Thanks to a grant from the state and some dedicated individuals, Sutter Creek’s Bryson Park is home to an impressive new playground. After a lengthy application process which required resolutions, presentations and assurance that the park will be compliant with the American Disabilities Act, the play area was built by local craftsmen and opened the weekend of March 23rd. 30,000 dollars worth of funding came through the 2000 Bond Act, a per capita grant put out by the State Department of Parks and Recreation. The grant required signage that credits both the grant and those who sponsor it. “The grant process took several years from start to finish,” said Office Manager Natalie Doyle, who spearheaded the project. Construction was done by Public Works Superintendent George Christner and his crew. The result is an impressive play area to rival any other park in the county. The equipment includes steps, a “sit and see” panel for the younger kids, a gazebo like structure and hollow slides. The equipment cost around 22,000 dollars, with the rest of the monies divided between the costs of construction and woodchips. The woodchips are splinter free and environmentally friendly. The play area is intended for children ages 5-12.

Be on the lookout for future park improvements in Ione. Council Members and Ione’s Park and Recreation Commission took a tour of local parks and evaluated what the needs are for each. This tour included Grover Park, Oak Ridge, and Howard Park. A public hearing was held regarding Oak Ridge with “good input” provided by those who live around the park. However, this is just the beginning of the surveying process. Staff are currently working on obtaining public input through various outlets. A public hearing at the Oak Ridge park mentioned the need for a play structure, much like the one recently installed at Bryson Park.

Another consideration could be a park that looks similar to Ione’s Train park. A request for authorization for staff to purchase a play structure for the park at no more than 10 thousand dollars was added to the Ione City Council agenda. City Manager Kim Kerr reminded the council that a play structure would be considered a fixed asset, and would ideally be installed by July 1st if approved. The 10 thousand dollars includes the purchase of the structure but does not incorporate the cost of prepping the ground and installation. The instillation goal for the entire project would require “get as much volunteer work as possible” and Council intends to look into utilizing crews from Mule Creek State Prison. The Council approved the funds for the Oak Ridge Play Structure unanimously.

An Amador County Resident has created a new, more efficient breed of wind-energy turbine now being considered by the California Legislature. Stanley Marquiss, owner of Folsom-based Marquiss Wind Power, has been marketing an original invention - a 19-foot-tall turbine intended for mounting atop industrial and commercial buildings. Lodi Republican Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi had is co-sponsoring a bill promoting the turbines with Republican Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo; who passed a similar measure with San Luis Obispo’s Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

 The new smaller turbines are so celebrated because they avoid a major pitfall associated with much larger turbines like the ones in the Altamont Hills near Livermore. The Altamont turbines are notorious for chopping up birds, a problem that has resulted in millions of dollars worth of damage each year. Marquiss’ invention is expected to avoid that problem completely and still generate a significant amount of energy. Two companies already have the turbines installed. A Marquiss company representative said they plan on installing several in Stockton soon. Nakanishi is in negotiations with the  California League of Cities, whose main concern is that the new turbines could signify an erosion of municipal power, and the development of ordinances to ensure proper instillation of the devices.

We all remember the little pink dot on our driver’s license.  Historically, that little sticker signifies your intent to donate your organs upon death; however, placing the dot on your license does not place you on any donor registry.  Through the efforts of a local donor recipient, Judy Regnier, the City of Jackson has proclaimed April “DMV/Donate Life California Month.”  According to the proclamation, over 98,000 individuals nationwide and over 20,000 Californians are waiting for organ transplants.  Tragically, one-third of those will die waiting for a donation.  The proclamation provides statistics on how many lives can be saved by one single donation of blood, tissue, or organs, and encourages all Californians to register. 

Gisele Cangelosi, one of Jackson’s City Clerks, recently provided her brother, who has Leukemia, with a PBSC donation, which is a process similar to plasma donation, where the donor’s blood is filtered through a machine for several hours, to separate blood-forming cells.  Cangelosi says she “highly recommends” donating, and she “would do it again.” Anyone can sign up to donate when renewing their driver’s licenses or ID cards at the DMV, or at any time by going to www.DonateLifeCA.org.  Signing up as an organ donor means that you are willing to donate your vital organs or tissue upon death to someone in need. The proclamation was accepted by employees of the Jackson DMV and will be placed on the wall for all citizens to view.

After a winter of erratic weather alternating between gusty breezes and heavy storms, this week signified the first signs of summer. Last weekend marked the first time the temperature has broken the 80 degree mark this year, noticeably early for Amador to start experiencing summer weather. Rainfall for the area is up from last year, but this season's total is well below the average. Nevertheless, officials had there doubts until recently that snowpack levels were high enough to properly fill Northern California’s Reservoirs. Along with the early onset of heat is an early fire season. Citizens are advised to pay special attention when starting controlled burns on their property.

State wildlife regulators voted to ban commercial salmon fishing along the coast of California to protect the Chinook salmon run in the Sacramento River after a sharp drop in population. Tuesday's unanimous vote by the Fish and Game Commission follows last week's decision by federal regulators. California regulators decided to ban salmon fishing in state waters extending three miles from shore after surveys found a near-record low number of Chinook salmon returning to spawn in the Sacramento River and its tributaries last fall. According to Bloomberg news, the Sacramento River supports a $103 million commercial and recreational salmon fishery covering California and most of Oregon. In California, commercial salmon fishing is a $150-million business.

The drop in production will likely raise the cost of a salmon dinner as worldwide buyers for Chinook, also known as king salmon, turn to supplies in Washington and Alaska. The number returning to the river to spawn, the measurement officials use to gauge the health of the population, is projected to be 54,000 this year, less than half of the 122,000 to 180,000 average. In 2002, 775,000 adult salmon returned to the river. The fisheries council plans to examine 46 different possibilities for the loss, including the diversion of water from the river for agriculture and less food for the fish. “The reason for the sudden decline of Sacramento River fish is a mystery,'' said Don McIsaac, executive director of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, in a statement. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency and is seeking additional federal aid for restoring the fisheries and the communities that will be affected. Right now, the decision does not include fishing in local rivers or the Delta. The Fish and Game Commission has scheduled a May 9th meeting to consider whether to allow sport salmon fishing in California rivers this year.

Tuesday evening, the Ione City Council held a lengthy discussion regarding the proposed improvements to City Hall and security enhancements for the Police Department, both of which are housed in one building. The proposed plan would be short term, from 3-5 years, until the funds needed to build a separate Police Department are secured. The improvements are in part intended to secure the identities of victims, suspects and witnesses as they are reporting to the front desk of City Hall. The proposed project would include an interview room, file room, and the relocation of some doors. Also there would be two separate entrances to the building- one for City Hall and one for the Police Department. Councilman Sherman asked if either the Sergeant or Chief’s office could be used for an interview room, as opposed to building a new one. The answer was that this was not a realistic option, as documents would have to be secured, weapons would have to be removed, and the Chief would be asked to leave for an unknown time period. Councilman Skip Schaufel remarked that if this reconstruction could “help one victim, then the council will have done its job.” Staff has currently received a 39-thousand dollar estimate for the remodel project and is requesting to put together a project document to release for bid. Council approved a Request for Proposal on the estimates in a 3-2 vote, with Councilman Sherman and Ulm opposing.

At a packed Jackson City Council meeting Monday night, the council heard an appeal related to the proposed Jackson Rancheria Recovery Center at 975 Broadway. Dan Gagnon, spokesman for the group, “Concerned Citizens of South Jackson,” filed the appeal, which contained a laundry list of concerns, including street conditions, neighborhood safety, the lack of any certified staff, and the quality of people the facility would attract. In letters submitted to the council, nearby homeowners expressed fears that the center would also attract sex offenders. Other opposition felt the program was a good one, but that an EIR should be conducted and that the facility should be located elsewhere. One citizen asked why the facility won’t be located on the Rancheria itself, citing the “deep pockets” of the Rancheria leaders.  Rich Hoffman, CEO of the Jackson Rancheria, says the current location was chosen because it’s “centrally located.”

The project also received overwhelming support and somewhat emotional testimonials, mainly from individuals who were either recovered alcoholics and/or drug abusers. Most welcomed the facility and maintained that facilities of its type were an integral part of maintaining a sober and meaningful life.  One gentleman who has 29 years of sobriety says that this type of center gives people the opportunity to “talk to someone who has walked in your shoes.” Numerous supporters stepped forward to explain that the facility would only attract people like themselves, contributing members of society who wanted to stay clean and sober. Tony Capasso, Vice President of Real Estate & Facilities for the Rancheria, explained that the proposed facility will be mainly staffed by volunteers, and serve as a meeting place for anyone who would want to give and receive support free of charge.  The facility will not take court-ordered offenders or parolees and is independent of any organization.  Following the council’s 3 to 2 vote upholding the Planning Commission’s approval of the project, Tony Capasso stated that he was “elated.”

After discussion and debate, the Board of Supervisors decided to put the matter of rate increases for waste services up for public hearing. Representatives from the Amador Disposal Service and ACES Waste Service gave a lengthy presentation on the reasons they supported such action, considering regularly occurring rate increases in past yearly quarters. Paul Mollinelli Junior and Senior were on hand to represent the Amador Disposal Service. They cited upkeep and gas prices as two of many reasons for an increase. The Board was conflicted on deciding the matter, and decided to schedule a public hearing for June 10th to gather public opinion.

The fire season is expected earlier than normal this year, and the destructive results of last year’s out-of-control burns have prompted agencies to go beyond the call of duty in preparation for this season. Dozens of Cal Fire pilots, planes and helicopters are under a tight deadline to get much needed maintenance before the flurry of fire season. At McClellan Air Park, planes are being tuned up and pilots are getting their yearly certification.  They must fly in some of the most difficult of conditions over forest fires to lay down hundreds of gallons of fire retardant to keep them from advancing. Since 1958 nearly 130 crew members have died fighting fires nationwide. Cal fire has more than 50 aircraft and more than 70 pilots that they hope to be ready for the upcoming fire season, Padilla said. Of particular concern are blazes started in controlled burns. This time of year sees the highest rate of controlled burns.