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Thursday, 29 July 2010 06:11

ATCAA Plans Stuff The Bus Aug. 2 at Save-Mart

Amador County – For the fourth year, Camanche Lake and Upcountry Community Centers and the Generation Life Church are sponsoring the Back-Pack 2 School Project, and for the first year, they are incorporating it with the “Stuff The Bus” program. The county-wide project is run in tandem by the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency Upcountry and Camanche Lake Community Centers and the Generation Life Church. Back-Pack 2 School provides backpacks filled with grade appropriate school supplies for children whose families are financially stressed living in Amador County. Ruthella Turner, site coordinator and community educator for Upcountry Community Center, said that “without the generosity of local individuals, businesses, and community organizations, many families would struggle to provide these much needed supplies.” She said 311 children received a backpack and school supplies for the 2009-2010 school year. “This year,” Turner said, the group’s “goal is to reach all of the families in our county who would like this assistance.” Turner said “every year a number of students start the school year without the necessary supplies to be successful.” In response to this, the Back-pack 2 School project started in 2007. Its goal is to provide back-packs filled with necessary school supplies to K-12 students whose families are financially stressed. Turner said people can “empower” their community by bringing new school supplies to help “Stuff the Bus.” Turner said with the help of the public, children in the community “will be ready for school this year and on their way towards academic success.” The Stuff The Bus project will be held noon to 7 p.m. Monday, August 2nd in the Save-Mart parking lot. Turner said “volunteers will be on hand to accept the supplies and ensure that every backpack has the necessary school supplies.” To qualify, families must reside in Amador County, qualify for the free or reduced lunch program, and students must be going into grades kindergarten through 12th grade. People who would like to sponsor a student can see a list of supplies at upcountycommunity.blogspot.com, or they can call 296-2785. Also, follow the project on Facebook at Amador County Stuff the Bus. Donation sites available before August 2nd include the Jackson Rancheria, Amador County Chamber of Commerce, Ione City Hall, Kmart, Staples, Sue’s Gold Country Coffee, Umpqua Bank and Pokerville Market. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Thursday, 29 July 2010 06:09

14th Sierra AIDS Walk, Sept. 18

Amador County - Sierra HOPE will host their 14th Sierra AIDS Walk on Saturday, September 18, 2010. The walk begins anytime between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The Walk is a major fundraising event for Sierra HOPE, a nonprofit organization providing a variety of educational and support services for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis in Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties. Sierra HOPE, celebrating its 20th year of service in the foothills, continues to be a leader in the fight against these diseases. Most of their funding services come from government contracts and grants, but an increasing amount must be raised locally, through fundraising and individual donations. Last year’s AIDS Walk sponsors and participants helped raise over $11,000. They are hoping that people will be drawn to the beautiful surroundings at Calaveras Big Trees State Park and support this very important community event. Participants will be able to choose from three popular trails to complete the walk. The trails in the park, dominated by giant sequoias, have something to offer walkers of different skill and stamina levels. Via Press Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Thursday, 29 July 2010 06:04

Amador Transit Slashes In-County Bus Route Fares

Amador County - Fares on Amador Transit’s in-county bus routes have been slashed and routes adjusted in an effort to provide low-cost, reliable transportation to as many Amador County residents as possible. Riders can buy a daily pass for $3.00 and use it for unlimited rides on all in-county routes - from the bus stop closest to their home or business, to anywhere in the county the system travels, and back. Fares on the Jackson-Sutter Creek Express Shuttle are now 50 cents per stop. The new rates do not apply to the transit system’s Sacramento routes. A rate cut review was ordered by the Amador Regional Transit District’s board of directors during a special meeting on May 19; the new rates and route adjustments were set by Amador Transit staff and are in effect now. Before the board’s direction was established, every time a rider got on a bus, the cost was $2 for general fare passengers. “It’s time to make riding an Amador Transit bus as inexpensive as possible,” said board chairman Greg Baldwin. “We know public transportation is very important now. We’ve had financial difficulties like so many others and the Amador Transit board understands that a reduction in cost will help riders use the bus system.” At a cost of $3 a day to ride anywhere the buses run in Amador County, the Amador Transit system is undercutting the price of putting gas in most private vehicles. “There are so many benefits to using the bus now,” said Assistant Transit Manager Joyce Jones. “For example, if someone uses their private vehicle to travel from Pioneer to Jackson, and then to Ione and back to Pioneer, by the end of the day, they will very likely spend more than $3 in gasoline.” She added that simply running chores around Jackson and Sutter Creek could cost more than $3 a day in gas for a private car. Using public transportation spares wear and tear on private cars, and with regular use, can save on auto insurance rates. Jones said the cost of riding the Jackson-Sutter Creek Express Shuttle has also been cut to 50 cents each time a rider boards the bus. “But if you expect to travel between Jackson and Sutter Creek frequently during the day, you can buy a daily pass for $3 instead.” There have been several changes to the bus schedule as part of a board direction to reduce cost while providing the best service. For a complete list, go to www.amadortransit.com or call 209-267-9395. Via Press Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Transportation

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 06:01

Amador Regional Planning Committee To Ponder “Your Town” Nominees

Amador County – The Amador Regional Planning Committee member entities have been considering minor amendments to the document that forms the committee. Today the committee meets and could consider re-circulating the updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for signatures. Today’s agenda also includes a discussion and possible action on future committee projects or a 2010 work plan. The committee could also discuss and select nominees for a “Your Town Design Workshop.” The agenda also includes a look at the “best methodologies for review and comparison of current General Plans.” Members of the committee and alternates include city council members Keith Sweet and Connie Gonsalves of Jackson; Tim Murphy and Sandra Anderson of Sutter Creek; Andrea Bonham and David Plank of Ione; and Pat Fordyce and Mike O’Meara of Plymouth. Also on the committee are Supervisor Ted Novelli and alternate Supervisor Chairman Brian Oneto. At-large public member is Renee Chapman, and her alternate is Brian Jobson. Sweet is the committee chairman, and Jackson is the host city. The agenda includes a list of 15 or more potential future agenda items, which aim to “benefit the entire region of Amador County,” and which were compiled from member or public suggestions. The ideas would become agenda items as designated by the planning committee. One idea includes drafting “a program document supporting the sharing of revenues from major new and relocated commercial developments, and establishing a system to share personnel and material resources between jurisdictions.” Another idea is a “finance forum,” which would invite “entities for an afternoon or a day-long, drop-in forum where each entity could staff a booth and answer questions.” The finance forum could include representatives from the Economic Development Administration, Small Business Association, Community Development Block Grant program, California Local Economic Development, Sierra Business Council and Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Other potential topics could be a community college, countywide “Design Improvement Guidelines,” and classes on doing business in Amador County, possibly taught by the Amador Chamber of Commerce. Other ideas included exploring “creation of a joint, countywide historic preservation commission,” and also inviting the state office of historic preservation to present. Other topics included community issues (such as Upcountry or Camanche); hosting a Chamber Mixer; spending “an evening exploring agri-tourism” with Mother Lode Farmer’s Market; and focusing on tourism in general with visits from Amador Council of Tourism and the state office of tourism. The meeting is 7 p.m. today (Wednesday, July 28th) at the Jackson Civic Center, and it is open to the public. by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 06:04

Ione Preps Local Preference Ordinance for Wastewater Treatment Plant

Amador County – The Ione City Council directed staff last week to draft an ordinance that would emphasize local material sources for bidders on its wastewater treatment plant, and would help encourage local spending on city projects. City Manager Kim Kerr told the council she wanted to verify that a “request for proposals” included that the companies would be using local firms and labor as much as possible. The city is taking an approach to the treatment plant to seek one company that has the capabilities of designing, building, operating and financing the project, but it may have the effect of the city needing to use an out-of-town corporation. Kerr said “staff discussed looking at whether to require the submittals from the firms on the wastewater project to use local contractors, haulers and materials.” She said while discussing the issue, staff found that “the city does not have a local preference ordinance for the purchase of goods and services.” Staff researched the city’s ability to create a local preference ordinance,” along with parameters the city can use, and associated implications. Kerr said the wastewater project was a “prime example of using local contractors as subcontractors.” Using local materials and haulers for the project “would keep the money spent on the project locally” and help residents of the city and Amador County. City attorney Kristen Castanos said there are some legal restrictions to giving preferences to local businesses, including the “Commerce Clause” and the “Equal Protection Clause.” Castanos said the city “can’t discriminate against outside companies” in local-preference ordinances. She said what they can do is give local businesses a 5 percent leeway in bids, because companies owned inside city limits pay sales tax to the city, which outside companies do not. Another thing Ione could do is if a local bidder is within 10 percent of the low bidder’s price, the city can “give them a chance to lower their bid to match the low bidder.” Castanos said “it has not been tested,” but a lot of cities are using it. Kerr said city staff encourages a “good faith effort to recruit local suppliers,” such as gravel, clay and other building materials. Kerr said if they adopt new rules, those could be sent out as addendums to the request for proposals for companies to work on the water treatment plant project. The council directed Castanos to draft the local preference ordinance to be considered by the council August 3rd. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 06:05

BOS Approves Additonal Offsite Mitigation Costs for Buena Vista Rancheria Contract

Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a contract amendment with Willdan Engineering to perform plan checking services for offsite mitigation improvement plans for the Buena Vista Rancheria. The amended agreement grants approval to increase the total not-to-exceed amount of the contract from $27,500 to $57,500. The tribe has agreed to pay all costs incurred. County Counsel Martha Shaver explained to TSPN that the Intergovernmental Services Agreement (ISA) signed between Amador County and the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians requires reconstruction of areas of Coal Mine Road and Buena Vista Road near where the tribe proposes to build a new $150 million casino. The County hired Willdan Engineering to perform plan checking services because it does not have the available staff. Shaver said the tribe “wasn’t particularly thrilled” when they found out the cost of such services is $30,000 more than the original estimate, but said they “were satisfied after speaking with the engineers involved and agreed to pay the additional expenses.” Supervisor comments focused on the paradox between helping to construct roadways for the proposed development while simultaneously pursuing an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals in its long-standing litigation challenging federal approval of an amendment to a gaming compact that allows the construction of a casino. “We basically need to protect ourselves if that appeal is not successful,” said Supervisor Richard Forster. Supervisor Louis Boitano said that as long as the tribe’s intentions are legal, “the (road) work needs to be done and we want to make sure it gets done right.” Chairman Brian Oneto recused himself during the agenda item because his relatives have an interest in lands adjacent to the area. In related news, Shaver said Amador County filed an appeal last Friday to a recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorizing the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians to discharge treated wastewater into an unnamed tributary of Jackson Creek. TSPN will bring you more on this appeal in future newscasts. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 06:08

Whooping Cough Epidemic Hits California

Amador County – California is in the midst of the largest whooping cough outbreak in 50 years. Six infants under 3 months of age have died from the disease this year and 1,500 Californians have been positively diagnosed, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). South Carolina is the only other state where reported cases exceed what is known to health experts as the “epidemic threshold.” California health officials attribute the epidemic to a lack of administered vaccinations, particularly among younger children entering a school environment. Infants typically get three doses of the vaccine but are not fully protected until after 5 months. Babies are particularly susceptible because they have no natural immunity to whooping cough. “We usually see an up tick in the number of whopping cough cases every 2 to 5 years,” said Joanne Hasson, Amador County Public Health Nurse. “It’s cyclical and not unusual.” In anticipation of the outbreak, Amador County has stocked up on TDAP, the most common vaccine for the highly contagious disease. Hasson said the youngest children get a slightly different formulation. She said a lot of people have been coming in for vaccinations recently, mostly for what is known as “cocooning.” The “cocoon” strategy aims to protect newborn infants from becoming infected by administering the TDAP vaccine to women who have just had babies and family members and friends who make frequent contact with the newborn. In order to successfully avoid infection, Hasson said children should receive vaccinations at 2, 4 and 6 months, 15 to 18 months and a final shot between 4 to 6 years old. “Basically, kids should get five valid doses before the age of seven,” she said. Known medically as pertussis, the disease is considered incredibly contagious, affecting close to 90 percent of those exposed to it, says the CDC. Close to 70 percent of infants under age 1 are hospitalized. According to state reports, the number of whooping cough cases tends to peak every two to five years. Symptoms of pertussis include flu-like symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough. Amador County Public Health department is providing whooping cough vaccinations for a $10 fee. For more information, call the department at 209-223-6407 or drop in during normal business hours at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek. The vaccine is available for people of any age. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 06:12