Sheriff’s Lieutenant Charles Ray and American Legion Ambulance President Al Lennox were recognized and congratulated in special resolutions by the Amador County Board of Supervisors Tuesday for being selected as the 2007 Amador County Peace Office of the Year and Citizen of the Year. The resolutions outlined highlights of both men’s accomplishments – Charles Ray was born in El Paso, Texas and attended college at the University of Nebraska where he played football for the Cornhuskers. Ray served as a member of the 82nd and 101st Airborne and was an Infantryman and Combat Medic, served in Grenada, and was involved in a hostage rescue at St. George School of Medicine.

This week the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct low-level electromagnetic helicopter survey flights over Central Valley levees beginning Sept. 6.

The Amador County Unified School District begins the 2007-2008 school year today. Last minute preparations continued all weekend with paving and asphalt projects continuing at schools around the district.

Another agreement for extension in the negotiations between the Buena Vista Band of Me-Wuk Indians and Amador County has been reached.

The Ione City Council discussed management of their pool located at Ione Jr High School. The City has an agreement with the Amador County Recreation Agency for the management and maintenance of the pool. ACRA Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep said she is looking forward to working with the city of Ione and then discussed how ACRA will be compensated. She said the idea is that the City will be billed for the actual time spent and not estimates.

“This year, without a lot of flashing going on, we’re already about 3 million dollars out of sync.” These words the words of County Administrative Officer Terri Daly as she began a presentation on Amador County’s proposed budget for the upcoming year at last week’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting. After much deliberation, approval of the budget was delayed and the matter resurfaced again at Tuesday’s meeting. According to Daly, there is still plenty of room for budget adjustments to be made and Amador County is not at the point where it needs to resort to layoffs like many other areas, an infamous example of which is the city of Vallejo, which faces bankruptcy. Amador County’s current budget proposal includes approximately 1.3 million in contingency money, 500,000 dollars to continue the fight against Indian Gaming, a large sum for capitol improvements, and funding to purchase a new jail site. It also includes a contingency for a county employee hiring freeze. Other factors, such as a proposed Early Retirement Incentive Program and the Amador Economic Stimulus package were also factored into the final numbers.

The long and exhilarating Supervisors’ races came to their conclusion last night, as the final tallies from election day were calculated at exactly 10pm. Months of campaigning paid off for John Plasse who, with 54 percent of the votes, cinched the District 1 Supervisor seat in a landslide victory. John Gonsalves placed a distant second with 17 percent of the votes. Rosalie Pryor Escamilla and Ken Berry weren’t far behind him with 14.83 and 13.87 percent of the votes,In the District 4 Race, Incumbent Supervisor Louis Boitano beat out David Pincus with 58 percent. Pincus held steady with just over 42 percent of the votes throughout the evening.

Both winning candidates will be interviewed during our TSPN news broadcast this week, beginning today with Supervisor Louis Boitano. John Plasse will be interviewed during our Thursday noon newscast. In other voting news, Alyson Huber swept the State Assembly District 10 Democratic primary vote with 66 percent of the votes to opponent Jim Cook’s 33 percent. Of the three competitors for the Republican District 10 primary seat, Jack Sieglock took 48 percent while David Sander and Paul Heygi placed second with 25 percent each. Two controversial propositions dealing with eminent domain and rent control issues were also on the ballot. Amador residents voted against Proposition 98, 55 percent to 44 percent. Proposition 99 was favored, 56 percent to 43 percent. respectively.

Finally, the Jackson City Council recently made the announcement that the terms of two Planning Commissioners, Letitia Sexton and Terri Works, and three Cemetery Committee members, Warren Carleton, Jean Campbell-Mueller and Walt Hoeser, are expiring June 30. The city is currently accepting applications for these seats until June 18. The Council will make their appointments for these seats at their regularly scheduled meeting June 23rd. 

The Jackson City Council has opened the door to several opportunities for residents to become involved in the community, starting with the City Council seat vacated by Drew Stidger effective at the end of the year. According to City Manager Mike Daly, the City Council plans to appoint a Jackson resident to serve out the remainder of this Council seat term – which expires November 2008 -- at the January 14, 2008, City Council meeting.  Interested residents should submit a letter of interest to the Jackson City Clerk, 33 Broadway, Jackson, no later than Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.  The City Council also decided to form two citizen committees for review of the water and sewer rates and for future planning of the 159-acre Oro de Amador property.

If your children do not have health insurance, help is available. Healthy Families is low cost insurance for children and teens. It provides health, dental and vision coverage to children who do not have insurance and do not qualify for free Medi-Cal (families that qualify for Medi-Cal, with a share of cost, are still eligible for Healthy Families). Monthly premiums range from $4- $15 per child, depending on the provider chosen and the family’s income, up to a maximum of $45 per family per month. Through a grant provided by the United Way California Capital Region, the Upcountry Community Center is able to provide families with Certified Application Assistance. Trained assistants are able to supply more information, answer questions and help families complete the application. To see if you qualify, or for more information, call Ruthella at 296-2785.(