Amador County – Jackson City Council on Monday, June 11, approved an exemption for Tractor Supply Company for the new company to have 180-square feet of signs on its building, being constructed next to Raley’s grocery store.

The Council unanimously approved the exemption to allow two 90 square foot signs, one on the front and one on the back of the building, on French Bar Road. City Manager Mike Daly said it was felt that it would not be any kind of visual issue.

Daly said the Tractor Supply Company’s manager wants to meet with him next week, and they plan an Aug. 4 official opening.

The sign complies in all other ways with city sign code, including channel lettering, back-lit lettering, and being limited to only having a logo and company name lettering. Daly said it is a bit large for the ordinance. For time reasons, the request for an exemption was taken by the company directly to the City Council.

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Amador County – A Plymouth man was arrested last week after allegedly threatening to kill his girlfriend and her children with a sawed-off shotgun.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details about the arrest, saying that on Tuesday, June 12 at about 11:03 p.m., the Amador County Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 emergency call from a residence on Gerrans Street in Plymouth regarding a domestic disturbance. The reporting party said her boyfriend was armed with a sawed off shotgun and was threatening to kill her and her children.

Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies responded, as did two California Highway Patrol officers and a Sutter Creek Police department officer. Upon arrival, and establishment of a perimeter, contact was made with the victim via telephone wherein she was directed to exit the residence with her two children, Wegner said. She complied and all were secured at the scene, uninjured. The suspect then exited the residence and surrendered himself to Sheriff’s Deputies.

Upon further investigation it was determined that the suspect and the victim had a verbal dispute regarding finances and excessive alcohol use. The suspect reportedly became enraged, brandished a sawed off shotgun and threatened to kill everyone at the residence. A search of the residence revealed an unloaded sawed off 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition for the firearm.

Sean Anthony Hildreth, 36, of Plymouth was arrested and charged with possession of an unlawful firearm, a short barrel shotgun. He was also charged with making criminal threats; brandishing a firearm; possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony; and child endangerment. Hildreth’s bail was set at $100,000.

Amador County Superior Court Judge Susan Harlan approved and authorized an emergency protective order, restraining Hildreth from the victim, the children and the residence.

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Amador County – Amador Water Agency received a report on an Integrated Regional Groundwater Management Plan last week for the Camanche Water District Number 7, which took one-and-a-half years to compile.

AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said “due to a long history of failing wells on the Lake Camanche Village water system, state regulators have put limitations on the number of connections allowed there until the Agency could complete a water sustainability study.”

Pat Dunn, president of Dunn Environmental, gave the AWA Board the results of the study that his firm conducted “to establish the quantity and quality of the water in the 12,000-acre Lake Camanche area groundwater basin.”

In 2008, AWA applied for a grant and in 2010, the agency received a $248,000 grant from the California Department of Water Resources to conduct the comprehensive study of the underground water in Camanche Water District Number 7, to develop a plan on how to best manage it.

“Dunn Environmental used monitoring and test wells, some almost 500 feet deep, to map the local geology and hydrogeology in the Camanche area,” Mancebo said. Dunn “studied weather data back to 1970 and looked at 268 local well yields over the course of a full year.”

The California Department of Water Resources has reviewed and accepted Dunn’s study. The full report is available on the AWA’s website, AmadorWater.org. It can also be read at the AWA customer service desk at the main office during normal business hours.

AWA President Gary Thomas called for a special board meeting at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, and part of the agenda will be discussion and possible action regarding repair or redevelopment of Well 14 in the Lake Camanche Water Improvement District No. 7.

Thomas called the special budget workshop meeting to review the proposed fiscal year 2012-2013 budget. The agenda also includes a review of proposed 2012-2013 capital improvement projects. Members of the public will have the opportunity to directly address the Agency Board of Directors concerning any item listed on the Special Meeting agenda.

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Amador County – A Sacramento man was arrested last week on charges of attempted carjacking after trying to steal a Jeep while allegedly armed with a large piece of wood.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details of the arrest, saying that on Wednesday, June 13 at about 6:05 p.m., the Amador County Sheriff’s Department received a call reporting a suspicious subject that had been loitering around Amador Station at 27846 Inspiration Drive East in Pioneer for several hours. A Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched and responded.

As the deputy was arriving on scene, dispatch received a follow-up call that the subject had armed himself with a piece of wood and had attempted to steal a citizen’s vehicle. The deputy located the subject between two vehicles with the piece of wood on the ground nearby. The subject was detained.

Upon further investigation it was determined the subject was from Sacramento and was en route to Iowa. The subject allegedly approached a citizen and asked for a lighter. When the citizen attempted to obtain one from his vehicle, the subject armed himself with a large piece of wood and demanded the citizen’s car keys.

The citizen refused to give the keys, and fled into the business wherein he reported the attempted vehicle theft. As the citizen reported the attempted theft, the subject used the piece of wood to vandalize the 1992 Jeep, denting the door, smashing the headlamp and breaking a marker lamp.

David Randall McDowell, 18, of Sacramento was arrested by Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies and charged with attempted carjacking and felony vandalism. McDowell’s bail was set at $80,000.

Wegner said while in custody at the Amador County Jail, McDowell has made two futile efforts at escaping. The first was when he attempted to conceal himself inside a laundry cart, believing the laundry was processed off-site. The second was when he attempted to get an inmate to steal “jail keys” in exchange for food products.

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Amador County – Jackson Rancheria CEO Rich Hoffman is host of the Jackson Rancheria Big Movie of the Week every Thursday at 5 p.m. on cable channel “ThisTV Sacramento.” Each week Hoffman introduces the Big Movie and offers fun facts, trivia questions, reviews and more from the “Jackson Rancheria hermetically sealed film bunker.”

Local viewers are familiar with Rich Hoffman as the face and voice for Jackson Rancheria’s TV and radio ads. He’s well known for his extensive wardrobe, from wildly colored golf outfits to a chef, cowboy and Santa. You never know what he’ll be wearing or what he’ll be doing. Watch for various outfits to compliment the Big Movie of the Week.

Upcoming Big Movies include Exodus (June 21), Mr. Brooks, The Russia House, Bright Lights, Big City, Home of the Brave (July 19 and Lions for Lambs.

ThisTV is Sacramento’s only free cable movie channel and is associated with KQCA Channel 58.

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Amador County News, TSPN TV Video, 6-15-12 - Susan, Bruce, Pat and Diane discuss the importance of wildlife rehabilitaiton.

Amador County News, TSPN TV Video, 6-15-12 - Marty & Diane discuss fawn avoidance, fawn rescue, and keeping fawns wild to release.

Amador County News, TSPN TV Video, 6-15-12 - Judy & Marty discuss some of the different types of owls that can be found in Amador County.  

Amador County News, TSPN TV Video, 6-15-12 - Susan, Judy, Diane, Pat and KayDee discuss why education is critical to their mission as well as some of the tools that are uses to educate different age groups.

Amador County – The National Weather Service of Sacramento announced unseasonably hot temperatures are expected in the region this weekend, starting Friday, June 8.

Valley temperatures of 98-105 degrees could be expected Saturday and Sunday, and 90-100s in the foothills. Gusts in the northern Sacramento Valley could be 20-30 mph Friday and Saturday. Those planning outdoor activities should be prepared for above normal temperatures, and be aware that fire danger in many areas may become critical, due to heat, and low humidity.

Humidity could be down to single digits, and overnight humidity recovery is only expected to be poor to moderate. Lighter winds are expected Sunday but humidity values will remain quite low.

Slightly cooler temperatures and lighter winds are expected Monday and into next week.

Pacific Gas & Electric urged customers to prepare for rising temperatures and extreme fire danger, with 100-to-105-degree temperatures in interior valley locations and dry northerly winds in foothill regions. Heat related outage activity is possible over the weekend, but a major heat wave is not expected.

Power demand during hot summer weather can overload electrical equipment causing power outages, which occur when circuit breakers or other protective equipment shut off the flow of power in order to prevent further damage to the electrical system.

To stay cool and safe, stay in the shade. Direct sunlight can speed up the effect the heat has on your body. Do outdoor activities in the morning or evening hours, and avoid being in the afternoon heat.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol. A cool shower or bath is a great way to stay cool and much more effective than using an electric fan. Also, wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. If you are outside, don’t forget to wear a hat or carry an umbrella to protect your head and neck. Wear sunscreen to protect skin and reduce the risk of sunburn, which affects your body’s ability to cool itself.

PG&E recommended ways to stay cool and still save energy. Keep thermostats at 78° when at home and at 85° when away. Those who are elderly, frail, or sensitive to extreme heat, should lower their thermostat to a cool and comfortable level to avoid a heat-related illness.

Keep many bottles of water in the refrigerator, switch off unnecessary lights, avoid using appliances during the peak heat of the day, use a microwave to heat food instead of an oven. Set pool pumps to run during off-peak hours of the day and use energy-efficient products.

PG&E provides cash rebates for select equipment. See rebates or call the Smarter Energy Line at 1(800) 933-9555.

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