Yesterday a federal court judge postponed the trial over a lawsuit seeking to block a California law that if cleared for implementation will enforce the world's toughest vehicle-emission standards. U.S. District Judge Anthony Ishii has also ordered the California Air Resources Board to delay enforcing tailpipe-emission standards for greenhouse gases. The case will now to go to trial Jan. 30. In his order, Ishii said it was best to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a related global warming case. According to David Doniger an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council which supports the new standards "It's a logical thing to do. The Supreme Court has the very same issue in front of it. We should wait to see what the highest court in the land is going to say." California passed the law regulating tailpipe standards for automobiles in 2002 as part of its effort to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The new standards were adopted in 2004.

Last week in the governor’s budget a policy shift was unveiled. A shift that according to a summary provided by Schwarzenegger's office shows that the governor wants to reserve state youth prisons, which now house 2,800 inmates, for violent male offenders only. By mid-2008, the governor would relocate about 1,340 youths — nonviolent parole violators, all female offenders and virtually all those convicted of drug and property crimes — making them the counties' responsibility. The policy must yet be approved by the Legislature. The plan is already raising concerns among corrections experts, county officials and others who have worked for years to improve the state's floundering system, which has become the receptacle for California's most violent and troubled youths. For some, the idea signals a welcome shift — an acknowledgment, proved through research in other states, that youths typically fare better when they are incarcerated close to their families, instead of in prisons hundreds of miles from home.

The Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees recently approved their annual Local Education Agency plan. This plan is required by the federal government for all districts accepting funding through the No Child Left Behind Act.  The LEA Plan report must include progress made by the district that is related to the five performance goals and 12 performance indicators as outlined by the district in the LEA Plan including guidance as well as other related programmatic requirements. According to Elizabeth Chapin Pinotti, Asst Supt of Curriculum for ASCUD The LEA Plan serves six main  purposes: It is a Five-year operational plan (July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2008) to be updated annually. The plan is a Guide for federal and state-funded programs, allocations of resources, and reporting requirements.

The frigid temperatures continue to dominate the news with temperatures the lowest they have been in almost a decade throughout northern California. A freeze warning, that began yesterday morning remains in affect through 9am this morning as an arctic air mass lingers over California. According the National Weather Service another cold night was expected last night with 5-10 hours of below freezing temperatures- likely in the teens. This morning, we had low temperatures again ranging in the teens to low twenty’s and today’s highs will warm only a few degrees above yesterday’s mid 40’s, however the overnight low is expected to rise almost 10 degrees tonight putting Amador County in mid to high 20’s. Sub-freezing temperatures are possible again Wednesday night, though, according the National Weather Service the temperatures are not expected to be as cold as the recent near-record temperatures that we saw over the weekend. The rest of the week is looking to be in the high 30’s to low 40’s with below freezing temperatures at night.

 

After almost two weeks Cal Trans has responded to the proposal offered by the Tri-County’s in regards to the outstanding 12.8 million dollar increase for the Angels Camp Bypass. Previously on December 22 a meeting was held by representatives of the Tri-Counties, Alpine, Amador and Calaveras, ACTC Executive Director Charles Field and Cal Tran’s representatives. Field said, “We all agreed to ask Cal Trans…and the California Transportation Commission for money.” He said that requested funds included the 12.8 million dollars for the Angels Camp Bypass cost overrun and “an additional million to maintain Hwy. 49.” When asked if funds were included in the proposal to repair damage to Sutter Ione Road which was caused by construction equipment used to Build the Hwy. 49 bypass, Field responded by saying that, “Sutter Ione Road was also in the discussion, but it was up in the air as to whether the Tri-County’s, Cal Trans or the California Transportation Commission’s support will be given, (as well as) the money to repair Sutter Ione Road.” Although Field added that “everyone was in agreement to ask for the money.” At the Dec. 22nd meeting a proposal was developed that helped meet the needs of the Tri-County’s, and it was agreed upon that ACTC would guide the effort.

John Wadsworth has been ordered to appear for felony sentencing at 10am this Wednesday morning. The ordeal began on September 19th when Amador High School was placed under lock down due to an angry parent who was thought to be armed and dangerous. Apparently 34 year old Wadsworth left his home in Ione when he learned that the Child Protective Services were questioning his children in regards to an Ione Police Department domestic violence case involving both their mother and Wadsworth.

Gasoline prices in California are due to fall -- significantly -- as long as yesterday’s refinery fire in the East Bay doesn't interfere. Gas prices, after bottoming out in early November, rose about 20 cents before stabilizing last week, a trend that baffled motorists and experts alike. Any sign of a drop would be welcome news for Californians, who paid an average of $2.62 a gallon Monday for self-serve regular, up 6 cents from a month ago, according to AAA. Sacramento's average was $2.59, up a dime from last month. Locally, the gas prices continue to flacuate. Last week the Kwik Serve in Jackson dropped their price on regular unleaded to 2.49 a gallon- and then ran out of gas. Don’t expect the prices to remain the same for long though. By late February, refiners in California will start their annual change-over to summer-blend gasoline formulas. Summer gas is harder to make, causing an almost inevitable increase in prices.

 

The Sacramento Bee Contributed to this story. 

Last week the city of Plymouth became the second city in Amador County to adopt the new Amador County Recreation Agency’s nexus study report, the regional recreation Masterplan, and the development recreation impact fees that go with them. The Nexus Study recommends that cities in the county require between 8,670 and 4,300 dollars in recreational impact fees for new development. Some residents of Plymouth stated that the 4,300 dollar fee may even be out of the question because it could make building in Plymouth too expensive and deter developers and therefore growth. Jackson, the first of the two cities to adopt the fees, chose to implement the 8,670 dollar per dwelling recreation fee; the maximum recommended by the nexus study.

Dave Tomas was sworn in on Thursday by County clerk- Recorder Sheldon Johnson to serve out the remaining term of now Supervisor Ted Novelli, as an AWA Board Director for Dist. 3. After a formal introduction and staff reports the Board then discussed the Administrative Citation Code Enforcement Program. The purpose of the Ordinance is to allow the Agency to impose administrative fines or penalties for violation of any Agency Ordinance. According to General Manager Jim Abercrombie, the subject arose as a result of complaints received by the Agency Staff and board members for the unauthorized taking of water from fire hydrants, the tampering of water meters, and the stealing of Agency property, to name a few violations. The Agency's Water code does not have an enforcement provision to penalize these types of violations, so this ordinance will modify the Water code and provide for those provisions. Abercrombie explained that the adoption of this Ordinance is a two-step process. The board must first introduce the Ordinance and either waive the reading or read it in its entirety.

The Amador Air District has announced the availability of Grants Available to Reduce Pollution from Diesel Engines Operating in Amador County. The California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) has grant funds available under the state’s Carl Moyer Program to assist rural air districts in reducing air pollutants from mobile sources and agricultural engines.  CAPCOA has $977,000 available to qualified applicants that meet the requirements of the Carl Moyer Program.