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

·       Ione inducted its first paid fire fighters after more than a century operating as a volunteer brigade.

·       A preliminary economic assessment of the Lincoln Mine in Sutter Creek “indicates positive economic potential”.

·       Ione closed the book on soliciting policing quotes from the Amador County Sheriff’s Department.

·       Mormon Emigrant Trail remains closed due to snow, and could be closed until mid-June.

·       AWA set a special meeting Friday to consider an employee reorganization plan.

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

·       Ione inducted its first paid fire fighters after more than a century operating as a volunteer brigade.

·       A preliminary economic assessment of the Lincoln Mine in Sutter Creek “indicates positive economic potential”.

·       Ione closed the book on soliciting policing quotes from the Amador County Sheriff’s Department.

·       Mormon Emigrant Trail remains closed due to snow, and could be closed until mid-June.

·       AWA set a special meeting Friday to consider an employee reorganization plan.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-5-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Sherry Curtis of the Upcountry Community Council to discuss the UCC’s upcoming meeting on Monday, May 9 at the Buckhorn Veterans’ Hall.

Amador County – With more than 150 years in service, the Ione Fire Department passed the milestone of getting its first paid fire fighters Tuesday, when two volunteers took oaths of service, then were pinned and given collar brass.

Chief Ken Mackey said the Ione Fire Department was formed in 1849 and operated since then as a volunteer brigade, then on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, they “have finally added two paid fire staff.” He said “it shows how far we have all come.”

City Clerk Janice Traverso administered the oath of office for Cody Gold and James Bennett, who were then ceremonially pinned by family members. IFD Fire Captain Troy Gold pinned his son, Cody, and Smokey Bennett, pinned his son, James. Mackey said the elder Bennett, a 12-year assistant chief at the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department “beat a lot of sense into me,” as a member of the JVFD.

Mackey said the younger Bennett and Gold will take the position and titles of “fire apparatus engineer.” The first of Ione’s paid fire staff, after passage in 2008 of Measure M, a sales tax for fire and emergency personnel.

He told city of Ione staff that “without your help, this would have never happened,” and he also thanked the Amador County Board of Supervisors, and other fire brigades and cities in the county for supporting the Measure to finally “see this night happen.”

Mackey said he was also asked to make a statement about the Ione fire Department. He said “these two individuals add to the 35 current volunteer fire fighters” and officers, who continue to operate the department. He said there are 56 total personnel involved in the department, including 21 total made up of youth cadets and administrative staff. He said Gold and Bennett “came from within our own ranks (of volunteers) and were trained and ready to hit the road from the beginning.”

Mayor David Plank said “we’re proud of you.” A standing-room only crowd took pictures and video as Gold and Bennett were pinned, and Mackey affixed each man’s collar brass, a bugle, symbolic of old days when fire fighters called each other with the horns.

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Amador County – Sutter Gold Mining Incorporated announced Monday that it has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment of its Lincoln Gold Mine project in Sutter Creek, saying it “indicates positive economic potential” for the former Sutter Gold Mine.

The Lincoln-Comet portion of the project was assessed by the independent engineering firm, Mine Development Associates of Reno, Nevada. Sutter Gold Mining announced the results Monday, but included cautionary notes about “forward-looking information,” saying such assessment “are not statements of historical fact.”

It also said “mineral resource figures referred to in this press release are estimates, and no assurances can be given that the indicated levels of gold will be produced. Such estimates are expressions of judgment based on knowledge, mining experience, analysis of drilling results and industry practices.”

The analysis estimated a “pretax cash flow” of $12.2 million to as much as $26.2 million, based on production of 22,300 ounces of gold annually, and market pricing. It also estimated an “internal rate of return” of 20-50 percent.

The “Preliminary Economic Assessment is based on a mine plan containing 244,800 tons of potentially mine-able material,” an “initial startup capital of $19.9 million with working capital of $3.2 million,” and an “underground mining operation” with a “five-year mine life processing 150 tons per day, 360 days per year.”

Chief Operating Officer Matt Collins said the results are “very encouraging, and support what Sutter Gold Mining has believed and worked toward for many years,” which is “that the Lincoln Mine Project has the potential to be a profitable gold mining venture, while maintaining a low-impact environmental footprint.”

Collins said the company looks “forward to developing a new gold mine in the historic California Mother Lode that will provide the cornerstone to further development of the company’s already significant resource base.”

Sutter Gold Mining controls roughly 3.6 miles of the “Mother Lode Gold Belt” in Amador County, and the company last October said 90 percent of the property is still unexplored, and they believe the potential exists for gold “at depth” and above, at “known mineralized zones.”

The 120-mile long Mother Lode Gold Belt produced more than 13 million ounces of gold historically, with 7.9 million ounces originating from the 10-mile segment between Jackson and Plymouth, where the Lincoln Project is located.

Sutter Gold Mining, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, is looking to resume hard rock gold mining in Sutter Creek, where the operation could create as many as 150 jobs in two or more years.

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Amador County – The Ione City Council closed the book Tuesday on trying to compare their policing costs to a possible contract from the Amador County Sheriff, taking no action and effectively tabling the matter.

City Manager Kim Kerr said in a letter April 25th, Sheriff Martin Ryan said he cannot give the city a price quote because of policy differences between his department and what Ione wants. He said he would pursue making a cost estimate if asked to do so, and if a list of conditions were agreed to.

Ryan said 12-hour shifts (desired by Ione) violated employee agreements. He also would not give up hiring control, or staffing hour determinations. He also said it would be at least a year before he could take over city policing because he was working with the Buena Vista Flying Cloud Casino toward its opening and law enforcement.

Ryan said he would not overlap shifts unless he saw it necessary, though Ione wanted automatic overlaps. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said “that was a red flag for me because I’m not sure how they would address that if we do go back to them. I think they are flat out telling us they won’t do it.”

Councilman Dan Epperson said the Sheriff’s Department offers a “different scope of work. We need local police and a local department.” Bonham agreed, saying “they do patrol more than street beat.”

Councilman Lloyd Oneto said: “I can’t see how we can get an honest commitment from Sheriff Ryan.” He said: “I don’t think the Sheriff’s Department wants to come down here.” Kerr said that sentiment was stated in the letter’s first paragraph, and similarly stated at the Ione Police forum last March, when Ryan said the best approach to police coverage is local police departments coordinating with the Sheriff’s Department.

Mayor David Plank said comparing law enforcement costs was born from “a ballot issue that never made it to the ballot,” with a few citizens trying to get the Ione Police Department disbanded. Plank said the passion and “overwhelming support” given IPD at the forum showed that losing the Police Department is “not really desired by this community at large.”

Plank said they cannot get what they want from the Sheriff as far as police coverage by contract, and he thought they should “stop any further progress in this matter.” The City Council agreed in consensus, effectively taking no action and tabling the issue.

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

Amador County – The U.S. Forest Service announced Wednesday that the Mormon Emigrant Trail will be closed due to snow likely until mid-June, and will not be available as an alternate route to Lake Tahoe when Caltrans closes Highway 50 for two weeks or more next week.

El Dorado National Forest Public Information Officer Frank Mosbacher said Wednesday that Mormon Emigrant Trail remained closed due to snow, and it is expected to remain closed until mid-June. Mosbacher said the “popular El Dorado National Forest highway runs between Sly Park and Highway 88” and “is currently covered by 10 feet of snow on its eastern end, near Highway 88.”

He said the “road will not be available as an alternate route to Lake Tahoe when Highway 50 closes for two weeks for repairs beginning May 11.”

Caltrans will detour traffic through Amador County for two weeks, starting next Wednesday, May 11, for roadside repairs on Highway 50 at Echo Summit. The work is estimated to take two weeks, but could take longer, depending on weather.

Caltrans will detour Highway 50 eastward traffic and Highway 99 northward traffic to Lake Tahoe through Amador County, via Highways 16, 49, 88, and 89.

Caltrans District 3 made the decision to temporarily close the route while working to replace a rock wall at Echo Summit in El Dorado County. Jody Jones, District 3 director, said the “closure is part of the first stage of a safety enhancement project that will remove damaged rock walls and replace them with a barrier that meets current safety standards.”

The detour includes one-way traffic control May 9-10, and then for up to six weeks after Highway 50 is reopened. Highway 50 will be open with no restrictions on Memorial Day weekend.

Alternate routes around the closure take travelers through the El Dorado and Amador counties, and motorists should allow one hour extra travel time to reach South Lake Tahoe. Electronic message signs at key positions will direct travelers on the highways.

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

Amador County – A special meeting of the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors has been called for 9 a.m. Friday to discuss and possibly take action on the Agency’s employee organizational structure. The board will discuss and possibly take action “regarding an employee re-organization plan for the Amador Water Agency.” The meeting is 9 a.m. Friday, May 6 at the Agency office on Ridge Road in Sutter Creek. The meeting was publicly noticed by AWA Board President Don Cooper, who will be participating by telephone from 59 Pine Street Unit Number 1, in Waltham, Massachusetts, according to the announcement, and “members of the public will have an opportunity to address the Board at such location.” The public notice said “members of the public will have the opportunity to directly address the Agency Board of Directors” about the agenda topic. The agency also will hold a special meeting of the Board of Directors at 3 p.m. Monday to dedicate a new backwash system, and lead a tour of the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant. Both meetings are open to the public.

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Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-4-11

·   Plymouth City Council and Planning Commission will hold a work session today on Reeder Sutherland's pair of residential developments.

·   The final snowpack survey of the season showed water content 144% of the April 1 full season average.

·   A federal judge upheld a California Department of Transportation program that supports businesses owned by minorities and women.

·   The Plymouth-Foothills Rotary club held a successful work day last weekend in Plymouth.

·   Nominations start May 9 for three seats on the Jackson Valley Irrigation District board of directors.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-4-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Local Business man Stan Lukowicz to discuss the resteration and re-opening of the National Hotel in Jackson.