The California Transportation Commission announced yesterday that it will not fulfill Amador, Calaveras and Alpine Counties funding request from Corridor Mobility Improvement Account to help cover cost overruns on the Angels Camp Bypass, thus leaving the Tri-Counties Alliance on their own in finding a solution to cover the $12.8 million of cost overruns on the project.  Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field said that the alliance had indications last week that that the…

Small businesses in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties may now apply for low interest disaster loans from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  “These disaster loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by the extremely low temperatures and drought in Amador and Calaveras counties beginning January 1, 2007,” said Alfred E. Judd, Director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center - West. Small businesses may qualify…

Senator Dave Cogdill is continuing his push to eliminate the problem of methamphetamine from rural California. The Senator from Modesto that represents our neighbors to the south has announced his introduction of Senate Bills 591 and 592. Senate Bill 591 would change the possession of methamphetamine from a simple misdemeanor to a felony carrying the punishment of imprisonment in a state facility. Senate Bill 592 proposes creating a new fund within the Illegal Drug Lab…

The U.S. Agriculture Department on Tuesday declared Amador and Calaveras counties primary disaster areas. This will now make local farmers and ranchers eligible for low-interest emergency loans. The USDA said Amador and Calaveras counties both experienced unseasonably cold temperatures combined with drought like conditions this year. This move by the USDA also makes six additional counties in California also eligible for assistance because they are close to the primary disaster areas, Amador and Calaveras Counties.…

Monday afternoon the city of Ione some saw excitement in the form of a law enforcement action. According to Ione Police Chief Bob Olson, a broken down motorist at the Chevron station attracted the attention of the Ione Police Department when he attempted to obtain a ride from another patron of the station by jumping in their car and demanding a ride. The local resident declined to give the subject the ride and contacted the…

Additional softball field access in Ione will be the subject of an agenda item on the Amador County Unified School District’s agenda next Wednesday night. Currently, Amador County little league west controls all baseball fields in Howard park, two of which were specifically designed for softball when they were constructed. According to city officials the city has an agreement for use with Amador County Little League West which grants the little league first right of…

Amador County SWAT was again called into action on Monday afternoon when SWAT officers from two county agencies, Amador and El Dorado Counties, surrounded a home searching for a parolee at large Monday afternoon.  Lt. Kevin House, spokesman for the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department, said officials were looking for Kevin Beam, a man well-known to law enforcement. Amador County and El Dorado County SWAT teams began a search for Beam around 2 p.m. Monday.…

The Amador Co. Transportation Commission has changed their meeting location for the meeting that is to be held on February 21st. They will now be meeting at the American Legion Hall at 11350 American Legion Drive, in Martell. The commission is to take another look at the unmet transportation needs with special emphasis on a Saturday bus service to Kirkwood. The unmet transportation needs public hearing began in November of 2006, but was continued due…

The Amador Unit of the CHP had a busy afternoon Monday when two accidents occurred within minutes of each other. The first accident happened at the intersection of Hwy 88 and Lower Ridge Road at approximately 12:25 pm. Samuel Santos of Sutter Creek was traveling west on Hwy 88 and failed to see the red light at Hwy 104, Lower Ridge Rd. Carl Guelzow, of Elk Grove was east bound on Hwy 88 making a…