Nearly four months ago, recent Amador High School grad Michael Israel began a coast to coast trek with a college student he barely knew. Their cause; a nonviolent resistance to war efforts, the end of genocide in Darfur, the end of nuclear weapon holding and proliferation and increased environmental sustainability. In total the pair walked 3,000 miles. On Sept. 10, they reached Washington, D.C.. Ashley Casale, a sophomore at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., organized the March for Peace. A handful of anti-war activists joined her for parts of the journey. Michael Israel accompanied Casale the entire way. The route took them from their starting point in San Francisco eastward across the Rocky Mountains, through the Midwest and south of the Great Lakes.(The University of Delaware Review contributed to this article)

As part of the proposed development for the Home Depot in Jackson the State Department of Toxic Substances has issued a clean up plan for the commercial development, which is part of the former Kennedy Mine property. The area of the proposed home improvement store, and separate commercial mall associated with the project, has historical gold mining activities associated with it. These include the Kennedy Mine Tailings property which borders the site to the east and the former Kennedy Gold Mine located approximately a half mile away. In addition, the former Argonaut Gold Mine is located approximately 1000 feet to the north of the site.

This morning there will quite a bit of emergency crew action around Sutter Amador Hospital as the hospital continues part of a three day emergency training drill. The Disaster Drill planned for today will test the surge capacity of the hospital as well as emergency responsiveness to a disaster from other county agencies, including the Office of Emergency Services and Public Health. American Legion Ambulance and the Jackson Police Department will also help in the drill scheduled for 8 am to noon.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service says applications are being accepted from farmers and ranchers wishing to participate in the 2008 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  The cut-off deadline for accepting applications is November 2, 2007.  The EQIP program offers funds on a cost-share basis to producers for practices ranging from cross – fence and water development to tree & shrub establishment and forest stand improvement to grazing systems.  Applications are scored and ranked based on a locally modified scoring system striving to get the best environmental benefits. 

The Jackson Rancheria Band of Me-Wok Indians will be breaking ground this week on a new Gas Station and General Store at the corner of Hwy 88 and Dalton Drive.  Jackson Rancheria Tribal Council Member Dennis Dalton will oversee the ceremonies on Friday, September 14, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Plans for the project include a 4,500 square foot 24-hour “General Store” with food prepared on the premises, dining space, coffee, as well as a touch less car wash, a recreational vehicle wash, and 12 fuel pumps. The gas station will remain unbranded to allow for the most competitive fuel pricing.

Amador County Unified School District will receive its fourth and fifth “Promising Practices” awards in four years from the Character Education Partnership (CEP). This is an organization devoted to character education in schools world-wide.  The awards will be presented to the District at the organization’s annual conference, November 1-3.  Character Education Partnership, CEP, is located in Washington, D.C.. with the conference occurring in  Arlington, Virginia.  The District –as in the past –will not be attending the event and will receive the award shortly after. The awards will be one of 116 being presented at the conference. 

The Amador County Catholic community will celebrate its 7th Annual Tri- Parish Mass and Picnic on Sunday, September 30, at the Italian picnic grounds on Highway 49 in the Sutter Hill area. Bishop William K.Weigand, Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, will preside at the outdoor Mass, which begins at 10:30 AM. St. Patrick, Immaculate Conception, and Sacred Heart Parishes comprise the Tri-Parish Catholic community of Amador County. A picnic lunch will be provided after Mass—please bring a dessert to share such as a plate of cookies or brownies. For your comfort, you may wish to bring a folding chair for Mass, as available seating is limited. Call 223-0168 or 267-5602 for more information.

The Amador County Sheriff’s Department, yesterday, promoted four from within their own ranks in a ceremony that was well attended by the community. The Sheriff’s Department, under the leadership of Sheriff Martin Ryan, has been restructured for efficiency in its service to the community. The community is a top priority for Sheriff Ryan as he described at the swearing in ceremony. Present were the families of the promoting officers with the honor of the pinning on of the new bars going to the wives of the officers. Congratulations to Sgt.s Benov and Cardoza and Lieutenants Ray and Stidger.

Yesterday afternoon an 85 year old Pine Grove woman was seriously injured after a solo vehicle collision at the Jackson Rancheria Casino.