Amador County - In Ione news, the new fire station is on course and within budget, according to City Treasurer Sharon Long. The 8,250 square foot facility located on Preston Avenue was approved on the basis that it will better and more readily serve residents who were previously harder to access because of geography and other factors. In addition to the existing firehouse, this facility will increase response time for the areas west of Sutter Creek, eliminating the bottleneck at Preston Avenue and Main Street. The new facility will house eight fire trucks and equipment for the dedicated staff of volunteer firefighters. In October of 2008, the community raised $20,000 in support of the volunteer firefighters. The funds were used to purchase new structural fire protective gear for the department. In 2007, the community donated enough funds to purchase 50 sets of wildland firefighting gear. A grand opening ceremony is planned for April. The department has 45 members, mostly volunteers. Story by Alex Lane