The effort to prevent a water and sewer rate increase in Jackson has apparently failed. Jackson City Manager Mike Daly said Monday that letters protesting the increases had been counted and verified. Protest letters from over 50% of Jackson water and sewer customers were needed to prevent the rate increase. Of 2088 water customers, 879 protest letters were received, or 42.1%, failing by 166 votes. Of 1406 sewer accounts, 691 protest letters were received for 49.1%, only 13 votes short of the 50% plus one needed. Protest organizer Judith Jebian observed the letter count and received justification for all invalidated letters.

Tonight’s session of Amador Government 101 will focus on city government. Amador Government 101 is the ongoing workshop series offered by decision and policy makers to help the general public better understand Amador County Government. Tonight’s workshop will start at 6:30 with an overview of city incorporation and presentations by representatives from Amador City and Plymouth. City managers from Ione, Jackson and Sutter Creek will address the workshop from 7:30 to 8:30. An open public question and answer period will be held from 8:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Workshops are held at the County Government Center on Court Street in Jackson -- the public is welcome to attend any of the workshops for absolutely FREE. Free childcare is also provided so that parents with young children can attend. After Wednesday night, there is one more workshop left in the series, on November 28th. TSPN is taping all of the workshops for broadcast at a future date.

In early April of 2007, after a full day of work, twenty-four year old Zackary Fowler was riding his motorcycle on Highway 124 between Ione and Plymouth when he ran head-on into a minivan. Suffering life-threatening injuries he was life-flighted to UC Davis Medical Center. As a result of this accident Zackary lost his right leg and has limited use of his right arm and hand. In the weeks following the accident Fowler and his wife learned that they did not have Durable Medical Equipment or “DME” coverage.

The Amador Water Agency recently finished a project in the busy Highway 49 corridor using an innovative “trenchless” technology. The project consisted of improving the flow in a 6-inch sewer collection line located in the Martell area south of the Highway 49 near Airport Boulevard. The Agency’s Manager of Engineering and Planning Gene Mancebo explains that the Agency used “trenchless technology” to complete the project -- a construction process that minimizes or eliminates the need for trenching. A 322-foot segment of pitted iron pipe was relined in one day, without the need to dig a trench or replace the pipe. Mancebo said the process, “presents a cost savings by extending the life of the pipe, and avoiding potential problems which could include spills and the fines from those spills.“ What could have been very expensive project, proved to be much less costly with the use of trenchless technology. The work was completed for approximately $20,000.

Be safe this Halloween. Amador County Child Abuse Prevention Council has these safely tips for your kids: Trick or treat in your own neighborhood. Plan your route ahead of time with your parents. Stop only at houses that have lights on. Don’t go into a stranger’s house for any reason. If a stranger invites you inside, say “no,” get away, and tell a trusted adult. Remember to bring your older brother or sister or an adult you trust with you. Keep a flashlight or glow stick with you so that you can find you way. It’ll also help you show off your costume! Don’t eat your treats as you go. Instead, save them until you get home and your parents have had a chance to look through your bag of goodies. Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Amador County Public Health Officer, Dr. Bob Hartmann advises that getting a flu vaccine is still the number one way to prevent influenza (flu.)  “The flu can limit a person’s ability to work, go to school, care for loved ones, or enjoy fun activities and just plain make you sick.  The flu vaccine can prevent the flu and some serious complications such as pneumonia” says Hartmann.  In the US, about 35,000 people die and more than 225,000 people are hospitalized each year because of influenza and disease complications. There are two types of flu vaccine available this year and both are in good supply.  The "flu shot” is given as an injection, usually in the arm.  The newer nasal-spray flu vaccine (brand name FluMist®) is a vaccine made with weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”).  FluMist® is approved for use in healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. 

Monday’s Supervisors’ Administrative Committee meeting heard a disappointing update on the Amador County  Museum Re-roofing project. The Amador County Historical Society, in agreement with John F. Otto, the contractor for the project, said the project would more likely take 60 days rather than the original 30 days suggested in the bid and that the project should be postponed until May or June due to the weather. Delays in delivery of the metal roofing for the project are another factor in the decision to delay the project. Although disappointed, Supervisor Louis Boitano agreed that completion of the project could be jeopardized by anticipated El Nino winter this year, which could present safety issues to the workers as well as complications with the project. The contractor will be required to tarp the roof as needed to protect the Museum from the weather.

Monday, October 22 is the deadline to register to vote in the November 6 River Pines Public Utility District election. According to Sheldon Johnson, Amador County Registrar of Voters, ballots were mailed to registered voters in River Pines Public Utility District on Tuesday for the all-mail ballot election to be held on November 6, 2007. The Elections Office at 810 Court St., Jackson, CA, will be the location for the central count. Ballots will be counted on November 6, 2007, beginning at 8:00 p.m. and will continue until the count is completed.  This process is open to the public. Anyone interested in observing the count is welcome. If you have any questions, please call the Elections Office at 223-6465.

Friends of Gary Apodaca, long-time Amador County resident and PG&E employee, are planning a fund raising event to help Apodaca with medical bills he is facing after an accident which seriously injured his foot.  Apodaca was involved in an ATV accident earlier this year which resulted in seven surgeries on his right foot at Sutter Amador Hospital and California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He is currently receiving physical therapy and the forecast for a total recovery looks good. To help offset the cost of the medical bills that he has incurred and for daily expenses while he is on the road to recovery, Jackson PG&E employees, PSEA Sacramento Chapter, family and friends are planning a benefit barbecue for Apodaca at Evelyn Bishop Hall in Ione on Friday, October 12th, from 4-10 pm. Organizers say children are welcome! Tickets are available now or donations can be made at the Jackson PG&E office at 12626 Jackson Gate Rd in Martell. $25 each or $10 for children 12 and under. For more information call Shelley Scott at 209.373.9446.

Interested in becoming a chain installer on California State Highways in the Sierra Nevadas? Permits are available for State Highways 4, 88, 89, 108 and 207 in Calaveras, Alpine, Amador and Tuolumne Counties. All new applicants are required to attend an orientation class. The orientation will be held on Tuesday, October 30 at 9:00 a.m. in the Caltrans Maintenance Office in Angels Camp.