Republican Senator Dave Cox recently pushed through a resolution honoring an Amador County soldier by renaming a bridge in his memory. It has been roughly a year since Army Pfc. Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins fell to enemy gunfire outside of Baghdad, making him the only Amador County soldier thus far to have died in Iraq or Afghanistan. Ornsby-Adkins was close to his mother, Australian-born Robyn Ornsby, and left behind a wife whom he had married only months before shipping out. When word of the news reached his hometown of Ione last month, mourners placed hundreds of assorted memorabilia, flags and notes in front of his mother’s beauty salon. A large turnout is expected at an upcoming memorial ceremony at 7:30pm on April 28th in the park across from the salon. The Board of Supervisors recently discussed Cox’s measure proposing a renaming of the Amador Creek Bridge in Amador County the Jay-D Ornsby­ Bridge. A motion was moved by Supervisor Novelli, seconded by Supervisor Escamilla, and unanimously carried.

The county continued its review of the Mokelumne Bluffs subdivision’s conditions of approval and mitigations at Wednesday’s Technical Advisory Committee meeting. As part of the mitigations, the developer will be dedicating two large parcels for park and recreational purposes. Both parks will be managed by the Amador County Recreation Agency, or ACRA. Tracey Towner-Yep, Executive Director, was on hand to negotiate the conditions of approval and mitigation items. The existence of bathroom facilities was discussed, with the main concern centered on the type of toilet facilities. 

Yep was adamant about providing flush toilets to the public, noting the dangers of pit toilets to small children. The point at which the parks would be built was also a concern of ACRA. Yep asked that at least one park be constructed during Phase 1 of the development project, and made reference to collecting park fees from lot owners for “something that’s not there.” The developer, John O’Sullivan, was more than amenable to that request, saying, “I don’t see any problem with both parks being built in Phase 1.”  The requirement that at least one park be built in Phase 1 will be made a condition of approval.  Along with the two parks and restroom facilities, ACRA will also manage the walking trail system, par course, trailheads, parking, and basketball and tennis courts.  The Mokelumne Bluffs subdivision will be located approximately three miles east of Pine Grove, across Highway 88 from Gayla Manor, and southwest of Ranch House Estates.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's top air pollution regulator yesterday denounced the federal government's proposal to demand higher fuel efficiency in new cars because a 24-word passage written into the Bush administration's 417-page plan would block California's aggressive efforts to enact its own emissions standards. "The reality of what is now being proposed by the federal government is that there is an effort under way once again to prevent any state, and particularly California, from exercising our sovereign right to control emissions of air pollutants into the environment." said Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board. Nichols and the advocates at first cheered the proposal - until they came across page 378, which says that states cannot set their own standards.

The latest attempt by the federal government to pre-empt California from enforcing its own laws to combat global warming was seen as another slap at the Schwarzenegger administration, which is dueling with the Bush administration over the state's authority to regulate tailpipe emissions. The proposed regulation, which resulted from a federal energy bill signed by President Bush in December, promises to curtail carbon dioxide emissions from cars and light trucks and reduce America's reliance on foreign oil. California sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in January after it rejected the state's 2005 request for a rule waiver to enact its own tailpipe emissions standards. Nineteen other states had agreed to adopt California's standards if had the EPA approved the waiver. Many of those states joined California in its lawsuit. If the proposed rule announced this week goes into effect, Nichols said, the state would file another lawsuit.

The Amador Water Agency is currently discussing a grand plan to expand the Tanner Waste Water Plant in Sutter Creek. In late 2007, the Board voted to hire a consulting firm, Stantec, to assist with the design of an ambitious new water treatment plant project. The Agency is currently in the preliminary design phase of the project In order for the plan to become a reality; the AWA has set forth specific goals that must be met, including minimizing the impacts to the Agency’s existing customers during construction and staying within a budget of 21 million dollars for initial improvements. The result would be a highly efficient and expandable membrane treatment plant. The plan also includes a gradual phase-out of the existing Ione Plant. The Tanner Plant is proposed on a 44 acre parcel adjacent to the existing plant in Sutter Creek.

The plant will initially be built to treat a capacity of 8 million gallons per day. Agency staff are designing the project to meet the more stringent California Department of Public Health regulations, as well as looking to lower long-term operation and maintenance costs. With increasingly strict energy demands throughout the state many companies have begun to pursue green energy options. Stantec, an “innovator” in sustainable designs, has applied the green design approaches to a number of other treatment projects. The Agency realizes that there are many apparent benefits for “going green” with the project, including lower energy and operation costs, more effective use of materials, and improved operability. A tentative timeline for the project anticipates the final preliminary design to be finished by May of 2008. The project will require a full environmental review process so construction is not expected to begin until late 2009. 

The Stockton City Supervisor who was involved in a fatal vehicle accident on Highway 88 late last year may serve up to four months in prison. Dino Leonardi, the community and cultural services superintendent for Stockton Parks and Recreation, pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter before the Amador Courts. On top of 120 days in jail, Leonardi agreed to three years of formal probation and restitution to be set by the court.

According to the Stockton Record, Leonardi allegedly caused a fatal two-vehicle accident by cutting in front of another vehicle and causing a driver to lose control. The out of control car caused Ruby Alston, 74, of Stockton to lose control of her vehicle and die in the resulting crash.  The case was made all the more bizarre because the occupants of the vehicle that Leonardi cut-off were coincidently involved in local politics. Mark Stebbins, a Stockton councilman in the 1980s, recently declared candidacy for the District 6 council seat. Jennet Stebbins is challenging Davis Assemblywoman Lois Wolk for the Democratic nomination for the 5th Senate District seat. The Stebbinses and Alston were on their way to a Jackson-area casino May 8. Leonardi, who lives in Sutter Creek, was commuting home.

Proposed amendments to a bill that could loosen restrictions on Indian uses of public land are being opposed by the Board of Supervisors. The proposed amendments could provide Native American tribes or tribal groups with the authority to seek immediate cancellation of the Williamson Act contract by qualifying a myriad of new uses on public land in public interest. In other words, it would loosen the regulations on activities that could be viewed as publicly beneficial on lands in which Tribes have an interest. “This indicates one more time that some powerful sovereign people realize that by using our legislation they can gain more power,” said activist Debbie Dunn during public comment at yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. Supervisor Louis Boitano focused on the long term perspective when referring to what could be more lax regulations against tribal development. “Smaller, financially strapped counties wouldn’t have the resources to go into the cost of litigation- like us,” he said. In addition, members of the California State Association of Counties wrote a letter to State Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, who introduced the amendments.

The letter states: “These proposed amendments are in conflict with this policy and make a mockery of the County’s most successful voluntary farmland conservatory program.” The California Land Conservation Act of 1965--commonly referred to as the Williamson Act--enables local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use. In return, landowners receive property tax assessments which are much lower than normal because they are based upon farming and open space uses as opposed to full market value. The Board unanimously voted against the amendments.

The Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees recently conducted a first reading of a proposed drug testing policy for Amador’s high schoolers.  The purpose of the drug testing policy is to help prevent student athletes from using drugs, to help protect students’ heath and safety, to provide drug abusers with the appropriate assistance, and to preserve and maintain a positive learning environment.  The issue was brought to the district’s attention a few years ago by high school coaches who felt drugs were becoming a problem. Steve Goggans, the head football coach at Amador High School, says that drugs are “prevalent” in all high schools and their main concern was that a student under the influence while involved in a sports activity is a “safety issue.” 

Mike Carey, Amador’s Superintendent of Schools, says that he spoke to “about two dozen students” and “they thought it was a good idea.”  Carey says that he and the district “were struck by their candor and honesty.”  Indeed, many other local residents feel the same.  One Pine Grove mother whose son is starting high school this fall and will be involved in sports, is in support of the new policy.  She says that “if they are going to do drugs, they deserve to get caught.” Others felt that kids in extracurricular activities shouldn’t be singled out, and that if the school is going to implement a drug testing policy, it should include all students. In response to that, Goggans says that sports are “not compulsory” like school is, but a privelege,” a sentiment that is shared by the school district. One father of two high schoolers believes that teachers and staff should be held to the same standards as students. The proposed policy will under go a second reading at the next school board meeting tonight at 5:30 at the County Administration building in Jackson.

The Jackson City Council and Planning Commission held a joint meeting Monday night to review the recent changes to the Jackson Draft Land Use Element.  Changes to the document were made from a compilation of recommendations from local organizations and public comments from prior city council meetings. One important section of the element that was significantly updated concerned growth within the city.  The document now states that “growth in the City of Jackson shall occur only if new development adequately mitigates its environmental impacts, addresses housing availability and affordability needs, and respects open space resources…”  This new update to the land use element is a considerable improvement over the previous statement, which simply referred to growth in Jackson that “is not detrimental to its neighborhoods.”  Concerned Citizens of Jackson, a local government watchdog group, has been involved with the update process and seemed pleased with the updates made to the element.

The usability of local parks was also updated in the element. The proposed land use element requires that developers “shall provide park areas within reasonable walking distance to all residences.” Terri Works posed the question of whether these “pocket parks” were really useful as compared to a larger, regional park that could be used by the community. Works referred to the neighborhood park in the Woodside development behind Raley’s, saying they “don’t seem really useful.” Jointly, the council and the commission decided to modify that rule to include only those developments with eight or more units and extend the walking time to 10 minutes.

In national news, many parts of America, long considered the breadbasket of the world, are now confronting a once unthinkable phenomenon: food rationing. Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks. At a Costco Warehouse in Mountain View, California yesterday, shoppers grew frustrated and occasionally uttered expletives as they searched in vain for the large sacks of rice they usually buy. “Due to the limited availability of rice, we are limiting rice purchases based on your prior purchasing history,” a sign above the dwindling supply said.

An employee at the Costco store in Queens New York said there were no restrictions on rice buying, but limits were being imposed on purchases of oil and flour. Internet postings attributed some of the shortage at the retail level to bakery owners who flocked to warehouse stores when the price of flour from commercial suppliers doubled. The curbs and shortages are being tracked with concern by survivalists who view the phenomenon as a harbinger of more serious trouble to come. Spiking food prices have led to riots in recent weeks in Haiti, Indonesia, and several African nations. India recently banned export of all but the highest quality rice, and Vietnam blocked the signing of a new contract for foreign rice sales. At the moment, large chain retailers seem more prone to shortages and limits than do smaller chains and mom-and-pop stores, perhaps because store managers at the larger companies have less discretion to increase prices locally. For now, rice is available at Asian markets in California, though consumers have fewer choices when buying the largest bags.

It was announced yesterday that a Mule Creek State Prison employee will be honored during a Medal of Honor ceremony held on the West steps of the State Capitol. Mike Dowd will be honored by the Department of Corrections and the Governor. Dowd is a vocational instructor and a leader in the development of the Prison’s successful Mill and Cabinetmaking program. “Mike teaches tolerance and  self esteem,” said spokesman Chris Weathersbee. “ He knows the importance of rehabilitation and reducing recidivism rates.” The ceremony is scheduled for May 16th.