You may notice that CHP Officers everywhere are donning a new blue uniform instead of their signature tan uniforms. The CHP will be conducting a state wide homeland security drill for the next two weeks to test their readiness for deployment for emergencies statewide. However, the Amador Unit of CHP only expects the drill to last for 2 days locally. The drill requires that every on duty CHP Officer carry with them standard gear, such as a baton a helmet ect., but also special equipment for a possible hazmat situation which includes, a hazmat uniform and breathing apparatus.

The Ione Police Department says they now know who caused community outrage in a vandalism spree. The Ione Police Department says they have completed the investigation into the two incidents of vandalism which occurred in the Edgebrook area during the month of July.  The Police Department says the investigation was successful and yielded the names of two juveniles, and one adult suspect, which will be forwarded to the Amador County District Attorney’s Office and the Amador County Probation Department. The Police department is recommending the filing of charges in connection with these incidents. For further information, contact Ione Police Chief Robert Olson at 274-2456.

Authorities reopened westbound Interstate 80 at Donner Lake late yesterday afternoon.  The 170-acre fire closed westbound lanes of Hwy 80 for three hours Wednesday afternoon. Lanes reopened just before 5 p.m. Firefighters were able to keep the blaze a mile or so from about 10 to 20 homes located above the flames. CAL FIRE's spokeperson Joann Cartoceli says there have been no evacuations. Pictures show white smoke roiling above the Sierra Nevada ridgeline. The smoke is blowing away from I-80 and up the mountain. CAL FIRE representatives say the wind was not making things easy for crews. CAL FIRE is reporting that a tree feller cut a tree that hit a power line, sparking the fire. CAL FIRE had the blaze contained by 10 p.m.

An easement dispute between two neighbors ended in the arrest of one of those neighbors for battery. The incident was reported around 12:30 pm on Wednesday on Robin Rd. in Pioneer. According to Amador County Under Sheriff Jim Wegner, “The call came out to (Dispatchers) as one man stating his neighbor had a gun concealed on his person threatening to shoot the reporting party.”

The Amador County Sheriff’s Office has released a press release on the pursuit and arrest of a wanted man. On November 28, 2006 the Amador County Sheriff's Office was involved in a high-speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle from the Pioneer area of Amador County to Wilseyville in Calaveras County.  As a result of that investigation the suspect was identified as Joseph Lee Wages a 24 year old transient from Amador County.  On December 4, 2006 the Amador County Sheriff’s Office obtained a warrant of arrest for Joseph Wages charging him with grand theft auto, felony evading, resisting arrest and threats against an executive officer, bail was set in the amount of $150,000.00 for his arrest.

The team set up two check points for big rigs, commercial trucks, and other diesel vehicles in separate locations- one in front of Long’s Drugs on Hwy 49 and a second location near Sutter Amador Hospital along Hwy 88, near Bart’s Bend.

The Amador County Sheriff’s Office has released a press release regarding the stabbing that occurred early this morning. Early this morning around at approximately 2:50 a 17 year old man walked into the Sutter Amador Hospital emergency room with multiple stab wounds. The young man told hospital staff that he had been stabbed after an altercation between the occupants of two of the rooms at the Pioneer Resort Lodge in Pioneer.

Saturday night the Amador County Sheriff’s department was busy in the Ione area responding to a domestic violence call. The Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from the Oakridge Circle area of Ione reporting that a male subject, Carlos Rangel Munoz, 55, of Ione was armed with a rifle and a handgun and had threatened to shoot his wife. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Munoz's wife reported that she and Munoz were involved in a domestic argument outside of a residence.

Amador County authorities are searching for the bank robber that robbed the Bank of Lodi Friday afternoon in Plymouth and now they have some help- the entire crime was captured on surveillance video according to Amador County Sheriff's Department authorities. Last Friday December 8, 2006 at approximately 3:26 pm, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call from the Bank of Lodi, located at 9454 Main Street, Plymouth.  A teller reported that the bank had been robbed and the suspect fled on foot. Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies and Investigators responded.

The solo vehicle collision occurred on Hwy 49 just north of Electra Rd when for an unknown reason the driver of a older Chevy pick up truck veered off of the highway and down a steep embankment.