Sacramento County sheriff's detectives have announced they are looking for a man who they believe may have information that could help in tracking down the person who killed Deputy Jeffrey Mitchell. And they are asking for help from the public. The identity of the man, whose photographs were captured on surveillance video at a Circle K market about an hour after the deputy was gunned down, "is of critical importance to detectives in the investigation," according to a news release issued by sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) reminds everyone to enjoy a Fire Safe Halloween, by following these tips: Choose costumes made of FLAME RETARDANT material. Check the label! Keep hemlines short enough to prevent tripping, and avoid loose, baggy sleeves, or billowing skirts. To be seen easily, costumes should be made of a light colored material. Use glow-in-the-dark reflective tape on the costume. Use makeup rather than masks, which could obstruct vision. Do not allow children to carry sharp sticks or other objects that could cause injury to others. 

Across the nation, the month of November marks a month long public effort for increasing diabetes awareness. On a local level, Kim Vagt, a Registered Dietitian and Director of Sutter Amador Hospital's Outpatient Diabetes Program, wants to get the message out to members of our communities. Eight years ago, she and Geralyn da Silva, a Registered Nurse, began Sutter Amador's diabetes education program. The program, accredited by the American Diabetes Association, is designed to teach patients with diabetes the tools to help manage their own diabetes. "We initiated the program because we saw so many patients in this community come into the hospital with serious diabetes complications," said Vagt.

 

Effective 8:00 a.m. Monday, October 23, 2006, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) will lift the suspension of burning on private land within the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit. This will impact our Calaveras County viewers only. This includes the counties of Calaveras, Tuolumne, and those eastern portions of San Joaquin and Stanislaus that are within the State Responsibility Area. Burning will be allowed, with a valid permit, between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on permissive burn nights, as established by the Air Pollution Control District in each county. Before doing any burning, you must obtain a valid permit from the fire protection agency having jurisdiction over your area, and check the current night’s burn status by calling your county’s Air Pollution Control District.

Last night the Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees took a look at the District’s Independent Study Program, Northstar and weighed whether or not to accept an invitation to participate in a state program for High Priority Schools. According to the State Department of Education this invitation is extended to schools having difficulty making standards developed under the state’s accountability program or the Federal No Child left Behind Act. According to Sandy Watson, Principal of the Northstar School, this invitation can be based on low test scores, or mandates imposed by the Federal Government through the No Child Left behind Program. These mandates include a certification by the school district that the school is staffed by “Highly qualified teachers”. A highly qualified teacher under the law must have: 1) a bachelor's degree, 2) full state certification or licensure, and 3) prove that they know each subject they teach.

Counties statewide must train their emergency response staff and other county staff members to remain eligible for federal grant funds related to natural disasters or terrorist attacks. These federal dollars are very important to all counties, especially small counties like our own Amador, that depend on these Federal Emergency Management Agency dollars for emergency situations such as road repairs from last winter’s and spring’s storms. Amador County supervisor OK'd the training program known as the National Incident Management System. The training consists of at least one all-day session for employees, and may include some online coursework.

President Bush said yesterday that when it comes to North Korea's reported nuclear test, the U.S. "remains committed to diplomacy," but that it "reserves all options" to defend its friends and its interests in the region against the North Korean threat. Bush, at a news conference at the White House, called for stiff sanctions against North Korea. He said there needs to be a "clear message" to the North Korean government that its "actions won't be tolerated.” He also vowed increased military cooperation with allies, including bolstering ballistic missile defenses in the region and increased efforts to prevent Pyongyang from importing missile and nuclear technology.

The Pine Grove Council finally revealed the plans that have been covered by the mystery sign last night. The Council announced is will undertake the task of raising funds to support the mystery project now revealed to be a proposed Upcountry Fire Station and Community Safety Services Center. The project, unveiled in front of Supervisor Louis Boitano and Supervisor Elect Ted Novelli, Pine Grove Council members and representatives from Amador Fire Protection District and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, will be constructed on the land located on the corner of Mt. Zion Road and Hwy. 88 that is owned by the Amador Fire Protection District.

The Amador Water Agency recently held a special meeting regarding the further implementation of upgrades to a system that monitors and controls many of its plant operations.