Yesterday afternoon around 3:30, a three vehicle collision was reported at the intersection of Hwy 88 and Hwy 104 in Ione. The three car collision blocked one lane of 88 and north bound 104 for about 30 minutes while emergency crews cleaned up the scene. Only minor injuries were reported. The accident is under investigation by the CHP.

How do we want the story of Amador County preserved? What historical documents are important?  Those and many other questions are being posed regarding the county facility that houses the jewels of history for the county. Retired archivist Larry Cenotto (sin-auto) appeared before a committee of two supervisors as a first step. Cenotto had requested the item for discussion in this format because of his concerns over several pressing issues. First, he addressed the issues surrounding documents currently held in the former Amador County Superior Court building. The ownership of these documents was discussed. Currently the courts are a state run organization so does these mean that all of the documents are now owned by the state?

A new development planned for the corner of Jackson Gate Roadd and Hwy 49 in Martell may require some new improvements to the roadway in the area. And then again, it may not.  According to Amador county Public works personnel a building permit has been submitted for by a local developer for a commercial building on the southeast corner of the intersection. This part of the property is 66-percent owned by the local developer.

Sutter Amador Hospital will be sponsoring a BloodSource- Mother Lode Community blood drive to meet the community’s need for blood on Thursday, October 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m at the Jackson Civic Center.  All walk-ins are welcome.  Thanks to the generosity of local donors when you receive care at a Sacramento-area hospital, such as Kaiser Permanente, UC Davis Medical Center, Sutter or Mercy hospitals, the blood you receive comes from BloodSource blood donors.  Sutter Amador Hospital receives its blood from BloodSource. Giving blood is easy, safe and takes less than one hour, but only about 5 percent of the estimated 60 percent of eligible Americans donate blood. To give blood, you must be in generally good health, free from cold symptoms for at least 48 hours; be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent); and weigh at least 110 pounds.  There is no upper age limit for donating blood. Prospective donors must bring a photo ID.

This morning’s County Administrative Committee discussed a potential land swap between the El Dorado Irrigation District and the US Forest Service near Silver Lake. The procedure, explained Deputy County Counsel Evelyn Spirou, appears to be a resolution to management issues on the parcels.

The topic of healthcare is heating up in the state capital with the Democrats planning to put their health reform bill to a vote this week. Most expect that this will set the stage for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto the Democratic plan and force lawmakers to stay in town to work toward a deal.

The California State Fire Marshall, the California State Fire Safe Council and Amador Fire Safe Council say this week is Wildfire Awareness Week. All over California, wildfires are burning due to dry, hot conditions and lack of winter rains and snow, and Cathy Koos Brea-zeal of the Amador Fire Safe Council says we still have 6 - 8 weeks of fire season left and these coming weeks are the most dangerous and critical as humidities continue to drop and fuels in the wildland continue to dry out.

The Amador County General Plan committee will meet this week to review draft policies. This task will occupy the for the next two meetings. The General Plan is in a review and revise period that was begun by the county near the end of 2005. The General Plan is a document that is the "constitution" or foundation upon which future land use and development decisions will be based for the unincorporated areas of the County.

District Attorney Todd Riebe says eight people have entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of contracting without a license.  The defendants were caught during an undercover sting investigation that took place earlier this summer by investigators from the Contractors State License Board, the Amador County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Insurance, Fraud Division and the Jackson Police Department.  At the sting house, located in Jackson,  investigators posed as homeowners and the defendants bid on various home improvement projects, including landscaping, painting, concrete work and fencing. Pleading guilty were   Edward L. Moore Jr., 41, of Sacramento, Touch of Class Carpentry, he was sentenced to 45 days in jail; a 2-thousand-dollar fine and 3-years formal probation. The following men, Norman L. Burton, 53, of Greenwood and Burton’s Painting.

Last week Calaveras County Sheriffs Department Detectives, Narcotics and Probation Departments teamed up with Agents from California Department of Corrections and Alcohol Beverage Control and conducted Probation searches and parolee contacts. Caught up in the sting operation were several West Point residents. Michael Blaine Alec was arrested at his residence on Blue Mountain Road in West Point for felony probation violations and misdemeanor probation violations out of Calaveras County. He is currently being held without bail. One of Calaveras County’s most wanted was also apprehended. Manual Alex Ramirez was arrested at his residence on Matson Lane in West Point. Ramirez was taken into custody for felony arrest warrants from Calaveras County for identity theft, and warrants out of Amador County for Driving on a suspended Drivers License. Ramirez is being held on the Calaveras warrants and has a bail of $30,000. During the sting operation Deputies contacted Lawrence Edwin Wilson who was sitting in a running white Pontiac sedan in the middle of Winton road. Upon contact with Wilson it was obvious that he was under the influence as well as his two passengers George Brian Blease and Pete Campa.