Two prisons in the Sierra Nevada foothills will be the first to implement a racially integrated housing policy after a court settlement. Officials said this week that the Sierra Conservation Center in Jamestown and Mule Creek State Prison in Ione will stop considering race when making cell and bunk assignments this month. All 30 male prisons are scheduled to comply by 2010. In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court said California's unwritten policy of segregating inmates by race in their cells needed to be reviewed by an appellate court. A settlement later created a policy mandating that prison staff fill open bunks regardless of race or ethnicity. The changeover was supposed to begin July 1, but has been delayed by discussions with employee unions and concerns over possible violence. The women's prison system is already integrated.

A group of loyal customers have united to protest the planned closing of Starbucks in Jackson. Far from another local business, the Starbucks located on the corner of Highway 49 and Clinton Road is one of 600 locations the coffee giant plans on closing nationwide. But local Starbucks loyalists are not about to give up without a fight. Jackson Residents Roger Amaral and Joyce Larsen have been simultaneously protesting and enjoying their hot beverages in front of the shop each morning. They have been petitioning for signatures from customers as they enter the store, and so far have collected over 400.

The sheer volume of signatures on the petition is evidence of the many coffee enthusiasts who frequent the chain, even in these tough economic times. But with two other Starbucks locations in the Martell shopping center, one Amador City resident who regularly buys her coffee at Andrae’s Bakery hardly sees what the fuss is about. “I could understand if they were fighting for lost jobs, but let’s give some smaller businesses a chance. And if you really want your Starbucks, is it that hard to drive to the one in Martell?” she said. For the past ten years, the coffee juggernaut has been expanding at an astronomical rate. The Amador County locations are just three of 16,000 stores worldwide. The official closing date has yet to be announced.

The City of Ione and the Gold Country Vintage Baseball league will host the third annual California Vintage Baseball All-Star Championships on Sunday, July 27, from 9:30 am to 5 pm at Howard Park. Come on out and see how baseball was played in your home town back in the 1880s. Festivities begin at 9:30 am. with the Home Run Derby, with proceeds going to the Gold Country Scholarship Fund. At 10 am is the Vintage Baseball All-Star Game, with the Bay Area All-Stars taking on the Gold Country All-Stars. And, if you show up in period clothing, you get food for free!

The Amador Community Foundation will be bringing an increasingly popular and educational outing to Amador County- the spelling bee. What is being described as a combination of “pronouns, pizza and pinot”, the first ever Amador County Spelling Bee is planned for Friday, October 3rd. Competing teams can represent or be sponsored by local businesses. “Spelling bees are being hosted as adult entertainment in restaurants, bars and for all types of charities throughout the county," said Shannon Lowery, foundation executive director. To ensure that the competition remains friendly, fun and family-oriented, lists of the words will be available ahead of time for contestants to study. The competition is limited to 16 team slots, many of which have already been reserved. For more information on sponsorship fees, team set-up and prizes, or to reserve a spot in the competition, contact the Amador Community foundation at 223-2148.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening to slash the salaries of California state employees to the federal minimum wage to keep the state solvent amid a deepening cash crisis. The state has been unable to agree how to tackle a 15.2 billion budget deficit. With California running out of money, the governor's spokesman said all options were being considered. The temporary pay cuts would affect 200,000 people and save as much as 400 million a month. "We're in a situation right now where we're about to run out of cash," the spokesman said. "That would put us in a very dangerous position so this is about making sure the state stays solvent. We know it's not going to be popular but we know it's the right thing to do." An executive order has been drafted that would stop California from hiring non-essential workers. Under the -proposal, the state's 20,000 temporary workers would also have their contracts -terminated. Schwarzenegger has been criticized for actively considering the cuts with John Chiang, the state controller, calling the move a "policy ploy". "Forcing public servants to involuntarily loan the state cash by foregoing their hard-earned paychecks puts an untenable burden on our teachers, healthcare workers and those who provide critical public services," he said. Democrat Karen Bass, speaker of the California assembly, said the governor should refrain from "putting public servants in the crossfire of this budget battle". But time is running out to solve the mess. The state's legislature is deadlocked, with Democratic members pushing for new revenue-raising measures and Republicans calling for cuts. The budget was due to be signed off on July 1. There are concerns that unless drastic action is taken California will not be able to -borrow the money needed to keep the state solvent.

The California Building Standards Commission on Thursday adopted what officials hailed as the first statewide "green" building code in the nation. Senior state officials and California's top building industry group said the move will help California cut water use and boost energy efficiency in new homes and commercial structures built within three years. The code, developed by the Department of Housing and Community Development, will be phased in between 2009 and 2011. It includes standards for the construction of single-family homes, health facilities and commercial buildings. It imposes new, more stringent requirements in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality and moisture control. Average water use in new homes will be cut 20 percent by 2011. The code makes some standards optional between now and their full implementation in 2011.

The City of Jackson has prevailed in court to invalidate a referendum challenging certification of the Environmental Impact Report, or EIR, for the City’s General Plan Land Use Element, Circulation Element and a revised Development Zoning Code.  The City Council approved the EIR in March, 2008, however, before the City could complete the approval of the three projects subject to the EIR, a referendum petition was circulated to require the City Council to either repeal its approval of the EIR or place it on the ballot for voter consideration. California law specifies a process for challenging certain actions of the City Council by referendum. 

It is the City Council’s position that approval of a complex document written to assess the environmental impacts of a project under the California Environmental Quality Act is not one of the actions that can properly be challenged by referendum and that other requirements of the referendum process had not been met. After careful consideration, the Jackson City Council authorized the City Attorney to file an action with the courts to invalidate the referendum.  In a ruling dated July 18, Judge Harlan ruled that the referendum is invalid and the City’s writ to invalidate the referendum was granted. With the EIR certification issue resolved with the courts, the City Council will be reviewing a schedule for adoption of two General Plan Elements and the Development Code at its meeting this coming Monday. 

The proposed Sutter Creek Crossroads Shopping Center will be the hot-button topic at the upcoming Sutter Creek Planning Commission meeting. Petrovich Development company is helming the massive development planned for the 11 acre lot on the corner of Highway 49 and Ridge Road. The development includes a 90,560 square foot shopping center with 381 parking spaces. Project proponents are touting the development for its ideal location on the corner of two major thoroughfares in Sutter Creek. The Planning Commission will determine the feasibility of the project and how it will affect the area. The public is encouraged to attend the Planning Commission meeting at 7pm on Monday, July 23 at 33 Church Street in Jackson.

The Amador County Fair, which opened Thursday, is offering a substantial cash prize in their new scavenger hunt contest. Fairgoers who want to enter the contest will be asked to complete a quiz that requires them to visit the far corners of the fairgrounds to find the answers. There will be a different set of questions and clues each day. A daily drawing will be held from the completed entry forms to select a cash winner each day. The prize on Friday it is 300 dollars, Saturday increases to 5001,000 dollars. Fair visitors can pick up an entry form at the General Store Information Center near the front gate (next to the carnival). The winning entry must have the correct answers. Any age can enter, however minors (under 18) must have their parents sign and show identification for the cash to be awarded. For more information, visit www.amadorcountyfair.com. dollars and the Big Easy prize on Sunday will be

The City of Jackson is looking into allowing local businesses to erect temporary signs. Currently, a city ordinance exists for permanent business signs and temporary “for sale” signs, but does not address temporary signage that is specifically for advertising. The issue came to the Planning Commission’s attention by way of City code enforcement officials. When asked to take down temporary banners, many local business owners complained and some were “flat out not removing them,” says City Planner Susan Peters. Due to number of complaints, city staff brought the issue to the Planning Commission, which heard the matter at their meeting Monday night. Many local business owners were in attendance to support the cause.

Staff provided the commission with a list of questions regarding amending the current sign ordinance. First, should temporary signs be allowed? If so, what size should they be, and what duration would be allowed? Also, should a permit fee apply as it does for permanent signs? And finally, what type of penalty should be imposed for violating the ordinance? Peters suggested that the Design Committee come up with a proposal, as they are already working on design aspects as part of the Economic Development Committee, a group charged with the revitalization of Jackson. Kam Merzlak of Merzlak Signs, who is on the Design Committee along with Shelly Scott, Cathy Yocheim, and Planning Commissioner Dave Butow, is excited about the task and says, “They are making a step in the right direction by having a professional in the (signage) field (help draft the proposal).” The Design Committee will bring a draft proposal to the next Economic Development meeting on August 14th. From there, that committee will bring the proposal to the Planning Commission at their August 18th meeting. Once the amendment language has been agreed upon, the Jackson City Council will need to vote on the amendment.