Amador County – Acting City Manager Sean Rabe officially took over for his long-time friend and mentor, succeeding to the position of City Manager of Sutter Creek.

Mayor Gary Wooten announced the appointment Monday, saying the Sutter Creek City Council had evaluated Rabe’s job performance in closed session earlier Monday.

Wooten said: “I’m proud to announce” Sean Rabe “has been appointed our city manager effective today.”

All five city council members stood to applaud Rabe after the announcement. Wooten said: “For those of you who did not know, Sean interviewed for the county (chief administrative officer) position.” Wooten said: “I went to church and prayed he wouldn’t get it.”

The mayor said he had tough shoes to fill, taking over for former City Manager and Police Chief Rob Duke, but Rabe successfully did so three months ago as acting city manager.

Duke is a long-time friend and mentor of Rabe, who grew up in Sutter Creek, and covered the city council as a newspaper reporter.

Rabe said he was happy to be with the city, and ready to face upcoming challenges. He said he was glad the CAO position at the county didn’t work out.

Planning Commissioner Mike Kirkley in public comment said “it has been a breath of fresh air working with Sean,” whom he said brings more transparency to city hall than he felt with Duke.

Kirkley said the only drawback he felt was that Rabe recently bought a house in West Sacramento.

Also Monday, the city council OK’d a request for proposals for public works services in the city. Staff must clarify what “prevailing wages” are in the RFPs.

City Attorney Derek Cole said “any public work as defined under state law must pay prevailing wage,” as determined by the California director of industrial relations, by area throughout the state.

Councilman Pat Crosby said it meant basically paying San Francisco wages in Sutter Creek. Vice Mayor Tim Murphy also asked Rabe to ensure the RFPs included a statement that the city could accept or reject all or part of proposals it receives.

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

Amador County – The “Big Crush” event last weekend drew visitors from far and wide to enjoy the best wines, food and live entertainment that Amador County has to offer. Also known as the Amador Vintner’s Harvest Wine Festival, the two-day event featured 34 wineries and was scheduled to align with the fall grape harvest.

The name “Big Crush” refers to a tradition as old as time: when family and friends would gather together to crush the grape harvest with their feet as the first step in the winemaking process. This labor-intensive method is rarely practiced in the modern day, but that doesn’t mean there was any shortage of harvesting activities. Thousands of guests were able to watch the harvesting process in full swing while sampling the fruits of that labor.

 “We usually host the event at the end of our harvest season, but the weather this year delayed the process and allowed guests to view grape picking and harvesting activities they wouldn’t normally see,” said Jaime Lubenko, Executive Director of the Amador Vintner’s Association.

The variety of featured entertainment was as diverse as the wineries themselves. Vino Noceto winery featured the rockin’ blues of The Esquires, while an authentic mariachi band and tamales were the featured attraction at Borjon Winery just down the road.

“This whole event really gives me an idea of just how much work goes into making these wines and what a fun process it really is,” said Gina Cherrystone, an Ione resident. “We’ve been to six wineries so far and each one makes me more curious about what the next one has to offer.”

Lubenko said it is premature to calculate attendance and sales numbers, but presales were higher this year than in previous years. Overall, more people attended the event Saturday than Sunday. She said the rain that hit the area Saturday night and gray skies Sunday morning may have deterred some people from coming on the second day.

The profits generated from the event cover approximately 80 percent of the operating costs for the Amador Vintner’s Association.

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Amador County – The Ione Police Department said it took “more meth off the streets” early Monday in Ione. The IPD stopped a vehicle early Monday for a minor vehicle code violation and “again intercepted methamphetamine being transported through the city.”

IPD Chief Michael L. Johnson said meth busts are “quickly becoming a common practice in Ione.”

He said “an IPD Officer stopped a vehicle for a minor California Vehicle Code infraction,” and the “officer soon discovered the driver was operating the vehicle with a suspended license.”

“A search of the vehicle led to additional problems for the driver,” Johnson said. The driver, Bert Cherry, 42, “was placed in custody after IPD officers recovered methamphetamine and associated drug paraphernalia from the vehicle.”

Cherry was booked into the Amador County Jail on charges for felony drug possession and transportation of drugs. Cherry’s vehicle was impounded for vehicle code violations.

Johnson said: “Ione police officers are continuing their aggressive proactive enforcement efforts to combat drug infiltration in the city of Ione.” He said three recent meth-related arrests indicate an increase in such illegal activity in the area.

He said: “Although I do not necessarily think this is a new phenomenon in Ione, I do think the frequency has increased.” He said Ione police officer “are trained well and becoming more comfortable at drug related enforcement.”

“As their expertise continues to improve,” the chief said, he suspected “the arrests will continue to come in.” Cherry’s arrest makes for the third meth-related incident in Ione reported in less than a month.

The incidents have resulted in felony charges for three men, and misdemeanor marijuana possession charges for one woman.

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

Amador County – A “shelving campaign” last week realized the first phase of its project with installation of $12,665 worth of new shelves in the children’s section of the Amador County Library Main Branch in Jackson.

Monday, October 4th, the library held “Snapshot: One Day in the Life of California Libraries,” celebrated throughout the state with programs and exhibits. Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency’s Robin Valencia discussed techniques to keep children safe “in a changing environment.”

The event also had a dog that encourages children to read, and Smokey the Bear taught fire safety. They also gave information on library programs and resources.

Susan Staggs, president of Friends of the Amador County Library, said the big event of the day was unveiling the new children’s section shelving.

Friends of Amador County Library “was able to purchase the shelving through donations.” Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel gave $7,500. The Library Improvement Fund Taskforce contributed $2,665; Mother Lode Newcomers Club gave $2,000; and the “shelving campaign” received “an anonymous donation of $500.”

Fran Weinrob, President of Mother Lode Newcomers, attended the unveiling, as did Amador County Supervisor John Plasse (of District 1) and Supervisor Board Chairman Brian Oneto (of District 5).

Staggs said the “old shelving was over 45 years old and needed to be replaced for a number of reasons.” The new shelving is “versatile slat-wall shelving.”

She said it is “the correct height so that children of all ages can reach library materials. The books can be displayed on both sides, on tops, and on ends so the library can feature themed books and new arrivals.”

Staggs said the “children’s area is now a much more inviting environment for reading, exploring, and learning.” The new shelves are about 4-and-a-half feet tall, while other new shelves for teens and adult non-fiction sections will be about 6-and-a-half feet tall.

Amador County Librarian Laura Einstadter gave Oneto and Plasse a tour of the library resources. On one tour, she talked about “FACL’s campaign to raise $50,000 for new shelving for the teen and adult non-fiction sections of the library.

The new shelves were installed by the builder. Installation was completed Thursday, September 30th, while the library closed for the day to complete the work, and stock the new shelves.

The children’s section includes 4,000 to 5,000 items for children, and parents. It has an educational computer station donated by FACL. Software includes reading, math, and other lessons.

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

Amador County - The El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee is accepting proposals for projects that benefit National Forest lands in El Dorado County.

The committee currently has $500,000 available to recommend projects to the Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisors for implementation on their respective units. Additional funds will be available after January.

RAC funds were made available under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2008 which spells out how the funds can be spent. The Act says funds may be used for the purpose of making additional investments in, and creating additional employment opportunities through, projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implement stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems, and restore and improve land health and water quality.

The purpose of the El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee is to recommend funding of eligible projects to the Forest Supervisors of Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The next scheduled RAC meeting is October 18 at the El Dorado Center, Folsom Lake College, in the Community Room, beginning at 6 pm. Project proposal presentations to the RAC will begin on January 24, 2011 at the same location and time.

The deadline for applications is December 1, 2010. Applications, instructions, project evaluation considerations and other information are found on the Eldorado National Forest website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado.

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Amador County - The El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee is accepting proposals for projects that benefit National Forest lands in El Dorado County.

The committee currently has $500,000 available to recommend projects to the Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisors for implementation on their respective units. Additional funds will be available after January.

RAC funds were made available under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2008 which spells out how the funds can be spent. The Act says funds may be used for the purpose of making additional investments in, and creating additional employment opportunities through, projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implement stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems, and restore and improve land health and water quality.

The purpose of the El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee is to recommend funding of eligible projects to the Forest Supervisors of Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The next scheduled RAC meeting is October 18 at the El Dorado Center, Folsom Lake College, in the Community Room, beginning at 6 pm. Project proposal presentations to the RAC will begin on January 24, 2011 at the same location and time.

The deadline for applications is December 1, 2010. Applications, instructions, project evaluation considerations and other information are found on the Eldorado National Forest website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado.

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