Last night the number escalated substantially to nine- in one night. Duke states that the burglaries began as a crime of opportunity with the burglars hitting unlocked vehicles in the Sutter Crest Estates neighborhood. Last night’s rash of break-ins was also opportunistic in nature with the cars unlocked in the Mt Pleasant and Sutter Oaks neighborhoods. The burglars then hit the Nickerson and Badger Street neighborhoods. Duke also reports that in the earlier burglaries in Sutter Crest Estates a vehicle was stolen once the burglars found the keys inside of the car in the ignition. Chief Duke asks that anyone with information contact the Sutter Creek Police Department at 267-5456 or Amador Secret Witness at 223-4900.

Last night around 9:30 pm  a serious accident happened on Hwy 124 just outside of Ione. According to witnesses on scene the accident occurred when the driver of this motorcycle, who was northbound, drifted over the center line and collided head on with a southbound van. The driver of the van attempted evasive action but was unable to avoid contact with the motorcycle and its driver. The driver of the motorcycle suffered a serious injury to his leg and arm and was flown by air ambulance to UCDavis med Center. The CHP is currently investigating this accident.

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."

On Tuesday (3-27-07) afternoon Sheriff’s Investigators were in Wilseyville following up leads on a burglary that had been reported on March 9th in West Point. An estimated $78,000 worth of property had been taken during the break in. Investigators located the Stolen Willy's Jeep at a residence on Mitchell Mil Lane. The stolen Jeep had been spray painted in an attempt to disguise it. While Investigators were inspecting the Jeep they heard an all terrain vehicle approach the scene. Investigators attempted to contact the subject described at this time as a white male on the ATV. As the ATV approached Investigators noticed it matched the description of the ATV that had been stolen in the burglary they were investigating. As Investigators attempted to contact the subject he fled the area on the ATV.

More than a quarter of Californians are foreign-born -- which is why state Sen. Gil Cedillo believes the state should establish an Office of Immigrant Affairs. According to the Sacramento Bee Cedillo states "Everybody laments, 'Well, they ought to learn English? They do learn English, but why don't we facilitate that by creating a clearinghouse so people can learn English quicker?" He noted there are nearly 3 million immigrants in the state who are eligible to become citizens, but have not applied for naturalization because they have not learned how to navigate the system.

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.

 

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park isn't the largest state park in the state but it is one of the better known parks as far as Native American tradition and education goes. The 135-acre park is located here in Pine Grove and it holds the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America - an outcropping of marbleized limestone with 1,185 mortar holes used by the Native American population as grinding rocks for processing acorns for food. “They were a food processing tool states” Ranger Steven Walloupe. The park is also home to the Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum featuring a reconstructed Miwok village and ceremonial roundhouse. Many Native American celebrations, such as the Big Time, are also held in the park.