Amador County – A Rancho Cordova man was arrested twice over10 days in Amador County for possession of stolen goods and drugs, and linking him to at least nine vehicle burglaries in the region.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details Wednesday on multiple arrests of Vitali Nikolayevich Kulinich, 27, of Rancho Cordova, stemming first from a June 8 burglary at Anytime Fitness. An unknown suspect reportedly smashed the rear window of a vehicle and stole a wallet and cell phone. An Amador County Sheriff’s Deputy using the digital security system at Anytime Fitness identified a possible suspect vehicle, a brown sedan with a distinctive black bumper.

On June 15, an Amador Deputy saw the vehicle on Highway 49, stopped it, and identified the driver as Kulinich, who was on searchable probation in Sacramento County for theft. The vehicle registration was expired by almost seven years.

A search revealed suspected heroin, suspected meth, prescription narcotics, a glass smoking pipe and a realistic looking BB air pistol. Also found was a hunting license from the wallet reported stolen June 8 from Anytime Fitness, an Ipod Touch reported stolen to Davis Police, keys stolen from Delta Flooring in Sacramento, and burglary tools.

Kulinich was arrested, booked into Amador County Jail and charged with transportation and possession of a controlled substance, and possession of narcotics, stolen property and burglary tools. He posted $20,000 bond for release.

A secondary search of the vehicle revealed a hidden compartment with numerous stolen items including drivers licenses, passports, social security cards, credit cards, and a diamond ring valued at $1,840. Also found was a video camera documenting Kulinich’s involvement in stealing vehicles and using controlled substances.

Detectives recovered stolen property related to an additional nine vehicle burglaries in Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County, West Sacramento and Novato. Probation searches in Sacramento and Rancho Cordova found several firearms, an assault weapon, a stolen gym bag, and a possible stolen Ipad.

About 7:40 p.m. Monday, June 25, the Sheriff’s Department responded to a report that a man had just stolen merchandise from Kmart and fled in a tan Mercedes Benz sedan. A Deputy found the vehicle in Amador Plaza and detained it with two occupants: Andrew Lee Hunter Moras, 20 of Ranch Cordova and Kulinich.

The investigation revealed that Moras had stolen a pair of shoes from Kmart. The shoes were recovered and Moras was issued a citation for theft. The Deputy also found a checkbook, driver’s license and vehicle title belonging to a couple in Antelope, who positively identified items stolen from their vehicle June 23.

Kulinich was again arrested and booked into Amador Jail charged with possession of stolen property and commission of a felony while on bail for a pending felony. Bail was set at $45,000 and a declaration was filed by Detectives requesting the court examine the source of Kulinich’s bail. Detectives were checking on other property found in Kulinich’s possession to determine if it is also stolen.

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

Amador County – The Bureau of Land Management announced Wednesday that residents of the Sacramento area will have the opportunity to add a horse or burro to their families on July 14 when BLM brings its Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program to the Sacramento Horseman’s Association in Sacramento.

BLM Central California public affairs officer David Christy said 14 horses from yearlings to 4-year-olds will be offered for adoption. They come from the High Rock area’s Fox Hog, High Rock, Nut Mountain, Wall Canyon and Bitner herd management areas. It also features five burros from the Twin Peaks herd management area.

Manager of BLM’s Susanville wild horse and burro corrals, Doug Satica said the “animals are healthy and ready to train. They have been vaccinated against all common equine diseases, including rabies and West Nile virus.” BLM provides full health care records to adopters.

To qualify, adopters must be at least 18 years old and residents of the United States. Adopted animals must be kept in corrals that offer at least 400 square feet per animal, surrounded by six-foot pipe or board fences (five-foot fences are allowed for horses under 2 years old; four-foot fences are allowed for burros).

Two-sided roofed shelters are required. Adopters receive title to their animals after providing a year of good care.

Public affairs officer David Christy said wild horses and burros are protected by a federal law, the Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act, which requires the BLM to maintain wild populations in balance with other range users, including wildlife and domestic livestock, so that food and water sources are sustained and rangelands are conserved.

For additional information contact BLM toll free at 1-866-4MUSTANGS (468-7826) or the Litchfield Corrals at (530) 254-6575.

Horses can be previewed 2-5 p.m. Friday, July 13. The event runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 14. A silent competitive bid will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. Animals not taken during bidding will be available for a $125 adoption fee.

The auction is at the Sacramento Horseman’s Association, 3200 Longview Drive, in Sacramento, on Saturday, July 14.

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

Amador County – Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort announced Wednesday that someone will win $45,000 cash at the Jackson Rancheria today, that is Thursday, June 28.

Rancheria publicist Mark Bommarito announced the promotion, saying the final drawings for Jackson Rancheria’s big Spring Cash Fling will be held starting at 6 p.m., Thursday, June 28, and one winner is guaranteed to go home with $45,000 cash.

Jackson Rancheria’s Dreamcatcher’s Club members earn a drawing entry for every 100 points earned between 12:01 a.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday, June 28. The drawings start at 6 p.m. with 20 people guaranteed to win $500 in “Free Slot Play.”

The final prize, given away at 8 p.m., started at $15,000 and has grown to a guaranteed $45,000 jackpot. The winner has five minutes to claim the big prize or another winner will be drawn until someone claims the cash.

Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort is located at 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson.

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

Amador County – Jackson City Council voted 3-2 Monday to approve a $3.36 million with a $125,000 deficit for fiscal year 2012-2013 as the city awaits a return of funding by the Legislature or the state budget.

Councilman Wayne Garibaldi and Mayor Pat Crew dissented. Garibaldi earlier asked what would happen if they did not approve the budget since the budget year ends June 30. City Manager Mike Daly said the city would continue operating with the existing budget in place.

Councilman Keith Sweet said Jackson was one of the few cities in the county that has a budget you can read and count on and he wondered why Garibaldi would ask that question.

Garibaldi said: “I probably can’t vote for a budget with a negative number. We’re $125,000 short” and restoration of Triple-Flip funds “are not a sure thing.” Daly said the closest thing to a sure thing is the governor’s reimbursement in the budget bill, which would give Amador County and its cities $1.5 million dollars, including $100,000 to Jackson, and $1.1 million to the county.

Daly said the status of Alyson Huber’s Assembly Bill 1191 has him “not quite as 95% confident in it” as he was, since it was placed in “suspense” Monday by the Senate Appropriations Committee. A consultant said “suspense” means it needs minor rewording, Daly said.

Crew said a healthy city is one with reserves but he was inclined to vote for it because “rainy days are here.” Daly said a typical city reserve fund is 20 percent, and for Jackson, that would be $690,000, so “we’re above that.” Reserves in the draft budget were $793,000.

With Legislative fixes, Jackson could get $100,000 to $300,000, he said, but “it’s going to be a continuing saga.” The budget lost a $100,000 COPS grant, which means the city must use other funds to pay a Police Officer’s salary and avoid layoff. He said negotiations with employees allowed reduction of insurance costs by allowing employees to choose a different policy. They will still get 100% paid insurance but have a smaller physician pool.

He recommended boosting the city’s share of participation fees with Amador County Recreation Agency, from 50% of a full share payment, to 80%. He also mentioned a return to paid parking on Main Street, now that storefronts were filling.

Daly was optimistic that a three-year increase in sales tax revenue would continue, with the addition of Grocery Outlet, and the early August opening planned for Tractor Supply Company. And National Hotel’s planned July reopening means the “iconic lodging and dining anchor for Main Street should help attract more visitors to Jackson and boost both the Transient Occupancy Tax and sales tax in the upcoming year.”

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