With the Amador County Transportation Commission, or ACTC’s, recent decision to scrap the Pine Grove Bypass project already one month in the past, TSPN found that many upcountry residents were not even aware of the change. When told that ACTC is in instead in favor of widening the highway, residents’ responses were all over the map. Some feel widening the highway will hurt the area’s businesses and prosperity. Local resident Debbie Dunn feels that adding lanes to the highway will wipe out essential parking, especially in busy lots like the Pine Grove Village, which houses the Pine Grove Post Office and the Pine Cone Drug lot, in addition to Pioneer Travel, Pine Grove Donuts and Frank A’s Pizza. Thanh Nguyen, owner of Pine Cone Drug, doesn’t like the widening project “if it’s going to affect my parking,” and added “I don’t see where widening the highway is going to decrease traffic congestion.” Pine Grove resident Ted Wilson wants things to stay the same. “I like the way it is now. We don’t want a big boulevard like in Elk Grove, and we don’t want traffic diverted. We get a lot of recreational traffic going up to Kirkwood, and that’s good for business.”

Jill Wade, owner of Sierra Homes & Properties in Pine Grove, isn’t really opposed to widening the highway, just as long as “it doesn’t affect businesses in a negative way.” “It’s better than the bypass, because that would be worse,” says Wade, referring to the amount of traffic that would essentially be diverted away from her business. Another option that is still in its infancy is moving Pine Grove Elementary School, the Post Office and several other large businesses to a location just outside of Pine Grove. Mark Bowman, a local real estate developer, wants to use the tax dollars available to move the school and businesses that cause traffic congestion to a prime spot along the straight-away between Aqueduct-Volcano and Aqueduct-Grove Roads. Bowman said, “Pine Grove is second in the county for the number of cars per day (behind Jackson’s Hwy. 49). Highway 88 through Pine Grove sees over 14,000 cars per day.” And with school starting up again this Wednesday, Bowman noted the growing conflict between school traffic and local businesses. With limited funds and ever increasing traffic congestion putting pressure on the situation, ACTC must now carefully consider all of the elements before it proceeds with a solution. We’ll have more on this project for you in a later news broadcast.

By Jim Reece -

The Amador County Recreation Agency and a group of volunteers are helping set up a flying disc golf course at the Kennedy Mine in Jackson, with a 2-day, second annual tournament in November. The ACRA Kennedy Mine Disc Golf Fall Classic is to be held November 15th and 16th at the mine, off Highway 49 in Jackson. The latest tournament will help raise funds to build a permanent disc golf course in Amador County. ACRA program directors Jaime Dickerson and Matt Nestor are co-chairing a committee for the tournament, with help from local and regional disc golfers, including 9th place finisher at the World Championships this August, Ray Birch of Ione. Brandon Wedge, co-owner of Play It Again Sports in Jackson is also on the committee, as is TSPN TV news writer Jim Reece. A long-time El Dorado County disc golfer, Charlie Callahan, is also helping with the tournament and the four designed the original course for the Kennedy Mine’s Father’s Day Classic last July. The course will be fairly close to the same layout as the original. ACRA staff 16 professional-grade Disc Catcher baskets from Kirkwood Mountain Resort that are used as holes in the game of disc golf. The game is scored with one point for each throw, as the game of golf, with the lowest score being the best. To “hole-out” a hole, the disc must come to rest in the basket of the Disc Catcher, or basket. The Jackson Lodge, 850 Highway 49 in Jackson is offering discounted rooms for the Kennedy Mine Fall Classic. For information on the tournament or sponsorship information, call Matt Nestor at 223-6349. To book a room or cabin at the Jackson Lodge, call 223-0486 or online see www.TheJacksonLodge.com. Also online, see www.KennedyGoldMine.com.

TSPN TV is celebrating twenty years as Amador County’s premier source for local television news, information and entertainment. Owned and operated by Tom and Sue Slivick, the homegrown operation has grown to a cast and crew of over 25 individuals. Our station now fills a spacious studio located at 206A North Main St. in downtown Jackson. “Not many small rural communities have the opportunity to have their own commercial TV station that continuously provides vital information that is so valuable to a community,” says Sue Slivick. This popular digital enterprise is a commercial venture, funded by advertising and sponsorships from businesses, and supporters like The Halvorson Family of Dealerships, who has advertised with TSPN and sponsored The Game of the Week, continuously, for the past 20 years. Many local businesses find TSPN to be an easy, affordable venue for advertising. The TSPN news team works to provide informative, fair and balanced reporting. Whether watched on TV or online TSPN delivers you the very best in local news, information and entertainment. TSPN is seen on Comcast Cable, Volcano Vision and easily accessible online at www.tspntv.com.

The Love Boat variety show and benefit to support local victims of domestic violence has been playing to sold-out audiences, raising over 15,000 dollars for Operation Care. The sixth annual fundraiser for the organization was hosted by their board of directors and featured local volunteer talent. Susan Ross was chairperson of the planning committee, and wrote the show with Giles Turner, Amador High School drama coach and director. The colorful set was designed by Alan Ross, Erica Neville and Kylie Rasmussen delightful, and the music was provided by Bill Chiechi and Gerry Garner perfectly set the pace for the show. “I say this every year, but this was the best show ever,” said Bill Price, president of the board of directors of Operation Care. Attendees had a great time, and enjoyed a delicious steak sandwich dinner prepared by the Sutter Creek Native Sons of the Golden West. “We were very pleasantly surprised after the event when Native Sons voted to donate 1000 dollars toward the food - the maximum their bylaws allow - and Louis Boitano, Supervisor for District 4 donated the balance of over 800 dollars on behalf of the Board of Supervisors,” said Price. Operation Care is a non-profit organization founded in 1980 providing domestic violence and sexual assault support services, a safe house for women and children escaping violence, crisis intervention and education in our community. For more information call 209-223-2897 or visit www.operationcare.org.

Amador County – There will be stagecoach robberies, and 40-minute closures for horseless carriage traffic on Sutter Creek’s Main Street, next Saturday, June 20th. Recently retired former Councilman Bill Hepworth, a member of the Sutter Creek Promotions Committee, donned a shaggy wig and cowboy hat, boots and duds to announced the upcoming Third Annual Black Bart Hold-Up Day all day long next weekend in Sutter Creek. He said instead of closing Main to vehicle traffic all day, the street will be temporarily closed for 40 minutes, during each of the stagecoach robbery reenactments. Hepworth said those mini-dramas, the stagecoach robbery reenactments will take place at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Otherwise, the coach, a remake of the final Wells Fargo coach robbed by Black Bart, will sit out in front of the American Exchange Hotel on Main Street. He said “actually that’s where the stage did leave when Black Bart robbed it” for the last time, 126 years ago, on June 23, 1883. Hepworth said it was Black Bart, or Charles E. Boles’ last successful stagecoach robbery. Black Bart was injured in the robbery and in his escape dropped a handkerchief, with a San Francisco launderer’s mark, which was traced to Boles, leading to his capture and conviction of that final robbery. He said Black Bart served 5 years in San Quentin Prison for that robbery, then was never heard from again, leading to rumors that Boles was given a pension by Wells Fargo. The 3rd annual Black Bart Hold-Up Days will feature robbery reenactments by the Kit Carson Mountain Men, Sierra Six Guns, and Doc & The Foothill Vigilantes. It will also feature tomahawk throwing and local artists featured, including writers Larry Cenotto, Loretta Armstrong and Caroline Fregulia; and work by Ron Scofield, a reenactment participant and an old-time blacksmith. Events will be featured at Amy Peterson’s Garden Shop and around the Brignoli home. For information, call the promotions committee at 267-1344 or 1-800-400-0305, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go online to www.suttercreek.org. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Another successful Sutter Creek Duck Race floated down Sutter Creek last Saturday. Residents from miles around gathered at the baseball field for food, music and prizes. Nine local charities benefited from proceeds of the fundraiser. The winners were announced Monday afternoon. Final Race Grand Prize of $2,500 went to Benita Bachman of Jackson. 2nd Place and $1,500 went to Mary Ann Hewitt of Sutter Creek. In Third with a prize of $1,000 was Trish Klier of Ione. Six other residents one prizes in preliminary races. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - This year’s annual Ione Christmas celebration will be held on Saturday, December 13th at 4 pm in downtown Ione. The parade will have more than 30 entries that include floats, three marching bands including Argonaut, Amador and Ione Jr. High School, Santa Claus and his helpers closing the parade. The downtown will be aglow with lights outlining the buildings, Christmas displays and garland. After the parade, downtown businesses will host an open house with refreshments for parade attendees. A special professional group of carolers will be singing songs of the season downtown from 3:30 to 5:30 pm and will be at the newly opened Clark’s Corner after the parade. Santa will be in the park located at the corner of Main and Preston for free pictures and listening to Christmas wish lists from the children. Candy Cane Lane in Ione will officially open the same evening. Story by Alex Lane(This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - The Amador County Public Health Department is reporting at least one new case of whooping cough, or pertussis, among students at Ione Junior High School. The student who was diagnosed positive is home recovering from the infection. Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease marked by severe coughing. Whooping cough is caused by bacteria that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person, and is spread through close contact with an infected person when they talk, sneeze, or cough. It is most contagious during the first 2 to 3 weeks of the infection, often before the severe coughing starts. Whooping cough begins with a cold, or flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, possible fever and a cough. These symptoms can last up to 2 weeks and are followed by increasingly severe coughing spells. The infection can be treated with oral antibiotics. Whooping cough is usually a mild disease in teenagers and adults, but can be very severe in infants. “We are especially concerned about unvaccinated infants and young children, who are at highest risk for pertussis related complications,” said Dr. Robert Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. Even though small children are vaccinated against whooping cough, vaccine protection does not last forever, and decreases over time, typically by adolescence. There is a vaccine approved in 2005 for use, called Tdap which is available for teens and adults. Amador County healthcare providers have been notified about this current case of pertussis. Please consult with your healthcare provider if you or your children are currently experiencing a prolonged cough or flu-like illness. The Tdap vaccine is available at your health care provider or Amador County Public Health. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County health officials confirmed Sunday evening the first probable positive case of swine flu in Amador County. Health Officer Robert Hartmann announced that the H1N1 influenza case is an individual who recently returned from Mexico and “exhibited flu like symptoms the following day.” Official results need to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control or the California State Public Health Lab, but preliminary results indicate the diagnosis is accurate. “This individual contacted Amador County Public Health the day after returning from Mexico and followed specific Health Department advice,” said Dr. Hartmann, adding: “Voluntary home isolation was followed ensuring minimal local contact.” Saturday evening, officials in El Dorado County received confirmation of a positive swine flu case in a child who attends Camino School. Health officials area awaiting confirmation test results for two other probable cases in other students. That school will be closed through at least Friday, May 8 as a result of the confirmed case. “I’m relieved that this case (in Amador County) did not involve school children, teachers or staff. We do not need to have any school dismissals,” stated Dr. Hartmann. According to a release issued Sunday, “Amador County Public Health will continue heightened surveillance efforts for early detection and identification. For the most part, the Swine flu illness has been mild in the cases identified and very few individuals have needed hospitalization.” Public Health continues to work closely with other local health services and local government. Visit TSPN’s website for an interview with Dr. Hartmann about the case. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - In all the reports about swine flu, little is mentioned about the swine themselves and the effect such an outbreak could have on public gatherings that feature swine. Concern have arisen amongst Amador County residents as to whether a possible swine flu outbreak in California will change plans for the Amador County Fair this July. “At this time, we have every intention to continue with our fair as planned,” said Troy Bowers, CEO of the Amador County Fair, adding: “We are joined at the hip and receiving daily updates from the California Food and Agriculture Department.” To date, there are no known cases of swine flu in California pigs. The CDFA is closely monitoring the situation and evaluating the health of California’s swine herd. Preliminary investigations of swine flu cases in Southern California indicate that the virus was not obtained through direct contact with pigs. “It is important to understand that there are no reports of swine flu in pigs in California, or the United States, at this time,” said California State Veterinarian Dr. Richard Breitmeyer. According to a statement released by the CDFA, its top priority is to test any pigs that are linked to a human swine flu case or are showing signs of a respiratory disease. “In comparison to many states, California is a relatively small pork producer with fewer than 100,000 animals, ranking 28th in the country,” says the release. At the same time that a global outbreak has been deemed “imminent” by the World Health Organization, the Division of Fairs and Expositions is currently working with CDFA Animal Health officials to reduce apprehension related to swine health by focusing on communication and outreach. Bowers said he is not concerned, and he’s confident that all departments are taking the appropriate measures to monitor the situation. Bowers said, “the CDFA is very active in ensuring that California Fairs remain safe and humane for both the animals and the people.” He said the Amador County Fair has a Quality Assurance Program to teach kids bio-security measures like washing your hands after handling livestock and monitoring swine for flu-like symptoms. In Bower’s memory, he can only recall one previous time when animal sickness became an issue, during the hoof and mouth scare that originated in Britain in 2001. Swine influenza viruses were first isolated in the United States in 1930. Since that time, “they have become an economically important cause of respiratory disease in pigs throughout the world, and a human public health risk.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.