Amador County – The Ione City Council last week voted to rename a street to honor recently retired longtime Ione priest, Father Thomas Relihan. A crowd of Relihan’s neighbors and supporters attended the meeting and some offered words of encouragement to the council. A new law to allow renaming of streets was passed at a previous meeting in April, then on April 21st, the council unanimously renamed West Washington Street as Relihan Drive. The 1-block section of road leads to Church Street. City Planner Christopher Jordan said “the backers are here in full force.” Councilman Jim Ulm stepped down before the council heared the item, saying he “Might want to comment on it.” Relihan, who did not attend the meeting, was also honored with a resolution of appreciation last November by the Ione City Council and former Mayor Andrea Bonham, after taking his retirement. One of the group supporters last Tuesday, Joyce Ghan, said Father Relihan “has retired here, he plans to stay here and he plans to be buried here.” Another, Karen Hudson, encouraged “the city council to do a very simple recognition of a man who has given much of his life to the community.” Another said that a member of the fire department said response safety with the name change of the road would actually help to differentiate between East and West Washington Streets. The council voted 4-0 to pass Resolution Number 1719, to change the name of West Washington Street to Relihan Drive. The Ione City Council last week also heard from Ione Business & Community Association President Rich Kreth, who gave a financial report and an update on happenings with the association. He said IBCA has a typical annual budget of $15,000 to $20,000 dollars, “thanks to a city grant last year” they were at 20,000. He said the group partnered with the Amador Council of Tourism, and purchased advertising from 12 print media companies, including 4 Sacramento-area periodicals, and the Ledger Dispatch. Kreth said they also did promotions with Home Town Radio. They also sponsored 12 grants for local groups. He said the IBCA’s next big project is to build a second lighted road sign on Highway 124. He also said at the recent town hall meeting at Evalynn Bishop Hall, someone said: “How come Ione doesn’t have a phone book? We do and it’s out now.” The IBCA business directory lists Ione and regional businesses, with the front cover showing the Ione Elementary School student body on the campus front approach-way, and also a snapshot of Preston Castle. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.