Jackson - Local agricultural producers are being encouraged to apply for an improved federal grant that “aims to provide planning and/or capital investment for value adding enterprises started by farmers and ranchers.” Known as the Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VPG), this federal grant is designed “to help producers move into value-added agricultural enterprises,” according to University of California Cooperative Extension Representative Sean Kriletich. It was first created under the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 and expanded and improved in the 2002 and 2008 farm bills. Kriletich, a long time producer and promoter of improved local agriculture practices, is encouraging local producers to take advantage of this opportunity. “If you are an independent producer, a farmer or rancher cooperative, agricultural producer group, or a majority-controlled producer-based business venture, you are eligible to apply for a value-added grant,” he said. The Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) provides definitions for each of these categories along with other program requirements. A new NOFA is published each year with information relating to any emphasis an ag producer is considering. Visit http://www.cfra.org/resources/vapg/fact_sheet (the website on your screen) for more information or contact your local UC Cooperative Extension office for more information. The application deadline in November 30, 2009. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek - The Amador County Public Health Clinic announced Monday that it will hold a special clinic this coming Wednesday, November 4 for children age 6 months through sixth grade to receive the H1N1, or “swine flu” vaccine. The county received its second limited shipment of H1N1 vaccine last week and is prioritizing doses for those who are determined to be in high-risk groups. Those who will be offered the vaccine first include individual’s age 6 months to 24 years, pregnant women, individuals who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months, health care personnel and individuals age 25 – 65 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu related complications. Amador County Public Health Director Angel LeSage said they have yet to schedule any public clinics because the vaccine is arriving “in waves” and is first being distributed among health care providers. “It has to do with production and what is available,” she said. In a release last week, Public Health officials said they are “not recommending school dismissal with the presence of H1N1 and/or seasonal flu among our students or staff” but are recommending treating “both types of flu cautiously.” A number of cases have been reported and confirmed in Amador County. “H1N1 is in our community, but we haven’t had any deaths,” said LeSage. She encouraged citizens to contact their health care provider to see if they have yet to offer the vaccine. Two weeks ago, President Barack Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency, a move intended to give health care facilities more flexibility in dealing with an expected surge of infected patients. The White House said this declaration also helps the health secretary cut red tape that complicates treatment of patients on Medicare and Medicaid. Until larger quantities of vaccine become available, health officials are promoting more traditional methods of prevention. “The best prevention for both H1N1 and seasonal flu remains vaccination, washing your hands frequently, covering your cough and your sneeze and staying home if you are sick,” said Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. For the latest flu information visit the public health website or call 223-6407. Wednesday’s free clinic will be held at Public Health, located at 10877 Conductor Blvd, between 2:30 and 5:30 pm. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek - The Amador County Public Health Clinic announced Monday that it will hold a special clinic this coming Wednesday, November 4 for children age 6 months through sixth grade to receive the H1N1, or “swine flu” vaccine. The county received its second limited shipment of H1N1 vaccine last week and is prioritizing doses for those who are determined to be in high-risk groups. Those who will be offered the vaccine first include individual’s age 6 months to 24 years, pregnant women, individuals who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months, health care personnel and individuals age 25 – 65 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu related complications. Amador County Public Health Director Angel LeSage said they have yet to schedule any public clinics because the vaccine is arriving “in waves” and is first being distributed among health care providers. “It has to do with production and what is available,” she said. In a release last week, Public Health officials said they are “not recommending school dismissal with the presence of H1N1 and/or seasonal flu among our students or staff” but are recommending treating “both types of flu cautiously.” A number of cases have been reported and confirmed in Amador County. “H1N1 is in our community, but we haven’t had any deaths,” said LeSage. She encouraged citizens to contact their health care provider to see if they have yet to offer the vaccine. Two weeks ago, President Barack Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency, a move intended to give health care facilities more flexibility in dealing with an expected surge of infected patients. The White House said this declaration also helps the health secretary cut red tape that complicates treatment of patients on Medicare and Medicaid. Until larger quantities of vaccine become available, health officials are promoting more traditional methods of prevention. “The best prevention for both H1N1 and seasonal flu remains vaccination, washing your hands frequently, covering your cough and your sneeze and staying home if you are sick,” said Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. For the latest flu information visit the public health website or call 223-6407. Wednesday’s free clinic will be held at Public Health, located at 10877 Conductor Blvd, between 2:30 and 5:30 pm. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Plymouth – Plymouth Mayor Jon Colburn and Amador Water Agency President Terence Moore turned the ceremonial spigot to mark the completion of the nearly $10 million AWA-Plymouth water pipeline Monday at the city’s water tank on Fiddletown Road. The big news was that the pipeline from Tanner Water Treatment Plant to Plymouth was under budget and ahead of schedule. Ceremonial water flowed from a pipe that ran into a ditch beside the water plant. Plymouth City Manager Dixon Flynn climbed down to the pipe and scooped up the “first drink” of the pipeline. The city has budgeted to activate the services with the AWA by January 1st. AWA Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said the project’s construction cost was about $5.5 million, and utilized a $4.2 million USDA grant. Construction numbers were still coming in, Mancebo said: Construction, with contingencies was estimated at just over $6 million, and it was looking like it would finish at about $5.6 million, or $400,000 under budget. The project total cost would be under $10 million. Moore introduced the other 4 AWA board members, all in attendance, and thanked USDA’s Rural Utility Service members, including Frank Risso, for helping fund the project. Flynn said “this has been a project that has been a long time coming.” He said for councilmembers and AWA board, “this was not an easy decision,” but “it was made and we were able to move forward.” He thanked Jack Scroggs of KASL Engineering, saying “this thing was engineered to a T.” And he thanked consultant Richard Prima. Colburn said: “It is pretty unusual that I am here to talk on behalf of the Plymouth City Council, because I am the one who voted against it.” He said he was concerned with the payment process, and preferred the original project of a dam and reservoir for improving city water. Colburn said he was “amazed that it came in under budget.” Councilwoman Patricia Shackleton said “it was a very difficult decision for the council members. I know it was for me.” She said Colburn “is working very hard on a project with the (Arroyo Ditch)” to see if the city can reduce costs to the people. Councilwoman Patricia Fordyce said: “I am looking forward to turning on my faucet and being able to drink it.” Flynn thanked Fordyce for her help with the pipeline, and he noted her determination in making things happen. City Finance Director Jeff Gardner said due to budgeting, the pipeline was expected to actually go online by January 1st. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson - Police are currently seeking an unknown driver who led officers on a brief high speed pursuit last Friday before losing control of his vehicle and skidding off a sharp turn on Climax Road. Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison was travelling westbound on Highway 88 east of Climax Road last Friday afternoon at approximately 2 pm when a the driver of a 1993 Honda passed his and several other vehicles “at an extremely high rate of speed.” According to the California Highway Patrol collision report, Morrison, who was driving an unmarked Jackson Police vehicle, initiated procedures to attempt an enforcement stop of the vehicle for the unsafe passing and excessive speed. The report says the “violator began to evade the red lights and siren” and continued to drive. The unknown driver turned off quickly onto Climax Road and “attempted to negotiate a sharp right hand curve that had an advisory speed of 20 miles per hour.” Due to his high rate of speed, the driver lost control of his vehicle and left the south side of the road and overturned. After his vehicle came to rest, the driver fled the scene of the accident and was not located. The driver’s vehicle was impounded for evidence and the incident is still under investigation. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson –Assemblywoman Alyson Huber told some stories of her first year to members of the Amador County Business Council last week, in a meeting at Sutter Amador Hospital. Huber had no cell phone signal – a good segue into one of her battles for District 10. She said she lobbied in Washington D.C. to get broadband grants steered to Amador County. Council member Frank Lenschinsky of Volcano Communications said he “heard that loud and clear” and could help phone reception in Amador. Huber said broadbands use “tele-medical” capabilities “to get benefits from the U.C. system into our rural communities.” Amador Business Council President Anne Platt and Sutter Amador Hospital CEO said the hospital already uses that technology and has U.C. Davis medical students living in Amador, in a donated home, and “getting the experience of rural medicine.” Huber apologized for not being able to meet with the council until her 11th month in office. She said: “I’m going to let you make your own decision about my record of being business-friendly.” A member of the Jobs & Economic Development Committee, Huber said state “enterprise zones” are a “tool in our tool box right now, just not a very sharp one.” She said a big issue will be trying to refill the hole left by lost manufacturing jobs. She said she is “trying to talk with those less business-friendly in the Legislature.” Business council member Ken Deaver, owner of Deaver Vineyards, said “let us know if you want some help.” Council Executive Director Jim Conklin said Governor Schwarzenegger had vetoed Huber’s bill that would have audited the workload of the state’s 1,000 or so appointed commissions and boards. She said the state budget is $88 billion, yet pays some commissioners $130,000 a year to meet once a month. She said the state will soon face retirement deficits, in vested and contractual pensions, and will “have to pay it off” and “can’t go back and undo the decisions of the ‘60s and ’70s.” She said the governor vetoed her audit bill, saying it could be done in a 1-time audit. Huber said there is “no systemic way to review – from the top down – the entire government structure, and see where we are losing money.” She said she would bring people in to testify about government waste. The council asked Huber to meet with them once a year and will ask her to also have an aid attend its monthly meetings. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson - Local agricultural producers are being encouraged to apply for an improved federal grant that “aims to provide planning and/or capital investment for value adding enterprises started by farmers and ranchers.” Known as the Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VPG), this federal grant is designed “to help producers move into value-added agricultural enterprises,” according to University of California Cooperative Extension Representative Sean Kriletich. It was first created under the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 and expanded and improved in the 2002 and 2008 farm bills. Kriletich, a long time producer and promoter of improved local agriculture practices, is encouraging local producers to take advantage of this opportunity. “If you are an independent producer, a farmer or rancher cooperative, agricultural producer group, or a majority-controlled producer-based business venture, you are eligible to apply for a value-added grant,” he said. The Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) provides definitions for each of these categories along with other program requirements. A new NOFA is published each year with information relating to any emphasis an ag producer is considering. Visit http://www.cfra.org/resources/vapg/fact_sheet (the website on your screen) for more information or contact your local UC Cooperative Extension office for more information. The application deadline in November 30, 2009. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson - The Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians announced Friday that Vice-Chairman Irvin “Bo” Marks was elected to the office of Tribal Chairperson, a position formerly held by the late Margaret Dalton. During a gathering of the Tribe’s General Council Thursday, a special election was held to fill the position, as set forth in the Tribe’s election ordinance. Marks is the brother of Amador County philanthropist and pioneering tribal leader Dalton, who passed away May 24, 2009. According to a TSPN report at that time, Dalton, 68, served 30 years uncontested as chairwoman of the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians. She spearheaded the formalization of its government, and was elected and served as its first and only chair, starting in 1979. Her legacy includes giving millions of dollars back to the community, after fulfilling a dream she and her late husband, Earl Dalton Senior, both held of making the tribe self-sufficient. She built self-sufficiency in the tribe through the Jackson Bingo Hall, founded in 1991, which eventually became the Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel & Conference Center. In 2010, the gaming center will celebrate its 25th anniversary. The Jackson Rancheria is also Amador County’s largest employer. Dalton, a 53-year resident of Amador, since marrying Earl Senior in 1956, sponsored numerous causes in the county. The Rancheria was the main sponsor of the California High School Challenge of Champions Rodeo and an Amador County Fair staple. It also has a health and dental complex, and built the Pine Acres apartments on Sutter Hill for its employees. The Amador County Chamber of Commerce named its “Margaret Dalton Humanitarian Award” after her. During its special election Thursday, the tribe also elected Adam Dalton to the office of Tribal Vice Chairman, and Dennis Dalton to a Tribal Council Member at Large seat. The tribe was first recognized by the Federal Government in 1898. Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel is located at 12222 New York Ranch Road, Jackson, CA 95642. For more information, call 800-822-WINN or visit JacksonCasino.com. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fiddletown – Working to protect Amador County private land and Sierra Pacific Industries tree plantations from fire risk, work crews last week were fighting fire with fire, literally. Controlled burns off of Shake Ridge Road and Fiddletown Road should continue into this week as part of CALFIRE’s “Vegetation Management Program,” run by the Alpine-Amador-El Dorado-Sacramento Unit, based in Camino. Calfire Forester Patrick McDaniel said controlled burning started October 22nd and burning was done on 23rd, and also last Monday. The project was suspended Tuesday and Wednesday because of high winds, and it resumed again last Thursday and was likely to continue this week, “if the weather conditions are favorable,” McDaniel said. The project involves an “understory broadcast burn,” he said, which means continually “burning the understory vegetation, timber litter, grass, and bear clover, also known as mountain misery.” He said a white smoke may be visible as the vegetation burns. A notification of the project did not bring any phone calls from people sensitive to smoke, but McDaniel said he “did get a few calls from people who were curious and made sure that we were aware of the high winds forecasted” for last week. McDaniel said they “only receive authorization to burn when conditions allow.” The burns are ultimately authorized by the Calfire Northern Region. On burn project, they have crews from Pine Grove Camp, and 2 or 3 engines from Calfire. The “continuous burn” method was being used, which burns pine needles and twigs. He said “it significantly reduces the fuels,” and there was a lot of timber litter. They are burning on a young plantation area and “there was considerable fuel on the ground previously.” McDaniel said so far, they have worked on Sierra Pacific Property, but will also work on other private properties. In order to make a continuous project, they encouraged private landowners to participate. The project is “targeting the ridge line for fuel reduction,” particularly those on south side of it, because of wildland on the north side of the ridge, around the North Fork of the Cosumnes River. The ridge separates the wildland from more communities in Amador County, south of the ridge. If too much rain falls, vegetation “might not be dry enough to get a good burn.” They are working on Fiddletown Ridge, along the Fiddletown Road. He said they could work into next week, also dependent on weather. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pine Grove – The Amador Water Agency board of directors ceremoniously broke ground last month on a $370,000 sewer system expansion project at the Gayla Manor subdivision near Pine Gove. The project will build a new community leach field, “expand Gayla Manor’s overtaxed wastewater system’s capacity, and satisfy the requirements of the Regional Water Quality Control Board,” said AWA Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo. He said the “Gayla Manor wastewater treatment system has been out of compliance since 2003, when state regulators tightened wastewater storage and disposal requirements.” The new leach field will be built on a 3-acre parcel, which was a former Gayla Manor common area. The Gayla Manor Homeowners Association provided the land to AWA at no cost in recognition of the system benefits along with construction of some road and storm drain improvements in the subdivision. AWA crews will start site work in November. Construction of the new leach field will take place next spring with a completion deadline of October 15, 2010. The groundbreaking ceremony was held October 22nd was possible because AWA was awarded $367,612 of federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to pay for design and construction of the new leach field. Representatives from the California Department of Water Resources, Erin Ragazzi and Ibyang Rivera, attended and helped with the golden shovels. In attendance were all 5 AWA directors, including President Terence Moore, Vice President Bill Condrashoff, and directors Don Cooper, Debbie Dunn and Gary Thomas. Also attending were Mancebo, Financial Services Manager Michael Lee and, Interim Engineering and Planning Manager Erik Christeson. Also October 22nd, at its regular meeting, Mancebo said the AWA board approved $20,000 in emergency reserve funds for grading to correct a storm water runoff problem near the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant backwash pond. The action was taken “before the onset of winter rains.” Storm water diversion improvements were made at the backwash pond, at the Mace Meadow Golf Course, during the summer of 2007. Mancebo said: “Since that time someone unknown to the agency moved earth near the backwash pond, altering the grade near the pond and putting the agency in jeopardy of being fined by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The board was to meet twice today, including a 10:30 a.m. dedication of the Plymouth water pipeline, in Plymouth. The AWA board also holds a special public hearing on Wastewater Improvement District Number 1 rate increases at 6 p.m. today at the AWA office. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.