Amador County – The Ryan families on Thursday announced that due to a storm of rain and hail, the Daffodil Hill has closed for the season.

The families announced in an e-mail Thursday that although they “had planned on being open through Easter Sunday, Mother Nature had other plans. The storm that hit (Wednesday) night and (Thursday) morning with rain and hail was the final straw. Quite simply, the great majority of our blooms are now gone. As such, we have little choice but to close Daffodil Hill for the season, effective immediately.”

The release said: “Our thanks to the thousands of people who visited the Hill this year. We look forward to seeing you again in 2012.” The Ryan Families, of George W., Martin A., and Michael E. Ryan have “undertaken the job of continuing the ‘Hill’ to honor our parents, as our parents did to honor theirs.”

McLaughlin’s Daffodil Hill has been a family project, which now includes 1,500 walnut trees, harvested annually to pay the Hill’s and other expenses. It is open each year, mid-March to mid-April, seven days a week, weather permitting, and has seen as many as 4,000 people in a given day.

The Ryans said their mother, Mary, who passed away in 2008, most eloquently wrote about why she and her husband, Judge Martin Ryan, and the family, keep up the Daffodil Hill tradition.

Mary wrote: “Many people have asked why we have created this spot of beauty. Perhaps it is because we enjoy seeing the bulbs blossom forth each springtime, so symbolic of Easter and the Resurrection. Perhaps it is because we want to keep the “old home place” from falling to ruin and neglect as so many of these old country places are doing. In part too, it is our way of perpetuating the memory of our parents, grandparents and those early-day farm folk whose way of life was so hard and so different from our present way of life.”

The Ryans’ great-grandparents, Arthur Burbeck McLaughlin and Lizzie Van Vorst McLaughlin, established McLaughlin Ranch, now Daffodil Hill, in 1887. When purchased, it was planted with daffodils. The “yellow blooms were Lizzie’s most prized possession and she divided and replanted the bulbs each year to increase the size of their garden.” The family continues to plant other daffodils in her memory, and the memory of other family members, and now there are approximately 6 acres of daffodils, with 300 varieties, and 500,000 blooms.

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Amador County – An Upcountry special meeting of the Amador Water Agency board of directors Wednesday sought to inform the public about a Gravity Supply pipeline for the Central Amador Water Project service area, and answer the question, “Why now?”

Mancebo said the raw water conveyance system is 8,900 feet of 12-inch steel, tar-coated pipeline, with a vertical lift of approximately 1,100 feet. It is about 35 years old, with two inline pump stations, and was originally designed for a maximum capacity of 1,000 gallons a minute, and 1.4 million gallons a day. The system now is conveying more than the designed capacity, and on a peak day, typically operates at 1,300-1,600 gallons a minute, up to 2.3 million gallons a day.

Mancebo said a 1991 master plan identified improvements for the Pioneer area needed for fire protection and distribution pressures, which today would cost about $3.5 million. Mancebo said the AWA should plan for the improvements “with and without development.”

CAWP service areas include 13 former residential areas that were consolidated, and now make up Mace Meadow, Rabb Park and Pine Grove retail service districts. The CAWP Retail Distribution System includes about 90 miles of pipe, of which 42 miles is 4-inch diameter or smaller. Another 18,000 feet of pipe is 1-and-a-half inch diameter or smaller. The system also has 446 fire hydrants, which Supervisor Ted Novelli pointed out includes standpipes, with varying hose thread sizes.

Mancebo said the Gravity Supply Line would cut electricity costs to CAWP, which is about 18 percent of its operating budget. The gravity flow would decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce power use by 1.88 million kilowatt hours annually.

He said studies in 1989, ’95, 2002 and ‘07 all recommend “that we move forward with the GSL.” He said now was the time for several reasons.

He said “the system today is running over its designed capacity,” and the USDA likes the GSL project and is ready to award a $5 million grant, and a long term loan for the estimated $13.5 million, provided conditions are met. He said in the current economic climate, construction bids are coming in 25-30 percent under engineers’ estimates. Since 2003, AWA and staff have moved forward on the project.

He said a rate increase in CAWP was rejected last year, and estimates now say that it would cost customers $3 to $5 more per month on their bill for the AWA to be able to finance the Gravity Supply Line. They do not know the final number to build the GSL, but if it varies from $13.9 million to $11.9 million, Mancebo said “it would only change the bottom line cost to customers about $22,000.”

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Amador County – The California Department of Transportation plans to have work crews on Highway 88 in Pine Grove and on Highways 49 and 16 around Ione to pick up litter today, that is Friday, April 22, as part of its statewide annual statewide Litter Removal and Enforcement Day.

Public information officer Chantel Miller of Caltrans District 10 in Stockton said the district’s maintenance field crews will clean up along freeways and roadways in the eight counties served by District 10.

Caltrans holds its annual cleanup day on Earth Day. Miller said the “activity is to enhance public awareness of the volume and cost associated with removing litter, trash and debris by removing litter along the highways and roadways.” Last year, Caltrans spent almost $50 million on litter removal throughout the state highway system. More than 141,000 cubic yards of litter were collected and disposed, or about 8,860 Caltrans garbage trucks full of litter.

“The best anti-litter campaign,” Miller said, “is to ensure trash never makes it onto our highways in the first place.”

In addition to the economic costs, litter presents a wide range of serious threats to the environment and human health. Wildlife can suffer from plastics in the environment; roadside vegetation can be damaged by large debris; fires can be started from burning cigarettes; and harmful chemicals and biohazards can cause a serious threat to human health. Miller said litter can clog roadway drainage systems and aid in the spread of disease.

Caltrans maintenance crews will pick up litter on highways and freeways in District 10 throughout the day.

In Alpine, Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties, Crews will be covering as much area as possible that has no Adopt-A-Highway sponsorship. They will pick up litter in the Pine Grove area, and along Highways 88, 49, and 104. They will stockpile at the Pine Grove maintenance yard. Crews will pick up along Highway 88 and stockpile at the Peddler Hill and Caples Lake maintenance yards and near Emigrant Trail. In Ione, crews will pick up on Highways 49 and 16, and stockpile at Highways 124 and 16.

Crews will also work in Calaveras County Highway 49, 12 and 26, stockpiling at Old Vactor Pits on SR12; in Tuolumne County on 108, and 120, stockpiling on 120 east of Kistler Ranch and on 108 just east of Green Springs Road.

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WASHINGTON – USDA Farm Service Agency Acting Administrator Val Dolcini on Wednesday announced the deadline for project area proposals for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. To be considered, proposals must be submitted to the applicable state office by close of business, May 27.

Dolcini said the country “that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will be” the country to lead the 21st century. She said the program “can help rural communities save money, create jobs and improve air quality while reducing the demand for fossil fuels,” and encourages “all those interested in participating in this program to contact their Farm Service Agency state office for details.”

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill and provides incentives to eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners for the establishment and production of biomass crops for heat, power, bio-based products and biofuels. The program’s “project areas are specific geographic areas where producers grow eligible biomass crops. Producers then receive annual payments for growing those crops.”

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program “provides financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks.” It provides two categories of assistance. One of these is matching payments, which “may be available for the delivery of eligible material to qualified biomass conversion facilities by eligible material owners. Qualified biomass conversion facilities produce heat, power, bio-based products, or advanced bio-fuels from biomass feedstocks.”

Another assistance area of note is that “annual payments may be available to certain producers who enter into contracts with the Commodity Credit Corporation to produce eligible biomass crops on contract acres” within the program’s project areas.

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Amador County – A man wielding a pistol robbed a Cameron Park bank in El Dorado County early Monday afternoon and then fled into a nearby wooded area on foot.

El Dorado County Sheriff’s public information officer Bryan Golmitz released details of the incident Tuesday. He said at about 12:45 p.m. Monday, April 18, deputies responded to a reported bank robbery at Umpqua Bank at 4080 Goldorado Plaza in Cameron Park, about 30 miles from Jackson.

Deputies arrived and located the bank employees who were not hurt but were very distraught. Golmitz said: “According to the teller,” the suspect entered the bank and told her “you’re being robbed” and passed her a note. “The suspect told the teller he had a gun and then brandished a small black semi-automatic handgun, which he tucked back into his waistband.”

“The teller followed the suspect’s demands for money,” Golmitz said. “The suspect then walked out of the bank at a quick pace and through the parking lot toward a wooded area. No employees or customers were injured during the robbery.”

The suspect was described as a white male, 55-65 years old, standing 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 in height, and weighing 165-180 pounds. He has gray hair and crooked teeth and was last seen wearing khaki pants, a white short sleeve shirt with blue bands on the sleeve, a blue baseball cap with red writing and tinted sunglasses.

No vehicle is associated with the robbery, and the investigation is ongoing. People with any information are asked to contact the El Dorado Sheriff at (530) 621-6600.

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Amador County – A heavy equipment school at the former Garibaldi Ranch would be allowed in county zoning, according to county code.

Operating Engineers Local Union 3, and representative Kris Morgan have applied for a use permit to move an existing training school to the Garibaldi Ranch, owned by Ethel Cecchettini, of Placerville. The applicant is in escrow on the property.

Amador County lead planner on the project, Cara Augustin said some people have wondered how the application could come about on the property, zoned R1A, for single family residential and agriculture, with a General Plan designation of Ag General. Augustin said county code allows several additional uses, subject to an approved use permit. It allows for a private or public school with accredited curricula “in any zoned district.” Churches are among other uses allowed.

The permit application proposes “classes offering accredited curricula in heavy equipment use, job site safety procedures, mechanics, and construction fundamentals.” It proposes about 76,000 square feet of campus buildings on 12 acres, with up to 45 employees and accommodations for up to 120 students. It proposes the “construction and ongoing operation of three separate 100-acre training areas to use for training students in the operation of heavy construction equipment.”

Facility plans include a two-story dormitory, offices, cafeteria, main repair shop, teamster module building, recreation center, auditorium and classrooms for welding, engine, transportation and electrical studies.

The proposal included “some grading” for campus buildings and parking, “however, the 100-acre training areas would involve substantial grading and the re-contouring of existing features, such as slopes and hillsides.” It said the “impacts are not expected to be visible from surrounding residences, from vehicles driving” on Varia Ranch or Tonzi Roads, or from recreational users in the area. It said “existing vegetation, proposed landscaping, and elevation changes are expected to minimize views into the site.”

The ranch is located at 9455 Tonzi Road, west of Highway 49, east of Highway 124, and north of Tonzi road near the 124/Tonzi intersection.

Supervisor Brian Oneto said he and Supervisor Chairman John Plasse toured the ranch with the applicant. Oneto said he thought it was fairly remote as far as impacts, though the height of cranes may impact views from further distances. Oneto said the school is now located in Rancho Murieta, on property that has been sold recently, and the new owners have given the school a 10-year notice to move.

Oneto said the move to Amador would bring more people to the county. He said the county might also benefit if it can get some school entry allowances for local Amador County students. He said enrollment to such training programs are often difficult to attain.

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Amador County – Columbia College this week announced a certificate awards ceremony for 14 fire technology participants, among them a Sutter Creek resident.

Coni Chavez of the college president’s office announced a graduation ceremony and presentation of Certification of Completion to the 14 successful students of the Fire Technology Program at the Columbia College Fire Academy. The students include Amador High School graduate Oliverr Tremelling of Sutter Creek. The event is 7 p.m. Monday, April 25 in the Dogwood Forum at the college in Sonora.

Chavez said the certificates will be awarded based on the student’s successful completion of the academic and manipulative training as mandated for a California Firefighter Level One. Students must still complete six months of full-time or one year of part-time field experience before applying to the state for Firefighter I Certification.

Joe Doherty, college fire technology instructor, said “some of the graduates have obtained paying positions at local fire departments since entering the academy. In addition, most will continue their studies at Columbia College to pursue associate degrees.”

Along with the “routine” classes in Vehicle Extrication, Basic Wildland Fire Fighting, and Indoor Live Fire Activities, “this semester’s academy was invited to participate in a regional Western Propane Gas Association live fire drill in Calaveras County,” Doherty said. “This multi-station night time drill was intended to prepare all participants to safely mitigate propane gas emergencies within our response areas.”

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Amador County – The Amador County Planning Commission last week took public comment on a heavy equipment engineers’ school, which has applied for a use permit on the 1,600-acre Garibaldi Ranch, west of Amador City, and south of Dry Town, in Amador County.

The Commission hosted a public scoping session to take public comment on the potential environmental impacts to be analyzed in a Draft Environmental Impact Report. Operating Engineers Local Union 3 submitted a Use Permit application on Feb. 1, with a plan to relocate its training facility from Rancho Murieta, in Sacramento County.

The scoping session April 12 “received comment on the potential environmental impacts that the project could have,” said Cara Augustin, lead planner on the project for the Amador County Planning Department. About 25 people attended the meeting, and five people spoke, with concerns about impacts on fire prevention, air quality, water quality, noise, and aesthetics.

Augustin said those would be among impacts evaluated in the Draft EIR, along with impacts of the project on agricultural and forest resources; greenhouse gas emission; biological & cultural resources; geology & soils; hazards and wildland fires; hydrology; land use; traffic and transportation; utilities & public services; and cumulative impacts.

The EIR will also look at alternatives for the site or the projects, Augustin said. That includes looking at a different kind of project, changing the project, or alternative sites, such as elsewhere in county or out of the county.

An initial study of impacts showed only three areas considered to have less than significant impact. Those areas are minerals, population & housing, and recreation, and will not be evaluated.

The public has until 5 p.m. Monday, April 25 to submit comments on the project, and list anything they want to see addressed in the EIR. Planning Partners, a consultant hired by the applicant, expects to have the Draft EIR released for public review by September or October.

When the Planning Commission gets a Draft EIR, they will release a public notice and announce a meeting for review and comment by the Commission and the public. When released, a minimum 45-day comment period ensues, to take public input on the Draft EIR, and any comments on the Draft EIR would have to be addressed in the Final EIR. The time frame estimated for release of the Final EIR is December.

Following that is certification that the EIR adequately addresses all impacts. After that, the decision can be made for approval or disapproval of the project based on the project’s merits.

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