Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board last week discussed issue related to a proposed Gravity Supply Line that would serve Upcountry customers in the Central Amador Water Project. Director Don Cooper asked for a couple of issues to be added to the agenda, including support or “representation of board decisions.” He said he wanted to clarify responsibilities as directors in relation to board decision. He said as members speak publicly, it was “easy to slip into your opinion,” as opposed to the board opinion. He noted the agency’s code of ethics that says opinions in board discussions are healthy, but once a decision is made, they should stand by the board decision. Cooper said the Gravity Supply Line “has been a clear AWA project,” so he thought board members should quantify their words as their opinion when they speak about it. Board Vice President Debbie Dunn asked Cooper the origin of his words calling the Gravity Supply Line a “project of priority,” which she said is “not anything I’ve ever heard with this board.” Cooper said the gravity line “was a project of preference because it appeared to be the most economical.” Director Terence Moore said “we have always been studying it and trying to get it built.” President Bill Condrashoff said the study was to see if the project was viable. Finance Manager Mike Lee said the Gravity Supply Line was among the AWA’s pending grant applications. He said “we applied to them initially in 2005 and came back and updated the information in 2008.” Lee said repairs to the existing pump system that serves the Central Amador Water Project were a project that was excluded from grant seeking because the project was seen as too expensive. Dunn said she did not know that the entire $13.4 million for the Gravity Supply Line was sought in grant applications, and she thanked Lee. The agency has heard from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that its application for the Gravity Supply Line will likely be awarder a $5 million grant. The board also heard form AWA Attorney Stephen Kronick, who explained how the agency uses inter-fund loans to finance studies, such as for the GSL project, on which the agency now has spent $930,000 over the years. Kronick gave a copy of a 1993 memo to the board that “provides the legal authority” for those loans. The memo also included AWA resolutions from 1993, 1995 and 2004 making such internal loans. Requirements include that funds are surplus, “fully repaid at a reasonable rate of return” and in a timely manner, and that “there is a source of money available to ensure such timely repayment.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors on Thursday heard an update on grant applications for the agency, which total $141 million in requests made or supplemented in the last 2 years. AWA Finance Manager Mike Lee told the board that $885,000 is the good news, or the amount awarded, in 3 grants. That includes $367,000 for Gayla Manor leach fields, and $270,000 in Prop 84 funding for regional approaches to water reuse. Lee said the Department of Water Resources told him the AWA should see a third grant award of $247,000 “come through in the next couple of days,” for the Lake Camanche Groundwater Supply and Study Management Plan. The list included 41 active, awarded or pending grants, of which 4 were worked on in 2008, the rest in 2009. Director Debbie Dunn asked to agendize the Prop 84 grant, saying she has been approached about projects to use the funds. Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said the intent is to look at a kickoff date for the project, which “already has a scope of work,” and money usage cannot “veer from that scope.” Lee said the bulk of the 41 grants (about 25) were rejected by the state, although 4 were being reviewed by the California Department of Public Health. Those include disinfection projects at Camanche and Buckhorn, and 2 different grant sequences for conversion of the “Bosse-Previtali raw water ditch conveyance” to a treated water conveyance. Lee said Integrated Regional Water Management Plan funding was coming open soon and considered a “cash cow,” and the state was close to opening its “water use efficiency” grant program. He said the state is “just barely starting to look at” some of its grants. Director Gary Thomas asked Lee to “tell me about this (Gravity Supply Line) here pending,” saying he thought they needed alternatives and studies of pump replacements, and they have “a lot of balls up in the air.” Board President Bill Condrashoff said he would like to see an application for a grant for pump replacements in the Central Amador Water Project system, which the GSL would replace. Lee said staff decided not to apply for grants to replace those pumps “because it was too expensive.” Thomas asked about missing the grant cycle, and Lee said the GSL grant (submitted for the cost of the entire project, at $13.4 million) would be reserved for between 18 months and 3 years, once awarded. Dunn asked: “We did apply for $13 million?” and thanked Lee for doing so. The agency expects to get $5 million from USDA for the GSL project. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Jackson Police Department reported late Wednesday that they have apprehended two suspects for a string of graffiti vandalism’s throughout the city. According to Jackson Police Captain Christy Stidger, the crimes on which the arrests were based began January 1st, when as many as 17 separate graffiti “tags” were discovered on houses, vehicles and businesses along Court Street, Clinton Bar Road, Water Street, French Bar Road and Center Street. The property damage is said to be extensive. The arrests took place along Highway 49 late Wednesday afternoon. Investigating Officer Jeff Courtney, who spent a week straight investigating the case, was joined by Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison and two others in arresting Michael Lyle, 18, of Pioneer, and Kyle Boynton, 18, who lives in Jackson near where the vandalisms took place. Both young men are admitted members of the “Savage Minded” sect of the Norteños, a violent Northern California coalition of traditionally Latino gangs born in the prison system. Lyle is currently on probation for gang-related offenses. Boynton was dressed in red when he was arrested, the official color of the Norteños. In researching the case, Courtney conducted extensive interviews and followed leads in person and on networking sites like Facebook- all leading back to the two suspects. Stidger said the arrest was made immediately after Jackson Police received intelligence indicating that more serious criminal activity was soon to take place. She said they have another arrest pending and “still have people who will probably get arrested.” Deputy Todd Smith, Gang Intelligence Officer for the Amador County Sheriff’s Department, told TSPN that gang activity is an increasing problem in rural counties. “Just like any other business, you need more people to keep your business afloat. By coming to a rural county…they can easily entice somebody that doesn’t have a lot of city exposure and get them to become gang members,” he said. Smith said there is a direct influence and pressure for gang recruits from San Jose, South Sacramento, Stockton and El Dorado Hills, among other locations. Local gang activity has been connected to assaults, thefts and vandalism. Smith said anyone who notices signs of gang activity in their area, such as criminal activity or gang paraphernalia, should contact law enforcement so they can document the incident. In this case, Captain Stidger urged anyone with further information on the case to contact the Jackson Police Department at (209) 223-1771. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Italian Benevolent Society holds its first sold out event of the year as a self fund-raiser that also marks the first calendar date for the society since the finish of a nearly half a million dollar remodel. Italian Benevolent Society board trustee John Kirkpartrick said the newly repainted, rebuilt and refurbish hall will host the sold out shrimp feed to start paying back the IBS’s 2 year project to remodel the main dining hall. That includes repaying a $330,000 loan from 11 members, each loaning $30,000 to the cause. Other members donated $10,000 toward the remodel costing nearly $500,000. Members also helped with the project, which began in 2008 with demolishing some of the walls and old roof, and putting down a slab. They resumed work last July and finalized work in mid-December 2009. They raised the walls and roof by 2 feet, and replaced hanging joists with higher ones for vaulted ceilings. They added six heating and air conditioning systems, all remotely operated, ceiling fans, new paint and a 3,000 square foot bar. There is a new sound system, and the building is wired for televisions, with a wish list topped with 4 new TVs, and a big bar refrigerator. They also added ADA handicapped accessibility, with paved parking spaces in the main lot. And with hand sinks and overhead sprinkler systems throughout, Kirkpatrick said the Italian Benevolent Society hall is now Health Department compliant. Kirkpatrick and other members helped with the remodel. He cut and hung trim, built the bar and helped hang washable fiberglass wallboards in the newly expanded kitchen. It also has new tile floors, a large donated walk-in refrigerator, and new stainless steel rolling tables, replacing wooden tables. They kept the old fry hood, and supplemented it with a stainless steel hood above. The kitchen is 6 feet longer than it was originally, and the new bar adds a higher capacity. Kirkpatrick said they can seat up to 470 people in the main hall, and another 100 in the bar. Saturday’s sold out shrimp feed Grand Opening will help “start paying stuff back” for the remodel, which landscaped the back side of the outside of the building, raising it 6 feet from the original ground level. Kirkpatrick said they plan to build a large deck there. The hall’s events calendar is already filling, including the Italian Picnic, June 4th, 5th and 6th, and a crab feed February 13th. They also rent the hall for weddings and other events. Trustees of the Italian Benevolent Society, established in 1881, are John Kirkpatrick, Steve Pinotti, Bill Boro, Craig Battaglia, Craig Bonnell and President Pepper Conzatti. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District board of trustees on Wednesday discussed their response to a letter received by Superintendent Dick Glock from Jewish community members urging a more broad approach to combat intolerance. The Foothill Jewish Community, Congregation Bnai Israel, said it appreciates the board’s “generic efforts at recognizing ‘intolerance’” but urged a “more comprehensive program be adopted and broadly implemented for students, faculty, as well as administrative and support staff.” The congregation recognized that “at least one organization from outside the community has interjected its perceptions,” referring to Barry Broad of the Jewish Community Relations Council, who lambasted the Board at a meeting last November for allegedly failing to investigate hate crimes and the harassment of Justin Zysman, a Jewish student at Amador High School. Following a suggestion from Board president Karl Knobeluch, Glock raised the topic of his response and gave board members an opportunity to view and approve the draft. Glock’s response questioned the use of the word “generic” and said the district “has been very direct in addressing specific acts of intolerance.” He also summarized a number of current or upcoming programs introduced by Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Chapin-Pinotti designed to address a host of issues, including violence prevention, tolerance, stereotyping, bullying, prejudices, sexual harassment and empowering leaders. Chapin-Pinotti spoke enthusiastically of seminars that have taken place so far with teachers and administrators. Lynnette Lipp, a member of the Bnai Israel congregation, clarified that the word generic was not meant to be derogatory and only described “the general efforts” of the school district. She said Barry Broad spoke before the board “without our knowledge” and her congregation supports the programs presented by Chapin-Pinotti. Knobeluch said he would be welcome to having Broad back to speak further, but next time would “like a more civil level of discourse.” The congregation’s letter said it “believes that local direction is essential considering our rural and close knit environment.” Board member Terry Porray said she felt insulted when she first read the letter from the congregation but thanked Lipp for her clarification. Porray said now is “a great opportunity to show the outside world that we’re not…a pocket of racism.” The board voted unanimously to have Knobeluch sign his approval to the letter on their behalf. The letter will be sent back to the Foothill Jewish Community. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 1-15-10 - Lori Halvorson stops by the AM Live set to discuss National Mentoring Month with host Kam Merzlak. 

Amador County – The Jackson Police Department reported late Wednesday that they have apprehended two suspects for a string of graffiti vandalism’s throughout the city. According to Jackson Police Captain Christy Stidger, the crimes on which the arrests were based began January 1st, when as many as 17 separate graffiti “tags” were discovered on houses, vehicles and businesses along Court Street, Clinton Bar Road, Water Street, French Bar Road and Center Street. The property damage is said to be extensive. The arrests took place along Highway 49 late Wednesday afternoon. Investigating Officer Jeff Courtney, who spent a week straight investigating the case, was joined by Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison and two others in arresting Michael Lyle, 18, of Pioneer, and Kyle Boynton, 18, who lives in Jackson near where the vandalisms took place. Both young men are admitted members of the “Savage Minded” sect of the Norteños, a violent Northern California coalition of traditionally Latino gangs born in the prison system. Lyle is currently on probation for gang-related offenses. Boynton was dressed in red when he was arrested, the official color of the Norteños. In researching the case, Courtney conducted extensive interviews and followed leads in person and on networking sites like Facebook- all leading back to the two suspects. Stidger said the arrest was made immediately after Jackson Police received intelligence indicating that more serious criminal activity was soon to take place. She said they have another arrest pending and “still have people who will probably get arrested.” Deputy Todd Smith, Gang Intelligence Officer for the Amador County Sheriff’s Department, told TSPN that gang activity is an increasing problem in rural counties. “Just like any other business, you need more people to keep your business afloat. By coming to a rural county…they can easily entice somebody that doesn’t have a lot of city exposure and get them to become gang members,” he said. Smith said there is a direct influence and pressure for gang recruits from San Jose, South Sacramento, Stockton and El Dorado Hills, among other locations. Local gang activity has been connected to assaults, thefts and vandalism. Smith said anyone who notices signs of gang activity in their area, such as criminal activity or gang paraphernalia, should contact law enforcement so they can document the incident. In this case, Captain Stidger urged anyone with further information on the case to contact the Jackson Police Department at (209) 223-1771. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.