The Jackson Planning Commission meeting began with discussion surrounding a variance for a parcel located at 135 Center St. The applicant Ethel Smallfield requested a variance to allow construction of a new single-family residential detached garage to encroach 5 feet into the required five foot side yard setback and ten feet rear yard setback. Currently there is a temporary structure erected essentially in the proposed located. Apparently, Ms. Smallfield applied for the variance because her…

Residents living in the Shake Ridge Rd, Upper Hwy. 88, and Cook’s Station areas of Amador County could expect to see some lingering smoke throughout the rest of October as the Amador-El Dorado Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have announced that they will be conducting prescribed fire operations in Amador County in the area of Upper Shake Ridge Road and Upper Omo Ranch Road. CDF will be conducting burning operations…

The Amador Water Agency’s request for a zoning change for a piece of property located in the Camanche area is causing quite a bit of concern among surrounding residents. The agency’s request is for a general plan amendment from PS, Public Service to A-G Agricultural-General; and a Zone Change from “X” Special Use to District to R1A Single Family Residential and Agricultural District on property located off a private easement about ½ mile east of…

According to the AP, Gov. Schwarzenegger will sign an executive order today that joins California's landmark global warming law with the Northeast's program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The governor plans to sign the order in New York. His spokesman says it will create a carbon trading market between the two regions that will help industrial plants cut their greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 25 percent by 2020. The Northeast system currently involves seven states…

Amador County’s future will be the subject of a public meeting sponsored by the Amador branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) on Wednesday, October 25. The meeting will take place from 5 to 7 PM in the large conference room of the Amador County General Services Building, 12200B Airport Road, Jackson. Refreshments will be served. Spearheading and co-moderating the meeting will be Patrick Blacklock, Amador County Administrative Officer. Mary Thorpe of AAUW…

In California, the deadline to register to vote for an election is 15 days before Election Day, so for the Nov. 7 general election that means the last day to register is Monday, Oct. 23. You can register to vote by contacting the elections department office at 223-6465 or stopping by the departments offices at 12600 Airport Rd- just follow the signs on the building. Voters please note: In Amador County if you are one…

Concerns over speed limits and water craft safety on Silver Lake dominated a recent El Dorado Irrigation District meeting. Silver Lake is a popular Amador County destination just east of the El Dorado County line. The lake is part of Project 184, a system of lakes, canals and a powerhouse that the El Dorado Irrigation District purchased from Pacific Gas and Electric in 1999. Like most alpine lakes, Silver Lake is characterized by numerous boulders…

This Wednesday night the Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees will take a look at the District’s Independent Study Program, Northstar. The district will look at the NorthStar program and consider the option of declaring the program a “high priority” school. Currently, state law compares and judges a school’s performance through the Academic Performance Index (API), a statewide ranking system to measure school performance. The ranking system is based on student’s performances on…

Beginning last Wednesday, Amador County Sheriff's deputies participated with the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Department in a sting of known sex offenders. The sting was in accordance and cooperation with several other law enforcement agencies. In addition to Amador County and Tuolumne County Deputies, the sting included officers from San Joaquin, Calaveras, Stanislaus, and Merced. Wednesday kicked off the three day operation to increase federal prosecutions of violent sexual predators and to reduce the number of…

Confusion over the Jackson City sign ordinance has now been clarified by City Manager Mike Daly. Daly has instructed city staff that temporary signs, such as paper and fiberboard signs typically used for temporary advertising, can only be placed on the property of the business they advertise, irregardless of their size and shape. This means no signs to advertise sales at local business will be appearing on roadsides inside the city of Jackson. The issue…