PLACER COUNTY NEWS

Stay up to date on what's happening in Placer County

Photo of the week

This #PlacerLife photo of a beautiful fall sunset in Lincoln was taken by @ihavemannyadventures on Instagram.

Featured story

Support the fight against breast cancer and get your own pink patch

The Sheriff’s Office’s Pink Patch Project is back this month in support of breast cancer awareness. The pink patches are always a community favorite and 100% of the proceeds benefit the Placer Breast Cancer Foundation. 

Patches may be purchased for $20 per patch either online or in person but must be picked up in person at the Loomis-South Placer Substation (Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) or at the Auburn Justice Center Records front counter (Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).  

Get your patch

Substance use & recovery

Recovery Month: Sarah's story of hope

Sarah’s story shows that recovery is possible. Once homeless and separated from her children, today she’s rebuilding her life and helping others find their way. Connect with local substance use and mental health resources, and watch video.

Museums

Ralph Gibson retiring after 21 years preserving Placer’s museums

After 21 years of service, Placer County Museums Administrator Ralph Gibson reflects on his career in a special sit-down interview. He shares memorable moments, hopes for the future and encouragement to visit our museums. Watch video

Health & wellness

Placer County Public Health to offer flu clinics

Having trouble getting a flu shot through your regular provider? Placer County Public Health is offering free flu shots at walk-in clinics and local events throughout October and November – no appointment needed.
Learn more

Elections

Official ballot drop boxes now open for Nov. 4 special election

The voting period for the Nov. 4 special election has officially begun. Vote-by-mail ballots have been mailed to active, eligible voters and all 20 official ballot drop boxes throughout the county are open and ready for use.
Find locations

In other news

Tonight, join Placer staff for an in-person meeting in Auburn to weigh in on the potential Affordable Housing Priority Applicant Policy
Medication take-back event approaching; year-round options also available
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to host Oct. 7 housing workshop to highlight policy changes and promote affordable and workforce housing in the Tahoe Basin
Virtual workshop to help improve road safety in Placer County scheduled for Oct. 21
Spooky season is near! Bring your kids to spooky storytime at a Placer County Library
PG&E relocating gas main, underground power lines in Auburn
Placer County Museums Administrator Ralph Gibson named 2025 Placer County History award recipient

This week in Placer County history

On Oct. 2, 1941, the new Placer County Jail was inspected and formally dedicated. Sheriff Charles Silva invited James Walsh, who was undersheriff when the new courthouse was dedicated in 1898, to officially open the cells and help transfer the first prisoner from the jail on the first floor of the courthouse into the new jail. The jail was constructed in what is today the back parking lot of the courthouse. Walsh was the one who transferred the first prisoners from the old brick jail, which sat on the flagpole side of the courthouse, some 41 years earlier.

The new jail consisted of two floors of cells for men, a separate women’s ward and a separate juvenile ward. Also included were a receiving tank for overnight prisoners, a large storage room, a kitchen, a room for visiting attorneys, two witness cells and a large furnace. The furnace not only heated the jail, but also the entire courthouse. 

The jail stood behind the historic courthouse for the next 44 years before being torn down in August of 1985. Prisoners in the jail were once again transferred to a new Placer County Jail, this one a little farther away on the DeWitt Placer County Government Center grounds.

Photo: Placer County Jail under construction, c. 1940

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
• Civil Service Commission
• Colfax Cemetery District
• County Parks Commission
• Deferred Compensation Committee
• Economic Development Board
• 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
• Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council
• Historical Advisory Board
• Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council
• Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council
• Central Municipal Advisory Council
• Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council
• North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council
• Placer County Behavioral Health Advisory Board
• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council
• Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission
• Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council
• 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: Food Truck Mania, OAKtober Festival, Roseville Rising: Culinary Showcase, Baby Lapsit – Maidu Library

Rocklin: Maker Faire Rocklin & Sierra Preview Day, Placer SPCA Wag & Walk, Pumpkin Patch at Deer Creek Farm, Rocklin Fire Open House, Station 23

Lincoln: 13th Annual Strokes4Hope Charity Golf Tournament, 2025 Farm & Barn Tour
Loomis: Loomis Fruit Shed Fest 2025, 2025 Farm & Barn Tour, Coffee Connection Auburn: Old Auburn Cemetery Tour, Market and Music In The Square, Auburn Porch-Fest, Friends of Auburn Library Used Books Sale/Donations, Pints with a Purpose! Colfax: Coffee and Conversations, Spaghetti Dinner to Honor Our First Responders, Pints & Grooves: Free Music in Downtown Colfax!
North Lake Tahoe: ParkFit Fridays, Tahoe City Farmers Market, Tie-Dye + Doughnuts, Pickleball – Outdoor Drop-in Play

...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

Affordable Housing Priority Applicant Policy Workshop in Auburn, Oct. 2, 5:30 p.m. Information
Olympic Valley Supervisor Forum, Oct. 2, 6 p.m. Information
CANCELED - Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council, Oct. 2 Information
Board of Supervisors, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. Information
Eastern Regional Firewise Coalition, Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m. Information
Foresthill Town Hall, Oct. 6, 7 p.m. Information
Placer RCD: Rx Burning Landowner Panel, Oct. 8, 5:30 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

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