News Archive (6192)
Sutter Gold Mining continues exploratory hole drilling at its Lincoln and Comet mine properties
Written by Tom
Amador County – Sutter Gold Mining Incorporated recently announced commencement of the first phase of an exploration drilling program at its Lincoln Project in Sutter Creek.
Sutter Gold Mining CEO and Director Dr. Leanne M. Baker said “drilling will focus on near-surface extensions of gold mineralization and the under-explored region between the Comet and Lincoln segments” of the property. “The goal of the drilling program is to expand gold resources and to explore regions where drilling density is sparse.”
Sutter Gold’s “exploration team is focused on supporting the efforts to bring into production the first commercial-scale gold mine in the Mother Lode in more than 50 years,” Baker said. She said “we are drilling in areas where resource additions could become part of the current gold resource envelope that we intend to mine in the first five years of our current development plan.” December and January, Sutter Gold completed most of the site work required to construct the new mill and other facilities over the winter and spring period.
Baker said “with favorable weather in December and receipt of the grading permit, Sutter Gold completed road-building from the mine to the mill pad and sand plant sites higher on the hill, as well as to the waste rock pile area.” The site was winterized in preparation for the rainy season: Disturbed areas were hydro-seeded; roads were rocked and bermed; the waste rock pile area was temporarily lined; and storm water management features were installed.
Baker said Sutter Gold completed pre-qualification of potential underground mine contractors, with four companies eligible to continue in the bidding process. The final mine level designs were completed in December. Mill equipment purchases were being evaluated and prepared for delivery.
Drilling contractor Ruen Drilling Incorporated of Clark Fork, Idaho, moved on-site and started drilling Jan. 16 at the south end of the Lincoln site and will progress northward.
Drilling was divided into two segments to accommodate construction. The initial phase drills the unexplored interval between Lincoln and Comet gold zones. Baker said the drilling program is anticipated to be completed in 60 work days, averaging 100 feet per day including rig moves from site to site.
The second phase of drilling will concentrate on the north end, or Comet segment. “Past core holes there were inclined to the southwest in anticipation of gold-bearing structures dipping northeasterly, the predominant dip or inclination of the Mother Lode vein system,” she said.
Stephen Zahony, Vice President of Exploration, said “underground exploration of the Lincoln-Comet vein system by a previous company in 1989-1990 found, to its surprise, that the vein system was southwest dipping.”
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Nomination period opens Monday for county, state and federal office candidates
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador County Registrar of Voters Sheldon D. Johnson announced Monday that the nomination period for the June 5 Primary Election begins on Monday, Feb 13 and ends on March 9, for local county election candidates, as well as for certain state and federal positions to represent Amador County.
Johnson said the nomination period includes the Amador County offices of Superior Court Judge, as well as Amador County Board of Supervisors positions in District 1, held by Supervisor John Plasse; District 2, held by Supervisor Vice Chairman Richard Forster; and District 4, held by Supervisor Chairman Louis Boitano.
The nomination period also will be open for positions on the Democratic Central Committee and on the Republican Central Committee, in Amador County. State offices include the position of United States Senator, the position held by Senator Dianne Feinstein. The nomination period also includes Amador County’s United States Representative, in District 4, held by Congressman Tom McClintock, who through redistricting became the representative of Amador County, while being removed from Congressman Dan Lungren’s District 3.
Another position will be State Assembly Member, District 5, which through redistricting became vacant, as Assemblywoman Alyson Huber was removed from Amador County’s District 10, while the county was placed into District 5.
Registrar Sheldon Johnson said declaration of candidacy and nomination papers may be obtained from the Amador County Election Department, 810 Court Street in Jackson beginning Feb. 13 through March 9. If an incumbent fails to file his or her nomination papers by 5 p.m. on March 9, there will be a 5-day extension allowed for all people other than the incumbent to file for such office. The extension deadline is 5 p.m. March 14.
Individuals interested in filing for county offices should contact the Election Department at (209) 223-6465 for additional information. Information on state, congressional and legislative offices may be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State at (916) 657-2166.
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Amador County – Amador Support, Transportation And Resource Services recently announced its upcoming schedule of fundraising events in its ongoing endeavor to offer free support to those on their cancer journey.
Amador Support, Transportation And Resource Services, known as STARS, offers a variety of free assistance, with its transportation to medical appointments related to cancer treatment, free wig program, scarves, caps, hats, support groups and a lending library. Area resources are offered through STARS in its local office in the Safeway Ridge Shopping Center.
Women Shine With STARS support group meets each month. Women who are in treatment can attend an evening of pampering, to learn makeup tips, head wraps, and great tips to help feel better, while undergoing cancer treatment.
The STARS calendar marks April 27 for Amador County Bunco for Breast Cancer at the Jackson Rancheria Hotel and Conference Center. June 8 & 9 is a benefit Yard Sale at Pine Grove Park. Aug. 24 is Five E-Z Pieces Golf Tournament at Castle Oaks. Sept. 8 is Amador County Camp Out For Cancer, at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth.
The Amador STARS office has relocated from Suite 32 to Suite 36, and is now located next door to Affordable Dentures. Amador STARS is volunteer driven, and is in need of some new volunteer drivers. Call Amador STARS at (209)223-1246 for assistance or to volunteer.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
49er Treasure Trail kickoff meeting set for Wednesday, February 8
Written by Tom
Amador County – Amador Council of Tourism plans to have its kickoff meeting this week for this year’s 49er Treasure Trail game.
Executive Director Maurine Funk said it is time to get organized for the fourth annual 49er Treasure Trail, and ACT is hosting a kickoff meeting 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 8). Funk said food and drink will be provided.
Businesses have several options to participate, including as an “adventure spot,” where the game participants will participate in an “adventure” conducted by the businesses. The adventures and locations are listed on the 49er Treasure Trail program.
Businesses can also sign up to be a “challenge spot,” with points awarded to players for finding the business, completing a challenge, and making a purchase.
Another business participation is to form a team of 2-4 members from you business, wearing business names and going out on the trail. The teams can dress in costumes, do silly antics, help other teams on the trail, and hand out coupons.
Those who cannot make the meeting and need more information can get in touch with Funk and ACT and they will be happy to help. She said: “Even if you do not plan to participate, please help get the word out to your customers and mail-lists. We can all benefit from this event.”
The final meeting is 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 in the banquet room at American Exchange Hotel. The 49er Treasure Trail is set for March 24-25.
Amador Council of Tourism is located at 115 Valley View Way in Sutter Creek. For information, call (209) 267-9249.
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Snowpack shows 60 percent delivery for state’s 25 million water customers
Written by Tom
Amador County – California Department of Water Resources’ Feb. 1 snow survey indicated 60 percent of the state’s 25 million water customers will be served by current snowpack levels, while Amador Water Agency’s general manager said much of the AWA’s customers will be in good shape, even with a multi-year drought.
The state’s second snow survey of the season said statewide snowpack water content is 37 percent of normal for Feb. 1 and 23 percent of normal for April 1, the traditional high point date.
AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said estimates point toward “a potential drought year.” He said Amador Water System has one of the earliest water rights on the Mokelumne River “and therefore those customers would have very little if any affects from a drought as first in time receive their allocations first.”
AWA would “be able to meet normal water demands for all the cities and others who are served by the AWS under all historical record events.”
Conversely, Camanche and La Mel Heights customers “rely on groundwater in their immediate pumping zone,” he said, and it is “difficult to predict, but we know that under severe droughts such as in 1976-1977, many wells suffered loss of quantity and quality.” Mancebo said that was the reason for creating the Central Amador Water Project service area, and its pipeline and pumps.
CAWP’s “water right priority is post Pardee and pre-Camanche reservoir-associated water rights,” he said. “Through agreements with PG&E, the AWA stores up to 1,600 acre-feet annually.” As a result, “the first year of a drought would have little impact on CAWP customers as storage could be used; however in multiple-year droughts the stored water may be used and if not replenished, a shortfall could be experienced.” He said “there would need to be a drought similar to 1976-1977 to have a significant impact on CAWP customers.”
DWR Information Officer Elizabeth Scott said Department of Water Resources’ “initial estimate is that the State Water Project will be able to deliver 60 percent of the slightly more than 4 million acre-feet of water requested this calendar year by the 29 public agencies,” which supply water to “more than 25 million Californians and nearly a million acres of irrigated farmland.”
The delivery estimate is largely based on the known quantity of carryover reservoir storage. Scott said the “unknown is how much rain and snow the state will get the rest of this winter,” and “DWR may adjust the State Water Project delivery estimate to reflect changing hydrologic conditions.”
She said 2011 illustrates “how weather-driven supply conditions can dramatically change.” Initially, SWP estimated 25 percent delivery of the 4 million acre-feet requested, but “as winter took hold, a near-record snowpack and heavy rains resulted in deliveries of 80 percent of requests in 2011.”
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Huber’s property tax Triple Flip repair Bill wins approval of the Assembly
Written by Tom
Amador County – Assemblywoman Alyson Huber’s emergency bill to repair local government financing in Amador and Mono counties has cleared the Assembly and is now being considered by the California Senate.
The bill passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a 17-0 vote Jan. 19, and passed in an Assembly Floor vote, 75-0 to be sent to the Senate for committee assignment. It requires a 2/3rd majority for passage. Huber’s Bill, AB1191, would reverse the loss of $1.5 million in property taxes and Vehicle License Fees in Amador County and its five cities.
Huber’s Legislative Director Robert M. Simpson sent notification of the vote and bill status to Amador County Administrative Officer Chuck Iley on Monday (Jan. 30), and said he would keep the county updated. The unanimous passage of the Assembly included 5 non-votes by either abstention or absence.
Seeking passage as an “urgency” bill, Huber’s AB1191 would try to recover “Triple Flip” and Vehicle License Fee funds lost with an Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund change that took about $1 million from Amador County and another $500,000 from the cities, when the Amador County Unified School District declared itself a “basic aid” school district. The declaration kept the funds for the School District, but did not replenish them for the cities and the county.
Sutter Creek City Manager Sean Rabe said Huber’s bill “resolves the property tax situation that is unique to Amador and Mono counties.” He said Sutter Creek likely faces an ongoing loss of about $58,000 in property tax revenue if AB1191 does not pass.
Jackson City Manager Mike Daly said it is a structural fix to legislative code that “takes care of something that never should have happened in the first place.” Jackson lost $96,000 in funding last fiscal year, Plymouth lost $25,000 and Amador City lost $5,000.
Ione proportionally was hit harder than the other cities in Amador County, due to loss of Vehicle License Fees totaling $190,000, in the per capita way the state gives out the fees, based on 7,000 population though more than 4,000 are incarcerated.
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Jackson Business and Community Association plans February mixer
Written by Tom
Amador County – Jackson Business and Community Association plans a meeting and mixer, for neighborhood business people and other interested community members
6 p.m. Monday (Feb. 6) in the banquet room at Thomi’s Café in Jackson.
Patti Busch of the JBCA said the meeting includes a short bit of business, in revealing the election results of the 2012 JBCA Board, and some friendly mixer fun. Busch said attendees can “enjoy a glass of wine and some finger food, while getting to know your neighbors a little better.”
She also reminded members that it is “time to take care of your 2012 Membership Dues. You can bring that with you or mail or drop it off at the JBCA office at 148 Main Street.” She said “one exciting benefit of paid membership is that some lucky person will be going home with a lovely 14 carat gold and diamond pendant.
“Everyone gets an entry in the drawing with their paid membership,” and it has “pretty good odds too.”
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Amador County – The U.S. Department of Agriculture last week awarded $730,000 to the Amador-Calaveras Consensus Group for its 10-year plan to manage El Dorado and Stanislaus national forests.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a second round of projects for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program, including the Amador-Calaveras Consensus Group’s “Cornerstone Project,” as one of 10 winners across the country.
El Dorado National Forest Public Affairs Officer Frank E. Mosbacher said the projects are “designed to expand the number of forested acres to be treated to reduce fire threat, help local economies and accomplish critical forest restoration objectives.”
Mosbacher said the Amador-Calaveras Consensus Group Cornerstone Project will receive $730,000 in funding to begin work on Stanislaus National Forest and El Dorado National Forest restoration projects this year.
“The Forest Service is accelerating the pace and scale of restoration work on National Forest Land to address a number of threats to the health of forest ecosystems, watersheds, and forest dependent communities,” Mosbacher said. The “efforts will economically stimulate local communities by creating a more vibrant forest products industry, providing over 200 jobs, and attracting more visitors to local rural areas.”
El Dorado National Forest Supervisor Kathy Hardy said the “dedicated people who make up the Amador-Calaveras Consensus Group deserve our thanks for helping us define and present this project for national competition. This was a collaborative effort.” She said “only 10 projects were selected nationally,” and “now, it’s time to line up the projects and get to work.”
Notification of the award was given Thursday, Feb. 2. Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Susan Skalski said she was grateful that “all the hard work our collaborative group has done has been recognized.” She said support for the restoration projects “will help protect the public, improve forest health and provide an economical boost to our local communities.”
Mosbacher said the Cornerstone Project proposal “outlines work to be completed over a 10-year period and describes various treatments covering 38,500 acres across the Stanislaus and El Dorado National Forests. The long-term commitment by the Department is subject to annual appropriations.”
Some of the activities identified in the winning project proposal include forest thinning and fuels reduction; biomass and small-diameter tree removal; restoration of culturally sensitive sites; reforestation; meadow enhancement; watershed improvement; and other restoration and job-creating activities.
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Ione Council to hear details of the sewer plant seepage plan
Written by Tom
Amador County – After hearing recenltly that the city could still face $11 million in fines related to its wastewater Cease & Desist Order, Ione City Council this week will hear a report of a recent seepage plan that may lead to a cheaper route to compliance.
Ione’s regular overseer, Wendy Wiels, and Executive Director Pamela C. Creeden of the Regional Water Quality Control Board attended a public workshop Jan. 26, which Ione City Manager Jeff Butzlaff said was completely interactive with the public, generating some good ideas, and showed major concern among the public and the Board. Butzlaff said Wiels and Creeden “became an inherent part of workshop” and provided a letter that said up to $11 million in fines could have been assessed to Ione over the years, and going forward, the city was still subject to those fines, unless it meets with the requirements of the Cease & Desist Order against its wastewater plant.
Butzlaff said RBI Incorporated submitted its “Seepage Discharge Compliance Plan” to Wiels and Creeden on the night of the workshop, and the next step is filing a “Report of Waste Discharge,” due in May. He said the State Board reps attended, there was a lot of discussion and it “certainly turned out the way Mayor Ron Smylie wanted it to turn out.”
At the meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 7) Ione City Council will get a presentation on the Seepage Discharge Compliance Plan. Butzlaff said some of findings are encouraging, such as gradations and dynamics of flow that show issues at Ponds 5 and 6 mostly, rather than ponds 1-4. He said it potentially could open up more lower-cost alternatives, getting further away from a highly mechanized activated sludge plant that was originally talked about by PERC water.
Butzlaff said if turns out it is as it appears to be, “it gives us more wiggle room in terms of options.”
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Second 2012 snow survey shows continuing dry conditions
Written by Tom
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Water Resources on Wednesday released its second snow survey of the season, showing snowpack is below average, two months before the usual seasonal highpoint date.
DWR public information officer Elizabeth Scott said the latest snow survey “confirmed that water content in California’s mountain snowpack is far below normal for this time of year. Manual and electronic readings record the snowpack’s statewide water content at only 37 percent of normal for the date,” just 23 percent of the average April 1 reading, when snowpack normally is at its peak before the spring melt.
DWR Director Mark Corwin said “so far, we just haven’t received a decent number of winter storms. We have good reservoir storage thanks to wet conditions last year, but we also need more rain and snow this winter.”
Results of the manual readings off Highway 50 near Echo Summit showed the highest reading at Lyons Creek, (6,700 feet elevation) with 21 inches of snow, (30 percent of the long-term average). There was around 15 inches of snow at three other locations, Alpha (7,600 feet), Phillips Station (6,800 feet) and Tamarack Flat (6,500 feet).
Scott said the “Lyons Creek and Alpha snow measurements were the second lowest on record,” (going back to 1958 for Lyons, 1966 for Alpha). Water content in Lyons Creek snowpack was 5.8 inches, compared with the record low of 0 inches in 1963. Water content at Alpha was 3.6 inches, compared with the record low of 2.9 inches in 1976.
Tamarack Flat was the fourth lowest on record going back to 1946, and the Phillips reading was the second lowest, dating to 1946.
Readings indicated water content in the northern mountains is 41 percent of normal for Feb. 1, and 26 percent of the April 1 seasonal average. Central Sierra snowpack is 32 percent of normal, 20 percent of April 1 average. Southern Sierra pack is 42 percent of average, 25 percent of April 1’s average.
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