Fire danger this year has reached conditions that are making every day a significant day for wildland fire consideration. However, later this week dry conditions and wind patterns will combine for High Risk wild land fire conditions.

President Bush quietly slipped out of the White House this weekend and went on a secret mission. He has made a surprise visit to Iraq. According to the AP he secretly flew 11 hours, landing at an air base in Anbar province west of Baghdad. The visit underscores Bush's claim that his buildup of U.S. troops is helping to stabilize Iraq.

In an effort to provide better control and coordination, the federal government is launching an ambitious ID program for rescue workers that will prevent everyday people wanting to help in times of crisis, from swarming to a disaster scene. A prototype of the new first responder identification card is already being issued to fire and police personnel in the Washington, D.C., area.

According to the London Times a newly discovered gene may be the common gene that influences height. The identification of this gene is helping to explain why some people grow taller than others. People who inherit a particular version of the gene, known as HMGA2, are on average a centimeter taller than those who have a different genetic profile, scientists have found.

Felix, a highly dangerous Category 4 storm, due to make landfall on Tuesday morning, is charging toward Nicaragua and Honduras with top sustained winds of 135 mph (215 kph). The storm is provoking fears of a repeat of Hurricane Mitch, which killed some 10,000 people in Central America in 1998. The most important thing is that people pay heed to the call for evacuation so that we don't have to count bodies later," said Marco Burgos, head of Honduras' civil protection agency. 

The City of Jackson has received information from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board that their Tentative Waste Water Discharge Requirements will be posted some time today at the Central Valley Board’s website. The permit and the requirements will be heard by the state agency’s full board of directors on October 25th and 26th and at that time is expected to either approve or modify those requirements. 

Thursday morning an Amador County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted a routine traffic stop on a vehicle with an expired registration tag. The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit began. The vehicle headed southbound on Hwy 26 at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour. Once across the Calaveras County line the Amador County unit was joined by Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department deputies. The Amador Unit ended his portion of the pursuit once he deemed that there was just too much risk to other citizens because of the metropolitan nature of the area to which the pursuit traveled. The pursuit was continued by Calaveras SO Deputies and the San Andreas Units of the CHP, along with CHP helicopter H20.

This week, two Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies were involved in a motor vehicle collision on Hwy 88 near Red Corral Road. According to the CHP report written by Officer Mike LeMasters, the two deputies were riding together in a marked Amador County Sheriff’s Patrol car heading west bound on Hwy 88. April Alexander, of Pioneer, was pulled to the side of the Highway. As the deputies’ vehicle approached Alexander’s location, Alexander failed to see the Amador County Sheriff’s vehicle and proceeded to make a U-Turn directly in front of the Deputies. The patrol vehicle then impacted Alexander’s 2001 Chevy Tahoe on the driver’s side door. Both Deputies were transported to Sutter Amador Hospital by American Legion Ambulance with moderate injuries.

Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the end of summer and before the celebration begins, the Amador Unit of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants to remind Amador county motorists to plan ahead, designate a driver, and wear their seat belts.. According to CHP Community Outreach Officer John C Hardey last year, 29 people were killed on California roads over the Memorial Day weekend and although Amador County experienced only 3 accidents last year on the holiday weekend, this year’s statistics can not be compared to last year.