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Photo of the week This #PlacerLife photo of a vintage truck traveling on I-80 under the Auburn Ravine Bridge was taken by @mac.in.motion on Instagram. Featured story Vole patrol is on the hunt at Placer County parks Raptor perches located at some of our parks are gaining some attention! The perches give raptors, such as hawks and owls, a vantage point to hunt for pesky field mice that wreak costly havoc on our plants, fields and irrigation systems. 🎙️ Listen: Our Parks, Trails and Open Space Supervisor Matt Williams joins Capital Public Radio’s Insight with Vicki Gonzalez to discuss how the program works. Listen here 👀 Watch: Get a closer look at our raptor perches and learn more about the types of raptors that hunt at some of our parks and trails. Watch here General plan Share your vision: Placer 2050 visioning workshop schedule released Placer County's Community Development Resource Agency is launching a series of in-person and online Placer 2050 General Plan Update visioning workshops beginning Feb. 26. The schedule will include online engagement activities. Read more Flood insurance Don’t wait - protect your property with flood insurance The winter rainy season is here. Don’t wait for the big storm to secure your peace of mind with flood insurance. New policies generally take 30 days to go into effect. Learn how to protect your property. It’s not too late! Read more North Lake Tahoe Over $9 million of TOT funding approved for community projects Our board approved more than $9 million of transient occupancy tax funding for seven projects in North Lake Tahoe last week. The approved projects use tourism funds and fall into three categories: facilities, trails and transportation. Read more Tax season Placer's offering free tax help for eligible individuals and families Get help filing your taxes in 2025! Human Services offers free tax prep through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. This year, taxpayers earning $67,000 or less can get help online or in person across the county. Learn more In other news Our Board of Supervisors meets Tuesday to discuss affordable housing, the Tahoe Basin Area Plan, school-based mental health and more The latest edition of our economic development newsletter details Placer’s unemployment rate, wildfire relief funding and more View upcoming tax deadlines for property owners Did you know? Placer County has the second lowest rate of homelessness among all California counties. This week, county staff - from Health & Human Services to law enforcement - joined partners from other cities and nonprofit organizations to support the Homeless Resource Council of the Sierras' annual Point-In-Time count. The local annual count is part of a nationwide effort, required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to assess homelessness by collecting data on individuals and families experiencing unsheltered or sheltered homelessness. The information gathered helps identify community needs, allocate resources and develop strategies to address homelessness effectively. Dozens of volunteers helped with the count, the results of which are expected to be published in late spring. Since 2020, homelessness in Placer has slightly declined, as rates statewide have increased. Last year (2024), there were 702 homeless individuals counted in Placer County – the second lowest rate per capita (17.0 per 10,000) statewide. Of the unsheltered population, 56% were in south Placer, 40% in mid Placer and 3% in eastern Placer. This week in Placer County history On Jan. 27, 1943, Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Riley of Auburn received a letter from their son, Lt. Bob Riley, who was serving in the Army Air Corps as a P-38 combat pilot in North Africa during World War II. In the letter, Riley explained that he had narrowly escaped death in his latest mission. He had taken fire and lost an engine, but was able to keep his damaged craft aloft the two hours it took to return to base. After he landed, the ground crew discovered four high explosive cannon shell holes along with nine 30-caliber holes. His P-38 was determined to be unrepairable and was promptly disassembled for parts to repair other aircraft. From an excerpt of his letter published in the Jan. 28, 1943, Auburn Journal: “You sure can learn a lot from a scrap like that though, and let me tell you, it will be a long cold day in July before they catch me like that again. So don’t worry about that. I’ve lived through the worst stages, so I’ve (got) a darn good chance for the rest.” Bob Riley was a graduate of both Placer High School and Placer Junior College (now Sierra College). He flew 53 combat missions over North Africa and Europe during World War II. He remained in the Air Force after it was officially established in 1947 from the former Army Air Corps and began flying fighter jets. He retired from the Air Force in the 1960s as a lieutenant colonel. In 2007, at the age of 86, he became a walking tour docent for the Placer County Museums. Before his death in 2017, he donated some of his uniforms and medals to the Placer County Museums. Riley is buried in the Old Auburn Cemetery. From our collection: Lt. Col. Bob Riley’s U.S. Air Force blue flight cap, c. 1959 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 Auburn Cemetery District Building Board of Appeals Colfax Cemetery District County Parks Commission Economic Development Board First 5 Placer Children & Families Commission Fish & Game Commission Flood Control & Water Conservation District Board Gold Run Cemetery Committee Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council Historical Advisory Board Housing Development Advisory Taskforce In Home Support Services Advisory Committee Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention Library Advisory Board Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council Sheridan Municipal Advisory Council Placer County Behavioral Health Advisory Board Placer County Charter Review Committee Placer County Child Care Advisory Council Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission Placer Resource Conservation District Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council Planning Commission Solid Waste Local Task Force Tahoe Cemetery District Wastewater Advisory Committee Fun things to do this week Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in... Rocklin: Storytime @ the Fire Station Rocklin Fire Department Auburn: Peaceful Winter Morning Hike at Big Hill Preserves, Take a Hike and Fly a Kite – an Open Preserve Day, Broom Battle!, Farmers’ Market North Lake Tahoe: Sierra Community House Food Distribution Kings Beach ...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 Forum, Feb. 3, 7 p.m. Information Board of Supervisors, Feb. 4, 9 a.m. Information Virtual office hours - Firewise USA Program questions, Feb. 6, 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 Click here to sign up for emergency notifications Stay connected with us online! Copyright © Placer County. All Rights Reserved.

Photo of the week This magical #PlacerLife photo of the snow-covered trees in Kings Beach was taken by @laurens__camera on Instagram. Featured story Share your vision: Placer 2050 visioning workshop schedule released Want to help shape the future of our community? The Placer County Community Development Resource Agency is launching a series of visioning workshops to gather input on the Placer 2050 General Plan Update. This plan will set the vision for the unincorporated areas of Placer County through 2050. Workshops will begin Feb. 27. Click here for the schedule and more information. Prepare for our workshops with our background reports and “Assetts, Issues and Opportunities” booklet. Click here Get inspired with our Placer 2050 video. Join the conversation at Placer2050.com. Public safety Combating domestic violence and human trafficking in our county Our Board of Supervisors this week awarded $1.5 million in grants to four local nonprofits working to prevent and address the impacts of domestic violence and human trafficking. The county launched the new grant program in 2024. Learn more Public safety What’s our risk of wildfire in Placer County? Our fire chief explains As local firefighters continue to support the wildfire fight in Southern California, hear from CAL FIRE/Placer County Fire Chief Brian Estes about how wildfire risk in Placer County compares and what’s being done to reduce it. Watch videos Pets & emergencies Animal Services, local nonprofit to support SoCal animal rescues Placer County Animal Services partnered with local nonprofit FieldHaven Feline Center to support animal rescue organizations in Southern California impacted by recent fires. PCAS and FieldHaven together retrieved 47 adoptable cats. Learn more Housing & homelessness Placer seeks $20M grant to expand supportive housing for homeless Placer will be competing for $20 million in state funding to expand permanent supportive housing through purchase and renovation of a motel building in unincorporated Auburn. Housing would be paired with 24/7 onsite support. Learn more In other news Roseville: Baseline Road closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Jan. 25 Listen: CAL FIRE / Placer County Fire Chief Brian Estes joins District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson on KTKE to discuss wildfires Work in Tahoe? Help us understand your commute patterns and inform our Regional Commuter Transportation Plan for the North Tahoe and Truckee Region with a short survey Over $9 million approved for community projects in Tahoe This week in Placer County history On Jan. 23, 1915, readers of the Placer Herald newspaper were informed that noted portrait artist Herman Herkomer had moved to the Mt. Vernon area just outside of Auburn. Herkomer had been living in Europe but came to California to show his art in San Francisco in preparation for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition that year. Herkomer was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1862 and discovered his talent and love for painting at an early age. He studied and practiced in Europe for 31 years, exhibiting his art at the Paris Salon and the Royal Academy of London before returning to the U.S. in 1915. According to the Jan. 23, 1915, Placer Herald: “After painting likenesses of many royal personages, the Bank of England directorate, etc., Mr. Herkomer tired of being an artist and sought farm life in California.” Although he and his wife continued to live on their farm in Mt. Vernon, by 1918 he opened a winter art studio in Santa Barbara. But, most of their time was spent in the Auburn area until his death in 1935. Herman Herkomer self portrait, c. 1895 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 Auburn Cemetery District Building Board of Appeals Colfax Cemetery District County Parks Commission Economic Development Board First 5 Placer Children & Families Commission Fish & Game Commission Gold Run Cemetery Committee Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council Historical Advisory Board Housing Development Advisory Taskforce In Home Support Services Advisory Committee Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention Library Advisory Board Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council Sheridan Municipal Advisory Council Placer County Behavioral Health Advisory Board Placer County Charter Review Committee Placer County Child Care Advisory Council Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission Placer Resource Conservation District Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council Planning Commission Solid Waste Local Task Force Tahoe Cemetery District Wastewater Advisory Committee Fun things to do this week Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in... Lincoln: Vaccine & Microchip Clinic Loomis: National Seed Swap Day Auburn: Aviation Career Day, Farmers’ 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 Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 23, 6 p.m. Information Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council, Jan. 23, 6 p.m. Information Placer County Sheridan 4H(EH), Jan. 27, 5 p.m. Information Newcastle/Ophir Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 27, 6 p.m. Information North Auburn Ophir Fire Safe Council, Jan. 28, 4 p.m. Information MEETING CANCELED - Horseshoe Bar / Penryn Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 28 Information Placer 2050 update to Planning Commission, Jan. 30, 9 a.m. Information Planning Commission, Jan. 30, 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 Click here to sign up for emergency notifications Stay connected with us online! Copyright © Placer County. All Rights Reserved.

Photo of the week Thank you to the brave firefighters assisting the state in containing the wildfires in Los Angeles. This #PlacerLife photo of local CAL FIRE firefighters assigned to the Palisades Fire was posted on Instagram. Featured story Human trafficking is closer than you think. Let’s make sure no one falls through the cracks. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and Placer County kicked it off by participating in the Red Sand Project at the Downtown Roseville pedestrian bridge last week. Community members came together to pour red sand into sidewalk cracks, symbolizing victims of human trafficking who often “fall through the cracks.” Check out video from the event, and for those unable to attend, red sand is available for pickup throughout January at the Children’s System of Care offices in Rocklin and Auburn. Victims of human trafficking are in our communities and often overlooked. Vulnerable individuals, including children, are often targeted by traffickers. By raising awareness, we can better protect our neighbors. Visit our District Attorney’s Office human trafficking resource portal here. There are more opportunities to get involved throughout January, including trainings, webinars and a panel discussion with experts Jan. 29 hosted by the Placer County Office of Education. Let’s ensure no one falls through the cracks. Visit the calendar of events and join us throughout Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Tune in Jan. 21 as our Board of Supervisors considers a series of grant awards to local nonprofits working to combat human trafficking and domestic violence. Read the report Wildfire prevention Reduce wildfire risk with our Chipper Program - low wait times Our Chipper Program currently has low wait times and offers affordable pricing and fee waivers for residents who are elderly or have a disability. We’re here to help make your life easy. Request an appointment today. Learn more Firefighters WATCH: Local fire crews on front lines of Los Angeles wildfires Take a look as CAL FIRE NEU Deputy Chief Jim Hudson joins FOX40 News to explain how resources from Placer County are fighting the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. Be sure to follow CAL FIRE NEU on Facebook. Watch video Human resources Placer County hires new Director of Human Resources Joe Ambrosini Following four years as HR director at the City of Long Beach, Ambrosini has been appointed to serve as our new director of Human Resources and will oversee 57 employees and an approximate budget of $7.7 million. Read more Truckee library Schematic design revealed for new Truckee Regional Library The Friends of the Truckee Library, in partnership with Nevada and Placer counties and the Town of Truckee, are thrilled to reveal the new schematic design for the Truckee Regional Library - shaped by extensive community input. Read more In other news Help inform the Regional Commuter Transportation Plan for the North Tahoe and Truckee Region with a short survey Learn about new laws, criminal justice and more at the District Attorney's Citizens Academy. Apply today! This week in Placer County history On Jan. 11, 1862, the Middle Fork of the American River reached flood stage after a series of storms ravaged the region. The swollen river cut a trench behind 10 people who lived and worked on Boston Bar, effectively turning it into an island that was shrinking by the hour. Determined to save the stranded men, women and children , the citizens of nearby Michigan Bluff sprang into action. A boat was quickly constructed under the supervision of Capt. Giles A. Buel, a former sea captain. Once the makeshift boat was ready, Morris Flood and Samuel Jones joined Buel and maneuvered the boat into the torrent of the American River. But tragedy struck when their boat was swamped, and all three men were swept away by the raging waters. Their bodies were never recovered. In their grief, the people of Michigan Bluff mustered the courage for a second attempt. According to the Jan. 18 Placer Herald: “The People on Boston Bar were rescued on Sunday [Jan. 12], by Geo. Langdon and several other fearless, brave men who succeeded in taking a boat to them from the El Dorado side.” Men harnessed the power of water to mine placer gold, but that power could, at times, become ungovernable and deadly. Photo: Sardine Claim on the Middle Fork of the American River (near Boston Bar), c. 1858 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 Appeals Board Colfax Cemetery District County Parks Commission Economic Development Board First 5 Placer Children & Families Commission Fish & Game Commission Gold Run Cemetery Committee Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council Historical Advisory Board Housing Development Advisory Taskforce In Home Support Services Advisory Committee Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention Library Advisory Board Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council Sheridan Municipal Advisory Council Placer County Behavioral Health Advisory Board Placer County Charter Review Committee Placer County Child Care Advisory Council Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission Placer Resource Conservation District Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council Planning Commission Solid Waste Local Task Force Tahoe Cemetery District Wastewater Advisory Committee Fun things to do this week Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in... Auburn: Nature Quest Launch Party, Winter Morning Hike in the New Year at Big Hill Preserves, Aviation Career Day, Farmers’ 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 Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 16, 6 p.m. Information North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council, Jan. 16, 6 p.m. Information Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council, Jan. 17, 9 a.m. Information Free household hazardous waste drop-off, Jan. 18, all day Information Rx Fire 101 Workshop, Jan. 18, 8:30 p.m. Information Placer County offices CLOSED for Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, Jan. 20 Information Board of Supervisors meeting, Jan. 21, 9 a.m. Information Foresthill/Iowa Hill Fire Safe Council, Jan. 21, 5:30 p.m. Information West Placer Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m. Information Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 23, 6 p.m. Information Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council, Jan. 23, 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 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 Stay connected with us online! Copyright © Placer County. All Rights Reserved.

Photo of the week It’s a beautiful time to get on the trail! This #PlacerLife video of runners on an Auburn trail was taken by @runhikenplay on Instagram. Featured story Board members kick off 2025 with oath of office It’s official! Three members of our Board of Supervisors were ceremonially sworn in to office this week by Placer County Superior Court Presiding Judge Alan Pineschi during the first meeting of the new year. District 3 Supervisor Anthony DeMattei (left) was newly elected in November. District 4 Supervisor Suzanne Jones (center) and District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson (right) were both re-elected to serve another four-year term in office. We spoke with Supervisor DeMattei on camera to learn more about his goals as a new supervisor. The board’s first action of the year was to approve the selection of District 1 Supervisor Bonnie Gore as the new chair, who then presented District 4 Supervisor Suzanne Jones with a plaque for her service as chair in 2024. We spoke with Supervisor Gore, who shared her goals as chair for 2025. Public safety Placer County firefighters battle SoCal blazes A total of 110 fire personnel from our local CAL FIRE unit are on the fire lines in Southern California. The unit sent nine engines, three hand crews, two dozers and 16 command officers. Alerts are critical during times of crisis. Sign up Broadband access Broadband access coming to more foothill communities Broadband expansion continues in Placer County! Our Board of Supervisors this week approved a $23 million contract to expand broadband access to 3,825 homes and businesses in Applegate, Cape Horn, Magra, Dutch Flat and Alta. Read more Pets & animals Discounted pet adoptions: New year, new home Start 2025 off right by giving a loving pet their forever home! From now through Jan. 31, all animals who have been with Placer County Animal Services for 25 or more days are just $25 to adopt. Learn more and browse adoptable pets. Land use Placer 2050 background reports now available for public review Our Placer 2050 background reports and “Assets, Issues and Opportunities” booklet cover all aspects of the General Plan Update. Find them at Placer2050.com to learn more about our planning and provide your input to staff. Read more This week in Placer County history On Jan. 7, 1980, Auburn was visited by a famous four-legged actor: Benjean, also known as Benji. According to the Jan. 8, 1980, Auburn Journal, “…although the celebrity didn’t have much to say, his trainer, Frank Inn, discussed Benji’s world travels. Besides starring in two movies and a television series, Benji has visited countries throughout the world and has two television specials coming up this spring.” Benjean replaced her father, Higgins, who portrayed Benji in the 1974 film “Benji.” When he got too old to perform in the mid-1970s. Benjean starred in three movies: “For the Love of Benji,” “Oh! Heavenly Dog,” and “Benji the Hunted.” Benjean also starred in four television specials and a short-lived Hanna-Barbera series, “Benji, Zax and the Alien Prince.” The family-friendly film series was popular in the 1970s and 80s. There were two attempts to revive the franchise in 2004 and 2018, but each bombed at the box office. Both Benjean and Higgins were mixed-breed dogs. Photo: Benjean, c. 1979 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 Appeals Board Colfax Cemetery District County Parks Commission Economic Development Board First 5 Placer Children & Families Commission Fish & Game Commission Gold Run Cemetery Committee Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Hearing Body Historical Advisory Board Housing Development Advisory Taskforce In Home Support Services Advisory Committee Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention Library Advisory Board Mental Health Alcohol & Drug Advisory Board Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council Sheridan Municipal Advisory Council Placer County Charter Review Committee Placer County Child Care Advisory Council Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission Placer Resource Conservation District Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council Planning Commission Solid Waste Local Task Force Tahoe Cemetery District Wastewater Advisory Committee Fun things to do this week Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in... Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch Auburn: Farmers’ Market North Lake Tahoe: Sierra Community House Food Distribution Kings Beach ...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 Olympic Valley Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 9, 6 p.m. Information CANCELED - North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council, Jan. 9 Information Newcastle/Ophir Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 13, 6 p.m. Information Rural Lincoln Municipal Advisory Council, Jan. 13, 6 p.m. Information Planning Commission, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. Information North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council, Jan. 16, 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 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 Stay connected with us online! Copyright © Placer County. All Rights Reserved.