November is Native American Heritage month. Though there are several events scheduled around the state, I am pleased to inform you that Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park (Amador County's only state park) will have Fred Velasquez present on Saturday, November 21, 2015 from 1:00-3:00. Feel free to contact me for more information.


Marilyn Alarcon

(209) 295-7134

Published in Local
Wednesday, 28 October 2015 16:44

Veterans Drivers License and ID now Available

If you are a veteran, then you can proudly display veteran on your driver license or identification card. 

1. Find your military discharge certificate (DD214). If you need assistance obtaining your military records, then contact your County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO).

2. Take your DD214 government identification to your CVSO to obtain your Veteran Status Verification Form. 

3. Go on-line or call DMV for an appointment. Then bring your Veteran Status Verification Form to DMV. Complete your application, pay any application fees plus a $5.00 fee for your Veteran designation. You must complete all applicable application and testing requirements.


For faster CVSO service, schedule an appointment by visiting www.calvet.ca.gov or call 1-800-952-5626.

To schedule an appointment at a DMV, visit www.dmv.ca.gov or call 1-800-777-0133.

Published in Local

Supervisor, Richard Forster previews this week's Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting.  (2 of 2)

Published in Local

Supervisor, Richard Forster previews this week's Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting.  (1 of 2)

Published in Local

FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY THE BUTTE FIRE:

Certified Weed-free Rice straw is now available, free of charge for your immediate use on erosion control in Mokelumne Hill at the Equestrian Center on Lafayette St. and in Mountain Ranch at Central Fire Station #1 on Jesus Maria Rd. Please take what you can use now and leave the rest for our neighbors.

Our Donors thank you for making it happen.

Money you donate is used within 1 week to purchase the certified weed-free rice straw so landowners in the "burn" can put it down to minimize the erosion. Time is of the essence! Saturday (Oct. 17) we just got a taste of what rain can do. CalaverasGROWN is also utilizing volunteer crews to recover water wells. 

They are also organizing volunteer work parties. I hope they will post messages to this list for people wanting to volunteer work. Also, how to contact them other than Facebook - many people are not on Facebook but can email or text.
 
Thank you!
 
Michael Kriletich
 
Published in Local
Sunday, 25 October 2015 19:33

Butte Fire Debris Removal Update

Debris removal work continues in the western and central Jesus Maria areas as well as in the Old Gulch, Wendell, and Moke Hill areas. Twelve debris removal crews are now in the field. Seventeen sites of the 598 properties in the debris removal team have now been cleaned. Three erosion control crews are now engaged in actions to control erosion and runoff concerns, pre-debris removal.

State and Federal EPA representatives have reported the removal of household hazardous waste materials from 508 properties throughout the damaged areas. Air and soil continue to be sampled to ensure contaminants are contained, with no airborne contaminants detected to date. Residents and workers continue to be cautioned as to the traffic risks associated with the number and types of vehicles in these areas. Long range debris removal schedules are not yet available for specific properties, although more accurate estimates should be available in the coming weeks.

Residents are reminded that the deadline for signing up for the State/County debris removal program is November 6, 2015. Detailed information is now available for those interested in self-certification of the debris removal from their property if they are not participants in the State/County program. 

Have a good weekend.

Jason Boetzer, REHS
Environmental Management Agency Administrator
Director of Environmental Health/Air Pollution Control Officer
Calaveras County Environmental Health Department
891 Mountain Ranch Rd.
San Andreas, CA 95249

(209) 754-6399

Published in Local
Wednesday, 21 October 2015 00:20

Butte Fire Fundraiser Happening Oct. 22

On Thursday October 22 at the Kennedy Mine in Jackson, there will be a Music and Comedy event called Rock ‘N Relief to raise funds for the Butte Fire Fund, administered by the Amador Community Foundation.
 
The Jackson Lions Club, Amador County Association of Realtors and the Calaveras Association of Realtors have all endorsed this event.

 

 

Besides attendance at the event, we are seeking anyone that would like to volunteer in any way, donate funds or prizes, or simply pass the word.

 

 

Published in Local

CEO of Sutter Amador Hospital, Anne Platt talks about the hospital's role in the Butte-Amador Fire. 1 of 2

Published in Local

CEO of Sutter Amador Hospital, Anne Platt talks about the hospital's role in the Butte-Amador Fire. 2 of 2

Published in Local
(Sutter Creek)  The Amador Water Agency has notified proponents of a referendum of the legal insufficiency of their petition, according to a letter released yesterday from the Water Agency to the Ratepayers Protection Alliance (RPA). As a result, the Agency will not rescind recently-approved drought rates on water service, nor will it put the issue up for a county-wide vote.

 

 
            The letter formally denies certification of the referendum, advises the RPA that this referendum will not be placed on the ballot for a county-wide election, and states the reasons for rejection. The letter also makes clear that a referendum cannot require the AWA Board of Directors to rescind the temporary drought surcharge if doing so would cripple the Water Agency’s ability to collect sufficient revenues to provide water service to its 10,000 Amador County customers.

 

 
Since Governor Brown’s water conservation order went into effect, AWA has seen a 33 percent drop in water sales which translates into an estimated loss of over $1.2 million per year needed to provide safe, reliable water for homes, businesses and fire protection. 

 

 
The RPA has demanded that the Water Agency rescind a July 21, 2015 resolution that put the temporary drought surcharge and new water rate structure in place, and collected signatures on a petition for a county-wide vote on the matter.

 

 
            “Operating the county’s water systems with a 33 percent drop in sales is simply not sustainable. The temporary drought rates are helping to keep the systems maintained until the conservation order is lifted,” said AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo.

 

 
About 1% of AWA customers objected to the drought charge and new water rate structure under the state’s Prop. 218 notification process. The drought rate is structured so that customers who conserve water will have very little increase in their monthly water cost over pre-drought water bills.

 

 
            Today’s letter to the RPA from AWA Clerk of the Board Cris Thompson rejects the RPA’s petition due to legal errors but Mancebo says the question goes beyond legal details.

 

 
“AWA has a responsibility to provide essential health and safety services to the community – and we will fight anything that jeopardizes our ability to serve our customers with clean, safe water and provide fire protection,” Mancebo said.
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