Last night the Jackson City Council considered the controversial Jackson Hills Project. The item before the council was not to make a final decision on the project but rather hear more information surrounding the project. The public hearing for the meeting apparently was not properly posted therefore any comments made regarding the project could not become a matter of record. The Council heard first from City Planner Susan Peters who gave a short description of the project and the process it has gone through for the last 5 years.

Monday morning around 7am it was reported to the Jackson PD that a red big rig with white trailers had clipped a telephone pole at the corner of Hwy. 49 and Hoffman Street. The caller said the pole was damaged and leaning. Responding Jackson Police Officer Mark Harmon immediately notified PG&E and then began searching for the hit and run vehicle. Officer Harmon discovered the truck at Jackson Jr. High School, as the truck was part of an asphalt project at the school. Harmon then contacted the driver, identified as 55 year old Charles Wimer. Officer Harmon observed that Wimer displayed the characteristics of being intoxicated and he administered a field sobriety test. Wimer was subsequently arrested and booked into the Amador County Jail on suspicion of drunk driving and hit and run.

The California State Water Board Training Academy is hosting a speaker series, available locally through distance learning, that includes five stream experts who will present current research about stream concerns and stream improvement possibilities in California. Given the diversity of the topography, geology, geography, land use, climatic conditions and manmade alterations within the state of California; it is not possible to define one method for ensuring the stability of wadeable streams within the state. When healthy, these smaller streams provide critical habitat for fish and aquatic life. The seminar will explore the relationships among stream hydrology, changes in geology, and riparian and aquatic ecology. According to Foothill Conservancy Vice president Pete Bell, the seminar will certainly be helpful to local residents.

For Amador County Families using the services of the United Cerebral Palsy of San Joaquin, Calaveras and Amador Counties, life just got a little easier with the announcement of an opening of a chapter office in San Andreas. Not only are serves now offered in a new convenient location much closer to home than the Stockton headquarters, the UCP Chapter is looking for expansion ideas as well. They would love to hear from families about what services and information local residents would like to see closer to home.

The Amador County Board of Supervisors has announced that they, and the Buena Vista Band of Me-Wuk Indians, have agreed to a 30 day extension for continued discussions, and negotiations, regarding the proposed gaming facility that the tribe wants to build on 67 acres in the Jackson Valley area, specifically on Coal Mine Rd.. Back in May the tribe released their newly completed Final Tribal Environmental Impact Report and that started a 55 day clock for the county, and the tribe, to reach a negotiated agreement regarding how the tribe will mitigate and compensate the county, and its citizens, for the impacts that the proposed Flying Cloud casino will generate. The 1314 page document, according to the report’s explanatory page, incorporates changes from the draft version of the report, including the comments that were received from the community and other municipalities in the county, region and state. The report also includes responses to those concerns by the tribe’s technical specialists. The draft report was circulated from mid January through Mid march with the tribe holding public workshops on February 16 and 17th 2007.

f Tonight the opponents and proponents of the Jackson Hills Golf Course project hope to get the final answer on the project that has been discussed for 5 years now. The Jackson Planning Commission recommended against the project. The Jackson City Council will hear from City Planner Susan Peters, then move to a description of the project from the applicant/developer New Faze Development, and then the consulting city engineers on the project, will give a presentation on the wastewater issues.

As the hot weather continues the fire situation is becoming more critical every day. A thunder and lightning storm moved quickly through the Eastern Sierra on Friday afternoon, July 6, 2007, igniting approximately 10 fires all being managed as one called the Inyo Complex Fire. As of Sunday morning, the three biggest fires still actively burning are: 1)The Oak Fire burning west and north of Independence, on both sides of US 395 2) The Seven Fire burning west and north of Independence 3) The Sage Fire burning in Big Pine Canyon.

Anti War activist and Mom for peace Cindy Sheehan issued a statement saying  she plans to run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unless Pelosi introduces articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush in the next two weeks. Sheehan told The Associated Press yesterday that she will run in 2008 against the Pelosi, a democrat from the San Francisco area.

Just one year ago, dairy prices were considered to be in a slump with California's lowest retail price for milk at about $2 a gallon. This benefited consumers but left many dairy farmers with a lot of red ink. In fact, according to dairy industry officials, last year saw more than 90 California dairies going out of business as a result of the low prices. It’s a new year and now dairy prices have rebounded and advanced with hitting a record retail minimum of $3.10 a gallon for low-fat milk this month - and experts predict it should remain high on Tuesday when the state sets allowable prices for August.

Millions of motorcycle, dune buggy, four-wheel-drive and other off-road riders here in the Golden State could see California's vehicle recreation parks shut down next year unless agreement can be reached on overhauling the state program. State law authorizes the program only until Dec 31st of this year and although no group is pushing for the eliminations of the program, conflict has developed between two groups. One group asking for more trails and parks, and the other, an environmentally concerned group that is asking for more environmental protections and policing, including provisions that the parks serve fisherman, hikers and campers.