Amador County – Barely more than two weeks into the 2008/09 season, Kirkwood Mountain Resort is holding true to the resort’s long‐standing “America’s Deepest Snow” moniker. With nearly ten feet of snow in just as many days over last weekend, the resort has seen an incredible transformation in a very short time period. “We have been anxiously anticipating the arrival of winter since those early ‘teaser’ snowfalls of November,” said Tim Cohee, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the resort, “and are incredibly enthusiastic with this recent storm cycle.” This weekend is expected to be clear and sunny, allowing the opportunity for more people to visit the resort, but also meaning slushier snow in the afternoons. Early season storms pummeled the Tahoe Basin, sending snow to several Lake Tahoe resorts. Webcams in various parts around the lake told dramatically different stories over the holidays, as several showed signs of rain while just a handful of others – such as the one at Kirkwood – showed heavy snowfall. “Looking at webcams from around the lake, we don’t have to convince you that what’s happening here is more than just a phenomenon – the difference in the weather Kirkwood receives is reality,” said Cohee. Pass holders and ticket purchasers alike arrived to the mountain in droves to test new equipment and get their bodies ready for the new season. Launching this winter, Kirkwood promises to deliver same day video footage all season. Visitors to the resort’s website, www.kirkwood.com, can view footage recorded each morning by 11:00am to experience the mountain’s conditions. For the latest in snowfall totals, call Kirkwood’s Snowphone at 877.KIRKWOOD. Story by Alex Lane

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency Board of Directors jumped onto the Prospect Motors support cavalcade Thursday morning in passing and emergency resolution in support of the decades-old GMAC dealership. General Manager Jim Abercrombie said the resolution was added to the meeting Thursday in an effort to add support for the Halvorson Family before Saturday’s Community Support Rally. Abercrombie said freshman AWA board member Debbie Dunn brought the issue to his attention. Dunn attended a civic meeting Monday night at Mel & Faye’s Diner in Jackson during which the rally was organized. Abercrombie said the resolution proclaimed the AWA board would “support continued operation of Prospect Motors.” He said Prospect Motors employs 80 people and the site is also part of the agency’s Sutter Hill customer base of water and wastewater system users. The ability of the company to pay its water and wastewater bills could have an impact on the agency, not to mention the loss of jobs at the dealership. The resolution passed 5-0. Board president Terence Moore, who also attended the Mel & Faye’s organizational meeting, said he planned to attend the rally. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – One final reminder…residents of Amador County are invited to a rally at noon Saturday to show support for Prospect Motors and to encourage GMAC, the corporation that finances the Jackson dealership, and General Motors to allow the business to continue. Frank Halvorson, owner of the three new car dealerships operated by Prospect Motors, announced in December that he would close because GMAC, formerly known as General Motors Acceptance Corp., decided to halt the lines of credit needed to finance inventory and other parts of the operation. Jamie Lubenko, executive director of Amador Vintners, said in an e-mail that the rally is intended to show support for Prospect Motors in hopes of influencing GM and GMAC and to show support for other businesses in the area affected by the economic downturn. The rally will be in the dealership parking lot, 11361 Prospect Drive, just off Highway 49 near Ridge Road. Staff Report

Amador County – A massive federal infrastructure stimulus package made its way to the Amador Water Agency Thursday morning, at least in discussion. The AWA board and staff discussed fast-tracking a Gravity Supply Pipeline Project to have it ready to qualify for federal stimulus funding in as soon as 3 months. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said that could cost $20,000 to $30,000 to get considered, and $500,000 to $1 Million to qualify. He said the supply line would enhance a pump system that serves customers in the Central Amador Water Project, in upper Amador County. Those members are in Pioneer, Mace Meadow, Rabb Park, Pine Grove, Ranch House and other communities. The system currently pumps water up more than 1,200 feet from the Tiger Creek Afterbay to the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant. AWA now pays $300,000 annually in electrical costs just to pump water to Buckhorn plant – or about half of the Central Amador Water Project’s annual budget. The gravity supply line could divert water at a higher elevation along the PG&E hydropower system above the Tiger Creek Powerhouse and the pipeline would eliminate pumping costs, which have doubled in the past 15 years. Objectives of the Gravity Supply Pipeline are eliminating dependency on power, improving water quality, providing a renewable raw water supply and reducing operation costs. Abercrombie said the 12-inch pipeline now in use was installed in an emergency during a drought in the 1970s. Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said the cost of building the gravity supply line was estimated in-house to cost between $10 Million and $12 Million to build, but the estimated lifetime of the pipeline would be 70 to 100 years. Board Member Don Cooper said he thought the $12 Million cost estimate was questionably low. He also urged more PG&E involvement. Abercrombie said the agency would “sharpen its pencil” on the estimate, which was made with older studies. Chairman Terence Moore said the agency saving all that electricity goes over very well for project support and qualifying for funding. Agency Attorney Steve Kronick said the agency should ask for the entire cost of the project from federal stimulus sources, not just a portion of the cost. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County - Sutter Amador Hospital staff in Jackson officially welcomed the first baby of the new year, while at the same time celebrating new equipment for making that birth safer. Avery Leann Uselton arrived at 5:27 pm on January 2nd, weighing six pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 18 inches. She is the first child of Chandra and Nicholas Uselton of Pioneer. Her birthing process was made more effective through the use of a new Central Monitoring System obtained with the assistance of matching grants from the hospital. According to Laurie Chaveon, Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation Manager, the new equipment was needed in part because of the increasing average number of births taking place at the hospital. The birthrate at Sutter Amador has more than doubled from 15-18 births per month in 2006 to between 30 and 40 per month in 2008. When questioned why the birthrate has risen so dramatically, Chaveon credits a number of factors. “A couple of years ago we recruited a very popular OBGYN team of Dr. Robert Young and (Nurse Midwife) Christine Sullivan,” she said.  She also credits the anesthesiology group that recently expanded their staff to be available 24/7. “Now that there are (anesthesiologists) available for full-time coverage, people who want pain management like epidurals can get them at any time and don’t have to travel long distances for hospital treatment,” Chaveon said. Most families in the area who are expecting usually come to birthing classes at the hospital and learn about Sutter Amador’s expanded programs. In addition, Mark Twain Hospital in San Andreas stopped delivering babies last year. “We have a highly dedicated, highly skilled staff…they consider babies they deliver as an extension of their own families,” she added. The new Central Monitoring System will allow a nurse or doctor to link individual monitoring units together and measure each mother’s wellbeing from one central location. The total cost of the system cost approximately $200,000, over half of which was obtained through local fundraising.  Chaveon called the new system “a great way to be prepared”, adding, “babies never tell you when they’re coming.” Story by Alex Lane

Amador County - A GMC panel van stolen recently from an Amador County business and used for suspected burglaries was recovered Tuesday. The van was recovered along with a Chevrolet pickup from a Chico air conditioning company on a remote road in the town’s Butte Creek Canyon area. Police suspect that both vehicles were used over the last week to break into an ATM and cart off another in the Chico area. Police said the white panel van was seen at a Shell gas station early Sunday morning, where an automated teller machine was removed from the business after burglars smashed out a plate glass window. Investigators believe the stolen pickup was used by burglars when they smashed their way into Cal Skate on Carmichael Drive in Chico about 11 p.m. on New Year's Day and broke into an ATM there, emptying it of cash. "They used a grinding wheel to get to the money," said police Lieutenant Linda Dye, adding: "It was a very fast job." On Monday, after removing the ATM from the Shell station, police believe the same suspects used the van to haul it up a nearly impassible road known as Old Highway 32, where they used the grinding wheel and other tools to break into the ATM, removing an unknown number of $20 bills. The ATM, the van, the pickup, and several items from the two vehicles were abandoned at the scene. Police said the suspects left the area in a third vehicle, and believe at least four people are involved in the burglaries, based on the effort it took to move and break into the heavy ATM device. Investigators said they have no leads on suspects, but hope to lift fingerprints on some items found in the Butte Creek Canyon area. Similar crimes are suspected of being committed by the stolen vehicle suspect who fled from police Saturday near Plymouth. Staff Report with Alex Lane

Amador County – The Ione City Council Tuesday approved a transitional land use designation that would help keep commercial enterprises operating around town. The council was considering the Land Use Element of the new city general plan and approved the full slate of designations, setting in motion environmental reporting on the paperwork. Many spoke about their commercial use on property around town that was earmarked for being designated residential property. After hearing the disputes, consultant Daniel Hamilton and City Planner Christopher Jordan suggested a transitional residential/commercial designation. Jordan said it would allow rebuilding of homes or commercial uses. The suggestion passed 3-1 with Councilman Jim Ulm voting no. Mayor Lee Ard, presiding over his first meeting, voted yes, with Vice Mayor Skip Schaufel and Councilman David Plank, while Councilwoman Andrea Bonham was recused due to her business interest in downtown. Ron Smylie of Smylie’s Trophies told the council his 30-year-old business depended on commercial zoning, because his suppliers will not deliver to non-commercially zoned businesses. City Manager Kim Kerr said the designation would have to be tailored for Smylie’s requirement. Other owners asked to be left commercially zoned. The council voted to make transitional residential/commercial areas, based on historic and current uses and zoning. Ione Planning Commissioner Joe Wylie said the commission passed the Land Use Element on to the city council without resolving the commercial zoning issue. He said it was sent to the council only after Jordan and city staff agreed to notify property owners of potential affects on their properties. Wylie agreed with the Land Use efforts of Jordan and consultants and said it would work in a newly designed city, but the existing zoning and history of Ione needed to be preserved. Wylie said he was “very uncomfortable” with the issue and the city has its problems, but it’s the people’s right to have commercial interest “and they have a right to keep it.” Ard said he personally did not believe on “infringing on people’s property rights.” Ard said he “would rather see it left the way it is now and handled on an individual basis, if necessary.” Story by Jim Reece

Amador County – The Ione City Council Tuesday approved 16 segments of its Land Use Element toward a new city general plan, sending the lot to the drawing board for an Environmental Impact Report. Consultant Daniel Hamilton and City Planner Christopher Jordan walked the city council through the process, giving first a rough outline of the multiple meetings thus far, including a city wide workshop series, 230 public input samples and the planning commission’s two meetings. A public hearing took input as well, including the “future growth area” of “Q” Ranch, for which Matt Toma spoke, saying that the owner was unhappy with more than half of the property being tabbed with an Open Space designation. The rest of the Q Ranch, to the north of Mule Creek State Prison, was designated as Rural Residential, limited to no smaller than 2 acres each, which Toma said developers were also not happy about. Jordan said “the ultimate decision was to include Rural Residential without any additional limitations to the zoning, on either side of the flood plain.” That designation would allow 10-acre to 1/2-acre lots. No development would be allowed in the flood plain, which was about half of the property. Other property owners submitted specific requests for designation changes. Several people, including former councilman and current Amador Water Agency board member Gary Thomas, pointed out that potential High Density Residential areas were not ideal for the Wildflower property or on a section of Highway 124 near the prison gate. The latter was 1-and-a-half miles from downtown, though new development would be preferred to have walking access to town. Jordan and Hamilton noted that in past meetings, two areas, Waterman Road, behind the fire station; and the Ringer Ranch were two potential areas for High Density Residential. The city needs to designate 7 acres as High Density Residential to meet state standards, even if that type of housing is never built. Jordan said the council directed staff to remove the HDR designation from Ringer Ranch, and it was left as a Special Planning designation. The council also added acreage to the Waterman Road site as High Density Residential, adding 7 acres to it, for total acreage of just under 16 acres. Story by Jim Reece

Amador County - The good news is, “we have a map, we have a general land plan,” Ione City Planner Christopher Jordan said Wednesday, though the work is still waiting to be done. The Ione City Council worked late Tuesday night to approve the Land Use Element, setting in motion the drafting of both the new Ione General Plan and the Environmental Impact Report. Both documents were begun Wednesday morning. Jordan said the next step in the process is getting the General Plan written and the EIR written. He said the “EIR and the General Plan are done in parallel,” so that if environmental issues come up in the GP, they can be addressed immediately. Jordan said the EIR and the GP were scheduled to be completed by early April. After that, Jordan and city consultants, PMC Consulting, will roll out the draft General Plan and the EIR for public comment opportunities in some workshops scheduled for April. He said several comment periods will be available for citizens to comment on the General Plan and EIR draft documents. Some changes Tuesday included the Silva Property, on which they only included the property east of 5 Mile Road with the “Special Planning Area” designation, for Residential, Commercial and Industrial uses. The Silva Property west of 5 Mile road was left under the Agriculture General designation. The Triangle Area was also designated as a Special Planning Area. The Howard family is the predominant landowner of the Triangle Area, property between Highways 124, 104 and 88. The property had been discussed as possibly being designated for surface mining, rather than commercial, due in part to potential soil issues there. Jordan said “the city council wanted to recognize that there were some potentially commercial areas out there and they wanted to leave its development to the market and the property owners.” Story by Jim Reece

Amador County - Amador Ledger Dispatch Publisher Jack Mitchell proposed a resolution of support for the resuscitation of Prospect Motors before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. “As long as we have this opportunity to save a major contributor to our tax base, we should take it,” Mitchell said. Mitchell also organized and hosted a rally meeting Monday night designed to coordinate various local agencies and gather thoughts on how to save the 33-year-old local dealership. Over 80 people attended. Prospect Motors closed its doors five days before Christmas after GMAC Financial Services pulled its inventory. The dealership is well-known as a generous contributor within the community, and has generated a large portion of the city and county tax bases. The ripple effect of the closure could be significant. Owner Frank Halverson reluctantly told his 80 employees that he was closing and issued their final paychecks. “How do we get Detroit to look over at Amador County and realize who we are?” asked Mitchell. He also encouraged the Supervisors to attend a rally set for this Saturday, January 10 at noon in the Prospect Motors parking lot. “The (Halverson family) has done nothing but give back to this community,” said Supervisor Ted Novelli. The Supervisors expressed unanimous support for the rally and Mitchell’s intentions thus far, and agreed to include an official resolution of support on next week’s agenda. Story by Alex Lane