A man from Oakland pleaded no contest to one count of stalking Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday, and was ordered by an Alameda County Judge to stay away from the governor and his family for ten years. Attorneys say Jeffrey Miller had been in an Alameda County jail since June after repeatedly threatening to kill Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver. According to the Associated Press the deputy district attorney handling the case says Miller suffers from a mental illness and has a methamphetamine addiction. Miller initially called authorities' attention to himself in December 2005, when he showed up at a police station in Amador County saying he'd gotten lost on his way to Sacramento to kill the governor. Miller repeated the threats to other law enforcement officers in the months that followed. The judge's order prohibits Miller from contacting the governor, getting close to his Santa Monica home, his businesses and the Sacramento hotel where Schwarzenegger stays. The judge also ordered Miller to serve three years probation and complete a psychiatric treatment program for substance abusers.

A trial was set yesterday for Tamara Lou Wilson, the 48-year-old woman charged with killing a motorcyclist then fleeing the scene last summer, according to El Dorado County Superior Court records. Wilson is charged with nearly two dozen felony counts, including vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence, hit and run and resisting arrest. She remains in custody on $10 million bail. The Amador County woman was arrested July 16 after slamming head-on into a motorcycle driven by Gregory Clyde Shannon, who was killed on Highway 49 near Crystal Boulevard, authorities said. Wilson was taken into custody near the Amador County line after driving about six mile on the under carriage of her car after hitting Shannon and fleeing the scene. The torn undercarriage of her vehicle spewed sparks as she continued down the road 6 to 7 miles before she finally abandoned the truck and attempted to flee. The sparks started as many as 12 fires along her route including one that destroyed a home along Hwy 49. She was found hiding in brush along the road by a Calaveras County Sheriff’s department canine unit.

 

Amador County – This past school year, local students found out that not all learning takes place in the classroom. Amador County teens from both Argonaut and Amador High Schools in the Regional Occupational Program, or ROP, received health care work experience firsthand at Sutter Amador Hospital. Eighteen of these young adults were honored at the hospital’s Student Appreciation Day Breakfast on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 in the community conference center. Barbara Wells, Education Manager, opened the program by welcoming everyone and introducing the ROP health instructor from the Amador Unified School District, Linda Critchfield, and special guests Dick Glock , Schools Superintendent and Pat Miller, School District Board Member. Wells and Critchfield presented certificates to each of the students who participated. Department directors and staff directly responsible for instructing the student thanked them for the contributions they made to their departments and shared personal information about how each student was impacted and grew throughout the year by the experiences they were able to gain. Anne Platt, CEO, concluded the reception by sharing with the students the many rewards working in health care has in store for them and encouraged those who do choose a career in health care to remain committed and passionate about their chosen field. Platt said: “I know that as long as each of you stays committed to your vision, the future of healthcare is in good hands.” Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Sutter Creek Planning Commission opened a discussion of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort with some good news from its local school board member. Public comment started off with Amador County Unified School District Board President Mary Walser clarifying information about a land donation. Walser said an agreement has been struck between the school district and Gold Rush developers. Gold Rush has agreed to donate 17 acres to the district for a school site, but the donation is not in lieu of school impact developer fees. Also part of the agreement, Gold Rush will test the property. Walser said if the school district opts out of the agreement for any reason, “Gold Rush will give us a Million Dollars.” She said a past proposal talked about the developer building a Kindergarten through 8th grade school, but the land donation instead was worked out. Walser, a Sutter Creek resident, and past Amador High School Principal, whose term runs through 2012, said it was the first time in history that Amador School District had received a gift of land from a developer, and it sets a precedent for the future of Amador schools. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The final decision over layoffs within the Amador County Unified School District was made Wednesday evening, with dramatic results. A crowd composed mostly of California School Employees Association members packed the board chambers at the Administrative Building to express their disapproval of the pending layoffs before board members retired to closed session. As the board filed back into the chamber to render their verdict, two rows of employees – mostly maintenance workers- stood up simultaneously and in silence. Board President Mary Walser announced the Board’s decision to authorize the elimination of eleven classified employment positions, as well as two confidential employment and two classified management positions. After the decision was announced, the employees filed out silently and gathered in the hallway with union representatives to discuss their reactions and any future course of action. “I’m devastated…it was never their intention to work with us to come up with an alternative,” said Melody Honeychurch, Labor Relations Representative for CSEA. She said her understanding was that they were supposed to negotiate and consider other options before such decisions were made. Marcie Bayne, Senior Labor Relations Representative, said the next step would be to bargain the details of contracts. “If they fail to bargain with us in good faith, we will take appropriate action,” she said. The board also approved three action items, effectively discontinuing or reducing the number of hours for employees in classified, confidential and classified management positions. Those affected by these cuts will likely be incorporated back into the system in other positions. During the scheduled Superintendent’s report at the close of the meeting, Superintendent Dick Glock explained his reasoning behind the layoffs. “It’s not as though we intended this. No one is being left out, unfortunately,” said Glock. He added that the next positions they approach, if necessary, would be the teaching staff. “This is a temporary measure, and just because someone gets a layoff doesn’t mean that position is gone,” he said. Walser quoted California School Board Association Executive Director Scott Plotkin, saying, “the unthinkable has come.” In reference to two students who were awarded earlier in the meeting for outstanding community service, Glock said “some of the things we’re doing as adults is to protect their environment.” Story by Alex Lane

Amador County - The fate of eleven School District employees included on a list of potential layoffs has been delayed until this week’s Amador Unified School District meeting. Superintendent Dick Glock and board members were expected to attend a special board meeting Friday morning to hear proposals and discuss options with the California School Employees Association, or CSEA. During a standing-room only school board meeting on January 28, CSEA union members vented about not being informed ahead of time about the layoffs and warned of a lawsuit if such layoffs took place. During an exclusive interview with TSPN, Glock said that “everyone is trying to make a good faith effort to see if there’s alternatives.” He said that he discussed with the union president that layoffs were coming. On the list of employees proposed for “discipline, dismissal or release” are seven maintenance workers, one grounds maintenance worker, two secretaries and an office clerk. Two “confidential employee positions”, a Purchasing Technician and a Curriculum and Instruction Administrative Assistant, and two “classified management” positions, a Transportation Manager and Transportation Director, are also in jeopardy. The board has yet to take any action on these dismissals. Glock said he was forced to propose the layoffs after the State imposed a $1.5 million budget cut on the School District last year. Since last September, the School District has saved $700,000 by reducing spending to the “bare necessities,” said Glock. Other factors such as declining enrollment money have also helped close the gap, but Glock said the layoffs are still necessary when trying to fill the minimum $1.2 million hole. “The whole goal here is to keep these (mid-year) cuts away from the sites,” said Glock. In recent meetings, Glock and other Board members have reiterated their priority for keeping cuts out of the classroom. The union is standing behind its members and pushing for other options. “We will do everything in our power to make sure our members are protected from any unfair, unequal treatment,” said Rose Roach, Field Director for CSEA Modesto Chapter 7. Glock was expected to be at a meeting Friday to hear different proposals. The board will discuss the matter further in closed session at the next Amador Unified School District Meeting on Wednesday, February 11 in the County Administrative Building in Jackson. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County - The Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees met Wednesday, with looming budget cutbacks the hot topic of discussion. The first order of business was the swearing in of three board members – returning Mary Walser and newly elected Janelle Redkey and Wally Upper. Walser was unanimously re-elected as Board President. Three Block “A” Community Service recipients were recognized for outstanding public service. Kellsey Long contributed 136 service hours creating a teen suicide prevention outreach program through participation in performing arts. Lena Johnson achieved an extraordinary 150 hours of service. Sarah Post, an aspiring nurse, has supported innumerable groups throughout the community focusing on poverty and hospice. Barbara Murray presented a sobering 2008-09 First Interim Budget Revision report reflecting additions and reductions to the Budget Adoption in June 2008. Murray explained that the report represented the budgetary projections as of October 31, 2008 and stated, “We are in a very different situation now.” Upper questioned, “Can you give us an estimate of revenue cuts expected this year?” The reply from Murray was a simple and sincere, “no.” She added the hopeful expectation of clearer direction from State Budget Proposal being released January 9, 2009. Superintendent Richard Glock stated that the Board had moved to cut spending in September anticipating the current economic climate. Later, during the Reports and Discussions portion of the meeting, board member Karl Knobelauch gave a brief overview of the California School Board Association Conference he attended this month. Throughout the conference speakers, economists and columnists foretold of an increasing state deficit predicting future widespread budget cuts. Due to budget concerns, Knobelauch paid for his attendance to the conference himself. Story by Debi Brodie

Amador County - Prospective students should register early for Cosumnes River College classes starting August 22 at the Amador Learning Center, according to Dr. Helen Bonner, member of the Amador Community County Founders board. “Because of California's budget problems and the slow economy, universities and community colleges throughout the state are having to turn away growing numbers of first-time students. We are fortunate in our county to have a new and growing connection with Cosumnes River College. Students who register early for classes at the Amador Learning Center will have a foot-in-the door for priority registration in the future,” said Bonner. Classes with credits transferable to Universities are: Computer Information Science - CISC 310 (Intro to Computer Information Science) Early Childhood Education 320, English - Writing 300, and Photography 412 (Emerging Digital Technologies). Continuing students have first priority for registration but new and returning students are advised to register as soon as possible to assure classes won't be full. For information, call (916) 691-7411 or visit www.crc.losrios.edu. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Local business owners Jamie Wedge and Debbie Sullivan used a corporate parks and recreation grant from their parent company to help a local after school program, with a $1,000 dollar grant. Wedge, and her mother, Sullivan, own and operate the local JCPenney Catalog Service, located inside their other business, Play It Again Sports, at 845 North Highway 49 and 88 in Jackson. Wedge, and her husband, Brandon, with two kids of their own, Madison and Austin, care about local kids. That is why they recently partnered with the retailer to donate to the Amador County Recreation Agency's Club Live After School Program. They gave $1,000 to the After School Program through the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. ACRA Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep said: “On behalf of ACRA, I would like to thank Debbie and JCPenney for considering us a worthy cause.” Towner-Yep said: “In these trying economic times, it's even more important that we shop locally. Play It Again Sports and the JCPenney Catalog Service Center are the perfect places to do that.” The grant helped fund the Club Live After School program last school year at Detert Park in Jackson, which was held weekday afternoons and was attended by 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.