SACRAMENTO – Caltrans and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) remind motorists to remainalert for wildlife near roadways during Watch Out for Wildlife Week (WOW), which runs September 15-21.

“It’s important that motorists, when driving through areas frequented by deer, elk and other animals, be alert to protect themselves as well as California’s wildlife,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.

Defenders of Wildlife (Defenders), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting native species and their natural communities, reports more than 200 people are killed nationally in collisions with deer, elk and other large mammals each year with an estimated 1.5 million animals hit annually.

The Watch Out for Wildlife campaign is supported by Caltrans, CDFW, Defenders and the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis. 

“It’s a shame that many animals and people are injured and killed on our roads every year,” said Craig Stowers, CDFW's Game Program Manager. “Many injuries, deaths and costly vehicle repairs can be avoided if drivers would pay more attention when animals are most active, and be prepared to react safely if an animal moves onto the road.”

Caltrans, CDFW and Defenders offer a few tips for motorists:

·        Be particularly alert when driving in areas frequented by wildlife and give yourself more time to react safely by reducing your speed.

·        Pay particular attention when driving during morning and evening, as wildlife are most active during these times.

·        If you see an animal cross the road, know that another may be following.

·        Don’t litter. The odors may entice animals to venture near roadways.

Here are a few examples of what Caltrans, CDFW and their partners are doing to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions:

Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing, Los Angeles County

Caltrans has applied for $2 million in federal funding for the environmental and engineering design phases of a future wildlife crossing over U.S. Highway 101 at Liberty Canyon Road in Agoura Hills. In the interim, Caltrans is providing wildlife fencing in Liberty Canyon to prevent wildlife mortalities along the freeway until a permanent structure can be built. The highway presents an impassible barrier for wildlife migrating into or out of the Santa Monica Mountains.  A new wildlife crossing promises to provide an improved habitat connection that will sustain and improve the genetic diversity of wildlife in the area.

State Route 76, San Diego County

Five wildlife crossings and directional fencing were installed as part of the SR-76 Melrose to Mission Highway Improvement Project in 2012. A wildlife movement study, including road kill surveys, camera station surveys and tracking transect surveys, is underway to determine the effectiveness of the crossings and fencing. A review of the data collected to date suggests the combination of directional fencing and wildlife crossings may be limiting vehicle-wildlife collisions and allowing for wildlife movement across SR-76. Medium-to-large species using the wildlife crossings include the badger, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, striped skunk, desert cottontail and opossum.

State Route 17, Santa Cruz

Caltrans has built wildlife undercrossings to accommodate wildlife on several highways in the Bay Area and is currently working with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to build a new wildlife undercrossing at the Laurel Curve on State Route 17. Since 2007, motorists have hit 14 mountain lions along this section of the highway in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Land Trust is working to raise $5 million to purchase land on either side of the Laurel Curve, which would make it possible for Caltrans to proceed with building the undercrossing. 

U.S. Highway 395, Inyo County

The Olancha/Cartago Project, which is scheduled for construction in 2018-19, will feature 13 undercrossings that will enable desert tortoises to safety cross beneath a 13-mile section of U.S. Highway 395 in Inyo County. In addition, tortoise-safe cattle guards will be installed at all public access roads along the alignment and tortoise fencing will be installed on gates at all private access roads to further ensure animals do not end up on the highway. The desert tortoise is listed under both the state and federal Endangered Species Acts

Central Coast

Caltrans is seeking $1.8 million in federal funding to finance wildlife corridor projects in

Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties where local wildlife exists in close proximity to state highways. If the request is approved, Caltrans will obtain an additional $2.5 million in state funding to finance all aspects of the projects. Caltrans assembled an extensive list of stakeholders and partners for this proposal, including the California State Coastal Conservancy, the Nature Conservancy, UC Davis, the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, the Pinnacles National Monument and the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County.

Caltrans has installed new wildlife fencing and electric mats at unfenced intersections along U.S. Highway 101 near San Luis Obispo, which bisects a major wildlife corridor in the Los Padres National Forest.

Posted by TSPN TV on Tuesday, Sept 16, 2014

The Amador County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, will participate in the 9^th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on September 27, 2014 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.  Amador County residents participating in the previous National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 26, 2014 turned in approximately 160 pounds of medication at the Amador County Sheriff’s Office. 

In an effort to prevent increased pill abuse and theft, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at one location within Amador County.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. 

The initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming ratesaccording to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).  The same study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.  

The Amador County Sheriff’s Office recognizes the importance of community involvement and urges the citizens of Amador County to take a stand against illegal prescription drug abuse by using this opportunity to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. 

A collection station will be located in the Amador County Sheriff’s Office parking lot located at 700 Court Street, Jackson CA 95642.

Posted by TSPN TV on Tuesday, Sept 16, 2014

On August 21, 2014 the Amador County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a residential burglary on Delores Court in Pioneer.  The victim reported miscellaneous items including jewelry valued at over $9000 had been stolen. 

On September 2, 2014 an Amador County Sheriff’s Detective was performing follow up investigation and reviewed numerous transaction receipts from a secondhand dealer in Calaveras County.  While reviewing the records, the detective noted that a subject that had previously been identified as performing work for the victim had recently pawned over 13 grams of “Gold-scrap.” 

The detective visited the secondhand dealer and determined that the items pawned by the subject matched the description of the stolen property.  Surveillance video from the secondhand dealer and the suspected stolen property was collected as evidence.  Detectives met with the victim and determined that the items pawned by the subject were in fact stolen from the victim’s home.

Amador County Sheriff’s Detectives drafted a search warrant for the subject’s residence, as well as a warrant for the subject’s arrest.   Both warrants were authorized by an Amador County Superior Court judge. 

On September 9, 2014 the warrants were executed at Adams’ residence on Antelope Drive.  A thorough search of the property was performed and additional suspected stolen property, belonging to multiple victims, was found. 

Jerry Lee Adams Jr., 38, of Pioneer was booked into the Amador County Jail for violation of California Penal Code sections 459(a) first degree residential burglary; and 368(d) theft from an elder adult, based upon his knowledge of the victim’s age at the time of the crime.  Adams bail amount has been set at $110,000 by the Amador County Superior Court. 

This investigation is ongoing as detectives are working to determine ownership of additional suspected stolen property.

Posted by TSPN TV on Tuesday, Sept 16, 2014

2nd Quarter: The Bear River Bruins take on the Argonaut Mustangs at Argonaut High School in Preseason Football.

4th Quarter: The Bear River Bruins take on the Argonaut Mustangs at Argonaut High School in Preseason Football.

Susie Miller and Kam Merzlak close out AM Live with their guests. 

Larry Baker talks to Susie and Kam about Bluegrassin’ in the Foothills on Fri, Sat & Sun Sept 19,20&21. Loads of Entertainment on stage and off at the fairgrounds in Plymouth.

Kam Merzlak show Susie Miller a few of his Photographs. 

Brian Oneto talks to Susie about District 5 Update.

Tom Thompson, from Interfaith food Bank, talks to Kam about the Empty Bowls Fundraiser for Food Bank.