Yesterday’s big news was the electrical power outage that turned the air conditioning off to about 4462 customers. Initially the 4462 customers, both commercial and residential, went dark around 4 pm after a major PG&E transformer exploded. The outages effected local business, homes and meetings with the City of Sutter Creek having to postpone their Planning Commission meeting. The transformer explosion, located in the Martell area just off of Highway 49, is thought to be heat related. As PG&E crews responded the call lines to the utility were swamped with local residents asking about restoration. By about 8 pm 1100 or so customers had their power restored by PG&E crews that were able to shift the power grid around slightly. The remainder of the customers saw their power restored by about 1 am last night. According to PG&E spokesman JD Guidi as permanent repairs are made through out the day today customers will be taken off line, for a few minutes at a time, as tests are conducted. This will occur through out the day today but these outages will be planned, temporary, short in duration, and part of the overall fix.

Drivers got the green light for the Sutter Creek bypass yesterday morning around 10:30.  The road closed sign was removed and Caltrans activated the lights.  It did not take long for drivers to take the new 3.5 mile stretch of road that bypasses Sutter Creek and Amador City which will cut several minutes off of their trip between Highway 16 and Sutter Hill, as well as save the side mirrors of many vehicles that are parked along the old Hwy. 49 stretch in Sutter Creek. The new road also provides a spectacular view when headed north toward the old Hwy 49 junction. TSPN was there yesterday morning as the bypass officially opened to traffic. The Bypass was expected to significantly reduce the amount of commercial vehicle traffic through Amador City and Sutter Creek. The County and ACTC is still working on getting funds from the state to bring the old section of Hwy. 49 up to standard before it is transferred to County and Cities.

 

Last week, the Plymouth City Council heard from a tribal elder of the Ione band of Me-Wuk Indians during the public comment period and it appeared that the Plymouth citizens were upset at the lack of negotiations between the City and Tribe for the proposed Casino. The tribal elder told the council that starting Thursday, last week, the tribe has begun negotiations with the County. The tribe representative stated, “I’m sorry the City has to loose out on the money this casino will generate but we will continue to push forward with this casino." Citizens of Plymouth also addressed the council on the 'dead' MSA between the tribe and the City; Plymouth citizen, Maria Simon addressed the council saying, "God created all men equal; red, brown, black, yellow, white… You allow 250 homes here, 500 there, and 300 over there… I do not see why money from developers is any better than that of the tribe. The city is going to miss out on big money and it will now go to the county. Plymouth will get the short end of the stick yet again."

More concerns have been raised by residents living near and around Mule Creek State Prison when recent rains gave flow to the creek. The creek color according to neighbors of the prison is black. Amador County Environmental Health Department Director Mike Israel is aware of the situation and has been investigating the concerns since first contacted last week. He was on site Friday, February 9, and at that time Israel reports, the creek was flowing significantly.  Though the water was muddy and cloudy, no unusual color (black) was noted at that time by Israel.