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Monday, 22 February 2010 10:12

Daffodil Hill Will Soon Reopen to the Public

Amador County – Daffodil Hill, a famous local ranch known for its floral beauty, is preparing to reopen to the public. Located minutes from Volcano, the property formerly known as the McLaughlin Ranch has been a favorite with visitors who travel from miles around to see thousands of daffodils sprinkled over the hills. The Ryan brothers, including Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan and his brother, Tax Collector Mike Ryan, have been the force behind the ranch’s upkeep since the passing of their parents, Martin and Mary, in 2008. The Ryan family said in a release that they are extremely proud of a new monument that was just completed as a memorial to Martin and Mary, featuring a poem written by local CHP Officer Joy Palmquist. They said the monument is a “tribute to the prior generation’s hard work on the Hill, their dedication to Amador County, and their love for their family.” Daffodil Hill was a regular stopping place for teamsters hauling timber from the Sierras down to the Kennedy and Argonaut Mines, and for eastbound travelers heading for the Comstock Lode on the Amador-Nevada Wagon Road. Today, much of the landscape around the old homestead is covered with more than 300 named varieties of daffodils. More bulbs are added each year, with the help of private donations. The bulbs number more that 300,000 and include not only 300 varieties of daffodils, but also a large number of other varieties of bulbs and flowers as well. Last Fall, family and friends planted over 16,000 new bulbs, but warned that “blooms are totally dependent on Mother Nature.” The best time to visit Daffodil Hill is the spring, usually from the end of March through the first three weeks of April. Daffodil Hill is set to open in mid-March, when at least 25 percent of the flowers are in bloom. From then on, gates will be open seven days a week from 10 am to 4 pm, weather permitting. Please call Daffodil Hill at (209) 296-7048 for additional information and daily updates. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Monday, 22 February 2010 17:00

“Smiles For Kids 2010” Program Gives Over 60 Children Free Dental Care

Amador County – Jackson Creek Dental Group’s “Smiles For Kids 2010” program in late January turned out to be a huge success, with over 60 children receiving free dental care. Children who qualified and would not otherwise be able to receive dental care were given, x-rays, teeth cleaning, sealants, fluoride treatments and emergency treatments. Four local dentists worked as volunteers, including Dr. Ask, Dr. Kinzer, Dr. Roda and Dr. Simpson. The total estimated cost of these free services was estimated at over $20,000. Thirty-one of these children were referred to local dentists for further treatment and thirteen were sent to specialists in Sacramento as part of the Sacramento District Dental Society’s Adopt-a-Child, Orthodontic, and Specialty Referral Care Programs. To qualify for treatment, children had to be 2-18 years of age, qualify for free or reduced fee school lunches, WIC or CHDP, be a resident of Amador or Calaveras County, and not be covered by private dental insurance. “One of our priorities during treatment time was educating these children and their families about good oral hygiene and the prevention of dental disease. We know that developing gum and periodontal disease can affect the entire body, so early prevention and education is key to retaining a healthy smile and body,” said Dwight Simpson, D.D.S. at Jackson Creek Dental Group. The Smiles for Kids program, a project of the Sacramento District Dental Society and Foundation, is run in support of the American Dental Association’s “Give Kids a Smile” campaign. Participants are member doctors, their staffs, vendors and community volunteers. “Smiles for Kids serves as much more than simply a means for providing dental treatment - it draws awareness to the issues of poor oral health and access to care, and fosters outreach, education and partnership within our community,” said Dr. Ron Ask shortly before the program begin. He added: “Together we can make a difference and give the children in our community smiles for life.” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Health

Monday, 22 February 2010 17:00

Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 2-23-10

Published in Video

Monday, 22 February 2010 00:44

Plymouth Spigots Flow With Mix of AWA, City Well Waters

Amador County – Amador Water Agency water is now mingling with Plymouth’s well water. Mayor Patricia Fordyce said Friday the city was using a mix of its main source of well water, along with water from the Plymouth Pipeline to serve its customers. The water is being mixed in the city’s 500,000-gallon water storage tank. Fordyce said city staff is not sure what of the percentage of the mix, but it includes treated water from AWA’s Tanner water treatment plant in Sutter Creek, and from Plymouth’s city water wells. The city water is treated in its treatment plant. In a February 11th AWA board meeting, AWA Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said Plymouth’s permit for the pipeline was in place and water was flowing into the city. He said the city was not yet being billed at full capacity flow. He said Plymouth will be metered, to pay for its portion of the water it gets from AWA. Mancebo was answering questions raised by Plymouth developer Stephanie McNair, who had wondered if Plymouth’s payment for water was paying AWA’s debt service for the cost of building the Plymouth Pipeline. Mancebo said “I would not say that.” McNair said the 544 hookups in Plymouth came out from under the violation in the city, and AWA needed to bring in a broader customer base to help the agency with finances. McNair, a development partner of Cottage Knoll in Plymouth, and Bob Reeder, partner on Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge housing developments, also in Plymouth, both urged the AWA board at its February 11th meeting to fund a study of the Tanner plant the system’s service to Ione. The study, approved 3-2, with Directors Terence Moore, Don Cooper and Gary Thomas in favor, will study ways to glean more capacity from the systems, to expand service and “conditional will serve” notices around the county. The 2 developers, McNair and Reeder, collectively have 786 single family homes on the drawing board in Plymouth. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Monday, 22 February 2010 00:46

Jackson Laboratory Thanks AWA for 31 Years’ Patronage

Amador County – The Sierra Foothill Laboratory President Sandy Nurse appeared before the Amador Water Agency board of directors February 4th to thank them for 31 years of patronage. Nurse told the board her lab is happy to still be in “our community, and employing 24 people, including 17 residents of Amador County.” She said though most people don’t even know about the company, it is prestigiously certified, in the field of testing water. Nurse said the “lab is fraught with detail and was proud to have achieved national accreditation from the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program in 2006. Sierra Foothill Laboratory has been AWA’s primary lab testing facility since 1979. Nurse said they are “1 of 8 labs in the nation” certified to test treated wastewater for discharge into surface water. Locally, they “handle just about everybody.” She said she was visiting AWA as new regulations near, including “the new Ground Water Rule,” to thank the agency for its employment. She also warned about having a lower price. She said SFL is a “partner in the rules” with its clients, and is “local and accessible.” “Many of your field people have our cell numbers,” she said. Their data can be retrieved remotely around the clock, “so they are using it for process control.” She said they are a “for-profit agency,” adding, “we don’t make a huge profit, but who does?” She closed saying “thank you for your trust, loyalty and support.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Monday, 22 February 2010 00:48

Scully Needs 205 Signatures to Place Ione Police Dept Initiative on Ballot

Amador County – The Ione City Council last week in majority spoke of its support for the Ione Police Department, even as it released a title for an initiative, which effectively opens the issue to its proponents to gather signatures. Councilman Lee Ard criticized the process itself, and staff for not stopping the initiative, labeled “the City of Ione Law Enforcement Service Act.” Councilman David Plank said: “I would hope that this entire council would work cohesively with staff to support the police department … in the fine job that it’s been doing to the present date.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said: “I believe Chief Johnson and all the police officers have done a phenomenal job of providing that service to us.” She said: “I’m very disappointed that actually this has come about and I think a lot it’s just educating the public and understanding the level of service that they receive here from out police department, and what they can expect if they choose not to.” Mayor Skip Schaufel said: “While the initiative process is a right to every citizen and we have to, as a governing body, follow that right, it doesn’t make me any happier to see that right being misused in a way that makes our city less effective and less safe.” Schaufel said: “I think it’s a tragedy that this can go on, but that being said, we must follow the law according to the way it’s written, and therefore we have to continue with the process. But I guarantee that I will want to see this lawsuit follow.” Councilman Jim Ulm said: “I think at this time I’m not going to say anything. I’ll see how it plays out.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Monday, 22 February 2010 00:51

Ione City Council Throws Support Behind Ione Police Dept.

Amador County – The Ione City Council last week spoke in support of the Ione Police Department, as a pair of area residents began to gather signatures to force a vote to eliminate the department. City Attorney Kristen Castanos released a title and summary of a proposed initiative, sought by Jim Scully of Old Stockton Road and Ione resident Denise Roberston, of Stonybrook Road. Castanos said they filed a “petition for an initiative that proposes to transfer law enforcement services from the city of Ione Police Department to the Amador County Sheriff’s Department.” She was required by law to provide a title and summary of the initiative to the city clerk by February 16th. Castanos said the initiative appears to be “illegal and unconstitutional,” in part because it “attempts to compel the county” to “take over law enforcement services for the city.” Castanos said “it’s invalid because” the “right of the city to contract for police services is vested in the council’s discretion” and is “not a proper subject for an initiative.” Castanos said “the city is reserving its option to file a lawsuit to challenge this initiative, if it qualifies for the ballot or at a later date, if it is actually put on the ballot and it is approved by the voters.” 4 of the 5 council members said they will fight to protect the IPD, including Councilwoman Andrea Bonham, Mayor Skip Schaufel, Vice Mayor David Plank and Councilman Lee Ard. Councilman Jim Ulm said he will wait to see how it plays out. City Manager Kim Kerr said petitioners must collect signatures from 10 percent of the city’s 2,051 registered voters (or 205 signatures) to put the initiative on the ballot. She said staff in early March will lay out the steps and time-frame, “indicating to the city council at what point where we should intervene at, and what would make sense. But I think probably the biggest thing is letting people know not to sign the ballot initiative if they truly want to protect the city.” City Clerk Janice Traverso said Scully lives outside city limits, but was authorized to gather petition signatures by Robertson. The county elections office said the petition shall be filed within 180 days of February 16th release of the title and summary. Traverso said the rule did not mention holidays, Scully and Robertson must gather the signatures and file the petition by August 14th. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Monday, 22 February 2010 00:55

Jackson Rancheria, Revitalization Committee Resume ''Shop Jackson'' Drive

Amador County – At a kick-off meeting for the 2nd year of the “Shop Jackson” business partnership program, members of the Jackson Revitalization Committee discussed the formation of a new “business association” to help further ties between businesses. Jackson City Councilman Wayne Garibaldi said the Jackson Revitalization Committee recommended forming a “Jackson-wide business association.” Garibaldi said “we are looking for volunteers for a steering committee,” in the goal of forming a business association “that represents all Jackson businesses.” He said the efforts are to see what city’s businesses are able to do together, to surpass what they can do by themselves, much like the “Shop Jackson” program. Jackson Mayor Connie Gonsalves said she has been asked how businesses outside of Jackson can join the “Shop Jackson” program. “You can’t,” Gonsalves said, because the program is for Jackson business only, operating under city business licenses and within the city limits. The program teams with the Jackson Rancheria Casino, which promotes shopping locally in Jackson with its visitors. The program offers promotional listings in its Arrow Magazine, which has a deadline of February 25th (Thursday) for its Spring edition. The Rancheria has 300,000 monthly visitors, and Arrow Magazine goes to the Rancheria’s 500,000 active Dreamcatchers Club cardholders, including more than 26,000 living in Amador and Calaveras counties. Participation requires a $45 fee for a 6-month campaign; a “Dreamcatcher-only promotional offer,” and contribution of a $50 gift certificate from the participating business, to be used as raffle prizes in September to cap off the campaign. The 12-member Jackson Revitalization Committee is appointed by the Jackson City Council. The JRC is chaired by Rich Hoffman, CEO of the Jackson Rancheria. Other members include Sally Bligh, Wayne Garibaldi, Connie Gonsalves, Gary Little, Stan Lukowicz, Aaron May, Craig Murphy, Supervisor John Plasse, Lana Vukovich, Jane Wilkinson and Mark Hirschel. For information on the JRC or the business association, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call City Manager Mike Daly at 223-1646. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.