Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Arnold man arrested Monday for grand theft, bomb possession charges

A 38-year-old Arnold man was arrested Monday afternoon for grand theft and bomb possession related charges. According to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department, Billy Pinks Jr. was arrest at the intersection of Highway 49 and Dogtown Road for grand theft and possession of stolen property. Prior to transporting Pinks to the County Jail deputies searched him and discovered a CO2 cartridge in his pocket. During the booking process Pins told deputies the CO2 cartridge was similar to a “sparkler,” and after closer examination deputies discovered the cartridge contained black powder. A Calaveras County Sheriff’s Bomb Technician responded to the jail to inspect the cartridge and identified the object as an explosive and rendered it safe. Pinks was booked at the Calaveras County Jail for grand theft, possession of stolen property, bringing explosive in to County Jail and possession of an explosive in a public place. He is being held on $550,000 bail.

AWA, Jackson to host outreach meeting tomorrow afternoon

The Amador Water Agency together with the City of Jackson will host an outreach meeting for its customers Wednesday afternoon. Committee members that will be present for the meeting include AWA Directors Bill Condrashoff and Don Cooper and Jackson City Council members Keith Sweet and Patrick Crew. During the meeting a wastewater update for the City will be presented as well as a regional approach to reclamation update. Other topics will include the Jackson sphere of influence expansion / overlapping service areas, the Tanner / Ione Treatment Plant Studies, lead and copper testing and the AWS Financial Plan Study. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Civic Center.

Amador Resource Conservation District sponsors speech contest

The Amador Resource Conservation District will sponsor a speech contest for high school students residing in the Amador Resource Conservation District next week. The topic is “How the resource conservation district can assist schools with natural resource education.” The speech must be at least three minutes, and not more than five minutes. First place award is $200, second place is $100 and third place is $75. The winner will compete in the regional speech contest in April. The local contest will take place Thursday, March 18 at 5 p.m. at the County GSA building on Airport Road. Interested students should contact Amy Rocha at 223-6535 for more information.

ACUSD Board to hold special meeting Wednesday night

The Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting immediately following Wednesday’s regularly scheduled meeting. On the agenda is a resolution of non-reelection of probationary certificated employees. The Board is required by law to give notice to all employees of their decision to reelect or not reelect them before March 15 of the employee’s second complete consecutive school year of employment by the district. After discussion and a vote on the resolution, the Board will continue with the regularly scheduled Amador County Office of Education meeting.

ACHS asking for nominations of endangered Native American, historic sites

The Amador County Historical Society is asking county residents to nominate the Native American and historic local sites they feel are most endangered. By taking nominations, the historical society can learn what Native American and historic sites residents believe the county is in the greatest danger of losing, and evaluate potential losses and “costs,” if the county does lose them. When the endangered sites and structures the society and public doesn’t want to lose are obtained, the society plans to gather and record information about the site’s history, and will suggest what steps will be taken to minimize or avoid the loss of endangered sites and structures around Amador. Information to include in nominations, accepted through March 31 are: the name and location, brief explanation for each site and why you think it’s endangered, name and contact information, and whether or not you are a ACHS member. Send nomination lists to: Amador County Historical Society, P.O. Box 761, Jackson, 95642.

Daffodil Hill will not open until March 19

The Ryan family has decided to delay the opening of Daffodil Hill this year a week. The Ryans told HomeTown Radio Monday that the opening scheduled for Saturday would not take place. Instead, the plan is to now open the Hill Friday, March 19. Winter weather this week and the amount of blooms on the Hill were cited as reasons for the delay. This year the Ryans have planted 16,000 more bulbs all over the Hill and erected a monument in honor of their parents who both passed away last year. While open the Hill maintains public hours Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 296-7048 for more information.

Testing for census jobs scheduled for Friday in Sutter Creek

Testing for census jobs in Amador County will take place this Friday, March 12 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Sutter Creek Community Building in Sutter Creek. The U.S. Census Web site at www.2010censusjobs.gov also has more information about census jobs, including a practice test. Call (916) 605-1800 to sign up for testing and for more information.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Thunderstorms, snow forecasted for Mother Lode tonight

A quick moving cold storm could bring thunderstorms and snow to as low as 2,000 feet tonight in the Mother Lode. According to the National Weather Service, another weather system originating from the Gulf of Alaska will move through the region today bringing scattered showers and a few thunderstorms to the valley with snow showers to the higher terrain before it exits to the south and east tonight. Precipitation with this system is expected to be mostly on the light side. Snowfall amounts will generally range from 2 to 4 inches across the higher terrain with local accumulations of an inch or two possible this evening down into the upper foothill elevations. The system is expected to clear the region late tonight.

Bay Area couple life-flighted to a valley hospital after rollover on Highway 4

A Bay Area couple was taken by air ambulance to a valley hospital Sunday afternoon following a rollover accident on Highway 4 near Arnold. According to CHP reports, 31-year-old Lonnie Melvin and 27-year-old Cynthia Melvin were traveling westbound on the highway around 4:35 p.m. While attempting to pass slower traffic, Lonnie lost control of his Audi and slid across the north shoulder of the road colliding with two large pine trees. Ebbetts Pass Fire Department personnel responded and were forced to cut the roof off the car off to gain access to the pair. Both suffered major injuries including possible fractured pelvises.

Calaveras County to receive federal funds to help with winter storm damage

President Obama on Monday declared Calaveras and five other California counties disaster areas, freeing up federal funds to help in the recovery from flood damage sustained during winter storms. The declaration means the federal government will pay for at least 75 percent of recovery costs associated with storms and flooding in January and February and up to 75 percent of costs for certain state and local projects that would reduce the risk of damage or death in the future. California asked for about $59 million for eight counties, but the federal government approved only six counties, including Calaveras, Imperial, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Siskiyou.

Report of five missing juveniles Sunday evening has a happy ending

According to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department, a report of five missing Calaveras County juveniles who had not returned after taking a hike in the Arnold Area was received by dispatch around 7 p.m. The juveniles were reported to be wearing light clothing, carrying minimal supplies and not equipped to spend the night outdoors. A Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to meet with the parents of the missing juveniles, and learned that the five males, who raged in age from 14 to 16, had left Arnold area at 1:30 p.m. to hike in the area of the Arnold Rim Trial. With the help of two Sheriff’s Sergeants, 10 volunteer searchers, one Forest Service Ranger and one search K9, all five juveniles were located in the steep canyon on the North Side of Avery Sheep Ranch Road at approximately 2:30 a.m. this (Monday) morning. The juveniles were evaluated by Medical Personnel before being safely returned to their parents.

High rate of speed contributed to two motorcycle accidents this weekend

Calaveras County roadways recorded two motorcycle accidents over the weekend resulting in major to moderate injuries. Sunday afternoon around 2 p.m. 71-year-old Raymond Garric of Elk Grove was traveling north on Highway 49 south of Big Bar Road at an unknown rate of speed when he failed to maintain his 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle on the right half of the road. The motorcycle ran off the east shoulder of the road and overturned, ejecting Garric. He was taken by air ambulance to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for treatment of major injuries. A little more than an hour later, 28-year-old Cortez Salerno was riding west on Highway 4 at an extremely high rate of speed when he lost control of his 2006 Suzuki motorcycle for unknown reasons. Salerno was ejected from the motorcycle coming to rest in the eastbound lane of the highway. He was taken to Doctors Medical in Modesto for treatment of possible broken ribs.

Meeting to discuss future of agricultural education in local schools tonight

Anyone interested in the future of agricultural education in local schools is invited to attend a meeting tonight in Jackson. Amador County Ag Commissioner Mike Boitano has set up a meeting for interested parents, students and teachers to discuss ways to save the agricultural teachers at Amador and Argonaut High Schools. Three of the four ag teachers received a pink slip, notifying them their job could be in danger for the next school year. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Supervisors Chambers at the County Administrative Building on Court Street in Jackson.

Vehicle collides with Pine Cone Drug Sunday morning

Early Sunday morning emergency responders arrived at Pine Cone Drug in Pine Grove to find a vehicle had driven into the building. According to reports, Battalion 10 and CAL FIRE crews responded to the call just after 7 a.m. On scene, it was determined there was the possibility of structural damage beside the obvious broken front window pane and splintered overhand supports. Amador Sheriff’s deputies stayed on site until the building and business owners could access the damages. The reason behind the collision is still under investigation.

AWA customers have another way to access the Agency’s newsletter

Amador Water Agency customers will now have another way to access to the AWA’s quarterly newsletter. The first quarter issue of “Water News” will be inserted in the March 9 issue of the Amador Ledger Dispatch. Previously the newsletter was mailed to AWA customers in a water or wastewater service bill. AWA Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo says that inserting the Agency newsletter in an issue of the newspaper allows the publication to go out to the public all at once, rather than spread out over several weeks of billing cycles. AWA’s newsletter includes information on Agency activities throughout Amador County. The newsletter can also be viewed or downloaded from a link on the Agency Web site at www.amadorwater.org or at the AWA’s office at 12800 Ridge Road, Sutter Creek.

Unemployment numbers remain steady in Mother Lode

Unemployment numbers have remained stable over the past month in the Mother Lode region. According to the California Employment Development Department California non-farm payroll jobs increased by 32,500 in January, with eight of 11 industry sectors showing gains. Even so the California unemployment rate is now at 12.5 percent, up .1 percent, with the U.S. unemployment rate down from 10 percent in December to 9.7 in January. Amador and Calaveras counties held steady for the month of January at 12.6 and 15.2 percents respectively.

Ione to host workshop focused on rehabilitation of historic buildings

Ione will be the location of a workshop this week titled Make History: Public / Private Partnerships to Rehabilitate Historic Buildings. The workshop, part of the California Preservation Foundation 2010 series, will bring together a panel of professionals from the private and public sectors involved in adaptive reuse of historic properties for office, retail, multi-family, and / or community uses. The workshop will be held Wednesday, March 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Evalynn Bishop Hall on South Church Street. It is presented in partnership with City of Ione and Preston Castle Foundation. For more information or to register, visit www.californiapreservation.org or call (415) 495-0349.

Census warning from the Better Business Bureau to be cooperative, cautious

Census forms will be arriving in the mail this month and Census workers will be shortly behind. The Better Business Bureau is offering some advice when dealing with Census workers and offering up information, including being cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data. If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Remember, no matter what they ask, you really only need to tell them how many people live at your address.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Sutter Creek City Council set for special meeting Monday afternoon

The Sutter Creek City Council will gather for a special meeting Monday. Beginning at 2 p.m., the Council will hear discuss the ballot argument for the Gold Rush Measure, formally called Measure N. The Council will then adjourn into closed session to the Knight Foundry purchase negotiation. The meeting will be held in at the Community Building on Church Street. The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled for March 15 at 7 p.m.

Amador Conservatory Theatre to offer classes beginning next week

The Amador Community Foundation in partnership with Sutter Creek Theatre Artistic Director Monica MacLean have announced creation of the Amador Conservatory Theatre. Spring classes begin next week for students from 6 years old to adults. MacLean says the emphasis will be on process instead of product. Classes offer the students a relaxed yet professional training to really learn the very intricate craft of acting. All Classes will be held at The Community Foundation, 21-B Main Street in Jackson. For class information and a registration form, call MacLean at 257-0709.

Judge decides Lucido not personally responsible for funds owed to Merzlak

Citing a technicality the Judge Pro Tem in the case of Kam Merzlak versus Jacqueline Lucido released her findings yesterday. In her decision, the Judge wrote Lucido was not personally responsible for the funds Merzlak alleged she owned him for nonpayment of prize money. The ongoing feud began in 2008 after Lucido approached him to build the booth, she mentioned prize money as an incentive, a claim Lucido denied before the Judge Pro Temp in court last week. Merzlak was seeking $5,369.02 in prize monies awarded for a Silver Ribbon and the special Superintendents Award, which he was nominated for by Lucido. Merzlak says the Judge’s response said that Lucido was an employee of the Chamber, which would be the party responsible for the payout. Merzlak is still considering his next move at this time.

Ione City Council considers actions against Scully Robertson Initiative

The Ione City Council is considering its options in dealing with a proposed ballot initiative that would, if passed, take away control of the Ione Police Department from the City and give it to the County. Several councilmembers voiced their strong support of the Police Department and its leadership, wanting to speed up the pace of the City’s action against the initiative. City Attorney Kristen Castanos said the City could file suit against the initiative at anytime, expecting it to cost a couple of thousand of dollars just to file and as much as $35,000 to see it through to the end. City Manager Kim Kerr says the City Council has directed staff to put the initiative on the March 16 agenda to determine whether to pursue litigation or not on the initiative. 

San Andreas CHP looking for driver of stolen vehicle

The San Andreas CHP is looking for a driver of a stolen vehicle that crashed Thursday on Highway 4. According to reports, officers found an unreported stolen vehicle crashed into a light post on Highway 4 at Parrots Ferry Road. The driver of the vehicle had fled the scene on foot prior to the arrival of law enforcement. Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the CHP at 754-3541.

66 empty chairs set up in front of ACUSD schools to show potential layoffs

The sight of 66 empty chairs caught the attention of many Amador County residents yesterday. The empty chairs were placed in front of Amador County Unified School District schools Thursday morning as part of the statewide day of action called “Stand Up for Schools and California's Future”. The chairs were placed to represent the 66 “pink slipped” certificated staff members that MAY be cut from the district to help close the $5.7 million deficit. The district office put out 73 chairs to represent the 66 certificated employees, as well as the seven classified employees that have already been let go.

More bad news on the education front for the golden state

California will not receive the first round of federal stimulus funds set aside for education. 41 states applied for the initial “Race to the Top” money, and California is not one of the 16 finalists. At the urging of Governor Schwarzenegger, California lawmakers passed a package of reforms in January making the state eligible for the funding. The legislation forced persistently failing schools to make reforms, and parents with children in failing schools can now choose to move their kids elsewhere. Governor Schwarzenegger told reporters yesterday that the state needs to be even more aggressive on education reform so that California may be eligible for the second round of funding that will be allocated later in the year.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Sutter Creek City Council waived first reading of DA amendments with Gold Rush Monday

The Sutter Creek City Council waived the first reading for the Development Agreement amendments with the Gold Rush Ranch and Golf Resort Monday night. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe says the second reading will be held at the next meeting. Now called Measure N, the referendum against the development project will be placed on the June ballot for voters to decide whether or not the project will be built. The Council is able to continue to move forward with the Development Agreement amendments because it would not have an affect on the referendum vote.

AWA requests immediate conservation of water use in CAWP

Due to recent storms, the Water Agency is requesting the immediate conservation of water use in the Central Amador Water System (CAWP). The CAWP system stretches along the Highway 88 corridor from Mace Meadows to the vicinity of the Irishtown Road / Clinton Road intersection and along upper Ridge Road. The Water Agency must store and reuse backwash water used in the treatment process. The pond used to store this water has reached a permitted level with recent storms and the State requires the Water Agency to implement conservation as a part of a spill contingency plan.

California’s snow pack is 107 percent of normal

The California Department of Water Resources conducted its March measurements of the Sierra snow pack on Wednesday. Spokesperson Don Strickland says California’s mountain snow pack is 107 percent of normal for the date. If the current patterns hold, the state will be in pretty good shape. California has had three straight years of below average snow pack, so the results are encouraging.

Highway 26 collision resulted in minor injuries Monday

A vehicle accident on Highway 26 resulted in minor injuries Monday morning. 54-year-old Steven Paul of Valley Springs was driving his 1998 Nissan Altima east of County View Drive at 30 to 35 miles per hour, when for an unknown reason he allowed his vehicle to drift off the right edge of the roadway, causing his vehicle to lose control. Paul’s vehicle crossed into the westbound lane directly in front of 40-year-old Steven Bryden of Valley Springs. Bryden was unable to avoid the collision; the impact caused his vehicle to roll onto the driver’s side and come to a rest in the westbound lane. Both parties refused medical treatment.

Tour Amador County in the 49er Treasure Trail later this month

The 49er Treasure Trail adventure is a fun way to tour Amador County while learning a little bit along the way. This year, Amador Council of Tourism Executive Director Maureen Funk says there is a new twist. A geocaching event, also dubbed the 49er Treasure Trail, will be held the same weekend and will involve finding five caches, retrieving a wooden token from each and gaining the opportunity to win a special prize all for free. One of the event sponsors, Volcano Telecommunications, will be offering free wi-fi to allow people to download the caches onto their GPS units. Funk says she hopes one day to develop this into a game for tecchies and luddites alike. The game hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 27 and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, March 28. Participants receive a program with rules, clues and Play Spots, a lanyard and ID, and a gunny sack to hold tokens. Prizes will be given for the most tokens and play points earned, plus other awards like who traveled the furthest, most fun team, greenest team, etc. Registration is now open and costs $10 per person. Online registration is available at touramador.com. For more information about geocaching, visit geocaching.com.

Amador Vintners host annual “Behind the Cellar Door” this weekend

The Amador Vintners will host the annual “Behind the Cellar Door” event again this weekend. The winter wine extravaganza features tastings of new wines and current releases at 32 Amador wineries, along with gourmet foods, live music and entertaining seminars designed to enhance attendees’ knowledge and appreciation of wine. The event will take place this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are available at the Amador Vintners office on Highway 49 in Plymouth. For more information, visit www.amadorwine.com.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

MCSP correctional officer arrested for smuggling contraband, drugs

A Mule Creek State Prison correctional officer is under investigation after being accused of smuggling and distributing contraband and drugs to prison inmates. According to prison officials, 38-year-old Wayne Bullard was arrested in the course of an investigation by the California Department of Corrections on charges of bringing a controlled substance into a prison. Further details have yet to be released as the investigation is ongoing. Bullard has been a correctional officer at Mule Creek since March 1998, and joined the CDCR in November 1996. Investigators searched Bullard’s home for evidence Tuesday, but did not comment on what they found. Since the arrest, Bullard has posted bail and is currently out of police custody.

The Ione City Council dealt with wastewater issues Tuesday evening

Ione City Manager Kim Kerr updated the City Council on a recent meeting with the California Water Quality Control Board. Kerr says during the meeting City staff updated Board staff on the progress on the Cease and Desist Order, the project to address the Cease and Desist Order and other issues, and discussed the next steps. The City will update the Board again during the next Quarterly Report issued in April on the status of the items identified in the Cease and Desist Order. Kerr adds that the City is also working on the Final Report of Waste Discharge for review by both Compliance and Permitting at the Board, which should be completed in the next few weeks. Also during the meeting, the City Council approved the lease on the Ione Train Depot. Kerr says the next steps include signing the documents, creating a Committee for the rehabilitation of the Depot, securing the Depot, and developing a plan to rehabilitate and future uses.

CUSD Trustees vote to eliminate 23 teachers Tuesday night

A 4-0 vote Tuesday by the Calaveras Unified School District Board of Trustees decided the fate of 23 teachers. Those teachers will lose their jobs next year as the District attempts to close a $2 million budget shortfall. Superintendent Mark Campbell says that cuts to athletics has been tabled for now as parents have indicated there could be other options for fund-raising to support those programs. Layoff notices were also given to two Calaveras High School vice-principals but that number may be reduced upon further study. All notices must be sent out by March 15 in accordance with the law, but not all cuts will necessarily be made.

Volunteers needed for 2010 Bypass Run scheduled for March 13

Volunteers are needed for the 2010 Bypass Run, sponsored by the Amador County Recreation Agency (ACRA). The fourth annual Bypass Run, with a one mile fun run / walk and 5k and 10k competitions, will be held Saturday, March 13 with an 8 a.m. start beginning in front of the Wells Fargo ATM in Sutter Creek. The race is a fun, family event to raise funds for ACRA. Volunteers are needed for registration, water stations, finish lines and setting up signs. All volunteers are asked to attend a short meeting with ACRA staff this Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Health and Human Services Building on Conductor Blvd in Sutter Creek. For more information on volunteering for the event, contact Matt Nestor at 223-6349 or just show up at the volunteers meeting.

Sutter Creek City Council receives some good budget news

During Monday night’s meeting, the Sutter Creek City Council received some good news regarding the budget. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe says that the City’s 2009-10 budget is projected to have a deficit of $80,568 by year end. He adds that this is actually a bit of an improvement over previous estimates, primarily due to strict expense monitoring. There is, however, an additional $158,950 deficit that occurred from one-time extraordinary expenses from the buyouts the Council approved in the beginning of the year for two employees, from a settlement the City reached with the Police Officer’s Association and from a settled lawsuit filed by a former employee. Rabe says those combined totals equal the $239,518 deficit, but the Council has said that the employee buyouts need not be paid back this fiscal year because it represented an ongoing savings to the General Fund that would be realized and fully paid back after two years. The City Council and City Management is taking the budget situation very seriously and is preparing to enter negotiations with the City’s two employee groups this month in order to resolve this deficit as soon as possible.

Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council requests funding from County

With State funds drying up and donations dwindling, the Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council appeared before the Amador County Board of Supervisors Tuesday to request funding. ACAPC Program Coordinator Robin Valencia presented the board with the organizations activities and accomplishments last year and explained the need for the Board’s support. Valencia says the Council receives approximately $15,000 a year from the Children’s Trust Fund and holds an annual Bowl-a-Thon fund-raiser that brings in about $7,000. With an operating budget of about $27,000 annually, Valencia asked the Board to help make up the difference. The Board asked Valencia to come back to the Administrative Committee of Board Chair Brian Oneto and Vice Chair John Plasse with a best estimate report of revenue and expenditures before making a final decision.

Angels Camp PD warning parents to remind children to be aware of surrounds

The Angels Camp Police Department is warning parents to remind their children to be aware of their surroundings after an incident last week involving a 16-year-old female walking home from school. According to police reports, the female was walking near the intersection of North Main Street and Dogtown Road around 3:15 p.m. Friday when a white male in a pickup truck pulled along side her and asked if she would like a ride. The female told him no, then ran away after he asked her a second time. The driver of the pickup then left the area driving north on North Main Street. The female described the driver of the truck as a white male in his 20s, with a shaved head, wearing a black T-shirt and sunglasses. The truck was described as a white pickup truck, but it is unknown what the make, model or year is. Police are asking parents to give direction to their children on appropriate responses to this type of encounter. If the child is in a public place, the safest course of action is for the child to enter the closest business and ask the proprietor or employee to dial 9-1-1.

A Mountain Ranch woman has at least one of her pets back today

Mary Orr of Mountain Ranch reported that her 6-year-old Jersey bull named Alex was returned sometime between midnight and 8 a.m., but a 2-year-old black heifer and a 2-month-old calf remain missing. Orr reported the tri of animals missing from her and her husband’s 46-acre property January 30 to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department. Orr says he is skinny, but at least back at home. Anyone with information regarding the other missing livestock can contact Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Hill at 754-6500.