Amador County - The competition for seats in a number of districts is at a fever pitch, even though reports of local campaign funding remains low compared to past races. The Fair Political Practices Commission requires all candidates to report any contributions over 1,000 dollars to the Amador County Election Office. Contributions less than 1,000 dollars are unknown and fall under no requirement to be reported to the public. Any member of the public may view campaign contributions in this or any future election by visiting the elections office and sifting through two or three hefty file folders of forms submitted by candidates. The race that has gathered the most public attention is coincidentally the one for which candidates have garnered the most contributions. According to official filing form 460, Water Agency District 1 Candidate Bill Condrashoff has accepted 4,198.97 dollars in contributions, District 1 competitor Maddona Wiebold has raised 3,300 dollars, and District 2 incumbent John Swift is third highest fundraiser with 1,100 dollars. The only other report of funds raised was by Jackson City Council candidate Dave Butow, who reported contributions just over the 1,000 dollar mark. The lack of reported contributions means a relatively level playing field for candidates in races across the County, which include the Amador City City Council, Ione City Council, Jackson City Council, Plymouth City Council, Sutter Creek City Council, the Amador Unified School District, the Volcano Community Services District, and the Amador Water Agency. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - Hundreds of people turned out Friday for the annual Jackson Lions Club Halloween Parade. Children lined up by grade to walk with their parents, with various costumes as the clouds threatened rain but held back on the wet stuff until later that evening. The parade was led by a Jackson Fire Truck, with Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison and a brigade of Jackson Lions helping gather the parade members and divert traffic. The parade formed in downtown Jackson, in front of the TSPN TV office, at 206 Main Street, then headed down Main toward the National Hotel. After the parade and crowd dispersed, many of the children with parents made the rounds trick-or-treating at some of the downtown businesses, then eventually went back the other way on Main Street, toward the pirate ship built by Kevin Clark, advertising representative here at TSPN. Clark said about 200 children went to the pirate ship, where he and three friends were dressed as pirates and they passed out candy. Several children in the area reported large hauls of the sweet stuff by mid-evening. Up next on the TSPN holiday watch: Veterans Day, November 11th and Thanksgiving, November 27th. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - The results are in from the Second Annual Firefighters Fundraiser in Ione. Ione City Treasurer Sharon Long was pleased to announce Monday that monetary contributions exceeded expectations. Over 300 community members gathered on October 24th at the Big Red Barn at Rancho Arroyo Seco for a fundraiser and BBQ. When all was said and done the total contributions raised to support Ione Fire Fighters were over 10,000 dollars- an amount that Rancho Arroyo Seco had already agreed to match for a grand total of 20,000 dollars towards new structural protective gear for the department. Supporters of the event wasted no time when it came to having fun. Kids jumped their way through the evening in a bounce house and delighted in preparing roasted marshmallows for s’mores. Adults enjoyed live music, raffle and a silent auction. Long summed up the spirit of the event, saying: “We are fortunate to have such a dedicated force of men and women who care for their community and volunteer time to provide emergency services. Ione is proud to have the best trained and staffed fire department in Amador County.” Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). 

Amador County - The City of Ione plans to host the third public workshop for city’s General Plan update on November 19th at 7:00 PM in Evalynn Bishop Hall. Attendees will be presented with three land use scenarios based on the cumulative feedback from resident surveys and input from the first two public meetings. The three scenarios include development locations for parks and recreation, commercial space and housing. Input from residents will provide direction for the look, feel and character of Ione. The city is strongly encouraging resident attendance. Sites for housing development are being considered at Q Ranch and Rancho Arroyo Seco, Castle Oaks, Waterman and SR 124 as well as south of the city limits. Participants will also provide input on whether to expand commercial development in downtown Ione or focus on SR 88. Join in defining the growth and development of the City and let your opinion be heard. For information, contact city planner Christopher Jordan at 274-2412, ext 104 or visit www.ionegeneralplanupdate.com. Staff Report (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - The Amador County Fair Board of Directors on Friday released the official theme for the 2009 Fair, which is the 71st annual event. The July 23rd to 26th Fair theme will be “A Grape Time to Hukilau (hoo kee lau').” Amador County Fair Board President, Janice Howard said Friday that flower leis, hula skirts and fun will set the mood, as well as recognize Amador grape growers and wine makers. Howard said organizers “are all very excited about this year’s theme” and she can’t wait to see the decorations and ideas exhibitors, staff and community will come up with for this year’s fair. Sherrie Elliot, Amador County Fair office manager said organizers always look for a fun theme that staff can decorate around, that they can create contests for, and that can be included entertainment and “keep things fresh for fair visitors to enjoy.” In choosing the theme, the board appreciated the meaning of a Hukilau as a way of fishing invented by the ancient Hawaiians. A Hukilau is also known to local Hawaiians as a festive beach gathering. Howard said in that same spirit of working together and sharing the bounty, the Amador County Fair community works together to raise funds for community service groups including local 4-H and FFA Chapters, Jackson Lions Club, Jackson and Plymouth Foothills Rotary, and many other civic minded organizations. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - Protesters against Proposition 8, which would ban gay-marriage in California, created quite a stir off Highway 49 in Jackson Monday morning. Five high school students from Amador High School enthusiastically jumped up and down as some passing motorists honked their horns. Earlier in the morning, a number of male demonstrators in favor of the proposed constitutional ban were demonstrating in the same spot. But, according to business owner Kam Merzlak, whose store sits adjacent to the demonstrations, “the No on 8 supporters were getting a lot more recognition and response from the passing motorists.” “We have friends who want the same rights as we have,” said one student when asked to explain his motivation for demonstrating. Voters across California will decide on this controversial issue today, November 4th. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - Unit Chief Bill Holmes formally ended the 2008 Fire Season in the Amador-El Dorado Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or CALFIRE, on Monday, November 3, at 8 am. The unit includes Amador, and El Dorado counties as well as the eastern foothills of Sacramento County. Burn Permits are not required, but the Air Quality Management District will be determining “burn days” or “no burn days” until May 1, 2009 when burn permits will again be required. Please make sure to call the burn information line immediately prior to burning. If you have questions or concerns about proper burning technique, please contact your local fire station personnel for further information. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County -- Amador Water Agency Candidate Debbie Dunn has responded to recent accusations by a political group that claim she and fellow candidate Bill Condrashoff are running to push a special interest agenda. Last week, an anonymous mailer from a group called the Concerned Amador Property Owners lambasted both candidates as “radical special interests” running to push the agenda of the Foothill Conservancy, a local organization focused on environmental causes. Concerned Amador Property Owners recommended Madonna Wiebold and Paul Scott as the better candidates. A subsequent investigation by the Foothill Conservancy revealed that the Property Owners group filed through the Secretary of State as a political “recipient committee” that can take in contributions and redistribute them to candidates or other political campaigns. The group’s members are Steve Moran of Ione and Ray Brusatori of Sutter Creek. A third member, Marc Bowman of Pine Grove, was amended but then removed from the group on October 21st.

“I implore you to set right a personal injustice,” wrote Dunn in a public email titled “Just the Facts” sent out Wednesday. Among the accusations against Dunn, she was called an “upcountry activist who very recently left her position as Outreach Coordinator with the Conservancy.” A facsimile of Dunn’s Conservancy business card with her personal information was included in the mailer. In her response, Dunn said “I am not a member of the Foothill Conservancy” and have “never been” and “I have no agenda other than to keep caring and loving Amador County.” Dunn said she bid on and was awarded a contract of deliverables through the Conservancy but submitted her resignation to Foothill early in July 2008. The Property Owners Group mailer also said that if Dunn and the Conservancy succeeded in designating the Mokelumne River as Wild and Scenic, “the Federal Bureaucracy would get total and absolute control…forever stopping Amador County from getting anymore water.” Dunn pointed out that the group’s endorsed candidate, Madonna Wiebold, “publicly supports the Wild and Scenic Act. “I am confused with her endorsement and my condemnation on the same piece of paper,” said Dunn. Both Condrashoff and Dunn have responded publicly to the mailer. The Concerned Amador Property Owners group has not replied. -- Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County -- The Plymouth City Council will consider canceling a water utility rate increase in a special meeting Monday, November 3rd, after receiving a bid that was 3 million dollars less that estimated for the construction of its water pipeline. The joint project with the Amador Water Agency received nine bids last week, with the lowest from Mountain Cascade Construction coming in at 5.3 million dollars. City Manager Dixon Flynn said staff is preparing a study of the proposed rate increase for the meeting Monday, with the intent to recommend canceling the November 17th meeting and raising city water utility rates. Flynn said some of the bidders are analyzing the Mountain Cascade bid to see how they were undercut in bidding. The AWA is also evaluating the bid to see if all of the information is correct. Plymouth will look at the bid in terms of whether the current water rate structure will be sufficient to fund Plymouth’s portion of the pipeline. Flynn said Plymouth staff will use the low bid to determine what its rate structure will be. “You assume that everything will be fine, but you don’t know that until you go through all the pieces,” Flynn said of the bid analysis. He said staff will find out at the end whether the city council can cancel the rate increase meeting. Mayor Jon Colburn called the special meeting for 5 p.m. Monday in Plymouth City Hall, 9426 Main Street in Plymouth. -- Story By Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County -- The run-up to Super Tuesday ended with a flurry of activity in the Amador County Registrar of Voter’s Office last week. Nearly 400 people registered to vote in the last seven days of the eligibility period that ended last Monday, October 20th. In all, 380 new voters were registered, bringing the total to 21,462 voters who are eligible to cast ballots next Tuesday. Supervisorial District Number 5 led Amador districts with 87 new registered voters. By party affiliation, the Amador County Republican Party had the most new registrants with 135 new voters registered since a list of the totals was printed on October 14th. “Decline To State” voters increased by 118 new people and The Democratic party in Amador gained 102 voters. Republicans in Amador lead party affiliation with 9,727 voters. Democrats numbered 7,501 and Decline To State totaled 3,148.

Gwen Johnson of the election registration office said the office was very busy this week with voting. By city registration, the City of Jackson led in sheer numbers with 2,568 voters, and it increased by 42 people in a week. Ione has 2,044 voters, including 60 new registrants in the last week. Sutter Creek totaled 1,669 voters and got 40 new voters. Plymouth got 23 new voters and totaled 580 and Amador City gained 3 voters, totaling 132 eligible to vote. By supervisor district, District 5 had the highest total with 4,598 registered voters. District 2 was second with 4,428. District 4 has 4,259 voters; District 1 has 4,103; and District 3 has 4,074. Republicans outnumber all other parties in each supervisor district and also in each city jurisdiction in Amador County. No Supervisor races are being run, but four of the districts feature runs for seats on the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors. In District 1, George W. Bill Condrashoff faces incumbent Madonna Wiebold. In District 2, AWA Chairman John P. Swift faces Gary E. Thomas. In District 3, two new candidates, Joseph A. Bonini and Don Cooper face off for the seat, to be vacated by current AWA Board Vice President Dave Thomas. District 4 has three candidates, including incumbent Paul Scott, Sutter Creek City Councilman W. Brent Parsons and Debbie Dunn. A total of 11,624 voters vote at the polls, while 9,765 vote by permanent absentee ballots. The last day to mail absentee ballots was Tuesday. Polls open Tuesday, November 4th at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. --  Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).