Special fire restrictions will be implemented in the Eldorado National Forest beginning June 18, this is about a month earlier than normal.   Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo signed a forest order that restricts campfires and charcoal barbeques to designated developed campgrounds and prohibits other fire related activities until the end of fire season. The fire restrictions affect the entire Eldorado National Forest including wilderness areas. “Below normal annual precipitation has left the Forest drier and more susceptible to wildfire than last year,” said Eldorado National Forest Management Officer Bob Patton. “The current drying trend is heading us in the direction we went in 2001 and 2004 when we had fires that exceeded 10,000 acres in size. We passed a threshold this month where 100 acre fires are possible. It’s way too early in the season for that to occur.”

Yesterday an accident occurred trapping the driver inside the vehicle in the area of Hwy. 88 and Jackson Valley Road. The driver who called 911 was unsure of his exact location and because his vehicle had traveled off the road and down a steep embankment the vehicle was not visible from the roadway.  The driver said he was surrounded by willow trees so responding emergency crews searched the area with that in mind, but still had a hard time locating the accident.

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.

On Thursday the Plymouth City Council held a special meeting to discuss their budget. Plymouth’s finance director, Jeff Gardner, began the presentation by reporting that the AWA costs for this year were significantly less than what they had budgeted for because the city has over budgeted for the item the last couple of years.  Gardner said the bill was cut in half from last year. Council Member Pat Fordyce then brought up a specific concern of hers regarding the AWA’s employees. She said she took issue with the fact that water agency employees eat while on the clock when they are attending to Plymouth calls. Gardner told her it was water agency policy to allow on call employees time to eat while on the clock and that in the contract between Plymouth and the agency the city is obligated to abide by water agency standards.

Phil Hogen, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), announced earlier this month that net revenues from Indian gaming grew more than 11% from fiscal year 2005 to fiscal year 2006, generating $25.1 billion in gaming revenues in 2006. "The continued growth is eye-opening considering the tribal gaming industry is still relatively young. The Indian gaming industry has doubled between 2001 and 2006, going from $12.8 billion to $25.1 billion respectively," Hogen said.  "In NIGC Region II, which includes California and Northern Nevada, the revenues have jumped from $1.7 billion in 2001 to $7.6 billion in 2006, which is an increase of four and a half times over a 5 year period" Hogen continued.

District Attorney Todd Riebe has announced a series of charges against 30 year old Christina Roseann Yeadon-Torres, who he describes as a “one woman crime spree.” The charges against Yeadon-Torres almost seem innumerable at 18 counts, 16 of which are Felonies. The charges stem from a series of incidents that occurred on Monday June 4th when Yeadon-Torres stole checks and other items from a patron of the casino and then committed burglary, theft, forgery, identity theft and much more.  Count 1, Second Degree Commercial Burglary stems from when Yeadon-Torres entered Wal-Mart in Martell with the “intent to commit larceny and any felony.” The second felony count is False Personation as the woman falsely impersonated to be the victim from which she stole the items.

Last night around 7:15 a wildland fire was reported on the Oro De Amador Property. The fire was reported burning behind some of the homes located on the Placer Drive area. Jackson Fire and Cal Fire Crews quickly responded and the fire was contained.