Amador County – The Amador County Joint Water Committee on Monday discussed some of the current and future water needs for both local and regional jurisdictions. Amador Water Agency General Manager Jim Abercrombie said an off-stream reservoir project at Duck Creek, south of the Mokelumne River, could possibly store 150,000 acre feet of water for the East Bay Municipal Utility District. And Foothill Conservancy’s Pete Bell said San Joaquin County can take up to 500,000 acre feet a year from the Moke. The joint committee was discussing the Mokelumne River Water Forum, whose 16 members signed a Memorandum of Understanding 4 years ago to study the water supply. Abercrombie said “the forum was put together because over the last 20 years, Amador has been good about protesting” East Bay MUD’s attempts to dam the Moke. The object is to work on each member’s projected future needs. “In our case,” Abercrombie said, “That’s 20,000 acre feet of firm water supply, excluding agricultural water.” He said that could also translate into additional firm ag water for the Jackson Valley Irrigation District, “we just don’t know yet.” He said “San Joaquin (County) really just wants to recharge the groundwater basin.” Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli asked about the possibility of “5 or 6 years of drought in a row.” Abercrombie said “JVID wouldn’t get any water,” and the Central Amador Water Project, which serves the Upcountry, “would need additional storage just to get the water rights out.” Abercrombie said the forum process has been funded by state grants, and the state is “very interested in this conjunctive use project,” which could use Prop 84 money for targeting inter-regional projects. The Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Plan is one of the elements in the East Bay MUD 2040 Water Management Plan that is being accepted by area water and municipal jurisdictions, while most of the local bodies have rejected the 2040 plan that would expand the Pardee Reservoir and flood parts of the banks of the Mokelumne River. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The third annual 49er Bypass Fun Run & Walk race drew more than 100 entrants Saturday morning in downtown Sutter Creek. A crew of volunteers and staffers from the Amador County Recreation Agency led the 49er Bypass Challenge, and ACRA Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep emceed the event and handed out medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each age group. The event started and ended at the crosswalk on downtown Main Street, in front of the Native Sons of the Golden West hall. It included 1-mile, 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer routes for both walking and running competitors. Christian Mullan, a junior at Amador High School, took first place overall in the men’s 5K race, with a time of 21 minutes and 5 seconds. Second overall was Drew Nasiatka in 22 minutes and 6 seconds; and third was Andrew Smith in 21 minutes and 56 seconds. Diana Sillivan was first overall among the women runners in the 5K race, and she finished in 26 minutes and 23 seconds. Taking second overall was Julie Taggart in a time of 26 minutes and 45 seconds. Katie Ross-Smith was third in 28 minutes and 6 seconds. In the 10K men’s division, first overall was John Allen, who finished with a time of 45 minutes and 36 seconds. Second was Dave Tearpak, running a race of 47 minutes and 45 seconds; and third was Mike Nesler. The women’s division 10K race was paced by Kellee Davenport, who had a time of 49 minutes and 35 seconds. Second place went to Carol Dustyn. Third place in the 10K was won by Mimi Holob. The money goes to funding ACRA programs around Amador County. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador residents and officials turned out in droves for the Child Abuse Prevention Council’s first Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser to raise awareness during April’s Child Abuse Prevention Month. More that 120 bowlers filled the 24 lanes at the Gold Country Bowling Center on March 28th to “strike out” an all too prevalent problem in our country. In total, nearly $9000 was raised in support of the council’s free education and prevention programs. Each bowler was also given a blue ribbon pin to recognize and celebrate April’s Child Abuse Prevention Month. Amador County Supervisors Richard Forster, Ted Novelli, Brian Oneto and John Plasse were also on hand to bowl their support. “I cut my fingers from bowling so much, but it was great fun and supports a good cause,” said Supervisor Richard Forster. That following Tuesday, March 31, the Supervisors showed their unanimous support for the council by presenting a resolution proclaiming April as Amador County Child Abuse Prevention Month. The resolution proclaims “that as a society, we have a responsibility to nurture and protect our children and help ensure they become healthy and productive adults. The resolution recognizes that parenting is the toughest job any of us will undertake and that as a community we must ensure that all parents and families have access to the support, information, and resources they need to succeed.” Other supporters and attendees of the event included students, local businesses, community organizations, bikers from as far away as Woodland, and two teams of wards from the Pine Grove Youth Correctional Camp. Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council is a non-profit organization providing free prevention education and training in our community. For more information please call 223-5921. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed and subsequently drafted a letter in opposition to EBMUD’s proposed Pardee Reservoir expansion on the ground that there has been insufficient time for public review. Within a day of submitting that letter, East Bay Municipal Utility District General Manager Dennis Diemer announced they will be extending the comment period another month beyond its original expiration date on April 6. “We have rights too, and they need to let us give our speal and see what happens,” said Board Chairman Ted Novelli. The letter was addressed to Thomas B. Francis of the Water Supply Improvements Division. The letter states that “due to time constraints and insufficient opportunities,” the public in Amador and Calaveras Counties have not been able to review the hefty 1,500 page Environmental Impact Report. EBMUD supplied only two copies of the 3-inch thick document for public viewing within the two counties, and these only became available on March 28. “In order for our comments to be meaningful, it is important for us to consider each of the elements,” states the letter. Novelli said he is also working to involve Alpine County in the process. The proposed Pardee Reservoir expansion included in EBMUD’s 2040 Water Plan would raise the dam by at least 33 feet and flood miles of the Mokelumne River. The comment period is now extended to May 6. No announcements have yet been made about future public meetings in our area with EBMUD officials. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Calaveras County - A new emergency food bank building in San Andreas is a big relief for local organizations whose resources have been stretched thin during the economic crisis. The building, which opened earlier this year and was celebrated in a ceremony in late March, is only the latest improvement in operations for the Human Resource Council, which changed its name last week to The Resource Connection. Russ Thomas, a Calaveras County Supervisor, was quoted as saying “I think there is some divine intervention in this” as he observed the opening of the 5000-square-foot facility on March 20. The new food bank includes modern multi-storage racks, a giant walk-in freezer, and meeting rooms where families can sit down with staff and assess their needs. The building was dedicated to Carol Phelps who served on the Resource Connection Board of Directors from 1986 to 2008, mostly as chairwoman. Calaveras Supervisor Steve Wilensky said the goal is to make sure Calaveras is the one county in California where no one goes hungry. He was also referring to another program recently launched by the Supervisors called Farm to Family, which encourages home gardeners and farmers to plant an extra row of food for donations to the food bank. The Resource Connection was started in 1977 by a small group of local women looking to solve local issues related to families, hunger and child care. It now employs over 170 people and runs locations throughout Amador and Calaveras counties on an annual budget of $8 million. Money comes from a variety of sources, from federal and state grants to local contributions. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The 35-year-old Home & Farm Kitchen Store is preheating the oven for a new location, a few doors down from its corner at Highway 49 & 88 and Main Street in downtown Jackson. “We are on our third generation,” said Janie Williams, who co-owns the Kitchen Store with her sons, Jess, 28, and Travis, 24. “Out sons are both heavily involved in the business.” It began as a butcher supply shop, opened by her parents, Monty and George Kenourgios. Janie said early on, her mother went to a supply convention in Kansas City and bought a few kitchen supplies. 3 years later, it was the Kitchen Store. Now, they carry 5,000 different kitchen items and have 300 different suppliers they order from. She bought into the company from her parents 24 years ago, and Jess and Travis bought in 5 years ago. They bought the former Pizza Factory Building, at 165 Main Street, from John Masters “a year ago and sat on it until January, not knowing what we were going to do.” Janie said now, her sons are working “7 days a week, 12 hours a day and pretty much they are the heart of all the construction over there and that’s what’s keeping it in our price range.” They have had some contractor help, but she was proud to say they have made all purchases for the new Kitchen Store at local, mostly Jackson sources. The new store will have a half-moon bar with 12 barstools. Janie said they already have a guest demonstration, Thai cooking by Helen Chin, scheduled for August. The old stained glass windows with the Kitchen Store logo, created by Cathy Wilson, are moving too, turned into oval windows by Volcano Glassworks, they will hang on either front of the building. It will have entrances on Highway 49 & 88, across from Mel & Fayes, and it will have an entrance on Main Street. The building is 2,600 square feet, up from the current building’s 900 square feet. They plan to open sometime between Mother’s Day and July 1st. Online, see www.biggestlittlekitchenstore.com, or for information, call (209) 223-0264. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council in its first meeting this month authorized its city manager to discuss with a company about reopening the Arroyo Ditch. City Manager Dixon Flynn said last week that the council authorized him to negotiate with Shenandoah Water Company regarding operation of the Arroyo Ditch, including working to verify legal rights to the diversion of water and also to get the nuts and bolts turned to bring water through the ditch to the city. Flynn said the Shenandoah Water Company is made up of 2 attorneys and 2 engineers, and includes 2 former Amador County residents. They were 1 of 2 companies who submitted a list of qualifications for the work. Flynn said the Shenandoah Water showed its experience in specifically getting a ditch to flow again in Napa Valley. The group restore flow to a 1950s water ditch by proving “beneficial use,” or showing buyers for the supply of water downstream. Flynn said the Arroyo Ditch was in use for 100 years and went on down Highway 49, eventually serving customers all the way to Ione. Once restored, those farms downstream along the Arroyo Ditch could translate to those needed “beneficial use” customers. He said the ditch “slipped into disrepair because the city fell behind in maintenance over the years.” By the mid-1990s, it slipped into disuse. Flynn said it pulls water only during high flow times, per the rights. “And the problem is, where do you store it? I believe I have the solution – in the mines.” He said mines are used in the Middle East to store water, where they are called cisterns. The city has estimated that it could store 200 acre-feet of water in the Empire Mine. He said it would have to be checked for chemicals, but he said the Empire was said to have been easy to bail out when it took on water, indicating it was likely not leaky. Shenandoah Water Company will work on restoring the water, then be able to sell a portion of the water, while giving Plymouth a share of the water, all at no cost to Plymouth. Flynn said he was not yet sure whether the ditch would be restored or be fitted with a pipeline. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - New Jackson Ford and Mercury in Martell closed its doors on Wednesday, making it the latest casualty of the economic downturn. What once was a bustling dealership with a lot full of vehicles now stands empty. “Sadly, the only thing moving now are flags in the wind,” said one Jackson resident who described himself as a long-time and loyal customer. At its peak over a decade ago, New Jackson Ford was a multi- million dollar business with over 350 vehicles on the lot and 50 employees. The dealership was one of the major dealerships in Martell across from the vacant lot that once was Prospect Motors, which closed its doors last December. Negotiations for the eight acres of land on which the dealership stands fell through, and so did small business department loans to improve capitol and infrastructure. In recent months, the business was forced to cut 20 staff members. In a pre-recorded voice message that now answers when you call the dealership, Co-owner Charles Smith said “I’m sorry to say that due to the downturn in the economy we have been forced to close our doors. We wish to thank all of our many guests for…the privilege of being your dealer in Martell.” Smith says he had made every effort to adapt to a changing economy. He said he is developing a new business model based around the federal economic recovery plan. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Rancho Arroyo Seco development has donated funds to support the music program at the Ione Elementary School. A favorite of students and teachers, the program serves all students in grades 1-5 with weekly classroom instruction in music theory and appreciation. The program was in jeopardy of being cancelled due to lack of funding, but the donation has enabled it to continue through this school year. The program is taught by music instructors Michelle Hansen and Melissa Johnson. Students are introduced to the Kodaly method of music theory that includes pitch and rhythm as well as composing, singing and improvising. They express this learning with instruments such as rhythm sticks, cymbals and tambourine. This is the second school year that the program has been in place. School Principal Laurie Amick summed it up, saying, “Students need the arts such as music to discover and expand their world and enhance their ability to learn and express. As a former music teacher, I am very pleased this program is part of our student’s curriculum.” Rancho Arroyo Seco managing partner Bill Bunce and ranch manager Tom Swett attended a music session in Mrs. Edward’s second grade classroom last week. “It is such a pleasure to see first hand, students so engaged and enjoying this worthwhile program.” said Bunce. The students in Mrs. Edward’s classroom presented Bunce and Swett with a personal thank you note on chart paper and signed by each student. He continued, “Rancho Arroyo Seco is very pleased to be able to contribute to this program, and to see the results of that effort touching so many students.” For more information on this program, contact Ione Elementary School. Staff Report 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.