Amador County – Many feet of fresh snowfall resulting from heavy snow storms has allowed Kirkwood Mountain Resort to open early for the winter ski season, beginning today, Wednesday, November 24th.

The resort reported “upward of 6 feet of fresh snow” over last weekend, allowing for fresh runs along two of the resorts ski lift routes. The latest weather systems have resulted in record snowfalls over the last four days.

“I have been at Kirkwood for over 30 years and this is the most snow and best conditions we have ever had in November,” said Dave Meyers, Vice President of Operation for Kirkwood Mountain Resort. “Skier and riders are in for exceptional powder conditions for opening day and throughout Thanksgiving weekend.”

This marks Kirkwood’s earliest winter opening since the 2004-2005 season. The resort receives an average of 500” of snow every season – more than any other resort in the Tahoe region.

Pre-season pass pricing is still available. Adult midweek season passes start at just $239. Call the Kirkwood Season Pass office at 209.258.PASS (7277) for more information.

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Amador County - On November 1st, 2010 the Amador County Sheriff’s Office activated its new and improved website located at www.amadorsheriff.org.

The website replaces the previous site which was incomplete and lacked much information, was difficult to navigate, and in general, was not user friendly.

The new site provides in depth information about each Division, Bureau and Special Team within the Sheriff’s Office. It provides information regarding services offered at the Sheriff’s Office, hours for those services and associated fees, statistical information and current media releases. It provides important information regarding jail rules and visitation policies. There is also a section which provides job descriptions, wage scales and other employment information. Additionally, the site directly links to such public safety sites as Megan’s Law, Offender Watch and VineLink.

Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan is very proud of this newly developed website, as it provides much more information to those that visit the site and is very easy to navigate. He also views it as a vital resource in showcasing the agency for recruitment of future employees. Sheriff Ryan personally surveyed over one hundred law enforcement and business websites, and worked directly with the staff that molded his vision into this site.

The new site will continually be updated with the most current information available. Staff is already researching new software that is compatible with the existing Sheriff’s Office Records Management System, and will automatically upload the Sheriff’s Office daily arrest and call logs, as well as other public information. Staff is also researching integrated mapping software which will allow site visitors to search for reported crimes in specific geographical areas patrolled by the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Ryan encourages citizen to review the new website and use the on-line comment section to provide constructive ideas on what additional information they would like to see added.

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Amador County – The Ione Police Department announced the arrest of a burglary suspect in a residential burglary, thought to be related to a similar crime, on East Jackson Street in Ione.

Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson said that “during the third week of November, Ione experienced two reported residential burglaries “in the 300 block of East Jackson Street,” and “evidence suggested the burglaries were similar in nature and likely committed” by the same person or people. Johnson said “within days” IPD officers had compiled a list of known suspects.

IPD officers “took an aggressive and proactive approach to locating the suspects and the property,” Johnson said. Property taken from one of the burglaries was discovered inside a suspect’s residence, and the property was later positively identified by the victim.

Ione Police Department subsequently arrested 28-year-old Jason Mathis of Ione. Mathis was arrested and booked into Amador County Jail for burglary and possession of stolen property.

Johnson said the investigation is on-going and IPD continues to search for other property related to the burglary. IPD anticipates making more arrests, and has developed additional suspects.

Anyone with any information about the case, or the location of the stolen property, is asked to contact the Ione Police Department at (209) 274-2456, extension 106. (end) pm.

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Amador County – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced yesterday the permanent closure of Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass and Highway 108 over Sonora Pass due to current and upcoming weather systems.

“The weather conditions on the passes and road conditions are the determining factors for the closure,” said Caltrans Maintenance Superintendent Jon Bevan. “Caltrans closed Ebbetts Pass and Sonora Pass for the safety of motorists and Caltrans crews.”

Chantel Miller, Assistant Public Information Officer for the Caltrans District 10, said in a release Monday that general weather road conditions in our region can change rapidly, and motorists should expect the worst and stay prepared. “All vehicles including those with four-wheel drive or snow tires should carry chains when traveling during snowy weather,” said Miller. Vehicles without chains will not be allowed to proceed. “When highway signs indicate that chains are required, you must stop and install chains or risk being cited or fined,” she said.

For more on road conditions, call the Caltrans Road Conditions Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD, or tune your radio to 530 AM or 1610 AM.

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Amador County – The Ione City Council last week approved an emergency repair of a leak on Pond 6 caused by rodents.

The leak was found in October and temporarily fixed until a clay reinforcement layer was placed in the levee last week.

The contract was approved after the fact, for emergency work, after seepage was noticed pooling below the pond’s levee in mid-October. City Engineer John Wanger said the work was not done until last week, due to rains. He estimated the cost at $6,500, and contractor, Lewis C. Yager was finishing up Tuesday by putting a layer of gravel over a 100-foot length of the top of the levee.

Wanger said burrowing rodents caused the leak, and the city also took steps to remove the rodents. The holes were patched immediately, and Yager, who was familiar with the system, and installed the levee on Pond 7, was brought in and quickly produced a cost estimate based on information staff provided.

Wanger said the council needed to approve a resolution that must pass by at lease a four-fifths vote to satisfy the emergency exemption form competitive bidding in the Public Contract Code.”

Wanger said “staff felt that this was an emergency situation” and followed the law, and then brought it back for the council’s “ratification.” Wanger said if it was not approved by the council, he would have to discuss the matter with the city attorney. It passed on a 5-0 vote.

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Amador County – Outgoing Plymouth Mayor Patricia Fordyce will start a possible new city tradition when she hands over the gavel and leaves the Plymouth City Council on December 9th. She plans to select the first Mayor’s Citizen of the Year award winner.

City Manager Dixon Flynn proposed that the outgoing mayor pick a citizen of the year, whether a volunteer or anybody the mayor feels is deserving of that award, for contributions the person has made to the betterment of the city of Plymouth. Flynn said it was not a council decision but a kind of “last action in the terms of service as mayor.”

He presented the idea during his city manager report, apologizing that it was not on the agenda. Flynn said “we’ll go ahead and move forward with it, unless we hear otherwise.” He said he has done this at other cities he has worked for.

Fordyce on Friday said “I think that we are going do it this year for the first time.” She said “it is to recognize someone that the mayor feels has been going out of their way to help the city.”

She said she has “someone in mind but I don’t want to say.” It was brand new, but she thought it was a good idea.

Plymouth Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin reported on Amador County Transportation Commission business, saying community meetings on Highway 88 had produced 13-14 project ideas, which were whittled down to four different ways to go around Pine Grove. Baldwin said Neil Peacock has been asked to do the last part of the work.

Baldwin said Caltrans will be trying to remove the defunct railroad crossing on Highway 49 in Martell, and will put up exempt signs there, so large trucks, fuel haulers and busses won’t have to stop. He said Caltrans has a new list coming out, with a “whole lot of grants,” including bicycle routes.

The ACTC board also had a special meeting last Friday to discuss candidates interviewed for the Amador Regional Transit System manager position. It is the second round of applications and interviews for the position.

Flynn reported that on November 9th, the Amador Fire Protection District board approved the contract for fire services, which the Plymouth City Council approved and signed October 14th. He said the city now has a copy of the signed contract in its files.

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Amador County - The first annual Coat-ed with Love coat drive was a huge success this year, with over 800 jackets collected for distribution to school age children and other local persons in need.

The idea for the charity event came from Wilma Fortich, marketing manager for ServPro Industries, Inc., who said she wanted to find a way for her and her company to give back to the community. Lori Halvorsen of the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency (ATCAA) enthusiastically agreed to distribute the coats to her agency’s clients.

“We did a pretty good job for our first time. The support from the community was just amazing,” said Karin Tippit, Office Manager for ServPro.

In order to collect as many coats as possible, special boxes were distributed to over 50 business locations throughout Amador County. In no time, the boxes began filling with all kinds of coats, jackets and sweatshirts.

In addition, Abra Teague, owner of the Jamba Juice in Martell, donated a free hot beverage for every coat collected.

The drive began September 20th and ended November 18th, but Tippit said coats are still coming in. She said the public is welcome to drop off any coats at the ServPro or ATCAA offices in Jackson.

For more information about the Coat-ed with Love project, please contact Wilma Fortich at 304-4908.

The coats will be distributed exclusively to people in Amador and Calaveras counties.

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