Photo of the week

This #PlacerLife photo of the historic Placer County courthouse colonnade lit up in green and red was taken by @newscam_alanb on Instagram.

Featured story

Placer County 2025 Year in Review

It was a year full of significant projects and accomplishments for Placer County. From new construction projects to major land conservation, 2025 was packed full of milestones. Join County Executive Officer Daniel Chatigny for a look back in the 2025 Year in Review.

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Preparedness

FLOOD WATCH Dec. 20-26: Stay prepared and informed

A Flood Watch is in effect Dec. 20–26 as snow levels may drop to 6,500 feet, bringing rain and gusty winds. Get winter tips for your home and vehicle at ReadyPlacer, check the ReadyPlacer dashboard or dial 2-1-1 for help. Learn more

Community

Meet the artists of the new Veteran Memorial Mural in Colfax

When the American Legion Post 192 put out a call for artists to paint a mural behind the Colfax Veterans Memorial Hall, Foxey McCleary and a band of artists responded. After months of work, the mural is now complete.
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Housing

Board hears appeals of Hope Way Apartments, grants tentative approval

Our Board of Supervisors this week voted 3-2 to tentatively approve design review and state density bonus requests for the Hope Way Apartments in Penryn, a 240-unit affordable housing project near I-80. A final vote is scheduled for Jan. 26. Read more

Local government

12 Days of Placer County: Looking back at 2025 highlights countywide

Now in its second week, the 12 Days of Placer County continues our countdown of the programs, people and services that shaped 2025. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram and our website to revisit the moments that mattered most.
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In other news

Placer County Elections Office to open candidate filing period for June 2, 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election

REMINDER: Hidden Falls Park parking reservation required during peak-use days: Dec. 22 - Jan. 2

This week in Placer County history

Scribner’s General Merchandise Store in Rocklin opened in 1894 and primarily sold clothing, shoes, fabric and accessories. Display cases featuring removable mens cuffs and collars, suspenders, shirts, ties, jewelry and pocket watches lined the store’s interior. Meanwhile, cartons of shoes, gloves, hats, fabric bolts, and even luggage sat cleanly organized on floor-to-ceiling shelves.

Scribner’s store was a popular shopping destination and sat near the intersection of what today is Pacific Avenue and Rocklin Road along the railroad line. On October 1,1897, it was also the site of a nighttime heist in which thieves got away with shoes, gloves, pocketknives, hats, watches, jewelry, razors, and clothing. A $25 reward was promptly offered by Sheriff Conroy for information leading to their arrest and conviction while he shared details of the stolen loot with law enforcement throughout the region.

Around the same time, a rash of burglaries and daring daytime robberies had been occurring throughout Sacramento by armed, masked men. From private residences to pedestrians, grocers, and saloon owners, victims of the robberies shared details which seemed to identify a gang of three men responsible. 

Deputies were in search of a trio of tramps, one being very tall and the other being quite short in stature. Authorities suspected the men to have been riding the rails between heists.

On Oct. 7 the gang’s success came to an end. Wearing the hats and clothing they had stolen from Scribner’s store, they held up a Sacramento grocer at gunpoint then stole a boat and rowed across the Sacramento River before walking back over the bridge into Sacramento to steal a train ride. They shot at a brakeman as he confronted them and were soon arrested and handed over to authorities. 

Almost immediately, short-statured Frank Davis (alias) confessed to everything and incriminated his mates, tall Harry Lynch and Fred Howard (also aliases). While this may have spared Davis a trial in Sacramento, he was promptly handed over to Sheriff Conroy to answer for the felony burglary at Scribner’s.

Davis pled guilty and was sentenced to three years in San Quentin.

Photograph: Interior of Scribner’s General Merchandise Store in Rocklin. Circa 1900. Placer County Museums, Rocklin Historical Society collection.

Advisory committees and commissions

Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply

Current recruitments include:

• Area 4 Agency on Aging Advisory Council

• Building Board of Appeals

• Colfax Cemetery District

• Economic Development Board

• Fish & Game Commission

• Gold Run Cemetery Committee

• Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council

• Housing Development Advisory Taskforce

• In Home Support Services Advisory Committee

• Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention

• Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council

• Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council

• Historical Advisory Board

• Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council

• Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council

• Central Municipal Advisory Council

• Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council

• North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council

• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council

• Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission

• Solid Waste Local Task Force

• Tahoe Basin Design Review Committee (DRC)

• Veterans Advisory Council

• Wastewater Advisory Committee

Fun things to do this week

Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...

Roseville: Blue Line Artists Reception
Lincoln: Santa in the Plaza
Auburn: Auburn Country Christmas, “A Christmas Portrait" 2025 by Auburn Winds
Newcastle: Santa’s Toy Chest
Meadow Vista: Gingerbread House Decorating Party
North Lake Tahoe: Tahoe City Holiday Market

...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.

Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!

Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail

Upcoming public meetings and events

No public meetings this week

To learn about other Placer County committees and commissions and current opportunities to serve your community click here.

List of active projects throughout Placer County

Projects are listed alphabetically and by Board of Supervisors districts. A hard copy of the list is available at the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, 3091 County Center Drive in Auburn. 

Active Projects

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