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Wednesday, 14 July 2010 06:27

Sen. Dave Cox Dies at 72

Sacramento - GOP Senator Dave Cox, 72, who represented the1st District in the California State Senate since 2004, died Tuesday afternoon after a thirteen year battle with prostate cancer. “A devoted family man, he always found time to serve his community and constituents. Dave took great pride in public service and making government work for the people it serves,” said his family members in a statement. Cox is survived by his wife of 44 years, Maggie; daughters Cathleen, Margo, and Sarah; six grandchildren; and his beloved dog, Rudy. He stayed devoted to his job until the very end, and kept working despite growing physical problems. He showed up on the Senate floor in March wearing an eye patch to hide a temporary medical condition. Speaking at the capitol yesterday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Cox “helped shape the way we live and do business in this state.” He recalled that Cox was the first Republican leader to endorse Schwarzenegger’s ballot measure in 2002 to provide money for after-school programs. Cox was born February 20, 1938, in Holdenville, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of San Diego and a master's from Golden Gate University. He also maintained a life insurance business while in office. Cox was a popular representative throughout his long career in public service, beginning in the early 90’s as a member of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. He was a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 5th District from 1998 to 2004, and serving as the Assembly Republican Leader from March 2000 through 2004. He made an unsuccessful run for the former 6th Senate district seat in 1994. Since 2004, he represented the 1st District, which stretches from the Oregon border in northeastern California down to Mammoth Lakes. He was named as the "Outstanding Senator for 2007" by the California State Sheriffs' Association. From 2001 to early 2004, he served as minority leader of the Assembly. His death adds another vacancy to the 40-member chamber after fellow Republican Abel Maldonado left to become lieutenant governor in April. The Cox family requests that all cards and messages be sent to Senator Cox's Capitol office. Staff will deliver them to the family. In lieu of flowers, the Cox family asks that donations be made to the Dave and Maggie Cox Scholarship Fund with the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, located at 740 University, Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95825. Memorial services are pending. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in State

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 06:25

Ione Police Save Baby, Arrest Man on Weapons Charge

Amador County – The Ione Police Department in separate incidents earlier this week saved a baby from the heat of a locked car, and also arrested a man for illegal possession of a gun. Ione police sergeant Rocky Harpham said around 11:15 a.m. Monday, “a young woman was babysitting a 3-month-old infant,” and accidentally locked the baby and her keys in her vehicle in front of Golden One Credit Union in Ione. IPD Officer Pollie Pent arrived before medics and noticed “the infant was red, sweaty and not responding to Officer Pent.” The temperature was reaching 80 degrees, the vehicle was not running and the windows were rolled up. Harpham said the “infant appeared to be in distress” so Pent used a “window breaking device to break open one of the windows and remove the baby from the car,” in time for medics to treat the infant. The infant reportedly had minor heat related issues but was treated by medics at the scene and released to its mother, who responded to the location of the incident. Harpham reported on another incident that occurred at about 8:40 p.m. Sunday (July 11th). IPD said a parolee from Lake Tahoe came to Ione to visit a relative and go shooting with a friend’s rifle. Harpham said 26-year-old Justin Page, was stopped by an Ione police officer for vehicle code violations, who learned that Page “did not have permission from his parole agent to travel to Amador County.” The Ione officer “conducted a parole search on the vehicle and found the rifle and some marijuana.” Harpham said it is illegal for a felon to possess firearms. Page was booked into the Amador County Jail for the weapons violation and for violating the conditions of his parole. In unrelated news, Amador County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a possible attempted rape on July 5th on Deer Trail. The reporting party’s 16-year-old daughter was the victim of attempted rape by a 14-year-old male. The boy reportedly had her in headlocks and threw her on the ground in the woods behind her house. The girl was able to fight him off. The boy was last seen running away, and got into a truck with his father. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Law Enforcement

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 06:23

Public Health Officials Outline Activities, Accomplishments

Amador County - The Board of Supervisors heard a presentation Tuesday from the county’s health director and public health officer on the state of public health services. Health Director Kristin Bengyel opened by saying that despite cuts across the board and increases in certain medical needs, the health department has stretched its resources to successfully meet demand. She referenced various figures like a 44 percent cut in staff over the last year that has led to 305 extra staff hours, as well as a 100 percent increase in rattlesnake bites. She said the department goes largely unnoticed in the county. “When the public health department is noticed, it means that things aren’t done right,” she said. “We want to be the department that doesn’t get noticed.” Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County’s Public Health Officer, said that overall the county is doing very well in providing public health services as compared to other counties in the state. He cited a survey conducted in February by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which ranks Amador County as the 20th healthiest county in California. The County is ranked 4th best in morbidity (a broad measure that represents health-related quality of life),18th in health outcomes and 22nd in health factors. Hartmann said we also have “great prenatal results…and a low number of births to adolescent moms.” However, he said health factors can be improved. Statewide, 13.3 percent of people smoke, but 17.3 percent of people smoke in the foothills region. In Amador County, men meet the smoking average, but the number of women smoking is closer to 18 percent. In a different category, he said “suicide and drug-related deaths at Mule Creek throw things off…but overall we have higher suicide rates than we should among the elderly.” Other areas of improvement include motor vehicle accident rates, which improved slightly last year from 54th to 49th in the rankings. “At public health we’re eternal optimists and we think we can take the poor rankings and do better,” he said. His department has gone through some recent levels of high activity where staff have treated patients with ailments including lyme disease, interaction with rabid animals, possible tuberculosis, shigella and many sick prisoners at Mule Creek State prison. He stressed the importance of getting vaccinations, and praised Supervisor Richard Forster for setting an example by being the first to get a particular vaccine last year. Over the last year, Public Health had 887 client visits to its immunization department, 451 tuberculosis tests placed and 671 active patients in its women’s clinics. The supervisors asked questions about the current prevalence of H1N1 and whether that should be a cause for future concern. Hartmann said the epidemic started fifteen months ago and has since decreased, but they can’t measure accurately without looking at trends over a longer period of time. The supervisors thanked him for his service to the county. Hartmann said it was his pleasure. “I love what I do,” he said. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Health

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 06:19

AWA Special Meeting Discusses Camanche Finances

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board held a town hall meeting with the Camanche Village Owners Association board last week to discuss the finances of Amador Water District Number 7. It was the first meeting since a January protest by the district stopped a rate increase. The AWA board explained an $800,000 loan to District 7 from the Amador Water System, which the AWA board this year “memorialized.” General Manager Gene Mancebo said 85-100 people attended with lots of questions, interest and concerns for the Lake Camanche service areas. He said the agency will try to improve “communications with property owners, so they have a better handle of what’s going on.” He said after the Proposition 218 protest was successful earlier this year, AWA staff went back to the District 7 budget and “trimmed costs as best could going into this fiscal year.” The budget is balanced now, and there will be no rate increase but “there may be a need for a rate increase later this year.” Mancebo said “it won’t happen until there are a lot more meetings and discussion with the public.” Part of the process will be to share insight, and “take people on tours of facilities, so they see what we are up against.” The board also recently held a special meeting on the La Mel Heights Water District, which Mancebo said “may take on the system working with another agency.” He said “we are not going to leave them in the dark, or out in the cold.” La Mel Heights was the only system budget that the AWA board was not able to balance. Mancebo said: “Even with severe cuts we made, we still may need a rate increase,” not as much as the original 7 percent, but possibly 5 percent. He said they “just could not find a way to balance the budget,” which short by about $11,000. With a total budget of $50,000, Mancebo said it was a significant shortfall of 20 percent.” He said there was “just nothing else to cut.” La Mel Heights has a debt service payment for recent improvements to 95 percent of the system, including a new well, storage tank, distribution lines and hydrants. A partial grant and partial loan paid for the work. The AWA board plans to resume twice monthly meetings and possibly committee meetings, after meeting 3 or more times a month up until the turn of the fiscal year. The board next meets July 22nd. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Water

Wednesday, 14 July 2010 06:10

AM Live - 7-14-10: Wine, Dine and Good Times with Gale

Published in Wine, Dine, & Good Times

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 06:22

Kirkwood Hearing to Debate Power Plant Alternatives

Amador County – A public hearing this Friday will review an appeal to a recently approved permit granting construction of a diesel engine power plant at Kirkwood Ski Resort. Both the Kirkwood ski resort and surrounding residences have been served by a temporary power plant after the permanent plant was destroyed by a powerhouse fire on new Year’s Day. The authority to operate the temporary generators will expire in January, 2011. As proposed, the new plant will truck in diesel to the area, which is independent from the national power grid. Construction of the new plant was approved by the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District on May 24. The appeal is sought by the SMART Energy group, which says in its appellant statement that “the District approved construction of an all-diesel power plant despite the availability of feasible alternatives that would reduce the proposed plant’s adverse impacts on air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and human health.” Instead, the group proposes the construction of a “bi-fuel plant powered by 90 percent natural gas.” Both natural gas and diesel gas would need to be transported to the plant by truck, but natural gas opponents feel that alternative will be cheaper and cleaner after the initial investment is made. Among other complaints, SMART Energy group says the cost of a grid connection may exceed $35 million for Kirkwood’s 600 residents, and a “fuel source should not be determined until all the environmental impacts associated have been disclosed.” Kirkwood Meadows Public Utilities District staff members are recommending a denial of the appeal based on concerns including safety, location, costs and technological feasibility. Those speaking on behalf of the plant at the meeting will include Everand Ashworth, a Principal with environmental consulting group Ashworth Leininger. He contends that diesel with pollution controls is the best means to supply residents with electricity. Under state law, the district must pick the best available control activity. If natural gas were chosen for Kirkwood, the district would have to extend the permit allowing the temporary plant while an assessment on transportation and storage was conducted, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act. The public hearing will take place this Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Markleeville, located approximately 42 minutes east of Kirkwood. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 06:27

Correctional Officers Foil Escape Attempt by Rancheria Shooting Suspect

Amador County – Gilbert Zaragoza, 19, a suspect currently being held for his alleged involvement in a suspected gang-related shooting at the Jackson Rancheria, was planning an escape from jail, according to reports Tuesday from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. According to Undersheriff Jim Wegner, correctional officers conducted a search of Zaragoza’s cell on June 6th and “noticed the screws securing a light fixture had been damaged.” Upon removing the fixture, “alert corrections staff” discovered a crawl space containing “a threaded bolt, an adjustable end wrench and a contraband tee shirt.” Wegner says “staff found where the bolt and wrench were used in an effort to chisel a portal through an exterior wall.” Zaragoza had etched two small grooves into the wall. “Unbeknownst to the inmate, the jail walls are solid concrete, twelve inches thick and steel reinforced, so successfully chiseling out of the facility with the items possessed was extremely unlikely,” says Wegner. On the same day, Antonio Zaragoza, inmate Zaragoza’s nineteen year old brother from Manteca, was detained after taking cell phone photographs of “the visiting area and associated security measures” during a visit to the jail visiting area. Wegner said Antonio was issued a citation for bringing a cellular device into a correctional facility, a misdemeanor, before being released. Amador County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Technician confirmed through subsequent examination that the latent finger print transfers on the evidence collected from Zaragoza’s cell were positively identified as his own. Zaragoza was arrested by Sheriff’s Correctional Staff on June 30 for attempted escape, possession of a weapon and damages to a jail facility in excess of $400. According to the official booking form, Zaragoza received a new bail charge of $50,000. Zaragoza, a documented member of the Lathrop Hispanic Pride gang, is one of two suspects booked into the Amador County Jail on two counts of attempted murder for shooting two alleged members of an opposing gang inside the Jackson Rancheria Casino on March 14th at approximately 5:30 am. Surveillance video shows Zaragoza and others enter the casino and open fire on the victims in what was apparently a confrontation between rival gangs from the Stockton area. Video footage from multiple angles shows the shooting take place within a small area in the casino’s restaurant. Two Hispanic male victims, one an 18-year-old man and the other a 15-year-old boy, were shot in the neck or face during the shooting. They were subsequently transported to area hospitals where they eventually recovered from their wounds. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 06:24

Ione Gets Grand Jury Report on Building Department

Amador County – The Ione City Council in late June held a special meeting to discuss the Amador County Grand Jury report based on a complaint in the city hall building inspection department. The board of supervisors released the report June 29th, and the city council met that same day to begin preparation of a response. Ione citizens were given a chance to respond at the meeting. City Manager Kim Kerr said Ione City Council “had a full house and most of the people did not agree with laying off the building inspector, and felt that it was an inappropriate investigation.” Kerr said the grand jury investigation was called inappropriate because “some assumptions were made,” and because Ione Building Inspector Don Myshrall “had not been interviewed by the grand jury.” The civil grand jury based its investigation on an October 6th, 2009, “complaint concerning inconsistencies in the fees charged by the building inspector for the city.” Kerr said the complainant’s identity is kept secret in the grand jury process. The city council directed Kerr to draft a letter for council to review, in conformance with requirements. The responses will be decided by the city council, likely at its July 20th meeting, and the council will recommend whether to agree with recommendations, partially agree, or totally disagree. The report recommends eliminating the “full-time building inspector position,” and contracting inspections on a part-time, or as-needed basis. The jury also recommended the city “establish a system to review permits that ensures the information is complete and that fees are charged consistently.” The report found that “building permit fees and sewer connection fees are levied inconsistently,” and “projects with no discernable difference in specifications are charged differing fees.” The report said the job did not merit a full-time inspector, noting that “in 2009, there were only 21 building permits applied for by JTS, a major builder in Ione.” Kerr said the council can’t be completely in disagreement, but “will respond on each question as necessary.” She said some of the findings were issues she was working on already. The city has been revamping its building fees, and some of those have changed, setting basic rates and specific fees for certain activities. Last week, the council voted 5-0 to approve a first reading of an ordinance banning medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. The ordinance is scheduled for a second reading July 20. The July 6th meeting included no public comment on 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

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 06:25

Sutter Creek Hears from Compaitant on Grand Jury Report

Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council heard both criticism and praise of its recently departed police chief and city manager last week, who later this week will be honored with a farewell banquet. The council also assigned a response committee to the extensive grand jury report that looked at 5 areas that received complaint. City resident Ed Arata at the meeting July 6th took credit for a written complaint to the Amador County Grand Jury that “ran to 4 pages and covered 8 areas of concern, plus 2 references to material that had been supplied to (Arata) by other citizens.” Arata said he wrote the complaint after he and his wife, Mimi gathered 350 signatures to petition the city council to not take out a loan to repay itself for money borrowed from the Sewer Fund. Arata said he made the complaint when he “saw no action” by City Manager Rob Duke “to make corrections to the city budget or to carry on meaningful dialog with the public.” Arata in a statement released only the introduction to his 4-page complaint, which ended saying that the city’s council in 1999 “decided to combine the position of city manager and chief of police into one staff person, and this decision does not seem to be working out very well.” Duke held those positions, along with the jobs of Director of the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority, and manager of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. All 4 were among areas investigated by the grand jury after complaints were received. The Grand Jury received complaints about the “spending of Sutter Creek Funds;” the “quality and effectiveness” of the sewer systems; and the city administration. It also received a complaint about “reasonable kennel sizes” in the field of animal control. The report included grand jurors saying that in attending city council meetings, they “observed some members of the city council managing by intimidation and being unresponsive to citizens’ concerns.” Arata in a statement last week said “this attitude has extended beyond the city council to ARSA meetings where Sutter Creek Mayor (Gary Wooten) acts as chairman of that agency.” Resident Andy Fahrenwald spoke in support of Duke, saying it was “a tragic loss” for the city, and a major loss of knowledge. Wooten agreed. Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha applauded the “post 2008” city council for its hard work, saying commissioners and citizens had been asking for and receiving change in the city. The response committee will prepare draft answers for the council to consider, possibly by the August 2 council meeting. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 06:36