Tom
Monday, 15 March 2010 18:00
Mental Health Service Act Funding Plans Seek Public Input
Amador County – Amador County Behavioral Health hosts a pair of meetings, including 1 this week that will take public comments on Mental Health Services Act planning as preparation to receive state funding in the county. Consultants Resource Development Associates of Oakland announced the meetings on behalf of the department. This week’s meeting includes a presentation by RDA to the Mental Health Board, and a public review of consultant’s draft “Prevention & Early Intervention” plan. The meeting is 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Jennifer Susskind and Rima Spight of RDA announced the meetings last week. Susskind said the Prevention and Early Intervention component (of the Mental Health Services Act) “funds programs to identify and treat mental health issues as early as possible.” It also helps “alleviate the need for more intensive services,” and help “individuals needing ongoing treatment into the mental health system.” At the meeting, the consultants will present the proposed PEI plan to the volunteer board members, and provide an opportunity for community members who did not previously submit comments to “share their thoughts.” Susskind said the proposed plan is a result of more than 5 months of “community planning” involving more than 260 people “who chose to share their experience and expertise.” Amador County last June learned that it is eligible for $5.7 million in MHSA funding, and the public sessions are part of the process to qualify. Susskind also announced a April 21st board and public review of the annual “Community Services and Supports Update.” The component of MHSA “funds programs that provide direct, integrated services to individuals with serious and persistent mental health issues.” Susskind said Amador Behavioral Health’s 3-year CSS plan was approved in 2007, and this year’s update will be posted on the county website for public review in early April. The Mental Health Board meeting will be held on April 21st. Both meetings follow 30-day public review periods, and include presentations to the board, and a forum for further community discussion. Both Meetings will be held at the Amador Behavioral Health Building at 10877 Conductor Blvd., in Sutter Creek. For information, call Lynn Thomas at (209) 223-6814. 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
Tuesday, 16 March 2010 06:06
Ron Watson - Sutter Creek Fire District 3-16-10
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News Interview Videos
Monday, 15 March 2010 18:00
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 3-16-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Monday, 15 March 2010 18:00
Suspect Identified in Jackson Rancheria Gang Shooting
Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office announced late Monday it has positively identified the individual responsible in a gang-related shooting at the Jackson Rancheria Casino on Sunday. Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner said Gilbert Zaragoza, 19, of Stockton has been 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. Wegner said Zaragoza is a documented member of the Lathrop Hispanic Pride gang. 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 and both individuals are reportedly in stable condition. 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. The suspects fled into the casino’s multi-level parking garage immediately following the shooting. “Surveillance video was critical in my opinion. Not only for the quick and rapid apprehension of the suspects, but for giving us where to look inside that massive parking structure," said Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan to CW13 News in Sacramento. Wegner said “Sheriff’s Deputies, assisted by Jackson Rancheria Casino Security, and officers from the Jackson and Sutter Creek Police Departments established a perimeter around the casino parking structure where the suspect and several associates were observed fleeing.” Amador County Sheriff’s SWAT Team members apprehended four individuals and two associated vehicles in the structure. Two more suspects were later apprehended on Highway 88 after exiting the brush in the area near Dalton Road. Wegner said “Sheriff’s Detectives who had been at the scene conducting the initial investigation responded and with the use of the surveillance video of the incident were able to confirm the two subjects were involved in the shooting, one of them being the shooter.” An evidentiary search of one of the suspect vehicles revealed a .22 caliber revolver, the firearm believed to be utilized in the shooting. Zaragoza is being held without bail at the Amador County Jail. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Law Enforcement
Monday, 15 March 2010 18:00
Ione Elementary Cuts Ribbon on $25,000 Computer Lab
Amador County – Donations and a “gift of the community” were marked in a ribbon cutting last Monday for the new $25,000 Ione Elementary School computer lab in Ione. Amador County Unified School District and Rancho Arroyo Seco announced the opening of the classroom and computer lab in a press release Monday. Rancho Arroyo Seco Project Chairwoman Sharon Long said the lab has 32 work stations that were built with funds contributed by the community and matching funds from Rancho Arroyo Seco. Long said “more than 500 students, faculty and community members attended the ribbon cutting and grand opening” of the lab. Bill Bunce, managing partner for Rancho Arroyo Seco toured the facility with Ione Elementary Student Body President Joe Linker and Principal Laurie Amick. A joint press release from the school district and Rancho Arroyo Seco announced lab opening, calling it “a gift from the community,” and a “partnership between business, community, and the school district.” Bunce said the “grand opening event really helps us understand the impact a community can have on the life of so many young people.” He said seeing the excitement of students was “heartwarming,” and Rancho Arroyo Seco was “pleased to be a part of this.” Donations from a fundraiser held last October at the “Big Red Barn” at Rancho Arroyo Seco, support from major contributors and matching funds of $10,000 from Rancho Arroyo Seco, resulted in more than $25,000 spent on the project. The Amador County Unified School District IT department handled the software and technical assistance required for the lab. The school district contributed the facility, furniture and technology set up for the lab. Each classroom at the school will have regular weekly time in the computer lab. Principal Amick said it was “truly a gift that will serve students for many years, and provide them the tools needed to succeed in the future.” Students in kindergarten up to 5th grade will use “district technology curriculum” already in place to “reinforce basic skills and support an understanding of word processing, keyboarding and introduction to graphics and database software.” School Superintendent Dick Glock said the district was pleased and supportive of “such a successful program that will serve to enhance the learning experience of our students.” TSPN TV Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Education
Monday, 15 March 2010 18:00
Amador Certifies Political Party Central Committees
Amador County – 11 people filed for the Democratic Party and 4 filed for the Republican Party last Friday as the primary election filing period closed for their respective Central Committees. Republican and Democratic political party central committees declared candidacies, but the positions will not be contested because the number of candidates did not exceed the number of vacancies, said Deborah Smith of the county election office. All of the filed candidates have been confirmed as eligible for their Central Committees posts, the office said Monday. Democrats left 10 vacancies in the 5 Supervisor Districts, while Republicans left 21 vacancies. The election office said the respective Central Committees must appoint someone to fill the vacancies. Last Friday was the final day for filing declarations of candidacy, and while the rest of the county administration building was closed for Furlough Friday, Clerk/Registrar Sheldon Johnson kept the election office was open all day, with a button at the doors to alert the office when people arrived for filings. The filings had to be made Friday for the candidates to be on the June 8th primary ballot. Republicans had 1 candidate file in each of 4 district. District One ( with 5 seats) was filed for by Lois E. McDonald of Jackson. District 2 ( also with 5 seats) was filed for by Clayton R. Sharps of Ione. District 3, with 5 seats had no qualified candidates. District 4 (also 5 seats available) had 1 filing, by Ralph H. Harder of Jackson. District 5, with 6 seats, had one filing by John Pulice of Plymouth. Democrats filled 3 of 4 seats in District 1, including Helen Orene Page, Keith Sweet, and Kathleen Trenam, all of Jackson. District 2 had 1 filing, Antonia Bach of Ione, and left 3 vacancies. District 3 filled 3 of 4 seats, all with Pioneer residents: Caryl Callsen, Brian Gray, and Bob Laurent. District 4 had 1 filing by Elizabeth T.D. McCullogh of Sutter Creek, and left 3 positions open. District 5, with 5 seats to fill, had 3 filed. They were Lola Blevins of Volcano, Judy Hotchkiss of Pine Grove, and Sally Trestrail of Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Monday, 15 March 2010 18:00
Mental Health Service Act Funding Plans Seek Public Input
Amador County – Amador County Behavioral Health hosts a pair of meetings, including 1 this week that will take public comments on Mental Health Services Act planning as preparation to receive state funding in the county. Consultants Resource Development Associates of Oakland announced the meetings on behalf of the department. This week’s meeting includes a presentation by RDA to the Mental Health Board, and a public review of consultant’s draft “Prevention & Early Intervention” plan. The meeting is 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Jennifer Susskind and Rima Spight of RDA announced the meetings last week. Susskind said the Prevention and Early Intervention component (of the Mental Health Services Act) “funds programs to identify and treat mental health issues as early as possible.” It also helps “alleviate the need for more intensive services,” and help “individuals needing ongoing treatment into the mental health system.” At the meeting, the consultants will present the proposed PEI plan to the volunteer board members, and provide an opportunity for community members who did not previously submit comments to “share their thoughts.” Susskind said the proposed plan is a result of more than 5 months of “community planning” involving more than 260 people “who chose to share their experience and expertise.” Amador County last June learned that it is eligible for $5.7 million in MHSA funding, and the public sessions are part of the process to qualify. Susskind also announced a April 21st board and public review of the annual “Community Services and Supports Update.” The component of MHSA “funds programs that provide direct, integrated services to individuals with serious and persistent mental health issues.” Susskind said Amador Behavioral Health’s 3-year CSS plan was approved in 2007, and this year’s update will be posted on the county website for public review in early April. The Mental Health Board meeting will be held on April 21st. Both meetings follow 30-day public review periods, and include presentations to the board, and a forum for further community discussion. Both Meetings will be held at the Amador Behavioral Health Building at 10877 Conductor Blvd., in Sutter Creek. For information, call Lynn Thomas at (209) 223-6814. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Health
Monday, 15 March 2010 18:00
Animal Control Apprehends Dog That Bit Child in Pioneer
Amador County – Amador County Animal Control and the Amador County Health Department said Monday they have quarantined the dog that was responsible for bighting a child in Pioneer. The child was riding a bicycle on Buckhorn Ridge Road near Pioneer Park and was chased and bitten by the dog, described by the child as a brown Pit Bull or similar type dog with black and white markings. The dog was with its owners, a woman with red hair, and a man. The owners immediately put the dog in a blue Ford SUV and left the
area. The owners are believed to live in the Pioneer area. Public Health said that if the dog remains healthy by the end of quarantine, the child will not need to undergo a series of rabies shots. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
