As Americans move into the second half of 2008, it appears an economic turnaround this year is unlikely.

The National Association for Business Economics reports that 45 percent of economists believe the economy won't log any growth or will clock in at a small 1 percent pace in the final six months of this year. And 10 percent think economic activity could contract during the period.  Thirty-two percent, meanwhile, think the economy growth's during the second half could be between 1 percent and 2 percent. Eleven percent think growth will come in between 2 percent and 3 percent.

UPDATE An El Dorado Hills man was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly prostituting a teenage girl on Craigslist. Rishi Sanwal, 23, allegedly used force, fraud and coercion to cause a 17-year-old girl to engage in prostitution, according to a news release by the office of U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott. He is being held without bail in Sacramento County Main Jail.

EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. - A case involving a missing El Dorado Hills teenager last March led police to arrest a man on Monday accused of sex trafficking, officials said. Rishi Sanwal, 23, was arrested by FBI agents and Sacramento police at the intersection of Green Valley Road and Francisco Drive and has been charged with sex trafficking, police said.  Authorities found him less than two miles from his parents' home in the 3100 block of Hopkins Place, where they conducted a federal search warrant.

Four Northern California national forests will hold a combined auction sale of used vehicles and miscellaneous equipment on Thursday, July 24th in Placerville, California.

The oral auction will have over 75 items, including used cars, trucks and equipment, and will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Eldorado National Forest Work Center, located at 2350 Carson Road in Placerville.

Milkshake The Cow Has Identity Issues.  Milkshake the cow spent the first two years of her life confined to a small, filthy pen before being rescued. During the two years spent in confinement, Milkshake never learned to become a cow.

At The Grace Foundation it isn't unusual to walk into the office or classroom and find yourself staring face to face with 1,200 lb. Hereford known as "Milkshake." Having spent the first two years of her life locked in a filth-strewn 10x10 pen, isolated from outside contact, Milkshake never learned basic cow behavior.

Although FERC is still considering a divers' inspection report concerning a California hydro project that was recently relicensed but now is in need of emergency repairs, agency spokesperson Celeste Miller recently told SNL that commission staff consider the problems to be "major maintenance" and not a safety concern.

El Dorado County's Best Wines

2008 State Fair Award-Winners

Since 1855, the California State Fair has taken pride in honoring California’s top wine selections and wineries, making the California State Wine Competition the oldest and most Prestigious Wine Competition in North America. The competition is limited to California bonded wineries selling retail.  This is the authentic granddaddy of American wine competitions. First held in 1855, it is, by far, the oldest wine competition limited to vitis vinifera grapes in America, and trade publications credit it as the premier competition in America through 1967.

This event is firmly established as the most prestigious of American Wine Competitions. It is the most meaningful of the major competitions restricted to California wines.

In addition, the uniqueness of this competition gives further credibility to its future within the industry. It is the only competition that requires all wines to be entered based on the viticultural area (also known as an appellation) where the grapes are grown, not where the winery is located. To further focus on the event’s unique attributes and on the importance of the wine grapes, duplicate awards are presented to each single vineyard grape grower or the winery estate vineyard manager. This applies to all award-winning wines from single vineyards or estate vineyards. This is the first wine competition in the world ever to honor the grape growers and vineyard managers this way.

Board of Supervisors Face Delicate Balancing Act of Competing Interest.

After too many years of work and debate, the El Dorado County Winery Ordinance inches closer to fruition. With the rural and entrepreneurial nature of El Dorado County, it would seem that creating a good Winery Ordinance would be a simple thing to do, but this is not the case.

The two opposing interest become clear in just a few minutes of public testimony. On one hand, you have a vineyard/winery industry and on the other you have residents that

Had there been a conviction in Inyo County in 2000, the child in El Dorado County would not have been victimized.

Ralph Escudero, manager of Bishop Airport from April of 1994 to Dec. 31, 1999 and accused of sexually assaulting a Bishop woman in 1999, will be sentenced July 17 in El Dorado County Superior Court on one count of committing lewd and lascivious acts against a child under 14.

He faces three, six or eight years in prison, said Deputy District Attorney Dale Gomes, who intends to push for the maximum amount of jail time. At one point,

Sacramento Bee Newspaper

... representatives argued would allow more money to be directed to population centers like El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park. Commission members Helen Baumann and Rusty Dupray pushed for the changes, citing the perception among constituents, ...

DIAMOND SPRINGS - The California Highway Patrol is recommending that prosecutors charge a big-rig driver who crashed into four cars and killed a man on Highway 12 on Saturday with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, CHP spokesman Officer Adrian Quintero said.

Dear Friends,

Today, on July 4, I was going to send out a quick note about picnics, fireworks, and families as we celebrate Independence Day, but I could not do so without thinking beyond the parties and festivities.

I first looked back to when 56 Patriots signed their names to the Declaration of Independence, pledging “to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” With the signing of the Declaration, they not only gave birth to a nation whose people would enjoy the blessings of liberty, but by signing the Declaration, they literally dedicated their money, their honor, and their very lives.

They ignited the fires of American freedom and liberty, but throughout our history, those fires would have to be tended, and liberty herself would have to be

New Deal with State will make the Shingle Springs Tribe the Biggest contributor to the state fund of any other Indian Casino.

The new Red Hawk Casino in El Dorado County, has agreed to pay the state the largest share of slot machine winnings of any tribe in California.  Those percentages exceed any other Indian compact in the state, according to Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced today the signing of an amended compact with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.  The amended compact provides important benefits to the state, protects both patrons and employees, enhances collaboration between local government and the tribe, and provides for environmental mitigations.

"This compact is a good deal for state, the local community and the tribe," said Gov. Schwarzenegger.  "The agreement will provide significant revenues to the state, protections for both workers and patrons, and for mitigation for the off-reservation impacts of gaming."

Update
July 1, 2008 at 0745 hours, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Volunteer is in stable condition at UC Davis Medical Center after being electrocuted during a rescue effort. The SAR volunteer is identified as Jeanne Horton 53yrs. from the South Lake Tahoe area. Jeanne has been an active Search and Rescue volunteer for the last two years.

June 30, 2008 at 1830 hours, a El Dorado County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue was conducting a SAR for two lost hikers in the Tahoe Basin. A command Post was established at the High Meadow Trail Head. At 1940 hours, Sheriff SAR volunteers were setting up a portable radio repeater antenna for communications when it hit a power line. An electrical charge from the power line ran down the antenna through SAR vehicle and into the SAR volunteer who was

Latest Highly-Anticipated Autobiography Book

Looking Back: Whatever Did I Miss? by Ralph "Pidge" Davies, is the author’s most recent book to date. 

"Being #5 child in a family of 13 was a challenge in itself. As the saying goes "the first one up is the best dressed." Going from the roaring twenties, into the depression of the 30's, and then on into WWII at age 18 was an exciting journey."

June 25, 2008, approximately 0530 hours, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Cal Fire regarding suspicious circumstances they had located while fighting a wildland fire on highway 193 near the town of Kelsey. Cal Fire reported they had located a single vehicle at the based of the ravine. The vehicle had been completely burnt and it appeared that human remains were in the passenger compartment.

Effective June 17, 2008

Camino – Burn Conditions are at a all time high and firefighting resources are committed to large fires throughout the State therefore