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Pioneer principal denies charges n DA: ‘Pillar
– E s t. 18 51
Redwood gets a refresh Noel Stack Managing editor
F
in educational community’ had sexual interest in children Odin Rasco Staff writer
Boyd Holler against him and denied all special allegations in n See Holler, page A3
Roman Lopez murder
Father expected to change plea Odin Rasco Staff writer The man accused of killing and torturing his 11-year-old son Roman Lopez is set to change his not guilty plea in court Thursday, Oct. 26, according to his attorney Tasha Paris Chalfant. n See Piper, page A5
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Volume 172 • Issue 121 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, October 23, 2023
The Pioneer Elementary School principal accused of multiple sex offenses involving minors pleaded not guilty to eight felony charges filed
Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. El Dorado County Fairgrounds Marshall Building
Jordan Piper
oothill Tree Service gave the downtown Placerville tree at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Main Street a little TLC Wednesday morning. “We want to balance it out so it looks better aesthetically,” explained Foothill Forest Care consulting arborist Caroline Bartz. “It’s also going to help the tree bounce back.” The 95-foot-tall redwood sustained major damage during the 2022 New Year’s Eve storm, which sent branches crashing down while other broken limbs dangled from the Christmas lights strung through the boughs. Years of drought conditions had also weakened the tree that had been used for many years as the city’s official Christmas tree. Earlier this year the Placerville City Council decided to let the tree sit out the holidays while it recovers. Wednesday morning the Foothill Tree Service crew pulled all electrical components off the tree and trimmed up branches to give it a better shape. Foothill Tree Service owner n See Redwood, page A6
Mountain Democrat photo by Noel Stack
FTS owner Chad Dykstra, left, and consulting arborist Caroline Bartz pull electrical components away from Placerville’s landmark redwood tree. Arborist Dave Mercado ascended the tree to pull all the wiring and damaged light strings off.
State of the County
Development would bring housing, revenue Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
Housing development, financial stability, county workforce satisfaction and healthy communities. El Dorado County has had its hands full tackling these topics in recent years. District 3 representative and Chair of the Board of Supervisors Wendy
Thomas gave her State of the County address Oct. 18 at Cameron Park Country Club as part of the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce business awards luncheon. “We are here to protect what we love about this county while also ensuring it is sustainable for our kids, grandkids and future generations,” Thomas said. Thomas talked about the county’s budget, leadership, workforce and retention, housing and homelessness and recent countywide emergencies, kicking off her speech by reporting that Transient Occupancy Tax revenues are down 7%, along with sales tax, which is down a quarter-percent. Thomas shared that the county is anticipating a continued slowing of the economy and the county’s conservative fiscal approach has helped absorb rising costs
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
El Dorado County District 3 Supervisor and Board Chair Wendy Thomas gives her State of the County address at the Cameron Park Country Club Oct. 18. and declining revenue without cutting services. “It’s also important to note that while we have roughly a billion dollar budget, 40% of our revenue comes from government services or agencies that are for specific purposes, which means we do not have discretion for 40% of our revenue, and that is
another really important point to understand,” Thomas said. Thomas noted a 6% bump in property taxes have helped ease the downturn, and applauded county staff for staying within the budget and finding ways to increase revenue from outside sources. “While our financial
outlook is not entirely rosy, thanks to our conservative process, financial positions, careful management and careful departmental efficiencies and collaboration between county departments, we will be able to meet the needs of our county through a balanced
budget,” Thomas added. The supervisor commented on one strategy to bring the county’s revenue up — development. More specifically, she noted the county’s lack of affordable housing. “We are all adamant that we don’t want to become anywhere U.S.A., and we certainly don’t want to become Folsom. Yet our residents continue to demand a high level of service, which does come at a cost,” Thomas said. “Our residents don’t want (the county) to be an enclave for the rich, yet that is exactly what will happen if our community continues to fight development at all cost.” Thomas said developing attainable housing will create paths to counter the homeless crisis in El Dorado County. She cited statistics on use n See development,
page A6
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