After midnight last night it was be official- this January was the driest since 1889. Rainfall accumulation for the month is was at 0.07 inch, which broke the record set in January 1889 of 0.15 inch. The normal amount of rain for the month is 4.18 inches. In 2006, 3.07 inches fell on the city. Today will be the 27th dry day in a row, well short of the longest winter dry spell, which was 44 days from Nov. 15 to Dec. 28, 1976. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 60s in Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto. Lake Tahoe will see a high of 43 degrees. The snow pack is also well below normal, at about 48 percent in the northern Sierra, 43 percent in the central Sierra and 40 percent in the southern Sierra. Last year at this time, the snow pack was 111 percent of normal in the northern Sierra, 123 percent in the central Sierra and 135 percent in the southern Sierra. The department of Water Services will conduct their next measurement of snowfall this Friday

More fall out from the Chamber of Commerce decision to hold a seat on their tourism committee for the Buena Vista Band of Miwok Indians proposed business; the Flying Cloud Casino. The Friends of Amador County has announced their resignation from the Chamber. The move, presented to Chamber President Jack Mitchell in a letter from FOAC President Jerry Cassesi, states that although the organization has given the decision a considerable amount of thought, the Friends of Amador County views the chamber as having a position in which the chamber administration has continued to have open support for the Buena Vista Casino Proposal by the Buena Vista band of Me-Wuk Indians while, at the same time, also opposing the Ione Band of Miwok Indians proposal for a Plymouth area casino.

Last Friday at a meeting of the Regional Water Quality Control Board there was a discussion of the Cease and Desist order for the waste water crisis at Mule creek State Prison. Supervisor Richard Forster, Amador County Environmental Health Department Director Mike Israel, 3 Ione City Council members, and several Ione residents including Jerry Cassesi and Jim Scully, all gave statements limited to 3 minutes each to the state regional board which had before them the “cease and desis” order as written, and recommended by the regional state board’s staff. Also present were the new Mule Creek warden and CDC's attorney.

A businesses owners request to place an illuminated sign on their building on Main Street generated a discussion of what is allowed under City codes for the Historic area. Marcia Alexander requested to install a 40.5 square foot illuminated sign that would be attached to the existing sing on the roof at the rear of the building which faces Hwy. 88. The illuminated sign will situated over the existing mounted sign as it will provide the support for the proposed sign.

On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors reviewed the Weights and Measure Fee Schedule increase for registration requirements again. Now the fees would impact any commercial business who uses scales and measures in conjunction with their business practices.  At the previous meeting when the item was discussed Ag. Commissioner Mike Boitano was asked by the Board and public to come back with a variety of different fee schedules instead of implementing the entirety of the new fees in one year.  Boitano developed three proposals.

“Officially dead” is the term used to now describe the Municipal Service agreement between the Ione Band of Miwok Indians and the City of Plymouth.  The California Supreme Court has denied an appeal by the Ione Band of Miwok Indians regarding the overturning of the MSA by the Amador County Superior court some time ago. According to Amador County Counsel Martha Shaver this means that the last avenue to resurrect the MSA is now closed.

Last night Amador County residents in the Jackson and Sutter Creek areas lost power for the third day in a row as PG&E announced yesterday that the power would be shut off between 11pm and 3am while they worked on the transformer that blew on Monday due to heat.  PG&E spokesperson Nicole Tam said the planned outage was to allow PG&E crews time perform replacement work to increase electric viability. We will have to approx. 1600 customer in Jackson and sc offline so interruption of service. Tam wanted to be sure to express to local residents that PG&E understands that this poses as an inconvenience for many, “but in order for crews to safely do the work they have to take the customers offline.” She continued by saying that they chose to do the work after normal business hours as to not be more of a hindrance.  Customers calls went out at 3pm and then again at 7pm informing customers that the power would be out and allowing them the option of a morning wake up call since alarm clocks would likely not be reset when the power was turned at 3am. Tam said the service is not a regular one and is used only when there are planned outages. Again Tam said, “We want to express our appreciation for our customers patience.”

For Amador County Families using the services of the United Cerebral Palsy of San Joaquin, Calaveras and Amador Counties, life just got a little easier with the announcement of an opening of a chapter office in San Andreas. Not only are serves now offered in a new convenient location much closer to home than the Stockton headquarters, the UCP Chapter is looking for expansion ideas as well. They would love to hear from families about what services and information local residents would like to see closer to home.

The California State Water Board Training Academy is hosting a speaker series, available locally through distance learning, that includes five stream experts who will present current research about stream concerns and stream improvement possibilities in California. Given the diversity of the topography, geology, geography, land use, climatic conditions and manmade alterations within the state of California; it is not possible to define one method for ensuring the stability of wadeable streams within the state. When healthy, these smaller streams provide critical habitat for fish and aquatic life. The seminar will explore the relationships among stream hydrology, changes in geology, and riparian and aquatic ecology. According to Foothill Conservancy Vice president Pete Bell, the seminar will certainly be helpful to local residents.

How the US Forest Service manages the Mormon Emigrant Trail (MET) that connects Highway 50 at Pollcok Pines to Hwy 88 will change this winter season to improve public safety and to better assist forest visitors recreating on the Eldorado National Forest. Wheeled motor vehicle use such as, cars, trucks, four-wheel drives, and all-terrain vehicles, is now prohibited along the five mile section from the Iron Mountain Sno-Park near Highway 88 to the Silver Fork Road junction on MET during the winter season when the road is snow covered and used by snowmobiles.