By Kathryn Reed

El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Warren Stracener has ruled there is no harm to the public to keep Kindertown day care center open until next month’s final hearing.

The South Lake Tahoe facility has been embroiled in legal issues for more than two years. The state Department of Social Services keeps trying to close the facility.

The Kindertown bus was sold to pay bills. Photo/LTN file

The latest set of seven citations owner Maria Barrows-Crist is fighting includes a youngster being able to get out of the center who was later found a few blocks away walking along Highway 50.

The 41-page decision by Stracener grants the stay until the Nov. 18 hearing.

“He says there is an issue regarding the severity of the penalty imposed by the (state) department,” attorney Mike McLaughlin said of Stracener’s most recent decision.

Next month Stracener can agree with the state that revocation of Barrows-Crist’s license is appropriate, a lesser penalty or no action.