PR Pond Newswire

Reporting a mountain lion in our area. I am unable to contact fish and game directly and have tried to do so many times over the past week.We live at 627x Red Robin Rd.in Placerville.There have many many sightings of this mountain lion over the past week or so, it is huge and is estimated to be well over 300 pounds.The mountain lion is also creating a disturbance with its screeching all night long every night.

We have lived here for over ten years and are aware that  there are mountain lions near us but nothing like this.We have children as do other neighbors as well as pets and livestock.I believe this problem has been created by

New Forest Planning Rule Seeks to Restore the Nation’s Forests through Science and Collaboration

Secretary Vilsack Announces Release of Final Environmental Impact Statement by US Forest Service

39th Annual Hangtown Destruction Derby

Come join us for the 39th annual Hangtown Destruction Derby at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds (100 Placerville Drive). This is one of the longest running destruction derby's around. Fun family event, featuring several cars from across Northern California competing for the 2012 destruction derby championship. This event also features great raffle prizes donated from local businesses for only $1 a raffle ticket. We are also raffling a Newtown Firearms AR-15 with Magpul Accessories, an optic and a Springfield 1911 Loaded parkerized 45 caliber... Tickets are currently on sale, 1 for $10 or 3 for $25. Contact any member of the Placerville Police Officer's Association (730 Main Street Placerville) or call Andrew 530-906-6263. Prizes drawn throughout the event. Adult admission is only $10 and children under 14 or seniors over 62 are only $5. Gates open at 1PM and the event starts at 3PM. Come early to grab a good seat.

Join us on the night before (8-11-2012) at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds on the main lawn for the PPOA (Placerville Police Officer's Association) derby BBQ. Only $10 a plate for some good BBQ food. BBQ starts at 5PM.

This event raises money to support local programs including the PPOA's annual kids Christmas party and youth sports amongst others.

If you are intersested in making a donation or entering a car into the destruction derby feel free to respond to this posting by e-mail or call Andrew 530-906-6263. Pictures of the AR-15 are available at www.newtown-firearms.com.

For more information regarding the destruction derby or to see pictures of the Springfield and AR-15 visit our website at www.hangtowncops.org Raffle tickets available 1-30-2012. Do not need to be present to win.

Placerville duo The Method will be performing at a special tribute concert to the late David Rea at the Alberta Rose Theater in Portland on Sunday, Jan. 29.

Rea, who many in El Dorado County remember from his performances at the Placerville Folk Festival and from a series of house concerts, died the day after his 65th birthday on Oct. 25.

Shorty's Ghost

David’s sixth album, Shorty's Ghost, was released in 1997, under his own label, Gistu Recording. Co-produced with Michael Knapp

His album “Shorty’s Ghost” was recorded partly live at one of the Placerville house concert and partly at Eat A Fig Studio. The album was produced and engineered by Michael Knapp of The Method. Knapp also played bass on the album.

Rea had a truly remarkable career having been guitarist for Gordon Lightfoot, Ian and Sylvia, Fairport Convention, Clancy Brothers, Mike Seegar, Joni Mitchell, Rambling Jack, Bob Gibson, Jessie Winchester and many others. He is perhaps most famous a co-writer of the song “Mississippi Queen.”

While his last two albums “Shorty’s Ghost” and “David X 7? (with cover art by Joni Mitchell) were produced by Michael Knapp, his

An Open Letter to California Business Leaders and Organizations

Re: Business Support for Tax Increases

Dear Business Leader:

To the citizens of El Dorado County

The year 2011 is wrapped up, and so is my first year as your Sheriff. This year end report is to provide you, the community we serve, with information outlining some of the achievements by the men and women that make up your Sheriff’s Office. I believe it is my obligation to keep you, as the taxpayers of El Dorado County, informed as to the direction and accomplishments of this office.

To recap all the achievements of the last year would take up more space than I have, so I will simply highlight some of the more significant successes. Please know that the accomplishments were a result of teamwork, leadership, and action taken by all levels and divisions of the Sheriff’s Office.

Employees and statistics

Your Sheriff’s Office is budgeted for

As a series of winter storms continue to impact northern California through early next week remember to take precautions as special conditions arise.

Impacts include...

• oil has had a few months to accumulate on roadways. Rainfall on these roads will cause slicker than usual conditions.
• Breezy winds combined with periods of moderate rain may lead to small tree branches downed and possibly local power outages.
• Ponding of water on roadways will be possible in periods of moderate to heavy rainfall.
• Heavy snowfall over the mountains may lead to travel delays... chain controls... or possibly Road closures. Make sure your chains are in the vehicle. Even if you don't need to use them, you may be stopped and not allowed to precede with them in your vehicle.
  

The latest system will move through the area today. Most areas should begin to see precipitation around midday and continue through the evening. Periods of moderate rainfall and breezy southeast winds are expected with generally 0.25 to 0.50 inches of rain in the valley. Moderate to heavy snow above 5500 feet will impact travel across the Sierra.

The next system will traverse across the region Friday evening into Saturday. This storm appears to be the strongest of the bunch with breezy winds and decent rain amounts in the valley... 0.40 to 1.20 inches possible from Stockton on the low end to Redding on the high end. Additionally... heavy snowfall will be possible above 6500 feet... likely impacting weekend travel.

Travelers and outdoor recreationalists should prepare for the change to colder and wetter weather through Saturday. Roadways will likely be slick... so slow down and allow plenty of space ahead of you. If traveling into the mountains carry chains and extra food and warm clothing and expect

Chaz Smith knocks off two-time world champion for the gold

DIAMOND SPRINGS — In a stunning upset, Chaz Smith of the Hangtown Saber Club won USA Fencing’s Veteran event at the North American Cup (NAC) in Kansas City Dec. 11, defeating a two-time Veteran World champion to take the gold. Hangtown’s head coach, Ted Smith, took bronze in his Veteran event.

This NAC was the first of three qualifying events that will determine the national team named to represent the US at the 2012 Veteran World Championships.

“My goal is to make the US team going to Austria for Veteran Worlds next fall,” Chaz said. “And this was a good test of my progress.”

Chaz faced Jane Eyre, the current world silver medalist in Veteran 50, and two-time world champion, three times over the weekend.

“I drew Jane in the quarterfinals in Veteran 50, ran up an early lead, but allowed her to outsmart me at the end and lost 9-10,” Chaz said. “In the Veteran combined event, I had her in my pool and beat her 5-3. That gave me confidence when I faced her in the gold-medal match.”

Again ahead early, this time Chaz pulled out the win 10-9.

“After Jane eliminated me from Veteran 50, Ted told me I just needed to improve my game 10% to win the next time. He was right,” Chaz said.

Chaz’s performance makes her one of the front-runners this year to represent the US at

Towers of Cash Pays Thousands at Red Hawk Casino

New Rewards Club Member Plays Pennies and Wins Thousands

Red Hawk Casino, home to some of the luckiest and loosest slots, paid a lucky Rewards Club member $32,058 this weekend.

Thorne was known locally to many as a “master mapper” and although the economic downturn of 2008 took its toll on his professional engineering firm, Gene E. Thorne and Associates Inc., he never stopped giving back.

When work was slow, and without compensation, Thorne volunteered and produced an extensive and detailed set of professionally engineered maps that visually display how the county’s General Plan land-use policies function. These graphic visuals are still in use today, and are often on display at the Board of Supervisors’ chambers, where his firm’s well known logo identifies his contribution to helping others to understand local land-use principles.