Gov. Schwarzenegger has begun his second term with a major policy announcement regarding a health care coverage plan designed to cover virtually every Californians. More than 6.5 million Californians, or one fifth of the state’s population, are currently without medical coverage which according to Governor Schwarzenegger equals higher costs for care providers and those who do have coverage in the form of hidden taxes, higher premiums, deductibles and co-pays. The uninsured rely on hospital emergency rooms for care and the costs of providing that care has contributed to more than 60 emergency rooms closing over the past decade, according to the Governor. There are seven major components to the governor's plan, devised over the past year with the input of numerous stakeholders, including doctors, hospitals, the insured and uninsured. Everyone must have health care coverage.

This morning just before 5 am a small garbage fire was reported at the ACES facility on Berry Street in Pine Grove. Crews from CDF, Battalion 10 and ACES employees were able to extinguish the fire very quickly.

Even with beautiful days this past weekend the overnight low temperatures caused slick and icy conditions on many Amador County roads this weekend. This is just one of the many accidents caused by ice this weekend when the driver hit ice on Sutter Creek Volcano Rd just west of Ram’s Horn grade. Fortunately, the driver walked away from this accident. Remember even colder temperatures are expected later this week and a storm system as wet, icy and snow covered roadways. Be prepared and slow down

Today at noon a special ceremony will be held to swear in the newly elected members of the Board of Supervisors as well as County Officials that have been re-elected. Sheldon Johnson, the County Clerk Recorder will be officiating at the swearing in ceremony. However, as a reelected official taking an oath himself Tiko Arnese Recorder Clerk Supervisor will be swearing in Johnson for another term. Other elected Officials to be sworn in include, Dr. Mike Carey Superintendent of Schools, District Attorney Todd Riebe, Superior Court Judge David Richmond, Michael Ryan Treasurer and Tax Collector, Joe Lowe, Auditor, and Assessor Jim Rooney. Newly elected Sheriff Martin Ryan will also be officially sworn in for duty as Amador County’s Sheriff-Coroner. He was previously sworn in for the interim period to accommodate former Sheriff Mike Prizmich’s retirement plans on December 30th 2006.

The City of Ione Visioning Committee is sponsoring a General Plan Seminar scheduled for Tuesday, January 23 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. The event will be held in the Cultural Hall at the Church of Latter Day Saints located at 407 West Marlette Street in Ione. Anyone interested in city planning is invited to attend this informative and educational seminar. Three experts in this field will facilitate the session and present guidelines to successfully complete a general plan. What attendees will learn is: Why cities prepare a General Plan/ What is included in a General Plan/ What are the steps in preparing a General Plan/ How a General Plan is implemented.

Abercrombie the city of Sutter Creek is actively pursuing replacing or expanding the Sutter Creek waste water treatment plant to not only benefit current ARSA areas, Sutter Creek, Martell, and Amador City but that plan also now includes Jackson.  Further development of the Hwy 49 corridor partners’ sewer solutions will also have residual benefits in Ione, as ARSA can cut their waste water demands with their other important partner, Ione. ARSA and Ione are currently working with the State and Mule Creek State Prison and the Preston Youth Facility to further solve the western part of the county’s waste water woes.

Sutter Amador Hospital announces the birth of the first baby born in Amador County in 2007, Quaidin Jerry Gutierrez. Parents Jennifer and John Ray Gutierrez happily welcomed their new son into the world on Tuesday, January 2nd at 6:36 p.m. Even though he was born a month early, Quaidin Jerry was born weighing a healthy 5 lbs 2 oz and measuring 17-1/2 inches in length.

American River Bank shares the parent company of Bank of Amador has announced that it will host a conference call on Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss fourth quarter 2006 financial results.David T. Taber, President and CEO, and Mitchell A. Derenzo, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, both of American River Bank shares, will lead a live thirty-minute presentation and answer questions. Shareholders, analysts and other interested parties are invited to join the call by dialing (877) 584-2599 and entering the Conference ID # 5639892.

Jackson Creek Dental Group will once again open their office to treat children, at no cost, who “fall between the cracks” in healthcare – children who would not otherwise receive dental treatment – on Saturday, February 3, 2007 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  The doctors and their staff have provided this service to the community on a volunteer basis for the past 22 years.  Patients who meet the criteria will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. To qualify for treatment, children must be 2-18 years of age, qualify for free or reduced fee school lunches, WIC or CHDP, be a resident of Amador or Calaveras County, and they must not be covered by private dental insurance.

A University of California, Merced professor will be heading a statewide study project to monitor the effects and impacts of global warming on the Sierra Nevada snow pack. Professor and Engineer Roger Bales is coordinating somewhere around 20 scientists for the project which will use ground sensors and gauges to measure snowfall and the varying rates of melting snow, which he said have become more irregular due to worldwide climate change.