Capital-area home sales racked up a third straight month of year-over-year gains in June, as closed escrows reached almost a two-year high, DataQuick Information Systems reported today. But median prices continue to fall. The sales increases were not universal, though. Half of area counties - Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba - saw higher sales than the same time last year. Four others - Placer, El Dorado, Amador and Nevada - still showed fewer sales than a year ago. The La Jolla property research firm reported that 3,922 homes closed escrow during June in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties. That was the highest number since September 2006. The month also marked a 15-month low in the number of homes for sale in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties, according to another researcher, Trend Graphix of Sacramento. June ended with 11,854 homes for sale in those counties - 4,073 fewer than last year as buyers scoop up thousands of discounted foreclosed homes being sold by banks.

It’s not just the weather heating up for the upcoming Amador County Fair, July 24-27, the action planned for the Benny Brown Arena is heating up the entertainment line-up. Following the successful addition of the Xtremely Amped extreme motocross show in 2007, Fair management is adding Flat Track Motorcycle racing and a “ya gotta see it to believe it” motorcycle Crash-Up Derby this year. “We know that motorcycle events are extremely popular in Amador and El Dorado Counties, and we know that destruction derbies are extremely popular at the Amador County Fair,” said Fair Manager Troy Bowers. “Watching these racers go flat out with no brakes is almost as crazy as the motocross riders flipping their bikes 20 feet in the air during Xtremely Amped. We think our Fair visitors will love it,” he said. The sell-out Amador County Fair Destruction Derby, put on by the Jackson Rotary, starts at 7:00, but buy your tickets in advance! The motorcycle races and motorcycle “Crash-Up” will be held on Thursday, July 24, starting at 7:00. Xtremely Amped is back on Friday night also at 7:00. All of the grandstand events require an additional ticket purchase in addition to Fair admission. For all ticket prices and packages, visit AmadorCountyFair.com.

At Monday night’s Jackson City Council meeting, the council made several decisions designed to help rejuvenate downtown Jackson.  The first decision was to adopt a “Strategic Plan 2008,” which outlines a vision and mission for the Economic Development Committee.  The plan “lays the framework” for seven key strategies designed to guide the economic development activities for the City of Jackson.  The seven key strategies are 1, to improve visual appeal, 2, to implement a coordinator/facilitator position, 3, to evaluate the use of public facilities and properties, 4, to establish development areas, 5, to define connectivity corridors, 6, to undergo information gathering and dissemination, and 7, to identify unmet business and service needs. The council unanimously adopted the strategic plan as a working document. The second decision made was to direct staff to move forward with a feasibility study for establishing a Redevelopment Agency for the City of Jackson. 

In times of economic hardship, it is the sign of a great community to bind together and provide support for its own. That is the impetus behind a new community dinner program put out by the citizens who run the Upcountry Community Center in Pine Grove. The meal takes place on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month is sponsored by a host of local businesses, including Sanghera’s Market, IGA Market, the Up Country Rotary and various community members. “At a time where the economy is stretching everyone’s wallet thin, this may be the best deal around,” said resident Bill Lavallie, who attended the meal last week and photographed the happy eaters. The menu is put together by Tonya Johns, who, along six other volunteers, prepares the food and serves it at the UCC center. There is a suggested donation of $3.00 per person or $12.00 for families of four or more, but according to a volunteer named Ruthella, the “donation” is optional. The UCC only asks that you RSVP so they know how much food to provide. The UCC is justly putting the “community” in Up Country Community Center with this great deal and opportunity to sit down and have a meal with your neighbors. 

The first of several town hall meetings was held to discuss the City of Ione’s General Plan Update at the Evelyn Bishop Hall Monday evening. City Council members, Planning Commissioners, the General Plan Executive Committee, City Staff, and citizens were present to voice their opinions and concerns regarding Ione’s future. Daniel Hamilton, the project manager, was also on hand to present and discuss all the information that has thus far been collected. The General Plan Update currently falls under the first stage of development, entitled, “Understanding Ione, its background, and the community of people who live in the area.” Future stages include developing community goals, devising land use alternatives, drafting goals and policies, completing an environmental review, and finally plan adoption, which is tentatively scheduled for 14 to16 months from now.

The annual Kids Day Parade on Thursday, July 24, marks the opening of the Amador County Fair and this year it will become a Mardi Gras event celebrating the Fair’s Barnyard Mardi Gras theme. The parade is sponsored by the City of Plymouth and Ken Johnson’s Carnival of Fun. Everyone who marches in the parade is admitted to the Fair for free, including parents and grandparents. There is no pre-registration, just bring your walking shoes, or decorate your stroller or wagon. Sign-ups are at the Plymouth City Hall from 8:15 to 9 am, costume judging is at 9:15 and the parade starts at 9:30, taking a route through the back entrance of the fairgrounds.

Finally, we’d like to remind all interested Amador County residents and in particular the residents of Sutter Creek that there is a public meeting scheduled tonight on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Gold Rush Ranch Project. The open house meeting will take place between 4 and 6 pm at the new Sutter Creek Community building. The Gold Rush Ranch is a monumental proposal for a golf course, resort and subdivision on 945 acres adjacent to Sutter Creek. The project includes nearly 1,350 homes, an 18-hole golf course, a 60-room hotel and 300 timeshare units. It is expected to literally double the size of Sutter Creek. In a recent interview here at TSPN, Sutter Creek Assistant City Manager Sean Rabé urged all citizens to attend the meeting with their questions and concerns. And of course, you can catch that interview and all the other latest news online at www.tspntv.com.