Amador County – Hundreds of people attended the closing ceremony and final open house of the Preston Correctional Youth Facility Thursday in Ione, including current and retired employees, friends, family, and even some past wards.

There was a social time, tours, the ceremony, then more tours, and a barbecue, all to commemorate the closing of the 116-year-old facility.

Chaplain David Skaggs gave the welcome in the morning, and in the afternoon led a silent prayer for the facility. Timothy Mahoney, superintendent, did a beautiful Historical Reflection of Preston, and primary taps was played on trumpet by Dexter Clement, retired band instructor of the Mother Lode Band, touring and parade band, of Preston. Jimmy Vinciguerra, also a retired Preston teacher, did the echo of the taps, which he played from a far off distance.

Cari Skaggs sang the solo, “Republic of Preston,” characterized as beautiful and moving to the crowd. Retiring of the colors was done by the Preston Color Guard, with the U.S. flag folded and presented to Preston Superintendent Tim Mahoney. The California flag was also folded and presented to Assistant Superintendent Anthony Lucero.

Tours of families and friends went all day long through the facilities, and Native Sons of the Golden West of Ione did all of the cooking for the barbecue. Inside one of the buildings was a beautiful display of the archives, photos, uniforms, costumes, and instruments, showing just a little bit of everything from the different classes. Employees and correctional officers, families, friends and retirees were all there to share in the bittersweet day.

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, 6-3-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Shannon Gibson, a Jackson parent who is working to start an Amador County chapter of the Tri County Autism Group.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-3-11

·       Hundreds attended the final open house and bittersweet closing ceremonies of the Preston Correctional Youth Facility Thursday in Ione.

·       Jackson Mayor Connie Gonsalves sent the Key to the City to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with an invitation to visit Jackson and the Mother Lode.

·       14^th Annual Art on the Lawn event will benefit Hospice.

·       The Amador Cal-Fire Unit welcomed a new regional chief earlier this year in a ceremony at the Camino headquarters.

·       Caltrans plans to close Highway 12 between I-5 and State Route 160 during business hours for three days next week for construction.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-3-11

·       Hundreds attended the final open house and bittersweet closing ceremonies of the Preston Correctional Youth Facility Thursday in Ione.

·       Jackson Mayor Connie Gonsalves sent the Key to the City to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with an invitation to visit Jackson and the Mother Lode.

·       14^th Annual Art on the Lawn event will benefit Hospice.

·       The Amador Cal-Fire Unit welcomed a new regional chief earlier this year in a ceremony at the Camino headquarters.

·       Caltrans plans to close Highway 12 between I-5 and State Route 160 during business hours for three days next week for construction.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-3-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Shannon Gibson, a Jackson parent who is working to start an Amador County chapter of the Tri County Autism Group.

Amador County – Hundreds of people attended the closing ceremony and final open house of the Preston Correctional Youth Facility Thursday in Ione, including current and retired employees, friends, family, and even some past wards.

There was a social time, tours, the ceremony, then more tours, and a barbecue, all to commemorate the closing of the 116-year-old facility.

Chaplain David Skaggs gave the welcome in the morning, and in the afternoon led a silent prayer for the facility. Timothy Mahoney, superintendent, did a beautiful Historical Reflection of Preston, and primary taps was played on trumpet by Dexter Clement, retired band instructor of the Mother Lode Band, touring and parade band, of Preston. Jimmy Vinciguerra, also a retired Preston teacher, did the echo of the taps, which he played from a far off distance.

Cari Skaggs sang the solo, “Republic of Preston,” characterized as beautiful and moving to the crowd. Retiring of the colors was done by the Preston Color Guard, with the U.S. flag folded and presented to Preston Superintendent Tim Mahoney. The California flag was also folded and presented to Assistant Superintendent Anthony Lucero.

Tours of families and friends went all day long through the facilities, and Native Sons of the Golden West of Ione did all of the cooking for the barbecue. Inside one of the buildings was a beautiful display of the archives, photos, uniforms, costumes, and instruments, showing just a little bit of everything from the different classes. Employees and correctional officers, families, friends and retirees were all there to share in the bittersweet day.

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

Amador County – Jackson Mayor Connie Gonsalves on behalf of the city in mid-May invited the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit the Mother Lode and the city of Jackson.

Gonsalves sent a “key to the city” to the new Royal couple, Prince William and wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Gonsalves said “hopefully they will consider driving through our city during their California visit.”

The Prince of Wales’ official website said William and Kate are planning to visit California July 8-10, following their tour of Canada in July this year, and a detailed itinerary will be released later.

The Prince’s website said: “The Duke of Cambridge has never before visited the United States of America in an official capacity. His Royal Highness has visited the United States of America privately. The Duchess of Cambridge has never before visited the United States of America officially or privately.”

Gonsalves in the letter to the royals sent to Buckingham Palace in London, dated May 19, said the “city of Jackson, Calif., would like to invite Your most honored presence to visit our city and experience God’s Gold Country during your planned visit to California. Enclosed, please find a key to our city which we hope will open your wonderful experience with us.”

The letter gives some history of Jackson, and Amador County, saying the city was founded in 1848, and became the county seat when Amador County was created in 1854, and “named after native Californian, Jose Maria Amador.” The letter said the city was rebuilt after an 1862 fire, and has “as many as 42 U.S. Civil War-era buildings still standing today on and around Jackson’s Historic Main Street.”

Gonsalves in the letter said “from early 1850 until World War II, Jackson’s three main mines, the Eureka, Kennedy and Argonaut, produced 4.6 million ounces of gold, more than half the county’s entire gold production of 7.8 million ounces.”

The Mayor said “our county also is well known for growing several varieties of wine. Here you will discover the distinctive flavors of our foothill-grown wines.”

Gonsalves said: “We hope that Your Highness will be able to grace our city and we await with anticipation Your response.”

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

Amador County – Hospice of Amador and Calaveras counties hosts its 14th annual Art on the Lawn dinner party, auction, concert and fundraiser June 17th in Murphys.

Hospice Executive Director Dan Riordan sent out personal invitations this week to the upcoming “Art on the Lawn” fundraiser, saying: “This is a great evening of champagne, great food catered by the Murphys Hotel, live music, local art, and local wine.” He said this is the “first venture into Calaveras with our most important fundraiser of the year.”

He said “Hospice of Amador & Calaveras provides end-of-life care to anyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay for those services,” and “this fundraiser is a big way we are able to continue meeting that mission.”

He said he hoped people would come join the cause and “we really need your support this year and hope you will call for your tickets today,” and “if any of you have any other thoughts about what we might be able to do to encourage support for this event with 2 weeks to go, please let me know.”

Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door, and visitors begin the evening by viewing art from Local Artists, sipping champagne and enjoying tasty appetizers along with the music of Herb Boxhorn and Klaudia Promessi. Later, a light Dinner Buffet will be offered along with a variety of Local wines catering and a no-host bar provided by The Murphys Hotel.

The night of Art in the Park starts at 6 p.m. Friday June 17 at the Murphys Community Park, at 505 Algiers Street in Murphys.

The 14th annual Art on the Lawn includes local artists, a light dinner, and a live auction. All proceeds benefit Hospice of Amador & Calaveras, which provides quality end-of-life care.

The live auction begins promptly at 7 p.m., and attendees can mingle with artists and guests, and view amazing art. The event includes raffle prizes provided by local merchants, and people can make a bid in the silent auction.

Limited tickets are available. (Call (209) 223-5500.

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

Amador County – The new California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection chief for the region that includes Amador County was inducted in April, with a badge pinning ceremony at the region’s Camino headquarters.

Teri Mizuhara, Fire Prevention Specialist 2 with the Unit Headquarters announced the badge pinning plans in April. The new Unit Chief for the Amador-El Dorado-Sacramento-Alpine Unit of Cal Fire was pinned April 18th at the Camino Headquarters Administrative office. Northern Unit Chief Bill Holmes performed the badge pinning ceremony on new Unit Chief Kelly Keenan.

Before the ceremony, Holmes in a release said “Chief Keenan’s varied experiences give him the tools to lead (the Amador-El Dorado-Sacramento Unit) and serve the citizens of the state. I’m sure he will build on the successes of his predecessors as I did and I’m proud to have someone of Kelly’s caliber to replace me.”

Mizuhara said Chief Keenan began his career in Cal Fire in 1986 as a Forestry Assistant II on the Jackson Demonstration State Forest. In 1988, he was promoted to Forester I in the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit and in 1998, was promoted to Forester II. While at Nevada-Yuba-Placer, he held positions as Area Forester, Vegetation Management Program Coordinator, Unit Forester and Interim Unit Administrative Officer.

In 2004, Keenan accepted an Assistant Chief position in the Amador-El Dorado Unit as North Division Operations Chief, which included responsibility for Growlersburg Conservation Camp. During his 25-year career with Cal Fire, he has been involved with a variety of assignments, working groups and cadres in both the Resource Management and Fire Protection programs and worked cooperatively with numerous state, federal and local government agencies.

Since 2003, Keenan has served on Cal Fire Incident Command Teams in a variety of positions including Planning Section Chief and Deputy Incident Commander. He is currently the Incident Commander of ICT Number 1.

While Deputy Incident Commander on ICT Number 10, Keenan was directly involved with some of California’s most challenging wildfires and disasters. Keenan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Cal Poly State University, is a Peace Officer and a Registered Professional Forester.

He lives in Cool with his wife Chris and his son Conor and his daughter Alanna attends graduate school at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

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Amador County – The California Department of Transportation announced that it plans to close State Route 12 for three days next week for construction. The SR-12 will be closed between Interstate 5 and State Route 160, and Caltrans District 10 is recommending a detour along SR-160 for non-truck traffic.

District 10 Public Information Officer Chantel Miller said there will be a full closure of Highway 12 during business hours on June 7, 8 and 9, closed to through-traffic in San Joaquin and Sacramento Counties. Miller said “Caltrans will conduct maintenance and pavement repair operations requiring the daytime closure of State Route 12 from Interstate 5 in San Joaquin County to SR-160 in Sacramento County.”

The closure will be in place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. “Detours will be posted,” Miller said, and “motorists should consider I-80 and I-5 as alternate routes and should allow additional travel time due to the detour.” Signs will show the detour for east-bound SR-12 traffic to be taken on SR-160 north to Walnut Grove Road then to I-5, consisting of about a 30-mile, and 45-minute detour. SR-12 west-bound traffic will be detoured via I-5 north to Walnut Grove Road then to SR-160 south.

Current truck restrictions apply. California-legal trucks with “kingpin to rear axle less than 30 feet” are OK on SR-160. Miller said: “Trucks are discouraged from using this detour route. Trucks are encouraged to use I-5 and I-80 as alternate routes.”

Access to local residents, businesses and emergency services will be allowed. The complete road closure will allow maintenance crews to expedite repairs to SR-12. All work will be completed in three days time with the total closure as compared to 15 days with 90-minute delays using one-way traffic control.

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