News Archive (6192)
Amador County – The San Andreas Unit of the California Highway Patrol said a Sonora woman killed Monday on Highway 49 in Calaveras County may have been texting on her cell phone while driving when the fatal crash occurred.
CHP public information officer Rebecca Myers in a release Wednesday said CHP has “determined that a major contributing factor” in the crash killing 22-year-old Lisa Marie Villalobos-Wilson “was because the driver was texting on her cell phone.”
“According to cell phone records released by her parents,” Villalobos-Wilson “was in the process of sending or had just sent a text message to her boyfriend when her vehicle drifted off the right side of the roadway.” She then swerved to the left, overcorrecting and “causing her vehicle to swerve into the opposing lane, striking a south-bound vehicle” driven by Benjamin Grant, 20, of Mountain Ranch. The vehicles collided in the south-bound lane of Highway 49, north of Cosgrave Road, in Calaveras County. “Villalobos-Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Myers said: “We have also determined that Ms. Villalobos-Wilson was only wearing the automatic shoulder restraint belt.” The “lap belt portion was not used, which may have contributed in Ms. Villalobos-Wilson being partially ejected from her vehicle, resulting in fatal injuries.”
The crash was reported at 7:35 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28, and Grant and his passenger, Daniel Crane were both treated for minor injuries at Mark Twain Hospital.
Myers said the CHP “would like to remind everyone that they need to put down the phone, focus on driving, and always wear your seatbelt properly, otherwise it may cost you your life, or the life of someone else.”
Myers said: “Too many motorists are continuing to talk or text on the cell phone even though the law has been in effect since July 1, 2008.”
Lieutenant Tim Port said “driving in itself is multi-tasking, requiring a motorist’s full attention. Then you add a moment of inattention, such as looking at your cell phone, and consequences can be disastrous for a driver and those around them.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Federal grand jury charged 15 people for racketeering, loan-sharking and narcotics crimes
Written by Tom
Amador County – A Federal Grand Jury last week charged 15 people with racketeering, extortionate extension of credit, and narcotics offenses at two Bay Area casino card clubs, Artichoke Joe’s Casino and Oaks Card Club.
U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag announced the indictment, which was unsealed March 3 in redacted form. It charged that between February 2008 and the present, Cuong Mach Binh Tieu, Lap The Chung, Bob Yuen, Ding Lin, Skyler Chang, Chea Bou, May Chung, and Hung Tieu “agreed to conduct and conducted the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.”
The indictment alleges that they “associated in fact at the casinos to form an enterprise and that they used the casinos’ facilities and assets to extend and collect extortionate credit and distribute illegal drugs.”
Maximum punishment for the RICO crimes is 20 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Federal narcotics offenses have maximum prison terms ranging from 20 years to life, and maximum fines ranging from $1 million to $4 million.
The indictment alleges that these narcotic offenses occurred either at the casinos or through the use of the casinos’ facilities.
Lap The Chung, Bob Yuen, Ding Lin, May Chung, and Hung Tieu are also charged with federal extortionate extension of credit offenses with maximum punishment of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Haag said: “Extortionate credit is otherwise known as loansharking, and the indictment alleges that such loansharking occurred at the casinos on numerous occasions over the past two years.” Each of these defendants is an employee of either Oaks Card Club or Artichoke Joe’s Casino.
The indictment is the result of an approximately two-year investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, who worked with the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Gambling Control and the Internal Revenue Service.
On March 2, the FBI, DEA and more than a dozen other agencies “arrested 14 of the defendants charged in the indictment. They also simultaneously executed more than 20 search warrants throughout the Bay Area and elsewhere.”
Haag said: “During the course of executing the search warrants, agents seized several hundred thousand dollars in cash and thousands of dollars worth of casino gambling chips, jewelry, and valuables, several pounds of narcotics, and numerous firearms.” The investigation was conducted and funded in part by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County – Michael Ryan and the Ryan Families announced this week that the “number one tourist attraction in Amador County,” Daffodil Hill, will open its gates for its 71st season on Friday, March 18, 2011, weather permitting.
“From then on, we will be open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., again weather permitting,” Ryan said. “For safety reasons, the Hill is closed when it rains and our paths are slippery.”
He encouraged visitors to call Daffodil Hill’s recorded phone message at for daily updates. The Hill will stay open until fewer than 25 percent of the daffodil blooms remain. There is no admission fee and no charge for parking. Donations are accepted.
Ryan said: “We only ask that visitors respect our property and follow our few rules. These include asking that visitors stay on our paths (and out of the flowers, buildings, and posted areas). We also ask that visitors please leave their dogs at home, as dogs don’t mix well with the flowers and our resident peacocks.”
Daffodil Hill is at 18310 Rams Horn Grade, Volcano, and the information line is (209) 296-7048.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County – The Amador County Teen Driver Council is sponsoring its annual Teen Driver Night for current and future drivers, next week at Amador High School.
Teen Driver Night is for parents and teens, and will feature guest speakers and presentations. Speakers include Amador County Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann, and fourth year medical student Dan Stein.
California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Craig Harmon will also speak, as will parent, Tina Wurzburger. Jackson Police Officer Chris Rice will talk about narcotics, and Anne Lintz of State Farm Insurance will talk about insurance.
Organizers said: “Our goal is to help parents and teens understand the many issues surrounding the pressures on the teen driver” and to offer safety ideas and tips. “It is clear that the more parents involve themselves in the activities of their teen drivers the fewer accidents occur.”
The Teen Driver Night is 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 in the Amador High School cafeteria in Sutter Creek.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District settlement with the Zysman family last September over alleged civil rights violations included an attachment in which the district pointed out that it was silenced by privacy law, and could not correct erroneous statements related to the case.
In Attachment B, the settlement said ACUSD and Justin Zysman “have resolved the lawsuit that arose after” Justin “complained that he was subjected to anti-Semitic harassment by other students at Amador High School.” Justin’s name was redacted from the settlement, but he appeared on TSPN TV news last year to discuss the issue, and his parents’ names appeared in documents. Both also signed the settlement.
The agreement said “in reaching a settlement, the parties do not wish to claim that either side” has “won” or “lost.” “The district continues to maintain that it was unaware of the claimed harassment” and “no district employee or administrator intentionally discriminated against” Justin “or ignored his concerns.”
The statement said the district believed it “responded appropriately when concerns were brought to its attention,” and noted that the Zysmans “feel differently.” It said: “Both sides share the goal, however, to promptly address discrimination or harassment against any member of the district community.”
“Rather than continue a fight where there can be no real winner, the parties have chosen to recognize the need to move forward constructively,” the agreement said. “The parties regret that, in the heat of litigation, there may have been misstatements made for inferred that painted either party in an unnecessarily bad light. For example, it was erroneously reported in the press that Amador High School presented a play with anti-Semitic overtones entitled ‘Hitler Youth’ that was offensive, particularly to Jewish members of the community.”
It said: “In fact, there was no such production.” A play entitled “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank” was presented, but had “just the opposite theme – the horrors of the Nazi treatment of Jews during World War II.” It was conceived to be shown to “grades 5 through 12 to teach the horrors of the Nazi era and promote the values of tolerance.”
The agreement said because of privacy law, “the district was not able to respond to public statements,” and “this silence may have created the false impression that the district had no response or that there was truth to the statements. The ending of destructive negative public statements is one of the reasons the parties have chosen” to settle.
The agreement said both “parties recognize the importance of cultural diversity in an educational environment,” and “to further promote that goal, the district has strengthened and added to the programs available before this dispute arose.” Those include a new community building program called “Breaking Down Walls.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador School District settles the Justin Zysman civil rights lawsuit
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District settled a civil rights lawsuit by former student Justin Zysman for $150,000 last September, with the district to pay as much as $25,000 more to set up a diversity program in schools.
Justin Zysman and his family signed the settlement and dropped a civil rights lawsuit over claims of anti-Semitism at Amador High School, according to a copy of the settlement, which was published online by the group Calaware.
Superintendent Dick Glock said Thursday he could not comment on the settlement, due to it being confidential. He referred questions to Tuolumne Joint Power Authority, which handled the settlement for the school district.
Tuolumne JPA’s attorney Alesa Schachter, of Johnson Schachter & Lewis of Sacramento, signed the settlement as attorney for the school district, and for former Amador High principal Allan Van Velzen. Schachter also said she could not comment on the settlement.
The settlement resolved a suit by Justin and his parents, Jason and Molly Zysman, filed against Amador School District, alleging four causes of action, including a violation of civil rights by the district and Van Velzen for race or perceived race. It also alleged violation of civil right of “equal protection under the 14th Amendment” by Van Velzen, and a violation of California Education Code through “student discrimination” by the district.
In the agreement, the suit was dismissed, and the School District paid $150,000 to Zysman. Justin Zysman was a student at Amador High when he alleged reporting to the principal numerous anti-Semitic harassments.
The settlements were signed by Justin Zysman and his father, Jason, on August 31, 2010, and by Glock on Sept. 7, 2010. It noted that both parties agree that “no money will be or has been paid by or on behalf of Van Velzen or any other individually named defendant to settle the litigation.”
The settlement agreement also required the school district to allocate up to $25,000 to “create or enhance and provide a diversity or similar program to its staff and students.” Failure to implement the program at least by the start of the 2011-2012 school year would violate the settlement.
The agreement included a joint statement of confidentiality, concealing the settlement and amounts paid. It noted that the Zysman family would “respond to any inquiries” from third parties by saying only that ‘the matter has been resolved.” The confidentiality clause did recognize and acknowledge that the school district must comply with the “Public Records Act which may require a disclosure of this agreement.” The group CalAware requested the settlement and posted it on its website.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador Planning Commission to hold public hearing on tasting rooms
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday to discuss a recommended wine tasting room ordinance amendment that is aimed at preserving the rural look and feel of county winery rows.
The planning commission will consider a proposed ordinance amending Title 19 zoning of the Amador County code to allow for tasting rooms meeting the standards set forth in the ordinance, under a duplicate Alcohol Beverage Control license for wineries with their master license located in Amador County. Part of it would make the licensee “subject to first obtaining a staff-issued use permit” in agriculture zones, and “subject to first obtaining a user permit from the Planning Commission” in Rural 1A zones.
The ordinance was based on recommendations made by the “Winery Ordinance Review Committee,” which was chaired by Supervisor Ted Novelli and vice-chairwoman Jane O’Riordan. The committee met seven times since December 2009, and meetings were well attended by Amador County vintners and growers.
A recommendation report date February 2011 noted the need for protecting against wine tasting room operators from outside the area, and also preserving the rural agricultural look and feel. The committee was formed to review county code “as it relates to defining and regulating wineries,” to see if the existing winery definition is adequate, and to make recommendations and create awareness of the impact of changes.
The committee included Supervisor Brian Oneto, and vintners and/or growers Jim Gullett, Jeff Runquist, Paul Sobon, Charlie Spinetta, Jill Tanis and Art Toy, as well as citizens Mike Kerrigan and David Richards, and county planner Heather Anderson.
It looked at federal law and other counties’ ordinances, and in its recommendation overview said focus evolved to duplicate licenses, seen as tools “by which a California winery may have a ‘second’ tasting room not co-located with the winery.” It “allows an out-of-area winery to operate a tasting room,” that is, a “sales facility, remotely.” It also was seen as giving “limited community investment,” and as a consensus was a “real issue” to the committee.
The committee recommended code change to “prevent sales-only facilities in agricultural areas” by allowing tasting room duplicate licenses for in-county wineries only in agriculture and Rural 1A zones. It also recommended a staff permit for duplicate licenses for in-county wineries.
Another recommendation was requiring 10-acres lot sizes for commercial buildings in Ag and R1A zones, and also requiring 50-foot setbacks for commercial buildings in Ag and R1A zones, both with the idea to preserve the rural look and reduce the “strip mall effect.”
Another recommendation was to have a use permit for tasting rooms in R1A zones when locating a sales facility on small or neighborhood parcels, to “assure public input on tasting rooms in residential areas.”
The planning commission meets 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador School Board will consider layoffs for 7 certificated employees
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District board of trustees this week will consider approval of layoff notices for the equivalent of 9.83 full time positions next school year.
The board will consider reducing its certificated staff by a recommended seven full time positions for the 2011-2012 school year, due to a drop in enrollment; and will also consider layoff notices to four other part-time certificated employees, who work the hours totaling 2.83 full time equivalent.
The board meets Wednesday and its agenda includes a resolution for the “intention to dismiss certificated employees of certain particular kinds of certificated services and for declining average daily attendance for the 2011-2012 school year.”
Nina Neville, executive director of personnel, in a report to the board said that “based upon the reduction or discontinuance of the particular kinds of services and declining average daily attendance,” it “will be necessary to decrease the number of certificated employees in the district by the equivalent of seven full-time positions” for next school year.
Neville recommended the actions, saying “timelines must be met to initiate and pursue procedures for this reduction” and /or “discontinuance of services.” State code required written notification of layoffs no later than March 15, for layoffs of the ensuing year.
A resolution lists one full time equivalent agriculture teaching position for potential elimination, along with two “opportunity teachers,” two “intervention teachers” and two “elementary teachers.”
The board will also consider a resolution to “release temporary certificated employees,” giving notice of release to “any temporary certificated employee who has served during one school year for 75 percent of the days school is in session.” The resolution, in part, stated that “there are four temporary certificated employees,” working 2.83 full time equivalent positions, who fall under that distinction.
Altogether, the 9.83 full time equivalent employees would be notified of layoffs if the resolutions are approved.
A closed session to be held at the beginning of the meeting Wednesday includes a possible conference with negotiations representatives. District negotiators, Superintendent Dick Glock and Executive Director of Personnel Nina Neville are scheduled to meet with two employee organizations, Amador County Teachers Association, and the California School Employees Association. The board in closed session will also consider two expulsion cases, and six existing cases of litigation against the district.
The board meets in closed session starting 5:30 p.m., and the regular session starts at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 9, at the county admin building, 800 Court Street in Jackson.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
El Dorado Forest is seeking a portion of $27M state parks grants
Written by Tom
Amador County – The El Dorado National Forest announced that it will be applying for some of the $27.1 million available in the current funding cycle from the California Parks Service for off-highway vehicle programs.
Preliminary grant applications are due Monday, March 7, for the 2010-2011 Off-Highway Vehicle Grants program though the California Parks Service. The El Dorado Forest OHV grant application will be available for review online starting Tuesday, March 8, for a 30-day comment period.
The program has $27.1 million available for nonprofit agencies and organizations, which have until March 7 to submit preliminary applications, which may be applied for online at the California State Parks website, ohv.parks.ca.gov.
Grant funds are available in four categories for the upcoming cycle, including a total of $1.3 million for education and safety; $5.2 million for law enforcement; $13 million for operation and maintenance; and $7.6 million for restoration.
Forest Recreation Officer Lester Lubetkin said the El Dorado National Forest is developing an application for Off Highway Vehicle Cooperative Funds for the upcoming 2010-2011 grant cycle.
Lobetkin said: “We are developing a preliminary application … which includes a strong emphasis on trail maintenance and repair, restoration of trails and impacted areas, law enforcement across the four Ranger Districts, printing and distribution of the Motor Vehicle Use Maps, construction of a bridge on the Barrett 4WD Trail, and planning for necessary rerouting of trails in other areas.”
He said the grant applications will be posted on the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation website on March 7, when preliminary applications are due.
The 30-day public review and comment period for the 2010-2011 Grants and Cooperative Agreement Program begins March 8 and ends April 4. This period provides an opportunity for the public to review preliminary applications submitted to the OHMVR Division for consideration during the current grant cycle.
The public may provide comments, suggestions, or letters to both the applicant and the OHMVR Division. The El Dorado National Forest will also host an Open House 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 10 to discuss its grant applications and to hear the public’s thoughts. The Open House will be held in the large conference room at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, 100 Forni Road, Placerville.
For information, call (530) 622-5061.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Amador County – The Amador County Teen Driver Council is sponsoring its annual Teen Driver Night for current and future drivers, next week at Amador High School.
Teen Driver Night is for parents and teens, and will feature guest speakers and presentations. Speakers include Amador County Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann, and fourth year medical student Dan Stein.
California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Craig Harmon will also speak, as will parent, Tina Wurzburger. Jackson Police Officer Chris Rice will talk about narcotics, and Anne Lintz of State Farm Insurance will talk about insurance.
Organizers said: “Our goal is to help parents and teens understand the many issues surrounding the pressures on the teen driver” and to offer safety ideas and tips. “It is clear that the more parents involve themselves in the activities of their teen drivers the fewer accidents occur.”
The Teen Driver Night is 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 in the Amador High School cafeteria in Sutter Creek.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
