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Friday, 17 September 2010 06:15

Sierra Business Council offers free energy audits, retrofits

Amador County - Local governments and businesses in Tuolumne County will have new access to cutting edge energy efficient technology through a new collaboration between Sierra Business Council and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. From 2010 to 2012, Sierra Business Council, a non-profit organization with a new office in Sonora will be offering free energy audits and low-cost retrofits to commercial PG&E customers in the Sierra Nevada (including Amador County) through a new program called the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch. “During this tough economic downturn, we are excited to be able to support our local businesses and governments by offering cost-cutting energy efficiency services,” said Steve Frisch, President of the Sierra Business Council. “This project embodies our long-standing mission of demonstrating that environmental quality and economic prosperity are compatible goals.” Many of the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch installations are performed at highly reduced costs to participating small businesses. Rebates are also offered through the program for measures such as facet aerators, low flow showerheads, and door gaskets for reach-in and walk-in coolers and freezers. In the case of Tuolumne County’s Sierra Outdoor School, a rebate of over $14,000 at a total cost to the school of $3,600 enables them to save nearly $13,000 annually. Their return on investment is nearly 250 percent with payback occurring in just under four months. Visit www.sbcouncil.org to fill out an electronic form and an Energy Associate will contact you. Or visit SBC’s new office location at 85 North Washington Street in downtown Sonora. Walk-in hours are every Wednesday and Thursday, 9am - 5pm. You may also call to make an appointment at 209-532-7200. For more information about the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch Program, and to see tips on saving energy at home and the workplace, see www.sbcouncil.org/energywatch. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Region

Friday, 17 September 2010 06:05

AM Live 9-17-10 - Jackson Creek Dental Group: Pain Free Injections

Published in AML

Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:11

Old Sac railcar moved to Folsom Rail Festival

Amador County - A former Sacramento streetcar, which ran the rails of the city in the 30’s and 40’s, will be moved by truck and trailer from Sacramento to the site of the Folsom Rail & Transportation Festival where it will be moved onto the historic rails of the former SP Placerville Branch. According to Larry Bowler, President of the Recreational Railroad Coalition Historical Society said the event was moved to Folsom due to the temporary loss of a lease the group had for the Amador Central Railroad in Ione. This event will be an historic occasion when the old streetcar will, once again, power up and run a portion of the P’ville Branch during the Folsom Rail Festival. Because the car takes its power from overhead lines and because the P’ville Branch is not so equipped, the car will be connected to a generator which sits on a rail “sled” which will provide the power to operate the streetcar. The placing of the railcar on the new track takes place today (September 16) at noon at 155 Placerville Road behind the Hampton Inn. The Folsom Rail & Transportation Festival is the first such event in the city. It will begin on Friday evening (September 17) when vintage speeders will begin a night run for purposes of inspecting the rails in preparation for the public rides on Saturday and Sunday. Rides will be provided to ticket holders who will be served on a “first come, first served” basis. In addition to the streetcar and speeders, other varieties of old railroad rolling stock will be in operation. This includes a model exhibit and a pumper car on its own, dedicated track. For more information on the event, contact Larry Bowler at 916-764-5110. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:14

AWA discusses Brown Act limits, agenda items

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board discussed communications and the Brown Act last week, and Director Don Cooper requested placing it on a future agenda. President Bill Condrashoff said he would “like to have a specific topic,” and Cooper suggested discussing compliance to the Public Records Act. Vice President Debbie Dunn said she did not “want to agendize something we are not subjected to,” and the agency attorney told her that board members were not subject to it. Dunn said if Cooper wanted to talk about a director requesting information from staff, she would talk about that. Cooper said he thought the board had some issues with requests for information, and he suggested the board get an ethics review by attorney Steve Kronick. Cooper also said they could discuss “board members making information requests directly to staff, and not working through the general manager.” Cooper said he also wanted to discuss the “protocol relative to board members seeking information or making contact with government agencies without general manager or board participation.” He said he would like to discuss a policy relative to that issue. Cooper also wondered about permissible conversations under the Brown Act, and he thought Kronick could share information about recent rulings regarding general manager and board member communications specifically related to agenda items. Condrashoff said he thought Brown Act and ethics classes required periodically for board members would be sufficient. Cooper said “it wouldn’t take long,” and it would be good to refresh the board on the subject. General Manager Gene Mancebo said the attorney general has released opinions that “further narrow” interpretation. Cooper on Tuesday said he has seen Dunn interacting with staff. He said she wasn’t satisfied with engineering findings about rebuilding the pumping station in the Central Amador Water Project, and “proceeded to not accept those reports and to call Kennedy Jinks to get copies of the report.” After approval of the Gravity Supply Line in March, Cooper said Dunn and Condrashoff have made calls to the USDA, and those discussions “haven’t been shared with the staff and the board.” Cooper said he asked to “put it on the agenda so we can talk about it.” He said when board members go over the head of staff, they “instill mistrust in what the staff is doing for you.” He said he asked for it to be placed on the agenda last April. He said Mancebo and Condrashoff will decide agenda topics, and new policy also allows the full board to decide to place items on the board agenda. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:17

Moke Hill man arrested for theft of property from Jeff Holman’s Auto Sales

Amador County – A Mokelumne Hill man has been arrested in connection with the theft of property from Jeff Holman’s Auto Sales in Martell. Gary Fielden McMahan, 25, has been arrested and charged with stolen property. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office investigated a report filed on September 10, 2010 and discovered that two sets of keys had been stolen from the dealership building, as well as a cellular telephone stolen from a patron’s vehicle that was parked at the business. Witnesses on scene reported seeing a possible suspect earlier in the afternoon loitering around the business. The suspect was described as a white male adult, 25-30 years of age, with a shaved head, numerous tattoos, wearing a sleeveless white shirt and carrying a backpack. Soon after, Sheriff’s Deputies took a report from a 70-year-old female whose wallet was stolen at Safeway. The victim said she was shopping when she was approached by a suspect she described as similar to the one spotted at Jeff Holman’s Auto Sales. “The victim said the subject asked her to assist him with picking out some merchandise. After assisting him, she subsequently realized she was missing her wallet and she ultimately called the Sheriff’s Office,” said Undersheriff Jim Wegner in a release Wednesday. Wegner said Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted checks of businesses and parking areas in the Martell area. A deputy sheriff subsequently located and detained McMahan in a vehicle parked at WalMart. A search of McMahan and his vehicle resulted in the recovery of the keys stolen from Jeff Holman Auto Sales. The wallet and cellular telephone were not located. This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to these crimes, or any other criminal activity are asked to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:15

ACUSD reduces school year in response to budget crisis

Amador County – The Amador County School District received approval last week to reduce the school year by five days. The approval was granted by the State of California and Governor Schwarzenegger to reduce the number of school days for students from 180 to 175. Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Chapin-Pinotti said the time reduction was made because of the current budget crisis hitting schools throughout the state. Three pre-service days for teachers and staff were also eliminated. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:19

Amador Chamber lays off Lucido, closes office

Amador County – The Amador County Chamber of Commerce shuttered its office, laid off its employees and changed its locks Wednesday, as authorities announced that an investigation continues on the former chamber executive director. The Chamber Executive Board met at 2 p.m. Wednesday, then went to the chamber office on Highway 49 in Jackson, to deliver the news that they were laying off their executive director and three other employees, due to financial constraints. Chamber executives - acting President Mark Borchin, Diana Gassaway, Sharon Lungren and Tom Blackman - took down the “open” sign of the chamber office, sent away its employees, including Executive Director Jacqueline Lucido, and two office workers who were present. Early today (Thursday, September 16th) Jackson Police Department issued a press release saying the department had completed its “investigation into allegations that 81-year-old Jacqueline Lucido, executive director for the Amador County Chamber of Commerce, was involved in embezzling the chamber’s money.” Chief Scott Morrison in the release said: “A criminal case and probable cause arrest warrant charging Lucido with the embezzlement of approximately $38,500 was provided the District Attorney’s office on August 12th.” District Attorney Todd Riebe said he would not comment on an ongoing investigation, but he said “an arrest warrant has not been issued in this case.” Morrison said: “After review of thousands of pages of bank documents, no evidence was found to support a claim that Lucido had ever reimbursed the Chamber for purchases she made for personal use.” Morrison said “it was determined that Lucido unlawfully utilized the Visa credit card” that was “obtained in 2003 for official Chamber use by then-Chamber President Paul Molinelli Junior.” The investigation found that Lucido unlawfully used the Visa card from December 2003 to November 2006, and that “Visa purchases for clothing, insurance, flowers, pets, groceries, gasoline and an attorney for her daughter were among approximately $22,500 in personal goods Lucido purchased with the Chamber’s money.” There was “another $11,500, or more, Lucido expended over six years on the Visa’s interest and late payment fee penalties that continued until April of this year.” The investigation also found that Lucido used the “Chamber’s Raley’s credit card for personal groceries” for up to $3,500, although Raley’s could not “provide purchase receipts beyond a year.” The investigation began in April, when it was first found that Visa purchases were made for Lucido’s personal use, and “payments toward the Visa bill were paid from the Chamber’s checking account.” The office was $11,000 behind on rent, and due to the investigation, both the Amador County Supervisors and the Jackson City Council withheld Transient Occupancy Tax funds. The layoffs affected Lucido and three employees, including her daughter Patti Gonsalves, a contractor for the chamber. The Chamber reportedly plans to open an office with non-paid, volunteer staff. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:23