Amador County – The Jackson City Council recently approved an increase in funds for a façade improvement project at the Main Event Sports Lounge, which will be toasted by its owner.

Dick Harrison, owner of the Main Event is planning a ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday to mark the finish of renovation on his old building’s new façade, which included new paint and woodwork, and mural paintings of the storefront. The interior was also restored with new amenities and carpet.

The ribbon cutting is 5-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 at the Main Event at 105 Main Street in downtown Jackson.

The Main Event was a recipient of $9,000 in city funds as reimbursement of façade upgrades. The Jackson City Council in January raised the amount in the façade match for the Main Event remodel.

Jackson City Manager Mike Daly said the council approved an increase in funding in the city Façade improvement program for the Main Event Sports Lounge. The increase gave the Lounge owners a total of $9,000 for its $27,000 they spent on refurbishing its building front on Main Street, Daly said.

The council also discussed protection and preservation of the Kennedy Gold Mine tailing wheels near the circa 1800s gold mine. The old, wooden wheels carried mine tailings to be deposited at the Oro De Amador park. Councilman Keith Sweet gave a presentation on the preservation of Kennedy Mine Tailing Wheel Number 1, with an idea to construct a building similar to the historic structures that once covered the wheels.

Sweet’s idea was to protect Wheels 1 and 4 “so they don’t suffer the same fate as Wheel Number 2 and Wheel Number 3.” Daly said Wheels 2 and 3 were long on the ground.

Kennedy Mine Tailing Wheel Number 1 is by the entrance to the Kenndy Mine Amphitheater, and Number 4 is on a hill above the tailing park. Daly said the key to the project is grant funding, as is the cleanup of the old tailings at the park, now owned by the city.

The city is working with the Amador County Recreation Agency to get a parks and rec grant for making the Oro De Amador park a usable city 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 last week passed a resolution honoring the memory of former District 3 Supervisor Frederick C. Joyce for his work for people in the county, both young and old.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse read the resolution, which was presented to Marie-Louise Solaja of the Amador Senior Center. Solaja said “we are happy to have this and Fred was a legend,” and he was noted for his frugality, and running a proper school district. She said none of his teachers came to school in flip-flops. All wore proper attire and grooming.

Plasse said he heard about Joyce’s legend from Rio Linda School District, where Joyce worked 20 years, from 1955 to 1975, including as Superintendent of Schools. Plasse said on the last day of school, Superintendent Fred Joyce would inspect each classroom to see that it was clean and supplies were in place and it was ready for next year. If not, the teacher would be held to make sure that did occur. Plasse said Rio Linda School District remains in that practice on its last days of school, and the practice is directly attributable to Joyce.

Plasse thought Joyce also still held the See’s Candy sales record for benefiting Amador Senior Center. The resolution said Joyce was born in 1920 in Jackson, attended Amador County schools and graduated from Amador High School in 1939. He continued his education at California State-San Jose, USC and Stanford, and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946 in the Pacific Theater, and as a reserve officer until he became superintendent.

He worked for Amador County Unified from 1946 to 1955, and was a part time instructor at American River Junior College for six years. He left behind a namesake “Frederick C. Joyce Elementary School” in North Highlands.

Joyce served form 1979 to 1983 on the Amador County Board of Supervisors, including 1980 as board chairman. On Feb. 5, 2008, he “generously donated 80 acres currently known as Mollie Joyce Environmental Center to the Amador County Recreation Agency.”

The resolution remembered and honored Joyce “for his many accomplishments and exemplary service to the community.”

It said Joyce “has always been a generous supportive benefactor of the community and is known for his incredible dedication and support of the Amador County Senior Center: Including weekly trips to Sacramento for See’s Candy, planning weekly bus trips to Tahoe” and “meeting the Sysco truck to facilitate food delivery.”

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 last week passed a resolution honoring the memory of former District 3 Supervisor Frederick C. Joyce for his work for people in the county, both young and old.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse read the resolution, which was presented to Marie-Louise Solaja of the Amador Senior Center. Solaja said “we are happy to have this and Fred was a legend,” and he was noted for his frugality, and running a proper school district. She said none of his teachers came to school in flip-flops. All wore proper attire and grooming.

Plasse said he heard about Joyce’s legend from Rio Linda School District, where Joyce worked 20 years, from 1955 to 1975, including as Superintendent of Schools. Plasse said on the last day of school, Superintendent Fred Joyce would inspect each classroom to see that it was clean and supplies were in place and it was ready for next year. If not, the teacher would be held to make sure that did occur. Plasse said Rio Linda School District remains in that practice on its last days of school, and the practice is directly attributable to Joyce.

Plasse thought Joyce also still held the See’s Candy sales record for benefiting Amador Senior Center. The resolution said Joyce was born in 1920 in Jackson, attended Amador County schools and graduated from Amador High School in 1939. He continued his education at California State-San Jose, USC and Stanford, and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946 in the Pacific Theater, and as a reserve officer until he became superintendent.

He worked for Amador County Unified from 1946 to 1955, and was a part time instructor at American River Junior College for six years. He left behind a namesake “Frederick C. Joyce Elementary School” in North Highlands.

Joyce served form 1979 to 1983 on the Amador County Board of Supervisors, including 1980 as board chairman. On Feb. 5, 2008, he “generously donated 80 acres currently known as Mollie Joyce Environmental Center to the Amador County Recreation Agency.”

The resolution remembered and honored Joyce “for his many accomplishments and exemplary service to the community.”

It said Joyce “has always been a generous supportive benefactor of the community and is known for his incredible dedication and support of the Amador County Senior Center: Including weekly trips to Sacramento for See’s Candy, planning weekly bus trips to Tahoe” and “meeting the Sysco truck to facilitate food delivery.”

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

Amador County – The Jackson City Council recently approved an increase in funds for a façade improvement project at the Main Event Sports Lounge, which will be toasted by its owner.

Dick Harrison, owner of the Main Event is planning a ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday to mark the finish of renovation on his old building’s new façade, which included new paint and woodwork, and mural paintings of the storefront. The interior was also restored with new amenities and carpet.

The ribbon cutting is 5-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 at the Main Event at 105 Main Street in downtown Jackson.

The Main Event was a recipient of $9,000 in city funds as reimbursement of façade upgrades. The Jackson City Council in January raised the amount in the façade match for the Main Event remodel.

Jackson City Manager Mike Daly said the council approved an increase in funding in the city Façade improvement program for the Main Event Sports Lounge. The increase gave the Lounge owners a total of $9,000 for its $27,000 they spent on refurbishing its building front on Main Street, Daly said.

The council also discussed protection and preservation of the Kennedy Gold Mine tailing wheels near the circa 1800s gold mine. The old, wooden wheels carried mine tailings to be deposited at the Oro De Amador park. Councilman Keith Sweet gave a presentation on the preservation of Kennedy Mine Tailing Wheel Number 1, with an idea to construct a building similar to the historic structures that once covered the wheels.

Sweet’s idea was to protect Wheels 1 and 4 “so they don’t suffer the same fate as Wheel Number 2 and Wheel Number 3.” Daly said Wheels 2 and 3 were long on the ground.

Kennedy Mine Tailing Wheel Number 1 is by the entrance to the Kenndy Mine Amphitheater, and Number 4 is on a hill above the tailing park. Daly said the key to the project is grant funding, as is the cleanup of the old tailings at the park, now owned by the city.

The city is working with the Amador County Recreation Agency to get a parks and rec grant for making the Oro De Amador park a usable city park.

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Amador County – A Veterans Memorial Park is being planned in Ione to honor local men and women in the Ione and Camanche areas, veterans who live or lived in the 95640 zip code area.

A board and committee of local residents has been formed to plan and implement a two-phase Veteran’s Memorial Park project, Sharon Long said in a release Monday. The park will honor men and women “who have honorably served our country in all branches of the military.”

Phase 1 will include a granite or marble base, with a bronze statue of a “battle cross,” and space to memorialize Ione service men or women killed in action. The monument is dedicated to those killed in action during the war in Iraq and forward. The first person to be honored will be PFC Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins, who was killed in Iraq on April 28, 2007.

In Phase 2, behind the statue will be placed a three sided memorial Veteran’s wall that will hold a brick for each service man or woman who lived in Ione at the time of their military service, or who has moved to the area. All Ione veterans who have served honorably will have a brick donated by the project fund. Each brick will have the name, branch of service, and dates of service.

A wooden sign listing the names of Ione area veterans who served during World War II will be placed on the west wall of the Bank of Amador building, facing the Memorial Park. The sign is a replica of one that was in place in the late 1940s, a sign which stood for many years, on the side of the building that is now Ione City Hall. The Bank of Amador has approved this placement.

Two flag poles will fly flags representing the United States of America and the MIA/POW, which will be lit and placed in the park. Security cameras will be installed throughout the park. Both landscape and walkways will be used to enhance the park.

A dedication ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. Sunday, April 30 in the small park, at the corner of Main Street and Preston Avenues. The ceremony will feature a flyover, honor guards, bagpipers, taps and a 21-gun salute. Dignitaries from throughout the area will be present and the public is invited to attend.

Sponsors and donations are being sought. All proceeds will go toward construction of the park and are tax deductible.

For information, call Sharon Long at 209-304-5118, or Jerry Cassesi at 209-601-4079.

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Amador County – The Upcountry Community Council meets from 6-8 p.m. today, Tuesday, Feb. 15 at the Veterans Memorial Hall on Buckhorn Ridge Road in Pioneer.

Chair Lynn Morgan announced the meeting agenda last week, saying it included a new discussion item to be “led by Nora Coryell regarding whether there is any interest in an Upcountry Business Organization.”

The meeting will include presentations and then time allotted for questions and answers. District 3 Supervisor Ted Novelli will give an update on County Board of Supervisors actions and issues.

Gary Reinoehl is also scheduled to give an update on Upcountry transportation issues. In a related development, the group’s website, UCCAmador listed a statement from Morgan. It said: “I am happy to report that the UCC letter to the Amador County Transportation Commission regarding our strong urging that they continue support of the Pine Grove corridor Project Stakeholders roundtable appears to have had a positive impact.” She said the ACTC board “voted to continue the Stakeholders group with funding for facilitators.”

District 3 Director of the Amador Water Agency board of directors is also scheduled to give a status report on Amador Water Agency business. And Nora Coryell will lead a discussion of the possibility of having an Upcountry business association.

Fire Protection Committee member Rich Farrington is also scheduled to give a report, and Rebecca Brown will report from the attendance of the Amador County Regional Planning Committee.

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