The local Parkinson’s disease support group will host a presentation by Barry Smith, Coordinator of the Mother Lode Office of Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living  or DRAIL. According to the National Parkinson Foundation, the disease is a brain disorder where certain brain cells die or become impaired. Normally, these cells produce the chemical dopamine, which allows smooth, coordinated movement.  When about 80 percent of the dopamine-producing cells are damaged, the symptoms of Parkinson's appear, including tremors, slowness, rigidity, poor balance, small and cramped handwriting, muffled speech and depression.

Sutter Creek celebrated the dedication of the city’s thirteenth mural depicting various aspects of life in Sutter Creek – today and yesterday – that decorate the walls of the Sutter Creek Auditorium. The new mural was painted by first and second grade students, ages 6 to 8 years old, in Elizabeth Tone’s 2006 – 2007 class at Sutter Creek Elementary School. Their colorful mural titled Sutter Creek Grammar School: 1870 – 2007 shows the historic and modern Sutter Creek schools and playgrounds filled with students playing.

And you can vote to put the Amador - Argonaut Big Game on KCRA Channel 3’s Game of the Week. Go to KCRA.com home page, scroll down to High School Playbook section and click on Web Poll Game of the Week for Nov. 9. You can vote an unlimited number of times – so vote early and vote often. Voting ends at 9 pm Thursday.

Main Street Ione recently underwent major improvements when Cal Trans completed a series of projects to make the segment of highway safer and the sidewalks ADA compliant. The City of Ione is undertaking their own projects to make some improvements to surrounding streets including East Main Street. According to City Manager Kim Kerr the projects consist of storm drain and street improvements for East Main Street, and asphalt concrete overlays for Pleasant Valley Road and Oak Ridge Circle.  The improvements were included into the City’s budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08. 

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.

The City of Plymouth will celebrate its 91st anniversary as a California city this year. This announcement at last week’s Plymouth City Council meeting accompanied discussion of a number of changes for the city. The public is invited to hear about 4 options for improving the intersection of Plymouth Main Street and Highway 49 at an open house on Thursday, November 8 at 5 pm at Plymouth City Hall. Options include a “roundabout,’ signalization, a four-way stop, and doing nothing. The Plymouth Pipeline project is moving forward with about half of the property easements needed for the project secured, according to city administrator Gene Albaugh. 

Wet and windy weather hit the foothills last night… A low pressure off the Pacific Northwest coast brought a cold front into central California last night. Rain and snow was expected above 7000 ft by Tuesday afternoon with snow levels down to 5500 to 6500 feet by this morning. Winter driving conditions are anticipated over the Sierra passes including Highway 88. In the valleys and foothills, we should be ready for showers affecting this morning’s commute. Temperatures will struggle to get out of the sixties today but milder and drier weather will return Thursday. Anyone planning travel in the mountains should carry tire chains and monitor road conditions before departing and be prepared for winter traveling conditions, including gusty winds that could make travel hazardous through midday today.

Attention teens who say there’s nothing to do in Amador County! In an effort to create events especially for our teens in Amador, the Amador County Recreation Agency (ACRA) is sponsoring the Battle of the Bands this Saturday, October 6th at Detert Park in Jackson. Six bands will battle next to the swimming pool. Music genres will include Hard Rock, Metal, Classic Rock, Psychedelic, Funk, Blues and Rap. The bands playing are:  A Brutal Awakening, Blacktooth Grin, Poncho and the Spazz, Sundown and Thanks 4 Nothing. The fun starts at noon. Food and drinks will be available and Admission is Free! For more information, contact ACRA at 257-1764 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A generous donation from the estate of a retired teacher to the Amador County Library will update the libraries books for children and teens. The Amador County Board of Supervisors have approved the increased library budget from this cash donation which will in turn be used to buy the new books.  According to Laura at the Amador County Library, the library wants to attract more young people, and the best way to do that is to provide books that are current and relevant to today’s youth.  Many of the books that will be replaced date back to the 1950’s and ‘60’s. Although interesting from a historical standpoint, the books on topics such as science and social studies are no longer accurate.

The first of an innovative workshop series on Amador County government was held last week and TSPN was there to tape the full session of Amador Government 101. The workshops are being offered, right here in the county, by decision and policy makers to help the general public better understand how our local government works directly from the mouths of the folks who run it. The workshop locations are at the County Government Center with the public welcome to attend just one or all five of the workshops for absolutely FREE.