By Jim Reece - The Amador County Recreation Agency and a group of volunteers are helping set up a flying disc golf course at the Kennedy Mine in Jackson, with a 2-day, second annual tournament in November. The ACRA Kennedy Mine Disc Golf Fall Classic is to be held November 15th and 16th at the mine, off Highway 49 in Jackson. The latest tournament will help raise funds to build a permanent disc golf course in Amador County. ACRA program directors Jaime Dickerson and Matt Nestor are co-chairing a committee for the tournament, with help from local and regional disc golfers, including 9th place finisher at the World Championships this August, Ray Birch of Ione. Brandon Wedge, co-owner of Play It Again Sports in Jackson is also on the committee, as is TSPN TV news writer Jim Reece. A long-time El Dorado County disc golfer, Charlie Callahan, is also helping with the tournament and the four designed the original course for the Kennedy Mine’s Father’s Day Classic last July. The course will be fairly close to the same layout as the original. ACRA staff 16 professional-grade Disc Catcher baskets from Kirkwood Mountain Resort that are used as holes in the game of disc golf. The game is scored with one point for each throw, as the game of golf, with the lowest score being the best. To “hole-out” a hole, the disc must come to rest in the basket of the Disc Catcher, or basket. The Jackson Lodge, 850 Highway 49 in Jackson is offering discounted rooms for the Kennedy Mine Fall Classic. For information on the tournament or sponsorship information, call Matt Nestor at 223-6349. To book a room or cabin at the Jackson Lodge, call 223-0486 or online see www.TheJacksonLodge.com. Also online, see www.KennedyGoldMine.com.

By Jim Reece - The Sutter Creek City Council voted to raise wastewater rates and set a public hearing on the issue for December 15. The new rates could go into effect in January 2009. Under State Proposition 218, the council was required to notify the public of its intent to raise rates. A sufficient public protest of the rate hike could stop the action. The rates would rise three times over the next two years. Current residential rates in Sutter Creek are 50 dollars and 5 cents a month and would rise in January 2009 to 60 dollars and 57 cents. In July 2009, the rate would go up to 66 dollars and 27 cents a month, then rise once more, to 72 dollars and 57 cents a month in July 2010. Mayor Gary Wooten said none of the council members wanted to raise rates, but a number of issues led to a deficit in wastewater coffers. City Manager Rob Duke said a flood in 2007 led to emergency work at the Henderson Dam and Reservoir, depleting 800,000 dollars in wastewater funds. The city spent a total of 1 million dollars on work at Henderson. Additional work at Henderson, to buttress the dam and increase storage capacity for the City’s Amador Regional Sanitation Authority, would cost between 1.5 million and 2 million dollars, Duke said. Consultant Bob Reed presented a study of Sutter Creek wastewater finances that outlined steps to revamp funding. Rates in Amador City are 5 dollars and 22 cents per 1,000 gallons and in Martell are 5 dollars and 30 cents. Amador City rates would rise to 9 dollars and 84 cents per thousand gallons in January 2009, 10 dollars and 11 cents in July ’09 and 10 dollars and 41 cents in July 2010. Martell area’s rates would go to 8 dollars and 13 cents in January ’09, 8 dollars and 55 cents in July ’09 and 8 dollars and 90 cents in July 2010. Rates would also go up for the Amador Water Agency.

By Jennifer Wilson - Jackson’s Building and Planning Departments came under fire earlier this week when a permit violation issued in front of the Jackson Planning Commission unexpectedly switched directions. On the agenda at Monday night’s meeting was a Landscape Planning Ordinance violation by Brett Yochheim, who owns property on Jackson Gate Road. City staff assert that Yochheim proceeded with grading before obtaining a permit and damaged several trees on the property. City Planner Susan Peters gave a brief overview of the events leading up to the violation. Initial reaction from the Planning Commission was somewhat harsh. Commissioner Walt Hoeser commented that “we need to stop this (type of abuse)… I can’t believe the amount of grading that has already happened (without a permit).” Yochheim claims that he has followed the city’s instructions to the letter, including the submission of a building permit, grading plan, and paying the appropriate fees. On October 10th, Yochheim claims his plan was accepted by Senior Building Inspector Larry White and he was told verbally to proceed “with brushing and cutting.” “I was never informed by the building department (about the trees). I (wasn’t trying) to sneak this in. I’ve lived in Amador County for 22 years and have been a contractor for 15, and I was under the impression that I followed the right steps,’ said Yochheim. Commissioner Dave Butow called the entire issue a “moot point” and questioned the organization of the City of Jackson. “The city manager should have dealt with this before it got to this point… he paid his money, and should have gotten his permit.” Then, looking at Peters and City Manager Mike Daly, he added, “you guys are on the hook.” Peters and Daly defended their positions, stating that paying the money doesn’t equal having a permit in hand. In the end, the commission decided to impose a five-year tree monitoring plan, as well as mandatory maintenance of the trees.

By Alex Lane - And now, our continuing report on the Propositions you’ll be deciding on in the November ballot. Today we’ll discuss Proposition 9, which would amend the constitution to require that crime victims be notified and have input on phases of the criminal justice process, including bail, pleas, sentencing and parole. Prop 9 sees strong support from victim’s rights groups, including Justice for Homicide Victims, Justice for Murdered Children and The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children. Supporters say Prop 9 “levels the playing field.” “California’s Constitution guarantees rights for rapists, murderers, child molesters, and dangerous criminals…Prop 9 guarantees crime victims the right to justice and due process.” Proponents say Prop 9 would mandate that crime victims be notified if their offender is released, would allow parole judges to increase the number of years between parole hearings, and prevents politicians from releasing dangerous inmates to alleviate prison overcrowding, among other stipulations. But opponents say Prop 9 will “cost taxpayers billions” and “preys on our emotions in order to rewrite the State Constitution and change the way California manages its prisons and jails, threatening to worsen our overcrowding crisis at both the state and local levels.” Opponents believe that “taking money out of a cash-strapped budget to pay for an unnecessary initiative could mean cuts to every other priority of Government.” On November 4th, you’ll have the opportunity to help decide.

By Jim Reece - The Ione City Council approved a 3-year contract for monitoring wells for its sewage reservoir system. The contract, with Condor Earth Technologies, is for 126,000 dollars for three years, with the option to renew the contract twice, at the same rate, for 1-year extensions on the contract with each renewal. City Manager Kim Kerr recommended Condor, saying that the company has already done contract well monitoring for the city, is familiar with the location of the wells and knows the city’s wastewater system. Kerr said one bid was lower than Condor’s, by 30,000 dollars, but the savings and the company’s familiarity with the system were bonuses. She said the city also knew of Condor’s capabilities. Kerr recommended “locking in the rates for five years” by signing the contract with Condor. The wells monitor groundwater around the city’s seven storage ponds in its wastewater system and help with meeting California Environmental Quality Act requirements toward lifting a 1995 Cease and Desist order from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, after sewage was found seeping into the ground water around the city’s seven ponds. Councilman Skip Schaufel asked if the monitoring wells were in the correct location. Kerr said she “can’t say with 100 percent certainty,” noting that she is “relying on the experts” – engineers, consultants and hydrologists – to tell her where to place the monitoring wells. Schaufel said “we’re spending a lot of money and God help us if it’s wrong.” Kerr said Ione is going “above and beyond what’s required here.” Councilman Lee Ard asked if the locations of wells still included the neighbor’s property. Kerr said that well had not been sampled in a year and the city can no longer place the wells there any more, but she is working with Amador Ranch Associates to place wells on their property. Dominic Atlan of Castle Oaks Golf Course asked if there was a way to combine sampling for a cost reduction. Kerr said that is a potential possibility and staff is looking into it.

By Alex Lane - Amador County Director of Animal Control John Vail is refuting rumors that a “wild pit bull” is on the loose in the area surrounding Irish Town Road. Back on October 14th, a pit bull found its way into a pen containing goats and sheep. The owner of the goats called Animal Control, who sent an officer to the scene. The officer found one goat dead and another severely distressed. The pit bull was taken into immediate custody by Animal Control, only to be claimed shortly thereafter by its owner. According to Vail, “the dog’s owner and the owner of the goats and sheep turned out to be living on the same property.” As much as Animal Control wants to contain any animal that could be a potential hazard to others, it cannot do so when that incident is contained on one piece of private property, he said. The owner of the goats decided not to press charges against the owner of the pit bull.

By Alex Lane - During the Board meeting Tuesday, County Administrative Officer Terri Daly updated Supervisors on significant changes to the Health and Human Services Department. “How can we do things better, faster and cheaper?” said Daly. This set the tone for her presentation, which outlined restructuring and cutbacks designed to save the County upwards of 500,000 dollars. No General Fund dollars will be necessary to fund the reorganization. Daly outlined a number of structural changes within the department to disperse responsibilities left over from the large number of employees who recently retired under the County’s Early Incentive Retirement Program. “Social Services is the hardest department (to restructure) because of vacancies due to retirements,” she said. She proposed restructuring management to provide financial depth for the department and increase outside oversight. She also proposed consolidating financial functions that were the responsibility of many in the past. All this is happening during a time when the Department could use more help than other County agencies. “During economic downturns, social services actually see an increase in business,” said Daly. “We haven’t had any problems, we’re just trying to find more efficiency,” she said. Daly hopes to implement her new plan by November 1st. The Supervisors seemed to agree. Supervisor Boitano praised Daly for her efforts, saying, “In the end, this will be a really big savings for all of us.”

By Alex Lane - Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe sought the Board of Supervisor’s support in his adamant opposition to Prop 5 during Tuesday’s meeting. Riebe has been a vocal opponent of the Proposition, which would expand rehabilitation services for drug offenders in prison, on parole, and in the community. More commonly known as the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act, Riebe has said the title is misleading and attorney’s groups made unsuccessful efforts to have it changed. In his proposal to the Supervisors, Riebe said “Proposition 5 could provide, in effect, a ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card to defendants charged with crimes such as domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, mortgage fraud, identity theft, vehicular manslaughter, insurance fraud and auto theft.” Riebe said criminals would be able to self-regulate drug treatment. In an exclusive Television Interview with TSPN, he said, “You can’t leave it to people who are in the throes of addiction to determine when they’re ready to get serious treatment.” In order to illustrate the Propositions potential hazards, Riebe recalled a warning from a lawyer friend: “(My friend) said that criminal defense attorneys are advising clients to carry a dime bag in their pocket. That way they can say ‘The drugs made me do it’.” The Supervisors unanimously and formally supported Riebe’s position.

By Alex Lane - And now, our continuing report on the Propositions you’ll be deciding on in the November ballot. Today we’ll discuss Proposition 8, which would change the constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. The California Supreme Court ruled to allow same-sex marriages in May of this year, becoming the third state to do so behind Massachusetts and Connecticut. Supporters, including the California Family Council and the Coalition of African American Pastors, say Prop 8 will “restore the definition of marriage to what the vast majority of California voters already approved and human history has understood marriage to be.” They say the ruling to overturn a previous similar amendment was made by “activist judges” and that Prop 8 protects children “from being taught in public schools that “same-sex marriage” is the same as traditional marriage.” Proponents say that while “gays have the right to their private lives, they do not have the right to redefine marriage for everyone else.” But opponents argue that “the laws of our land should guarantee the same freedoms and rights to everyone, and no one group should be singled out to be treated differently.” Opponent ‘The Sacramento Bee’, calls this Prop “a stain on history”, saying, “just as an individual’s sexual orientation is not a legitimate basis on which to deny housing or a job, it is not a legitimate basis on which to deny individuals the right to marry.” Opponents say, “The court ruled that the constitution does not allow those who are homosexual the right to marry- just as it decided 60 years ago that the California Constitution does not allow the state to deny individuals of different races the right to marry.” On November 4th, you’ll have the opportunity to help decide.

By Jennifer Wilson - Jackson’s proposed Circulation Element sailed through the Jackson Planning Commission Monday night with unanimous approval. The commission discussed the document, which is responsible for outlining the general location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, and other local public utilities and facilities, which all should correlate with the city’s newly-implemented land use element. The circulation element addressed major vehicle thoroughfare problems, such as traffic congestion along Highway 49/88 in Jackson, pedestrian movements, and transit systems, and proposes solutions for improvement. One such solution is to widen some areas of Highway 49/88 to four lanes, which would greatly improve traffic congestion. Another solution is to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 49 and Sutter Street, a dangerous area for Jackson Junior High School students going to and from school. Other solutions include a traffic signal at Highway 49 and French Bar Road, an additional left-turn lane at Clinton Road, and adding sidewalks in appropriate areas. Other issues discussed included the amount of traffic on Jackson Gate Road since the Martell business park was installed. Commissioner Dave Butow said, “traffic has increased substantially.” Assisting the city with the final draft of the element, Charles Field, Director of the Amador County Transportation Commission, was present at Monday’s meeting to answer any questions. Field noted that the “Martell CMX” project area expands all the way down to Hoffman Street, which would allow for the highway to be widened to four lanes, thereby relieving Martell and part of Jackson of the increased traffic congestion. City Planner Susan Peters thanked Field for his enormous support, saying that he “worked nights and weekends to get this thing done.” The amended draft of the 2008 Jackson Circulation Element will go before the Jackson City Council at their next meeting, this Monday, October 27th at 7 pm for possible adoption.