Photo of the week

This heart-warming #PlacerLife photo of a festive family in Lincoln was taken by @adventures0fnerdgirl on Instagram.

Featured story

Winter storm set to hit Placer County

A powerful winter storm is expected to impact Placer County from the valley to the Tahoe Basin this week. Residents are urged to prepare now for high winds, heavy snow and hazardous travel conditions.

High Wind Watch

Today through Friday evening for the valley and Sierra foothills.

Damaging winds could bring down trees and cause power outages, especially with saturated soils.

Winter Storm Warning

Sierra above 4,500 feet from today through Friday at 10 p.m.

Strong winds and heavy snow could create dangerous to nearly impossible mountain travel.

Best Travel Window

Saturday. Mountain travel is highly discouraged during this holiday week.

Stay informed with the ReadyPlacer Dashboard:

• Road closures

• Power outages

• Highway cameras

• Real-time updates

• Placer County Sheriff evacuation info

Visit the ReadyPlacer Dashboard

Need non-emergency help? Call 2-1-1 to connect with a local specialist.

Now is the time to prepare: charge devices, secure loose items, plan for possible outages and check on neighbors. Let’s weather this storm together, Placer County 🌲🤝

First responders

Retiring fire chief shares final thoughts as new chief sworn in

CAL FIRE/Placer County Fire Chief Brian Estes has officially passed the leadership torch to Chief Jim Hudson. Estes, who is now officially retired, shared some final thoughts with us - the Placer community he loved to serve. Watch video

Everyday heroes

Holiday heart in action: meet Robbie

Robbie Baumbach protects residents who can’t protect themselves. Through our Public Guardian team, he safeguards adults who’ve been conserved, motivated by his own family story. He’s a Heart of HHS honoree.
Watch his story and others.

North Lake Tahoe

Know before you go: Numerous ways to get around Tahoe with TART

Free TART Park and Ride services are back in North Lake Tahoe to help alleviate traffic congestion during peak winter times. Find where to park, hop on and ride, plus TART’s winter schedule for fixed route bus service is in effect. Learn more

Local government

12 Days of Placer County: All the highlights of 2025

Our 12 Days of Placer County series is now complete, celebrating the people, programs and services that made a difference across our county in 2025. Explore every story on Facebook, Instagram and our website.
Learn more

In other news

Caltrans opens State Route 49 Roundabout at American River Canyon

Data shows parking trends for North Lake Tahoe’s Parking Management Program in 2025

This week in Placer County history

Cisco Grove began in about 1930 as a vision by James L. Gould of the Gold Run Ditch and Mining Company. He saw an opportunity to open a resort along the newly built all-weather Highway 40 near Emigrant Gap that would cater to travelers heading over the Sierra. 

In the early 1930s, Gould built a gas station, restaurant and bar, a store, cabins and other amenities for travelers. The Forest Gift Shop and juice stand were built by noted stone mason, Les Hammond.

Gould chose the site, which he named for the grove of cottonwood trees on the property, about 1-mile south of the former town of Cisco. Cisco had once served as the terminus of the Central Pacific Railroad from 1866 to 1868 while workers built an extensive system of snowsheds and tunneled their way through the summit of the Sierra Nevada.

In 1932, the Auburn Ski Club moved its organization to the area and developed a new ski hill that was touted as an opportunity to break ski jumping world records. Several major ski championships and notable “firsts” were held at this location while the area’s reputation for winter sports grew.

In 2004, the Gould family worked with Placer County and the Emigrant Trails Greenway Trust to preserve 15-acres of the former resort and stone ruins, which is now the Cisco Grove Gould Park. It continues to receive heavy snow in the winter, but in warm weather, travelers can jump on Old Highway 40 and take a leisurely drive over the summit, which includes a number of scenic overlooks and historic sites along the way.

Photo: Cisco Grove Resort, 1938. Placer County Museums collection.Alt text: 1930’s era photo of a row of cars parked along a tall snow embankment

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

• Central Municipal Advisory Council

• Colfax Cemetery District

• Economic Development Board

• Fish & Game Commission

• First 5 Placer Children & Families 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

• Municipal Advisory Council - Rural Lincoln

• Municipal Advisory Council - Sheridan

• 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: Roseville Fountains Farmer’s Market
Auburn: Old Town Farmer’s Market
North Lake Tahoe: Great Basin Carolers, Winter Wonders Roundup of New Years events in North Lake

...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 scheduled 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

Click here to sign up for emergency notifications