Amador County - Daffodil Hill, a famous local ranch known for its floral beauty, is preparing to reopen to the public. Located minutes from Volcano, the property formerly known as the McLaughlin Ranch has been a favorite with visitors who travel from miles around to see thousands of daffodils sprinkled over the hills. Daffodil Hill was a regular stopping place for teamsters hauling timber from the Sierras down to the Kennedy and Argonaut Mines, and for eastbound travelers heading for the Comstock Lode on the Amador-Nevada Wagon Road. Today, much of the landscape around the old homestead is covered with more than 300 named varieties of daffodils. More bulbs are added each year, with the help of private donations. The bulbs number more that 300,000 and include not only 300 varieties of daffodils, but also a large number of other varieties of bulbs and flowers as well. The best time to visit Daffodil Hill is the spring, usually from the end of March through the first three weeks of April. Daffodil Hill is open only at this time of year beginning March 14th, after that it goes back to a working ranch. Please call Daffodil Hill at (209) 296-7048 for additional information. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - An elderly man in his 80’s lost his life in a vehicle accident on Highway 88 Monday evening. Donald Hodges, a resident of Manteca, California, was driving his 2005 Chevy on Highway 88 near Los Ranchos Road and Blue Sky Drive when he suffered a medical emergency and became incapacitated while driving. His vehicle left the roadway to the south and struck a guardrail on the right shoulder. In an attempt to keep the vehicle on the roadway, Hodges over-corrected, traveled down an adjacent embankment, overturned and came to rest atop the railroad tracks located south of the right shoulder. Amador fire and medical crews immediately converged on the scene, where they were able to revive Hodges using advanced life support techniques. Hodges was airlifted to Mercy San Juan Medical Center, but was pronounced dead upon arrival by treating physicians. The California Highway Patrol is till investigating the incident. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A proposed expansion of the Pardee Reservoir has raised red flags among opponents who view the project as detrimental to the environment and the local economy. Under the proposal, East Bay MUD would flood the entire Middle Bar reach of the Mokelumne and nearly a mile of the Mokelumne above Highway 49 in order to meet its water needs in dry years. But local opponents are concerned about any EBMUD decision that would drastically alter a vital component of their own backyard. “We don’t feel we should have to give up more of our river so people in the east bay can take longer showers and water their lawn,” said Katherine Evatt, Board Director for the Foothill Conservancy. She said river advocates collectively spent more than 30 years trying to open reaches of the Mokelumne to the public, resulting in one of the most popular kayaking destinations in central California and a popular fishing reach. “People have put a lot of time and money into making the Mokelumne a viable economic resource,” Evatt said. Environmental groups like the Sierra Club have expressed concern over the impact flooding would have on river plant species and fish populations. “It raises questions about how to restore salmon and steelhead populations after that much more potential habitat is lost,” said Evatt. EBMUD Spokesman Charles Hardy stressed that any decision on implementing the proposal was still a long time down the road. “This is all part of our long range planning activities looking at water supplies through 2040,” he said. He said the EIR recommended choosing an option: Pardee expansion or a regional desalinization plant. “We have more knowledge about raising Pardee than desalinization, but this decision is a long time down the road and research on desalinization could prove it to be more cost effective.” Another issue is jurisdiction and whether Amador County will have any say in new dam construction. Hardy said EBMUD considers itself part of the community and “the days of coming in and taking what you want have been over for a long time.” EBMUD would have to overcome a number of hurdles to build locally, including water rights applications and guidelines set forth through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission guidelines. In the meantime, dam expansion opponents such as the Foothill Conservancy, Friends of the River, American Whitewater and the City of Jackson are encouraging EBMUD to meet its water needs through conservation. The EBMUD Board of Directors is currently discussing methods of effective water conservation for the future. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - On a 4-0 vote Monday night, the Jackson City Council approved a resolution opposing East Bay MUD's proposed expansion of Pardee Reservoir and encouraging EBMUD to meet its water needs through conservation, instead. Expanding Pardee is proposed as part of EBMUD's 2040 Water Supply Management Plan. The Mokelumne's Middle Bar reach, the historic 1912 Middle Bar Bridge, and part of the Mokelumne Electra Run would be submerged if the Pardee expansion plans move forward. The expansion would turn Middle Bar and Gwin Mine Roads into dead ends at the river and require the construction of a new Highway 49 bridge. The Jackson resolution, introduced by Councilman Keith Sweet, recognizes the importance of the Mokelumne's Middle Bar and Electra runs to local residents and visitors. It also points out the river's importance to Jackson as a source of tourism and recreation income and tax revenue.This resolution follows a similar 2002 city council resolution in support of opening the Middle Bar reach of the Mokelumne to public access. Sweet will present Jackson's Pardee expansion resolution at a public hearing to be held locally on EBMUD's water plan EIR. That hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 16 at 6:30 pm at the Amador Water Agency Boardroom, 12800 Ridge Road, Sutter Creek. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council on Thursday will discuss the Arroyo Ditch in closed session with the Shenandoah Water Company. The city’s “Negotiator,” City Manager Dixon Flynn, will talk with the company regarding “price” and “terms of payment.” City Clerk Gloria Stoddard said there were two companies that submitted information in January when the city requested qualifications regarding the Arroyo Ditch. Stoddard said she could not comment on details of the closed session discussion, but said Shenadoah Water Company was “one of the companies that answered the request for qualifications.” On January 8th, the Plymouth City Council advertised to find qualified operators for the 1853 Arroyo Ditch, after learning people are interested in the long-time water conveyance, owned by the city since the early 1900s. Flynn said city staff heard “some interest expressed in the development of the Arroyo Ditch,” from a “wide range of people.” He encouraged giving the private sector a chance to take on the project, and said the ideal candidates would need expert financial capacity, legal experience with water rights and the technical ability to make the earthen berm ditch operational. He said the city council could also waive any requirements it chooses. He said qualifications should include having the legal ability to “address the questions about our water rights.” Flynn in a staff report said the advertisement would seek “proposals to develop the Arroyo Ditch at ‘no’ or ‘little’ cost to the city.” Flynn said the city looked to “accept proposals that satisfy the city’s goals of developing the Arroyo Ditch as a long-term source of water.” The report told the history of the ditch, developed in 1853 to bring water for mining from the Cosumnes River to Plymouth. The city took ownership in the early 1900s and it was Plymouth’s primary water source until 1987. Flynn said “there is a wide range of opinions on the city’s water rights … a pre-1914 water right and the estimated right ranges from approximately 23,000 acre fee to approximately 500 acre feet.” Plymouth signed a 2006 agreement with the Amador Water Agency to build the Plymouth Pipeline Project and now faces development of about 2,500 homes and 27 commercial buildings over the next 20 years. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador Regional Planning Committee meeting set for April 1st has been canceled, and staff encouraged its members to attend the upcoming Amador County Historic Preservation Workshop instead. Sutter Creek city staffer Marta Kirkley encouraged members to attend the Amador Historic Preservation Workshop set for 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 7th, in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at the Amador County Administration Building, 810 Court Street in Jackson. The Amador County Administration Committee is hosting the evening workshop, which will be presented by the State Office of Historic Preservation. The purpose of the workshop is to explore the Certified Local Government program and how it relates to historic preservation in Amador County. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A reported kidnapping led to an arrest at Wal-Mart in Martell Monday night. Amador sheriff’s deputies arrested Merle Range of Stockton and charged him with kidnapping, extortion and possession of a controlled substance. Range was being held today in the Amador County Jail, with his bail set at $77,500 dollars. At about 9 p.m. Monday, the Amador County Sheriff's Office received a call from a reporting party in Stockton, stating that a 25-year-old male was being held for ransom in Amador County. The caller stated that the kidnapper was at the Wal-Mart on Wicklow Way, inside a gold colored car. Sheriff's deputies responded immediately and located a car matching the description. A felony stop was initiated and one suspect was taken into custody. The victim was also in the vehicle. At the time, representatives from the Stockton Police Department began the process of going out to talk to the reporting party in Stockton, and further questioning of the suspect and victim also ensued. Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and possession of methamphetamines, after drugs were found in his car. The victim reportedly was abducted at knifepoint in Stockton, because he owed the kidnapper money. The suspect gave no information. The victim’s sister reportedly was told to wire money to the suspect or the victim would be harmed. Wegner said the investigation is continuing, because of conflicting stories. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador City - Head injuries sustained during a motorcycle wreck Sunday were the result of a “novelty” helmet”, according to CHP reports released Monday. Roy Leslie Howard, 48, of Sacramento, was driving his motorcycle at unsafe speeds when he lost control at the intersection of Old Highway 49 and the 49 bypass outside Amador City, reports said. The recently installed intersection has also been criticized for its design, which requires vehicles exiting the 49 bypass to make a sudden sharp turn while greatly reducing their rate of speed. Howard applied his brakes in order to avoid vehicles stopped at the stop sign, then left the roadway and collided with multiple metal paddle markers. Howard sustained major closed head injuries and was transported by air ambulance to Mercy San Juan Hospital. CHP says the injuries were the result of wearing a “novelty” helmet not designed for motorcycle use instead of a California Highway Patrol approved helmet. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Construction activity near Argonaut High School in Jackson signifies the first improvement project to be implemented as a result of the Safe Route to School Grant. Safe Routes to School is a concept aimed at increasing the number of children who walk or bicycle to school by funding projects that remove barriers that currently prevent them from doing so. The program has been adopted by the California Legislature and is available to qualifying cities and counties. A local match of 10 percent is required. Approximately one year ago, the City of Jackson qualified for a chunk of the $780,000 allocated for countywide improvements under the stimulus package. The first project on the list includes curb, gutter and sidewalk installation from Hoffman to Mariposa Street beginning Tuesday March 10 through March 20. Area residents and those travelling to and from the High School can expect delays from 5 to 10 minutes. Pacific Gas and Electric company will also be relocating some power poles. This may result in some interruptions of power service during this time. “It’s a great project in general and a great addition to the area near the high school,” said Jackson City Manager Mike Daly, adding: “The pavement there is in real bad shape.” He said the next project will be a reconfiguration of the intersection at Court Street and Highway 88, currently in the preliminary engineering phase. Many Jackson officials have stated their support for funding received through the grant and the cause it supports. According to CALTRANS, the legislation came partly as the result of a worrisome rise in obesity amongst children and teenagers. Thirty years ago, 60 percent of children living within a 2-mile radius of a school walked or bicycled to school. Today, that number has dropped to less than 15 percent. And back then, 5 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 11 were considered to be overweight or obese. Today, that number has climbed to 20 percent. Jackson is the first city to receive and implement funding through this grant 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 Ione City Council last week approved first readings of two ordinances: one to help lower insurance in city floodplains, the other to streamline the internal process on bidding for city construction projects. City Manager Kim Kerr said The Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Procedures would allow staff to go out to bids for up to $30,000 dollars worth of projects, but the city still “cannot do anything unless” the city council has “seen it and allocated for it in the budget.” It allows for interested bidders to prequalify or place their names into the city system. Kerr said it does not change the city internal process. It allows for a contractor list of approved vendors to be used in projects from $30,000 to $100,000 dollars to be placed in formal bid process. She said it would help expedite bids and lower them by extracting accounting from projects. City Attorney Kristen Castanos said the ordinance speeds up the selection of contractors and getting projects moving. Kerr said it was modeled on state law and the ordinance would help with the proposed remodel of the Ione Police Department. She said city staff has “already developed a tracking system for keeping track of staff time” on work projects. The council passed the first reading of the ordinance, along with Ordinance 422 for Floodplain Management. The ordinance will raise the flood level designation in the city to the level designated in state “free board” requirements for official “floodplains.” Castanos said “this ordinance has no impact on flood insurance” requirements for city residents, but it “can allow owners to obtain lower flood insurance rates.” If homeowners remodel or build up over the flood level, they had get a lower insurance rate. Kerr said homeowners can also get a “certificate of elevation to eliminate your need for insurance,” with the buildup. Both ordinances passed, 5-0, and were set for second readings March 17th. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.