The outcome of the 10th Assembly District race between Democrat Alyson Huber and Republican Jack Sieglock still lies in the margins. Sieglock currently leads by only 1,025 votes, with thousands of vote-by-mail ballots yet to be counted. Huber told the Stockton Record that she hopes uncounted absentee and provisional ballots may tip her over the edge. “I don't think anyone is surprised that it's a close race. Maybe six months ago, people didn't think it would be this close. They thought it would be a safe Republican seat,” she said. Huber, an El Dorado Hills attorney in her first bid for public office, outspent her opponent by huge margins, with reported campaign totals just below 1.4 million dollars. Most of those funds came from labor unions and teachers groups in support of Huber or against Sieglock, who took the majority of his contributions - 50,000 dollars - from the California Medical Association. Although her opponent has expressed little concern over an upset, one Sieglock campaign manager said “things could go either way.” Sieglock’s lead was anywhere from 9 percentage points to 25 percentage points in San Joaquin, El Dorado and Amador counties. Amador County voted predominantly for Sieglock, 54.55 percent over 37.50 percent. But Huber led by 12 points in Sacramento County, a more populated area where many votes have yet to be counted. Registrar officials estimate there are still approximately 200,000 pending votes in the four county area. Officials will continue to tally up unprocessed votes. The election must be certified by December 13. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County - In a presentation before the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Amador County Health Officer Dr. Bob Hartmann outlined what actions the county is taking to prepare for a possible swine flu pandemic. The deadly airborne flu virus that originated in Mexico and has killed as many as 149 people in the Mexico City area has now been detected in at least 13 people in California. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday declared a “state of emergency,” allowing the state to deploy additional resources to the Department of Public Health. “In Amador County, we have had no symptoms of this, but we are monitoring the situation closely,” said Hartmann. “It is the Public Health Department’s responsibility to act aggressively in response to this,” he added. He said Health Department staff has been working overtime, and he personally attended 10-12 meetings the day before to address concerns. The majority of the local response is focused on monitoring. He said the Health Department is keeping close track of people who have either returned from Mexico, admitted to the hospital, or those who have been known to be in contact. The latter category is of less concern because there have been no local cases reported. Local health officials are also monitoring the school absentee rates and have contact on a daily basis with monitors at Mule Creek State Prison. “It’s hard to tell how this virus will spread…but it will increase, and increase quite dramatically,” Hartmann said. He said that as far as what the public can do, “people need to avoid the four letter word: fear.” Supervisor Ted Novelli asked if there were any vaccines available. Hartmann said that even if they approved the production of a vaccine within the next week, “we’d be looking at August until the end of October” before the vaccine was approved. Hartmann said the County has requested its allotment of Tamiflu, the most effective product found so far in combating the drug. For more information on the swine flu and its symptoms, go to the Amador County Public Health website. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

U.S. and Iraqi forces exchanged fire with suspected Sunni insurgents earlier today, killing two and wounding four of them during a massive search for three missing American soldiers. The search is taking place in a volatile area south of Baghdad, according to the Iraqi army. An al-Qaida front group, the Islamic State in Iraq, claimed Sunday that it had captured U.S soldiers in a deadly attack on a U.S. convoy the day before in Sunni area south of Baghdad that is known as the "triangle of death" - a longtime al-Qaida stronghold.

According to the Sacramento Bee Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata announced today that he is introducing legislation to place a measure on next year's presidential primary ballot calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Perata is unveiling the measure at a 10 a.m. news conference in Berkeley - a place he calls the "birthplace of the peace movement." Calling it the "vote us out of Iraq" measure, Perata's office says the measure is the first of its kind in the country. "We moved up California's Presidential Primary to make our vote matter. Let's take that same opportunity to tell the President where California stands on Iraq - and ask every presidential candidate to stand with us," Perata said in a statement. "If we convince other states to join us, we can make February 5th a national referendum to end this war."

A 450 acre controlled burn in the El Dorado National Forest Thursday morning left a murky haze over Northern Amador County, alarming some residents. According to Kristi Schroeder, Assistant Public Affairs Officer with the El Dorado Forest, the Cat-Anderson Prescribed Burn took place north of Highway 88 on the northern border of Amador County and, weather permitting, will continue throughout the coming week. Forest Service and staff were on scene to ensure the burn stayed under control and within its containment lines. “We have the project fully staffed and the burn is progressing well,” said Schroeder. Plymouth City Treasurer Suzon Hatley was one of many residents affected by smoke blowing southeast from the blaze. “The wind shifted and it became real smoky down here. You could smell it in the houses,” she said. Hatley said she received about a dozen calls from concerned citizens wondering if there was a fire close by. Most of the smoke was caused by a strong southeast ridgetop wind combined with active backing of the fire down slope. The wind pushed the smoke further down into the foothill communities than was expected. Schroeder was quick to dispel rumors amongst Plymouth residents that the burn was 9000 acres. “We would never consider burning that much of an area at one time,” she said, adding: “There’s a whole set of variables that we look at before each burn, including fuel moistures, humidity and temperatures.” Friday’s rains were also considered when planning for the latest round of burns, said Schroeder. Story by Alex Lane.

By Alex Lane -

The Amador County Sheriff’s Office has released its first annual report highlighting the department’s accomplishments during 2007. “I am convinced that upon reading this report you will be impressed as I have been with the quality of the 116 men and women who dedicate themselves every day to provide protection and security to the citizens of Amador County,” Sheriff Martin Ryan said. The report details the inner workings of the office and the duties of its many divisions. These include an Executive Division consisting of the Office of Emergency Services and a Crime Analysis Unit; an Operations Division consisting of the Coroner, Investigations and Patrol Bureau; a Court Services Division; and a number of special units. The special units frequently make headlines in Amador County through high profile drug busts and search and rescue operations. 2007 saw the creation of the first county-specific multi-agency narcotics task force named the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team. This is the most significant move in the history of Amador County toward combating the most prevalent local law enforcement issue. A restructuring for efficiency led to a new Administration Bureau, two new Lieutenant’s positions, and a first-ever Correctional Lieutenant position. Ryan believes that the many changes that occurred over the past year have enhanced his office’s ability to do its job better. The report also includes a budget breakdown. In 2007, 16 percent, or 69,995 dollars of Amador County’s budget went to the Sheriff’s Office. Of that, 58 percent was used for Operations and Administration and 28 percent went toward the jail. Ryan and his staff have been vocal in public meetings about what they see as a much needed “replacement for our outdated and overcrowded jail.” Although the report does not address this issue in detail, the need for a new jail has become the Sheriff’s top priority.

By Jim Reece -  

The Ione City Council on Tuesday received an informational presentation on Measure M, the half-cent sales tax measure that would fund full-time firefighting brigades across Amador County. Ione City Manager Kim Kerr gave a Powerpoint presentation, noting that she and the city council cannot tell people how to vote on the measure but they can offer information. Kerr said that the city’s fire department had 35 actual firefighters who worked at full-time departments elsewhere in the region, along with 10 to 13 support staff. She said the need for full-time fire coverage was evident in the fire losses at two Ione residences recently, including the total loss of a home valued at 275,000 dollars, and another home burned with 50,000 in damage. She said the Ione fire brigade was a volunteer squad, with firefighters paid a small stipend on a per-fire ratio.

Kerr said Fire Chief Tim Mackey was paid one thousand dollars a month, fire captains received 400 dollars a month and others were paid 200 dollars a month. She said all firefighters were paid a lump sum at the end of the year, based on stipends per call. The total Ione Volunteer Fire Department’s annual budget was about 38,000 dollars in salary, Kerr said. That included Mackey’s 12,000 dollars. Vice Mayor Lee Ard, who represents Ione of the Amador Fire Protection Authority board, said Ione has one joint contract through AFPA. Ard said CAL FIRE rolls on every call in the county, under the “Amador Plan,” to support volunteers and paid volunteers. Kerr said the county pays 2.5 Millions Dollars annually for fire, noting “that is not enough to have fire coverage.” Kerr said supporters of the measure said that a general fund tax could not be earmarked for fire departments, but instead spread the funds across the general budget. She said a half-cent sales tax would be paid by all who spend money in the county, including those passing through. Kerr said if Measure M does not pass – with its required two-thirds majority – then Ione would have to look at how they can fund a paid fire department.

Amador County Crime - Jackson resident Larry Steven Smith, 51, was found guilty on March 26th of raping a woman at the National Hotel last November. Smith was found guilty by an Amador County Jury of the felony charges of rape of an intoxicated person and rape of an unconscious person, and a misdemeanor sexual battery. According to District Attorney Todd Riebe, Smith and another man were captured on surveillance video groping and “taking advantage of the victim’s incapacitation.” Smith and his male companion are seen taking the 40-year-old woman from the Fargo Club to the National Hotel, where the companion uses the victim’s credit card to rent a room at the hotel. Smith and the other male take the victim up to her room and leave. Smith is later shown on video returning to the victim’s room. The victim testified that she was shopping in Jackson for the first time and entered the Fargo Club to have a drink. She said she ordered a second drink and the next thing she remembered was waking up in a hotel room next to Smith. The victim reported the crime to Jackson police the next day. Riebe said the video surveillance was the crucial piece of evidence in the case. “The video clearly demonstrated Smith’s intent to take advantage of the victim’s capacity,” he said. Smith’s sentencing date will be determined on March 27th. He faces up to eight years in state prison. Story by Alex Lane 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.