Amador County – Dozens of ranches in and around Ione literally made their mark at a developing new downtown Ione business recently. The newly developing Clark’s Corner café held a branding party recently and Mayor Andrea Bonham, co-owner, let ranchers come in and sear their mark into a section of wall. Bonham said 90 people attended and burned 63 brands on the wall. She and co-owners Kraig Clark and Kenny and Franci Clark re now trying to find more wall to add some historic brands that they were unable to fit. Ron Speer led off the party with his “R-Speer” brand. He has worked 3 months on the project and was given the first spot on the wall. Others included Amador County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Forster. The heavy steel cattle brands from each of the ranches were heated in a propane gas pot to red hot, then burned into the old wood, left from when the space at 12 West Main Street in Ione was Oliver’s bar. Also left from the old bar is and finely finished oak refrigerator, now used as storage and a display case, and another set of wooden refrigerator doors that will be windows to an office. Clark’s Corner sports a new yellow paint job on the exterior walls of the old building. Inside new lamps and vintage-style fans hang from the completely redone ceiling, and new flooring throughout offers more oak wood grain. A few weeks ago, Bonham hosted the Amador Chamber Of Commerce Mixer at the café. Clark’s Corner is behind schedule in its original opening day, but is scheduled to open December 13th, on the same day as the Ione Christmas Parade. Bonham said the Clark’s Corner will have old fashioned carolers singing on its stage. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).