Amador County – The Amador Fire Protection District today (Thursday, October 28th) marks the second week of paid fire personnel across their ranks, and the district board plans to make it official with a badge pinning ceremony November 9th.

The new personnel started working October 14th at Plymouth’s Battalion 20, Pioneer’s Battalion 10, and the Sutter Creek Fire Station, said AFPD District Administrator Dominic Moreno.

Of the new personnel, “5 of the 12 are former volunteers from Amador County.” The rest are from outside the county. Some are former volunteers from El Dorado and San Joaquin Counties. They were immersed in training to learn the AFPD protocols, in a four-day session earlier this month.

There were no certifications given after the training, Moreno said, because the personnel “had requirements coming into the training,” and had to possess certain levels of skill and certifications to qualify for their respective jobs.

AFPD did written tests for the engineers, and practical tests in the field, with oral interviews, he said. Fire fighters also had entry skills and certification requirements, with written and practical tests and the interviews.

Moreno said: “It took us a long time to get to that point,” and he thought the individuals enjoyed the process, which wasn’t designed to “trip up” the candidates, but only to “try to get the best qualified people for Amador County.”

The long time it took to get to the point of hiring and paying fire fighting personnel included two county-wide voter initiative campaigns to enact a quarter-cent sales tax for police and fire services.

One, Measure L, in November 2006, failed when 61 percent of voters said “yes,” narrowly missing the 2/3rd vote needed. The latest, Measure M, passed in 2008, with 69 percent voting yes. Both were championed by municipalities, whose city managers gave out information on the paid staffing, while councils talked about the merits of the plan.

Across the county, the Ione Fire Department was the first to hire full-time employees. Plymouth, a nearly 20-year member of the AFPD, looked at starting its own department before recently renewing a contract with the district.

Sutter Creek has also contracted with AFPD, while Ione has a partnership with Jackson Valley Fire. Jackson has also supplemented its volunteer fire department with paid staff, after passage of Measure M.

Thursday will be their second week on the job for the nine AFPD engineers and three fire fighters, who will work in Sutter Creek, Plymouth, and Pioneer. The 11 men and one woman will receive their badges in a badge pinning ceremony set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 9th at the Supervisors chambers, during the AFPD board meeting.

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

Amador County – An Amador County jury found Fiddletown resident Kenneth John Zimmerman guilty of second degree murder Wednesday. He faces 40 years to life in prison for the 2009 shooting death of John Michael O’Sullivan.

Zimmerman pleaded self defense in the trial, which began September 23rd and ended at 1:15 pm Wednesday. District Attorney Todd Riebe said later Wednesday that Zimmerman’s sentencing date was set to fall in the next four weeks, and “he is looking at a life sentence.”

Riebe said the jury found Zimmerman not guilty on three other counts: first degree murder, making terroristic threats and false imprisonment.

He said the jury found it to be true that Zimmerman committed murder with a firearm and that he personally used the firearm in the shooting death of O’Sullivan, who reportedly was shot once in the stomach and twice in the back with a .25 caliber Raven pistol.

The special allegation that Zimmerman committed a “serious and violent felony” and discharged a firearm causing death carries a “25-years-to-life enhancement,” Riebe said. In addition, the second degree murder penalty is a 15-years-to-life sentence, meaning Zimmerman faces between 40 years and life in prison.

The jury had to have unanimity to reach a verdict, and all 12 jurors felt that Zimmerman was guilty of second degree murder. Riebe said they could not come to a verdict and had a mistrial on the charges of “murder one,” terroristic threats and false imprisonment.

He said the judge asked about the split in the vote on the count of false imprisonment, and asked for their breakdown, which was 7-5. Riebe said the judge rightly did not ask which way the split favored.

Zimmerman remains in custody, where he has been since the 2009 arrest. Riebe said “certainly that’s appropriate, now that he knows that he’s looking at a life sentence.”

Lead prosecutor for the case was Steve Hermanson and co-counsel was Joe Gasperetti, both of the district attorney’s office. Riebe said Hermanson “did a hell of a job.”

The jury began deliberation at 10:05 am Friday (October 22nd) and over three days met for about 14 hours. They came back at 1:15 pm Wednesday with the verdict.

IrelandCentral.com reported Tuesday that O’Sullivan’s widow, Krista Clem-O’Sullivan was planning to move to Ireland to live there with their four children after the conclusion of the trial. The site also reported that Clem-O’Sullivan had received death threats, and her children were harassed at school during the trial.

John O’Sullivan was 47 at the time of his death.

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

Amador County – An Amador County jury found Fiddletown resident Kenneth John Zimmerman guilty of second degree murder Wednesday. He faces 40 years to life in prison for the 2009 shooting death of John Michael O’Sullivan.

Zimmerman pleaded self defense in the trial, which began September 23rd and ended at 1:15 pm Wednesday. District Attorney Todd Riebe said later Wednesday that Zimmerman’s sentencing date was set to fall in the next four weeks, and “he is looking at a life sentence.”

Riebe said the jury found Zimmerman not guilty on three other counts: first degree murder, making terroristic threats and false imprisonment.

He said the jury found it to be true that Zimmerman committed murder with a firearm and that he personally used the firearm in the shooting death of O’Sullivan, who reportedly was shot once in the stomach and twice in the back with a .25 caliber Raven pistol.

The special allegation that Zimmerman committed a “serious and violent felony” and discharged a firearm causing death carries a “25-years-to-life enhancement,” Riebe said. In addition, the second degree murder penalty is a 15-years-to-life sentence, meaning Zimmerman faces between 40 years and life in prison.

The jury had to have unanimity to reach a verdict, and all 12 jurors felt that Zimmerman was guilty of second degree murder. Riebe said they could not come to a verdict and had a mistrial on the charges of “murder one,” terroristic threats and false imprisonment.

He said the judge asked about the split in the vote on the count of false imprisonment, and asked for their breakdown, which was 7-5. Riebe said the judge rightly did not ask which way the split favored.

Zimmerman remains in custody, where he has been since the 2009 arrest. Riebe said “certainly that’s appropriate, now that he knows that he’s looking at a life sentence.”

Lead prosecutor for the case was Steve Hermanson and co-counsel was Joe Gasperetti, both of the district attorney’s office. Riebe said Hermanson “did a hell of a job.”

The jury began deliberation at 10:05 am Friday (October 22nd) and over three days met for about 14 hours. They came back at 1:15 pm Wednesday with the verdict.

IrelandCentral.com reported Tuesday that O’Sullivan’s widow, Krista Clem-O’Sullivan was planning to move to Ireland to live there with their four children after the conclusion of the trial. The site also reported that Clem-O’Sullivan had received death threats, and her children were harassed at school during the trial.

John O’Sullivan was 47 at the time of his death.

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

Amador County – The Amador Fire Protection District today (Thursday, October 28th) marks the second week of paid fire personnel across their ranks, and the district board plans to make it official with a badge pinning ceremony November 9th.

The new personnel started working October 14th at Plymouth’s Battalion 20, Pioneer’s Battalion 10, and the Sutter Creek Fire Station, said AFPD District Administrator Dominic Moreno.

Of the new personnel, “5 of the 12 are former volunteers from Amador County.” The rest are from outside the county. Some are former volunteers from El Dorado and San Joaquin Counties. They were immersed in training to learn the AFPD protocols, in a four-day session earlier this month.

There were no certifications given after the training, Moreno said, because the personnel “had requirements coming into the training,” and had to possess certain levels of skill and certifications to qualify for their respective jobs.

AFPD did written tests for the engineers, and practical tests in the field, with oral interviews, he said. Fire fighters also had entry skills and certification requirements, with written and practical tests and the interviews.

Moreno said: “It took us a long time to get to that point,” and he thought the individuals enjoyed the process, which wasn’t designed to “trip up” the candidates, but only to “try to get the best qualified people for Amador County.”

The long time it took to get to the point of hiring and paying fire fighting personnel included two county-wide voter initiative campaigns to enact a quarter-cent sales tax for police and fire services.

One, Measure L, in November 2006, failed when 61 percent of voters said “yes,” narrowly missing the 2/3rd vote needed. The latest, Measure M, passed in 2008, with 69 percent voting yes. Both were championed by municipalities, whose city managers gave out information on the paid staffing, while councils talked about the merits of the plan.

Across the county, the Ione Fire Department was the first to hire full-time employees. Plymouth, a nearly 20-year member of the AFPD, looked at starting its own department before recently renewing a contract with the district.

Sutter Creek has also contracted with AFPD, while Ione has a partnership with Jackson Valley Fire. Jackson has also supplemented its volunteer fire department with paid staff, after passage of Measure M.

Thursday will be their second week on the job for the nine AFPD engineers and three fire fighters, who will work in Sutter Creek, Plymouth, and Pioneer. The 11 men and one woman will receive their badges in a badge pinning ceremony set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 9th at the Supervisors chambers, during the AFPD board meeting.

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

Amador County – The Ione City Council last week heard an update on pursuit of a new wastewater plant, and learned that its one bidder offered to build the project to fit the city’s needs.

City Manager Kim Kerr said the remaining bidder, PERC Water Corporation said it can refine the project size and build it in segments, so it does “not sit there for who knows how long.” She said segmenting would not impact customers.

Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said building for current capacity would allow development impact fees to go toward future expansion.

In public comment, Lloyd Oneto asked the “rate for the new system.” He also asked if council members had toured a new pond plant at Hilmar using some “pretty green” methods developed by Berkeley professors.

Bonham said they would need the project first before rates were known. She said a majority of the council voted three years ago to move away from pond treatment systems.

Oneto asked if that was “because of the look of the ponds or because of leaks,” and he suggested lining the ponds to stop leaks. Bonham said it was “lots of reasons,” including “proximity to the creek;” growth and expansion necessitating buying more property for ponds; and a lawsuit.

Vice Mayor David Plank agreed, saying for a pond, a new location would be needed, and future growth would call for a bigger pond and buying land. He noted that experts say lined ponds must be redone every 15 years.

Councilman Jim Ulm said: “I feel like we’re getting railroaded into a certain type of system,” and “it takes a lot of horsepower to run.” He liked a “simpler system.”

Councilman Lee Ard said “pond farms don’t allow you any flexibility.” He said the city is looking at a grant for solar power, which “could very well have power left to sell to PG&E.”

Ard said options will be presented at a public hearing, rates will be discussed, and it is his “goal to keep rates as they are.”

Ard said they were doing this because in 2003, Ione City Council and administration allowed developer agreements in which “people paid money in good faith for sewer hookups that were not there.” He said they need to build to meet those commitments.

Plank said bottom line, the city needs to get out from under a cease & desist order, and avoid potential fines in the millions of dollars that it cannot afford to pay.

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

Amador County - Effective 8:00 am, Friday, October 22, 2010, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) announced burn hours will not be restricted on permissive burn days on private lands within the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit. This includes the counties of Calaveras, Tuolumne, and those eastern portions of San Joaquin and Stanislaus that are within the State Responsibility Area. Lifting the burn hour restrictions also applies to lands within the Direct Protection Area (DPA) of the Stanislaus National Forest.

Burn permits are required. Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Chief Mike Noonan adds “Conditions will continue to be monitored and restrictions or suspension will go back into place if conditions warrant. Open hours burning on permissive burn days allows home owners to burn debris created by working on 100 feet of defensible space.”

Even with the cooler weather and forecasted rain a fire can still escape. It is critical that the person conducting the burn keep close watch on the fire at all times. If the fire gets away, that person can be held liable for the damage and suppression costs. 

It is the landowner’s responsibility to check with the local Air Pollution Control District for permissive days by calling the local APCD office.

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