Changes are about to happen for most 7th and 8th grade students at Jackson Junior High School. Jackson Junior High School students received a recorded message yesterday from their principal, Janet Pabst, via the Amador County Unified School District’s automated dialer system. The message indicated that because of an unexpected increase in student enrollment the school district has hired two additional teachers and created extra classes. This means that most 7th and 8th grade students will receive new schedules today. Parents should receive those schedules in the mail in the next few days. If you have any questions call the school at 275-5700.

Amador County Treasurer/Tax Collector Michael E. Ryan is reminding taxpayers that unsecured taxes for the 2007-08 fiscal year are due and payable, and will become delinquent if not paid by 5 pm on Friday, August 31, 2007.  Unsecured taxes are typically owed on boats, airplanes, business property, possessory interests, and mining claims.  After August 31, delinquent unsecured taxes will be subject to a 10% penalty. 

The East Bay Municipal Utility District Board of Directors has agreed to remove consideration from their update of a new Mokelumne Watershed Master Plan that mobile home owners will be evicted. The utility’s Board of Directors met yesterday and heard the options for the updated watershed plan which originally contained the option of evicting the mobile home residents.

Sometimes sisters bring good luck. William De Mello met his sister at Jackson Rancheria Casino on June 6 and ended up winning $106,839.43. De Mello hit the MegaJackpot on a quarter Wheel of Fortune machine he selected because it was next to the one his sister was playing.

Its almost summertime and that means its almost time to dive right in and join the fun at the Jackson Pool at Detert Park. Certified Red Cross swim instructors and lifeguards provide up-to the-minute swim lessons, techniques and safe recreational swimming. Lap swim is also provided for the enjoyment and fitness of swimmers. This year the City is offering several types of activities including : MINI SESSIONS ~ one week crash course of introduction to water adjustment, floating, kicks, arm strokes and stroke refinement for the older swimmers. The classes range all the way from beginner to advanced swimmers. The pool opens June 9th and lessens begin on the 11th. Recreational swimmers can purchase daily, monthly or seasonal passes for swimming enjoyment. Sign ups are being handled by mail and forms can be obtained at the City Offices at 33 Broadway in Jackson or at the City’s website  http://ci.jackson.ca.us/. Deadline for class sign ups is June 1st. Call 223-1646 for further information.(

Two Amador County groups have been awarded grants from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board for watershed protection projects in the county. The Amador Fire Safe Council received 2 grants of $50,000 each for Community Wildfire Protection Plans in Pine Grove and Pioneer/Volcano areas. The Amador County Watershed Stewardship project received over $173,000 in grant funding. The funding for the grants comes from Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coast Protection Bond Act passed by California voters in November 2006.

The City of Jackson has received information from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board that their Tentative Waste Water Discharge Requirements will be posted some time today at the Central Valley Board’s website. The permit and the requirements will be heard by the state agency’s full board of directors on October 25th and 26th and at that time is expected to either approve or modify those requirements. 

Several local roads will be closed for a 7 day period in the near future for storm related repairs. Public Works Director Larry Peterson asked for permission to close New Chicago Road, 1.5 miles north of the Turner Rd intersection, Quartz Mountain Road, 2.4 miles south of Fiddletown, and Stoney Creek Rd, 4.4 miles south of Jackson through .3 miles north of Buena Vista Rd for a seven day period.

In the Board of Trustee’s meeting last week, an Ione parent says they are concerned about Amador County Unified School district’s mold problem they had last year. The problem was discovered at Ione Elementary after a teacher reported mold to administrators. After inspections and testing, one classroom came back with one mold spore found.  The remediation (clean up) was completed and the room retested. 

Amador County Public Health and Animal Control say there is an urgent message for members of the community. A press release from Ione says a resident was bit by a dog Tuesday evening. The dog remains unidentified and if not found the person that was bit could be facing a series of preventative rabies vaccinations. The incident occurred around seven-in-the-evening on Shakeley Lane in Ione. The dog is described as a small, older Chihuahua, white with red markings, wearing a red harness with a bone tag and walking with a limp. The dog has been seen in the neighborhood prior to Tuesday. The dog is being sought to verify the health and rabies status of the animal in order to decide what follow up, if any, the bitten person might need. Anyone with information should call Public Health at 223-6407 or Animal Control at 223-6378