Amador County Treasurer-Tax Collector Michael E. Ryan has announced that the annual secured property tax bills for the 2007-08 fiscal year have been mailed.  If you own property in Amador County and do not receive your tax bill by October 15, 2007, please contact the Amador County Tax Collector’s Office at 810 Court Street, Jackson or call 223-6364, to request a copy of your bill.  Please note that State Law provides that the failure to…

Thursday, the Plymouth city council held a public hearing to receive input on a proposed capital improvement plan for fiscal years 2008-2012. City Engineer Roark Webber informed the council that this plan, if adopted, does not authorize the city to construct any of the improvements but it is a commitment from the council to complete the projects after obtaining proper funding. Webber told the council that a large number of the projects in the capital…

A strange tale of military-style weapons, drugs, and a cyanide powder bomb is under investigation across the river in San Andreas. Ronald LeRoy Applegate, 60, of San Andreas and two younger San Andreas residents face federal firearms charges after a burglary investigation turned up much more than investigators had bargained for. According to the Sonora Union Democrat, the most lethal weapons — including an improvised bomb designed to disperse a form of cyanide powder —…

David Faulkner, 54, of Mt. Aukum was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Wednesday when his vehicle ran off the road and overturned down an embankment. Faulkner was traveling northbound on Tyler Rd, north of Lubenko Ridge Rd in Fiddletown when the accident occurred. And on Thursday,  a 16-year old Sutter Creek girl and her brother were uninjured when the car she was driving spun out on Shake Ridge Road, ran over the…

Amador County’s School Transportation Department is short staffed, again. Transportation Director Andy Peters is driving everyday, along with other Administrative staff, which is encroaching on Peters’ ability to fulfill all facets of the Directors job. The district is however looking at some alternatives such as cutting and reducing some bus routes, looking at white van services, utilizing the youth bus operated by the Rancheria, providing gratis child care such as the after school program at…

The Amador County School District may be looking into a new drug testing policy for those students who are involved in Extracurricular activities and Athletics. There has been growing public concern about the use of controlled and illegal substances among high school and possibly even junior high school students. There was some research done by staff, legal advice provided, and review of Governmental policy regarding the situation. A steroid policy was adopted in 2005, the…

The newly imposed Schedule for the high schools was called into question at the ACUSD board meeting last Wednesday evening. The schedule which was introduced this year, was made to alleviate some of the issues that arose with those students who opted to utilize classes not offered at their own school. The schedule was created by a committee last spring, as a hybrid schedule, however some students and many staff are still not sure about…

In a report released last week by the Valley Air District, a remarkably low number of Spare the Air days were declared in the San Joaquin Valley this summer – and that means cleaner air for Amador County as well. Just six Spare the Air days were called District-wide during the 2007 season, ending Sunday. Typically, between 20 and 40 Spare the Air days are declared during the summer, depending on location. Jim Harris of…

Down the road, getting a California driver's license could get a lot tougher. The state is considering using more extensive tests to evaluate a driver's memory, reflexes and vision to identify people who shouldn't be behind the wheel. "What we can do is try to identify drivers who probably can't drive safely," said David Hennessy, a research program specialist who recently retired from the DMV. "This is something we're especially sensitive to because of the…