Amador County - El Dorado Irrigation District is cautioning winter-time visitors to take care if they venture onto the ice at Echo, Silver, and Caples lakes. The district’s winter drawdown schedule at the lakes is in effect, which means that water levels under the ice will fluctuate. This can cause potentially dangerous conditions. “What may look and feel like a solid surface often is not,” said EID director of operations Tom McKinney. “People who choose to walk, skate, and ski on the ice or to cut holes for fishing should be aware that they are taking a risk. The safest thing to do is avoid recreation on these frozen lakes.” The three lakes, along with Lake Aloha in Desolation Wilderness Area, are part of the high-Sierra water supply system that provides drinking water for EID customers and also for energy production at the district’s 21-megawatt powerhouse. All four of the lakes are popular recreation destinations throughout the year.

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Amador County – Hospice of Amador & Calaveras released details of its third annual Valentine’s Day Raffle on Monday, including the grand prize, a trip for four people to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Ann Metherd, volunteer coordinator for Hospice of Amador & Calaveras said the non-profit held a kick-off meeting at its office in Jackson Monday to launch its major fundraiser of the year, and now has tickets available for sale for the third annual Valentine’s Day Raffle, “Take a Chance on Love.”

She said the prizes for this year’s event are “terrific,” including the first prize, an all-expense paid trip for four people to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The trip includes four days and three nights, with fishing aboard a private, 48-foot fishing yacht. The first prize trip is valued at more than $10,000.

Second prize in the raffle is a “Love Knot” diamond pendant with a 14-karat white gold chain, valued at $2,000.

Third prize is 16 rounds of golf, complete with golf carts at four local golf courses. Those include Mace Meadow in Pioneer, Castle Oaks in Ione, La Contenta in Valley Springs and Greenhorn Creek in Calaveras County. The 16 rounds of golf are valued at approximately $1,100.

The fourth prize in the raffle is a two-night stay for two people in an ocean-side condominium on the Monterey Bay with a $100 restaurant certificate, with a total value of $900.

The Hospice “Take a Chance on Love” Valentine’s Day Raffle tickets are $10 each. With a purchase of 10 tickets for $100, the buyer receives five more tickets free, along with a free Valentine’s Day chocolate from Andrae’s Bakery.

In Jackson, tickets are available at Bank of Amador on Highway 49, the Hospice office at 1500 South Highway 49, Gold Mine Jewelers at 37 Main Street in Jackson, and Hospice Thrift Store on Argonaut Lane.

Tickets are also available in Angels Camp, at the Hospice Thrift Store and at Greenhorn Creek Golf Course. Tickets can also be bought at Fine Eye Gallery in Sutter Creek, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office in San Andreas, the Sierra Nevada Adventure Company in Murphys, and the La Contenta Golf Course in Valley Springs.

Tickets may also be purchase by calling hospice, at (209) 223-5500.

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

Amador County - The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) $171 million to improve service on its highly successful intercity passenger rail service.

"The federal funding for intercity rail provides the impetus to expand and greatly improve passenger rail service statewide," said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim.

The largest component of the grant, $100 million, is targeted for the purchase of 40 new rail cars and six locomotives for the San Joaquin, Pacific Surfliner and Capitol Corridor routes. The Pacific Surfliner route received more than $28 million for track and signal upgrades, bridge work, curve realignments, and other infrastructure enhancements. Additionally, more than $38 million will fund safety improvements through the installation of Positive Train Control technology, which reduces the risk of train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, and injuries to railway maintenance workers.

The funding was part of more than $901 million awarded to the state that included $731 million for the California High Speed Rail Authority's projects in the Central Valley and San Francisco. "Amtrak stands ready to offer our expertise to our state partners to help implement these important projects to improve our national intercity passenger rail network," said Amtrak President & CEO Joseph Boardman.

California is home to the second (Pacific Surfliner), third (Capitol Corridor), and fifth (San Joaquin) busiest intercity passenger rail corridors in the nation. With five million annual passengers, California has more than 20 percent of all Amtrak riders. Since 1990, the state has invested more than $1.3 billion in infrastructure and equipment for intercity passenger rail and about $1 billion in operating support.

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Amador County – Continuous rain throughout California over the weekend drowned previous records, with showers expected to continue for the last days of Christmas shopping. Weather forecasters are now warning that the worst may be yet to come.

The deluge began last Friday and slowed on Sunday night, presenting a brief respite from what is now one of the wettest weekends in the state’s history. Considering the circumstances, flooding and roadwork were minimal in most of Amador County when compared with recent storm systems.

The most rain fell in Southern California, where some locations received up to 12 inches, according to the National Weather Service. More than 9 inches of rain fell in Topanga canyon over a three-day period, and 2.3 inches fell on the USC campus breaking the record of 2.12 inches set in 1921. The downtown, Hollywood and San Fernando areas of Los Angeles all received at least three inches of rain.

In many areas, previous records were shattered by a number of inches. The National Weather Service said 3.45 inches of rain fell in Pasadena on Sunday, far surpassing the old mark of 1.5 inches set in 1987.

There was sporadic flooding of single-family homes in the San Joaquin Valley, but no deaths or injuries had been reported.

A 25-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway running between Malibu and Oxnard was closed to traffic after reports of a mudslide, according to the California Highway Patrol.

In the Sierra Nevada range, as much as 60 inches of snow were reported at the highest elevations. Reports from Kirkwood say at least five feet fell in that area.

Forecasters say more rain and snow will continue to fall throughout the week, with the likelihood of another heavy system coming in on Christmas Day.

Another storm on Tuesday will bring colder weather and snow at lower elevations. Impacts will include moderate to heavy snow in the mountains and locally gusty winds. Moderate to heavy rain showers will take place in the lower elevations with the possibility for continued minor flooding in the Sacramento and foothills regions.

Forecasters say there will also be a chance for isolated thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds and small hail.

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Amador County - The California Highway Patrol cautioned Monday that it will begin its Christmas Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) on Friday, December 24th at 6 pm, to continue through Sunday, December 26th at 11:59 pm. The MEP means CHP officers throughout the state plan for an increased visible presence in order to deter those who may danger others while driving in holiday traffic and possible stormy weather.

“The holiday season is all about having good times with family and friends, and about sharing and giving,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “We want to make sure everyone enjoys their festivities, and therefore, our goal is to ensure you and your loved ones arrive at your destination safely.”

The CHP reminds drivers “to always wear seatbelts, put children in appropriate safety seats, drive at a safe speed for various conditions, and never drink and drive during the holiday season.”

“Officers will be on the road to ensure motorists celebrate the holiday in a safe, responsible manner,” said Farrow. “If your celebration involves alcohol, please designate a non-drinking driver.”

Last year during the CHP’s Christmas holiday enforcement period, 22 people were killed in collisions statewide. Among the vehicle occupants killed within the CHP’s jurisdiction, more than half were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. CHP officers also accounted for 1,104 arrests made statewide for driving under the influence (DUI) during the 2009 Christmas MEP.

The CHP said it will conduct a similar MEP during the New Year’s holiday weekend, which begins Friday, December 31st at 6 pm and continues through 11:59 pm on Sunday, January 2nd, 2011.

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Amador County – The Ione City Council today (December 21st) could consider putting two projects to bid, and will also hear presentations on procedures, duties and law, and could make selections for its mayor and vice mayor for 2011.

Among initial actions, the council could consider putting out to bid an estimated $57,000 remodel of City Hall and the Ione Police Department headquarters.

The project will give police new storage, interviewing areas and security, and will address Americans with Disabilities Act needs in City Hall. City Engineer John Wanger said funds for the project would come from Police Facility Impact Fees, and the city administration impact fees.

The council will also consider placing out for bids a restroom facility project at Ed Hughes Memorial Arena in Howard Park. The proposed budget is $157,000. Wanger said it would be paid for by $99,500 in Park Grant Funds from the Amador County Recreation Agency, and another $82,000 available from “already allocated State Resource Bond Act of 2002 funds.”

Projected cost includes a “fully constructed restroom delivered to the site and placed by a crane onto a site that has been prepared by a contractor with all utilities stubbed into place.”

Purchase and installation was estimated at $81,000 and site work, to potentially be put out to bid by the council, was estimated at $66,000. Wanger said engineering was already authorized for the project at $10,000.

The council will also consider pursuit of a new company to run the city’s website and e-mail services, with first-year costs estimated at $8,670. The current company, ReadyBuilder, notified the city it will cease operations December 31st.

City Manager Kim Kerr recommended in a report today that the council select its new mayor and vice mayor, with terms to take effect January 1st and run through December 2011.

She also recommended council members review and provide input to the new mayor about appointments to various council committees and liaison positions. The mayor annually makes the appointments, and “council members should review and notify the mayor or city manager of their desire to participate in various committees.”

The mayor then can share the appointments at the meeting. She said the city council must approve the mayor’s appointments.

City Attorney Kristen Castanos today is scheduled to give a presentation on the Brown Act and conflicts of interest, and Kerr will give a presentation of Rosenberg’s Rules of Order, which the city council adopted in 2008. Story by

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Amador County – St. Patrick’s parish and the Diocese of Sacramento announced the close of escrow on the purchase of the former Prospect Motors building and land in Martell, for the use as a future Amador County Catholic Center.

Jeannine Crew, pastoral assistant to Father Tom Seabridge, said the Diocese of Sacramento and three local parishes announced the close of escrow December 11th, and bringing the “Amador Catholic Center one step closer to reality.

A release said the “Diocese of Sacramento and the three local parishes completed the purchase of the former Prospect Motors site,” which “will be turned into a multi-purpose” facility “to support the social and spiritual needs of all three Amador County parishes.”

Kevin Eckery in the release said Sacred Heart of Ione, St. Patrick’s in Jackson and Immaculate Conception in Sutter Creek churches “will continue to have weekday and Sunday masses, but the three parishes will consolidate some social, educational and other activities at the new Amador Catholic Center, including some masses.”

Sacramento Bishop, the Most Reverend Jaime Soto said in the release that “this is the culmination of 10 years of discussion and planning,” adding, “with a declining number of priests we have to find ways to share resources.”

Soto said: “The Amador Catholic Center helps us to meet this challenge. There is a lot more work to do, but this is a very exciting achievement.”

Father Liam MacCarthy has been appointed by Bishop Soto to manage the project and serve as interim pastor of the three parishes. He takes over for Father Tom Seabridge, who on January 1st begins a six-month sabbatical before his next assignment.

The new Catholic Center has been designed by Comstock-Johnson Architects. It will feature worship space with up to 600 seats, a youth center with gymnasium, offices, classrooms, kitchen and a large social hall for parish community events. The plans also envision other spaces and areas designed to provide family-friendly activities for all ages.

Initial renovations are expected to begin in 2011. MacCarthy is the former pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Sutter Creek.

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