Photo of the week

Following a series of storms, this #PlacerLife photo of the Colfax Market and a gorgeous sunset was taken by @justice_jess1821 and posted on Instagram. 

Featured story

Placer County unveils state-of-the-art Health and Human Services Center in Auburn

This week we unveiled our new Health and Human Services Center at a ribbon cutting ceremony on the Government Center campus. The center, a “one-stop” service center for Auburn and the foothills area, improves public access to services and replaces the multiple World War II-era facilities that had previously housed HHS programs ranging from mental health and substance use treatment to public benefits.

The facility consolidates existing staff and services from six divisions and is the county’s first zero-net-energy facility, generating as much electricity as it consumes over the course of a year using photovoltaic panels. HHS services from six divisions will begin operation in the new building over the course of the next month. Learn more and watch video

Elections

Elections Office shares information about voting in upcoming primary

The Placer County Elections Office announces the start of the voting period and provides voters with important dates and details regarding the casting of their ballots for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election. Learn more

Community development

Draft EIR on Housing Element Rezone program out for review

A draft environmental impact report on the Housing Element Sites Rezone program is now available for public review and comment through March 18. The documents are accessible for review at our local libraries and online. Read more

Defensible space

Need to clean up? Act now for a FREE hour of chipping service

The Placer Resource Conservation District is offering a FREE hour of chipping service for requests made between Feb. 10 - 29. After the first hour, homeowners will be billed at the regular rate of $80 per hour. Restrictions apply. Learn more

Public safety

Congressman brings national attention to crime fighting in Placer

U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley recently spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives to publicly commend the Placer County District Attorney’s Office for its efforts to stop retail theft using window signs to put thieves on alert. Watch video

In other news

211 Day is 2/11! 211 Placer can connect you to community resources. Explore new data dashboard

Placer County to launch environmental review of Boatworks at Tahoe redevelopment project

WATCH: Kings Beach Parking Management meeting in Spanish | Reunión Comunitaria Tocante al Estacionamiento en Kings Beach

Placer County Elections Office urgently recruiting Election Aides to serve in upcoming primary

This week in Placer County history

The morning of Feb. 7, 1951, rumors circulated around Lincoln, California, that the powerful atomic blasts at the Nevada Test Site could be felt as far away as their little town. Many pointed to a freshly broken pane of glass on the door of the post office as evidence.

Postmaster Ray Miner set the record straight. According to the Feb, 8 Lincoln News Messenger, Miner said, “’twern’t no atomic blast, it was just a 12-year-old youngster.”

The Lincoln Post Office changed their open hours and began locking their glass door at 6 p.m. The 12-year-old simply ran into the door expecting it to open.

Nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site was conducted from Jan. 27, 1951, to Sept, 23, 1992.  Of the 928 tests the federal government acknowledges, 828 were underground tests. Several factors, including distance, geology and weather patterns, sheltered Placer County residents from experiencing the blasts or suffering effects from the radioactive fallout, but that didn’t stop people from worrying.

In a 1984 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, physician Carl Johnson reported increases of leukemia, brain tumors, gastrointestinal cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma (skin cancer), bone cancer and breast cancer in people living in southwestern Utah where most of the radioactive fallout was located. The U.S. ended nuclear testing on Sept. 23, 1992.

The Feb. 8, 1951, Lincoln News Messenger ended their article with “The door took a severe beating, but the “atomic blast” was reported as uninjured.”

Photo: Nuclear blast at the Nevada Test Site with the 11th Airborne Division in the foreground, c. 1951

Fun things to do this week

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

Roseville: Be Well Roseville: Heart Health Clinic, Movie Club @ The Downtown Library
Rocklin: Jessup International Night Market
Lincoln: Valentines on the Placer Wine Trail
Auburn: Downtown Auburn Shop Crawl, Starlight Ball ($)

...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

Find current state COVID-19 guidance, along with local data and resources, here.

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:

• Building Appeals Board
• Library Advisory Board
• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council
• Gold Run Cemetery District
• Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council
• Mental Health Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board 
• Agricultural Commission
• Civil Service Commission 
• County Audit Committee
• Housing Development Advisory Taskforce
• Placer County Child Care Advisory

Upcoming public meetings and events

Board of Supervisors meeting, Feb. 13, 9 a.m. Info
North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council and Olympic Valley Municipal Advisory Council joint meeting, Feb. 15, 6 p.m. Info

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