Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan announced Friday that at the November 13th State Corrections and Standards Authority meeting in Sacramento, Amador County received a conditional award of 22,712 dollars from the state to be used towards the construction of a new county jail facility. The amount represents the state’s 75 percent of the total project cost of 30,282,667 dollars pursuant to Assembly Bill 900, which passed last year. The balance of the project costs are the responsibility of Amador County. Amador County joins its Re-entry facility partners of Calaveras and San Joaquin County in receiving state grant funds for their local jail projects. The Northern California Re-entry Facility, located in San Joaquin County, will help prepare Amador County’s inmates who are within 12 months of their parole date to receive intensive counseling and job training in an effort to reduce the state’s 70 percent recidivism rate. This rate contributes greatly to the state prison overcrowding situation. Sheriff Ryan, who was present for the award announcement, thanked the Amador County Board of Supervisor’s, CAO Teri Daly, GSA Director Jon Hopkins, and Sheriff’s Corrections Division Captain Ron Rockett and his staff for their support and efforts in successfully getting the county through this critical stage of the process. “I know this grant award is somewhat bitter-sweet given the county’s current economic situation, but the need to replace our outdated and overcrowded jail is critical to a secure future for the citizen’s of our county,” said Ryan. The current 24 year old jail is rated for 76 beds and regularly runs 10-15% over capacity in spite of programs to allow lesser offenders to spend time out of the facility. The proposed new facility would meet the county’s year 2010 need of 165 beds as determined by a recent jail needs assessment and would address the safety and security concerns voiced by several past Grand Juries. Staff Report

By Jim Reece  -

Sutter Creek Fire Chief Butch Martin gave information about the county-wide Measure M and told the Sutter Creek City Council on Monday how its passage could affect the city volunteer firefighting force. Martin told the council that if passed, the ½-cent sales tax would fund two full-time day-shift firemen in Sutter Creek and one full-time night-shift fireman for the city. Like all departments in Amador County, Sutter Creek would get the ½-cent sales tax and use the money only to pay its personnel, while using existing facilities and equipment. He said the November 4 Measure M needs a two-thirds majority of the vote to pass. Martin said “we ran this a couple of years ago. It was close, but no cigar.” Back then, the vote in favor was 64 percent, just shy of the 66.66 percent-plus-one vote needed to pass. He said 24-7 staffing at the Sutter Creek Fire Department would not mean three engines always at the ready. Instead, it would be good for a quick first response and it would make sure all of the engines were ready to go. It will not do away with the volunteers in Sutter Creek, Martin said, but it “will take the load off for a major incident.” Martin said “I know the economy’s not good right now, but we wouldn’t be asking for it if we didn’t need it.” Last year, fire department calls went from 525 to 630, more than a 100-call increase, adding, “I hope it doesn’t do it again this year.” 85 percent of those were medical calls. Martin said Amador County is the only county in California that will be getting firefighting funds from statewide Proposition 172 sales tax. “We raised heck about it and there is some money coming to Amador Country for fire,” he said. Five years ago, with a staff of 35 firefighters, he was “on top of the world” and never thought about consolidation. Now, they are down to 17 volunteers and he believes consolidation is the answer. He said three firefighters who volunteer for the city and himself handle the bulk of responses in town. The passage of Measure M will put 12 volunteer firefighters in locations around Amador County, at stations in Sutter Creek, Jackson, Pine Grove, Ione and Plymouth. He said he didn’t know what would happen if it didn’t pass. “It’s time to pass this,” he said. “I’d hate to see a good foundation fall apart.”

Amador County – An early morning house fire in Pioneer Saturday left one family homeless and burned multiple dwellings. According to photographer and TSPN contributor Bill Lavallie, firefighters from the Amador Fire Protection District and CALFIRE responded to the blaze at approximately 5:20am. The garage from one of two adjoining housing units was heavily involved in flames and firefighters worked quickly to keep the blaze from spreading. Firefighters approached the blaze quickly and from multiple angles, dragging heavy hoses and climbing across the rooftop. The fire was eventually extinguished, but not before the blaze destroyed most of one unit. The cause of the blaze has not been officially stated by fire officials and is still under investigation. A planter box against the garage containing cigarette butts in it is a prime candidate. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A daylight armed robbery suspect who fled on foot eluded a police dragnet last Thursday afternoon in Sutter Creek. The suspect allegedly robbed the Sutter Creek Trading Post market, 121 Hanford Street, in downtown Sutter Creek and escaped with an undisclosed amount of money. Sutter Creek Police Chief Rob Duke said the robbery occurred at noon. Duke said an unknown male, described as white or a light-skinned Hispanic, and wearing a ski-mask, entered the Sutter Creek Trading Post brandishing a silver handgun and demanded the money from the cash register. The store owner complied and the suspect fled toward downtown Sutter Creek before turning into yards near the Hanford House Bed & Breakfast. Multiple agencies responded to help seal off the area within minutes of the initial report. The Amador County SWAT Team and K9 Team along with the Jackson Police Department K-9 Team conducted a thorough search of the surrounding residential area but the suspect was not found. Helping seal off the area were the Amador County Sheriff's Office, investigators from the Amador County District Attorney's Office, the ACCNET Team of investigators, California Highway Patrol, and police department personnel from Ione, Jackson and Sutter Creek. The investigation is continuing and Sutter Creek Police are searching for a white or Hispanic male with a thin build and brown hair who was wearing dark clothing, including a purple shirt. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - As of 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2009, the Alpine-Amador-El Dorado-Sacramento Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CALFIRE, will suspend all burning permits within the State Responsibility Areas of the west slope of Amador County and El Dorado counties. Unit Chief Bill Holmes based his decision to suspend dooryard burning, on past fire history combined with dry vegetation, predicted fire weather, and other fuels-related factors. This suspension does not apply to the portion of El Dorado County that lies within the Lake Tahoe Basin. For burn information in the Lake Tahoe Basin, call (530) 543-2600. Anyone with questions about this suspension should contact their nearest CAL FIRE or U.S. Forest Service facility. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - On Friday, May 1, 2009, at 8AM, the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CALFIRE, will require burning permits within State Responsibility Areas of Amador County, Tuolumne County, Calaveras County, Eastern Stanislaus County and Eastern San Joaquin County. Burn permit terms include: restricted burn hours to between 7PM and 8AM (evening/night burning), limiting pile size to a maximum of 4 foot by 4 foot in diameter, and maintaining the area within 10 feet of the outer edge of a debris pile free and clear of all flammable material and vegetation. Chief Noonan reminds citizens conducting outdoor burning to remain in attendance of their burning project, have the tools and water necessary to suppress any escape from their burning operation. It is your responsibility to check burn day status by calling your local Air Pollution Control District with jurisdiction over your area. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe announced Thursday the conviction of a Pioneer man for sex with a teenage boy and possession of child pornography. Richard Phillip Davidson, 50, of Pioneer was convicted by a jury of his peers on six felony counts, including Furnishing Marijuana to a Minor, Oral Copulation with a Minor under 18, two counts of Sodomy of a Minor under 18, one count of attempted sodomy of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography. The April 14th conviction was the culmination of an investigation that began November 29, 2006, after a concerned citizen reported to the Sheriff’s Department that Davidson admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy he’d me online via “MySpace.” The concerned citizen said she overcame her initial hesitation after visiting Davidson’s page and discovering a possible relationship with yet another 16-year-old boy. Lieutenant Drew Stidger of the Sheriff’s Department followed up on the complaint with a search warrant for the Davidson residence. Inside he discovered a laptop containing a large number of pornographic images and videos on its hard drive. When questioned about the alleged relationship with a minor, Davidson admitted to engaging in sexual acts with the boy, but claimed he knew he was 18. The Jury took less than four hours to convict Davidson. Judge John P. Moran presided over the jury trial and remanded Davidson into custody pending sentencing on May 11, 2009. Davidson faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - A family of four that went missing last Friday was discovered Monday morning near the Mokelumne River. According to Calaveras County spokesman Dave Seawall, a man named Dave Butler, his two children, 11-year-daughter and six-year-old son, and a woman identified as Shanna Moreno, were discovered trapped in a canyon on the Mokelumne River, approximately 15 to 20 miles east of Mokelumne Hill. According to official reports, the family of four got stranded on the Amador County side of the river after high water prevented them from getting to the other side of the river to reach their truck. All four were considered to be in fair condition when rescued. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A homeowner discovered a fire at his house only too late Thursday in Ione and it destroyed most of his home. The fire broke out around 11:15 a.m. A horse rancher at 4183 Curran Road had gone to a neighbor's house to work out some horses and when he returned he noticed a small amount of smoke coming from the windows and eves of the home. He immediately phoned 911 and fire units were dispatched. The heat buildup inside the closed building was intense and when fire units arrived, the home was fully involved. Firefighters knocked down the blaze quickly, but the damage had already been done. The fire blew out a window and quickly engulfed the single-story home and burned the interior to a presumed total loss. The exterior of the home was saved but the inside was gutted and reportedly looked like a total loss. Firefighting brigades responded from the Cal-Fire, Mule Creek State Prison, Ione Fire Department, Amador Fire Protection District Battalion 10, and Jackson Fire. Pacific Gas & Electric Company also responded to shut down utilities to the home, on Curran Road, off of Jackson Valley Road, and the Red Cross was called in to aid the victims. The cause of the blaze was unclear and CDF fire prevention was investigating the cause. No injuries were reported. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – An intoxicated driver led Amador CHP officers in a dangerous high speed pursuit late Wednesday, involving law enforcement from three counties and two states. At approximately 9:45pm, CHP officers too evasive action to avoid colliding with the driver of a red pickup who was entering Highway 88 from the Silver Lake recreation area. A pursuit eastward on Highway 88 immediately ensued between the subject vehicle and CHP officers. According to official reports, the subject vehicle drove recklessly and without regard to other motorists, sometimes exceeding 100 miles per hour. As the suspect passed Kirkwood Resort and entered Alpine County, Alpine Sheriff Deputies and CHP units joined the pursuit. The chase continued into Douglas County, Nevada, where reports say the subject intentionally rammed a Nevada Sheriff Deputy. The gathering storm of law enforcement immediately converged on the location. The subject vehemently resisted arrest but was taken into custody. The suspect was identified as Marc George Dubois of Redwood City, California. He now faces numerous felony charges in three different counties, including felony evasion of law enforcement, driving under the influence of narcotics, drug possession, assault with a deadly weapon utilizing a vehicle, and driving with an expired license. The vehicle he was driving was registered in Gardnerville, Nevada. There were no injuries to officers or civilians. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.