Saturday, 21 March 2015 19:33

Dick Minnis on AM Live March 20, 2015

Dick Minnis shares info about Amador Fair Foundation, Amador Four Fires, Barbera Festival, Amador 360 and other events.

Published in AML
Saturday, 21 March 2015 19:31

Karl Knobelaugh on AM Live March 20, 2015

Preston Castle Foundation is celebrating castle ownership on Sat March, 21.

Published in AML

John Hanning talks about WRP's Firday Night BBQ, March 27 at Sina's Back Roads Cafe.

Published in AML

Find local entertainment in Amador County with Chuck Boro!

Published in AML
Saturday, 21 March 2015 19:23

Group Hug on Amador Live March 20, 2015

All of today's Amador Live guests return for the show wrap-up.

Published in AML

Rotary District 5190 Annual Youth Instrumental Music Contest

Amador Upcountry Rotary Club is having a contest for solo instrumentalists, and you are invited to compete!

Area high school students, or home-school students 14-18 years old

March 26, 2015

Amador County Senior Center 6:30 PM

Club level held locally on March 26 at the Amador Country Senior Ctr.

District level (finals) on May 16, 2015 in Harrah's, South Lake Tahoe

You could win $1,000 for a 3 to 8 minute performance if you win First Prize at the District 5190 Contest in South Lake Tahoe on May 16, 2015.

Winner must be able to attend next level to qualify for price money.

If you are intersted and would like more information, pease contact: Kelly Wolin at AAA Insurance (209) 223-6908 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local
PHOTO ATTACHED:  Chris Bennett, PG&E Power Generation Hydro Maintenance Supervisor (right), and AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo prepare for a presentation on Mokelumne River water supply to the AWA Board of Directors last week.

 

 
(Sutter Creek)  Amador Water Agency Directors got some good news and some bad news on Amador County’s water supply from PG&E supervisor Chris Bennett at their regular board meeting Thursday.

 

   Bennett reported that the high mountain lakes that secure AWA/Amador County’s water supply are filling rapidly. Bennett says PG&E forecasters are “pretty confident” these lakes (Upper and Lower Blue Lakes, Twin Lake and Meadow Lake) will fill to capacity this spring. In late summer and fall, the upper lakes are drawn down before the cold weather because their earthen dams can’t withstand freeze/thaw cycles.

 

That assurance is good news for AWA customers, but Bennett noted that PG&E does not typically begin filling these lakes until May, in anticipation of spring snowmelt. The lakes are being filled now because of low snow levels this season, now designated a Critically Dry year. Bennett also confirmed that natural flows of rain and snow in the Mokelumne drainage have been declining each year for the last three years.

 

PG&E is required to reduce power generation when needed to maintain storage in reservoirs above power plants. Currently, no power is being generated from Salt Springs, Upper Bear or Lower Bear River Reservoirs since little additional snow is predicted this spring. Bennett said all runoff from rainfall is being stored except for the minimum release required for downstream requirements.

 

PG&E regulates the water flow at several locations on the Mokelumne River and its tributaries, but has no authority over water rights or how much water is available or restricted. Those issues are controlled by state licenses and the State Water Resources Control Board. 

 

Thursday’s presentation to the AWA Board came just in advance of this week’s State Water Resources Control Board meeting that will discuss drought-related emergency regulations for urban water conservation for this fourth year of drought. 
Published in Local
PHOTO ATTACHED:  Chris Bennett, PG&E Power Generation Hydro Maintenance Supervisor (right), and AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo prepare for a presentation on Mokelumne River water supply to the AWA Board of Directors last week.

 

 
(Sutter Creek)  Amador Water Agency Directors got some good news and some bad news on Amador County’s water supply from PG&E supervisor Chris Bennett at their regular board meeting Thursday.

 

   Bennett reported that the high mountain lakes that secure AWA/Amador County’s water supply are filling rapidly. Bennett says PG&E forecasters are “pretty confident” these lakes (Upper and Lower Blue Lakes, Twin Lake and Meadow Lake) will fill to capacity this spring. In late summer and fall, the upper lakes are drawn down before the cold weather because their earthen dams can’t withstand freeze/thaw cycles.

 

That assurance is good news for AWA customers, but Bennett noted that PG&E does not typically begin filling these lakes until May, in anticipation of spring snowmelt. The lakes are being filled now because of low snow levels this season, now designated a Critically Dry year. Bennett also confirmed that natural flows of rain and snow in the Mokelumne drainage have been declining each year for the last three years.

 

PG&E is required to reduce power generation when needed to maintain storage in reservoirs above power plants. Currently, no power is being generated from Salt Springs, Upper Bear or Lower Bear River Reservoirs since little additional snow is predicted this spring. Bennett said all runoff from rainfall is being stored except for the minimum release required for downstream requirements.

 

PG&E regulates the water flow at several locations on the Mokelumne River and its tributaries, but has no authority over water rights or how much water is available or restricted. Those issues are controlled by state licenses and the State Water Resources Control Board. 

 

Thursday’s presentation to the AWA Board came just in advance of this week’s State Water Resources Control Board meeting that will discuss drought-related emergency regulations for urban water conservation for this fourth year of drought. 
Published in Local

Plymouth, Ca; March 16, 2015 – As a result of a unique review process conducted for Amador Four Fires Wine and Food Festival by a distinguished panel of wine judges and sommeliers, more than 100 wines from 37 wineries have been selected to be poured at the event coming to the Amador County Fairgrounds May 2, 2015, 11 am to 4 pm. Tickets are currently on sale at amadorfourfires.com.

“The whole idea of Amador Four Fires is to showcase our county’s preeminent winemaking and winegrowing,” said co-Producer Deirdre Mueller, “inspired by wine regions of France, Iberia, Italy and of course our fabled California heritage wines. The wines selected in this review process beautifully showcase the extraordinary quality and depth of what our county has to offer.”

Wineries selected in the process include: Amador Cellars, Amador Foothill, Andis, BellaGrace Vineyards, Borjon, Bray Vineyards, Cooper Vineyards, Deaver, Dillian, Distant Cellars, Dry Town, Feist, Fiddletown Cellars, Gordon Binz, Helwig Winery, Il Gioiello, Jeff Runquist Wines, Legendre, Los Portales, Martin Lane, Miller Wineworks, Morse, Nine Gables, Renwood Winery, Scott Harvey, Sera Fina, Shenandoah Vineyards, Sobon Estate, Story, Terra d’Oro, Uphill Vineyards, Val Du Vino, Vino Noceto, Wilderotter, Winetree Farm, Yorba Wines, and Youngs.

All guests at A4F will be able to taste wines from each of these wineries, pouring in one or more of each of the regions. Most wineries will be represented in at least two to three of the four regions; some in all four. Guests who were able to obtain the coveted VIP Experience tickets, now sold out, will also be able taste special wines (reserves, estate bottling, library selection, etc.) from the sponsoring wineries, including from Presenting Sponsor Renwood Winery and Hosting Sponsors: BellaGrace Vineyards, Jeff Runquist Wines, Terra d’Oro Winery, Vino Noceto, and Yorba Wines.

The panel of judges and sommeliers, assembled by Amador Four Fires Festival’s Brian Miller, included: Jeff Back (Back Wine Bar), Carrie Boyle, Mike Dunne (Sacramento Bee), Martha Dunne, Bob Ecker, Colleen Ecker, Roger King, Laura Ness, Marcella Newhouse, Monty Preiser (Key to Napa Valley), Sara Preiser, Ted Reiger, Greg Richtarek (winemaker), Bruce Robinson, Marty Spate, Dan Stambaugh, Julie Thiebaut, Melissa Vogt, and Phil Werfelman (sommelier).

“The process of wine assessment we used, while different in many ways from the traditional award-by-consensus system common at wine competitions, turned out to be very revelatory,” said Miller. “We weren’t so much interested in giving ranked awards, as looking for those wines that best illustrated the style and standards of Amador County.”

Amador Four Fires Festival, a new concept wine and food festival designed to ignite your sense, is a veritable rural County Fair teeming with all things wine and food beckoning around every corner of its ten-acre Amador County Fairgrounds site. In addition to the wines poured by Amador's best wineries, guests will enjoy food inspired by the fiery traditions of cooking on an open flame from each of the four wine regions and prepared with high drama and culinary expertise by Amador’s finest chefs: Mark Berkner from Taste Restaurant, Beth Sogaard from Beth Sogaard Catering and Amador Vintage Market, showman Richard Lee from Wood Fire Smoke, and David Alvarez from Hotel Sutter.

In addition, Amador Four Fires offers a cornucopia of tantalizing activities for all the senses; an event-filled program full of fun, information, delicious foods and entertainment. Tastings explore everything from local olive oils, handcrafted candies, honeys, cheeses, cider and craft beer to some of the best wines vetted by a panel of judges. The exploration continues with multiple cooking demonstrations, including a cowboy campfire, a sensory station, and seminars covering topics from food and wine pairings, winemaking, tasting tips and “101” mini-courses. Rounding out the day are exclusive wine sales, a County Store, and live music at two venues.

Ticket price includes: Wine, food, commemorative glass, all activities and parking. $75 in advance, $85 at the door, $50 Designated Driver, available at amadorfourfires.com

Proceeds benefit the Amador County Fair Foundation. 

Published in Local
Friday, 20 March 2015 02:20

Carcass Contest winner

Shane Billows (center) 19, of Argonaut FFA, receives the Ralph Clark Award for the top rated beef carcass at the 2014 Amador County Fair.  On hand to present the award and a check for $1,000 is the contest sponsor, Phil Bovero of Jackson Tire (left) and Amador County Fair CEO, Troy Bowers (right). 

 

This is Shane’s first year with a market beef project and placed 1st in his market class, was the local bred champion and the ultrasound contest winner.  Shane is an experienced showman and has shown market lambs in the past with the Gold Country Grange before joining FFA Shane is working part time now and saving for college. He will be attending Colorado Mountain College in the fall majoring in Veterinary Science and plans to work towards an applied science bachelor’s degree. 

 

Shane purchased the prize winning steer from local ranchers “Little” Cecil Felkins of Phillips Red Angus in Jackson Valley. Shane was very proud that entire Felkins family was there on show day and auction day to cheer on the home grown, award winning steer“My sister Hannah, and I have always bought from Amador County breeders and we’re excited to be able to get both “Little and Big Cecil’  steers for fair” says Shane.   The steer was purchased by Swingle’s Meats who sold it in their store as “locally produced and raised” Hannah’s steer placed 2nd in the untrasound and carcass contest. 

 

Jackson Tire and Phil Bovero have been long time supporters of the Junior Livestock program and the Ralph Clark Carcass Contest at the Fair, purchasing animals and supporting the kids for more than 35 years.  “We are so proud of these kids and their families, we know that our small contribution is helping to grow the next generation of leaders for our community” says Phil Bovero of Jackson Tire. 

 

The Amador County Fair will be celebrating our 77th annual gathering with “Country Tunes and Midway Blooms” July 23-26, 2014.   “This is exactly why our founders established this Fair in 1938” says Troy Bowers, Amador County Fair CEO. “ The Amador County Fair is a place where people discover what they want to do for the rest of their life”. 

Page Break 

Shane Billows (center), 19 of Argonaut FFA, receives the Ralph Clark Award for the top rated beef carcass at the 2014 Amador County Fair. On hand to present the award and a check for $1,000 is the contest sponsor, Phil Bovero of Jackson Tire (left) and Amador County Fair CEO, Troy Bowers (right). 

 

This is Shane’s first year with a market beef project and placed 1st in his market class, was the local bred champion and the ultrasound contest winner. Shane is an experienced showman and has shown market lambs in the past. with the Gold Country Grange before joining FFA. Shane is working part time now and saving for college. He will be attending Colorado Mountain College in the fall majoring in Veterinary Science and plans to work towards an applied science bachelor’s degree. 

 

Shane purchased the prize winning steer from local ranchers “Little” Cecil Felkins of Phillips Red Angus in Jackson Valley. Shane was very proud that the entire Felkins family was there on show day and auction day to cheer on the home grown, award winning steer. “Both my sister and I have always bought from Amador County local breeders and were excited to be able to get both “Little and Big Cecil’ steers for fair” says Shane. The steer was purchased by Swingle’s Meats and sold it in their store as “locally produced and raised” 

 

Jackson Tire and Phil Bovero have been long time supporters of the Junior Livestock program at the Fair, purchasing animals and supporting the kids for more than 35 years. “We are so proud of these kids and their families, we know that our small contribution is helping to grow the next generation of leaders for our community” says Phil Bovero of Jackson Tire. 

 

 

The Amador County Fair will be celebrating our 77th annual gathering with “Country Tunes and Midway Blooms” July 23-26, 2014.  “This is exactly why our founders established this Fair in 1938” says Troy Bowers, Amador County Fair CEO. “ The Amador County Fair is a place where people discover what they want to do for the rest of their life”. 

Published in Local