This week is Fire Prevention Week and Californians are reminded to prepare and practice fire escape plans. This year's theme for Fire Prevention Week, "Practice Your Escape Plan!" Nationally in 2006, home fires accounted for 80 percent of all fire deaths, 2,600 people were killed and 12,500 were injured, according to NFPA reports. According to a NFPA poll, the majority of Americans have a fire plan, but most haven't practiced their plan. Developing a fire escape plan before a fire strikes is just as important as practicing it at least twice a year.

Tonight, Wednesday, October 10th, is the next session of Amador Government 101 the ongoing workshop series being offered by decision and policy makers to help the general public better understand Amador County Government. The workshops being held to allow local citizens an opportunity to hear how our local government works directly from the mouths of the folks who run it. Wednesday night’s Amador Government 101 class will focus on the responsibilities of the Assessor, the Auditor and the Tax Collector.

Assembly Speaker Fabian  Núñez came under fire Friday after a report showed that the lawmaker - who has long fashioned himself as a champion of the poor - has used thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to make lavish purchases. According to the San Jose Mercury News, trips to Europe, expensive dinners, extravagant hotel stays and $2,500 worth of gifts from luxury retailer Louis Vuitton in Paris have created a swirl of questions about the Los Angeles Democrat who, aside from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is arguably the Capitol's most powerful elected official.

Donovan Agasi, a Mokelumne Hill artist, had two of his pieces of art on display at Starbucks in Angels Camp. According to the Calaveras Enterprise, Agasi found out last week that one of his pieces had been stolen; he has yet to recover it and no information has come in as to its whereabouts. Agasi, who said he places no blame on Starbucks or its management for the theft, has had pieces on display on the walls at the coffee shop for nearly two years. Due to relocating and being without a telephone for some time, Agasi did not find out that his creation, “Still Form in Patience,” had been stolen until nearly two months after it was taken. The piece measures 14 by 17 inches and is framed. It is done in chalk pastels and depicts a chess piece, a boxing puppet and a pair of bolt cutters with a multicolored background. Agasi said that if anybody has any information about the painting they should call the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department at 754-6500.  A Calaveras Enterprise Story

 

Thursday, the Campbell Soup Company announced a voluntary recall of more than 72,000 cans of a variety of its Chunky soup because they may contain pieces of hard plastic that present a choking hazard and could cause injury if swallowed. According to Sacramento Fox 40 News, the recall involves 18.8-ounce cans of Campbell's Chunky Baked Potato with Cheddar & Bacon Bits. No other products are affected by the recall, the company said. Campbell said three consumers have reported minor injuries in and around their mouths. The recalled soups were shipped to 24 states including California. Consumers who purchased Campbell's Chunky Baked Potato with Cheddar & Bacon Bits with the can code "JUL 08 2009 07097" were advised to return the product to the store where it was purchased for an exchange or refund. A Fox 40 News Story.

Amador County Public Health Department will kick off its fall flu vaccine clinics at the annual Sutter Amador Hospital Health Festival Friday afternoon. The Health Department and the hospital will administer flu shots and nasal mist immunizations as well as pneumonia and tetanus boosters including: FluMist nasal vaccine for healthy people ages 5 through 49 years of age, Flu shots for persons 50 years and older as well as any age with a high risk condition, Tetanus boosters for persons 7 years and older, Pneumonia shots for persons 65 years and older only.

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.

After a long year of pruning, cultivating and harvesting, Amador County wineries and vineyards celebrated “The Big Crush” Saturday and Sunday. The Amador Vintner's Association’s "Big Crush" event attracted thousands of wine lovers from as far away as Texas wineries throughout the county for great wine, food and fun. Wineries offered every possible way to taste wine, wines poured from barrel and bottle, delicious food, live music at many of the wineries and dancing at some!

Today is Columbus Day and it’s one of those holidays where we wonder – what’s open and what’s closed?  Well, here’s the rundown: Amador County public schools are in session but city and county offices, and local agencies including the Amador Water Agency, will be closed. Most banks are closed and State offices, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, will also be closed for Columbus Day. Retail stores and businesses are typically open. The holiday has affected some local government meetings – Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting has been cancelled, Jackson City Council meeting has been moved to Tuesday, and Sutter Creek Planning Commission meeting has been moved to Wednesday night. So get out your holiday decorations and bake those Columbus Day cookies, and if you have the day off today, do something fun!

Tuesday night’s Joint Sutter Creek City Council and Planning Commission Workshop is the second in a series of discussions on the Gold Rush Ranch and Golf Resort. The Gold Rush Ranch Master-Planned Community is a proposed golf, resort and 12 new residential neighborhoods over approximately 945 acres. It consists of the 833-acre Noble Ranch parcel and the 112-acre Allen Ranch parcel. About 612 acres are within Sutter Creek’s city limits and 333 are in the county unincorporated area.