The Board of Supervisor’s reviewed Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency’s (ATCAA’s) request for the approval of a sub-recipient agreement between the County and ATCAA for funding from the Community Development. The BOS had approved the submission a Community Development Block Grant Technical assistance application in October for the 2006/2007 grant cycle. The project was determined to be a Homeless Needs Assessment and Continuum of Care program.

In observance of National Child Passenger Safety Week, SAFE KIDS Amador/Calaveras will partner with Kennedy Meadow Apartments to offer a car seat check and bicycle safety event on Thursday, February 15th  from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. The Amador unit of the California Highway Patrol will also be giving away free Children’s ID Kits. The public is welcome to attend this community event held at the Ione Community Methodist Church located at 150 West Marlette in Ione. The event offers the community free car seat checks performed by certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians who will determine if the car seats you are using have been recalled, are the wrong size for your child or improperly installed.

The Jackson Police Department is giving motorists fair warning using hwy 88- the JPD will now have a no tolerance policy to the blocking of their driveway. Since the installation of the traffic signal lights at the intersection of Hwy 49 and 88 the Jackson Police Department has been faced with motorists blocking the driveway exit of the police station, even though the pavement is clearly marked – Keep Clear. An increase in the traffic on Hwy 88 is also contributing to the problem. The Jackson Police are now reporting issues with officers trying to leave the parking lot in emergency situations. Officers have been blocked in by motorists that are not heeding the multiple notification signs including do not block signs posted on the roadway, signs on the brick around the lot facing the highway that state Emergency Access- Do not Block or the keep clear on the roadway itself. Often times the traffic offense is occurring when officers are responding to an emergency call, delaying response times in a critical or medical emergency situation. The Jackson Police are asking all motorists to please heed the posted signs and keep the driveway clear for all Emergency Vehicles. The Jackson Police will begin an aggressive enforcement effort regarding enforcing the clearance of the driveway next week. The JPD is giving fair warning- block the driveway and you will be cited

Authorities would like to catch a man they believe is responsible for at least two bank robberies in Plymouth in Amador County and Sacramento last month. The first robbery took place at the Bank of Lodi on Main Street in Plymouth on December 8, 2006. The second at Washington Mutual Bank at 8,859 Madison Avenue in Sacramento on December 29, 2006. In each case, the individual waits in line for a bank teller, approaches the teller and shows a note demanding money. In the Plymouth crime, the note referred to a gun, although in neither case was a weapon displayed. Surveillance camera photos show the robber is a white man in his late 20s to early 30s. He is about 5 feet, 8-11 inches tall with a medium build. Witnesses describe his hair as blonde or light brown and he is clean-shaven. He has no visible scars, tattoos or other identifying marks.  Anyone with information regarding the robberies is asked to contact the FBI at (916) 481-9110, Amador County Sheriff's Department at (209) 223-6500 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP.  Callers do not have to give their name and could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.\

 

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Director Ruben Grijalva announced yesterday a new name for CDF…CAL FIRE. Assembly Bill 1423 went into effect January 1, 2007 allowing the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to be referred to as CAL FIRE where appropriate. "The formal name of our department hasn't changed," said Director Grijalva. "Over the last 100 years our mission has become increasingly complex and the length of our full department name reflects that. The use of CAL FIRE incorporates all aspects of our department -- Fire Protection, Resource Management, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.”

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has created a challenge that has California students jumping for joy.  As part of his effort to boost students' physical fitness, the governor on Wednesday announced a fitness challenge. He wants to get 20,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade students active for 30 to 60 minutes a day at least three times a week. As an incentive, the school with the highest percentage of participating students at the end of the four-week challenge will win a new fitness center. The next 11 will win $1,000 to buy fitness equipment.

Yesterday a man trying to get a “fix-it ticket” signed off got much more when CHP Amador Unit Community Outreach Officer John C. Hardey was outside the CHP Offices and observed the man drive into the CHP parking lot, park, and then make a bee line for the front door. As the man approached the front door Officer Hardey noticed he was walking with a staggered gate. Sgt. Roderick Sloan met the met the man at the front counter, who had business in the form of a sign off of a ticket he had received previously. 

Sgt. Sloan noticed that the man smelled of alcohol as well as displaying other objective symptoms of intoxication. Beat Officer Brendan Hallam was called to the Offices and conducted a series of pre-demonstrated field sobriety tests, which William Main of Ione, failed. Main was subsequently determined to be at twice the legal limit for alcohol according to the CHP. Officer Hallam arrested Main and transported him to the Amador County Jail. “The moral of the story is, don’t come to the Highway Patrol when you’re deuced,” said Officer Hardey.

This week representatives of the Board of Supervisors and Amador Water Agency got up to speed on local water issues at their regular joint water committee meeting. Jim Abercrombie, General Manager of the Water Agency, reported that the Agency and the City of Sutter Creek are working to improve the capacity of the Sutter Creek wastewater plant in order to avoid sewer and water moratoriums for builders in the Martell area. Abercrombie also reported that the Water Agency is going to be considering raising the water level at Bear River Reservoir. They are looking to meet with Calaveras County to look at how raising the water could be beneficial to ecological, economic, and community interests, and if such a project would be worth the cost. The last issue discussed at the meeting was the backwash disposal situation in Ione. Supervisor Louis Boitano said that there are opportunities through both Preston and Mule Creek State Prison, with the waste water troubles Ione is currently experiencing. Abercrombie suggested the option of Preston and Mule Creek working with Ione to treat the water to a tertiary level. Boitano stated this would alleviate most of Ione's raw water needs.

 

The State Department of Water Resources has announced the grant winners under the first stage of the Proposition 50 funding designed for Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWMP) Implementation Grant Program. Those awards went primarily to Southern California entities, with the lone exception of a Humboldt County group. The Amador Water Agency has been participating with other Mokelumne River water users in and integrated Regional Plan. Partners include the East bay Municipal Utility District, Calaveras County Water District, San Joaquin County water agencies and various cities through out Amador County. However, according to Jim Abercrombie, General Manager of the Amador Water Agency there is still an opportunity for the county and its partners to get a share of the 380 million dollar pie.