Amador County – The Jackson City Council started its meeting with a moment of silence Monday for the late Bill Helpworth, a fellow former city councilman, Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem of Sutter Creek.

Jackson Mayor Connie Gonsalves asked for the moment of silence to honor Hepworth, whom she said was a college graduate, Eagle Scout, and a Native Son of the Golden West of Parlor Number 17 in Sutter Creek. She said Hepworth was a military veteran who fought in the Vietnam War, and was a Sutter Creek City Councilman, Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore, following in the footsteps of his father, who was the former mayor of Morongo Valley, California.

William Dennis Hepworth was born May 2, 1940 and died Thursday, June 9, 2011, at the age of 71. He was born in Los Angeles, moved to Amador County in 1976 and served on the City Council for 11 years, from 1998 to 2008. He was a long-time member of the city beautification committee, and was a member of the Amador County Cemetery Board, was a Trustee of the Monteverde Store.

Hepworth’s Celebration of Life will be 3 p.m. Friday, June 17th at Trinity Episcopal Church, at 430 Highway 49 in Sutter Creek.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.