Amador County – Jackson City Council on Monday approved $6,000 for the remainder the Amador County Chamber of Commerce budget requested in January.

City Manager Mike Daly said the Chamber went through a reorganization in late 2010, the Council approved $12,000 in January, and “also held back a portion of the funding to allow” the Chamber “to work on developing a stronger relationship with the Amador Council of Tourism, the other organization focused on attracting visitors to the city of Jackson and boosting the local economy.”

Amador County Chamber of Commerce Vice President Tom Blackman in a letter to the council described the changes at the Chamber, including the moving of its office from Mother Lode Plaza on Highway 49 onto Main Street in Jackson.

Blackman in the May 5 letter said Amador Chamber has “successfully continued our operations with one paid staff and an increasing number of regularly scheduled volunteers. We were happy to have completed our move and announce our new location on Main Street in Jackson.”

The Chamber’s new website is under construction by the Jackson firm, Element 58 and the site could be launched this week. Blackman said “we are transferring over member data, calendar events, advertising and our newsletter format.” He said it was “a real conduit to all people interested in our area literally from around the world.” He said the site was getting 100 hits a day and plans to “build off of that with increased membership and increased information available to the public.”

Blackman said with help from members, Amador County and Jackson, the “Chamber is alive and well” and “financial healthy, bills are paid and new membership is rolling in.”

The funding for the Chamber came on recommendation from the city Measure E Ad Hoc Committee, to provide funding for tourism and economic development services.

Also Monday, Jackson City Council approved making Transient Occupancy Tax funds available for applicant groups. City Manager Mike Daly said the process still must get under way. He said the TOT, a 2% tax approved by the 2002 Measure E, generates about $60,000 a year. Past recipients of the funds include the Chamber, Amador Council of Tourism, Main Street Theater Works and other organizations that promote tourism and economic activities.

The Council also approved Jackson Rotary to host a margarita booth at the Mother Lode Cruise vintage car show, set for Saturday, May 21 in downtown Jackson. The Council also gave the nod for the Art in the Park art and craft show for Saturday, June 4 at Detert Park.

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 on Tuesday briefly discussed the future of the Preston Youth Correctional Facility, and will be working on a list of possible uses they might want to see there.

Supervisor Ted Novelli reported in matters not on the agenda that Senator Ted Gaines and his staffer, Steve Davies have inquired about Preston, and urged the county to create a “priority list with what we would like to see with regards to Preston, once it is closed.” Novelli said that could include “letting people occupy” the facilities.

He said Gaines asked that Supervisors “voice our concerns” about what we would like to see out there. Supervisor Chairman John Plasse asked if they should be concepts or lists, and Novelli said the latter.

Novelli said Gaines’ office asked if they would “construct this list of what we would like to see,” and that could entail using some of the “29-32 buildings out there,” including the “one closest to the road,” and maybe it could be used to keep people out of the elements.

District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster said the Board of Supervisors should work closely with the city of Ione on the list. He said Ione has discussed some maintenance obligations which the city may be going to take over, with some kind of compensation from the state.

Ione City Manager Kim Kerr said Wednesday that she has had contact with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation about working on some care of the property. Kerr said she has given them a quote and was waiting to receive a response from the CDCR.

Supervisor Louis Boitano on Tuesday said Supervisors should wait until they see the agreement, before they proceed.

Also at Tuesday’s Supervisors’ meeting, Novelli reported that the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority executive director Rob Alcott had contacted him and said that East Bay Municipal Utility District has decided to pay 60 percent of the share of membership costs for the Upper Mokelumne Authority, in effect paying a portion of Amador County’s cost. Novelli in the last two months reported that he had asked East Bay MUD to pay more costs of membership in the Upper Mokelumne Authority, to make up for Amador County’s contributions in providing the nine-member Authority with legal counsel.

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

Amador County – Ione Fire Department personnel helped to deliver a baby in a parked car Monday in the Ione Shopping Center, with the mother and baby reportedly doing just fine.

Amador County Dispatch sent responders to a call around noon Monday, saying a woman was giving birth in a Chevy Tahoe in the Ione Pharmacy parking lot, and it “sounds like the birth is imminent.”

City Manager Kim Kerr said Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey assisted in the delivery, and it was not his first as a professional fire fighter, or even in that lot. Mackey said Wednesday he responded to the Ione Shopping Center, where “a successful delivery was made at 12:07 p.m., and the mom and the baby are doing fantastic.” Per confidentiality law, he couldn’t give out further information other than to say the “baby was doing great, the mom was doing great.”

Mackey said the vehicle was parked between the shopping center and pharmacy. “We have experience,” Mackey said,” and “in my 30 years with my department, that is the third delivery that I have been involved with in that particular parking lot. My career total is a lot more than that.”

Mackey said it was the 23rd birth he has been involved with in his fire fighting career. He said they have been a mixture of home and vehicle births, and “God’s been giving them to us for many years.”

Childbirth is part of the curriculum for all emergency medical technicians and responders, he said, and they teach you to make sure that when the baby comes out, they have a nice, soft blanket to go into and keep warm.

Mackey said “most of the time, you look at your kit and you never think about needing it, but it does happen. It’s part of our job and duty and it’s an honor to be there.” He said he spoke “on behalf of all the firefighters. We’re just happy to help out and serve them.”

He said it was not about him, but about the family, which “needs to be very proud of what is going on right now.” They have a very healthy baby, and it was a great moment.

Mackey is Chief of the Ione Fire Department, which last week inducted its first two paid fire fighting personnel, and will add a third in July. He said the Ione Fire still has a “backbone” that is the 100% volunteer, with 35 volunteer fire fighters who are paid by the call.

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, 5-12-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Amador County Planner Susan Grijalva to discuss the status of the county General Plan Update.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-12-11

·       The Ione Fire Department helped with the delivery of a baby in a car at the Ione Shopping Center Monday.

·       Sen. Ted Gaines has asked Supervisors to work on a list for possible uses of Preston facility, after its closure.

·       Jackson approved $6,000 to finalize the second half of Amador County Chamber of Commerce budget.

·       Amador County Supervisors prepare to return to the county General Plan update in two weeks.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-12-11

·       The Ione Fire Department helped with the delivery of a baby in a car at the Ione Shopping Center Monday.

·       Sen. Ted Gaines has asked Supervisors to work on a list for possible uses of Preston facility, after its closure.

·       Jackson approved $6,000 to finalize the second half of Amador County Chamber of Commerce budget.

·       Amador County Supervisors prepare to return to the county General Plan update in two weeks.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-12-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Amador County Planner Susan Grijalva to discuss the status of the county General Plan Update.

Amador County – Ione Fire Department personnel helped to deliver a baby in a parked car Monday in the Ione Shopping Center, with the mother and baby reportedly doing just fine.

Amador County Dispatch sent responders to a call around noon Monday, saying a woman was giving birth in a Chevy Tahoe in the Ione Pharmacy parking lot, and it “sounds like the birth is imminent.”

City Manager Kim Kerr said Ione Fire Chief Ken Mackey assisted in the delivery, and it was not his first as a professional fire fighter, or even in that lot. Mackey said Wednesday he responded to the Ione Shopping Center, where “a successful delivery was made at 12:07 p.m., and the mom and the baby are doing fantastic.” Per confidentiality law, he couldn’t give out further information other than to say the “baby was doing great, the mom was doing great.”

Mackey said the vehicle was parked between the shopping center and pharmacy. “We have experience,” Mackey said,” and “in my 30 years with my department, that is the third delivery that I have been involved with in that particular parking lot. My career total is a lot more than that.”

Mackey said it was the 23rd birth he has been involved with in his fire fighting career. He said they have been a mixture of home and vehicle births, and “God’s been giving them to us for many years.”

Childbirth is part of the curriculum for all emergency medical technicians and responders, he said, and they teach you to make sure that when the baby comes out, they have a nice, soft blanket to go into and keep warm.

Mackey said “most of the time, you look at your kit and you never think about needing it, but it does happen. It’s part of our job and duty and it’s an honor to be there.” He said he spoke “on behalf of all the firefighters. We’re just happy to help out and serve them.”

He said it was not about him, but about the family, which “needs to be very proud of what is going on right now.” They have a very healthy baby, and it was a great moment.

Mackey is Chief of the Ione Fire Department, which last week inducted its first two paid fire fighting personnel, and will add a third in July. He said the Ione Fire still has a “backbone” that is the 100% volunteer, with 35 volunteer fire fighters who are paid by the call.

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 on Tuesday briefly discussed the future of the Preston Youth Correctional Facility, and will be working on a list of possible uses they might want to see there.

Supervisor Ted Novelli reported in matters not on the agenda that Senator Ted Gaines and his staffer, Steve Davies have inquired about Preston, and urged the county to create a “priority list with what we would like to see with regards to Preston, once it is closed.” Novelli said that could include “letting people occupy” the facilities.

He said Gaines asked that Supervisors “voice our concerns” about what we would like to see out there. Supervisor Chairman John Plasse asked if they should be concepts or lists, and Novelli said the latter.

Novelli said Gaines’ office asked if they would “construct this list of what we would like to see,” and that could entail using some of the “29-32 buildings out there,” including the “one closest to the road,” and maybe it could be used to keep people out of the elements.

District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster said the Board of Supervisors should work closely with the city of Ione on the list. He said Ione has discussed some maintenance obligations which the city may be going to take over, with some kind of compensation from the state.

Ione City Manager Kim Kerr said Wednesday that she has had contact with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation about working on some care of the property. Kerr said she has given them a quote and was waiting to receive a response from the CDCR.

Supervisor Louis Boitano on Tuesday said Supervisors should wait until they see the agreement, before they proceed.

Also at Tuesday’s Supervisors’ meeting, Novelli reported that the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority executive director Rob Alcott had contacted him and said that East Bay Municipal Utility District has decided to pay 60 percent of the share of membership costs for the Upper Mokelumne Authority, in effect paying a portion of Amador County’s cost. Novelli in the last two months reported that he had asked East Bay MUD to pay more costs of membership in the Upper Mokelumne Authority, to make up for Amador County’s contributions in providing the nine-member Authority with legal counsel.

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

Amador County – Jackson City Council on Monday approved $6,000 for the remainder the Amador County Chamber of Commerce budget requested in January.

City Manager Mike Daly said the Chamber went through a reorganization in late 2010, the Council approved $12,000 in January, and “also held back a portion of the funding to allow” the Chamber “to work on developing a stronger relationship with the Amador Council of Tourism, the other organization focused on attracting visitors to the city of Jackson and boosting the local economy.”

Amador County Chamber of Commerce Vice President Tom Blackman in a letter to the council described the changes at the Chamber, including the moving of its office from Mother Lode Plaza on Highway 49 onto Main Street in Jackson.

Blackman in the May 5 letter said Amador Chamber has “successfully continued our operations with one paid staff and an increasing number of regularly scheduled volunteers. We were happy to have completed our move and announce our new location on Main Street in Jackson.”

The Chamber’s new website is under construction by the Jackson firm, Element 58 and the site could be launched this week. Blackman said “we are transferring over member data, calendar events, advertising and our newsletter format.” He said it was “a real conduit to all people interested in our area literally from around the world.” He said the site was getting 100 hits a day and plans to “build off of that with increased membership and increased information available to the public.”

Blackman said with help from members, Amador County and Jackson, the “Chamber is alive and well” and “financial healthy, bills are paid and new membership is rolling in.”

The funding for the Chamber came on recommendation from the city Measure E Ad Hoc Committee, to provide funding for tourism and economic development services.

Also Monday, Jackson City Council approved making Transient Occupancy Tax funds available for applicant groups. City Manager Mike Daly said the process still must get under way. He said the TOT, a 2% tax approved by the 2002 Measure E, generates about $60,000 a year. Past recipients of the funds include the Chamber, Amador Council of Tourism, Main Street Theater Works and other organizations that promote tourism and economic activities.

The Council also approved Jackson Rotary to host a margarita booth at the Mother Lode Cruise vintage car show, set for Saturday, May 21 in downtown Jackson. The Council also gave the nod for the Art in the Park art and craft show for Saturday, June 4 at Detert Park.

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