Just months after California voters approved the largest public works bond in American history the California Transportation Commission is just days away from decisions on how to spend the first portion of that $20 billion measure. The commission is scheduled to meet in Sacramento this Tuesday, tomorrow, Feb. 20 to hear state staff recommendations on just how to divide the first allotment of $4.5 billion of the bond dollars, which are designated for projects that could be built relatively quickly and reduce traffic congestion or connect distant towns.

State Senator Dave Cox has introduced a legislative proposal to help protect the public against ID theft.  Cox’s bill, SB 216, would require government agencies to place only the last four digits of a person’s social security number on court documents. Here’s why Senator Cox feels this is so important:

SOUND CLIP COMMING SOON! 

Jackson Creek Dental Group opened its doors on Saturday, February 3, 2007 to provide dental care to children, at no cost, who would not otherwise be able to receive this type of care.  They treated 53 children and provided services totaling over $11,000.Twenty-six of these children were referred to local dentists for further treatment as part of the Smiles For Kids program, and five were sent to specialists in Sacramento as part of the Sacramento District Dental Society’s Adopt-a-Child, Orthodontic, and Specialty Referral Care Programs.

Amador County residents now have more options for proper disposal and recycling of old batteries and fluorescent tubes & bulbs through the newly created “Take-It-Back Amador” Partnership.  These household items are referred to as Universal Waste – meaning items that are widely used and when thrown in landfills can pose harm to public health and the environment. California regulations no longer allow residents to throw these items in the trash.

The Amador Computer User’s Group Celebrated their 13th Annual Election Night, and Installation of Officers, at their January meeting. The 2007 Board of Directors are: President – Barbara Kreiss, Vice President – Graham Paul, Secretary – Richard Kennon, Treasurer – Richard Johnson, Program Director – Joran Kreiss, Publicity Director – Sherre Tassos, Director – Sherdean Swift. ACUG meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7 PM at the Senior Center in Jackson. Visitors are always welcome and admission is free.

 

Paying your monthly utility bills just got easier. Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced Friday that their 5.2 million residential customers no longer need to write a check and lick a stamp to pay their monthly utility bills. PG&E is now accepting Visa online to make automatic monthly payments or one-time payments using Visa-branded debit, credit or prepaid cards. Residential customers can also make one-time payments by calling 800-743-5000.

Last night after 8 pm an accident occurred on Upper Jackson Valley Rd in the Jackson Valley area. The accident resulted in the fatality of a motorcyclist. According to the CHP cad log several other motorists stopped to help the motorcyclist and upon arrival of emergency personnel life saving measures were begun including the summoning of an air ambulance to the scene. At 8:37 pm the person involved in the accident was declared dead and the Amador County Sheriff’s Corner was called to the scene. This is the fourth fatality of the calendar year 2007. So far in this year we have had two traffic fatalities in the month of January and now two fatalities in the month of February.

Tonight will begin a series of two Public meetings on the proposed Flying Cloud Casino to be held by the the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians. The meetings are required under the rules of the Tribal Environmental Impact Report Process and will be at the Evelynn Bishop Hall in Ione from 5 to 8 p.m. this evening and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The Hall is located in Howard Park. The tribe released their latest Draft TEIR in January and will now accept public comments on the plan as part of the environmental review process. The tribe is now looking at a plan that would phase in the tribal gaming enterprise in 3 stages. The gaming floor would be increased at each stage, as would the amount of tables and machines offered for prospective customers. To see the tribal environmental impact report on the proposed casino, go to the tribe's Web site at buenavistatribe.com/tribal_gaming.htm or the Amador County government Web site at www.co.amador.ca.us/EIRs/BVCP/index.cfm.The report is also available at the Amador County library branch in Ione at 25 E. Main.

 

The Amador County Fair will be held this year at the traditional time- the last weekend in July. However, this could be the last time the fair is held on that traditional weekend. Fair officials have decided to move the Amador County Fair to the first weekend in August, making the 2008 Amador County Fair July 31st through August 3rd. The original plan by the Fair Board was to move the 2007 Fair, this year’s fair, to the new weekend, however that decision was reversed when 4-H leaders brought to the fair board’s attention a leadership conference that many 4-H participants were scheduled to attend. It would have been a direct conflict forcing kids to decide between the fair and the conference. For families participating in the fair’s programs, exhibits and livestock venues this will put the end of fair and the typical start of the Amador County Unified School District school year one week apart.

Calaveras County CHP units were assisted in the pursuit of a hit and run driver Sunday evening by the responding Calfire, or CDF, firefighters arriving on scene to render medical aid to victims of the accident. According to the California Highway patrol report the accident was caused when 38 year old David Dick of West Point was traveling westbound on Highway 26 from West Point while driving under the influence of alcohol. Because of his intoxicated state, according to the report, Dick proceeded around a curve in the roadway too fast and began to fishtail. Dick’s vehicle traveled across the solid double yellow lines and into the eastbound lanes, directly into the path of 37 year old Ernie Davis, also of West Point. Davis attempted to brake but was unable to avoid Dick’s vehicle.