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Thursday, 11 March 2010 17:00

AWA Urges Water Conservation in CAWP

Amador County – Amador Water Agency on Thursday urged Central Amador Water Project customers to immediately conserve water due to runoff of rain from heavy storms. The extra water filled a backwash storage pond at the Buckhorn Water Treatment plant to within a 2-foot “freeboard,” or within 2 feet of overflowing the dam’s spillway. Customers of the CAWP are along Highway 88 from Mace Meadow to the Irishtown/Clinton Road intersection, and along the upper Ridge Road area below Pine Grove. The agency will provide a retraction for the conservation request as soon as the water level is within state requirements. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said the request for conservative use was part of a required “spill contingency plan” to use when the freeboard is breeched. He said a reduction of water use would mean that less water would have to be treated and therefore run through the backwash system. If the water level did not drop, the agency next would be forced to haul away the backwash water in trucks. AWA must store and reuse backwash water used in the treatment process. The request for conservation would affect any Central Amador Water Project customers getting treated water from a public system in the Upcountry. It affects both retail and wholesale customers. The residential areas include Pine Grove, Mace Meadow, all of Pioneer, and Jackson Pines. Mancebo said the water level in the backwash pond “can’t encroach any closer than 2 feet from the spillway.” The first step is to conserve water and lower water usage, which already is at a low time of year, due to winter. He said the less people use water, the less water goes into the backwash pond. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Water

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 08:40

AWA Could Resume Discussion of Cooper's Paper on GSL

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors resume discussion of whether to approve the $13.4 million Gravity Supply Line later this month, somewhere in the Upcountry. The meeting will be 1 or 2 p.m. March 25th, at a location to be determined. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said AWA’s board president and vice president had some items they disagreed with, and pointed out to the board, during a discussion February 25th of an informational paper prepared by District 3 Director Don Cooper. Cooper said he planned to discuss his GSL paper during “district reports,” but Dunn requested it as an agenda item, with discussion and possible action on public relations policy for board members. Cooper said he and Dunn worked on PR policy together in a committee last year and never reached an agreement. He was “a little surprised to bring this back to the board as has happened here, but that’s OK. There seems to be quite a bit of disagreement in some of these committee meetings by board members and we bring it to the board and have them review it on a complete basis.” Cooper offered a suggested PR policy he had drafted, and Dunn moved that they refer Cooper’s draft policy to committee for additional review and consideration. Condrashoff tried to paraphrase Dunn, saying “AWA directors should only give out information that is in agreement with their agency.” Cooper said: “I don’t care if it’s factual or fiction. It’s what I have to say about it. You have a right to say what you want to say. There’s no policy otherwise.” Condrashoff said Cooper’s paper did not agree with the AWA board’s approved “White Paper” on the GSL. District 5 Director Terence Moore said he had “no desire to waste this board’s time talking about Don Cooper’s opinion.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Water

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 08:38

Faith Lutheran Church Helps Villagers in Papua New Guinea

Amador County – Five villages in the highlands of Papua New Guinea will soon receive fresh, clean water due to a water project partially sponsored by Faith Lutheran Church located at Red Corral off Highway 88 in Pioneer. The project has become even more important as the island nation struggles to contain its first outbreak of cholera in 34 years. According to the World Health organization, the epidemic has killed at least 40 people and sickened thousands. Cholera is primarily a water-born disease that causes severe diarrhea, usually in villages with poor sanitation like the villages the water project will serve. The water project was first conceived in 2008, when Dawn Solevad and her husband Bafinuc Ilai, both teachers in the Papua New Guinea town of Goroka, brought their newborn son, Bafinuc, Jr., home to Pioneer to meet his grandparents, David and Ellen Solevad. Reverend Solevad has been the pastor of Faith Lutheran Church for nearly 30 years, and Dawn grew up and went to school here in Amador County. In a visit with Reverend Eric and Mrs. Cathy Yochheim (YO-HIME), the Yochheims asked Bafinuc about the water system in his home village and then touched upon the idea of a well. Now, that idea has grown into a water project. Bafinuc’s family has been instrumental in researching materials and costs for the project, and the 100-member congregation of Faith has collected $11,000 toward its completion. About 4000 people live in the location of the project in very mountainous terrain. The people – mostly the women and children – have to hike down a mountain to fetch the water and carry it back up the mountain again to their houses. The current water sources not only make collecting water difficult but are also not very sanitary – some are located not far from open latrines. With help from grants obtained through the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America World Hunger funds, materials were purchased in the city of Lae in June of 2009 and construction began in July. The villagers themselves contributed part of the funds and are doing most of the work. The grants also allow for fresh, clean water to be pumped from streams higher in the mountains. It is hoped that water will eventually be piped to individual villages. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 08:36

Sobon, Shenandoah Vineyards, Vino Noceto Commit to Columbia Culinary Wine Tasting Benefit

Amador County – Three Amador County wineries will attend the 34th Annual Columbia Wine Tasting to Benefit the Columbia College Culinary Arts program, set for April 18th in Sonora. Coni Chavez, executive assistant to the president of Columbia said this spring’s Wine Tasting Benefit will be hosted by the Columbia College Foundation. The “premiere” tasting benefit will feature more than 70 wineries, with “hors d'oeuvres prepared by culinary students” and local food purveyors. Beccie Michael, director of development at Columbia said Friday that so far, 3 Amador County wineries have agreed to participate. They are Sobon Family Wines, Shenandoah Vineyards, and Vino Noceto. Michael said the college has “invited several others and hope to hear from them soon.” The college updates its website almost daily as wineries respond. Last year’s Amador wineries included Noceto, Sobon, Shenandoah Vineyards, Amador Foothill, Estate, Terre Rouge, Montevina and Karly. Chavez said the college’s “growing culinary program prepares students for careers in various hospitality management-related positions,” and is accredited by the prestigious American Culinary Federation. It’s graduates can be found in successful careers throughout the culinary world. This year’s tasting is 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 18 at Columbia State Historic Park. For information, call (209) 588-5089, or online, see GoColumbia.edu. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Thursday, 04 March 2010 17:00

Connie Gonsalves - Amador Fire Protection Authority 3-5-10

Published in Local

Friday, 05 March 2010 01:09

Amador-Wide Fire Plans Cause Disagreements on Costs, Hiring

Amador County - Ongoing debates over different proposals for a county-wide fire services plan have created a rift between the county and some of its fire services entities. In a TSPN interview, Amador Fire Protection Authority (AFPA) Chairman Connie Gonsalves said the “ultimate goal of the plan is consolidation of county-wide fire services with the concept that each department keeps its own identity.” The meat of the debate centers on a plan approved by the Amador County Fire Protection District (AFPD) – also the Amador County Board of Supervisors – which proposes new Battalion Chief and Training Captain positions to be filled by members of CALFIRE in order to coordinate and supervise all seven county fire districts. This is contrary to a plan created by AFPD Chief Jim McCart which proposes the Battalion Chief be hired locally and does not include a Training Captain. “CALFIRE is expensive…but CALFIRE knows fire and understands rural environments,” said County Administrative Officer Terri Daly in a presentation before the AFPA last week. She said the board agrees to fund the cumulative cost of these contracts and redundant costs will be eliminated with the goal of eventually “shifting (the plan) to local paid personnel” over three years. Her proposal was immediately criticized by members of the Sutter Creek Fire District (SCFD) as costly and vague. “It’s a wide open documents and I for one still have a lot of questions,” said SCFD Administrator Dominic Moreno. Another SCFD supporter called it “backdoor politics if we can have the county and state come in and put a spike in our back.” SCFD Commissioner Ron Watson says his district has a host of problems with the county’s plan. “The cost difference to hire state union employees under the county’s plan adds an additional $222,954,” he said. “Not to mention it overcomplicates the chain of command with no interface with the existing AFPD Battalions.” He said perhaps the biggest problem with the county plan is that “funding only lasts one year, then you have to find somewhere to make reductions somewhere else.” AFPD Chief Jim McCart believes “we need to hire local government employees, not give our money back to the state.” He said he sees his proposal as the “most viable option” but he is open to other opinions. In addition to the SCFD, representatives from Ione and Plymouth have questioned both plans and what it means for their cities. The discussion will continue at the next AFPA meeting on March 18th and the AFPD meeting on April 6th. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 05 March 2010 01:02

Amador Sheriff Books 7 More on Unrelated Drug Charges

Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office this week reported 7 more drug-related arrests over the last month, including a Mule Creek State Prison employee who was charged with selling a controlled substance to a person who was in custody, and also for bringing a weapon into a prison. Wayne Dion Bullard, 38, of Ione was arrested Monday at the prison and booked on 2 felony counts, and was being held on $100,000 bail. Also Monday, authorities arrested Laurence Dale Mayfield, 55, of Stockton on a felony count of possession of a controlled substance, at Ridge Road and Ampine Road. His bail was set at $10,000. 2 arrests occurred in the 12000 block of New York Ranch Road in Jackson Tuesday. Gary Allen Siler, 41, of Lodi was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance at 4:20 p.m. Siler’s bail was $10,000. Lisa Marie Delarosa, 44, also of Lodi was arrested at 3:30 p.m. in the same area, charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance. On February 4th, Phansy Hea, 27, of Stockton was arrested on 4 felony charges at Bowers Drive and Ridge Road. Charges included possession and transportation of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana for sale. He was being held without bail. Summer Lyneisha Morrow, 18, of San Jose, was arrested February 27th on felony charges for bringing a controlled substance in a youth facility. Morrow was arrested at the Preston Youth Correctional facility, and bail was $20,000. Larry Davis, 48, of Oakland was arrested February 22nd on a felony charge of bringing a controlled substance into a youth facility. He was arrested at 201 Waterman Road in Ione. He also was charged with misdemeanors of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana while driving. Bail was $20,000. Recent sheriff’s call log reports included recent reports, including a burglary at Lakeview Drive. The resident reported theft of medication valued at $4,000, with nothing else missing. The resident said a rear sliding door was left unlocked. A caller Tuesday reported vandalism on Tonzi Road. A woman said she found burned books at the gate of her property, and her gate was torn down. A caller on Sugar Pine Drive requested “extra patrol” for the area of Ponderosa Way at Mike Clark Field to Sugar Pine Drive South, weekdays at approximately 4:15 p.m.” because “there is apparently a large band of teenagers that cause mayhem through the neighborhood as they make their way home.” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 05 March 2010 01:05

Plymouth Lodge Hill Project Interests USDA

Amador County – Plymouth City Council discussed the Lodge Hill remodel project last week, learning its finish date was pushed back about half a month by weather to June 15th. The project has not found anything unusual beside small animal nests, said Mayor Patricia Fordyce, but they have run into a problem of trying to make wainscoting from old wall boards on the new walls. Rancho Cordova-based Kaler-Dobler Construction cannot place the wainscoting back on the walls, but Lodge Hill Committee members will do that. Fordyce said part of the problem is lead paint on the old wood, which must be removed. Plymouth had a visit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which toured 2 facilities in town for potential funding. Fordyce said they were interested in the Lodge Hill project’s second phase. The current project is installing a kitchen, restrooms, new French doors, windows, walls, a foundation, a roof and other features to the main floor of the lodge. Funding was adequate to address only the main floor, so the upper level will be left as it is. Lodge Hill’s current remodeling phase is using $95,000 in Proposition 40 funding allocated by the Amador County Recreation Agency board of directors. It also received a $250,000 historic preservation grant from the state. Fordyce said USDA saw the upper floor restoration as a potentially fundable project, but officials did not make the same distinction for the city firehouse construction project. The project began about 7 years ago, funded by the city, with volunteer firefighters and Pine Grove Fire Camp crews adding labor. Fordyce said the city council last week discussed getting funds to finish the interior of the building, including drywall, to be able to house its full-time firefighters, paid by Measure M funding. The city has money for the firehouse, including $2,700 given by the Ione Band of Miwok Indians several years ago, left over from an original amount of $5,000. She said Supervisor Brian Oneto would try to help the firehouse project with discretionary funds, “if they come back.” An Amador County mid-year report last week showed a county budget shortfall of more than a $4 million. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 05 March 2010 01:07

Argonaut Girls Hoops Heading to ARCO, Championship Title

Amador County – The Argonaut High School varsity girls basketball team moved to 30-0 on the season last night (Wednesday, March 3rd) with a 54-53 overtime win over Colfax in the state playoff tournament in Tokay. The Mustangs and Coach Mel White head to the California Sac-Joaquin Section Division 4 championship, with an 11:30 a.m. tipoff Saturday at ARCO Arena. TSPN’s Our Sports Show host Frank Halvorson spoke with Coach Mel White after the game Wednesday. Argonaut plays for the Division 4 Championship at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Arco Arena against Modesto Christian. The game is a rematch from last year’s spoiler. Modesto Christian knocked Argonaut out of the playoffs almost a year ago to the day, last March. Modesto Christian won Wednesday, 58-51 over Christian Brothers. Tune in to Our Sports Show next Wednesday at 7 a.m. for a report on Argonaut’s playoff games, including the win over Colfax, and hopefully their championship performance. Good luck to the Argonaut girls. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 05 March 2010 00:55