The Amador County Sheriff has released a new sex offender notification service that is now available on the Sheriff’s website. The new service, called OffenderWatch, is an Internet based, searchable database containing information about Amador County’s registered sex offenders that state law allows to be released to the public. OffenderWatch, unlike the Megan’s Law database, contains a new community notification component intended to enhance the safety of local citizens.

By going to www.amadorsheriff.org, and signing up for the sexual offender email alert, Amador County citizen’s will receive a return e-mail from the Sheriff’s office, notifying them of all publicly discloseable registered sex offenders living within a one mile radius of each address they choose to register. In addition, there will be automatic follow up emails notifying them when a sex offender registers at a location within a one mile radius of a designated address. This email notification system also contains a link to a map showing where each registered sex offender resides along with additional discloseable information such as a photograph and physical description.

When law enforcement discovers a change in a sex registrant’s status, such as when they move in or out of Amador County, that information will also be transmitted to residents. In addition to the county area information, Police Chief Mike Johnson of Ione, Chief Scott Morrison of Jackson, and Chief Rob Duke of Sutter Creek are pooling their registrant information, which will also be available. Through this partnership, every existing and newly registered sex offender will be entered into the OffenderWatch notification system regardless of whether they are registered in a city or county jurisdiction. “This new system does not mean that as parents you can lower your guard when it comes to your family’s personal safety. You must still teach them how to be safe in the event they are approached by strangers,” said Sheriff Martin Ryan.

The School Board has just re-qualified for the Carl Perkins Vocational Education Fund, a federal program established to improve career-technical education programs on a three year cycle. The grant money is allocated to a specific program after input is received from principals and school staff. For the past 3 years the grant monies have been given to the business program, however, the cycle has ended and now the money will be utilized in the Agricultural Departments. 

A day after a magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck northern Nevada’s largest city, scientists urged residents to prepare for a larger temblor as the area continued to rumble on Saturday.  TSPN has received reports from across Amador County from residents who reported to have felt the quake which occurred approximately 11:40 pm Friday night. One Pine Grove resident said that for a moment, he could see his house visibly shaking and had to calm his frightened children.

vehicle accident late Thursday morning resulted in injuries requiring helicopter transportation to a hospital. The accident occurred at the intersection of Highway 49 and Jackson Gate Road, an area known for heavy four way traffic. A station wagon collided with a pickup truck that was turning North Bound on 49. The station wagon headed south bound appeared not to stop and broadsided the truck. The driver of the station wagon was transported to medical facilities by helicopter, but there is no word yet as to the severity of the accident.

It looks like Pine Grove will be getting a new signaled intersection. As part of the mitigation measures for the Mokelumne Bluffs tentative subdivision, the developer, John O’Sullivan, will be required to install a signaled intersection at Gayla Drive and Highway 88. The Mokelumne Bluffs subdivision will be located south of Highway 88, just west of the Ranch House Estates development, with access from the new intersection across from Gayla Manor. The subdivision will include 98 residential one-plus acre lots, as well as tennis and basketball courts, and two recreational areas and walking paths. Many Gayla Manor residents feel that a stoplight is needed, especially when turning left onto the highway from Gayla Drive. Residents of Ponderosa Ridge, the newer development off Gayla Drive, feel the same. One resident says, to get out, you currently “just floor it and burn rubber!” Another resident says he welcomes the stoplight, but is worried about “backing up traffic on the highway,” for a few cars turning from Gayla Drive.

When asked about the Mokelumne Bluffs subdivision in general, many of the residents of both subdivisions had the same view. All agreed the subdivision would raise the value of their homes, and welcomed that fact in light of the recent decline in California home values. In addition to the Gayla stoplight, the developer will be paying their share of cost towards the future construction of a stoplight at Tabeaud Road and Highway 88. The Mokelumne Bluffs subdivision Final Environmental Impact Report will go before the Amador County Planning Commission on April 8th for certification and a possible project decision.

Members of the Ione Police and Fire crews turned out Monday evening for the Ione City Council meeting, to listen to a staff report from city manager Kim Kerr regarding the status of the city’s construction project on a new Fire Station. Kerr presented the council and members of the community with a revised project proposal, which is gauged to cost $1,450,000. Kerr stated that the original design of the new fire house had been revised to include fire suppression sprinklers, a facility for waste oil, a trash collection site, and vinyl floor coverings. She said that the changes added about $37,000 to the original cost estimate. Kerr also stated that she expects the fire station construction project to be completed in October or November of this year.

The Ione Skate Park was vandalized this last Monday night. City Manager Kim Kerr showed photos of the tagging at the Ione City Council meeting on Tuesday. She stated that law enforcement officials believed that the incident was “kid stuff,” after reviewing photos of local gang affiliated graffiti styles. “Stylistically speaking, it is pretty clear that this is not the work of professionals,” Kerr said. The vandalism included images of a phoenix bird, as well as local area codes. The tagging has since been painted over. Anyone with any information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Ione Police Department.

A former Amador County Administrator and activist for the developmentally disabled has been appointed to a State Council dealing with similar issues on a larger scale. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday announced that Kathleen Barnes, 56, of Stockton, has been appointed deputy director for area board operations for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, or SCDD.  She has worked for SCDD's Area Board 6 since 1991 in various positions, including executive director. Prior to that, Barnes received acclaim as program director for The Arc of Amador and Calaveras Counties from 1985 to 1989 and program manager for the Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity, a Bay Area fair housing assistance agency, from 1984 to 1985. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $88,800. Barnes is a Republican.

Congressman Dan Lungren settled into Mel and Faye’s Diner in Jackson last Saturday evening for a meet and greet and question and answer session with local candidates and officials. More than 80 people attended, including many notable Republicans involved in local government. Three candidates for the board of Supervisor’s race -  John Plasse, John Gonsalvez, and David Pinkus – were all in attendance, as well as District 10 Assembly Candidates Dave Sander, Paul Hegyi and Jack Sieglock. A representative from Presidential candidate John McCain’s Campaign was also there and spoke to the group about McCain and his campaign issues. Lungren discussed international issues regarding national security as well as local issues and his recent series of town-hall conferences in the local area. He also spoke about his relationship with John McCain.

In California, the U.S. Congressional Race has officially begun. Amador County is part of the 3rd District, which also covers Calaveras and Alpine counties, as well as some of Sacramento and Solano counties. Our current 3rd District Congressman, Republican Dan Lungren, has served in Congress for over ten years and also served as California’s Attorney General for two terms. Lungren believes in keeping the lines of communication open with his constituents by holding town halls and “tele-town halls,” a tele-conferencing option he uses when he is in Congress on the East Coast.  Also, Lungren has a staffed office here in Jackson, which he uses to keep apprised of local issues. Opposing Lungren from the Democratic Party is Dr. Bill Durston, a California physician who served in Vietnam. Durston has practiced medicine in Sacramento for over twenty years and has held several chief and assistant chief of staff positions at Kaiser Permanente. Additionally, he has served on several boards, including Physicians for Social Responsibility and has been the president of the Sacramento Chapter since 2003.

Also running is Dina Padilla from the Peace and Freedom Party. Padilla is a former medical care worker who now calls herself an “advocate and activist for injured workers and patients.”  Padilla spends her time educating and informing injured workers of their rights, and also provides emotional support and advice to those not receiving appropriate medical care. The final candidate for the 3rd district seat is Libertarian Douglas Arthur, or “Art,” Tuma. According to Tuma’s website, he values personal liberties and promises to “lower taxes for all.”  Tuma is a retired engineer, a Libertarian activist, and has run for Congress in the past. Amador County residents will vote for District 3 on June 3rd.  We’ll have more on the candidates in upcoming broadcasts.