Amador County – The number of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend were slightly lower this year in Amador County, but slightly higher in Calaveras County.

Amador County also experienced 7 non-fatal vehicle accidents. 2 DUI arrests were made: one for driving drunk, the other for driving under drug intoxication.

“Overall for a four-day weekend, these numbers are very good and better than statistics from last year,” says Craig Harmon, Public Information Officer for the Amador County CHP.

In Calaveras County, CHP officers arrested four people suspected of driving under the influence, beginning 6 pm Wednesday and ending 11:59 pm on Sunday. Last year the Calaveras CHP arrested three people.

The Calaveras CHP handled 10 vehicle accidents compared to a total of nine accidents last year.

One fatality occurred when Margaret Livingston, a 66-year-old resident of Martinez, unsuccessfully negotiated a curve on Highway 49 near the Amador Calaveras county line and slammed head-on into an oncoming vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle, Valley Springs resident Cindy Reading, suffered major injuries and was taken to Sutter Amador Hospital.

The Calaveras CHP says that, “statewide, the CHP arrested 1784 drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence compared to 1717 for the same period last year. Despite the increase in arrests, 13 people died in automobile accidents this year, which is a decrease from 22 people for last year.” The CHP in San Andreas reported that they were working hard to slow motorists down. They wrote 33 citations during the holiday weekend. One citation was for not wearing a seatbelt.

CHP officers were on high alert throughout the weekend due to a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP). The CHP’s holiday enforcement effort began Wednesday, November 24th at 6 p.m. and ended 11:59 pm, Sunday, November 28th. Throughout the MEP all available officers were looking for motorists who are a danger to themselves or others on our state’s roadways.

Additional MEP’s are expected to occur as the Christmas holiday approaches, said Harmon.

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors two weeks ago directed staff to find out if the city of Jackson wants to continue paying for the agency to study the release of water into Jackson Creek.

The idea, proposed by President Bill Condrashoff, is to release untreated water from the Amador Transmission Pipeline into Jackson Creek, above the city’s water treatment plant, so that the water can dilute the city’s treated discharge and minimize treatment needed and costs.

The board directed staff to contact Jackson City Council and its staff and notify them of discussions having taken place with the AWA attorney. General Manager Gene Mancebo said the board also directed staff to see if the city wants to continue paying for the AWA attorney’s time in looking at the other options that the city wanted to consider.

AWA attorney Stephen Kronick in a memo to Mancebo November 11th said he estimated that various issues to study would take him 16 to 25 hours, at a cost of $215 per hour. That would cost an estimated $3,400 to $5,400.

He said the estimates are subject to change as he delves into the issues, the biggest of which was the impact on agency water rights. His initial estimate was spending 10 to 15 hours to look at the “Lodi Decrees,” “among other matters” related to water rights impact.

Mancebo sought direction to coordinate requested work efforts on behalf of the city with Kronick, as identified in an October e-mail from City Manager Mike Daly, “with the understanding that costs incurred for such work will be paid by the city of Jackson.”

Mancebo also recommended that “if the concept should appear to be viable, this would be a temporary service agreement so that this water can be available for future potable water needs.”

Condrashoff proposed releasing the water to help reduce costs to Jackson for “continued discharge of wastewater into Jackson Creek.”

Mancebo in a report to the board said “limited data” showed that “4,000 to 10,000 acre-feet of water could be needed in very dry years,” translating to 1.3 billion to 3.25 billion gallons a year.

Part of the proposal was to sell the water downstream to the Jackson Valley Irrigation District, but Mancebo said they were not interested in the purchase at AWA’s going rate. The city of Jackson could pay the balance, which could be as much as 90 percent of the cost, he said, but it would help the city meet regulations, and also help it consider reclamation.

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Amador County – A 33-year Amador County resident fed up with a recent string of burglaries has posted a warning sign in his neighborhood. And he hopes the practice catches on around the county.

Bob VanDePol said there have been four or five burglaries in the area between Ousby and Mulfino roads since April, and the Amador County Sheriff’s Department has not reported any related arrests.

One of the burglaries affected a relative of VanDePol, whom he declined to name. A woman also a relative of the burglary victim, said VanDePol took it into his own hands to warn people that burglars are striking throughout Amador County.

VanDePol put up a sign Monday afternoon that said: “Warning! Burglars in this area!” VanDePol posted the sign in a yard near the corner of Mulfino Road and Highway 88.

He complained about the Sheriff’s department, saying he had a good idea who burglarized the house. The suspect was questioned, but not arrested. VanDePol said: “Apparently they’re not apprehending any of these guys.”

The woman (who asked not to be identified) said the sign was “to alert other people,” because she would “hate to see other people lose what (her relative) lost.”

A cabin separate from the house was found burglarized, with irreplaceable items taken. She said they have “a good idea who did it,” and the sheriff’s department “finally interviewed one suspect,” but no arrests have resulted. Deputies said they need a warrant.

VanDePol said the sign was going up “to alert other people,” and it “would probably protect our place too.” He said: “A lot of people have sure taken notice already,” and he hopes the sign stops others from falling victim. He said: “It’ll be worth it to me if it stops one damn burglar.”

They have installed security systems, even though they “never had to do anything like that in the years that we’ve lived here,” he said, adding that “people just don’t rest at ease when this happens.”

One man they suspected lived in a tent built next to his property, and also had a similar tent next to a school on Ridge Road, “so he could watch the properties,” VanDePol said. The tent was built with limbs and found material and was “big enough to have a fire pit to cook his meals.” VanDePol said authorities have since moved the man to another county.

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Amador County – Tambien Mexican Kitchen in Jackson is closing its doors until next February, when its owners say they will open up a bakery similar to another location in Amador City.

Matt Andrae, co-owner of Andrae’s Bakery in Amador City, opened Tambien (which literally translates to “also”) in March 2009 after seeing a market for “affordable, authentic food.” 21 months later, Andrae says they will convert Tambien into a shop similar to his immensely popular bakery. The shop will be “geared toward lunch versus the bakery, including some of the Tambien menu favorites, salsas and grab-and-go sandwiches.”

Andrae says the reasons for the change are many.

“They are supposed to take out the bridge in (downtown) Amador City in May and that is going to impact traffic and access for at least five months,” he said. He also sees it as an opportunity to target customers in Jackson and “across the bridge” in Calaveras County. Finally, he said he and his wife feel comfortable doing what they do best: creating high quality baked goods.

“We basically wanted to consolidate the concept,” he said.

He said they are still working on an overall model, name and opening date for the new location. He expects it to be called “Andrae’s Café” or “Andrae’s Bakery.” The location should be open sometime in February.

Andrae also wanted to squelch rumors that the Amador City location will not be closing.

Andrae’s Bakery features handcrafted bread, baked goods, sandwiches, beer, fine wine, cheese and charcuterie. Its extended holiday hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 8 am to 4 pm.

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Amador County - Foster Family Service is seeking gift donations to distribute at its annual holiday party for Foster Parents and Children. The agency says it can no longer provide gifts to each of the children due to budget cuts.

“At this time we our asking our community to help make this holiday season special for our Foster Children and their Families by donating gifts,” said the agency in a release.

To make a gift donation, stop by the agency office at 629 New York Ranch Road, Ste. B Jackson CA, 95642 and take a tag from our tree. Bring back your unwrapped gifts by December 8th and drop them off to our office or the salon next door. If you have any questions call 209-223-3691.

Robin Valencia, Program Coordinator for the Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council, said gifts can also be dropped off at the First 5 office located above the Jackson Cinema if it is more convenient.

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Amador County – The Sutter Creek Sewer Committee earlier this month received an update on the city sewer plant operation and expansion.

Senior operations specialist Wyatt Troxel gave a status report November 9th on recommended remedies, noting that “several designs and operating conditions” at the “Sutter Creek wastewater treatment plant have led to continued or repeated violation of various discharge” limits. Modifications at the plant, such as using a storage basin as an aeration pond, and changing the “digester” system, led to the violations.

Troxel, of Integrated Resource Management LLC of Claremont, said that in June and July his company evaluated the operation of the wastewater treatment plant, then made some changes, and recommended others.

The aeration process “has been taken off line,” and “turned off, except for minor periods of aeration to maintain fresh water on the surface of the lagoon.” Troxel said it “reduced the electrical demand of the process by about $6,000 per month.” The aerating system “will be used only for emergency storage and treatment of excessive flow, such as during high rain events.”

A procedure to routinely flush a filter has “slightly improved the quality of the water discharging” to a digester system. Troxel said a deteriorated “flood gate” needs to be refurbished. He also recommended a new type of spray system to “increase treatment capacity and performance.”

Troxel said he also installed “a more appropriate sludge pump” to “control the sludge in the digester and eliminate a problem with sludge accumulating on the floor of the clarifier.”

He said “recommendations are being followed to install a polymer feed system to further improve clarifier performance,” and “perforated tubing” around the perimeter to add a chlorine solution. The changes would help prevent unwanted “biological growth” in the digester.

The report said the design of the plant’s “chlorine contact channel” was “inherently problematic” and “requires a variety of improvements, yet to be fully developed.” Troxel said “improvements in chlorine control have been discussed.”

“The remaining effort is to develop written procedures to support the new operating plan,” Troxel said. “Work has already begun to outline” both routine and emergency procedures. The descriptions will be “reviewed and annotated by the operations staff as they are developed.”

The report said the “procedures will create the basis for a Consolidated Facility Management Plan,” including an “overview of the wastewater treatment plant,” which can be updated as “conditions, equipment and facilities are modified.”

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Amador County – Cold weather over the Thanksgiving weekend broke records across California. The National Weather Service reports that many temperatures broke or tied cold-temperature records that have been in place for a century.

Amador County had an average low of 32.

Sacramento saw a record low of 30 degrees over Thanksgiving.

In Stockton, there was a record low temperature of 27 degrees during the holiday. ¶ With a low of 42 degrees on Thursday, San Francisco tied a record that was established in 1892.

Temperatures in Los Angeles dropped to 42 degrees, tying a record first established in 1946.

While the temperatures were low, the rain was relatively sparse in many areas. Climatologists say this is due to a strong La Nina, which signifies dry conditions and cooler temperatures, as opposed to the El Nino phenomenon that brought heavy, much-needed rain and snow across the state last year. Both climate patterns arise from changes in surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.

The National Weather Service says this is the first time in three decades that an El Nino and La Nina system have occurred back to back. The last El Niño was in 1972-73 and La Niña in 1973-74.

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Amador County – On Saturday, Plymouth firefighters will be teaming with a local motorcycle shop and area riders for a Christmas Toy Motorcycle Run on Saturday, complete with a barbecue and a live band.

Members of the Amador Fire Protection District Battalion 20 will be barbecuing hotdogs and hamburgers for the participants of the Toy Run, which will be given to children in local needy families. Hosting and sponsoring the Toy Run is Foothill Motorcycle Company in Plymouth.

Bryan Thornton, president of the AFPD Battalion 20 Firefighters Association, said on December 4th “Foothill Motorcycle will do their toy drive for Plymouth and for us.” Toys gathered at the Foothill Motorcycle Toy Run will go to the Battalion 20’s annual holiday giveaway for Christmas.

Plymouth firefighters will help host the Motorcycle Toy Run, set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, December 4th at the motorcycle shop, located at 18590 Highway 49 in Plymouth. For information, call (209) 245-6763.

AFPD Battalion 20 firefighters will be cooking hotdogs and hamburgers, and accepting donations of toys. Santa Claus will appear at the shop, with his helpers, and a live band will play music.

Battalion 20 also plans a “Santa Parade” 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, December 9th. They plan to parade through town with Santa and volunteers and collect donations of canned food, non-perishables, and toys from residents in Plymouth.

The Santa Parade will feature members of the Amador County Sheriff’s Office, who will be pulling one of their rescue patrol boats. Thornton said they usually bring the boat, so it can be loaded with the gifts and food.

Thornton said AFPD will have all of its fire trucks from Battalion 20 in the parade. Santa Claus and local Girl Scout troops will be volunteering to help distribute candy canes during the parade.

Batallion 20 of AFPD serves fire fighting and emergency response needs in Plymouth and local surrounding areas, and it gives back to the community annually with its toy drives, and gives food to needy families later in the year in time for Christmas.

Thornton said items collected at both the Motorcycle Toy Run and the Santa Parade in Plymouth will be given to needy families in the area. Plymouth City Hall announced the parade and Toy Drive with their water bill, and Thornton asked that anyone who wanted to donate, volunteer, or place a local family onto the list to receive a Christmas dinner, could contact him.

To donate, volunteer or nominate needy families, call Bryan Thornton at (209) 223-0545.

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