Amador County – Pardee Lake Incorporated this week announced its Annual Kids Fishing Derby has been scheduled for June 18th at Pardee Lake, at 4900 Stony Creek Road in Ione.

The Pardee Lake Annual Kids Fishing Derby returns with the contest open to participation for kids age 5-12. There will be prizes given in a variety of categories. Organizers said that no fishing permit or state license is required to participate in the derby, and no fishing equipment is needed. Everything for the contest will be provided. However, parents will not be allowed to assist their children in the contest.

The Grand Prizes for the contest for both boys and girls winners were donated by Bo Marks, Tribal Chaiman of the Jackson Rancheria. The Grand Prizes include $250 in cash prizes to be distributed among first and second place finishers of the “Whopper Fish” contest. There will also be bike and helmet prizes for third, fourth and fifth place finishers.

Organizers said after the derby, stay for lunch, of hotdogs, potato chips and a beverage for sale for $3. There is no charge to participate in the derby, however there is an $8 day-use pass to get into the park.

The Annual Kids Derby 2011 sponsors include the Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel, American Legion Post 108, Merzlak Signs, Seps Pro Fishing Incorporated, Calaveras Trout Farm, Weidaw Bait & Wholesale, Kmart, Sons In Retirement Branch 96 of Amador, and the American Legion Ambulance Service.

The Annual Kids Derby 2011 contest is 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Pardee Lake parking lot. The Lake is at 4900 Stony Creek Road in Ione.

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Amador County – Amador County Solid Waste recognized the winners of the 2011 Recycle Ricky Award in an award ceremony Tuesday in the board of supervisors chambers, giving two prizes this year, including four boys in a Sutter Creek family, and also a club at Argonaut High School.

James W. McHargue, Solid Waste Program Manager, said the Amador County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency formally recognized local youths “for stellar recycling efforts.” McHargue said two groups received the 2011 Recycler Ricky Award: the Smith Family boys from Sutter Creek and the Argonaut High School Science Club.

The four Smith boys, Maverick, Wyatt, Tyler and Cody, were presented with a framed certificate by the Regional Agency Chairman, Supervisor Richard Forster.

McHargue said: “These young men are learning more than just the importance of recycling and the benefits to the environment. They are learning about the economics of working to bring in extra income and how to save a buck or two in the process.”

McHargue said representatives from the Argonaut High Science Club, including staff advisor Ms. Kelsi Himmel, were on hand to receive their honors. He said the “club is actively involved in numerous recycling projects on the school campus including ink cartridge and battery recycling, school garden composting and the collection of electronic waste for recycling.”

All winners were presented with a special summer gift bag filled with items made from recycled materials.

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Amador County – Sacramento’s own Jackie Greene, dubbed by the New York Times as an Americana phenom, will return to Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel this summer.

Carol Cook of the Jackson Rancheria Marketing Department said Greene will play Saturday, July 23, in the event area next to the Hotel. Jackie Greene is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player, acoustic solo artist, and “electrifying band leader who just doesn’t fit in any particular genre of music. His music is steeped in country, blues, jazz, rock and folk traditions, defying easy categorization.”

Greene has toured with Buddy Guy, Elvis Costello, Susan Tedeschi, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. He sometimes performs with Phil Lesh & Friends, Cook said, and “when the surviving members of the Grateful Dead reunited to play for then presidential candidate Barack Obama, Greene was playing with the band.”

His latest album, “Till the Light Comes,” is further proof of a talented young performer looking to move outward, to explore new textures and surprising chord changes.

Cook said “Greene is above all a working musician, who gives himself permission to do things musically that he hasn’t dared before.” Greene said: “Ultimately, my hope is that these songs will someday ignore their creator and tell their tales all by themselves.”

Cook said opening for Jackie Greene will be Honyock (pronounced hon-yock), “an exciting young rock, folk rock, new wave group” also from Sacramento. Members are Mason Hoffman, Spencer Hoffman, Tyler Wolter and George Rios.

The name Honyock, although a derogatory term for Polish people, was a word the Hoffman brothers’ Grandpa used to call them meaning “mischievous young one.”

The band played their first show on June 19 of last year (what would have been Grandpa Joe’s 78th birthday). Cook said their “goal is to produce well crafted, soul baring, honest music that comes from a pure place,” with “no ulterior motives.”

Tickets are only available at the Jackson Rancheria Box Office, at 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson, or by phone at 800-822-WINN, ext. 8731.

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Amador County – The Big Trees Market in early May set about closing its 20 monitoring wells, and along with it the last chapter in handling a leaky underground fuel storage tank at the site.

Amador County Supervisors approved waiving permit fees for the well plugging work until the owner is reimbursed by the state for the work. Environmental Health Department Director Mike Israel said “Big Trees Market has undergone a lengthy groundwater investigation and cleanup process in connection with a release from an underground fuel tank.”

He said the consultant for the owner has requested a “no further action” letter from the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The Regional Board said “the last piece to be completed is destruction of monitoring wells installed as part of the investigation and cleanup.” The Regional Board approved the request, and asked for a verification of the wells’ abandonment by May 30.

Israel said the 20 groundwater monitoring wells typically cost about $120 per permit to destroy and plug, with the rate set by county code, and the inspection and destruction of the wells set by state water code Section 13801. He said the fee includes inspection costs by a state certified inspector, and up to a 20-foot concrete plug of each of the 20 wells.

Israel said “this office has in the past performed multiple monitoring well destruction inspections at a reduced rate,” that being one fee of $120, plus $96 per hour for time beyond the first 1-and-a-quarter hours. This assumes the work is all for the same permittee and performed on the same day.” Israel said the work would be completed “in a full day or less.” He said the inspection would be done all at once with the sealing and destruction of the wells.

Supervisor Brian Oneto said “the whole deal has been a very arduous process for the owner,” and the work on removing the tank and doing clean-up has used up most of a $1.5 million grant for the project, and “left just a little bit in the pot for the closure.” Big Trees Market owner, Aline Diamond, of Volcano, requested the fee waiver.

Supervisor Louis Boitano asked Israel the issue involved a “standard triple-walled tank.” Israel said at the time the tank was installed, “it was in compliance” with state law, making it eligible to get state underground gas tank remediation funds.

Oneto motioned and the board on a 5-0 vote approved the waiving of the fees until the owner is reimbursed by the state.

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Amador County – A luncheon June 13 sponsored by Calaveras Grown will discuss “value added livestock production” and its potential to help the regional rural economy.

Featured speaker Nancyjo Riekse is project manager of the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant. In 2010 as Acting Coordinator of the High Sierra Resource Conservation & Development Council, she wrote more than 2 million dollars in grants for the five county areas the council serves, of Merced, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador Counties.

Riekse said: “One of the grants I wrote was for the Rural Business Opportunity Grant” for the “Next Step; Implementation of small and very small niche meat harvesting and cut and wrap facilities in California.”

Reikse also “provided technical assistance for many producers in areas of business planning, interpretation of state and federal regulations, grant writing, and other things to help our rural agricultural business and supporting businesses prosper.”

Calaveras Grown organizer Sean Kriletich said the meeting will be an opportunity for livestock producers and others to “see what work is currently being done toward value added livestock processing in our region and where we go from here.” There is no charge for the light lunch and meeting, and all interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend, especially livestock producers, processors and consumers.

Riekse said the meeting will discuss on-going and future projects “to keep the value of our region’s livestock production circulating within our region. This includes everything from a USDA approved Mobile Slaughter or Cut and Wrap Facilities to better utilizing existing facilities and resources.” The facilities and other options and opportunities will be discussed in detail “as we chart the course forward for increased economic and job opportunities in our region using our existing resources.”

Kriletich said “agriculture is an integral part of our rural community and by working together to create value added opportunities for livestock producers we can expand our markets, increase profits, eat better and develop a solid future for ranching in our region.”

Riekse will provide an overview of awarded Rural Business Enterprise Grants, and the next steps of “implementation of small and very small niche meat harvesting and cut and wrap facilities in California.”

Topics will include the Rural Business Opportunity Grant; Building Rural Prosperity from Regional Collaboration; Economic Gardening of Natural Resources; Community Networks; and Alternative Capital. An open discussion will follow the presentation.

The meeting is noon to 3 p.m. Monday, June 13 at the Calaveras County Library, 1299 Gold Hunter Road in San Andreas, off Mountain Ranch Road.

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Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-2-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sitsw down with Jim Gullett, owner of Vino Noceto Winery, to discuss his work on the county Wine Tasting Ordinance Committee.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-2-11

·       Calaveras Grown hosts a discussion on the opportunity for “value added livestock processing” in the Mother Lode region.

·       Big Trees Market is moving toward closing the chapter on remedies to a leaky underground fuel tank.

·       Jackie Greene returns to play at the Jackson Rancheria on July 23

·       Amador County recognizes 2011 Recycler Ricky Award winners: The Smith brothers of Sutter Creek, and the Argonaut Science Club.

·       Pardee Lake plans its annual free Kids Fishing Derby June 18.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-2-11

·       Calaveras Grown hosts a discussion on the opportunity for “value added livestock processing” in the Mother Lode region.

·       Big Trees Market is moving toward closing the chapter on remedies to a leaky underground fuel tank.

·       Jackie Greene returns to play at the Jackson Rancheria on July 23

·       Amador County recognizes 2011 Recycler Ricky Award winners: The Smith brothers of Sutter Creek, and the Argonaut Science Club.

·       Pardee Lake plans its annual free Kids Fishing Derby June 18.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-2-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sitsw down with Jim Gullett, owner of Vino Noceto Winery, to discuss his work on the county Wine Tasting Ordinance Committee.

Amador County – A luncheon June 13 sponsored by Calaveras Grown will discuss “value added livestock production” and its potential to help the regional rural economy.

Featured speaker Nancyjo Riekse is project manager of the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant. In 2010 as Acting Coordinator of the High Sierra Resource Conservation & Development Council, she wrote more than 2 million dollars in grants for the five county areas the council serves, of Merced, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador Counties.

Riekse said: “One of the grants I wrote was for the Rural Business Opportunity Grant” for the “Next Step; Implementation of small and very small niche meat harvesting and cut and wrap facilities in California.”

Reikse also “provided technical assistance for many producers in areas of business planning, interpretation of state and federal regulations, grant writing, and other things to help our rural agricultural business and supporting businesses prosper.”

Calaveras Grown organizer Sean Kriletich said the meeting will be an opportunity for livestock producers and others to “see what work is currently being done toward value added livestock processing in our region and where we go from here.” There is no charge for the light lunch and meeting, and all interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend, especially livestock producers, processors and consumers.

Riekse said the meeting will discuss on-going and future projects “to keep the value of our region’s livestock production circulating within our region. This includes everything from a USDA approved Mobile Slaughter or Cut and Wrap Facilities to better utilizing existing facilities and resources.” The facilities and other options and opportunities will be discussed in detail “as we chart the course forward for increased economic and job opportunities in our region using our existing resources.”

Kriletich said “agriculture is an integral part of our rural community and by working together to create value added opportunities for livestock producers we can expand our markets, increase profits, eat better and develop a solid future for ranching in our region.”

Riekse will provide an overview of awarded Rural Business Enterprise Grants, and the next steps of “implementation of small and very small niche meat harvesting and cut and wrap facilities in California.”

Topics will include the Rural Business Opportunity Grant; Building Rural Prosperity from Regional Collaboration; Economic Gardening of Natural Resources; Community Networks; and Alternative Capital. An open discussion will follow the presentation.

The meeting is noon to 3 p.m. Monday, June 13 at the Calaveras County Library, 1299 Gold Hunter Road in San Andreas, off Mountain Ranch Road.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.