Amador County – Shriners Hospitals this week announced it will be having “Free Medical Care for Children” health screening clinic on Saturday, June 11 at the Amador Public Health building.

A no-cost screening clinic will be held to identify children in the area who can benefit from the expert orthopedic and burn care provided at Shriners Hospitals. Those who know any children under age 18 who have problems of the bones, joints, or muscles, or problems associated with healed burns should be alerted of the Free Medical Care for Children event. They should be brought to the free clinic for an evaluation to find out if they are eligible for free, expert medical treatment.

All care that is provided at Shriners Hospitals is absolutely free of charge. Shriners Hospitals treat such problems as Scoliosis, Neuromuscular Disorders, and Hand and Back Problems. They also treat leg length discrepancies, rickets, congenital hip problems, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and orthopedic problems associated with cerebral palsy.

The clinic is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the Amador County Health & Human Services building, at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek. For information, call Joe Gregorius at (209) 257-1017.

For information about Shriners Hospitals, call 1 (800) 237-5055, or in Canada, call 1(800) 361-7256.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Grand Jury, investigating the city of Ione has reportedly cost the city more than $1,700 in document requests, according to a staff report for today’s Ione City Council Meeting.

Ione staff said it spent 35 hours to fill a request by an independent auditor working for the Grand Jury to turn over copies of 24,500 pages of city documents.

City Manager Kim Kerr in a report for today’s meeting said that staff had spent 35 hours making copies to answer the Grand Jury’s independent auditor’s request for information, and had submitted 24,500 pages of documents, not including copies of canceled checks.

Kerr said “staff submitted the requested documents to the auditor hired by the Grand Jury on May 31,” and “after submitting the requested documents, the staff realized we had failed to submit copies of the canceled checks, which staff submitted on Monday,” June 6. Kerr worked six hours on the request, the finance manager worked 13 hours, the account technician worked 5 hours and support staff worked 12 hours, for the total cost to fill the request, minus the check coping, totaling $1,725.

Recently, staff reported on document requests of varying detail, including getting 28 document requests over a two-month period, many coming from Ione Resident James Nevine. Those included several years of budget information.

Also today, Ione City Council will get an update on the Ed Hughes Memorial Arena restroom project. Kerr in a report said Park Grant Funds of $81,848 are available from funds already allocated through the State Resource Bond Act of 2002. She said park impact fees and funding from the Amador County Recreation Agency will assist with paying for the $180,000 project, including about $100,000 from ACRA. Kerr said “the project is in progress, is on schedule and is under budget.”

Kerr in the report said she had heard an update from Anne Baird of Assemblywoman Alyson Huber’s office about “the city’s request to extend our grant” funding for the restroom project to fiscal year 2011-2012. Baird said it “is pending adoption by the state Legislature,” and she “indicated the extension should be approved.”

The Ione City Council also will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday to have a workshop on its newly released financial audit for fiscal year 2009-2010.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-7-11 - TSPN's Tom slivick sits down with Jackson City Manager Mike Daly to discuss Oro De Amador, and city sewer EIR topics.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-7-11

·       Ione staff hands over 24,500 documents to a Grand Jury auditor.

·       Shriners Hospitals plans a Free Medical Care for Children clinical screening Saturday, June 11 at Amador County Health.

·       Amador Council of Tourism meets Thursday at Preston Castle.

·       CDF region gives tips on “Surviving a Wildfire.

·       Alyson Huber will chair a hearing of the California Sunset Law joint legislative committee.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-7-11

·       Ione staff hands over 24,500 documents to a Grand Jury auditor.

·       Shriners Hospitals plans a Free Medical Care for Children clinical screening Saturday, June 11 at Amador County Health.

·       Amador Council of Tourism meets Thursday at Preston Castle.

·       CDF region gives tips on “Surviving a Wildfire.

·       Alyson Huber will chair a hearing of the California Sunset Law joint legislative committee.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-7-11 - TSPN's Tom slivick sits down with Jackson City Manager Mike Daly to discuss Oro De Amador, and city sewer EIR topics.

Amador County – The Amador County Grand Jury, investigating the city of Ione has reportedly cost the city more than $1,700 in document requests, according to a staff report for today’s Ione City Council Meeting.

Ione staff said it spent 35 hours to fill a request by an independent auditor working for the Grand Jury to turn over copies of 24,500 pages of city documents.

City Manager Kim Kerr in a report for today’s meeting said that staff had spent 35 hours making copies to answer the Grand Jury’s independent auditor’s request for information, and had submitted 24,500 pages of documents, not including copies of canceled checks.

Kerr said “staff submitted the requested documents to the auditor hired by the Grand Jury on May 31,” and “after submitting the requested documents, the staff realized we had failed to submit copies of the canceled checks, which staff submitted on Monday,” June 6. Kerr worked six hours on the request, the finance manager worked 13 hours, the account technician worked 5 hours and support staff worked 12 hours, for the total cost to fill the request, minus the check coping, totaling $1,725.

Recently, staff reported on document requests of varying detail, including getting 28 document requests over a two-month period, many coming from Ione Resident James Nevine. Those included several years of budget information.

Also today, Ione City Council will get an update on the Ed Hughes Memorial Arena restroom project. Kerr in a report said Park Grant Funds of $81,848 are available from funds already allocated through the State Resource Bond Act of 2002. She said park impact fees and funding from the Amador County Recreation Agency will assist with paying for the $180,000 project, including about $100,000 from ACRA. Kerr said “the project is in progress, is on schedule and is under budget.”

Kerr in the report said she had heard an update from Anne Baird of Assemblywoman Alyson Huber’s office about “the city’s request to extend our grant” funding for the restroom project to fiscal year 2011-2012. Baird said it “is pending adoption by the state Legislature,” and she “indicated the extension should be approved.”

The Ione City Council also will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday to have a workshop on its newly released financial audit for fiscal year 2009-2010.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Shriners Hospitals this week announced it will be having “Free Medical Care for Children” health screening clinic on Saturday, June 11 at the Amador Public Health building.

A no-cost screening clinic will be held to identify children in the area who can benefit from the expert orthopedic and burn care provided at Shriners Hospitals. Those who know any children under age 18 who have problems of the bones, joints, or muscles, or problems associated with healed burns should be alerted of the Free Medical Care for Children event. They should be brought to the free clinic for an evaluation to find out if they are eligible for free, expert medical treatment.

All care that is provided at Shriners Hospitals is absolutely free of charge. Shriners Hospitals treat such problems as Scoliosis, Neuromuscular Disorders, and Hand and Back Problems. They also treat leg length discrepancies, rickets, congenital hip problems, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and orthopedic problems associated with cerebral palsy.

The clinic is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the Amador County Health & Human Services building, at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek. For information, call Joe Gregorius at (209) 257-1017.

For information about Shriners Hospitals, call 1 (800) 237-5055, or in Canada, call 1(800) 361-7256.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador Council of Tourism board of directors will hold its quarterly evening meeting Thursday at Preston Castle.

ACT Executive Director Maureen Funk said the Preston Castle “generously offered to host ACT’s board meeting,” set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 9. She said Preston Castle will give tours to those people who are interested, and people should “not miss this unique opportunity.”

Funk said Terry Selk, the Director of Tourism for the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau will discuss the partnership between Amador County Council of Tourism and the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau, “and how well that works for our organizations.”

Food and beverage for Thursday’s meeting will be provided by Clark’s Corner of Ione. Clark’s Corner is sponsoring the food.

The meeting will include the treasurer’s report with a mid-year review, along with the presentation by Selk. Projects to be discussed include a NorCal Guide, an iPhone App, and the Hotel/Motel Tax Increase, which is aimed for June 2012, and needs a chair person.

Travel Shows topics will include reports on the Amgen Lifestyle Festival from Sacramento and the Amgen Tour of Ione. Pow Wow committee has partnered with the Gold Country Visitors Association and will have a report from a San Francisco trip. Funk reminded that the California State Fair is July 14- 31, and the Amador County Fair is July 29-31.

Partner updates will include the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau and partner mailings, as well as the Gold Country Visitor Association’s partnering with Sierra County for an event at noon on Aug. 20.

Jackson City Manager Mike Daly announced Monday that “the Jackson Revitalization Committee’s meeting for June is being cancelled so that JRC members and others who may wish to attend the Amador Council of Tourism’s meeting on the same evening, Thursday, at Preston Castle don’t have to be in two places at the same time.”

The next regular meeting of the JRC will be Thursday, July 14.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Amador-El Dorado Unit launched its “Ready-Set-Go!” fire and life safety campaign Monday.

Teri Mizuhara of the Amador-El Dorado Unit said the unit released part one of its comprehensive educational program: “Surviving a Wildfire.” Unit Chief Kelly Keenan in the release said “living in the Sierra Nevada foothills is a dream come true but with that dream comes a responsibility that many urban and/or suburban dwellers do not face.”

He said “fire is a natural part of our ecosystem” clearing weeds and brush creates “a healthy forest dynamic. But with so many homes scattered throughout the rural foothills, naturally occurring fire is not allowed to do what it should because fire agencies must suppress fires that threaten lives and property.” ¶ Keenan said “people must do their part and create a space around their homes where fire can be better controlled as it approaches.”

“Defensible space” works, he said, and “creating a buffer zone between your home and the radiant heat or flying embers. These embers can destroy homes and even entire neighborhoods that are far from the actual flame front of a wildfire.”

Keenan said “wind driven embers can fly up to one mile during a wildland fire,” so “hardening” your “home with fire resistive material, creating a solid buffer zone of defensible space” is critical.

Keenan broke down defensible space into zones. He said “Zone One” extends up to 30 feet from every structure on the property, or to the property line if it is closer. Remove all dead and dying vegetation, and also leaf litter from the roof and gutters. Relocate woodpiles well away from the home. Trim trees so that they are a minimum of 10 feet from the chimney and roof line. Remove “ladder fuels,” which are “low-level vegetation that could allow fire to spread from the ground to shrubs and bushes to the tree canopies.”

“Zone Two” extends from 30 feet to 100 feet, or to your property line whichever is closer. “The key is to keep plant material separated from each other both horizontally and vertically. This prevents the vegetation from acting like a ladder and allowing the fire to move from the ground to the tree canopies.” Cut annual grasses down to a maximum of four inches in height.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.