Photo of the week

This #PlacerLife photo of Aroa Sio (@aroasiorecknold) grinding it out to a first-place female finish, and second overall, at @canyonsenduranceruns 100 miler in Auburn was taken by @miguelrua on Instagram.

Featured story

Sheriff’s Office solves murder case after 34 years

A murder suspect has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Cindy Warner, who vanished from her Granite Bay home Nov. 25, 1991. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office arrested 64-year-old James Lawhead Jr. in Bullhead City, Arizona, where he had been living under an assumed name. The Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit had a breakthrough in the case after detectives submitted one final piece of evidence for DNA testing that connected Lawhead to the murder. For 34 years, investigators have been pursuing answers in Cindy Warner’s murder, never allowing the case to be forgotten. 

Read more 

Watch the press conference 

State of the County

Join us for the State of the County address in Lincoln, May 6

Hear from Board of Supervisors Chair Shanti Landon about progress throughout Placer County, plans for sustainable growth and meaningful preservation, and our strong community partnerships as we mark our 175th anniversary.
Learn more

Community

Give where your heart is this Big Day of Giving, May 7

This year’s Big Day of Giving is May 7 - rallying support for nonprofits in the greater Sacramento area, including nearly 500 serving Placer County residents. Explore the list of nonprofits and other ways to get involved. Learn more

Homelessness

Newly released homeless count results show nearly 10% decline

The Homeless Resource Council of the Sierras released this year's Point-in-Time Count results. Altogether, 642 people experiencing homelessness were counted, a 9.7% drop from 2025. Placer has one of the lowest rates in the state. Learn more

Elections

Elections Office: June primary voting materials arriving soon

Voting materials for the June 2, 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election will be in the mail to eligible Placer County voters by May 4. Know your voting options, find drop box and vote center locations and learn important deadlines. Details

In other news

Placer County launches series of events in recognition of Affordable Housing Month

Placer4MentalHealth Wellness Fair Returns May 21 with workshops entertainment, resources and more

Jeff Beigh named City of Roseville’s Chief of Police

Commentary: Lung Association report misses air quality improvements for Placer County

Upcoming wildfire risk reduction projects may temporarily impact recreation access in Tahoe National Forest near Truckee, North Lake Tahoe

Digging and grading season opens May 1 in North Lake Tahoe

ICYMI: Film Placer Tahoe’s recorded workshop gives filmmakers a permitting primer

Adopt a Shelter Pet Day: $15 adoptions at Auburn shelter through Saturday

Planning a visit to Hidden Falls Regional Park? Know before you go

Fire season is here — and preparation starts before the smoke does. This month, Placer County is making it easy to get ready, get informed and get connected.

📝 Burn permits required May 1  — CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit has announced that, effective at 8 a.m., May 1, all hazard reduction burning will require a permit in Placer County. Learn more

🧑‍🚒 Free events for families — Firefighter story time for kids and emergency preparedness workshops are happening all month long. Learn more

📲 Sign up for PlacerAlert — Get real-time emergency notifications before, during and after a disaster. Sign up now

📋 Shape the plan — Placer County's Community Wildfire Protection Plan needs your voice. Get involved

175 years of Placer County history

The dream of a transcontinental railroad that would connect the United States from east to west was rumored to be an elaborate scam of the Central Pacific Railroad. Even Theodore Judah, who had championed the idea and surveyed the route over the Sierra Nevada, worried the Central Pacific never intended to build the railroad past Dutch Flat. This fear was driven by multiple factors, and the Central Pacific was dubbed the “Dutch Flat Swindle” by the Daily Alta newspaper, a name that stuck until the project finally crossed Donner Summit in 1868. 

The concern was partially due to the extremely slow progress made on the project despite huge investments of public land and funding. Meanwhile, the officers of the Central Pacific were simultaneously building the Dutch Flat and Donner Lake Wagon Road, which was a toll road supposed to assist in the construction of the railroad by carrying important construction supplies. The wagon road was completed in 1864 and reportedly made it possible to travel from Sacramento to Virginia City in 17 hours.

The infamous wagon road lost its stronghold on freight travel once the railroad was completed and the Central Pacific abandoned the investment. It gained renewed interest when it became part of the Lincoln Highway, which was the first transcontinental automobile highway in the United States in 1916. 

Photo: Portion of the historic Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road as part of the Lincoln Highway near Donner Summit. Circa 1925. Placer County Museums, Tahoe National Forest collection.

Explore our new interactive timeline — updated every Thursday with photographs, milestones and the stories of people who built this county. Explore timeline

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

• Cemetery Auburn District

• Cemetery Tahoe District

• Economic Development Board

• Fish & Game Commission

• First 5 Placer Children & Families Commission

• Flood Control & Water Conservation District Board

• Gold Run Cemetery Committee

• Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council

• Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council

• In Home Support Services Advisory Committee

• Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention

• Library Advisory Board

• Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council

• Municipal Advisory Council - Granite Bay

• Municipal Advisory Council - Horseshoe Bar Penryn

• Municipal Advisory Council - Olympic Valley

• Municipal Advisory Council - Rural Lincoln

• Municipal Advisory Council - West Placer Citizens

• Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council

• North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council

• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council

• Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission

• Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council

• Solid Waste Local Task Force

• Veterans Advisory Council

• Wastewater Advisory Committee

Fun things to do this week

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

Roseville: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market, Sutter Roseville Farmers Market, Roseville & Rocklin 19th Annual Art Studio Trek, BikeFest, Culture Without Borders: Lantern Festival

Rocklin: 26 Parks in 2026, Firefighter story times, Roseville & Rocklin 19th Annual Art Studio Trek, Red, White and Bluegrass, The Rocklin Heritage Street Faire, Rocklin Community Festival

Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market, 

2026 National Competition “Feats Of Clay” Exhibit

Loomis: Townsmen Car Show, Creation Station -Local Crafters, Music, Food, Vendors, 

Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market, Farmers Market at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Auburn Music On The Square, Old Town Auburn Celebrates Cinco de Mayo, Auburn Bike Month Speaker Series, Auburn Bike Month 2026

Colfax: Colfax Garden Club Plant Sale

North Lake Tahoe: Throwback Thursdays, Line Dancing Fridays, Firefighter storytimes, Cushing Crossing

...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

Foresthill Town Hall, May 4, 7 p.m. Information
Wildfire Preparedness Walking Tour, May 5, 5:30 p.m. Information
Placer West Fire Safe Council, May 6, 5:30 p.m. Information
Virtual office hours - Firewise USA Program questions, May 7, 9 a.m. Information

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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