News Archive (6192)
Amador County - The Amador County Child Care Council announced this week it will host a candidates forum on October 5th. All candidates running for federal, state, city council and school board offices have been invited. This includes District 3 Congressional candidates, State Senate and Assembly candidates, water agency candidates, and all candidates for seats in local city council races. Each attending candidate will be given the opportunity to make an opening statement and rebuttal/comment opportunities on questions developed by the Resource Conservation District.
ACCC Manager Joyce Stone said in a release that this forum will be a good time to ask “questions about the issues that affect you and your family.” The forum will be moderated by Jack Mitchell, Publisher of the Ledger-Dispatch. The forum will take place at the County Administrative Building at 810 Court Street in Jackson in the Supervisors' Chambers. It is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm and end at 8:30 pm. The public is encouraged to attend. Stone will discuss the forum in more detail during an interview scheduled for TSPN’s noon news on October 1st. For more information call Joyce Stone at 209-257-5303. In related news, the City of Ione is holding a Candidate’s Forum on Wednesday, September 29th, at 7:00 pm in Evalynn Bishop Hall. Three of the six Ione candidates who are running for office will be attending—Lee Ard, Dan Epperson and Ron Smylie. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County - Amador County Public Health Department will hold another free Tdap clinic in response to a whooping cough epidemic in California which health officials are calling the worst in 50 years. So far, seven infants have died in the state. Three cases have been confirmed in Amador County. In response, Amador County Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann is spreading the word about awareness and prevention. “The number of whooping cough cases reported this year is seven times greater than last year in the state,” said Hartmann recently. “All seven deaths reported in California were infants under three months old.” Hartmann said whooping cough is the leading vaccine-preventable disease. Known medically as pertussis, the disease is considered incredibly contagious, affecting close to 90 percent of those exposed to it, says the CDC. Close to 70 percent of infants under a year old are hospitalized. Babies are particularly susceptible because they have no natural immunity to whooping cough. According to state reports, the number of whooping cough cases tends to peak every two to five years. “We usually see an up tick in the number of whopping cough cases every 2 to 5 years,” said Joanne Hasson, Amador County Public Health Nurse. “It’s cyclical and not unusual.” In anticipation of the outbreak, Amador County has stocked up on Tdap, the most common vaccine for the highly contagious disease. Hasson said the youngest children get a slightly different formulation. She said a lot of people have been coming in for vaccinations recently, mostly for what is known as “cocooning.” The “cocoon” strategy aims to protect newborn infants from becoming infected by administering the Tdap vaccine to women who have just had babies and family members and friends who make frequent contact with the newborn. In order to successfully avoid infection, Hasson said children should receive vaccinations at 2, 4 and 6 months, 15 to 18 months and a final shot between 4 to 6 years old. “Basically, kids should get five valid doses before the age of seven,” she said. A free “Tdap” (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine clinic is scheduled from 2:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 22 at the Health and Human Services Building in Sutter Creek for people 17 years old or older. A parent or guardian must be present with minors under age 18. For other regularly scheduled immunization clinics, call Amador Public Health Immunization Line at 223-6697. For Spanish, call 223-6642. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Friday, 17 September 2010 06:15
Sierra Business Council offers free energy audits, retrofits
Written by Tom
Amador County - Local governments and businesses in Tuolumne County will have new access to cutting edge energy efficient technology through a new collaboration between Sierra Business Council and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. From 2010 to 2012, Sierra Business Council, a non-profit organization with a new office in Sonora will be offering free energy audits and low-cost retrofits to commercial PG&E customers in the Sierra Nevada (including Amador County) through a new program called the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch. “During this tough economic downturn, we are excited to be able to support our local businesses and governments by offering cost-cutting energy efficiency services,” said Steve Frisch, President of the Sierra Business Council. “This project embodies our long-standing mission of demonstrating that environmental quality and economic prosperity are compatible goals.” Many of the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch installations are performed at highly reduced costs to participating small businesses. Rebates are also offered through the program for measures such as facet aerators, low flow showerheads, and door gaskets for reach-in and walk-in coolers and freezers. In the case of Tuolumne County’s Sierra Outdoor School, a rebate of over $14,000 at a total cost to the school of $3,600 enables them to save nearly $13,000 annually. Their return on investment is nearly 250 percent with payback occurring in just under four months. Visit www.sbcouncil.org to fill out an electronic form and an Energy Associate will contact you. Or visit SBC’s new office location at 85 North Washington Street in downtown Sonora. Walk-in hours are every Wednesday and Thursday, 9am - 5pm. You may also call to make an appointment at 209-532-7200. For more information about the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch Program, and to see tips on saving energy at home and the workplace, see www.sbcouncil.org/energywatch. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – Amador County Unified School District (ACUSD) officials said this week they will receive approximately $875,000 less in state funding for the next fiscal year because current school enrollment numbers are lower than projected. The 2010-11 Summary of Enrollment indicates 175 fewer students have enrolled in Amador County schools than the number projected by school officials last fiscal year. According to Barbara Murray, assistant superintendent of business for ACUSD, the State of California provides approximately $5000 per enrollee during the following fiscal year. Because 175 fewer students enrolled than projected, the district will be out approximately $875,000 in 2011-12. The total projected enrollment was 4,130 and actual enrollment is 3,955. The biggest difference is at Argonaut High School, where 48 fewer students enrolled, followed by a loss of 43 at Jackson Elementary, 42 at Amador High, 37 at Jackson Junior High, 26 at Ione Junior High and 20 at Independence High. With the exception of Jackson Elementary, elementary schools saw little change beyond a plus or minus ratio of 10 students.
Murray said the district did an informal survey last year to try and determine reasons for the declining enrollment numbers. “People just are not here anymore,” she said. “It’s a difficult time, and our survey indicated that families are leaving because there is no work and they are losing their homes.” She said that at the time of the survey, approximately 80 families with school-aged children had recently moved out of the county. “We have to start thinking about how we are going to tackle this problem, because this is money that is vitally important to our district,” she said. At a meeting in February, Superintendent Dick Glock said ACUSD has been reduced $14 million in revenue over a three year period. “There is no good outcome to actions we must take,” he said. “It’s become about financial survival, not about what’s good for kids and students.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council received a report of declining Transient Occupancy Tax receipts in the city, and a corresponding decline in funds given to the Amador Council of Tourism. ACT Executive Director Maureen Funk gave an annual report of activities for 2009-2010 last week, with details of the decline, which occurred between 2008 and 2009. Funk said “regional hotel and motel occupancy continued to decline through 2009, forcing lodging prices downward and lowering TOT receipts.” A study by Dean Runyan Associates said TOT revenues decreased in Sutter Creek by 10 percent from 2008 to 2009. Funk said in fiscal year 2008-09, the Amador Council of Tourism received a total of $12,780 from Sutter Creek. That declined by 45 percent in 2009-2010, with ACT getting a total of just over $7,000, including $5,800 from the city and $1,200 from Sutter Creek Promotions Committee. Funk said 60 percent of the budget was spent on advertising and the council “increased the value of its investment to more than six times, for a total of $137,000.” That included ads in “Sunset,” “Sactown,” and “Sacramento News & Review” magazines; on Capitol Public Radio; in the state visitor’s and travel and recreation guides; and a state fair exhibit. Funk said “media coverage for Amador County has continued to grow,” including a year-long ad on Capitol Public Radio, and ads with Herburger Publications and Sierra Heritage magazine. Funk reported that Amador Council of Tourism’s “website traffic has continued to grow strongly.” She said the new “Sutter Hill Transit Center is open seven days a week,” and as the new tourism council home, it has placed the Council “in a more central location, making it easier for ACT to service visitors and member businesses.” Amador Council of Tourism in the past year participated in travel and trade shows in Los Angeles and London, and had several big partners. Funk said those included the Gold Country Visitors Association, California Travel and Tourism Commission, and Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. Funk said Amador Council of Tourism also “distributed 15,000 copies of the Amador County Travel and Recreation Guide in one year,” with a plan to have the magazine’s next issue ready in time for travel shows in late January 2011. Until then, the council will produce 10,000 copies of a brochure and map. Funk said 2010 so far marked the opening of the new office on Sutter Hill, a social media marketing workshop, and hosting six German journalists, in partnership with the California Travel and Tourism Commission. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Friday, 17 September 2010 06:22
Investigation continues on suspected embezzlement at Chamber
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Jackson Police Department completed its investigation into alleged embezzlement of $38,500 by the former executive director of the Amador County Chamber of Commerce in early August, and announced Thursday that the case has been forwarded to the District Attorney. JPD issued an affidavit for an arrest warrant for former Chamber Executive Director Jacqueline Lucido, who was laid off by the Chamber executive board on Wednesday. Police Chief Scott Morrison said the investigator in the case “prepared an arrest warrant affidavit, which is a document asking for an arrest warrant.” He said it can be used later, but it has not yet been used. The affidavit went to District Attorney Todd Riebe’s office August 12th. Morrison said the Jackson Police Department has an agreement with Riebe that any arrest warrants issued in the case would not come until after a complete review by the District Attorney’s office of all of the involved documents. Morrison said Riebe has brought in a forensic auditor to help with the financial documents involved. Riebe confirmed that his office was investigating the criminal case with the help of JPD. He said: “There has not been an arrest warrant issued in this case.” He said alleged crimes, by nature are more labor intensive, and the case will involve search warrants and require financial institutions to make copies of and release voluminous documents that must be investigated. He said he cannot comment on a case currently under investigation, but his office has employed a forensic accountant to assist and give guidance in the investigation. Morrison on Thursday said in March, JPD was informed that Lucido might have been unlawfully utilizing a Visa credit card that was obtained in 2003 for official Chamber use.” The card was obtained by then-Chamber President Paul Molinelli Junior. The “criminal investigation opened in April when initial inquiries into purchases made with the Visa credit card revealed they were for Lucido’s personal use and that payments towards the Visa bill were paid from the Chamber’s checking account.” The JPD investigation found that Lucido unlawfully used the Chamber credit card and Chamber money to purchase $22,500 in personal goods, and pay $11,500 in interest and late payment penalties. She was also alleged to have used a Chamber grocery credit card to buy $3,500 in personal groceries from Raley’s. The investigation found no evidence “to support a claim that Lucido had ever reimbursed the Chamber for purchases she made for personal use.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County - A former Sacramento streetcar, which ran the rails of the city in the 30’s and 40’s, will be moved by truck and trailer from Sacramento to the site of the Folsom Rail & Transportation Festival where it will be moved onto the historic rails of the former SP Placerville Branch. According to Larry Bowler, President of the Recreational Railroad Coalition Historical Society said the event was moved to Folsom due to the temporary loss of a lease the group had for the Amador Central Railroad in Ione. This event will be an historic occasion when the old streetcar will, once again, power up and run a portion of the P’ville Branch during the Folsom Rail Festival. Because the car takes its power from overhead lines and because the P’ville Branch is not so equipped, the car will be connected to a generator which sits on a rail “sled” which will provide the power to operate the streetcar. The placing of the railcar on the new track takes place today (September 16) at noon at 155 Placerville Road behind the Hampton Inn. The Folsom Rail & Transportation Festival is the first such event in the city. It will begin on Friday evening (September 17) when vintage speeders will begin a night run for purposes of inspecting the rails in preparation for the public rides on Saturday and Sunday. Rides will be provided to ticket holders who will be served on a “first come, first served” basis. In addition to the streetcar and speeders, other varieties of old railroad rolling stock will be in operation. This includes a model exhibit and a pumper car on its own, dedicated track. For more information on the event, contact Larry Bowler at 916-764-5110. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board discussed communications and the Brown Act last week, and Director Don Cooper requested placing it on a future agenda. President Bill Condrashoff said he would “like to have a specific topic,” and Cooper suggested discussing compliance to the Public Records Act. Vice President Debbie Dunn said she did not “want to agendize something we are not subjected to,” and the agency attorney told her that board members were not subject to it. Dunn said if Cooper wanted to talk about a director requesting information from staff, she would talk about that. Cooper said he thought the board had some issues with requests for information, and he suggested the board get an ethics review by attorney Steve Kronick. Cooper also said they could discuss “board members making information requests directly to staff, and not working through the general manager.” Cooper said he also wanted to discuss the “protocol relative to board members seeking information or making contact with government agencies without general manager or board participation.” He said he would like to discuss a policy relative to that issue. Cooper also wondered about permissible conversations under the Brown Act, and he thought Kronick could share information about recent rulings regarding general manager and board member communications specifically related to agenda items. Condrashoff said he thought Brown Act and ethics classes required periodically for board members would be sufficient. Cooper said “it wouldn’t take long,” and it would be good to refresh the board on the subject. General Manager Gene Mancebo said the attorney general has released opinions that “further narrow” interpretation. Cooper on Tuesday said he has seen Dunn interacting with staff. He said she wasn’t satisfied with engineering findings about rebuilding the pumping station in the Central Amador Water Project, and “proceeded to not accept those reports and to call Kennedy Jinks to get copies of the report.” After approval of the Gravity Supply Line in March, Cooper said Dunn and Condrashoff have made calls to the USDA, and those discussions “haven’t been shared with the staff and the board.” Cooper said he asked to “put it on the agenda so we can talk about it.” He said when board members go over the head of staff, they “instill mistrust in what the staff is doing for you.” He said he asked for it to be placed on the agenda last April. He said Mancebo and Condrashoff will decide agenda topics, and new policy also allows the full board to decide to place items on the board agenda. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:17
Moke Hill man arrested for theft of property from Jeff Holman’s Auto Sales
Written by Tom
Amador County – A Mokelumne Hill man has been arrested in connection with the theft of property from Jeff Holman’s Auto Sales in Martell. Gary Fielden McMahan, 25, has been arrested and charged with stolen property. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office investigated a report filed on September 10, 2010 and discovered that two sets of keys had been stolen from the dealership building, as well as a cellular telephone stolen from a patron’s vehicle that was parked at the business. Witnesses on scene reported seeing a possible suspect earlier in the afternoon loitering around the business. The suspect was described as a white male adult, 25-30 years of age, with a shaved head, numerous tattoos, wearing a sleeveless white shirt and carrying a backpack. Soon after, Sheriff’s Deputies took a report from a 70-year-old female whose wallet was stolen at Safeway. The victim said she was shopping when she was approached by a suspect she described as similar to the one spotted at Jeff Holman’s Auto Sales. “The victim said the subject asked her to assist him with picking out some merchandise. After assisting him, she subsequently realized she was missing her wallet and she ultimately called the Sheriff’s Office,” said Undersheriff Jim Wegner in a release Wednesday. Wegner said Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted checks of businesses and parking areas in the Martell area. A deputy sheriff subsequently located and detained McMahan in a vehicle parked at WalMart. A search of McMahan and his vehicle resulted in the recovery of the keys stolen from Jeff Holman Auto Sales. The wallet and cellular telephone were not located. This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to these crimes, or any other criminal activity are asked to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Thursday, 16 September 2010 06:15
ACUSD reduces school year in response to budget crisis
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County School District received approval last week to reduce the school year by five days. The approval was granted by the State of California and Governor Schwarzenegger to reduce the number of school days for students from 180 to 175.
Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Chapin-Pinotti said the time reduction was made because of the current budget crisis hitting schools throughout the state. Three pre-service days for teachers and staff were also eliminated. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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