News Archive (6192)
There was some controversy this week regarding recreation fees for the Powder House Estates Subdivision Agreement. The Powder House Estates development will be located adjacent to the Sutter Crest subdivision in Sutter Creek, and will consist of 11 single-family residential lots and one town home parcel consisting of 54 lots. In addition, a new street identified as Powder House Drive will be created for access, and the Sutter Crest West road will be extended into the new subdivision. Construction on the project is expected to begin this summer.
This week, Tracy Towner Yep, executive director of the Amador County Recreation Agency, went before the Sutter Creek City Council to contest developer Stan Gambel’s request for the city to waive Park and Recreation fees for the project. The developer’s argument was based on the fact the fees were adopted subsequent to the project approval. Towner Yep argued that “waiving the impact fees does not waive the impacts,” and noted the lack of park facilities in the town. “Parks and Recreation are tantamount to building the nicest communities in the world,” she said. A visibly perturbed Stan Gambel then approached the council, to rebut Tower Yep’s contest. “I’m not asking for the world,” Gambel said, “I think I have been more than generous.” Gambel was referring to his donation of 3.2 acres to the city for an affordable housing program as well as 17.2 acres for open space. Gambel will also be funding road improvements on Gopher Flat Road. Substitute City Attorney Samuel L. Jackson, in for Dennis Crabb who is on vacation, informed the council that it was entirely up to their discretion whether or not to impose the fees. In the end, the council agreed to waive Park and Rec fees for the project, but will still require the payment of traffic mitigation fees.
The West
Nile Virus is starting earlier this year in the Sacramento area. Officials have confirmed the first bird
death from the virus. According to the
Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District Manager David Brown, it’s a few months earlier than usual for Sacramento to
see an American Crow death from West Nile Virus. “It’s an early wake-up call for residents to
start putting on a mosquito repellant when they’re going outside when the
mosquitoes are active and
certainly do what they can to reduce mosquito development sites in and around
their yards,” says Brown. Brown says officials are surveying areas where
mosquitoes like to lay eggs. He says that includes foreclosed homes with
abandoned swimming pools or standing water. Last year there were 24 cases in
Sacramento County, including one death. That’s compared to 2005 when there were
170 cases.
If you were wondering whether the recent recall of potentially “sick” beef by the Department of Agriculture affected local schools, breathe f a sigh of relief. According to the Amador School District, local schools have no association with the meat or Meat Packing Company that allegedly mistreated cows and distributed sick meat to schools and restaurants. Hallmark Meat Packing of Chino, Calif., supplies food products to federal school-lunch programs across California and the nation. Workers at the slaughterhouse were videotaped in an undercover investigation by the Humane Society of the United States as they cruelly kicked, prodded and dragged sick cattle to slaughter.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. It is estimated that about 178-thousand women & 2-thousand men in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2007.
Health officials received word late Wednesday that a Black-headed Grosbeak bird collected from the Pioneer area has tested positive for the West Nile Virus. This is the first positive bird identified in Amador County this season. According to Dr. Bob Hartmann, County Health Officer, “This was not unexpected. No humans have tested positive for West Nile this year.” Most individuals who are infected with West Nile Virus will not experience any illness. Up to 20 percent of infected individuals will have only mild to moderate symptoms, such as fever, headache and body aches. Less than 1 percent of individuals will develop serious neurological illness such as encephalitis and meningitis. The elderly and those with lowered immune systems are more susceptible to serious illness.
West Nile Virus is generally transmitted to humans and animals through a mosquito bite. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. There are a number of precautions individuals can reduce their risk of mosquito-borne diseases. These include, draining or dumping standing water in places where mosquitoes lay eggs, checking flowerpots, buckets, leaky water faucets or sprinklers weekly, making sure your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens, and applying insect repellant containing DEET. You can report any dead birds to 1-877-WNV-BIRD or visit www.westnile.ca.gov for tracking of West Nile Virus activity in your area.
Although many customers are unaware, Blue Cross of California has officially and
subtly announced that they will be changing their title to Anthem. The official name
change takes place today. Blue Cross has made no official announcements as to
why the name change is taking place. In advertisements that appeared in
newspapers throughout California yesterday, Blue Cross mentions the name change
in a full page ad that also highlights Blue Cross’ pledge to improve health services in
an industry with many problems. Many Amador residents and programs subscribe to
Blue Cross. One industry insider suggests that the name change is a way to avoid
the negative stigma associated with Blue Cross’ past problems. Blue Cross
proclaims, “Today isn’t the end of an era. It’s the beginning of a new one.” Whichever the case, prepare to think of
the name Blue Cross in the past tense.
