As city leaders pondered whether a change needs to be made, particularly in light of the “national conversation” regarding racism and violence against people
of color, several callers phoned in to be heard during the proceedings. With a handful of exceptions, the majority opinion of the letter writers and those who spoke by call-in was that yes, it is time to put the hanging effigy to his final rest — inside a museum and not swinging from a noose on Main Street. George, who actually is the private property of the owners of the property at 305 Main St., disappeared for a while recently, but was back holding sway over the sidewalk by last week. The city has deemed
Street signs in Placerville include the “Old Hangtown” moniker and a noose.
the dummy to fall under its sign ordinance, as such, it is within code, according to city officials. As the matter of the town’s nickname was not on the council’s agenda, no action could be taken by the panel — although ultimately city staff was told to explore removing references to Hangtown from city logos and other places it appears. That action may occur quite soon regarding the city’s official seal, which along with a gold miner panning for nuggets along a creek contains an oak tree with a noose hanging from a limb. Before the evening was over, the discussion was not limited to Hangtown and hanging nooses, n
See old hangtown, page A6
See Cancellations, page A6
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The wild life: Tahoe busy with arrival of newborns
Courtesy photo
Bobcats arrived to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care with singed whiskers and their eyes still closed.
TM
Tahoe Daily Tribune
Caring for cubs
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — Nestled in the trees, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care is full of spring babies. Whether it be bobcats, owls, skunks or almost any other wild animal, LTWC is committed to keeping the wild — wild. LTWC has been extremely busy with the uptick of newborns. Numbers usually increase in spring but this year they have more on their hands. “We have more mammals than we usually do,” said Animal Care Director Denise Upton. When LTWC gets a call about an orphaned animal, they first try to locate and reunite the critter with its parents before they bring it into the facility. If the search is not successful, LTWC rehabilitates the animal until strong, healthy and ready to release back into the wild. LTWC this spring has a skunk, squirrel, weasel, marmot, bear cubs, three coyote pups, four bobcat kittens, a porcupine and more. Each of the rescued animals has an enclosure where they are monitored and rehabilitated. LTWC makes sure to give the youngsters plenty of space to ensure they don’t get comfortable around humans.
LTWC last week successfully released three bear cubs Nyack, Donner and Truckee. LTWC’s newest cubs are offspring of a known local around town. A neighborhood bear named Hazel was hit by a car May 25. Hazel did not survive her injuries. Since locals knew of her and had seen her out and about with the two cubs, the team at LTWC went on a search for the siblings. The team was able to find both cubs and trap them using milk. The cubs were estimated to be about two months old when found. When the cubs arrived at LTWC, they were undernourished and scared from being orphaned. About three weeks later, the cubs have adjusted to their new space, they’re comfortable and growing. “At least four bears and one cub have already been hit this year,” Upton said. “There are alot of cubs out there this year.”
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