Amador County - A two car accident on Martin Lane in Ione sent two people to the hospital on Tuesday night. Little information about the accident is available, but it was confirmed by law enforcement as a head-on collision between a red sedan and a grey pickup truck, which may have been turning onto Martin lane from Highway 88. One driver was seriously injured and transported by helicopter to the hospital. The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident. Contact them for more information. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - A fire that threatened to engulf a house in flames was quickly extiguished thanks to the quick response of firefighters Tuesday evening. The fire began at the rear of a home on Debbie Lane in Pine Grove. The fire could have threatened several surrounding structures, but was brought under control by fire crews within fifteen minutes of the blaze’s inception, at 6:45 Tuesday evening. When Fire Battalion 10 first arrived on scene, the rear of an adjacent building to the home was heavily involved in fire. Negotiating a narrow driveway on a steep hill, fire fighters were able to set up hose lines and quickly knock back the flames before they spread any further to the building and the adjacent home. Fire personnel are still investigating the cause of the blaze. Bill Lavallie contributed.

Via Staff Report - Even though more rain is forecast across the foothills area, CALFIRE is reminding foothill residents that fire danger still remains high across Amador, Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties, and the chance of large and damaging fires still exists. Even with forecasted precipitation through the coming weeks, a burn suspension remains in effect and violators will be cited. This expected precipitation, though greatly needed, is not expected to be of significant levels to help with the dryness of fuels. CALFIRE Stations are prepared to respond to fires that may occur should we experience any lightning activity during the passing of this storm front. According to CALFIRE Chief Noonan, “We will provide adequate notice of any change in the restricted burning status. Making sure your property is in compliance with 100 foot defensible space clearance is one of the many ways you can help your community to be fire safe.” For more tips and ways to be fire safe contact your local CALFIRE station, or visit www.fire.ca.gov.

A combined effort between the County Narcotic Enforcement Team, or ACCNET, and various other local law enforcement agencies has resulted in the eradication of an illegal commercial marijuana cultivation site in a remote area of Amador County, east of Fiddletown. The site was raided on August 21st by ACCNET agents in cooperation with the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team. ACCNET had identified the cultivation site while conducting reconnaissance in that area. ACCNET conducted surveillance of the location and determined the site was being tended to by a Mexican national drug trafficking organization. A nearby property owner also reported hearing gunfire from the canyon during the past few weeks. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team were utilized to secure the cultivation site due to the probability of encountering armed cultivators. No suspects were found at the location. The eradicated marijuana was extracted from the cultivation site. A total of 5,729 marijuana plants were collected from seven separate but inter-connected plots. The investigation is ongoing. This is the third commercial marijuana cultivation site seized by ACCNET this year. All of the growing locations so far have been tended to by a Mexican national drug trafficking organization.

The Plymouth City Council was introduced to their new Resident Deputy Thursday evening. Nathan Woods, who has been with the Sheriff’s Department for the past year, has officially been in his new position for the past two weeks. A graduate of Argonaut High School, the 24 year old man was raised in Amador County along with his wife, also a graduate of Argonaut High School, and he “hopes to raise his young daughter in the same environment.” He stated to the council that he is looking forward to “serving the City of Plymouth as best as possible.” The council collectively responded that they were looking forward to building a working relationship with Deputy Woods, and welcomed him on board. Also at the meeting lifelong Plymouth Resident Gary Colburn spoke to the council during the public comment portion of the meeting and officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming November election. He commented that he wants “to give the community a choice” and that he wants to see “all the cards put on the table.” At the end of Mr. Colburn’s speech, Councilman Greg Baldwin publicly apologized to Mr. Colburn for “calling him out” at the last City Council meeting for going over his time limit at the podium during public comment as he didn’t realize that the previous speaker had done so as well. He also apologized for calling law enforcement. Mr. Colburn accepted the apology.

Driving under the influence in Calaveras County will now cost you more than just an arm and a leg. For DUI repeat offenders, the Calaveras County Office of the District Attorney has just announced it will enforce an existing vehicle code that authorizes the court to forfeit the offender’s ownership rights. Calaveras District Attorney Jeffrey Tuttle intends to file a motion on every case possible under the law, which was added to the California Vehicle Code in 1999. Under the code, the court may “declare the motor vehicle driven by the defendant to be a nuisance if the defendant is the registered owner of the vehicle.” In these cases, the court would order the Sheriff’s office to sell the vehicle, and all net proceeds would be kept by the county. In Calaveras County this year so far, the Sheriff’s department has made 192 arrests for DUI. When asked if Amador County would be following suit, District Attorney Todd Riebe said “it’s not something you can just jump into. There’s a lot of (factors) to consider,” referring to the code’s restrictions on selling the vehicle. Riebe also noted that besides the district attorney’s office, the court has the authority to uphold that law without a motion from the DA. If Amador County did pursue this type of action, it would be for “more serious circumstances,” such as vehicular manslaughter or serious injury as a result of driving under the influence. For more information on this vehicle code section, go to the California’s DMV’s website at www.dmv.ca.gov and search on VC 23596.

At the Ione City Council’s special meeting last week, it was requested that the agenda item regarding loan financing options for the new fire station be brought back when a comprehensive comparison of the loan options was available. At the April 29^th meeting however, with recommendation from staff, the four pending proposals were narrowed down to the two that were deemed best for the city. Those two proposals were from Bar Capital and the Bank of Amador, whose terms were not completed by the April 29^th meeting.  Finance Director Mark Smith continued to recommend the Bar Capital loan for the city, stating that “given the conservative nature of some of you, this makes the most sense.” The Bank of Amador’s proposed loan does have a more favorable short term interest rate and no prepayment penalties, although the rate is adjustable, unlike Bar Capital's, which is a fixed rate term. The estimated annual repayments for the loan with Bar Capital are approximately 44-thousand dollars, with out of pocket expenses totaling 55-hundred to 10-thousand dollars. Council voted 3-2, with Councilmen Ulm and Sherman dissenting, to approve the selection of the loan with Bar Capital and also to authorize City Manager Kim Kerr to sign the loan documents on behalf of the city.

Amador County - State wildlife authorities have arrested a meat shop owner in Sacramento on suspicion of buying venison from a couple accused of poaching deer in Amador County. Tawn Saephan, 45, owner of Samthong Meat Market on 6245 Franklin Boulevard, was arrested Friday on suspicion of purchasing deer meat after a seven-month investigation. He allegedly bought the meat from 42-year-old Lofoo Saeturn and 61-year-old Merry Nian Saechao. Foy says wardens arrested the couple for shooting deer out of season and at night in El Dorado, Placer and Amador counties. They face felony conspiracy and poaching charges. The majority of deer poaching involves individuals killing deer for their own consumption, said Foy. He said the suspects were selling the deer for $150 a piece. According to reports, a couple hundred pounds of deer meat and at least seven deer carcasses were found at a home the suspects were renting on Elder Creek Road. Foy said the number of deer the couple are suspected of killing likely exceeds the seven animals found in the home. Staff Report (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - Amador County Law Enforcement is still seeking the suspect in a bank robbery that occurred last Friday in Plymouth. Based upon evidence located within close proximity to the crime scene, bank surveillance system video, bank teller statements and other witness statements, Amador County Sheriff’s Detectives were successful in identifying the suspect as Mark Allen Derschon, 36, last known to reside in River Pines. On the morning of Friday December 12, the Wells Fargo Bank located at 9454 Main Street in Plymouth was robbed by a white male wearing dark sunglasses, a white tee shirt, a charcoal grey hooded sweatshirt and black gloves. The suspect handed the teller a note stating he had a firearm and demanded money. After receiving a small amount of currency, the suspect fled the scene on foot. Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives responded and conducted the investigation into the reported crime. The Amador County District Attorney’s Office, in cooperation with Amador Superior Court Judge David Richmond, has issued an Arrest Warrant for Derschon. Bail was set at $40,000. Derschon is still at-large and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding Derschon’s whereabouts or anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500 or the Amador County Secret Witness Program at (209) 223-4900. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County – Five local firefighting brigades learned Monday that their new extrication and traffic safety response equipment was ready for action to improve emergency response in Amador County after two Oakland technicians helped get the equipment fired up and operational. On Monday, L.N. Curtis & Sons workers Jim Colwell and Dave Anderson were at the Sutter Creek Fire Department helping service the equipment and get them running. Helping were Jackson Fire Captain Frank Tremain, Sutter Creek Chief Butch Martin and his firefighters, Aaron Watkins and bob Barghoorn Jr. The equipment was purchased by Sutter Creek Fire Protection District, lead agency in receiving and dispersing a $181,000 Dollar “Regional Extrication Improvement Program.” Sutter Creek Fire Captain and grant program director Dan Barnes said members of the local brigades will each get about $36,000 dollars worth of new extrication equipment from the grant, through the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Barnes said Sutter Creek Fire District prepared the fully equipped extrication systems, and notified the 5 jurisdictions that they were ready to be picked up. Departments that will get the equipment are the Lockwood Fire Protection District, Jackson City Fire Department, Amador Fire Protection District Battalions 10 and 20, and the Sutter Creek Fire Department. Barnes said “additional training for the new equipment will also be provided to 40 firefighters in the region.” The program should be fully implemented by next September. He said on completion of the program, “responding agencies will have the same standard of equipment that is fully compatible with each other, and outdated equipment will be replaced, allowing for improved emergency medical service delivery in the region.” The package for each jurisdiction includes hydraulic Hurst extrication tools, heavy airbags, “Rescue 42” stabilization struts, portable lighting and a portable gasoline powered hydraulic power unit. The Hurst tools include a spreader, a cutter and a ram. The generator powers two Hurst tools at a time. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).