Jackson police Officers were dispatched to a 911 call of a shooting this last Saturday at approximately 3:04 am at  1034 North Main Street in the City of Jackson. Upon arrival of the officers, one victim of an apparent gunshot wound was discovered lying on the floor inside an out-building to the rear of the main home. The out-building is described as a garage converted into a small apartment, which is where the shooting victim resides along with a 31-year-old female, who was there at the time of the call and found providing aid to the victim upon the officer’s arrival. The female reported to police personnel on the scene that the victim had shot himself. A medic unit from the American Legion Ambulance Service arrived on the scene a short time later along with fire personnel from the Jackson Fire Department and rendered emergency medical aid to the victim. The Medic Unit ordered an air ambulance. The victim was later transported to Sutter Amador Hospital and subsequently flown to a valley hospital for further treatment. As of 9:15am on Sunday, the victim was reported to be in grave condition. Jackson police detectives Chris Mynderup and Douglas Grey were called to the scene and are in charge of the investigation.

An Amador County Narcotics Investigation resulted in the bust of a large methamphetamine lab in San Andreas over the weekend. The crackdown resulted in the arrest of four Stockton men and another man, according to the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office. Five suspects from the Stockton area were arrested and booked between Friday and Saturday on suspicion of manufacturing a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit a crime. According to an Amador Police official, this bust was above and beyond the size of an average meth lab crackdown, but details have yet to be disclosed.

The Amador County Narcotics Task Force had been investigating the lab for close to a month and made the bust in cooperation with the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office and the Amador County Sheriff's Office. There was evidence of frequent drug manufacturing, although drugs were not being manufactured at the time of the arrest. Nine 55 gallon tanks were filled with manufacturing waste from meth production. Most of the necessary chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine are readily available in household products or over-the-counter cold or allergy medicines. Synthesis is relatively simple, but entails risk with flammable and corrosive chemicals, particularly the solvents used in extraction and purification. Clandestine production of meth is therefore often discovered by fires and explosions caused by the improper handling of volatile or flammable solvents.

Amador officials are hoping that a shocking recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will help raise awareness of child abuse on a local level. The study showed close to one in 50 infants in the country were victims of child abuse or neglect in their first year. Amador County’s Child Welfare Services Office statistics indicate a total of 42 reported cases of child abuse in February and 45 in January. Roughly 10 percent of the reports received are confirmed as legitimate cases. On average, the office receives 45-60 reports a month. Reports are received from law enforcement officials, child care providers and concerned citizens.

According to Matt Zanze, program manager for the child welfare office, any reasonably suspicious report of sexual or physical abuse is investigated jointly with local law enforcement. If a situation is deemed unsuitable for the child, the law will take the child into protective custody, which may require Child Welfare services to file a petition with the court. Zanze explained that his department will try and keep the child with their family whenever possible. “The law requires we make every effort to help the children remain in their home. We work to make sure parents receive the necessary parenting skills,” says Zanze. However, a number of children who have been separated from their families are put into foster care.

Yesterday around 2:45 pm the Amador County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from the relative of a distraught man stating that he had a gun and was going to kill his family. The Sheriff’s Department responded to the address of 15732 Butte Mountain Rd. in Jackson in force. Upon arrival on scene the Sheriff’s Department observed the man in jeans and a denim shirt that had a hand gun in his hand. The man, after looking like he was going to return to one of the two residences located on the property, turned and toward the deputies. Witnesses on scene stated that they heard one shot and then several more fired in return. Although we are expecting a media release from Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan later this morning, Under Sheriff James Wegner has stated that the shooting was officers involved and that no officers were hurt. The suspect was shot in the abdomen and hip. The man was identified as Stephen Schumann Sr. of Jackson. Schumann was airlifted after sustaining the gunshot wounds to Sutter Roseville hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.

Friday night marked a significant milestone in Amador County this year- a record count of fatal accidents in the first 3 months of the year. A total that now has reached 8 after an accident reported around 7:00 pm Friday night claimed three more lives. According to information currently available two full size trucks were involved in a head on collision on Highway 88 near the Pioneer Trailer Park in Pioneer. Three men in the front seat of one of the pick ups were all declared dead at the scene. The driver of the other pick up was airlifted from the Pine Grove Camp Helispot to Sutter Roseville Hospital. Hwy 88 was closed for about one hour. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

A Head on accident occurred yesterday at approximately 3:56 pm on Lupe Road near the intersection of Lupe and Ridge Road in Pine Grove. Apparently a driver, while entering a sweeping curve, crossed over the center line and hit the other vehicle head on. The impact left the two vehicles blocking both lanes of traffic and traffic was backed up for about a half an hour while emergency crews cleared the roadway. American Legion ambulance responders attended to the injured occupants of the vehicles.  Both drivers had reportedly major injuries, one of which included severe facial trauma. The drivers were transported by American Legion ambulance to receive medical care. The accident is under investigation by the CHP.

An accident that occurred on Monday should remind us that icy roadways are still a concern even though temperatures have warmed up over the last couple of weeks. According to CHP Officer Patrick Ong’s report, Angela Jones, 40 and of Ione, was traveling on Hwy. 88 east bound west of Aqueduct Volcano Road, at 50 mph descending down a hill grade and approaching a curve to her right. Jones encountered black ice ON THE ROADWAY and as she braked for the curve she lost control of her vehicle. Her 2003 Chevy Tahoe ran off of the south side of the Hwy. and collided with an embankment which caused it to overturn and strike a sign. Jones had her two young children in the vehicle and thankfully everyone, including Jones was seat belted properly and no injuries were sustained as a result of the accident.

California Highway Patrol Officer Mike LeMasters responded to an early morning accident on Friday January 26th when an Pioneer man fell asleep at the wheel. According to LeMaster’s report Robert Schmidt, 39, of Pioneer was driving his 2001 Ford Van west bound on Hwy. 16 at 60 mph when he fell asleep and drifted off the south roadway edge and subsequently, down an embankment. The van rolled over numerous times until finally coming to a stop. Schmidt received minor cuts and bruises and also had complaints of pain to his back and neck. He was transported to UC Davis Medical Center.

The Elections Department has announced that they will be recounting the ballots for the Nov. 7th 2006 Consolidated General Election.

The State’s budget cuts could mean a loss of some 200,000 dollars to the Amador Water Agency’s budget. The board of the AWA is concerned that the state will find legal ways to permanently borrow property tax funds that were supposed to be protected by Prop 1A. Part of Prop 1A’s purpose is to insure that those funds can only be borrowed. The agency will likely not receive funds this year, and there are concerns about future years. The AWA will continue to weigh the options in upcoming meetings.

The AWA has also received good news from the City of Ione regarding the new transmission pipeline. AWA reported that water quality had increased due to a reduction of dirt with the new system. The need to backwash the filters to clear them using raw water is also reduced, which in turn reduces the impact on the capacity of the Ione sewer system. Jim Abercrombie reported that the reduction of waste water was about 50,000 gallons per day.

AWA reported Thursday that the Plymouth pipeline is moving along and they may be able to request bids on the project as early as May of this year. AWA is also looking to create a Waste Water outreach Committee to work with other county entities such as the cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Ione to discuss the Regional Wastewater Management Strategy and Implementation Plan. Board member Paul Scott said the project could cost 10’s of millions of dollars and they need the support of all entities. Board member Moore pointed out that not only are they trying to manage wastewater, but the county has an opportunity to save fresh water as well by using potable water. Abercrombie said a component of the plan will require new rate users and new developments to pay the costs of recycling and reclaiming waste water.