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
Soulful art Trio shares artistic talent. News, Etc., B1
Friday, August 14, 2020
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Man who didn’t commit murder seeks $18 million
Volume 169 • Issue 95 | 75¢
“We have found three times the amount of abandoned fire pits in dispersed camping locations than the last three years combined.”
– Dave Pereira, Eldorado National Forest fire management officer
Pat Lakey Staff writer The man wrongfully convicted of the 1985 murder of a woman at an El Dorado Hills home — the man who spent more than 15 years in state prison for a crime he didn’t commit — is seeking $18 million from El Dorado County. Ricky Leo Davis, now 55, was declared factually innocent and released from custody in February by a Placerville Superior Court judge who was ready to try Davis, once again, for the brutal slaying of Jane Anker Hylton. Instead of facing a new trial, however, Judge Kenneth Melikian said evidence provided by DNA testing exonerated the defendant who, the judge added, had undergone “incarceration for way too long a time.” Davis always maintained his innocence in the slaying where a knife was used to stab the victim with nearly 30 blows, and the claim filed with the county Clerk’s Office Tuesday, Aug. 11, states that his n
See Ricky Davis, page A8
Third restaurant cited for breaking COVID-19 orders
Illegal campfires on the rise as folks flock to forest n Wildfire risks mount as dispersed camping increases in the forest
Dylan Svoboda Staff writer Danette’s Brick Oven and Pub in Placerville is the third El Dorado County restaurant cited for spurning state coronavirus safety regulations. After repeated violations, El Dorado County’s Environmental Management department officials directed the eatery to close Aug. 11 due to noncompliance with orders surrounding restaurants issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom in midJuly. The restaurant was cited for its failure to close all dine-in activity, noncompliance with facial covering regulations and not adhering to COVID19 worksite safety plans, according to county Environmental Management Manager Jeffrey Warren. Danette’s health permit is suspended until further notice, Warren said. After the county pulls a restaurant’s health permit, the business has 15 days to request a hearing before Environmental Management. A violation of the county’s order carries a fine of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense if committed within a year and $500 for each n
Mountain Democrat photos by Kevin Christensen
Eldorado National Forest personnel prepare a demonstration Saturday of acceptable propane fire alternatives to an illegal campfire. Shown to the left is a rock-ring fire pit, which is illegal. To the right of the fire pit are propane grills and fire rings, which are allowed.
See Breaking regulations, page A7
Kevin Christensen Staff writer
the forest, which increases potential for dangerous wildfires, The Eldorado a need for visitors to National Forest is “leave no trace” by seeing a surge in packing out what they visitors and the pack in, parking safely potentially dangerous in impacted areas and consequences that overall responsibility come with them are when traveling to causing alarm. Eldorado National Eldorado National Forest lands. Forest Service staff Their primary during a media tour concern is wildfires — Saturday provided especially following a first-hand glimpse a winter with low of the impact to the rainfall. Cars are packed into a parking area at a popular dispersed camping area called forest. “We have found Millionaire Camp in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area. With developed three times the campgrounds entirely amount of abandoned full, people are opting for dispersed camping. Dispersed fire pits in dispersed camping locations than the last camping, legal on Eldorado National Forest lands, is three years combined,” said Dave Pereira, Eldorado a term given to camping on public land other than in National Forest fire management officer. a developed campsite. It is most common on national “Abandoned campfires can and have caused wildfires. forest and Bureau of Land Management land. They present a significant risk and reduce our ability Saturday’s tour dropped in on a popular dispersed to use resources for things like fire suppression and camp in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area near Bassi training.” Falls. Campfires outside a designated developed area, such Law enforcement, fire management and recreation as in a rock ring at a primitive dispersed campsite, representatives spoke on topics that included the higher-than-normal volume of people traveling to n See forest, page A9
Shoppers aim for Target as Placerville location opens Dawn Hodson Staff writer A soft opening of the new Target in Prospector’s Plaza in Placerville drew a number of shoppers Wednesday. Some even waited in line to be the first in when the store opened at 8 a.m. The grand opening is set for Sunday but that didn’t stop anyone from coming earlier as was obvious from the packed parking lot. A cheerful Jo Cope of Placerville was loading up the back of her car with milk and other items. “I came to check it out,” she said, “and to get some stuff I was looking for. They have very courteous staff.” Also happy to see the store open was mother-daughter shopping team Shantal and Tina Ferreira of Placerville. “I’ve been waiting for the store to open,” said Shantal. “They have lots of stock. It’s really organized and clean and the staff are friendly.”
Echoing her comments, Tina said she was excited when she first heard they were opening a Target locally. “It was a good experience shopping there,” she said. “It’s a big store but it has a small-town feel.” The store has a bright, fresh feel to its 86,000 square feet with a variety of goods lining shelves and some 120 employees to help. Merchandise includes apparel and accessories for the whole family; home decor and essentials; an assortment of health, personal care and beauty products; adult beverages; a Starbucks outlet inside the store; a CVS Pharmacy; order pickup and drive up; and free services that allow customers to order items online and pick up in-store or have orders brought out to their vehicle. A Target spokesman said this is the Mountain Democrat photo by Dawn Hodson company’s 20th store in the greater Placerville resident Jo Cope loads up her car after shopping at the new Target store that opened in Placerville Wednesday. n See Target, page A7
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