Nena Machado First 5 Amador County talks about the Children's Holiday Festival Friday Dec. 5:30pm-8pm Free Admission at the Margaret Dalton Center in Jackson.

Kam Merzlak closes out the show with his guest.

Dierdre Mueller talks about Amador Four Fires Event May 2015 on Today's Edition of AMLive on TSPN TV

Amador Supervisor John Plasse with the Supervisors Report is on AMLive today 12-10-14 TSPN TV

Kam Merzlak & Robert Meese Talk on today's Roam Segment on AMLive TSPN TV

Join Monique at the annual Chowda Chomp in Volcano.

Amador County Supervisor, Richard Forster discusses local/regional water issues, and previews the Board of Supervisors' Meeting December 10, 2014.

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today named two outstanding high school students to represent California in the 53rd annual U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP), sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

            Benjamin Omar Beltran of Nevada City (Nevada County), a senior at Nevada Union High School in the Nevada Joint Union High School District, andDahkota Kicking Bear Brown of Jackson (Amador County), a junior at Argonaut High School in the Amador County Unified School District, were selected for their outstanding scholastic achievement, leadership qualities, and strong commitment to their schools and communities.

            Torlakson also named two alternates in the event one or both of the delegates are unable to attend. First alternate is Claire J. Liu of Palo Alto (Santa Clara County), a senior at Palo Alto High School in the Palo Alto Unified School District, and second alternate is Dustin Chiang of Fremont (Alameda County), a senior at Mission San Jose High School in the Fremont Unified School District.

            “It’s a pleasure to select these remarkable students for this highly competitive program,” said Torlakson. “These students, who have already achieved so much, are sure to make the most of this opportunity and to continue to contribute in meaningful ways to their communities.”

The four students, who were among 140 California students who applied for the program this year, are scheduled to be recognized by the State Board of Education during its January 14‒15, 2015, meeting in Sacramento.

            Students must be nominated by their high school principal to participate in the program. A selection committee from the California Department of Education (CDE) reviewed eligible nominees, and Torlakson selected the awardees based on the quality of the application, high academic achievement, interpersonal and communication skills, knowledge of American government and U.S. history, involvement in school and community activities, demonstrated qualities of leadership, extracurricular activities, and service to the community.                                             

Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity each will receive a $5,000 scholarship and attend a one-week all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in March to experience the workings of the national government.

For more information on the U.S. Senate Youth Program, please visit the CDE's Web site at United States Senate Youth Program -- Initiatives & Programs.

The following are synopses compiled from their extensive biographies:

Delegate Benjamin Omar Beltran

 Benjamin Omar Beltran of Nevada City (Nevada County) is a senior with a weighted grade point average of 4.5 at Nevada Union High School in the Nevada Joint Union High School District. He is secretary of the Associated Student Body and a member of many clubs and organizations, including Influential Mentors Producing Academic Change for Tomorrow (IMPACT), which he founded after mentoring and tutoring a struggling elementary school student.  He has been captain of both the junior varsity soccer and volleyball teams. He hopes to attend a university such as Stanford or Princeton to study either engineering or political science. “I know that these institutions can shape me into a better, more experienced leader who can change my community and possibly the nation,” he wrote in his USSYP application.

Delegate Dahkota Kicking Bear Brown

Dahkota Kicking Bear Brown of Jackson (Amador County) is a junior with a weighted grade point average of 4.2 at Argonaut High School in the Amador County Unified School District. He is treasurer of the Associated Student Body and a past president for two years of Student Body Leadership. He founded Native Education Raising Dedicated Students (NERDS), which helps Native American students who lack enough credits to graduate on time. He is also active in the campaign to end the use of racist mascots. He would like to attend Stanford, where his brother attends and where he has spent three summers in the Gifted Youth Program, and major in political science with a minor in Native American Studies. “I once aspired to be the first Native American to serve on the SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States)…but I’ve decided I would like to serve as a California elected official, then possibly serve in Congress,” he wrote in his USSYP application.

First Alternate Claire J. Liu

Claire J. Liu of Palo Alto (Santa Clara County) is a senior with an unweighted grade point average of 3.86 at Palo Alto High School in the Palo Alto Unified School District. She is president of the Associated Student Body and past class president in her sophomore and junior years. She is also editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Campanile. She has spent more than 400 hours mentoring children whose parents are being assisted by the InnVision Shelter Network, a program for the homeless in the Bay Area. She is also a member of Best Buddies, where she has established a close-knit friendship with a special needs student. She would eventually like to earn a Master of Business Administration and work toward an executive position. “Wall Street and the overarching business world have a reputation for their lack of ethics and responsibility to the community and I hope to serve as a voice that pushes corporations to develop a stronger conscience toward the issues in our nation and world,” she wrote in her USSYP application.

Second Alternate Dustin Chiang

Dustin Chiang of Fremont (Alameda County) is a senior with an unweighted grade point average of 4.5 at Mission San Jose High School in the Fremont Unified School District. He is president of the Associated Student Body. He also was vice-president of the Associated Student Body in his junior year, and was sophomore class president. He is a two-term president of the California Association of DECA, a not-for-profit organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. He is also president of Mission San Jose Challenge Success and has been active in that organization all four years. He is a delegate to the Model United Nations.  He hopes to study government and public policy at Harvard, and then earn a degree in law, eventually serving in Congress. “I will continue learning from the people around me to identify the issues and concerns which are at the forefront of each individual’s daily life. I aspire to take the very real struggles of those in my local community and give everyone a voice in government,” he wrote in his USSYP application.

Posted by TSPN TV

Jackson, CA - Jackson Creek Dental Group will once again be hosting Smile for Kids to treat children, at no cost, who “fall between the cracks” in healthcare – children who would not otherwise receive dental treatment – on Saturday, January 31, 2015 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Because of the overwhelming number of children attending this event appointments will be scheduled in advance starting Monday, January 12^th, 2015.  These appointments will be filled on a first-come-first served basis by calling Jackson Creek Dental Group at (209) 223-2712.  Once the schedule is full they will no longer accept additional patients. 

To qualify for treatment, children must be 2-18 years of age, qualify for free or reduced fee school lunches, WIC or CHDP, be a resident of Amador County, and they must not be covered by private dental insurance or Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal.  A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child throughout the appointment. 

The doctors and their staff have provided this service to the community on a volunteer basis for the past 30 years.  Smiles for Kids also offers an opportunity to educate both the child and parent about how the effects of poor oral health extend far beyond problems in the mouth, often generating other related health problems.

“Children who meet the program requirements may receive, at no cost, a complete dental exam and

x-rays, as needed,” stated Craig Kinzer, DDS at Jackson Creek Dental Group.  “We will also provide a teeth cleaning, fluoride treatment and prescription, sealants, orthodontic evaluations, and other emergency dental care as time allows.   The dental staff and volunteers who participate in Smiles for Kids feel very fortunate to be able to give back to the community on this special day.”

Jackson Creek Dental Group Smiles for Kids 2015                                                Page 2

“Every child deserves a healthy smile,” quoted Dwight Simpson, DDS at Jackson Creek Dental Group.  “Tooth decay is the #1 chronic childhood disease in America and is largely preventable.  Untreated dental disease is very painful and affects a child’s physical, emotional and social development.  This Smiles for Kids event is one way we can become part of the solution and help give the children in our community healthy smiles for life.”

Crucial follow-up treatment may be provided through the Sacramento District Dental Society’s

Adopt-a-Child Orthodontic and Specialty Referral Care Programs.  Several local dentists will also be providing these services right here in Amador County as part of the Adopt-a-Child Program.  Children requiring Orthodontic and Specialty Referral Care follow-up appointments may be assigned to a specialist to receive necessary endodontic, periodontic, pediatric, orthodontic and oral surgery treatments.

Jackson Creek Dental Group offers a full range of advanced, comprehensive dental specialties, from general care, periodontal care, dental implants and orthodontics to cosmetic dentistry, smile design and full mouth reconstruction.  For more information contact us at (209) 223-2712 or visit our website at www.JacksonCreekDental.com.

Jackson Creek Dental Group is open Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Friday,

7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Jackson Creek Dental Group Smiles for Kids 2015 photo caption: 

Over 65 children will receive a free dental exam, x-rays, cleaning and fluoride treatment as a result of the 2015 Smile for Kids program, along with a lot of patient and parent oral hygiene information and education.  In addition, making sure they all have access to needed follow-up treatment is an essential part of this program.  Pictured above is Rachel Maita, RDH working with one of the Smiles for Kids patients.  

During the November 25^th Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting, the supervisors passed and adopted Resolution No. 14-126 in appreciation for the employees and volunteers of Hospice of Amador & Calaveras, to honor them for receiving 100% Medicare compliance during a recent surprise audit from the State of California.

The resolution was motioned by Supervisor John Plasse, District 1, who had learned of the perfect audit findings and wanted to honor Hospice of Amador & Calaveras for attaining the highly acclaimed accomplishment.  Supervisor Plasse noted that the resolution included how during the audit debrief meeting, the RN auditor said, “I’m not sure how to say this but this has never happened to me before in the 20 years I have been doing this job; That they could not find one thing to write up, nor find one deficiency that would require her to document it; And that it is clearly evident that Hospice of Amador & Calaveras, is providing care the way hospice care is supposed to be provided!”

Supervisor Plasse presented the framed resolution to Dan Riordan, Executive Director and Caela White, Director of Patient Care Services, to recognize and thank the over 50 employees and 200+ volunteers who devote their time, energy, love and professionalism to make Hospice of Amador & Calaveras, our local community based non-profit hospice, a truly remarkable Hospice.  

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) also learned of our local hospice’s accomplishment and they will be highlighting them in their weekly online publication, NewsBriefs.

To learn about how Hospice of Amador & Calaveras might help you or your loved one call 209-223-5500 or 209-736-9442.