Effective: 03:09 PST on 01-16-2012
Expires: 15:45 PST on 01-16-2012

...FREEZING TEMPERATURES TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING...

.COLDER AIR MOVING DOWN FROM THE WEST COAST OF CANADA WILL MOVE
INTO CALIFORNIA BEHIND THE WEAK COLD FRONT TODAY. CLEAR SKIES
TONIGHT ALONG WITH A COLD AIR MASS OVER THE AREA WILL BRING BELOW
FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR 6 TO 12 HOURS TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY

...CHANGE IN THE WEATHER OVER INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY...

AFTER A PERIOD OF DRY WEATHER OVER INTERIOR NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA...AT LEAST PORTIONS OF THE NORTH STATE WILL SEE SOME
RAIN...MOUNTAIN SNOW AND WINDY CONDITIONS TODAY.
MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL FALL NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 80
CORRIDOR AS THE TAIL END OF A FRONTAL BAND MOVING THROUGH THE

The Pacific Ranger District in the Eldorado National Forest has a new ranger. Richard Thornburgh was selected to direct the day-to-day operations on the Pacific Ranger District, headquartered in Fresh Pond, three miles east of Pollock Pines. Thornburgh’s new district includes the Crystal Basin, a portion of Desolation Wilderness, and part of the Rubicon Trail.

Read Formatted with Pictures: http://goo.gl/rhm9B

FIRST BIRD TESTS POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS THIS YEAR FOUND IN EL DORADO
http://goo.gl/m4J0U 

OWNERS WANTED, STOLEN PROPERTY RECOVERED DURING PLACERVILLE WARRANT SEARCH
http://goo.gl/UZNBP 

RED HAWK CASINO KICKS OFF FOOTBALL SEASON With the $1,000,000 Pro Football Pick 'Em
http://goo.gl/27s4k 

BIG BAND JAZZ AND EL DORADO COUNTY WINES
http://goo.gl/n102x 

WINE BUZZ: GRAPE HARVEST DELAYED
http://goo.gl/aCA3T 

OAK RIDGE GRAD DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN
http://goo.gl/YOXAY 

GEORGETOWN MAN, STUART JOHN PORTER, SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN STATE PRISON for “unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 16 years of age.”
http://goo.gl/BHCGb 

NONPROFIT OFFERS PROGRAM HELPING FLEDGLING BUSINESSES -- Plans are to launch similar classes in El Dorado County
http://goo.gl/lFVah 

VETERANS GREEN CORPS PROGRAM OFFERS FORMER TROOPS A CHANCE AT FOREST JOBS
http://goo.gl/DkU7I 

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE HELPS PREVENT WILDFIRES -- citing areas along Highway 50, Bass Lake Road, Gold Hill Road and Cameron Park Drive
http://goo.gl/7mstO 

SQUIRRELS RAMPAGING OUR LARGE, BEAUTIFUL JAPANESE MAPLE IN SHINGLE SPRINGS
http://goo.gl/Qv9h4 

POLICE RELEASE SKETCH OF PERSON OF INTEREST IN MISSING SOUTH LAKE TAHOE WOMAN CASE
http://goo.gl/fyhwn 

NEW TAHOE EAGLE ROCK TRAIL OPENS ON LAKE'S WEST SHORE
http://goo.gl/8Fx4v 

FUNDING TAHOE'S FUTURE: nonprofit aims to funnel private dollars into public projects
http://goo.gl/RhQUR 

PILOT SULLENBERGER TO SPEAK AT LAKE TAHOE FOR THUNDERBIRD LODGE AND YACHT
http://goo.gl/zEo0f 

BEAR HUNT TOLL UP TO SEVEN
http://goo.gl/5Lffx 

WASTE CONNECTIONS LOOKS AT MOVING OUT OF CALIFORNIA -- California is too difficult a place to do business
http://goo.gl/Fkas7 

MANY THINK PRESERVING PROP. 13 IS IMPORTANT 
http://goo.gl/JGttt 



========= EVENTS ==============


PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
3:00 pm
http://goo.gl/g3DZT 

RELAY FOR LIFE FUNDRAISER SET AT DENNY’S
5:30 pm
http://goo.gl/3zzTw 

FREE CONCERT AT EL DORADO HILLS TOWN CENTER
6:00 pm
http://goo.gl/NvufY 

Read Formatted with Pictures: http://www.prpond.com/51/placerville-area-news-events-july-27-2011-jul-27-2011.html

MILITARY COUPLE MARRY OVER THE PHONE -- Brown did not envision her dream wedding at the County Vital Statistics Office, and didn't imagine her future mother-in-law having to stand next to her as his power of attorney, but that's how it happened. Retired Chief Petty Officer William Schultz married them over the phone.
http://www.wdam.com/story/15148481/military-couple-gets-married-over-phone 

PLACERVILLE LOCAL ADAM GETS A MAI TAI AND $67,373 AT RED HAWK CASINO -- Adam B. had only been playing for a short time when the jackpot hit. Adam was ecstatic to see he won the top jackpot of $67,373. Adam attributes his luck to his favorite drink, the Mai Tai, which he was drinking at the time. When asked what he planned to do with his winnings, Adam replied, “Pay off bills and take a vacation!”
http://www.prpond.com/51/placerville-local-adam-gets-mai-tai-and-67-373-red-hawk-casino-jul-26-2011.html 

RED HAWK CASINO GIVES TO HELP ENDING THE CYCLE OF CHILD ABUSE
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/27/3795654/helping-others-luxe-for-life-to.html 

COPPER THEFT THWARTED AT CLOSED CAMINO MILL -- El Dorado County Sheriff's deputies arrested two Sacramento men on the weekend, after receiving reports the men were stripping copper wire from a closed lumber mill.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/07/copper-theft-th.html 

JACK RUSSELL BREWING COMPANY SOON TO OFFER WINE
http://eldoradoguidebuzz.com/placerville/2011/07/26/jack-russell-brewing-company-soon-to-offer-wine/ 

EID OFFERS TOURS OF FACILITY TO PUBLIC 
http://www.prpond.com/51/eid-offers-tours-facility-public-jul-27-2011.html 

FIX FERALS FOR FREE -- Cats need to be true ferals and not merely friendly neighborhood strays
http://www.eventsreport.com/event/fix-ferals-free 

PRELIMINARY REPORT INDICATES WOMAN PLANNED SUICIDE -- Placerville woman who fell to her death from the 14th floor balcony of a Stateline casino, apparently committed suicide
http://www.recordcourier.com/article/20110705/NEWS/110709943/ 

WRAP UP REDISTRICTING -- As far as we can tell this is one of the better maps to come out of El Dorado County’s decennial realignment of supervisorial districts. The population is as evenly divided as possible. Districts 1, 2 and 3 are all less than

Two post offices in El Dorado County are on the list for possible closures to help cut the U.S. Postal’s $8 billion budget gap.

The Postal Service announced plans to study the closing of up to 3,700 of its 32,000 retail outlets nationwide.

SCENIC HWY 50 SUMMIT TO SOUTH LAKE TAHOE MAY REOPEN EARLY -- Way2Tahoe "Hwy 50 at Echo Summit is tentatively set to open Saturday (late afternoon / early evening), several days ahead of schedule. 1-way, alternating lane controlled traffic will be in effect throughout the weekend, and will continue until next Friday at noon. Motorists should expect up to a 20-minute delay to pass Echo Summit." State transportation crews may reopen a highway in the mountains leading to South Lake Tahoe early even though a snowstorm this week temporarily suspended repair work on the scenic stretch of Highway 50. Caltrans says it is looking to get traffic flowing again over Echo Summit on Saturday, or four days ahead of the schedule the agency set when it closed Highway 50 between Phillips and Meyers on May 11 to repair the aging retaining walls that protect vehicles from the steep drop. 
http://www.facebook.com/Way2Tahoe

$95,611 BAD BEAT JACKPOT HIT AT RED HAWK CASINO'S NEW POKER ROOM ON THURSDAY, MAY 19 -- The group of nine avid poker players had only been playing for about a half an hour when Jerome M. from Diamond Springs, Calif., drew pocket Aces for an Aces Full hand and thought he had a winning hand. However, Bob S. from Diamond Springs, Calif., drew four kings and beat him. This qualified the table for Red Hawk's Bad Beat Jackpot of $95,611! Jerome's "losing" hand earned him the top cash prize of $47,804, while Bob received $23,902 and the seven remaining players at the table each walked away with $3,415. A Bad Beat Jackpot is paid when a sufficiently strong hand is played, but loses to an even stronger hand held by another player.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/95611-Bad-Beat-Jackpot-Hit-at-iw-315566633.html?x=0&.v=1

EL DORADO COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT PLAN DUI CHECKPOINTS FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND -- Law enforcement agencies in El Dorado County are planning a DUI crackdown for Memorial Day weekend, according to a South Lake Tahoe Police Department release. The enforcement campaign is scheduled to begin Friday. Placerville police will staff a sobriety checkpoint in the city's downtown district from 7 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. the following morning, according to the release. Driver's licenses will also be checked. The California Highway Patrol, meanwhile, will assign 80 percent of all available officers to area freeways and unincorporated roads in their jurisdiction starting at 6 p.m. Friday until midnight Monday.
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/20/3643390/sacto-911-el-dorado-county-law.html

A DOSE OF DAN: FOOD PRICES RUIN COSTCO DREAMING -- I usually love visiting Costco. It’s a treat for me to roam the aisles and daydream about how I could use everything I see. Naturally, we don’t buy everything—but it is fun to simply peruse and dream. However, our last trip to Costco caused me some concern and opened my eyes to what I know is a growing issue for most Americans. For the first time, it finally sunk in for me how much the price of food is on the rise. 
http://www.mtdemocrat.com/opinion/a-dose-of-dan-food-prices-ruin-costco-dreaming/

RESCUE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OFFER INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS -- The Rescue Union School District is pleased to announce the availability of three innovative educational programs for 2011-12. These exciting learning opportunities include transitional kindergarten programs at Lakeview, Jackson and Green Valley elementary schools, a kindergarten to second grade Montessori program at Rescue Elementary School, and a kindergarten to fifth grade visual and performing arts program at Jackson Elementary School. All programs are offered at no cost to parents.
http://www.mtdemocrat.com/features/rescue-school-district-to-offer-innovative-programs/

SEARCHERS FIND WRECKAGE OF PLANE REPORTED MISSING WEDNESDAY -- The wreckage of a plane reported missing Wednesday night en route from Minden, Nev., to Tracy has been located in a rugged, snow-covered area of the Eldorado National Forest. The aircraft was found south of Bear River Reservoir, north of Salt Springs Reservoir and west of Cole Creek in very rugged, snow-covered terrain. The wreckage was strewn over an area of approximately 300 yards. The aircraft tail number and serial number were located among the wreckage, as were personal effects belonging to Brown, including his passport, officials said.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/05/searchers-find.html

EL DORADO SUPERVISORS WILL DISCUSS PROPOSAL TO REPLACE RACIST HEADSTONES -- El Dorado County officials hope to take a firm step to right a 57-year-old wrong at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, with a proposal to replace 36 headstones at Mormon Island Cemetery that feature a racist slur stamped into the concrete. "Personally, I think the immediate need is to replace the 36 (markers) and replace them with something respectful," said Supervisor John Knight, whose district includes the cemetery. The Corps deeded the cemetery to the county 50 years ago. It is uncertain why they used a word that wasn't accepted in the newspaper in 1954, or why county officials didn't fix it before.
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/21/3642913/el-dorado-supervisors-will-discuss.html

========= EVENTS ==============

A very busy weekend full of events. The Highlight is Marie Mitchell and Shan Nejatian's Annual Gala Reception for Ray Nutting featuring special guests Senator Ted Gaines and Assemblywoman Beth Gaines. This villa was featured on the garden tour last week, but many missed it due to the rough weather. This event allows guest to see the villa in all of its glory and filled with local luminaries. http://www.eventsreport.com/node/146

SATURDAY: http://www.eventsreport.com/calendar/2011-05-21

AGENDA 21 & REWILDING ALARMIST ARE VALIDATED -- For many months some individuals have sounded the warning of an environmental movement called Agenda 21. This has been the subject of a number of meetings of the local TEA Party. Some others have questioned the existence of this movement and if it is having any effect on local public policy. This story, "Rewilding is gluing nature back together" by the executive director of the Lake Tahoe Humane Society and S.P.C.A. gives creditability to those claiming that much of El Dorado County is slated to have Humans removed so that animals can reclaim their place. 
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/ARTICLE/20110519/NEWS/110519876

SEARCH UNDER WAY NEAR PLACERVILLE FOR MISSING PLANE, VALLEY PHILANTHROPIST 'BUDGE' BROWN MISSING IN SIERRA -- According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane, a Lancair Legacy, left Minden about 4 p.m. Wednesday, with only the pilot on board. The pilot was not in communication with or being tracked by air traffic controllers. The Minden Record-Courier newspaper reports that the pilot was Robert "Budge" Brown, a businessman and winery owner, who owned the former Oakwood Lake Water Park in Manteca. “The owner of the aircraft was very experienced according to his family,” Scherzi said. “He had flown the route 200-300 times.” Scherzi said it appeared from the radar track that Brown flew over Lake Tahoe to possibly avoid thunderstorms, before turning south.
http://www.recordcourier.com/article/20110519/NEWS/110519830/1001&parentprofile=1049

KNIGHT OFFERS CEMETERY SOLUTION -- Supervisor John Knight is offering a plan that may allow the Mormon Island Relocation Cemetery’s resident souls to rest in peace, in the wake of newly born publicity over an offensive, racial slur. In a May 13 letter to his colleagues on the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, Knight outlines a possible resolution to remove and replace 36 grave markers that were created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1954. Knight’s letter is slated for next Tuesday’s board agenda. In addition, he asks that board Chairman Ray Nutting sign “a letter of gratitude to (Joshua Michael) the Eagle Scout who initially sought a solution to this matter, and thank him for his sincere efforts in attempting to replace the 36 headstones with an appropriate epitaph.”
http://www.villagelife.com/news/knight-offers-cemetery-solution/

PLACERVILLE MAN FINDS PLANE WRECKAGE, POSSIBLE HUMAN REMAINS -- Donnie Prince was riding a dirt bike in the Nevada desert discovered what he believes to be the wreckage of a small jet plane. The former Vietnam-era Air Force mechanic identified one of the pieces as a jet turbine blade. Another part is stamped with the name "LEAR." One of the aircraft components Prince showed carried a legible serial number. He also recovered a large bone near the wreckage that is roughly the size and shape of the bone in the human forearm. Prince said the bone crumbled when he picked it up.
http://www.news10.net/news/local/article/138461/2/Placerville-man-finds-plane-wreckage-possible-human-remains

SUPES, PUBLIC BLAST SACOG AS ‘BIG BROTHER’ -- The air in the El Dorado County Supervisors Chambers Tuesday was virtually blue with all the dirty words flying in both directions — from the audience and from members of the board. “Big, intrusive government, globalism, socialism, greed and claim-jumping, United Nations Agenda 21, Sustainable Development,” were all used to describe what began as a Consent Agenda item authorizing the chief administrative officer to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. 
http://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/supes-public-blast-sacog-as-big-brother/

FRIENDS TESTIFY STEVEN COLVER CONFESSED TO KILLING GIRLFRIEND'S MOTHER -- Colver set down the knife in a shopping bag and said, "I killed Ty's mom," Widman testified. Joanne Witt, 47, died after at least 20 stab wounds, including to her chest, neck and shoulder. Her death came after she evicted Colver, a boarder in her house, and filed a statutory rape report against him over asexualrelationship with her daughter.
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/20/3640816/friends-testify-steven-colver.html

DIRECTOR GREEN RESIGNS FROM CAMERON PARK CSD — In a surprise move, Richard Green resigned from the Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors at the board’s meeting on Wednesday, May 18. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, and before the board adopted the evening’s agenda Green said he would like to say something. He then stood up and read a prepared statement, “An open letter to the community of Cameron Park,” then left the meeting. At the end of his statement, Green said, “Effective immediately, May 18, I am resigning my position on the Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors.” Although his resignation was not anticipated, Green had made no secret of his frustration with fellow board members ...
http://www.mtdemocrat.com/neighborhoods/cameron-park-hood/director-green-resigns/

TEEN ACCIDENT VICTIM NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE -- Scott Santana, a Union Mine High School scholar and athlete, was gravely injured in a head-on collision at about 3 p.m.Tuesday on Greenstone Road near El Dorado. The 17-year-old suffered extreme trauma as a result of the accident and remained on life support and in critical condition as of Thursday.
http://www.mtdemocrat.com/neighborhoods/el-dorado-hood/teen-accident-victim-not-expected-to-live/

HANGTOWN CREEK, A THRILLING SAGA OF THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH -- available in paperback, kindle and nook. “With Hangtown Creek, John Putnam produces elements of the classic Western reminiscent of tales such as Lonesome Dove. Instead of an epic cattle drive, Putnam uses his detailed knowledge of the California Gold Rush to weave a story of intrigue and adventure.” Rome Collier. Chapter 1 Fall 1846, The earth, rutted deep from hundreds of wheels, churned raw by thousands of hooves, bore witness to the recent passing of a large immigrant party—all save one battered wagon that sat alone and untended, a loose pot clanking in the cold north wind. ...
http://mygoldrushtales.com/hangtown-creek/

TWO CLIMBERS RESCUED AFTER FALL AT LOVER'S LEAP -- Two rock climbers were brought to safety Saturday night following an “extremely dangerous” rescue mission at a popular Lake Tahoe area rock formation. A 33-year-old Bay Area man suffered moderate injuries after falling between 80 and 100 foot fall. The men became stuck on a ledge due to the man's injuries and because climbing equipment was lost in the fall. Rescuers considered the situations an “extreme emergency” and helicopter from Naval Air Station Fallon responded to the area. A technical rope rescue was required to bring all three of the men down from the rock face. 
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20110519/NEWS/110519859/

MOTHER, SON INDICTED FOR MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING FROM EDC GROW HOUSE -- A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Patricia Jane Albright, 59, and her son Jordan Robert Wirtz, 24, charging them in a conspiracy to cultivate marijuana and structure financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements, according to a U.S. Justice Department news release.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/05/nevada-city-mot.html

REDHAWK CASINO REPOSITIONING AS A MORE VALUE-ORIENTED LOCALS CASINO -- That includes less expensive food offerings, free slot tournaments and

The only bi-state rolling historical event starts its 62nd year when the wagons circle up at Zephyr Cove, Nev., for registration and a kickoff dinner June 4. It’s the Highway 50 Association’s Wagon Train. And the destination is Old Hangtown or bust.

California counties are getting a shocking Christmas gift from the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) in the form of an updated actuarial report for the retirement system. Of course, pension liabilities are soaring, which will further stress county budgets. In the small county where I reside (El Dorado County), the unfunded pension liability has increased $172 million in one year, to approximately $264 million. Those are big numbers in a mostly rural county.

Brown puts campaign for Supervisor on hold.

POLLOCK PINES – Kevin Brown, the leading candidate to replace the term limited Helen Bauman for El Dorado County Supervisor, announced that he would suspend his campaign to deal with a medical emergency in the family.

Featuring: Wild Asparagus
Location: Camp Sacromento
Price: $190
Sponsored by: Sacramento Country Dance Society

Agencies governing the Lake Tahoe Basin should loosen regulations to allow for mechanized thinning of forest land susceptible to wildfire, Congressman John Doolittle, R-Rocklin, said in a telephone press conference Thursday.

Placerville Founder's Day and Wagon Train
Next Saturday, June 9th, 2007 will see the wagon train arrive in the street of "Old Hangtown", Placerville, CA. Historic Main Street will be closed to traffic for this annual affair which includes vendors, musical entertainment and a street dance.