Tom

Monday, 23 August 2010 06:14

Hayward Man Arrested for Alleged Sexual Harassment of Amador County Girls

Amador County – Ione Police Department last week announced the arrest of a Hayward man on charges that included attempted seduction of a minor, and sexual harassment by mobile phone text messages. On Wednesday (August 18th), officers from Ione Police Department served a search warrant and an arrest warrant on Steven E. Sharp, 30, of Hayward, for multiple cases which began with “annoying and harassing telephone calls to victims throughout the city of Ione.” Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe said “criminal allegations against Sharp involve many more cases” than the 5 Ione cases. He said his “office will actively pursue additional charges against Sharp for any pending cases” presented by the sheriff’s office and police in Jackson and Sutter Creek. Riebe said Sharp is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail in the Alameda County Jail. Ione police said the “investigation, which began in early July, stemmed from Sharp calling and texting women and girls in Amador County with some of the victims receiving hundreds to thousands of texts and calls a week.” The 6-week long investigation culminated in the serving of 2 separate search warrants and the arrest warrant for Sharp, which included felony charges of an attempt to send harmful matter “with the intent of seduction of a minor via telephone.” Sharp faces another felony charge of “dissuading a witness,” and 5 misdemeanor counts of “annoying and harassing telephone calls.” Sharp was booked into the Alameda County Jail by Ione Police officers, pending extradition to Amador County. Ione Police Chief Michael Johnson said “the investigation was time-consuming and demanding of his officer’s time and attention.” Johnson said “the importance of stopping the victimization, not only for the victims in Ione but throughout the county, was a priority for him and his department.” Johnson said Riebe’s office and the Jackson Police Department gave assistance that was “vital to the successful culmination of the Ione Police Department cases, as well as potentially 22 other cases pending county-wide.” Johnson said: “The real achievement here is that Sharp’s victimization of Amador County women and girls will now end.” Johnson said Sharp’s arrest should be credited to interagency cooperation between the Amador County Sheriff’s Office, Sutter Creek Police Department, JPD, IPD, the DA’s Investigations Bureau and the Hayward Police Department. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Law Enforcement

Friday, 20 August 2010 06:24

AWA Looks at Tenant, Rental Billing Policy

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors last week looked at streamlining its relationship with home renting customers. Staff told the board August 12th that disproportionate office time is spent on a small group of customers, namely tenants of rental property. Board Clerk Cris Thompson said in effect, agency staff is acting as the middleman in the housing rental business. General Manager Gene Mancebo said the Rules & Rates Committee (made up of District 5 Director Terence Moore and Vice President Debbie Dunn of District 4) will look into the issue, and could direct staff on further study. The aim is to help agency staff limit its time spent on customers who rent homes, or to possibly change the fees involved. Finance Manager Mike Lee said the agency deals with tenants, but the owner is liable for bills. They also “notify owners (when a tenant bill is delinquent) so they can stay ahead of our shutoff procedure.” The agency has a lot of turnover in rentals, with costs coming from meter readings for old tenants, another for new tenants, and service orders. Lee said “right now we’re right in the middle of the rental business,” and new policy “takes us out of the rental business.” Thompson said “11 percent of the customer base creates 35 percent of the customer service workload.” Mancebo said the agency will look at its ability to bill for extra work. Attorney Steve Kronick said penalties and interest are set by statute, and cannot be surpassed. Penalties for late payments, door tags and shutoff charges can be raised, but must be reasonably related to actual costs. Late payment is a 1.5 percent penalty, a door tag is 10 percent, and a shutoff is 25 percent (and more than that after hours,) Mancebo said. Thompson said it takes 3-4 months to collect from an owner when a renter ditches on a bill, and “even then it goes to a lien.” Thompson said with owners, you can shut off service and create a lien, but with tenants, “a lot of times we can’t collect.” Lee said a “$10 door tag has to be reviewed,” and changing it would take some study. Staff was asked to look for areas to lower costs, Thompson told the board, and she said has brought this to the attention of the AWA board before, with no change. The board discussed the possibility of involving the property owners at a future meeting. Mancebo said the board indicated that through the committee, they would give direction to staff on how to proceed, and where to study the issue. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 20 August 2010 06:13

Camp Out For Cancer in Plymouth This Year

Amador County – The annual local cancer-fighting “Camp Out For Cancer” has a new home this year, and will be held at the Amador County Fair grounds in Plymouth. The location is the third in the history of the Camp Out For Cancer, which began at the Amador High School football stadium, and also was held at the Argonaut High School football stadium. The cancer support group, “Amador Support, Transportation and Resource Services” (or STARS) is the annual sponsor of the walk-a-thon that raises money that primarily stays local, and typically raises close to $100,000. This year’s Camp Out For Cancer is September 11th and 12th at the Amador County Fair grounds in Plymouth. The theme will be Roping and Riding for the Cancer Cure, so participants are encouraged to start planning their western decorations. Team captain and team member registration materials are now available for download at AmadorStars.org. Organizers said the Amador County Camp Out for Cancer “is an amazing community event,” with cancer survivors and people of all ages participating in the 24-hour event to raise money and awareness of local cancer needs. “Each team has at least one person walking throughout the event,” and “volunteers fill luminary bags with sand and candles, prepare meals for the crowd, play games, and have their heads shaved in support of cancer victims – all leading up to Saturday night’s moving Illumination Ceremony.” With thousands of lighted luminaries honoring cancer victims and survivors ringing the staging area, “the names of the honored are read aloud while the campers walk in silence.” Organizers said “STARS is proud to help meet local cancer needs and assist in the search for a cure.” Organizers said the “Amador STARS sponsors 2 support groups for those on the cancer journey.” The “General Cancer Support Group,” meets 10 a.m. on the 4th Wednesdays of each month at the Amador STARS office. Both men and women are welcome to attend the group’s meetings. Organizers said the “group welcomes everyone touched by cancer to attend,” including “cancer patients, caregivers or anyone needing support. Another group is Women Shine With STARS, which meets 10:30 a.m. on the 4th Tuesday of the month at the Amador STARS office. The group is designed for women only, for “those who are going through cancer treatment, those supporting a cancer patient, or caregivers of cancer patients. The women support each other, while doing an array of projects or field trips.” The Amador STARS office is in the Safeway shopping center, 2 doors down from Safeway. Call Amador STARS at 223-1246. STARS support includes transportation of cancer patients, a lending library and other resources. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 20 August 2010 06:16

Mountain Lions Protected, But So is California Public Safety

Amador County – Mountain lion sightings in Ione and Sutter Creek recently have led local authorities to warn people to be on the lookout. California Department of Fish & Game says 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions could live in California, where more than half of the state is considered “prime mountain lion habitat.” Fish & Game’s website said mountain lions are not threatened nor endangered, but “are legally classified as specially protected species,” after passage of Proposition 117 in 1990, which made it illegal to hunt mountain lions in California. “This status and other statutes prohibit the Department of Fish and Game from recommending a hunting season for lions, and it is illegal to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or part of a mountain lion.” Mountain lions may be killed only “if a depredation permit is issued to take a specific lion killing livestock or pets;” “to preserve public safety;” or to “protect listed bighorn sheep.” Fish & Game’s Public Safety Wildlife Guidelines say “an animal is deemed to be a public safety threat” if there is a “likelihood of human injury based on the totality of the circumstances.” Factors considered in the determination “include the lion’s behavior and its proximity to schools, playgrounds and other public gathering places.” The determination that “an animal is a public safety threat” is made by Fish & Game, or “local law enforcement.” If that determination is made, Fish & Game or police “will secure the area, then locate and kill the offending animal as soon as possible.” Fish & Game “does not relocate mountain lions that are a threat to public safety.” Mountain lions “can be found wherever deer are present, since deer are a mountain lion’s main food source. Foothills and mountains are the most suitable mountain lion habitat.” Fish & Game said “mountain lion attacks on humans are rare,” with only “16 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California since 1890.” 6 of the attacks were fatal. The last documented attack in January, 2007, in Humboldt County. Fish & Game “receives hundreds of reported mountain lion sightings annually statewide, but fewer than 3 percent turn out to be verified public safety threats.” For example, in 2004, “there were 14 public safety mountain lions killed” in California. Fish & Game recommends reducing encounter risk by deer-proofing the landscape, to “avoid attracting a lion’s main food source.” Also, remove dense vegetation from around the home and install outdoor lighting to make it difficult for mountain lions to approach unseen. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 20 August 2010 06:19

Mountain Lion Spotted on Carson Drive, Allen Ranch in Sutter Creek

Amador County – Sutter Creek has been the latest area to get several reports of mountain lions being spotted. New Sutter Creek Police Chief Brian Klier (Clear) reported to the city council Monday (August 16th) that approximately 10 mountain lion sightings have been reported, with the sightings occurring on Carson Drive and Allen Ranch. Klier said no police personnel have seen the lion, but the people making the reports “are pretty sure about what they saw.” He said the California Fish & Game ranger for the county has been notified. He asked that people be careful in those areas, especially in the early morning and late in the day. Klier noted that Ione Police Department last week announced it had verified mountain lion sightings near the Ione Junior High School, which included a suspected mother lion and her young. Klier said if people encounter a mountain lion, they should make themselves “bigger,” raising arms. They should also make the lion aware that people are present, by making noise. He said do not throw anything at a mountain lion. They can only be shot “in cases of eminent danger for human life,” Klier said. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 20 August 2010 06:22

Amador County Schools Go Back in Session

Amador County - Students across Amador County are savoring their last days of summer freedom. The majority of Amador County schools will be going back in session over the next two weeks. In preparation for the new school season, school and law enforcement officials are reminding citizens to look out for children while driving, especially during the hours shortly before and after school is in session. Ione Elementary’s new year began on August 16 and Jackson Jr. High’s session started August 17. Many local kindergarteners are also already back in class. Upcoming start dates for elementary schools are Tuesday, August 24 for Jackson Elementary, Pioneer Elementary, Sutter Creek Elementary, and 2nd through 5th grade at Ione Elementary. Sutter Creek Primary also starts August 24, and Pine Grove Elementary starts August 31. Argonaut and Amador High are both set to start school again on September 1, although Amador High’s start date is subject to change. Ione Jr. High School starts Wednesday, September 1. The latest start dates are for Independence High School and North Star Independent on Thursday, September 9. TSPN will bring you another report in the coming weeks on attendance numbers. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 20 August 2010 06:31