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Photo of the weekThis #PlacerLife photo of an airplane crossing the setting sun was taken by @thewinningshotphotos in Rocklin and shared on Instagram. Featured story Shining a light on human trafficking in our communityThe call to action is loud this January: Human Trafficking Prevention Month brings a wave of events and resources to empower our community. The annual Red Sand Project event was recently held in Roseville. In partnership with county and community organizations, participants poured red sand into sidewalk cracks to honor children and families impacted by human trafficking. The red sand serves as a visual reminder not to let anyone “slip through the cracks” and to raise awareness about this important issue. Watch a recap video here People who were unable to attend the event are encouraged to participate throughout January by picking up free bags of red sand to use at home or by their office. Bags are available at the following Children’s System of Care locations: 11434 B Ave., Auburn 1000 Sunset Blvd., Rocklin A panel discussion, hosted by the Placer County Office of Education, is also scheduled for next Thursday for those interested in learning more about the issue of human trafficking in our community. Placer County will also display artwork created by youth impacted by child exploitation in the lobby of the county's Sunset Boulevard location in Rocklin. More on how to keep kids safe When people think about child trafficking, they often picture a child being grabbed by a stranger in a park or parking lot. In reality, the majority of exploitation begins with grooming — a slow, deliberate process where predators earn a child’s trust, isolate them and then coerce them into sexual abuse, trafficking or online exploitation. Today’s grooming often happens through screens, not strangers. The Placer County District Attorney’s Office has launched a new campaign to educate parents about the risks and how to guard against them, called Guard Against the Groom(ing). Learn more Public safety Share your concerns about possible violent predator placement in Alta Alta area residents turned out for a community meeting this week to share concerns about the state’s proposed placement of a sexually violent predator in their community. Local elected and safety officials oppose the release. How to help Trails Trailhead project helps expand recreational access in North Tahoe Placer County recently completed paving, access and trailhead improvements at the Lower Sawtooth parking lot to enhance winter recreation options at the popular entrance to U.S. Forest Service Road 06 in the Truckee area. Watch video Wildfire safety ICYMI: CAL FIRE discusses wildfire behavior CAL FIRE provided an overview of wildfire behavior at the latest Placer County Fire Safe Alliance meeting, covering how wildfires start, how they spread, suppression strategies and which agencies have authority during wildfires. Watch video Transportation Caltrans completes SR-49 roundabout and safety barrier project Caltrans has announced the completion of the $33.2 million state Route 49 Roundabout and Safety Barrier Project in Placer County on Grass Valley Highway, which will improve operations and reduce crashes along the corridor. Read more In other newsWatch: Placer County leaders honor and remember U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa Olympic Valley Design Review Committee special meeting scheduled for Jan. 30 to discuss appendix B of amended Village at Palisades Specific Plan January is Stalking Awareness Month. Report stalking crimes to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office at 530-889-7800 Improve bus stops in Placer County by taking this short survey (with a chance to win a $50 gift card!). Join us Jan. 28 for a virtual town hall on emergency shelters, supportive housing and residential care home ordinances (Zoom link available) Important information for CalFresh customers about upcoming work rules Register to attend an online town hall with Supervisor Shanti Landon and Senator Roger Neillo This week in Placer County history On Jan. 24, 1848, James Marshall looked down into the tailrace of the sawmill he was building for John Sutter on the South Fork of the American River at Coloma and noticed bright glimmering flakes of what turned out to be gold. By early May, word of the discovery began to spread and Claude Chana, a former coworker of Marshall’s, traveled with a few companions from what is now Wheatland to Coloma via Sacramento to verify the rumors. Returning to their home, they gathered supplies and more companions, with plans to quickly return to Coloma. Chana’s companions on this return journey included a few Frenchmen familiar with the area and they proposed an old shortcut from Wheatland, which brought the group to what is now Auburn. On May 16, Chana scooped up pans of sand and gravel from the Auburn Ravine and washed out three considerable pieces of gold. Some of the group moved on in hopes of greater riches, while Chana and others stayed for three weeks and collected about three pounds of gold from the ravine. It was just a matter of time before hopeful prospectors from around the world rushed to California in search of wealth. This historic migration changed the course of history for the state and its impacts are still felt today. It was also the first time in history that commercial photographers were able to document such a moment in time.To learn more about this historic event, plan your visit to our Gold Rush Museum. Open Thursday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission. Photo: This daguerreotype is one of the most famous images taken during the early days of the Gold Rush. It was taken in the Spanish Flat area of Auburn along today’s Nevada St. Circa 1852. California State Library 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 Cemetery Tahoe District 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 - Granite Bay 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: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market Loomis: Entertainment Zone Open House Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market, Nature Quest 2026 Kick off, The Golden Thread-Stories That Shine Colfax: Trivia Tuesday North Lake Tahoe: Smore’s O’clock, The Village at Northstar Après Music Series, KT Bass Bar Music Series ...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 Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council, Jan. 22, 6 p.m. Information Board of Supervisors special meeting, Jan. 26, 9 a.m. Information Newcastle/Ophir Supervisor Forum, Jan. 26, 6 p.m. Information Newcastle/Ophir Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 26, 6:15 p.m. Information North Auburn Ophir Fire Safe Council, Jan. 27, 4 p.m. Information Planning Commission, Jan. 29, 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 CountyProjects 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 Stay connected with us online! Copyright © Placer County. All Rights Reserved.

Photo of the weekThis #PlacerLife photo of water spilling over North Fork Dam was taken by @mitchell_hintz5430 on Instagram. Featured story American River Bridge Debris Removal Project complete, warning sign lifted from SR-49 BridgePlacer County leaders were joined by members of the community group Protect American River Canyons in Auburn on Monday to celebrate the completion of the American River Debris Removal Project, a complex effort that removed 450 tons of steel and more than 600 cubic yards of concrete remnants of the old state Route 49 bridge that was washed out in a 1964 flood. As part of the event, the project contractor removed a long-standing warning sign from the state Route 49 bridge that had cautioned visitors for decades about hazardous concrete and metal debris below the river’s surface. Learn more Public safety Community town hall on violent predator placement Jan. 20 Residents are invited to a town hall Jan. 20 at the Alta Community Center to discuss the state’s proposed placement of a sexually violent predator in the area. Hear next steps, public safety efforts and how you can share concerns. Learn more Conservation Placer County conserves 235 acres north of Roseville ranch land This land acquisition is now part of the Placer County Conservation Program’s reserve system, which has already conserved more than 9,000 acres of open space in Placer County, all of which will remain working ranchlands. Read more Mental health Client finds hope through county's new mental health program "I knew that wasn’t my life anymore," Jacob says after years of homelessness. An innovative mental health program meets clients where they are, a new level of care that bridges the gap between clinic services and intense support. Watch video Workforce housing Apply for Tahoe’s workforce housing program starting Feb. 25 More than $3 million in workforce housing funding could soon be available for North Lake Tahoe. The next notice of funding availability for the Launchpad workforce housing program is expected to open for new applications Feb. 25. Read more In other newsTONIGHT @ 6 p.m.: CAL FIRE presentation on wildfire behavior - Placer County Fire Safe Alliance virtual meeting Placer County hosts virtual town hall on emergency shelters, supportive housing and residential care home ordinances Jan. 28 Want to get involved in your community? Join the DA’s Citizens Academy! Help protect your kids against predators with new parent playbook Let us know how groundwater impacts you at the Groundwater Sustainability Plan meeting Jan. 22 More than $300,000 in college scholarships are now available thanks to PG&E employees Like news pertaining to eastern Placer? Sign up for our monthly North Lake Tahoe newsletter Placer to open next funding round for Tahoe's workforce housing program Launchpad on Feb. 25 with over $3 million From micro-transit services to park and ride programs, bus services and employee vanpools, there are numerous ways to reduce single-occupancy vehicles on Tahoe’s two-lane mountain roads Court rules in favor of Placer County in Tahoe Basin Area Plan amendments lawsuit Join our next Board of Supervisors meeting in Tahoe on Feb. 3 LISTEN: Placer’s Tahoe County Executive Office staff joined KTKE for a community conversation this week highlighting short-term rental proposals and plastic waste reduction efforts Placer County continues fuels reduction in Olympic Valley and Cabin Creek Join the Feb. 12 North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council meeting to learn more about the proposed 39 North mixed-use development project This week in Placer County history On Jan. 14, 1889, the first group of students entered the newly built Fruitvale schoolhouse and were welcomed by their teacher, Mr. Lewis Cass Gage (pictured center). The school was built in a farming region near Lincoln and grew out of a need for children in the surrounding districts who could not reach their assigned schools when seasonal flooding in area ravines halted travel. Students included siblings from several families and they attended lessons at the one-room school from first through eighth grades. In 1893, 23 students were enrolled in the school and by 1902, this had grown to 39 and it was the largest school population in the area. Improvements were made over time, including the addition of a shed to house horses and buggies. As more families moved to the area, another room was added in 1923 to separate the younger grades, and a second teacher was hired. The schoolhouse became the center of activity for the community and hosted a variety of events.It closed in 1946, and community supporters continued to preserve the schoolhouse until it was deeded to Placer County in 1921, where it has become the eighth museum managed by the Placer County Museums Division. The Fruitvale Schoolhouse Museum continues to sit in a beautiful natural setting in the countryside near Lincoln. It is open to visitors on the second Sunday of each month from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free. In keeping with tradition, it is also available to rent and hosts a variety of groups throughout the year. Plan your visit here Photo: Fruitvale School class photo, circa 1890. Placer County Museums 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 Cemetery Tahoe District 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 PreventionGranite 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 - Granite Bay 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: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market Rocklin: Placer MLK Day Celebration Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market Colfax: Colfax Flea Market North Lake Tahoe: Smore’s O’clock, The Village at Northstar Après Music Series, KT Bass Bar Music Series ...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 CANCELED - Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 15 Information Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. Information Placer County offices closed for MLK Day holiday, Jan. 19 Information Meadow Vista Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 19, 6 p.m. Information Meadow Vista Community/Supervisor Forum, Jan. 19, 6 p.m. Information Board of Supervisors, Jan. 20, 9 a.m. Information Sexually Violent Predator Town Hall, Jan. 20, 5:30 p.m. Information Foresthill/Iowa Hill Fire Safe Council, Jan. 20, 5:30 p.m. Information CANCELED - West Placer Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 21 Information Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council, Jan. 22, 6 p.m. Information Board of Supervisors special meeting, Jan. 26, 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 CountyProjects 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 Stay connected with us online! Copyright © Placer County. All Rights Reserved.

Photo of the weekThis #PlacerLife photo of a mandarin orchard in Newcastle was taken by @tyler_photography_folsom on Instagram. Featured story New chair to lead Board of Supervisors in 2026Supervisor Shanti Landon will be the new chair and Supervisor Cindy Gustafson will be the new vice chair of the Board of Supervisors. As part of the rotational process, Supervisor Bonnie Gore passed the gavel to Landon on Jan. 6, the first meeting of the new year. More than two dozen elected and faith leaders attended the meeting to show their support for Landon, whose first message as chair was one of unity and grace. This is the first time Landon has served as chair of the board since she took office in January 2023. We had an opportunity to speak with her about the leadership position. Watch video North Lake Tahoe Use alternative transportation or carpool if you’re headed to Tahoe With roughly nine feet of new snowfall at Tahoe’s popular ski resorts, county officials are encouraging visitors and residents alike to plan ahead and do their part to help reduce traffic congestion throughout the region. Read more Libraries Reminder: Winter Book Bingo continues at your local library You still have until Jan. 31 to participate in Winter Book Bingo and explore new genres, discover hidden gems and enjoy fun winter reading challenges. Pick up your card at any Placer County Library or join on Beanstack. Read more Environment Weather conditions extend former Lincoln Gun Ranges remediation Recent weather has extended our cleanup at the former Lincoln Gun Ranges lead remediation project. So far, more than 12 tons of lead has been recycled and major soil removal completed. Read more Health and safety Red Sand Project: Stopping human trafficking Placer County families and organizations are invited to participate in this year’s Red Sand Project, a community-wide effort to combat human trafficking, on Jan. 15 in Roseville. Additional events are planned throughout January. Learn more In other newsPlacer County Fire Safe Alliance meeting: Wildfire Behavior presented by CAL FIRE Reminder: Parking along county-maintained roadways east of Emigrant Gap is prohibited through May 1 for snowplow operations Read the Healthy Aging newsletter for January This week in Placer County historyPlacer County’s first hospital was built in 1855 near the corner of Court and Commercial streets in Auburn. It narrowly escaped a fire that year that destroyed much of the town but burned down in 1859. A replacement building was soon constructed, though it quickly became clear a larger hospital was needed and that it should be located outside the commercial district for safety reasons. In 1863, county officials selected a site atop a hill about a mile away and built a new hospital. In 1899, the facility was expanded to include six male wards equipped with gas tubing, electric wiring, and piped hot and cold water. Around the same time, Auburn’s new courthouse was completed, and the old Greek Revival courthouse was relocated to the hospital grounds. The former courthouse was converted into a dining room and female ward and placed behind the original hospital building. The expanded complex was completed in January 1900. East of the hospital sat a cemetery with an estimated 1,700 burials. The hospital closed in 1975. Today, Elm Street runs along the front of the former hospital grounds, now part of the Auburn town center. Most of the graves were excavated and relocated to the New Auburn Cemetery during construction of Interstate 80 in the 1950s and again during its expansion in the 1970s. Two headstones remain as the only markers of the former county hospital site. Photo: Placer County Hospital, circa 1910. Placer County Museums 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 Cemetery Tahoe District 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 - Granite Bay 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: Placer County Dots Coffee Connect, Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market North Lake Tahoe: S'mores O'Clock, The Village at Northstar Après Music Series ...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 Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 8, 6 p.m. Information Rural Lincoln Community Forum, Jan. 12, 6 p.m. Information Rural Lincoln Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 12, 6:15 p.m. Information North Auburn Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 13, 6 p.m. Information North Auburn Community/Supervisor Forum, Jan. 13, 6:30 p.m. Information Sheridan Community Forum, Jan. 14, 6 p.m. Information Sheridan Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 14, 6:15 p.m. Information Planning Commission, Jan. 15, 9 a.m. Information Placer County Fire Safe Alliance, Jan. 15, 6 p.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 CountyProjects 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 Stay connected with us online! Copyright © Placer County. All Rights Reserved.