Amador County – Mike Roots, Superintendent of the Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp, announced in a release last week that wards at the camp recently participated in the Spring Fire Readiness Exercise, to prepare for warmer weather.

CYA Lieutenant Wayland in the report said “all Correctional Fire Crews are required to participate in, and successfully complete, a fire readiness exercise prior to the start of the fire season. This year, Pine Grove Camp, along with Washington Ridge and Growlersberg Camps, held a joint exercise on the Bacchi Ranch in Coloma.” The first activity was a “tool-up,” he said, simulating “what occurs upon arrival at a fire.” Within seconds the crew exited the back of a vehicle, “called out their position on the crew, and received their tool, then lined up in crew order awaiting further directions.”

Senior Cal Fire officers “conducted an equipment inspection of each fire fighter and quizzed them, testing their understanding of fire line safety.”

The crew “then moved to another location where their fire shelter deployment skills were evaluated,” Wayland wrote. “Following a briefing and demonstration, the crew simulated deployment under emergency conditions. Captain Chris Waters had devoted hours practicing this life-saving skill and, as a result, everyone was fully deployed within 26 seconds.” Soon after, the crew “struck out on a four-mile hike with full packs, canteens, and sufficient supplies to work on the fire line for 24 hours. Although the temperature was warm and the terrain rolling to hilly, they completed it on time and with considerable ease,” which Wayland said was “a testament to Captain Water’s belief in physical conditioning and constant practice.”

Following a short rest and a snack, the crew “was ready for its biggest and most difficult challenge of the day,” that being “cutting a fire line uphill through dense vegetation.” Wayland said that “line cutting is the most important task for a wildland fire hand crew and is the true test of a crew’s individual fitness and team cohesiveness.”

Wayland said there “are no stars on a hand crew; each member has a specific task which must be performed in sequence and without delay.” While exhausting work, “the firefighters also found it satisfying to look down a 300-foot pathway, cleared down to bare soil, which was choked with brush and trees just minutes before and realize what they had accomplished.”

Even though the crew passed the exercise and is now ready for the 2011 fire season, there was no rest and relaxation. Wayland said the next day, “the crew was back at work, practicing and honing their hiking and firefighting skills.” Wayland said Waters and the other Pine Grove captains “understand that skills practiced during training and daily work are what keep everyone safe on the fire line.”

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

Amador County – Amador County Animal Control announced Monday that it has recently taken custody of 16 miniature horses, which may be available for adoption.

General Services Administration Director John Hopkins said “recently 16 neglected miniature horses were relinquished into the care of Amador County Animal Control. The horses’ health is being evaluated and all will be available for adoption to homes that are approved by Animal Control.”

Hopkins in a release said “some of the horses may require medical care while all need special attentio¬n.” For adoption information, please contact Animal Control at (209) 223-6378.

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

Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to set a public hearing for a solid waste service increase in franchise service Area 1, and also to raise rates at transfer stations in Pine Grove and Camanche.

ACES Waste Service requested the increases, while holding of potential rate decreases in service areas Number 2 and 3. They requested waiting a year to be able to get data for a full year’s service in Ione, to save money on a costly audit that would have to be redone on Ione next year. ACES President Paul Molinelli Senior said it would also allow for potential gasoline prices to not have an impact on the company’s cash flow.

Supervisor Brian Oneto and Chairman John Plasse dissented. Oneto said he thought ACES should seek reimbursement for carbon emission upgrades he has made to his fleet. Oneto thought reductions should occur in the service areas where they would apply.

Supervisor Louis Boitano partially agreed, saying “I’m looking for a smoothing effect.” As a ratepayer, he would like a decrease, but not if two months later the company would need a 10 percent increase. Molinelli said “that’s exactly what we’re afraid of.” He noted that “fuel has increased 30 percent since Jan. 1,” and “if it does not go to below $3 a gallon, we are going to have a larger rate increase.”

County Counsel Martha Shaver said “if you are going to have an increase of any amount, you have to go out” with a Proposition 218 notice, which the board approved in the 3-2 vote. They also agreed to send letters telling the customers about costs ACES is “eating” to be in carbon air emissions compliance.

Molinelli said: “We did incur that expense. We ate that cost. We’re here. We’re standing.” It was about $150,000 to $200,000 in the 2-year process. Supervisor Ted Novelli said it should be an “itemized specialty,” reimbursable under the franchise contract, and Oneto repeatedly asked why it was not sought in surcharges by ACES. Molinelli said “we’re done. The thing is, we will never buy another vehicle again that is non-compliant.” Oneto said: “Until they change the requirements.”

The board, voting 3-2, approved sending a Prop 218 notice for the Service Area 1 rate increase, and set a public hearing for July 12. They also declined a recommended 1% rate change threshold, and agreed to have the Admin Committee work on a draft letter with ACES to tell customers about the carbon compliance costs.

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

Amador County – The wreckage of an airplane that went missing last week was discovered Friday afternoon, along with remains, which were identified as the pilot’s.

At about 3:45 p.m. Friday, “members of the Amador County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Nordic Team located the wreckage of the missing Lancair aircraft owned and piloted by Robert Henderson “Budge” Brown Senior, 78, of Gardnerville, Nevada.” Undersheriff Jim Wegner issued a release Friday night that said the “aircraft was found south of Bear River Reservoir, north of Salt Springs Reservoir and west of Cole Creek in very rugged, snow covered terrain within the El Dorado National Forest. The aircraft was found outside of the initial search area, by a ground team, during the expanded search efforts.” The search contingent had focused its work in an area Thursday with no luck, and resumed the search Friday.

“The aircraft wreckage is strewn over an approximated 300-yard area,” the release said. “The aircraft tail number and serial number were located amongst the wreckage. Personal effects belonging to Brown, including his passport were also located among the wreckage.

“Amador County Deputy Sheriff-Coroners responded to the crash site, wherein they recovered the decedent and began the death investigation. The cause of death will be determined during a forensic autopsy that was scheduled for Monday.

“The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have been notified and will be conducting the investigation into the cause of the accident.” Last week, the Amador Sheriff’s Office was advised of the overdue aircraft, last seen on radar flying through Amador County at 3:47 p.m. Wednesday, May 18.

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

Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors directed further work to correct a nexus study for a new county jail, hearing that it could cost between $40.7 million and $58 million to build, but they also learned that as a small county, Amador would only need to match the grant at 5%, instead of 25% asked of larger counties.

General Services Administrator John Hopkins and Sheriff Martin Ryan gave an update on jail needs, based on a 2007 jail master plan and nexus, which need more changes. Ryan said the Amador County Sheriff’s Office will likely outgrow its administrative offices, and he would like to include 20 acres of the 200-acre Wicklow Way jail master plan to house new administrative offices.

Hopkins said he was not sure if the nexus included administrative offices. It did contain 165 beds, but the size was changed to meet legal requirements. Hopkins said the jail master plan had 50 square feet per inmate, but 70 square feet per inmate is required. The changes increased the jail square footage by nearly 2,000, to 62,600 square feet.

Ryan said the 76-bed County Jail now has 56 inmates, and “I don’t have a good explanation why.” He said “last year we were spiking at somewhere around 105 inmates per day.” He said Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of an inmate’s jail overcrowding lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation means that 44 inmates would be released here in Amador County.

Ryan said he testified before the federal court last year about the impact it would have on small counties, and he said having 44 seasoned inmates and hardened thieves “would inundate” his detectives.

Supervisor Richard Forster asked about CDCR requirements to keep jail staffs large enough to handle a full facility, even if it held fewer than capacity. Ryan said “the sheriffs collectively thought that was idiotic.” Hopkins said they met with their corrections representative, who said sheriffs should be able to determine safe staffing level and jails should be “staffed to what is absolutely necessary.”

Ryan said he would like to do what other county jails are doing, which is rent the jail to federal agencies, so they can “fill it with paying customers.”

Forster suggested that the nexus and plan justify the use of 20 acres as admin space, and Supervisor Chairman John Plasse asked that they give the long-range use plan for the 20 acres, if it was allowed by the nexus. The board approved direction 5-0, and gave consensus to Supervisor Louis Boitano’s request that the Admin Committee talk about surplus sites, including the old courthouse, which was becoming blighted, and the future of the current jail.

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, 5-25-11 - Amador County Supervisor John Plasse with the Supervisor Report on the meeting of 5-24-11.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-25-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Mayor Greg Baldwin to discuss Plymouth City Council’s work on the Shenandoah Ridge and Zinfandel residential projects.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-25-11

·       Supervisors received an update on county jail needs, and approved a GSA update on the jail nexus study.

·       The wreckage of a missing airplane and its pilot’s body were found Friday between Salt Springs and Bear River Reservoirs.

·       Supervisors OK’d rate increase hearings for ACES Franchise Service area 1, and at Camanche and Pine Grove transfer stations.

·       A Pine Grove Camp fire hand crew passed its Spring training exercise and is ready for the 2011 fire season.

·       Amador County Animal Control seized 16 neglected miniature horses, which will be evaluated, and then could be made available for adoption.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-25-11

·       Supervisors received an update on county jail needs, and approved a GSA update on the jail nexus study.

·       The wreckage of a missing airplane and its pilot’s body were found Friday between Salt Springs and Bear River Reservoirs.

·       Supervisors OK’d rate increase hearings for ACES Franchise Service area 1, and at Camanche and Pine Grove transfer stations.

·       A Pine Grove Camp fire hand crew passed its Spring training exercise and is ready for the 2011 fire season.

·       Amador County Animal Control seized 16 neglected miniature horses, which will be evaluated, and then could be made available for adoption.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-25-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Mayor Greg Baldwin to discuss Plymouth City Council’s work on the Shenandoah Ridge and Zinfandel residential projects.