Plymouth – Congressman Dan Lungren focused on health care and Capitol Hill battles over health care reform in a speech before the Plymouth Rotary Club Tuesday morning at the 49er RV Village in Plymouth. “A government system would ration health care,” said Lungren, standing before an audience of approximately 30 Rotarians. “We’re already $1 trillion in debt, and I don’t see how we can take on another trillion-dollar program,” he said. A number of Rotarians were in attendance, including individuals from the Amador Water Agency, the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, the Plymouth City Council and the Amador City Council. Audience members stood and applauded at the start and conclusion of Lungren’s nearly hour-long speech. He said “health care could mean more to the United States than any other single issue today.” He criticized President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Democrats for trying to push through a health package that will require more government oversight and spending. He called Joe Biden “an interesting guy you’d like to watch a football game with, but by half-time you’d be telling him to shut up.” Marilyn Hoopes, a resident of Sutter Creek, said her rates as a small employer have gone up 50 percent and asked if it isn’t better to have some sort of government competition. She also said she is happy with the Medicare system. Lungren said Medicare is going to go broke by 2040. “My fear is that if we go in the other direction, Medicare will break us,” he said. He said “I will never give up on this country, but I do give up on some of the people who say we can do things (the same old way.)” Lungren ended his speech by quoting French theorist and economist Frederic Bastiat, who said: “The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else.” Lungren represents California’s 3rd District, which includes Amador County. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fiddletown, California – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday afternoon that Fiddletown resident John Michael O’Sullivan was shot and killed Sunday during a dispute with his neighbor. The sheriff’s dispatch received a 911 call at 7:45 p.m. Sunday from O’Sullivan’s neighbor, Kenneth John Zimmerman, 56, who said that O’Sullivan, 47, had driven a tractor through his locked gate. The sheriff’s office said the two men had “a longstanding neighbor dispute.” Zimmerman, who faces a charge of murder, said that O’Sullivan struck him in the face with his open hand, and tried to run over him with the tractor. Zimmerman told the dispatcher that the sheriff’s office better hurry up and get there “before I shoot him”. Amador County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched immediately. Dispatch received a second call at 7:58 p.m. from O’Sullivan’s wife, Krista Darlene Clem, stating that she heard several gunshots and was unable to locate her husband. Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the Zimmerman property, located at 18000 Jura Lane in Fiddletown, at approximately 8:08 p.m., wherein they found Zimmerman blocking the roadway with a vehicle. In a release, Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner said: “Zimmerman reported O’Sullivan was near the gate he had damaged and the firearm in question was within the residence. Upon checking the area, deputies subsequently located O’Sullivan, deceased on his tractor, off the roadway, in the brush near Zimmerman’s residence.” Preliminary investigation indicates O’Sullivan was the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. Wegner said the sheriff’s department acquired a search warrant for the Zimmerman property and had been processing the crime scene since Sunday night. Zimmerman was arrested and booked in the Amador County Jail on one count of murder. Zimmerman is being held without bail. Wegner said “no further details will be released at this time in order to protect the integrity of this investigation.” John Michael O'Sullivan, a citizen of Ireland, was an Amador County housing developer, working with his wife and business partner, Krista Clem, on the Golden Vale housing development. The project proposed a “mixed use” of single- and multi-family units on 383 acres of property, located on the north side of Highway 88, just west of Sunset West, in Amador County. O’Sullivan is survived by his wife, Krista, and their four children: Tessie, age 2; Michael, age 3; Lydia, age 6; and Jacob, age 14. The family lived in Fiddletown, an unincorporated town in Amador County. O’Sullivan’s parents are Hanora Teresa O'Sullivan and Michael Frances O'Sullivan of Valentia Island, Ireland; and his grandparents are John William O'Sullivan of Valentia Island, Ireland, and Una O'Sullivan of Cardiff, Wales. (end) am Www.TSPNTV.com. Alex Lane and Jim Reece, TSPN TV News. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek - An upcoming fundraiser at the American Legion Hall will benefit Khylee Monson, a 4-year-old from Pioneer who was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Khylee began to feel sick last fall and was diagnosed in June with pontine glioma, a rare form of brain tumor. Since then, she has undergone intense medical procedures, including six weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. Khylee’s mother, Jackie Harrison, ended her job at Volcano Communications so she can look after Khylee and drive her down to Sacramento for weekly hospital visits. The fundraising committee “For Khylee’s Sake,” created by Jennifer Wilson, is the organizing party behind this latest fundraiser, which includes a raffle and silent auction. Wilson is a close friend of Jackie and has a 4-year-old daughter who is friends with Khylee. “It’s important that people come to this dinner event to support Khylee and her family during this devastating time,” said Wilson. She said Saturday is also an opportunity to raise awareness. During the last 30 years, there has been little to no progress in fighting this and similar types of brain cancer, where other cancers have seen big increases in survival rates. “The goal for Saturday is to raise $15,000,” said Wilson. So far, her committee has raised over $10,000 through various fundraising efforts and private donations. In addition, the entire staff at Volcano Communications has donated portions of their paychecks towards helping Khylee, so far totaling over $16,000. Wilson said the money will cover a variety of expenses, from procedures not covered by insurance to general living expenses now that Jackie is out of work. “In a couple more moths she has to switch over to COBRA insurance, which will cost her at least $1000 out of pocket each month,” said Wilson. “Jackie has been overwhelmed and amazed by the show of support. She told me she is really grateful.” The fundraiser and auction to benefit Khylee Monson at the American Legion Hall in Martell takes place this Saturday, August 22. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner starts at 6 p.m. There will be tri-tip sandwiches, salad and desserts. Tickets for the dinner cost $15 for adults and $7 for those ages 7 to 12. Children 6 and under are free. Some of the many raffle and silent auction items include a 30-minute helicopter ride over Amador County, $3000 worth of daycare at Pioneer Montessori, photography sessions, overnight stays in Tahoe, a huge vacation home in Santa Cruz for 3 nights, a cord of pine wood, web design services, artwork, jewelry, free babysitting, wine, karate classes, a Black & Decker cordless set of tools, and much more. Tickets for the event are available at Hein & Company Books in Jackson, Well Read Books in Martell, State Farm Insurance in Jackson, Pets n’ Stuff in Ione, Munnerlyn’s Ice Creamery in Pine Grove, and Pine Cone Drug in Pine Grove, as well as online at www.just-one-dollar.com. For more information, call Wilson at 419-3995. by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – The Plymouth Pipeline reportedly was nearing a connection to the Tanner Water Treatment Plant last week, among a handful of local projects that defy the dog days of the recession. Interim General Manager of the Amador Water Agency, Gene Mancebo, who takes over the post September 4th, said that contractors and AWA workers on Thursday were preparing to bury the final length of pipe on the Plymouth Pipeline. AWA Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said they were “all but 100 percent done with the pipeline itself.” It would connect to the Tanner plant. More work remains, but this week, the crews could be pouring concrete footings for the Sutter Creek bridge, over which the Plymouth Pipeline crosses the creek. Paul Johnston of the Pine Grove Community Service District reported that the CSD was looking at an $80,000 to $85,000 project to increase fire fighting flows in the district. He told the AWA board last Thursday that they were looking at getting 4,000 fleet of 12-inch pipeline form their storage and out to Irishtown. They were doing “pre-bid” work. Johnston its purpose was also to “bring more water to developing areas.” He told the AWA board that they were looking at USDA grants and loans, and were “looking for AWA help with it.” He said they already have right-of-ways. Johnston said: “It’s ambitious for a small district like us, but we think we can handle it.” Mancebo said the Central Amador Water Project line goes to the district’s area. General Manager Jim Abercrombie said there “could be a small benefit to the Toma Lane customers.” He said staff would “get a little more meat on the bones,” bring it as a full item for the board, and see if they “want to participate financially.” The AWA Information Technology staff reported that it was changing its website domain name, to AmadorWater.org, which “more aligns with our infrastructure and business.” The agency still owns the old name, AmadorWA.com, but will be notifying all e-mail contacts of the new site name. Staff suggested the AWA board e-mail all its contacts with the new address. The change was made to provide a lot more security to the agency. Anyone who had been e-mailed by the AWA board would be notified automatically of the new websites and e-mail addresses. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.