Tom
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:03
Vandalism at Jackson Bookstore Highlights Local Problem
Amador County - Hein & Company Bookstore in downtown Jackson was once again the target of vandalism, as evidenced by a shattered storefront window which occurred sometime during closing hours on Friday or Saturday. This destruction of property now occurs at the business on an almost monthly basis, according to co-owner Linda Hein. In an open letter circulated through email on July 4th, Hein said the “person or persons responsible obviously have no regard for the property of others, as is evidenced by overturned or broken planters, plants and dirt strewn on the sidewalks and streets, garbage ripped from the collection cans and littered up and down Main Street, and broken windows of businesses, which are very expensive to replace.” In addition to the property damage, Linda and her husband Wolf had to take Edgar, one of their friendly shop cats, to the veterinarian after his foot was sliced open on a piece of broken glass. That came at a cost of $318. Hein said these events are not “accidents.” She suspects the perpetrators are likely to frequent one of the two bars on Main Street, and take advantage of the fact that Jackson police do not have the funds to regularly patrol the area. She said they are “old hands” at making police reports about the incidents, but it is “next to impossible to even contact Jackson Police Department on a Saturday or Sunday morning, as any call made to them gets forwarded to the Sheriff.” As for installing cameras, Hein said that is beyond their means and posed the question: “How many cameras would be needed to cover the whole of Main Street?” Vandalism is becoming an all too common occurrence in downtown Jackson, an area already suffering from store closures and increasing blight. Numerous other businesses have reported property damage and break-ins. Cindy Turner, owner of Detailed Events, said her son’s former Main Street business was vandalized three times. Past acts of vandalism included graffiti and broken windows. In one incident, vandals cut the internet cable and rigged it to provide service to their residence, located behind the business. “I just see little business, no tourism and everyone downtown is really suffering,” said Turner. “None of that is good for the future,” she said. Eleanor Caputo, owner of the Studio 18 Gallery, said she has been the victim of frequent vandalisms, including a broken bench, ripped up flowers and broken bottles. Linda Hein suggests that merchants consider conducting stakeouts on Friday and Saturday nights. She asks: “Who thinks that a petition from all of the merchants might convince the city to give Main Street more coverage?” The issue of downtown revitalization is an ongoing topic at City meetings, and a façade improvement program is on the agenda for the Jackson Revitalization Committee meeting this Thursday, July 8 at 6 p.m. Hein said, “It sounds silly, but really, it's beginning to feel like if we don't protect ourselves, who will?” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:06
Vehicle Accident Leaves Elderly Man Stranded For 13 Hours
Amador County – An elderly man with limited mobility had to spend approximately 13 hours overnight in his vehicle after losing control while traveling eastbound on Sutter Creek Road. According to reports from the California Highway Patrol, Joseph Brisbane, 79, was driving a 1993 Volkswagen on Monday night when he veered onto the shoulder while attempting to navigate a curve. The right tires slid off the edge of a descending embankment and the car rolled over once before coming to rest on its wheels in a creek bed. The car was discovered the next morning by a bicyclist and reported to the CHP at approximately 9 a.m. The biker reportedly tried to crawl down to see if the vehicle was occupied, but opted to call 9-1-1 instead. According to radio reports from the responding officer on scene, Brisbane reportedly suffers from a medical condition that limits his mobility, and combined with his advanced age, he was not able to leave his vehicle. The officer said Brisbane was “moving…with good sensations in his extremities” upon initial contact.” Brisbane was transported to Sutter Amador Hospital and is reportedly in good condition. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:10
Dan Riordan - Sutter Creek City Council Candidate 7-7-10
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News Interview Videos
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:15
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 7-7-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:10
Dan Riordan - Sutter Creek City Council Candidate 7-7-10
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Local
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:06
Vehicle Accident Leaves Elderly Man Stranded For 13 Hours
Amador County – An elderly man with limited mobility had to spend approximately 13 hours overnight in his vehicle after losing control while traveling eastbound on Sutter Creek Road. According to reports from the California Highway Patrol, Joseph Brisbane, 79, was driving a 1993 Volkswagen on Monday night when he veered onto the shoulder while attempting to navigate a curve. The right tires slid off the edge of a descending embankment and the car rolled over once before coming to rest on its wheels in a creek bed. The car was discovered the next morning by a bicyclist and reported to the CHP at approximately 9 a.m. The biker reportedly tried to crawl down to see if the vehicle was occupied, but opted to call 9-1-1 instead. According to radio reports from the responding officer on scene, Brisbane reportedly suffers from a medical condition that limits his mobility, and combined with his advanced age, he was not able to leave his vehicle. The officer said Brisbane was “moving…with good sensations in his extremities” upon initial contact.” Brisbane was transported to Sutter Amador Hospital and is reportedly in good condition. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:05
ACTC Offers $100K in Regional Fees for Plymouth-Hwy.49 Intersection
Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week heard that the Amador County Transportation Commission is looking at putting another $100,000 into the intersection of Main Street and Highway 49 in Plymouth. The next step is determining the project. ACTC Executive Director Charles Field on June 29th gave the council an annual report of the Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee program for fiscal year 2008-2009. The program’s “oversight committee” has recommended $100,000 for the Main and 49 project, matching last year’s funds. Field in the report said the city is “considering a roundabout as well as a standard signalized intersection,” and “Caltrans has given tentative support to the roundabout idea. Community acceptance, project design, environmental clearance and right-of-way acquisition are all still pending.” The “project’s cost estimates have also exceeded previous expectations.” The city is trying to get federal recovery act funding, as well as state grants for the project’s construction. Field said the “oversight committee recommended that $100,000 in new (Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee) revenues available form 2008-2009 be programmed for the Plymouth Main Street intersection project.” Field said revenue is way down this year, but the committee still recommended the second $100,000 for Main Street. He said Councilman Jon Colburn is on the fee committee. The city council last week declined to approve an amendment to the ACTC memorandum of understanding to create a lower tier of fees for fast food restaurants. The new fee category was based on an appeal by developers of a Carl’s Junior restaurant slated for Martell. It led to council discussion of the effect on its Highway 49 corridor. The council planned to write letters to ACTC and its member entities asking about eliminating the higher fast food restaurant fee, which it $49,000 per 1,000 square feet. Carl’s Junior backers argued for a lower fee of $18,000 per 1,000 square feet. Colburn said the Prospect Drive complex in Martell “has been granted substantial relief from fees,” with Jimboy’s Tacos and Jack-in-the-Box receiving exemptions. Field said the Jimboy’s fees were approved without ACTC’s knowledge of the project. Field said “we’re all waiting to see” what happens next, and “Carl’s Junior has to make the next move.” City Manager Dixon Flynn asked about fees for Walgreens on Sutter Hill, at $6,000 per 1,000 square feet. Field said it was an appropriate “high volume retail” fee because they don’t attract as many cars as fast food. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Transportation
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:03
Vandalism at Jackson Bookstore Highlights Local Problem
Amador County - Hein & Company Bookstore in downtown Jackson was once again the target of vandalism, as evidenced by a shattered storefront window which occurred sometime during closing hours on Friday or Saturday. This destruction of property now occurs at the business on an almost monthly basis, according to co-owner Linda Hein. In an open letter circulated through email on July 4th, Hein said the “person or persons responsible obviously have no regard for the property of others, as is evidenced by overturned or broken planters, plants and dirt strewn on the sidewalks and streets, garbage ripped from the collection cans and littered up and down Main Street, and broken windows of businesses, which are very expensive to replace.” In addition to the property damage, Linda and her husband Wolf had to take Edgar, one of their friendly shop cats, to the veterinarian after his foot was sliced open on a piece of broken glass. That came at a cost of $318. Hein said these events are not “accidents.” She suspects the perpetrators are likely to frequent one of the two bars on Main Street, and take advantage of the fact that Jackson police do not have the funds to regularly patrol the area. She said they are “old hands” at making police reports about the incidents, but it is “next to impossible to even contact Jackson Police Department on a Saturday or Sunday morning, as any call made to them gets forwarded to the Sheriff.” As for installing cameras, Hein said that is beyond their means and posed the question: “How many cameras would be needed to cover the whole of Main Street?” Vandalism is becoming an all too common occurrence in downtown Jackson, an area already suffering from store closures and increasing blight. Numerous other businesses have reported property damage and break-ins. Cindy Turner, owner of Detailed Events, said her son’s former Main Street business was vandalized three times. Past acts of vandalism included graffiti and broken windows. In one incident, vandals cut the internet cable and rigged it to provide service to their residence, located behind the business. “I just see little business, no tourism and everyone downtown is really suffering,” said Turner. “None of that is good for the future,” she said. Eleanor Caputo, owner of the Studio 18 Gallery, said she has been the victim of frequent vandalisms, including a broken bench, ripped up flowers and broken bottles. Linda Hein suggests that merchants consider conducting stakeouts on Friday and Saturday nights. She asks: “Who thinks that a petition from all of the merchants might convince the city to give Main Street more coverage?” The issue of downtown revitalization is an ongoing topic at City meetings, and a façade improvement program is on the agenda for the Jackson Revitalization Committee meeting this Thursday, July 8 at 6 p.m. Hein said, “It sounds silly, but really, it's beginning to feel like if we don't protect ourselves, who will?” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:02
AWA Faces 4% AWS Rate Increase, or 2-4 Layoffs
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board will return to its budget at a regular meeting Thursday (July 8th). The board last week agreed to 4 layoffs, and faces either 2-4 more layoffs or a 4% increase in rates in the Amador Water System. Staff recommended increase, approved but not implemented last year, or face the layoffs of 2 to 4 additional “full time equivalent” employees. Last week, Vice President Debbie Dunn urged waiting a month while staff looks to see if there is leeway in bond payments for the Amador Transmission Pipeline. Director Terence Moore said if they wait a month, it will have an impact, especially in the hottest month of the year. President Bill Condrashoff said “rates are a tax, and when economies go bad, you don’t tax people.” Director Gary Thomas made a “motion to explore options,” which he said should “explore all options, and that included the 4% increase.” Budget discussion also touched on the Gravity Supply Line (GSL), alluded to by audience member David Evitt, who said “the expansion and creation of a water kingdom has got to stop.” Condrashoff said the $5 million USDA grant came with a loan that included $6 million in interest for the GSL. He said the GSL is not a good idea. Moore said “some of us do not agree with you.” Evitt, speaking from the audience then said: “Some of you are idiots.” Director Don Cooper said “we are in a huge price squeeze” he had been in before in the farming business. He said the finance committee has talked about the cost for basic service, maintenance & operations, labor, and risk management. Cooper said they must “come back and concentrate on basic service.” If the agency got a straight USDA grant without a loan attached, it would be different for the GSL. But if they get a grant with a requirement for a long-term loan, the AWA might have to reexamine the GSL. He said they need to look at long-term gains in projects, such as the Tanner plant analysis. Moore said the study was part of the “one project that would bring money.” He said a recent prediction was that U.S. water costs would double or quadruple, and he wondered why they were wasting time “talking about a 4% increase.” Discussion turned to furloughs, and operations manager Chris McKeage said the AWA is a public agency that cannot compare to other organizations. Operations manager Barry Birge said Jackson’s wastewater uses them but “they are calling the furloughs off.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Water
