Sheldon D. Johnson, Registrar of Voters, announced today that the petition in lieu of filing fee period for the June 3, 2008 Primary Election begins on December 28, 2007 and ends on February 21, 2008.  District One, District Two and District Four supervisorial seats are up for election in June. And  if you are considering a CONGRESSIONAL or LEGISLATIVE  OFFICE, the deadline is also February 21st. Declaration of candidacy and nomination papers will be available from the elections office between February 11, 2008 through March 7, 2008. If an incumbent fails to file his or her nomination papers by 5:00 p.m. on March 7, 2008, there will be a 5-day extension allowed for all persons other than the incumbent to file for that office or until 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2008. Individuals interested in filing for the office of supervisor should contact the Elections Office at 223-6465 for additional information. Information on congressional and legislative offices may be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State at (916) 657-2166.

There will be an informational meeting on January 3rd regarding Permit revisions requested by the Western Amador Recycling Facility at the Buena Vista Landfill. The meeting will provide a forum to allow interested parties to learn more about the proposed permit and provide comments to the Department of Environmental Health. Currently, municipal solid waste from this transfer station is disposed of at Forward Landfill located in San Joaquin County. The proposed revisions would address the changes required by the recent closure of the Buena Vista Landfill, and the increased volume of wastes handled through the transfer station. The waste stream growth rate has been estimated at approximately 6.7% per year.

The New Year will usher in new rules for the road designed to help eliminate distractions and reinforce safety. One new law makes it illegal to operate an Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device (such as Segways) at an unsafe speed for conditions, in a reckless manner or at a speed that endangers the safety of others. Not that many of us would actually be driving one of these……..but on a more serious note – Put down that cell phone while you’re driving! A new law makes it illegal to use cell phones while driving unless the phone allows hands-free listening and talking operations. A hands free headset may make an ideal gift this Christmas. Anyone under 18 will not be allowed to use any wireless phone or other mobile devices while operating a vehicle – headset or not.

Learn how to control Yellow star thistle and other invasive weeds at a workshop on Friday, January 11, 2008 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the El Dorado County Government Center, Building C in Placerville. The workshop is sponsored by the El Dorado County Invasive Weeds Management Group and UC Cooperative Extension. A variety of techniques can be successful in controlling Yellow star thistle, including several methods that are most effective during the winter months when the plants are first developing. Cost for the workshop is $10 per person. Space is limited and registration is encouraged; walk-in registration is available if space permits. To register contact Nancy Starr at (530) 621-5552 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Wet roads apparently contributed to two accidents Monday and kept CHP and medical first responders busy. At a little after 8 am, a 72-year old Paradise, CA man was northbound on Tiger Creek Road south of Black Prince Road. The CHP report says he allowed his car to drift onto the right shoulder where he lost control and struck a tree, blocking the roadway. According to a witness, the driver said he was forced off the road by another car. Either way, the driver was uninjured, most likely thanks to his seatbelt and airbag, and refused medical treatment at the scene. Later that morning, two teenage girls were driving on Camanche Road, at a high rate of speed for the wet roadway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road, left the roadway and ran into a PG&E power pole, shearing the pole off at its base. Both the driver and her passenger had to be extracted from the car. They were both taken by helicopter to San Joaquin General Hospital with minor and moderate injuries.

With another winter storm headed our way, PG&E reminds viewers that the combination of strong winds and heavy rain could result in trees, tree limbs and other vegetation coming into contact with overhead power lines and interrupting electric service to customers. If customers experience a power outage, they should call PG&E’s outage information line at 1-800-PGE-5002 to report the outage or to get updates on power restoration efforts in their area. Calling this line is the most efficient way to get updated outage information.

Sutter Amador Hospital wants to assure parents that Sutter Amador Pediatric Center patients who have received vaccinations recently are safe. Last week Merck & Co voluntarily recalled about 1.2 million doses of its widely-used children's vaccines after quality-control checks found production equipment may not have been properly sterilized. Vaccines recalled were certain lots of a vaccine which protects against Hib influenza and other conditions. The Sutter Amador Pediatric Center was notified immediately by the California Department of Health Services Vaccines for Children Program with affected vaccine lot numbers to discontinue using before any were administered to patients.

This year, the state tribal gaming fund looks to be anything but a jackpot for city and county governments. Amador County Board of Supervisors will join Sheriff Martin Ryan in writing letters to State Senator Dave Cox protesting Governor Schwarzenegger’s appropriation of tribal gaming monies that are due to local governments. The governor wants to use the casino money to ease the state’s budget crunc. In his letter, presented to the supervisors on Tuesday, Sheriff Ryan says the casino Special Distribution Funds are a partial but important mitigation for impacts caused by the presence of a casino in our midst.

The Amador County Girls Softball Association registration for the 2008 season is now open. The Amador County Girls Softball Association is a fun, recreational softball league for girls age 5 to 14 who reside in Amador County.  Practices begin in early March and the season runs through the end of May.  Registration forms are available at Play It Again Sports in Jackson or at Jackson City Hall.  On-site registration will be available on Saturday, January 12 from 10 am to 2 pm at Play It Again Sports or at the Jackson Civic Center on Thursday, January 17 from 5pm to 8pm.  The registration deadline is January 31, 2008.  Registration forms and other ACGSA information can be downloaded from their web site at http://acgsa.home.comcast.net.  Or for more information, please call the voicemail line at 267-1356.