Think pink
FABULOUS FALL Autumn is a great time to explore the trail along Echo Lake — but heed caution.
Break out the pink, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Prospecting, page 7
Elect
L E A H C I M
Y T E F F RA
Outside with Charlie, page 11
EID Division 3
Monday, October 5, 2020
mtdemocrat.com
Volume 169 • Issue 115
Paid for by Commit tee to Elect Michae l Raffety EID Board Divisio n 3, 2020
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Placerville City Council hopefuls make their cases Pat Lakey Staff writer Placerville City Council candidates sounded markedly similar as they discussed myriad issues Thursday night during a forum presented by the El Dorado County League of Women Voters via Zoom. Five candidates are seeking two seats on the City Council in the Nov. 3 General Election. They include sitting Mayor Michael Saragosa who has served on the council for two years and wants to win a four-year term. Candidate Tracy Bunch is a community liaison for the El Dorado County Office of Education. Community volunteer and El Dorado Trail champion Jackie Neau also is running for one of the two positions, along with retired California state manager Jackie Yepez who grew up in Placerville. Local businesswoman Mandi Rodriguez rounds out the field of candidates. The League of Women Voters’ Elizabeth Leslie moderated the night’s questions, submitted by the public during the twohour session. Leslie explained that the candidates would not be allowed rebuttal due to time constraints and wishing to get to all the questions (which she said was accomplished). There appeared little need for rebuttal, however, as it became clear each candidate cares about the city and thinks they can make a positive difference by sharing their individual talents through serving on the City Council. Each candidate was allowed an opening and closing statement, in addition to each answering each submitted question, with the order of responses alternated. The entire candidates’ forum may be viewed online by visiting youtube.com/ watch?v=jtmFsHdyrZY. Perhaps the most vexing problem facing the city today is that of an everincreasing homeless population, with all five candidates aware of the fact that the Supreme Court last year refused to hear the Martin vs. Boise case that essentially n
Mountain Democrat photos by Thomas Frey
Dan Neher, who owns Knotty Pines Lanes with his wife Alesha, sanitizes bowling balls — something he and his staff now do several times a day.
Low COVID-19 numbers
frame a strike for Knotty Pines Thomas Frey Staff writer
W
hen El Dorado County moved from the red tier into the less-restrictive, orange tier of California’s COVID-19 framework of reopening, more businesses were able to swing open their doors, including bowling alley and family fun center Knotty Pines Lanes in Pollock Pines. It is one of the few bowling alleys currently allowed to operate in California and the closest for many Central Valley residents — some 56 miles from downtown Sacramento. Most of the Central Valley, Bay Area and Southern California remain in the purple and red tiers where coronavirus is widespread and substantial, according to the state’s virus-monitoring data, and family entertainment centers are only permitted to operate outdoors. Prosperity Lanes in Nevada County, another orangetier county, is also open about 60 miles distant from downtown Sacramento.
See City Council, page 6
n
See Knotty Pines, page 3
Bowling shoes are now more thoroughly disinfected after each use.
Restrictions in forest revised
Closing credits for Tibbals
Dawn Hodson Staff writer The U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region has revised fire prohibitions put in place last month due to dry conditions and potentially dangerous weather at peak fire season. Propane and gas stove use is now permitted in developed recreation sites in the Eldorado National Forest. Developed recreation sites are defined as areas which have been improved or developed for recreation such as campgrounds and day use sites. All smoking and all fires are prohibited throughout the forest. Wood burning stoves inside recreation residences is allowed. Dispersed camping, including in Desolation and Mokelumne Wilderness areas, remains banned. “We understand how important access to national forests is to our
Mountain Democrat photo by Thomas Frey
John Tibbals was honored at the Sept. 22 meeting of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors for his 35 years of service as the board’s videographer. County supervisors and staff presented Tibbals, who is retiring, with a proclamation recognizing his dedication to public service. Pictured from left, with Tibbals holding his proclamation in the center, are, Kim Dawson, Lori Parlin, John Hidahl, Brian Veerkamp, Shiva Frentzen, Kyra Scharffenberg and Tabetha Smith.
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