A personnel shift in Congressman Dan Lungren’s office has local residents talking- talking about what the shift may mean in terms of the politics for a potential Indian gaming casino in Plymouth. The move by Lungren’s former Intergovernmental Affairs Director Peter Tateishi from the public sector to the private sector is the source of concern.  Tateishi has resigned his position in Lungren’s office and subsequently accepted a position as a contract employee for the Ione Band of Miwok tribe. According to Ione Band of Miwok tribal administrator Pam Baumgartner after the tribe became aware that Tateishi had left Lungren’s office they retained Tateishi by contract to provide the Tribe with consulting services and communication strategies. 

A two car collision tied up traffic Wednesday morning on Upper Ridge Rd near Bowman Rd. The collision was initially reported as having been heard only by a nearby neighbor. Upon arrival on scene Battalion 10 fire personnel found the drivers already out of their cars. The collision was described as a vehicle, with a driver, a passenger, and two small children in safety restraint seats, that for an unknown reason failed to see the vehicle in front of her stopping and as a result rear-ended a FedEx truck stopped in the roadway to make a turn. No injuries were reported.

Michelle Wamboldt, also known as Michelle Seefeldt, was arrested last week by Jackson police investigators at her home on an outstanding warrant an arrest charging her with grand theft, forgery, embezzlement and identity theft. The arrest stemmed from a lengthy investigation of Wamboldt, who is suspected of conducting a credit card scheme that defrauded Dr. Margaret Macleod of $44,000 while Wamboldt was employed as Dr. Macleod’s office manager.

Jackson City Council met Monday evening to a full agenda, but since both Mayor Stidger and Councilwoman Pryor-Escamilla were absent, many items were continued to future meetings when more council members would be present for a vote.

On Tuesday, Amador County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commissioners held joint public workshops on sea-land container regulations in Amador County. The large storage containers, designed for transporting cargo on trucks, trains and ships, are used throughout the county on ranches, industrial and commercial operations, schools, county agencies and even on single family homes as inexpensive, secure and fireproof storage. In May of 2006, the Amador County building code was amended to include regulations to encourage appropriate locations and uses these containers and to protect the visual quality of the county.

Good news for water customers in the La Mel Heights area.  The Amador Water Agency is making great strides by offering a more reliable water source as well as improved safety.  The Agency has completed the installation of a new well and the replacement of most of the distribution system, including five new fire hydrants.

And we have an updated total for the monies raised at the 4th Annual the Camp Out For Cancer held last weekend by Amador STARS to raise money for local cancer needs. As of Wednesday morning, funds raised now total over $99,000 and still counting! Event chair Ginger Rolf says that Amador Stars is expecting a matching donation to come in which will put total over the $100,000 mark very soon! Amador STARS extends a big thank you to the community for the success of this year’s event.

CAL FIRE IS REMINDING ALL HOMEOWNERS IN AMADOR COUNTY THAT, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE HAD A SPELL OF COOLER WEATHER AND SOME PRECIPITATION OVER THE PAST WEEK, WE ARE STILL IN A CRITICALLY DRY FIRE SEASON AND THE BURN SUSPENSION REMAINS IN EFFECT. SEVERAL ILLEGAL CONTROL BURNS WERE REPORTED OVER THE WEEKEND AND WE ARE STILL IN A SEASON OF HIGH FIRE DANGER. FINE FUELS CAN DRY OUT RAPIDLY WITH LOWER HUMIDITY’S AND WE DID NOT GET ENOUGH RAIN TO SATURATE THE LARGE FUELS.  IN MANY LOCATIONS THE RAIN DID NOT PENETRATE THE CROWNS OF THE OVERSTORY TREES LEAVING THESE DRY FUELS SUSCEPTIBLE TO IGNITION. 

A 16-YEAR OLD PIONEER BOY WAS ARRESTED MONDAY NIGHT BY A JOINT EFFORT OF THE AMADOR COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT AND CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AFTER STEALING A CAR AND CRASHING IT INTO A GUARDRAIL ON HWY 49 NORTH OF THE AMADOR CITY CUTOFF by a joint effort of the Amador County Sheriff Dept and California Highway Patrol. A SHERIFF PATROL CAR FOLLOWING THE 2001 ACURA, NOTICED THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR FROM THAT EARLIER MISHAP, AND IDENTIFIED THE CAR AS STOLEN. THE DRIVER WAS PULLED OVER AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY AMADOR COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES.