A growing business in the Ione area is getting some water relief from Amador County. The Board of Supervisors approved a letter of intent for a lease of their Carbondale business park well for the US Tile Plant.

Now it’s time for TSPN’s Home for the Holidays series – featuring fun, free or low cost activities for the whole family to enjoy right here in Amador County, now through New Years Day! Here’s a look at activities coming up this week:

Attention Parents! Merzlak Signs will personalize your child’s Christmas gift at absolutely no charge. Call 223-4818 or bring your child’s gift to 215 Sutter Street in Jackson before Christmas.

You can help keep someone warm this winter by donating new, or slightly used in good condition and clean coats, to the UpcountryCommunity Center in Pine Grove, or the Elks Lodge in Martell, by Friday, December 14th.

The City of Jackson will be entertaining entries for the design of the new city flag. This contest is open to all residents of the City of Jackson, regardless of age. The City is looking for creativity so designs may be modern or historical in nature, but should be of significance in representing the City of Jackson. Designs can be hand drawn or computer generated but they must be original, created by the contestant.

The Wild and Scenic designation for portions of the Mokelumne River in Amador County proposed by the Bureau of Land Management, or B-L-M, has generated quite a bit of discussion amongst both local opponents and proponents of the designation. According to Chris Wright of the Foothill Conservancy there are many direct benefits to the designation.

Marcia Hulse and her husband celebrated her birthday at Jackson Rancheria Casino in a big way.  “What kind of present did (they) send me home with!?” she exclaimed after winning a $811,780.96 MegaJackpot on a dollar Wheel of Fortune slot machine. The Fairfield couple has been putting in a whole new front yard recently so most weekends are filled with yard work, but luckily they decided to take a break for one weekend and visit Jackson Rancheria on August 11. Marcia loves to play Blackjack but chose to start with a little slot play. After putting about $50 in a quarter Wheel of Fortune machine, she switched to the dollar machine and hit the progressive jackpot.

The agenda at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting was light but there was no shortage of public comment for items not on the agenda. First to approach the Board was Nicholas Villa, Jr., who identified himself as the traditional chief of the Ione Band of Mi-Wok Indians.

This past school year, local students found out that not all learning takes place in the classroom.  Amador and Calaveras County teens in the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) received health care work experience firsthand at Sutter Amador Hospital (SAH). Twelve of these young adults were honored at SAH’s Student Appreciation Day Breakfast on Thursday, May 31st in the community conference center in the Sutter Amador Outpatient Services Center.

Representatives of non-profit groups who would like to be a part of the Amador Community Foundation’s AMADOROPOLY 2008 Main Street in Jackson. Participating groups share in the funds raised at the event and in the promotion and tickets sales. If you have any questions, please contact the Foundation at 223-2148. fundraiser should RSVP to the foundation’s executive director Shannon Lowery as soon as possible. The event will be held on February 22, and raises money by inviting community members to come play a life-size version of the Monopoly game, where each square represents a local non-profit organization. The 2008 kick-off meeting will be held this afternoon at 4:00 at the Amador Community Foundation office on

Murder, poisoning, and a Wells Fargo Bank stage coach shoot-out are some of the spooky tales you’ll hear on the annual Haunted History tour of Jackson Cemetery. This year’s tour is on Saturday evening, October 27, at 6:30 pm. Argonaut High School Drama Teacher Melinda Rosselli designed the Halloween-y tour three years ago to involve students in history and street theater. Stopping at famous and infamous gravesites, students recreate prominent Jackson figures who were buried at these sites. The event is a joint effort to support the Argonaut High School Leadership and Drama programs. Price of the Tour is $5.00. The tour starts at Fantossi Model Works across from the Jackson cemetery entrance on Church Street. There will be lighted paths at the cemetery, but it is suggested that you bring a flashlight. If you don’t have one, they can be purchased at the cemetery.  Because of the nature of the re-enactments, the Haunted History Tour may be too scary for very young children. For more information, call Argonaut High School at 257-7700.

The Amador County Waste Management Department is hosting a Project Learning Tree Workshop, free of charge, with an emphasis on Municipal Solid Waste for classroom teachers and other educators working with youth.