According to District Attorney Todd Riebe, Judge David Richmond has ruled that two horses returned to a Fiddletown family in a highly controversial legal case, must now be returned to Amador County Animal Control officials. The case is that of John O’Sullivan and his wife, Krista Clem, both of Fiddletown. The pair was charged in January of 2006 with various charges related to the death of a horse at their Fiddletown ranch. From that date on the case has taken many twists and turns, but ultimately in a plea agreement was reached with the couple.

Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan says there was a major marijuana eradication on New York Ranch Rd outside of the Jackson City limits. The bust found 14-hundred plants on 31-acres tended by two Laotian nationals who were actively engaged with in the marijuana garden as the Sheriff’s Department swooped in.

The Jackson Planning Commission met Monday evening to discuss the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Home Depot Project. The purpose of the public hearing was not to discuss the project merits; such as if the project is or is not a good fit for the city, if the property is zoned correctly, the removal of trees, etc. The discussion was to be solely focused on the adequacy of the DEIR. Ben Ritchie a representative from the City’s DEIR consultant, Pacific Municipal Consultants, attended the meeting and gave a short presentation on the DEIR process and findings.

A plan to build 10 homes on 12 acres in Lake Camanche Village ended Tuesday when the Amador County Board of Supervisors denied an appeal by the Lone Oak Estates applicant. The Planning Commission had denied the application to subdivide the parcel because there is not adequate sewer service in the area, and because project roads did not provide sufficient emergency access.

A five-year extension on the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-determination Act would definitely be a bonus to the Amador County Unified School District, given financial losses for lost Average Daily Attendance numbers. The 2000 act of legislation was developed to compensate timber harvesting counties for property tax and timber revenue losses that were lost to new rules that limited the amount of timber that could be logged in the National Forests. The Federal Funding mechanism brings about 250,000 dollars to ACUSD alone.

Ambassadors for Amador needed at Visitor Center in Plymouth. Do you love meeting new people? Do you find yourself getting excited talking about places to go and things to do in Amador? Do you have 2 or 3 hours you can spare each month? Are you a high school student who needs community hours? Amador Council of Tourism is looking for ambassadors at their new visitor Center at 9310 Pacific Street in Plymouth. The Visitor Center is open 7 days a week: Monday through Friday, 9 to 5; weekends, 10 to 4. If you are interested in helping our visitors with their questions, please contact Maureen Funk, ACT Tourism Director, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 969-5065.

Do you change your own oil?  Do you have used oil filters?  Oil filters should never be thrown in the trash because they can contain one pint to one quart of used oil.  Even if properly drained, a filter can still contain two to eight ounces of used oil. Hurry up and bring your used oil filter to ATI Parts in Pine Grove on Saturday, September 22 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and receive a FREE oil & filter recycling container and $6 off your purchase of a new oil filter!  It’s that easy!  Recyclers will also receive a FREE shop rag, oil funnel, pen, and information on how to properly recycle used oil and filters.