News Archive (6192)
Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday the arrest of two convicted felons after a routine traffic stop in Ione on Sunday. On Sunday May 9, 2010 at approximately 1638 hours, Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a traffic detention of a vehicle on Hwy 124 at the Ione Car Wash, for displaying suspended registration. The deputies recognized both the driver and the passenger in the vehicle from numerous prior contacts and were aware the driver was on active CDCR Parole. An Ione Police Officer responded and assisted with the detention. As one deputy contacted the driver, Christopher Allen Dechesero, 40, of Pine Grove, the other deputy contacted the passenger, Barry Craig Standridge, 50, of Jackson. The deputy speaking with Standridge, a convicted felon, began to conduct a search and identified that Standridge had a firearm concealed in his pocket. The deputy, assisted by the Ione Police Officer, took Standridge into custody and recovered the loaded, semi-automatic pistol. A search of the involved vehicle revealed suspected methamphetamine and a hypodermic needle. Standridge was arrested and booked into the Amador County Jail charged with felon in possession of a firearm, being armed in the commission of a felony, possession and transportation of a controlled substance, and possession of a hypodermic needle. Standridge’s bail was set at $30,000.00. Dechesero was arrested and booked into the Amador County Jail charged with violation of parole, possession and transportation of a controlled substance, and possession of a hypodermic needle. Due to his parole status, Dechesero is being held without bail. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – The Howard Business Park would be part of a swath of land that includes a new Ione Bypass, and the city worked last week to lower some of its costs for the development. City Planner Christopher Jordan said discussions with Tim Smith of Howard Properties and the Kreth Family (and plans for development of the lands south of Ione, west of Highway 124) led to city planning commission and council adoption of a General Plan that designates 348 acres as the Industrial Park Policy Area. With a Special Planning Area designation, Jordan said the land has a maximum development potential of more than 2 million square feet of commercial space; 1.4 million square feet of offices; and 6.1 million square feet of light-warehousing to heavy manufacturing. Under the General Plan, development of the Industrial Park Policy Area “is to be created and refined through the adoption of a Specific Plan or Planned Development Master Plan,” Jordan said, “which is to say the entire area must be planned together as a cohesive unit.” The site is “the future realignment of Highway 104 as detailed in the West Ione Roadway Improvement Strategy and the General Plan,” which runs through the 107 acres of the Howard Business Park. Executive Director Charles Field said ACTC is concerned that the project design shows intersections “on the proposed Ione bypass that are spaced too close together to meet Caltrans’ expressway standard,” and should be redesigned to meet those standards, if state funding is wanted for the project. Field said Howard Business Park should help coordinate the bypass alignment, seek access to it, and design it to qualify for STIP funding and Caltrans approval. Amador Transportation and Public Works Department’s Roger Stuart listed several potential impacts on county roads. He said “projects to keep in mind are the Casino off Coal Mine Road, the proposed expansion of the Jackson Valley Quarry from 500,000 tons a year to 2 million tons a year, and the most recent application submittal of the RV park at the Goose Hill Quarry site.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 12 May 2010 03:02
Supes Approve Post-Closure Maintenance Costs For Buena Vista Landfill
Written by Tom
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors discussed and approved Tuesday a resolution for financial assurance for post-closure maintenance of the Buena Vista landfill. Kristin Bengyel, previous Interim Transportation Director and Public Works Director, said the action was necessary in order to “meet the State requirements for Certification of Completion of the corrective action for the Buena Vista Landfill.” The resolution states that California Code requires “operators of solid waste landfills to demonstrate the availability of financial resources to conduct closure, post-closure maintenance, and corrective action activities.” In other words, said Bengyel, this guarantees “that there is always enough money being set aside…for unforeseen future costs.” Board Chairman Brian Oneto asked if this means the County is “still on the hook if something shows up 100 years down the road,” referring to environmental costs. Mike Israel, Amador County Environmental Health Director, said any landowner would be responsible for costs related to their property. Bengyel said the County would have to set aside as much as $210,000 a year out of the General Fund over a 30-year period, but that was the “worst-case scenario.” The closure process began last year after the County determined that it would be environmentally beneficial and cost-effective to contract out for landfill services and transport local waste elsewhere, including to the 250-acre Kiefer landfill in Sacramento. The closure process was officially completed in January, but Bengyel said the site will continue to change over time, resulting in the release of methane gas. She said it takes roughly 25 years for a landfill to settle, and the site can drop as much as 8 feet during that time. The Supervisors unanimously approved a motion to approve the resolution and to set aside the requested amount of approximately $200,000 a year out of the General Fund for future, unforeseen costs. The Board required changes be made to the resolution verbiage to replace “Chief Engineer” with “Landfill Operator” as the future overseer of the site because the county does not currently have a Chief Engineer on staff. Supervisor John Plasse said the Landfill Operator will either be the County as a whole or the responsibility of the Local Enforcement Agency through the Environmental Health Department. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Wednesday, 12 May 2010 05:55
Ione Band of Miwok Indians Releases Details On the Resignation of Tribal Chairman Matthew Franklin
Written by Tom
Amador County – Ione Band of Miwok Indians Vice Chairman Johnny “Gil” Jamerson confirmed the resignation of tribal chairman Matthew Franklin late Tuesday in a press release. Jamerson said the resignation announcement came on Saturday, May 8, at a regularly scheduled General Council meeting for the Band. “The Tribal Council is grateful for Matthew Franklin’s dedicated service to the Ione people and his long commitment to advance our Tribal interests,” said Jamerson. Jamerson makes no mention of tribal corruption or misuse of funds, which tribal member Glen Villa alleged in an earlier email were reasons for Franklin’s resignation. Franklin was first elected to the Tribal Council in 1996, and has served as Chairman of the Tribe since 2003. “As a Tribal leader, he has pursued the land to trust process for over a decade and his leadership will be missed as the Tribe continues to work to secure a homeland,” Jamerson said. He called this a “very sad time” for the tribe. TSPN will continue to investigate the allegations of corruption. 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 County Transportation Commission last week advertised a notice to bidders for the construction of its new administration facility in Sutter Creek. The ACTC plans a “mandatory pre-bid walk-through” May 19th at the site. The notice published last Friday announces that the commission will “receive sealed proposals” for construction of the 3,500 square foot building, with the closing of the bid period being 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 2nd, when the bids will be “publicly opened and read aloud.” The project consists of about 2/10ths of an acre of “site work” and the building construction, as shown on contract documents prepared by ANOVA Architects of Placerville. The notice said “contractors wishing to be considered must possess a valid Class B general building contractor license, present required bonding, and provide a written bid that conforms to the contract documents and bidder instructions.” Bidding documents can be examined at the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange, Placer County Builders Exchange, El Dorado Builders Exchange, the Builders Exchange of Stockton, and Valley Builders Exchange. The project is “subject to prevailing wage provisions” of labor law, and ACTC “will initiate and enforce a Labor Compliance Program,” as required by law. The notice said ACTC “has a goal of 4 percent participation by disadvantaged business enterprises” on the project. The administration facility will be built next to the newly completed and opened Sutter Hill Transit Center, which was also subject of a notice Friday. The ACTC is seeking bids for landscaping at the site, also in a sealed-bid format to be opened June 2nd. Landscaping contract bid documents and plans can be examined and purchased for $25 at the ACTC office at 11400B American Legion Drive in Sutter Creek. The work is subject to state prevailing wages, and because federal funds are involved, each contractor must also comply with federal wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act,” and the “higher of the 2 rates (state or federal) must be paid to each person working on the project.” The work includes landscaping and “hardscaping,” and requires a Class A license. 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 – The Amador Water Agency board of directors in a special meeting late last month approved a new rate and financial plan in the Upcountry water system. The board also made its new General Manager an official position, when Gene Mancebo accepted the job offer. The agency board still must negotiate a contract with Mancebo. The board approved a financial plan and rate study for the Central Amador Water Project retail system that proposes an increase in water rates for the system’s 2,630 customers. The board approved rate increases of 7.5 percent beginning next fiscal year (2010-2011). Mancebo said it is “about $4.10 more per month for the average CAWP Retail customer.” The rates will go up another 7 percent in the second and third years of the 3-year financial plan ending in 2013. Mancebo said the “last time CAWP retail rates were adjusted was in 2006.” The rate increase was needed due to “increased operating and maintenance costs, including escalating electricity expenses to run CAWP pumps.” Also attributed to the need was repayment of an $850,000 internal loan,” which would be paid “over 30 years with the first annual payment estimated at $38,000.” CAWP retail also needed to pay its “share of the Gravity Supply Line project.” CAWP retail customers will receive a Proposition 218 notice that tells about the rate increase and also details the public’s ability to protests utility rate increases. A copy of the financial plan will be available at www.amadorwater.org, the agency’s website. It will also be available for review at the AWA office on Ridge Road. Also in the special meeting at the end of April, Mancebo ended 7 months as Interim General Manager of the agency by accepting the full General Manager position. Terms of his contract will be worked out in the next few weeks by the personnel committee, then brought to the full board for approval. Mancebo said he was “excited to be given the opportunity to move the agency forward.” He said the AWA “is facing substantial financial challenges” and he is “looking forward to meeting those challenges head-on.” Mancebo took over as interim general manager in September when past G.M. Jim Abercrombie stepped down to head the El Dorado Irrigation District last September. On April 22nd, AWA directors unanimously voted to offer Mancebo the post. Mancebo has been with AWA for 22 years, including 17 years in charge of the engineering department. 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 – Legislation to increase government transparency by Assemblymember Alyson Huber has been signed by the Governor. The bipartisan bill, AB 1181, would require most state candidate committees, ballot measure committees and slate mail organizations to file a list of contributors online with the Secretary of State’s office. “This bill will improve transparency by making it easier for the public to track how money is raised and spent,” said Huber. “We should be doing everything we can to make government as open as possible and this bill moves us in that direction,” she added. Existing law requires state candidates, committees and slate mailing organizations to file campaign statements and reports online if the cumulative amount of reportable contributions, expenditures and loans made or received is $50,000 or more. Similarly, state lobbying entities are only required to file reports online if the total amount of any category of reportable payments, expenses, contributions, gifts or other items is $5,000 or more in a calendar quarter. While the exemption may have been logical when the online filing statutes were created in 1997, the availability of free electronic filing software makes this exemption no longer necessary for state lobbying entity documents and the vast majority of state campaign documents. AB 1181 lowers the under $50,000 and under $5,000 exemptions to $25,000 and $2,500 for all state lobbying entity documents and most state campaign documents, requiring these documents to be filed online. AB 1181 was sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s call log recently included ongoing problems between neighbors in Amador City, a thwarted pipe theft on Sutter Hill, and grand theft of a $6,000 ring. On May 4th, the Aquatic Cow on Highway 49 in Amador City reported at 11 a.m. that its locks had been Super Glued. Later that same day, the restaurant owner made a report of disturbing the peace, saying “neighbors threw trash on his back deck and a juvenile at the residence was yelling profanities” at him. At about 4:41 p.m. Monday, May 3rd, the Aquatic Cow reported a civil dispute over a lock on a gate. The reporting party owns the restaurant, and said renters on a neighbor’s property “have changed the locks again.” A theft of property reportedly was thwarted May 2nd on Old Ridge Road. The caller reported finding 3 Hispanic males in a 1984 brown Chevy pickup truck, loaded with metal pipe belonging to the reporting party. The reporting party caught the suspects and had them unload the items from the truck. The suspects then left, heading toward Ione. Wilderotter Vineyard on Shenandoah School Road reported theft of patio furniture, taken from a patio that adjoins a tasting room. The report was made May 4th. A grand theft was reported when a ring came up missing from a jewelry box. The caller reported that the theft occurred on Highway 49. It was discovered missing May 4th, but the reporting party believed the $6,000 ring was taken 2 weeks before. Vandalism was reported May 3rd at Burnt Wheel and Fiddletown roads. The reporting party said some time overnight, a 30-inch convex safety mirror was destroyed with gunshot. The mirror was owned by the Rolling Oaks Property Owners Association. Mailboxes were also reported shot with a gun at the corner of Hale and Fiddletown roads. 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 – Matthew Franklin, Chairman of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, resigned last week amidst allegations of Tribal Council corruption and misuse of Tribal funds, according to Tribal member Glen Villa. The resignation and surrounding controversy were confirmed by Tribal Administrator Pamela Baumgartner on Monday, but she said any further details will be included in a release to be issued shortly. In an email to TSPN, Villa said, “the members of the Tribe have been questioning the misuse of Tribal funds for months, with little to no explanations from the Tribal Council of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians.” The band has been highly controversial since its recognition as a “restored tribe” in 1994 under the Indian Reorganization Act. The grassroots group “No Casino in Plymouth” formed to oppose the tribe’s proposed gaming facility, and residents and government officials have harshly criticized the tribe’s claims of legitimacy. Also opposing the casino are members of the Amador County Board of Supervisors, who have been instrumental in fighting another facility proposed for development by the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians. District 2 Supervisor Richard Forster, whose jurisdiction includes the business office for the tribe, said the group of individuals currently claiming they are the true band “basically came in and hijacked the Ione Band of Miwok Indians (name).” “The true Ione band...those are the people that I care about,” said Forster. The Ione Band of Miwok Indians website says its “Tribal Council is comprised of five members, each of whom is elected to three-year terms by the general council.” The Council consists of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Member at Large. The website states: “Since our Tribe's federal recognition in March 1994, we have faced several challenges and obstacles. Yet we remain a focused and resilient people, ready to move forward on the path of true economic self-reliance.” We will bring you more on this developing story in a later newscast. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 10 May 2010 06:13
Medicine Maker Recalls Infant, Children Tylenol, Motrin Brands
Written by Tom
Pennsylvania – Dozens of medicinal products for children and infants are being voluntarily recalled by a Pennsylvania manufacturer, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced late last month. Parent company McNeil Consumer Healthcare listed 46 different medicine brands it was recalling, all liquid medicines designed for infants or for children age 2 to 11. That included 24 Tylenol items, including concentrated infant drops, and various cold and flue medicines. McNeil also recalled 15 different types of Motrin, 6 brands of Zyrtec, and 1 brand of Benadryl, all of which are products for either children or infants. See a complete list of recalled products, with product code numbers, at McNeilProductRecall.com. McNeil announced April 30th that it is voluntarily recalling all lots that have not yet expired of certain over-the-counter children’s and infants’ liquid products manufactured in the United States and distributed in the U.S., Canada, and 10 other countries. McNeil said it “is initiating this voluntary recall because some of these products may not meet required quality standards.” The company said the “recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events,” but it warns that “as a precautionary measure, parents and caregivers should not administer these products to their children.” Some of the products in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than is specified, the company said, while “others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles.” McNeil said that “while the potential for serious medical events is remote, the company advises consumers who have purchased these recalled products to discontinue use.” The company is “conducting a comprehensive quality assessment” of its manufacturing operations, before new manufacturing resumes at the plant where recalled products were made. FDA Commissioner, Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg said the FDA wants “to be certain that consumers discontinue using these products” and “know what to do if they have concerns about a specific product.” Hamburg said: “While the potential for serious health problems is remote, Americans deserve medications that are safe, effective and of the highest quality” FDA is “investigating the products and facilities associated with this recall and will provide updates” as it learns more. Contact McNeil at 1-888-222-6036, or mcneilproductrecall.com, and report adverse reactions to the FDA. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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