STYLIN’ SUV
A Scout’s honor
Good design, great fuel economy in Hyundai’s Venue.
Youngsters learn to give back.
Road Beat, A8
News, Etc., B1 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
Volume 169 • Issue 102 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, August 31, 2020
Hopscotch for hospice
National Night Out is back on Thomas Frey Staff writer While National Night Out couldn’t take place this August due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event’s still happening — now on Oct. 6. This year’s theme will be National Night Eat Out! and Main Street, Placerville will be closed to traffic so restaurants will have more room to place tables in the street and to make sure there is enough space for everyone to be socially distanced. National Night Out each year gives the community the opportunity to meet and mingle with law enforcement and first responders while enjoying neighborhood barbecues, crafts, games and more. It’s goal is to promote partnerships in the community to make neighborhoods a safer place to live. n
See NNO, page A7
Oak Ridge coach awaits decision on suspension Thomas Frey Staff writer The Oak Ridge High School track and field and cross country teams wish they could just focus on preparing for a season in “Right now his which there are athletes need him. high expectations. Instead the teams 2020 has been are wondering what such a devastating will happen to their year. Our students coach, Bob Wright. Wright was and our district suspended from his have lost so much, coaching position they need stability. June 29 in a 5-0 vote by the El Dorado More than anything Union High School right now, they District Board of need Bob Wright.” Trustees after he allowed the Oak — Dave Warren, Oak Ridge Ridge High School teacher and former Oak Ridge track to be used track athlete without filling out a facilities permit for a May 23 race. Come the board’s Aug. 25 meeting, dozens n
See coach, page A6
Standing in the checkout line at stores these days customers take their places with 6-feet of social distance marked out on the floor. At Snowline Hospice’s thrift store on El Dorado Road shoppers recently found something a little different drawn out on the floor — hopscotch. Part of the Link-Up campaign to support Snowline’s Healing All Together Children’s Program, employee Jessica Stephens, above, demonstrates proper hopscotch technique. For customers willing to play, a portion of their purchase total went to the campaign. More than $11,000 has been raised between all of Snowline’s thrift stores, although the El Dorado Road location was the only one with hopscotch.
Mountain Democrat photos by Thomas Frey
Lesa McQuaid, Snowline’s retail lead, draws out the hopscotch course.
Garbage rate increases go into effect tomorrow Dawn Hodson Staff writer Garbage rates in El Dorado County are going up effective Sept. 1. Residential customers along the Highway 50 corridor from the Sacramento County line east to Pacific House, as well as south county customers, Rescue and Latrobe, can expect to see an increase in their El Dorado Disposal bill of $2.48 a month (7.2%); commercial customers in those areas will see an increase of $15.94 a month (8.3%). Residential customers in north county will see an increase of $2.61 a month (7.2%); commercial customers will see an increase of $19.92 a month (8.3%). The rate increases were approved 4-1 at Tuesday’s meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. Rate increases reflect adjustments in the consumer price index, recycle rate, increased cost of rebuilding the Material Recovery Facility and a surcharge increase.
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The surcharge is on all landfilled solid waste that is paid by El Dorado Disposal to the county to fund Environmental Management’s solid waste programs, including the ongoing operation, maintenance and monitoring of the Union Mine Landfill. The board also approved amendments to its previous agreement with El Dorado Disposal. Non-compostable plastic bags will no longer be accepted for disposal of green waste, whether for curbside, community and green waste collection events or drop off at the MRF, with or without a voucher. Community cleanup events that in the past have been subsidized for non-customers will still be free for El Dorado Disposal customers but others will have to pay a fee according to current solid waste rates. And changes are coming to green waste curbside pickup for residential customers along the Highway 50 corridor. According to county staff, the current agreement language is vague and states, “In addition to the bulky waste pickup, contractor
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will provide a spring and fall curbside green waste special pickup.” These special pickups have evolved into “unlimited” pickups, which are currently scheduled by El Dorado Disposal on a normal green waste cart collection day, with customers notified in advance of the event. The amendment proposes to limit the amount of green waste that may be set out to a combined total of 30, n
See garbage, pageA3
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