Tom
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
Calaveras Investigators Enlist Profiler in Shootings Investigation
Calaveras County – A press conference on Tuesday held by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office addressed progress so far in the investigation of multiple random shootings in the Valley Springs area. Sheriff Dennis Downum said his department is making progress in eliminating suspects and is working with a profiler to try and narrow down the suspect pool. The first drive-by shooting report took place December 17 at a home on Highway 26 near Vista Del Lago Road. A total of 15 shootings into moving vehicles or homes reported overall have left community members shaken. In one instance, a victim driving on Watertown Road swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle with its high beams on which continued to swerve across the center divide and forced the victim off the roadway and into a ditch. Calaveras County Sheriff Sergeant Dave Seawell said the victim described the suspect vehicle as “a full size pick up truck painted white with silver and beige” and the “doors of the pick up truck were painted differently than the body of the truck.” Seawell said at the time that the “described pick up truck is a vehicle of interest.” Downum reported that the occupants of the pick up truck are now being treated as witnesses, not suspects. Investigators are still seeking another possible suspect vehicle identified as a light-colored late-model sedan with square headlights. The case became even more high profile when a Calaveras County family sent their 11-year-old daughter to school in body armor and a Kevlar helmet as a means of protection. The girl’s father, who did not want to be identified, told KCRA 3 that he is taking precautions because “there's some maniac running around here who could shoot at people from cover, ambush, driving by, or just sitting in your home.” Downum said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (A.T.F.), California Highway Patrol (C.H.P.) and F.B.I. have all been helpful in assisting with the investigation. “They're also bringing technologies that we certainly didn't have that we hope will help us in the investigation, but we're not going to expand on what those are,” he said. The A.T.F. is now offering a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the rash of shootings. Seawell said that in some cases, information has been delayed in getting to the Sheriff’s office. Anyone with information is asked to call the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office Tip Line at (209) 754-6030 or (209) 754-6500. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives tip line is 1-800-ATF-GUNS. 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, 20 January 2010 17:00
Sutter Creek Finalizes Gold Rush, Discusses Budget Work
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council finalized the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort project Tuesday with second readings of a Development Agreement and zoning amendments. The council deferred amending the agreement on recommendations by Councilman Pat Crosby, so they would not have to reset the reading sequence. Crosby wanted the Development Agreement to allow a 10 percent surcharge on any sales of golf, carts, or buckets of balls at Gold Rush. City Attorney Dennis Crabb, speaking by telephone from the Lake Tahoe area due to road conditions, said if they “make substantive changes on the second reading,” they “must go back to the first reading again.” He said they can approve it, proceed with legal publication, then bring it back with changes to satisfy Crosby’s concerns. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe said the council can approve it “as is” and amend the agreement at the next council meeting. The council agreed to that, and approved the zoning ordinance amendments and development agreement for second readings, with no changes to either. About 20 people attended, including Gold Rush development partner Bill Bunce, who did not address the council, and left shortly after 5-0 votes off approval. The council also discussed budget woes of the city, receiving a treasurer’s report from Cathy Castillo, and an ad hoc budget committee report from Councilwoman Linda Rianda. Castillo said the city’s overall cash position in December was $1.33 million, down about $800,000 from a year ago, when it was $2.2 million. She said it was down because the city has not received all of its property taxes. Castillo said the city budget trend is “spending more than we are taking in.” That includes average monthly deposits of $200,000 to $300,000, with monthly average spending of $350,000. Castillo said “anything above operating costs should be pre-approved,” and the “state will be holding onto anything they can, and they will be hanging us out to dry this year.” Rianda said the ad hoc budget committee has met twice this month and continues “to look for ways to be creative and come up with new revenue.” She agreed that there could be “possible financial control issues.” She said the city may “need policy to see that budget variances are recorded,” with pre-approval for spending, such as in the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority. Rianda said: “We have policies in place” and the city needs “to make sure all employees are following them.” Castillo said it would help, by “just taking more control over the expenditures before they occur.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
Storm, Winds Crash Amador County Roads, Power Lines
Amador County – Earning its nickname of Hurricane Hill, the small stretch of Highway 88 east of Martell, between Highway 104 and Sunset West was the scene of 3 wind-aided semi tractor trailer roll-over crashes Wednesday during the storm that hit Amador County and the region. The stretch of Highway 88 was closed between 10 a.m. and at least 3:30 p.m. Wednesday by high wind and the crashes, the last involving 2 vehicles and injuring a man who had a tractor trailer roll over him, according to a radio report from the scene. Medics tried to get a helicopter ambulance to fly in to evacuate the patient, but all helicopter flights were grounded in the area, due to wind conditions. Highway 88 opened sometime after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Emergency personnel also responded to the 6300 block of Martin Lane on reports of power lines down in a field, with no one around, at about 1 p.m. Responders said the line was arcing and the power pole was smoking at the scene, and they closed Martin Lane to traffic 30 minutes later. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol reported Highway 88 was closed in 2 locations by midday Wednesday, including between Highway 104 and Lower Ridge Roads, due to high winds. A tractor trailer blocked all 3 lanes on Hurricane Hill. CHP said east-bound Highway 104 was closed leaving Ione, to stop traffic from going on Highway 88 toward Jackson. CHP took calls throughout the day reporting downed power lines, traffic incidents, and power outages. CHP said downed power lines on Shenandoah Road trapped some vehicles there for hours early Wednesday. CHP said Pacific Gas & Electric personnel helped with traffic control on Shenandoah Road between Bell and Dixon roads in the morning. CHP cleared out of the area by noon, but PG&E kept the road closed to restore fallen power lines. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a rare tornado warning in areas of the Central Valley as a storm packing winds of 60 mph battered the region. National Weather Service said today’s storm would pack 60 mph gusts along the coast and valleys, and up to 80 mph at higher elevations, while dropping rain at up to 1 1/2 inches per hour. Wind speeds of 25-45 mph were expected today. Officials issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for both Amador and Calaveras counties until 8 p.m. Wednesday, possibly stretching into today. As of 1:30 pm Wednesday, PG&E reported 50 customers without power in both the Sutter Creek and Ione areas. Story by Jim Reece, Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 21 January 2010 04:59
Mike Boitano - Amador County Agricultural Commissioner 1-21-10
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News Interview Videos
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 1-21-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Thursday, 21 January 2010 04:59
Mike Boitano - Amador County Agricultural Commissioner 1-21-10
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Local
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 10:28
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 1-21-10
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Video
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
Storm, Winds Crash Amador County Roads, Power Lines
Amador County – Earning its nickname of Hurricane Hill, the small stretch of Highway 88 east of Martell, between Highway 104 and Sunset West was the scene of 3 wind-aided semi tractor trailer roll-over crashes Wednesday during the storm that hit Amador County and the region. The stretch of Highway 88 was closed between 10 a.m. and at least 3:30 p.m. Wednesday by high wind and the crashes, the last involving 2 vehicles and injuring a man who had a tractor trailer roll over him, according to a radio report from the scene. Medics tried to get a helicopter ambulance to fly in to evacuate the patient, but all helicopter flights were grounded in the area, due to wind conditions. Highway 88 opened sometime after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Emergency personnel also responded to the 6300 block of Martin Lane on reports of power lines down in a field, with no one around, at about 1 p.m. Responders said the line was arcing and the power pole was smoking at the scene, and they closed Martin Lane to traffic 30 minutes later. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol reported Highway 88 was closed in 2 locations by midday Wednesday, including between Highway 104 and Lower Ridge Roads, due to high winds. A tractor trailer blocked all 3 lanes on Hurricane Hill. CHP said east-bound Highway 104 was closed leaving Ione, to stop traffic from going on Highway 88 toward Jackson. CHP took calls throughout the day reporting downed power lines, traffic incidents, and power outages. CHP said downed power lines on Shenandoah Road trapped some vehicles there for hours early Wednesday. CHP said Pacific Gas & Electric personnel helped with traffic control on Shenandoah Road between Bell and Dixon roads in the morning. CHP cleared out of the area by noon, but PG&E kept the road closed to restore fallen power lines. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a rare tornado warning in areas of the Central Valley as a storm packing winds of 60 mph battered the region. National Weather Service said today’s storm would pack 60 mph gusts along the coast and valleys, and up to 80 mph at higher elevations, while dropping rain at up to 1 1/2 inches per hour. Wind speeds of 25-45 mph were expected today. Officials issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for both Amador and Calaveras counties until 8 p.m. Wednesday, possibly stretching into today. As of 1:30 pm Wednesday, PG&E reported 50 customers without power in both the Sutter Creek and Ione areas. Story by Jim Reece, Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
Calaveras Investigators Enlist Profiler in Shootings Investigation
Calaveras County – A press conference on Tuesday held by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office addressed progress so far in the investigation of multiple random shootings in the Valley Springs area. Sheriff Dennis Downum said his department is making progress in eliminating suspects and is working with a profiler to try and narrow down the suspect pool. The first drive-by shooting report took place December 17 at a home on Highway 26 near Vista Del Lago Road. A total of 15 shootings into moving vehicles or homes reported overall have left community members shaken. In one instance, a victim driving on Watertown Road swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle with its high beams on which continued to swerve across the center divide and forced the victim off the roadway and into a ditch. Calaveras County Sheriff Sergeant Dave Seawell said the victim described the suspect vehicle as “a full size pick up truck painted white with silver and beige” and the “doors of the pick up truck were painted differently than the body of the truck.” Seawell said at the time that the “described pick up truck is a vehicle of interest.” Downum reported that the occupants of the pick up truck are now being treated as witnesses, not suspects. Investigators are still seeking another possible suspect vehicle identified as a light-colored late-model sedan with square headlights. The case became even more high profile when a Calaveras County family sent their 11-year-old daughter to school in body armor and a Kevlar helmet as a means of protection. The girl’s father, who did not want to be identified, told KCRA 3 that he is taking precautions because “there's some maniac running around here who could shoot at people from cover, ambush, driving by, or just sitting in your home.” Downum said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (A.T.F.), California Highway Patrol (C.H.P.) and F.B.I. have all been helpful in assisting with the investigation. “They're also bringing technologies that we certainly didn't have that we hope will help us in the investigation, but we're not going to expand on what those are,” he said. The A.T.F. is now offering a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the rash of shootings. Seawell said that in some cases, information has been delayed in getting to the Sheriff’s office. Anyone with information is asked to call the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office Tip Line at (209) 754-6030 or (209) 754-6500. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives tip line is 1-800-ATF-GUNS. 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
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
Sutter Creek Finalizes Gold Rush, Discusses Budget Work
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council finalized the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort project Tuesday with second readings of a Development Agreement and zoning amendments. The council deferred amending the agreement on recommendations by Councilman Pat Crosby, so they would not have to reset the reading sequence. Crosby wanted the Development Agreement to allow a 10 percent surcharge on any sales of golf, carts, or buckets of balls at Gold Rush. City Attorney Dennis Crabb, speaking by telephone from the Lake Tahoe area due to road conditions, said if they “make substantive changes on the second reading,” they “must go back to the first reading again.” He said they can approve it, proceed with legal publication, then bring it back with changes to satisfy Crosby’s concerns. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe said the council can approve it “as is” and amend the agreement at the next council meeting. The council agreed to that, and approved the zoning ordinance amendments and development agreement for second readings, with no changes to either. About 20 people attended, including Gold Rush development partner Bill Bunce, who did not address the council, and left shortly after 5-0 votes off approval. The council also discussed budget woes of the city, receiving a treasurer’s report from Cathy Castillo, and an ad hoc budget committee report from Councilwoman Linda Rianda. Castillo said the city’s overall cash position in December was $1.33 million, down about $800,000 from a year ago, when it was $2.2 million. She said it was down because the city has not received all of its property taxes. Castillo said the city budget trend is “spending more than we are taking in.” That includes average monthly deposits of $200,000 to $300,000, with monthly average spending of $350,000. Castillo said “anything above operating costs should be pre-approved,” and the “state will be holding onto anything they can, and they will be hanging us out to dry this year.” Rianda said the ad hoc budget committee has met twice this month and continues “to look for ways to be creative and come up with new revenue.” She agreed that there could be “possible financial control issues.” She said the city may “need policy to see that budget variances are recorded,” with pre-approval for spending, such as in the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority. Rianda said: “We have policies in place” and the city needs “to make sure all employees are following them.” Castillo said it would help, by “just taking more control over the expenditures before they occur.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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