Amador County – Nine Amador County American Legion Post 108 Riders embarked on a cross-country motorcycle mission early Monday in a tribute to the military, and especially to those killed, missing, taken prisoner or wounded in the Vietnam War.

The 23rd annual cross country trek is called a mission for the serious nature it holds, especially for veterans of that war themselves, according to Post 108 Riders President Albert “Poncho” Villa, who with two other riders last week discussed the meaning of the ride. All nine locals are going on the ride, called the “Run For The Wall,” for their first time.

Villa and Vice President Brian Dommes said they know it will be a tough ride, emotionally, but they’ve heard about the great reception in some towns where they will stop at Legion Halls along the way, in New Mexico, Kansas and West Virginia.

Villa said “this is the first time to do this for all of us.” Amador American Legion 108 Riders on the trek include Denver Strauss, Jim Mote, Sam Real, Brian Lapworth, Steve Gast, and Ed Medford. The big ceremony is on Memorial Day at the Vietnam Wall. As first-timers, they will all be allowed into the Arlington Cemetery.

They will also stop in Angel Fire, New Mexico, on the way, for a long memorial service, and where a past Amador Rider last year said the “outpouring of support and response from the public is tremendous,” and he rounded a corner and saw thousands of people with flags lining the road on either side.

They left before 8 a.m. Monday, heading to Rancho Cucamunga, from where they set out to Washington, D.C. They expected 200 riders to leave from Rancho Cucamunga, with riders from as far as Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and throughout the United States commonly making the Run For The Wall. Villa said some people ride from the East Coast to California to make the ride.

Rider Vice President Brian Dommes said he is not a combat vet like Villa and some of the other Riders on the trip, but is a Vietnam era veteran, and has talked to many guys “about some pretty bad stuff over there.” He said the Run For The Wall is part of that healing process.

Dommes said past riders say: when they set out, in their 30-bike “platoons,” they will “meet total strangers” and “by the end of the journey, they are going to be your best buddies.”

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

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-17-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Dominic Moreno, the new Chief of the Sutter Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-17-11

·       Amador American Legion 108 Riders embarked Monday on a “Run For The Wall,” a motorcycle trek to the Vietnam Wall.

·       AWA last week approved an employee reorganization plan.

·       Ione rejected a draft noise ordinance, and set a public workshop to work on solutions

·       Plymouth’s $1M Main & Highway 49 intersection is on hold pending more engineering work.

·       And, Ione Police traffic stops last week led to separate drug arrests for men from Stockton & North Highlands.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-17-11

·       Amador American Legion 108 Riders embarked Monday on a “Run For The Wall,” a motorcycle trek to the Vietnam Wall.

·       AWA last week approved an employee reorganization plan.

·       Ione rejected a draft noise ordinance, and set a public workshop to work on solutions

·       Plymouth’s $1M Main & Highway 49 intersection is on hold pending more engineering work.

·       And, Ione Police traffic stops last week led to separate drug arrests for men from Stockton & North Highlands.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-17-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick sits down with Dominic Moreno, the new Chief of the Sutter Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

Amador County – Nine Amador County American Legion Post 108 Riders embarked on a cross-country motorcycle mission early Monday in a tribute to the military, and especially to those killed, missing, taken prisoner or wounded in the Vietnam War.

The 23rd annual cross country trek is called a mission for the serious nature it holds, especially for veterans of that war themselves, according to Post 108 Riders President Albert “Poncho” Villa, who with two other riders last week discussed the meaning of the ride. All nine locals are going on the ride, called the “Run For The Wall,” for their first time.

Villa and Vice President Brian Dommes said they know it will be a tough ride, emotionally, but they’ve heard about the great reception in some towns where they will stop at Legion Halls along the way, in New Mexico, Kansas and West Virginia.

Villa said “this is the first time to do this for all of us.” Amador American Legion 108 Riders on the trek include Denver Strauss, Jim Mote, Sam Real, Brian Lapworth, Steve Gast, and Ed Medford. The big ceremony is on Memorial Day at the Vietnam Wall. As first-timers, they will all be allowed into the Arlington Cemetery.

They will also stop in Angel Fire, New Mexico, on the way, for a long memorial service, and where a past Amador Rider last year said the “outpouring of support and response from the public is tremendous,” and he rounded a corner and saw thousands of people with flags lining the road on either side.

They left before 8 a.m. Monday, heading to Rancho Cucamunga, from where they set out to Washington, D.C. They expected 200 riders to leave from Rancho Cucamunga, with riders from as far as Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and throughout the United States commonly making the Run For The Wall. Villa said some people ride from the East Coast to California to make the ride.

Rider Vice President Brian Dommes said he is not a combat vet like Villa and some of the other Riders on the trip, but is a Vietnam era veteran, and has talked to many guys “about some pretty bad stuff over there.” He said the Run For The Wall is part of that healing process.

Dommes said past riders say: when they set out, in their 30-bike “platoons,” they will “meet total strangers” and “by the end of the journey, they are going to be your best buddies.”

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

Amador County – In a move aimed at trimming $750,000 from its budget in three years, the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors on Friday approved a reorganization plan for the agency, which could have the affect of laying off three department managers.

AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo announced approval of the reorganization on a 3-0 vote, “with the stipulation that the staffing plan presented was tentative and that further changes would be considered by the Board.”

Director Robert Manassero was away on vacation and Director Gary Thomas was absent from the meeting. He had recused himself from previous discussion due to a “common law” conflict of interest, because his boss is the brother of Barry Birge, a manager at AWA.

The board voted 4-0 the previous week to approve the draft reorganization concept. For that vote, Manassero was present and Board President Don Cooper was participating via teleconference from Massachusetts, while Thomas was recused. On Friday, Cooper and Directors Art Toy and Paul Molinelli consented in approving the reorganization, which Cooper called “Phase One in a series of moves to get the Water Agency budget to balance in 2011–2012.”

The adopted reorganization plan would reduce total employees from 46 to 43 and cut the number of managers in half. Mancebo said since 2008, AWA has reduced staffing from 62 to 46 full-time positions. Staff cuts, a hiring freeze and furlough days have already reduced labor costs by $1.5 million.

“The Agency is facing an estimated $750,000 budget shortfall in spite of eliminating infrastructure projects and slashing operating expenses,” Mancebo said. In discussion, Directors “emphasized that the proposed staff reorganization alone would not close the budget gap.” They agreed that “further operational cuts and employee concessions are needed, along with water and wastewater rate increases.”

The reorganization is expected to help the agency save an estimated $232,000 the first year, depending on the number of retirements, severance pay packages and staff changes, Mancebo said. By the third year, savings could reach $450,000 a year.

Cooper said: “We wish we didn’t have to do this. Government everywhere is facing the same problems – the current economy, the rising cost of employment benefits, gasoline prices are going up. On top of that, there have been no rate increases in some of our systems over the past five years. We have no choice but to take drastic measures if we are to meet our responsibility to provide water and wastewater service to the community.”

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Amador County – The Ione City Council at its last meeting rejected a draft noise ordinance and set a public workshop to work on solutions.

City Planner Christopher Jordan presented his draft ordinance, which he said would set limits for amplified sound, prohibit noise, and allow for a “noise deviation permit.” It had exemptions for type, location and time of day, and would necessitate buying a $3,100 decibel meter, and calibration equipment.

City Manager Kim Kerr said the city receives regular complaints, which Ione Police often can resolve, but sometimes cannot. The city only has a “public nuisance” ordinance that doesn’t apply to every noise complaint, nor do all complaints concern time of day, so interpretation “becomes very subjective.”

Mayor David Plank opened a public hearing, with many people requesting that citizens or police continue to handle the issue. Vice Mayor Ron Smylie said: “This to me is a little bit too detailed and extensive.” He said a good community working out the problem was “better than having a five-page ordinance.”

Kerr said “we do have complaints which we can’t resolve at that level.” She would much rather be able to say it was a civil matter, and let parties handle the issue themselves, but “we have had someone who requested this.”

Plank said he thought they should “make something very simple to address this issue.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said she felt “a lot of hostility toward staff even presenting this. It’s their job” and it was not right for them to be “attacked for doing their job.” She made a motion to reject the ordinance, which passed 5-0.

Kerr then told the council: “You need to give us direction,” and Councilman Lloyd Oneto said: “Is procrastinating a direction?” Kerr said they could tell staff to “do nothing.” Smylie said: “I think we need to forget about it and drop it. Not do anything,” and “table it.”

Resident, Dominic Atlan asked for a “point of order,” saying: “What upsets me with what just happened here” is that “your job is to read that package.” Staff brings a solution then the Council should look at specifics to discuss, such as decibel levels. “Now you want to throw it out,” because “you have not done your homework.”

Bonham said: “We need to give direction,” and suggested establishing a threshold, using warnings and trying to fill the gap in the public nuisance ordinance.

Kerr asked how they wanted to handle the issue of limiting loud noise. Plank said it should have wording about “extremes of noise” including high degree and hour of night. Kerr said “some of our complaints do not have to do with the time of day.” She said they could play with the civil nuisance aspect of it.

The council set a public workshop for June 7 to work on the issue with the public.

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Amador County – Plymouth officials last week said the city is facing a major hurdle in its intersection improvement project for the corner of Main Street and Highway 49.

City Manager Jeff Gardner said Plymouth has been asked to provide 30% engineering plans for each of its intersection alternatives, so that the California Department of Transportation can make comments on the individual alternatives. Gardner said the city was having its $1 million project being held to the same standards as multi-million-dollar projects in the Valley. He said the project has its funding frozen pending the engineering.

Mayor Greg Baldwin said comparatively, Caltrans is doing an in-house intersection improvement at Ridge Road and New York Ranch Road, and it looked like it would probably cost $50,000 to complete, as compared to the $1 million estimate for Plymouth, the difference between a state highway project, versus a strictly county road project.

Gardner said Plymouth’s funding for the intersection has been frozen pending the engineering work, and the engineer already has done work on the project and is sitting on those bills. Plymouth has $1.3 million in funds available for the project, including $200,000 from the Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee program, operated by the Amador County Transportation Commission.

Caltrans ultimately will make the decision on the alternative for the intersection, with recommendations from the Plymouth City Council.

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Amador County – Authorities said two traffic stops on different nights last week by different Ione Police Department Officers led to separate arrests for two out-of-towners on charges including for illegal drugs.

Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson said the first traffic stop occurred at about 3 a.m. last Monday, May 9th, and led to the arrest of 33-year-old Sourideth Saradeth of Stockton. Saradeth was booked into Amador County Jail for possession and transportation of a controlled substance and a parole violation.

The second traffic stop occurred at about 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10th, and led to the arrest of 50-year-old Frankie Koen of North Highlands. Koen was booked into Amador County Jail for possession and transportation of a controlled substance.

Chief Johnson said “these arrests demonstrate the diligence of the Ione Police Department’s continued effort to curtail drug trafficking in Ione.”

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