Amador County – The Jackson Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect in an early August string of 10 automobile burglaries in Jackson, made possible by the help of the Calaveras County Probation Office. JPD announced the arrest of Aaron Vance, 21, of San Andreas. Jackson Police Officer Mark Harmon responded on the morning of August 7th to reports of 10 auto burglaries throughout Jackson. JPD said “through further investigation, officer Harmon was able to obtain a surveillance photo from a local business security camera where the suspect had attempted to use a credit card that was stolen during the crime spree.” Detective Douglas Grey was then assigned to the case for further action. Grey “distributed the suspect’s photograph to surrounding allied law enforcement agencies as well as local probation and parole offices.” A Calaveras County probation officer recognized the suspect as Vance and notified Grey, who contacted the suspect and interviewed him at the Jackson police station. During the interview, faced with direct evidence, Vance confessed to the burglaries. An arrest warrant was issued and he surrendered to JPD November 23rd. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Sutter Creek City Council earlier this month received recommendation of approvals by the city’s attorney, provided staff work was done according to council requests. City Attorney Dennis Crabb in a memo December 1st recommended approvals. He said to “staff’s knowledge, the only 2 outstanding issues” are “phasing” and the “length of the trail system.” Consultant Anders Hauge (How-Ghee) has said developers (Bill Bunce, John Telischak and Troy Claveran) likely would give 8.4 miles of trails. On phasing, Crabb said “there have been 3 separate discussions,” “all with somewhat different outcomes,” and “whatever the final result, appropriate language will be needed in both the specific plan and the development agreement.” He said the first discussion ended with language saying “the city desired improvements” including “golf course, hotel, commercial, park and trails” to be completed and “operational in the first phase and that no construction would be allowed on Phase 2 until Phase 1 was complete.” Crabb said in a later “council discussion, staff understood that was to be modified to say that so long as the city desired improvements were completed as required, the developer could proceed with backbone infrastructure in Phase 2, even though Phase 1 was not fully built out.” Crabb said “it was taken by some from that discussion that Phase 3 could not be commenced until Phases 1 and 2 were built out.” He said “staff took it to mean that so long as the city desired improvements were complete, and the necessary backbone infrastructure to support development was fully installed, the developer could proceed with whatever Phase the market would support.” Crabb said if staff was correct, there was no need to change related Phasing language, and “if not, further council direction is necessary.” Crabb said a final version of the “Development Agreement” for Gold Rush included “10 outstanding issues that were identified at the September meeting.” He said “broad outlines of the agreement have not changed, but the details have been worked and reworked.” Elements include a 15-year “vesting of project rights” with a 5-year possible extension. Developers must also “design and build a tertiary sewer treatment plant at its expense” for current and future demands; $1 million for open space; and formation of a “community facilities district” to offset all city service costs. Phasing language in the agreement says “the level and type of development within any approved phase will be at the developer’s discretion.” Crabb said if that was not correct, revisions were needed. Crabb recommended adopting an ordinance approving the development agreement, if all changes are correct. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Sutter Amador Hospital on Friday announced that its union employees have ratified a new 3-year contract. The action ends nearly 2 years in which the employees worked without a contract. Jody Boetzer (Bates-er), Sutter Amador Hospital public relations specialist announced the “contract ratification vote for union-represented employees” in a news release Friday. Boetzer said Sutter Amador Hospital Employees voted last Wednesday night to ratify the new 3-year contract. Sutter Amador Hospital employees are represented by Service Employees International Union, in a branch of the SEIU under the United Healthcare Workers West. Boetzer said the “represented employees ratified the contract, with all 42 who voted in favor” of the new contract. She said the “union represents 137 out of 429 employees” at Sutter Amador Hospital. About 20 of the employees and family members held picket signs on Highway 88 at Mission Boulevard November 6th. Theresa Talbert, a critical care registered nurse at the hospital, said the United Healthcare Workers West employees are considered “non-professional” by their parent union, SEIU. Talbert said they were not on strike and were not “picketing” but were instead holding an educational demonstration, to draw attention to union contract negotiations under way later that day. She said UHWW employees in Jackson had not had a contract in almost 2 years. UHW includes registered nurses or workers from physical therapy, medical surgery, critical care and pharmacy. Negotiators for the SAH employees were Talbert, RN Debbie Cheney, pharmacist Todd Berg and union representative Beth Haddorf. Negotiations began in June, and after 7 meetings in November, workers were seeking a 4 percent raise, while Sutter Amador Hospital was offering a 1.25 percent increase, a 2.25 percent increase for RNs, and a 20-cent raise for physical therapists. Boetzer said Friday that “all represented employees will receive benefit enhancements and wage increases. Registered nurses and clinical lab scientists will receive a minimum of a 10 percent across-the-board wage increase over 3 years.” She said RNs will receive an immediate 4 percent raise and another 3 percent in 12 months. Sutter Amador Hospital Chief Executive Officer Anne Platt said the hospital is “proud to have outstanding employees who provide exceptional patient care.” She said: “Our employees can now receive their well-deserved wage increases in these challenging economic times.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County Public Health will host a Swine Flu clinic Wednesday, and a dual swine flu and seasonal flu clinic next week. The department last week announced the clinic for both seasonal and Swine Flu vaccinations, set for next Tuesday (December 22nd) at the Public Health Department in Sutter Creek. The clinic is open to all Amador County residents, and nurses will be administering both seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccine at the clinic, while supplies last. There is a $10 donation request for Seasonal flu vaccine, and the H1N1 vaccine is free of charge. Medicare billing will be available. The dual vaccine clinic is 9 to 11:30 a.m. next Tuesday, December 22nd at the Public Health Department in Sutter Creek. Public health also hosts a Swine Flu only vaccine clinic free on Wednesday. This week’s H1N1 clinic is free and open to the public, to all levels of risk patients. Earlier this month, public health announced that “H1N1 vaccine supply has increased” within Amador County, “providing the opportunity to vaccinate all Amador County residents.” Prior to that announcement, only “high-risk groups” qualified for the H1N1 vaccines. The clinic this week is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday (December 16th), also at the Public Health Department in Sutter Creek. For further information, call the public health “Flu Line” at (209) 223-6697 (for English), and (209) 223-6642 (for Spanish) or the Public Health Department at (209) 223-6407. The Public Health Department is at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Debbie Dunn came back from a 3-0 early deficit to take a 4-1 victory to be the 2010 Amador Water Agency board vice president Thursday morning, and District 1’s Bill Condrashoff was selected 5-0 to be its 2010 president. District 3 Director Don Cooper withdrew his nomination after discussion, when Dunn (District 4) trailed, with herself and Condrashoff yet to vote. Cooper, Director Gary Thomas and Board President Terence Moore all had voted for Cooper. Dunn said she was promised the 2010 vice president’s seat 365 days ago when Condrashoff was named vice president. All of the directors said they thought Dunn would make a fine vice president. But Thomas said he was worried about continuity, and the fact that Dunn faced reelection next year. Condrashoff said “then let’s get behind Debbie’s reelection.” Thomas said if she chose not to run, or lost, the board would get a president without vice presidential experience. The top 2 board members sit on the most important committees. Dunn said she groomed herself for the job by attending many meetings, and accused Cooper of not attending as many. Cooper said he thought the ability to help the agency included not just attending meetings but also business experience, to help AWA prosper and provide adequate services. Dunn accused Moore of trying to slant the vote with an e-mail saying District 3 has not been represented by a president in a long time. Moore said he was just repeating what he said a year ago. Dunn said the 3 board members think “it’s OK to just put your heel on my forehead and say: Whoops, I changed my mind.” She said it was disheartening to spend public money in her attending meetings then go back on a promise she felt she was given. Moore told Dunn: “You attended meetings because you wanted to:” She had assigned meetings, but attended others on her own. Moore said “in fact, I had to get on you a couple of times for going to meetings and trying to charge the agency.” Moore said the vice presidency is an “in-training” position, and does not need preparation. Moore also said: “I’m not sure that we had a commitment about this last year,” and “there was a lot of turmoil” in the selection, and once it was all ironed out, he did not think the final intentions were noted. Condrashoff said he wanted to jog Moore’s memory, noting that Dunn was made an alternate on many vice presidential committees. Cooper then said he wanted to withdraw his name from the nomination, and Dunn was selected vice president on a 4-1 vote with Thomas voting against. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - State lawmakers and federal officials are taking steps to address the threat posed by abandoned mine sites across California. “It's time for Congress to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with the safety and public health problems of these abandoned mines,” wrote U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein in a guest commentary published in the San Bernardino County Sun. Feinstein has introduced legislation to pay for the cleanup of abandoned mines, with fees and royalties to be paid by the hardrock mining industry. Her plan would “set spending priorities for the cleanup fund based on the severity of risk to public health and safety and the impact on natural resources.” It would also establish an 8 percent royalty on new mining operations on federal lands, a 4 percent royalty on existing operations, and “would create a new limited reclamation fee on the gross value of all hardrock mineral mining on federal, state, local and private lands.” The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the California Department of Conservation’s Office of Reclamation estimate there are approximately 47,000 abandoned mines in California, two-thirds of them on Federal lands. Of the estimated 20,000 abandoned mines on public lands in California, BLM has evaluated 1,820 and characterized 60 as affecting water resources, and over 120 mining district with physical safety hazards. Since 2007, eight accidents at abandoned mine sites were reported in California. Last month, Jim Abbott, Acting State Director for the BLM in California, told a House Natural Resources Subcommittee that his agency is in the process of implementing an Abandoned Mine Lands program to remove these mine-related hazards. “For over a century and a half, miners scoured hillsides and mountains, dug mines, and subsequently abandoned them with little or no reclamation, creating the pollution and public safety issues we face today,” he said. One legacy of the famous California Gold Rush is environmental hazards created by mercury contamination. Abbott said mercury mining took place in California between 1846 and 1981, resulting in about 75 percent of the total mercury production in North America. According to a study by University of California Davis ecologist Fraser Shilling, mercury pollution renders fish unsafe to eat and risks the health of at least 100,000 people. He said the pollution disproportionately hurts poorer populations who rely on fishing from local waterways to supplement their diets. Feinstein said the metal mining industry has not taken responsibility for the clean up of abandoned mines. The California Department of Conservation estimates that California alone needs $4 billion to address the issue. Abbott said the sites with the highest potential for harm to the public health have been identified and are being addressed. “Congress must move swiftly to address this issue before more environmental harm, injuries or death occur,” said Feinstein. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Jackson Police Department has arrested an Ione man as the result of an ongoing investigation on the theft and vandalism of area newspaper stands in the early morning hours of November 23rd. Phillip Bach, 41, a resident of Ione, was identified as the suspect with the help of newspaper employee Barbara Fincham, a Sutter Creek resident who witnessed the theft while walking his dog, and Ione Police Sergeant Rocky Harpham. “With the description of the suspect and his vehicle provided by Fincham and the dog walker, Harpham was instrumental in identifying Bach,” according to a press release from the JPD. On December 6th, Jackson Police Officer Mike Collins observed Bach driving in Jackson and arrested him on an outstanding arrest warrant. The release said “the subsequent probation search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a .22 caliber pistol beneath the front passenger seat and Bach’s arrest for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. “ Bach was later arrested for additional charges, including felony grand theft and vandalism in connection with the newsstands. JPD said burglary tools and other evidence linking Bach to the newsstands had also been found in Bach’s vehicle. During questioning, Bach confessed to his involvement in the theft and vandalism of the newsstands. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Public Health Department announced Thursday that another H1N1 flu vaccine clinic has been scheduled for December 22nd from 9 am to 11:30 am. This is in addition to the already scheduled clinic on Wednesday, December 16th, from 11:30 am to 1 pm. These clinics will be open to all residents over the age of six months. The Public Health Department is located at 10877 Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek. For further information on H1N1 vaccination clinics call the Amador County Public Health Flu Line at 223-6697 for English, 223-6642 for Spanish, or Public Health at 223-6407. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador County Mental Health Steering Committee last week selected a set of strategies to address Prevention and Early Intervention in the county. The committee met last Monday (November 30th) at the Amador County Health building in Sutter Creek, and reached a consensus in it planning to receive state Mental Health Services Act funding. Consultant Jennifer Susskind, senior program associate for Resource Development Associates led the committee in deciding the approach for the Amador County Behavioral Health Department in its preparation for MHSA funding. Susskind in an e-mail Thursday said the next steps in Amador County planning process are separate areas of “Prevention and Early Intervention,” as well as “Workforce Education and Training,” and “Innovation.” Susskind said the “Planning Council meeting was a great success, and members unanimously reached an agreement to move forward” with Prevention and Early Intervention” strategies “proposed by Resource Development Associates.” The agreed upon strategies by age group start with “Children and Families” including “Interventions for young children with depression and/or anxiety. At the “school-aged children” level, the strategy is to have “A Youth Wellness and Activity Center.” For adults and all-age people, the approved strategy is a “Field Based Mental Health Liaison” for primary care, jailhouse care, the probation department and other agencies. Strategies for older adults include “Grandparenting Support” and “Respite for Caregivers.” Susskind said Amador Behavioral Health and the steering committee are now in the process of finalizing the prevention and intervention plan. She said a draft of the plan will be available for public review by mid-January. Following the 30-day review period, there will be a public hearing of the plan at the Mental Health Board Meeting in February. Committee members also were asked to review a list of Workforce Education and Training strategies recommended by the RDA. They were asked to send comments or questions to Susskind by December 31st. The strategies will be brought to the community for prioritization during a meeting January 26th in Amador County. Susskind said the “Innovation component” of the state Mental Health Services Act “provides funding for new, novel, and creative strategies for addressing the mental health needs of each county.” She said the committee is “seeking community recommendations for potential Innovation strategies.” RDA is using a survey (ending January 4th) “to help the Behavioral Health Department develop a list of potential projects.” Findings will be presented at the Community Prioritization Meeting set for 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 26th. Committee members are asked to reserve the full day for the meeting. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Debbie Dunn came back from a 3-0 early deficit to take a 4-1 victory to be the 2010 Amador Water Agency board vice president Thursday morning, and District 1’s Bill Condrashoff was selected 5-0 to be its 2010 president. District 3 Director Don Cooper withdrew his nomination after discussion, when Dunn (District 4) trailed, with herself and Condrashoff yet to vote. Cooper, Director Gary Thomas and Board President Terence Moore all had voted for Cooper. Dunn said she was promised the 2010 vice president’s seat 365 days ago when Condrashoff was named vice president. All of the directors said they thought Dunn would make a fine vice president. But Thomas said he was worried about continuity, and the fact that Dunn faced reelection next year. Condrashoff said “then let’s get behind Debbie’s reelection.” Thomas said if she chose not to run, or lost, the board would get a president without vice presidential experience. The top 2 board members sit on the most important committees. Dunn said she groomed herself for the job by attending many meetings, and accused Cooper of not attending as many. Cooper said he thought the ability to help the agency included not just attending meetings but also business experience, to help AWA prosper and provide adequate services. Dunn accused Moore of trying to slant the vote with an e-mail saying District 3 has not been represented by a president in a long time. Moore said he was just repeating what he said a year ago. Dunn said the 3 board members think “it’s OK to just put your heel on my forehead and say: Whoops, I changed my mind.” She said it was disheartening to spend public money in her attending meetings then go back on a promise she felt she was given. Moore told Dunn: “You attended meetings because you wanted to:” She had assigned meetings, but attended others on her own. Moore said “in fact, I had to get on you a couple of times for going to meetings and trying to charge the agency.” Moore said the vice presidency is an “in-training” position, and does not need preparation. Moore also said: “I’m not sure that we had a commitment about this last year,” and “there was a lot of turmoil” in the selection, and once it was all ironed out, he did not think the final intentions were noted. Condrashoff said he wanted to jog Moore’s memory, noting that Dunn was made an alternate on many vice presidential committees. Cooper then said he wanted to withdraw his name from the nomination, and Dunn was selected vice president on a 4-1 vote with Thomas voting against. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.