Amador County – The Amador County Waste Management Department announced earlier this month that it is taking nominations for the 2011 Recycler Ricky Awards.

Amador Waste Department Director Jim McHargue announced March 15 that nominations would be accepted, through April 15.

He said the Amador County Local Task Force on Integrated Waste Management is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Recycler Ricky Award. The Recycler Ricky Award began as a contest to design, draw and name a new Amador County recycling mascot.

The winning entry, Recycler Ricky, was submitted by Amador High School senior Gina Salvador in 2004. Every year the Local Task Force honors a county individual or entity that represents Ricky’s positive message to “Be a Hero and Recycle!”

Part of the Recycler Ricky Award lore, its first recipient, George Coleman, a long-time employee with Amador County General Services Department. Coleman accepted the award dressed as Recycler Ricky.

The Local Task Force is soliciting nominations for school age recyclers, in grades kindergarten through 12th grades, who exemplify the qualities of Recycler Ricky. Nominations will be accepted until April 15.

Nominations should be a brief written description on one page, either typewritten or hand written, explaining the specific recycling-related actions the individual has taken to be considered for the award. Include the name and age of the student and a contact telephone number for a parent or guardian.

The young recyclers selected for the 20110 Recycler Ricky Award will be recognized with a special gift and personalized framed certificate.

Send nominations to Amador County Waste Management Department, 810 Court Street, Jackson, CA 95642; or fax it to (209) 223-6395.

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Amador County – The Foothill Conservancy announced last week that local winemaker Bill Easton is selling a zinfandel to support the group’s effort to enact a National Wild & Scenic designation for the Mokelumne River.

Terre Rouge and Easton Wines and the Foothill Conservancy in a joint release announced the “first Easton 2009 Wild and Scenic Mokelumne River Zinfandel,” which will be featured at a wine release party on Saturday, April 9, at the Shenandoah Valley winery on Dickson Road. Winemaker Bill Easton will be on hand to discuss the wine and sign bottles.

Foothill Conservancy Executive Director Chris Wright said: “All profits from the sale of the wine will support the Conservancy’s efforts to secure National Wild and Scenic River designation for the Mokelumne River.”

The 2009 Easton Wild and Scenic Zinfandel is made from organically farmed grapes cultivated in an estate vineyard patrolled by barn owls and bottled in Eco-glass bottles.

Wright said the project pairs “two of Amador County’s most famous cultural and historic features: fine zinfandel and the beautiful Mokelumne River,” and the organization was “very grateful to Bill and Jane for their generosity and support.”

Wright said the “Mokelumne River has been found eligible for National Wild and Scenic River designation from Salt Springs Dam to just above Pardee Reservoir.” He said “Wild and Scenic designation would stop the proposed expansion of Pardee Reservoir and save more than 37 miles of river for people, fish and wildlife.

The river divides the counties, whose supervisor boards are also divided over support for Wild & Scenic designation. The Amador County Board of Supervisors is unanimously opposed to Wild & Scenic, while the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors supported it on a 3-2 vote.

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Amador County – Amador County Board of Supervisors last week allocated $43,000 for fire safety planning in the county, with about $5,000 possibly going to education about a new Fire Wise Communities program.

County natural resources consultant John Hofmann recommended the Fire Wise Community Program, which puts the onus of labor and cost on the homeowner. A discussion by Supervisors ensued, and Supervisor Richard Forster asked if the county is required to follow the Fire Wise recommendation. Forster said he saw it as creating an extra layer of government, with the requirement to create a “Fire Wise” executive board.

Forster said he would rather see the funds put into community work, and asked if it was “too late to back out of the Fire Wise.” It was later suggested to use the Amador Fire Safe Council board as the Fire Wise board.

Hofmann said they could present the Fire Wise program, and find that no community wants to pursue it. He said the question was “how much do you want to spend to convince the community.”

Kathy Coos Breazeal of the Amador Fire Safe Council said she had eight community presentations planned for Fire Wise, but had not spent any money because she did not have any money. The board suggested consolidating the meetings to save money. Supervisor Brian Oneto said some people will not take the advice in the Fire Wise program. He said he told his father-in-law that he should clear some trees for safety. Oneto even offered to do it for free, but his father-in-law declined, because that is his “screen.”

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said there is often a fire risk difference of “night and day” depending on location, such as comparing Running Gold to Sherwood Forest.

The board re-allocated $23,000 to front the cost for a Pine Grove Community Wildfire Protection Plan, to be paid with a $50,000 Sierra Nevada Conservancy grant. As it is reimbursed or if it is not needed for up front expenses, Fire Safe Council will develop the next priority Wildfire Plan, in the Fiddletown area.

The board also allocated $20,000 in 2009 funds to develop an Upcountry Wildfire Protection Plan, in the area of Dew Drop and eastward. Its cost was estimated at $15,000, and any left-over funding was allocated to be used for public outreach in connection with the Fire Wise Community program development.

Forster said they should help the communities develop their wildfire protection plans, and then try to get grants to do the work. Supervisor Louis Boitano suggested rolling the plan into a water analysis, and Plasse said a hydrant study is already included in the template.

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Amador County – A member of the Amador Community College Foundation said last week that she wanted to clarify information she has heard regarding in-state tuition and membership to community college districts.

Karen Dickerson, a board member of the Amador Community College Foundation last Friday by e-mail said she had checked fee policy information with the Los Rios District, of which Cosumnes River College is a part. Dickerson said fees are currently $26 per unit for all California residents. International students and non-residents of California pay higher tuition. She said: “There is no distinction in fee structure if you are a resident of any particular annexed or non-annexed district in California.”

Dickerson also checked with several other community college districts and received the same answer. She said: “In other words this is not a reason to not annex to a community college district.”

Frederick E. Harris, Assistant Vice Chancellor, at the California Community College Chancellor’s Office in response to a query by Dickerson said “all California residents pay the same fee at all California Community Colleges.” He wanted “to correct that misconception” that membership in one district and attending a community college in another does not affect fee amounts.

Harris said due to “free flow” requirements “between districts, there is no specific preference for admission provided in statutes or regulations to California residents who live within or outside of a district.” He said: “Only non-residents of California pay a higher fee for tuition,” and “all residents of California pay the same fee, unless they are eligible for the Board of Governor’s waiver of fees due to financial necessity.”

Dickerson said in an interview on TSPN last week, the questions arose of whether “non-residents of the California college district but documented residents of California pay a higher fee to attend the college district in which they are not a resident.”

Dickerson said: “I hear this all the time for the reason Amador should not annex to a community college district.

Dickerson said: “In the last 2 days I have heard people say that the reason we should not annex to a community college district is because our students would then have to pay out-of-district fees to attend any community college other than to the district with which we would be annexed.”

She said “please tell anyone who gives this as a reason not to annex to a community college that it is not true.”

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Amador County – Amador County Supervisors last week heard that funding may be running out for certain National Forest-related protection, though the importance remains.

Amador County natural resources consultant John Hofmann said a federal funding reduction could cause a different use of the Title 1, 2 and 3 funds. Hofmann said with reduced funds, the federal government may go back to just funding schools and roads, which is Title 1 funding.

Supervisor Richard Forster said there are efforts being made “to get this reallocated in Congress, but it’s a fight.”

Hofmann said there has been a significant drop in dollars for California, and that shows for Amador County, although the funds available this year are more than expected. He said Amador County was thought to be receiving $240,000 this year, but the county will receive $371,000 in Title 1, 2 and 3 funds this year. He said it was more than expected, but down from $480,000 last year.

Supervisors allocated some of those funds for the Pine Grove Community Wildfire Protection Plan last week, and another for the Upcountry, east of Dew Drop. Hofmann said the county must give the OK to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. He said federal agencies “just participate in it, but do not approve it. So until you approve it, it’s not a plan.” He said it uses a national formula, but is locally approved.

Craig Ostergaard, a registered professional forester, who helps protect Sierra Pacific Industries forests from catastrophic wildfire, spoke to Supervisors last week in support of Wildfire Plans. Ostergaard, a founding member of the Amador Fire Safe Council, which spearheads the plans, said Fire Safe Council was set up in 2001 as an “on the ground organization.” He said in 2008, Title 3 funds were “more than cut in half,” and the Fire Safe Council closed its Pine Grove office, moving headquarters to Executive Director Kathy Coos Breazeal’s house.

He said when the Wildfire Protection Plans are done, and more detail is added, they can “give more ownership to the community.” Ostergaard is “not a real fan of Fire Wise,” but doing the Wildfire Protection Plans “is critical.”

Sherry Curtis of Upcountry Community Council urged funding the plan, and also looking at a reliable water system, and improving infrastructure. Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said they need to look at population base and protection in the Upcountry, especially infrastructure, which should be considered when they are drafting fire plans, to emphasize protection of the water flume and the power plant, otherwise the area would not have water.

Plasse said the Fire Safe Council has about $123,000 in grants to do three Wildfire Plans. Forster said the grants would not be there unless they had the match, in the form of the Title funding.

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Amador County – Amador County Supervisors last week heard that funding may be running out for certain National Forest-related protection, though the importance remains.

Amador County natural resources consultant John Hofmann said a federal funding reduction could cause a different use of the Title 1, 2 and 3 funds. Hofmann said with reduced funds, the federal government may go back to just funding schools and roads, which is Title 1 funding.

Supervisor Richard Forster said there are efforts being made “to get this reallocated in Congress, but it’s a fight.”

Hofmann said there has been a significant drop in dollars for California, and that shows for Amador County, although the funds available this year are more than expected. He said Amador County was thought to be receiving $240,000 this year, but the county will receive $371,000 in Title 1, 2 and 3 funds this year. He said it was more than expected, but down from $480,000 last year.

Supervisors allocated some of those funds for the Pine Grove Community Wildfire Protection Plan last week, and another for the Upcountry, east of Dew Drop. Hofmann said the county must give the OK to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. He said federal agencies “just participate in it, but do not approve it. So until you approve it, it’s not a plan.” He said it uses a national formula, but is locally approved.

Craig Ostergaard, a registered professional forester, who helps protect Sierra Pacific Industries forests from catastrophic wildfire, spoke to Supervisors last week in support of Wildfire Plans. Ostergaard, a founding member of the Amador Fire Safe Council, which spearheads the plans, said Fire Safe Council was set up in 2001 as an “on the ground organization.” He said in 2008, Title 3 funds were “more than cut in half,” and the Fire Safe Council closed its Pine Grove office, moving headquarters to Executive Director Kathy Coos Breazeal’s house.

He said when the Wildfire Protection Plans are done, and more detail is added, they can “give more ownership to the community.” Ostergaard is “not a real fan of Fire Wise,” but doing the Wildfire Protection Plans “is critical.”

Sherry Curtis of Upcountry Community Council urged funding the plan, and also looking at a reliable water system, and improving infrastructure. Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said they need to look at population base and protection in the Upcountry, especially infrastructure, which should be considered when they are drafting fire plans, to emphasize protection of the water flume and the power plant, otherwise the area would not have water.

Plasse said the Fire Safe Council has about $123,000 in grants to do three Wildfire Plans. Forster said the grants would not be there unless they had the match, in the form of the Title funding.

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