Tom
Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:31
Public land fire restrictions activated in Amador BLM region
Amador County – The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wednesday implemented fire restrictions on all BLM-managed public lands in Amador County and the Mother Lode Field Office boundary. BLM Public Information Officer David Christy announced the fire restrictions in the region that covers 11 counties, with 230,000 total acres of managed public land. The restrictions prohibit all open fires on public lands because of extremely dry conditions, said Gerald Martinez, fire management officer. He said: “With the recent high temperatures, fuels are extremely dry.” Christy said “campers are urged to be familiar with special limitations prior to visiting any public lands” in the affected region. The Mother Lode region includes BLM-managed public lands in Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties. The fire restrictions will remain in effect until further notice, Christy said. A valid California campfire permit is required for all fires. The campfire permits are available free of charge at any BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or California Department of Forestry office, but campers need to be aware of restrictions in the area they are visiting. The restrictions in the Mother Lode region include no open fires, campfires or open fire stoves, except lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel. Also banned is welding or use of any torch with an open flame, except by special permit. Explosives are also restricted, except by special permit, and no operation of internal combustion engines is allowed except on maintained roads. Restrictions also limit firing tracers or incendiary devices capable of starting a fire; and fireworks. Violations are punishable by fines up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year in jail. For additional information contact BLM’s Mother Lode Field Office at (916) 941-3101. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:38
Stockton-based Caltrans supervisor pleads guilty to taking bribes
Amador County – A Stockton-based Caltrans supervisor pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to charges of accepting bribes from two east bay area residents. Clint Gregory, 48, admitted to charges of bribery, bid rigging and fraud related to agency contracts. He admitted to awarding a series of contracts and approving fraudulent invoices for InfoTek Associates. The FBI and federal prosecutors said Gregory’s plea agreement stipulates he will cooperate in cases against 56-year-old Siavash "Mike" Poursartip and 52-year-old Sara Shirazi, both of Walnut Creek. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said both individuals have plead not guilty to charges of bribing Gregory with cash, a Persian rug, a mobile phone and other various gifts. Prosecutors said each contract was worth less than $131,000, but Caltrans lost more than $1.2 million over a five-year period. Gregory was a 17-year employee of Caltrans District 10, headquartered in Stockton. His recent role was as a senior transportation engineer. District 10 oversees three Central Valley counties and five Sierra Nevada counties, including Amador County. Caltrans declined to comment on Gregory. InfoTek, a Sacramento-based company, is described on its website as providing “cutting-edge solutions for your wireless, real-time data collection, transfer, and analysis needs.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:27
2010 Mokelumne River Cleanup seeks volunteers
Amador County - On Saturday, September 25th, people who care about the Mokelumne River will gather at five sites from Pioneer to Lodi for the 2010 Mokelumne River Cleanup. “People who participate in the Mokelumne River Cleanup have a great time while they do something good for our local river,” said Randy Berg, Foothill Conservancy coordinator for the 2010 Mokelumne River Cleanup. “For the second year in a row, we’ll be joining volunteers across the Sierra as part of the Great Sierra River Cleanup and people all over the state taking part in the California Coastal Cleanup.” Mokelumne participants will work along the river’s banks, in the river, and on Camanche Reservoir removing trash accumulated through the summer months. Previous cleanups over the last 20 years have cumulatively removed tons of trash and recyclables. The cleanup benefits wildlife and water quality while keeping the river a beautiful place to visit. Participants must register in advance. The event will be held at five locations: the Highway 26 North Fork Mokelumne crossing, Electra Road, the Middle Bar area, the lower Mokelumne from the Mokelumne Day Use area downstream to Lodi, and Camanche Reservoir. This year’s Mokelumne River Cleanup sponsors are the Foothill Conservancy, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, the Mokelumne River Outfitters, and the Camanche Recreation Company. Business sponsors include ACES Waste Services, California Waste Recovery Systems, New York Fitness, Martell Safeway, and Munnerlyn’s Ice Creamery. The Great Sierra River Cleanup is sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Volunteers should wear long pants and sturdy boots and bring along work gloves, a hat, insect repellent, sunscreen, a water bottle and a bag lunch unless they plan to participate in a post-cleanup barbecue for volunteers at Camanche South Shore. Water and snacks will be provided. Flotation devices are recommended for those working close to the river’s edge. Properly equipped paddlers are welcome to help from the river at Electra, Middle Bar and Highway 26, and possibly other sites (ask when you register). No pets or alcoholic beverages, please. For more information, contact Randy Berg at 209-295-4900, e-mail randy@foothillconservancy,org or visit www.foothillconservancy.org. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:33
Amador County Wine Cellar to close
Amador County - The Amador County Wine Cellar will be closing its doors on September 7th after almost four years as a popular destination in Amador City. Owner Corrine Moore told the Sacramento Bee that the bad economy was to blame. Moore has a wealth of knowledge on brands she pours at the cellar on a regular basis, including Lang Wines, Calabria Vineyards, and the product of her own business, Wine Tree Farm. She said the closure will allow her to focus more of her energy on Wine Tree Farm, which specializes in such varietals as grenache, syrah and mourvedre. “I love the wine bar and pouring wine for people who didn't have tasting rooms, including my own. I loved talking to the people and educating them,” said Moore to the Sacramento Bee. The buidling’s owner, Joyce Davidson, says she will continue to carry many of the wines Moore pours. The Amador County Wine Cellar is located at 14207 Highway 49 in Amador City. The cellar will be having a sale starting today (Thursday, September 2nd) through Monday, September 6th, which is Labor Day. The sale is 20 percent off all merchandise and 10 percent off all wines. For more information, visit www.amadorcountywinecellar.com. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:41
Ione, Supervisors discuss Sphere of Influence, future of Ione
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors and the Ione City Council in a joint meeting Tuesday discussed an agreement on land use designations in the proposed new “Sphere of Influence” for the city before tabling the issue, which nearly stalled on one requirement the city is seeking. City Planner Christopher Jordan presented a Memorandum of Understanding as part of the city’s application for a sphere of influence amendment. Supervisor Ted Novelli said “as chairman of the Local Agency Formation Commission” he would like to see future meetings noticed to LAFCO director Roseanne Chamberlain, who he said should have been at the meeting. Jordan said LAFCO was notified and he would follow up with Chamberlain. The amendment would add about 160 acres to the sphere and remove about 16 acres, for a 4,581-acre total. Jordan said the city’s general plan for the areas included “Special Planning Area” designations that developments would have to work through, including one with 190 “equivalent dwelling units,” and another, at Q Ranch, with 850 EDUs in single-family homes. Jordan said positives of the agreement would be to allow the city to implement its General Plan, and to direct growth to the city, where services are available. City Manager Kim Kerr urged a vote, saying if the county would not support obligatory land use designation by the county, it was not worth pursuing the MOU. Supervisors nearly voted against the MOU, but instead voted to table it until the county’s own General Plan is done, or near done. Supervisor John Plasse said the problem is as cities develop outward, housing near agricultural land needs a buffer. Supervisor Richard Forster said ranching and farming industry neighbors of Rancho Arroyo Seco are “eventually going to be surrounded by houses.” Supervisor Chairman Brian Oneto said Q Ranch high-density would be located next to Williamson Act lands. Plasse said the county could try to “look at some sort of MOU that addresses all cities,” but he didn’t agree with having a special agreement for Ione. Plasse said the “county does not want to relinquish power over land in the Sphere of Influence simply for the sake of the city’s General Plan vision.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham was worried about protecting the area’s “viewshed” from 5-acre parcels that spread out development as has happened in Elk Grove. Jordan said: “What if someone wants to split up ranch land? Do our comments have the same weight and force as their requests?” Plasse said it was not about the vision of the future but about “land use authority and how far it infringes on property rights.” Councilman Lee Ard suggested that supervisors first get “further down the road” with their own General Plan, “then come back and have this conversation.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:47
Jim Ulm - Ione City Council Incumbent Candidate 9-2-10
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:52
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 9-2-10
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:52
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 9-2-10
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:47
Jim Ulm - Ione City Council Incumbent Candidate 9-2-10
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 05:41
Ione, Supervisors discuss Sphere of Influence, future of Ione
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors and the Ione City Council in a joint meeting Tuesday discussed an agreement on land use designations in the proposed new “Sphere of Influence” for the city before tabling the issue, which nearly stalled on one requirement the city is seeking. City Planner Christopher Jordan presented a Memorandum of Understanding as part of the city’s application for a sphere of influence amendment. Supervisor Ted Novelli said “as chairman of the Local Agency Formation Commission” he would like to see future meetings noticed to LAFCO director Roseanne Chamberlain, who he said should have been at the meeting. Jordan said LAFCO was notified and he would follow up with Chamberlain. The amendment would add about 160 acres to the sphere and remove about 16 acres, for a 4,581-acre total. Jordan said the city’s general plan for the areas included “Special Planning Area” designations that developments would have to work through, including one with 190 “equivalent dwelling units,” and another, at Q Ranch, with 850 EDUs in single-family homes. Jordan said positives of the agreement would be to allow the city to implement its General Plan, and to direct growth to the city, where services are available. City Manager Kim Kerr urged a vote, saying if the county would not support obligatory land use designation by the county, it was not worth pursuing the MOU. Supervisors nearly voted against the MOU, but instead voted to table it until the county’s own General Plan is done, or near done. Supervisor John Plasse said the problem is as cities develop outward, housing near agricultural land needs a buffer. Supervisor Richard Forster said ranching and farming industry neighbors of Rancho Arroyo Seco are “eventually going to be surrounded by houses.” Supervisor Chairman Brian Oneto said Q Ranch high-density would be located next to Williamson Act lands. Plasse said the county could try to “look at some sort of MOU that addresses all cities,” but he didn’t agree with having a special agreement for Ione. Plasse said the “county does not want to relinquish power over land in the Sphere of Influence simply for the sake of the city’s General Plan vision.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham was worried about protecting the area’s “viewshed” from 5-acre parcels that spread out development as has happened in Elk Grove. Jordan said: “What if someone wants to split up ranch land? Do our comments have the same weight and force as their requests?” Plasse said it was not about the vision of the future but about “land use authority and how far it infringes on property rights.” Councilman Lee Ard suggested that supervisors first get “further down the road” with their own General Plan, “then come back and have this conversation.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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