Amador County – GOP candidate George Runner is getting a run for his money from newcomer Chris Parker in the race for Board of Equalization in District 2.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen reported September 30th that Parker, a Democrat, has outraised Runner across the board in what is traditionally a conservative district. Up until that date, Parker had raised $72,874 compared to $64,199 raised by Runner. Parker also has more cash on hand as he entered last month, with $86,571 compared to Runner’s $61,231. Runner’s debt exceeded his cash on hand at the time of the report. His debt was $73,261 compared to $61,231 in cash.

Speaking at a private function last Thursday, Parker told TSPN he feels good about his chances, considering this is an election year where many seats on all levels of government will likely fall into Republican hands. Parker describes himself as a standout Tax Attorney for the California Franchise Tax Board who “has dedicated his career to public service by working tirelessly to hold socially irresponsible corporations and individuals accountable when they try to cheat the system.”

Runner was not available for comment at the time this story aired. “Runner believes that when people are taxed too much, liberty is lost,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, in a 60-second radio ad for the candidate. Runner is a self-proclaimed “Tea Party” supporter.

The traditionally conservative 2nd District represents 34 counties, including Amador County. One of four districts in California, it stretches from the Oregon border south to Los Angeles County and encompasses most of northern California and the central valley.

State Board of Equalization District 2 is currently represented by Barbary Alby, Acting Board Member, who is also running for State Senate in District 1.

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

Amador County – Operation Care, a local non-profit organization providing support services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, announced today the appointment of its new Executive Director. Clara Osborne was selected following an extensive and thorough executive search process.

Osborne most recently served as Executive Director for Alternatives to Violence in Red Bluff, California. She has experience working with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and is a skilled manager with grant writing and contract expertise as well as budget planning. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. She was a member of the Tehama County Child Abuse Prevention Council, Public Health Advisory Board, Health Partnership, Community Involvement Committee and Continuum of Care. Osborne holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Simpson University.

“I am very gratified at having been selected as Operation Care’s next Executive Director from a pool of highly qualified candidates," said Osborne. "I look forward to working with our board of directors, our talented staff and community to keep our mission alive."

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Amador County – Canadian company Sutter Gold Mining Incorporated is looking to resume hard rock gold mining in Sutter Creek, where the operation could create as many as 150 jobs in two or more years.

The company has received permits from the state of California, while it works to get other permits, and also run a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the mine.

The assessment is “evaluating the design and development of an initial mining and milling operation focused only on the upper portion of the Lincoln-Comet deposit utilizing existing mine infrastructure in order to minimize development costs and timing,” said Robert Hutmacher, Chief Financial Officer for Sutter Gold Mining Incorporated.

Sutter Gold Mining controls approximately 3.6 miles of the Mother Lode Gold Belt in Amador County. Hutmacher said “with 90 percent of the property still unexplored,” the potential exists for gold “at depth” and above at “known mineralized zones.”

The 120-mile long Mother Lode Gold Belt produced more than 13 million ounces of gold historically, he said, with 7.9 million ounces originating from the 10-mile long segment between Jackson and Plymouth where the Lincoln Project is located.

Properties under Sutter Gold Mining’s control include eight historic mines with significant historic gold production totaling over 3.5 million ounces or 27 percent of historic gold production from the Mother Lode, in the Jackson to Plymouth segment, at depths of 4,500 and 6,300 feet.

David Cochrane, vice president for environment, health and safety for Sutter Gold Mining, said last week he is working on a number of local, state and federal permits.

Among those is a use permit issued by Amador County in 1998. It includes a number of conditions of approval and mitigations.

Cochrane said: “That’s really our road map of what we have to do.”

He said the existing use permit allows a full capacity for up to 1,000 tons a day, which would equate to about 150 employees. Half of that, or 500 tons a day would require about 100 employees.

Cochrane said the gold mine would probably start at a smaller production rate of about 200 tons a day, utilizing less than 100 employees. That would be determined after the preliminary economic assessment is completed, along with permitting.

Sutter Gold Mining, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, recently received permits for two mining waste disposal units at the former Sutter Gold Mine.

The company is now permitted to use a “waste rock pile” to store rock from expansion of the underground workings for both development and production.

It is also permitted to use surface fill to dispose of a portion of mill tailings during production, and dispose of the balance of mill tailings in underground workings.

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Amador County – The Jackson Business and Community Association (JCBA) will host its membership Kick-Off party on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 6 pm in Thomi’s Café, 627 South Highway 49 in Jackson.

The new association is open to all Jackson business owners and to all others who live in Jackson or are interested in Jackson’s future vitality.

This is a city-wide group, described as “neighbors joining with neighbors in the old-fashioned Jackson way to work together for the good of the business, civic and cultural communities.”

The JCBA encourages everyone to come October 14 to Thomi’s and check out what the future can hold for Jackson.

Patrick Crew, Jackson City Council member and long-time involved resident and business owner, says “I feel this city-wide association will be an important addition to our city’s future. The Kick-Off Party is only a few weeks away. Do not miss this event!”

The JCBA invites you to meet your neighbors and share your ideas while enjoying an evening of hosted hor d’oeuvres, wine and music by Over the Edge.

For further information contact Patti Busch at 209-223-5830 or 209-217-4719.

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Amador County – The Ione City Council last week scheduled a workshop and public hearing in a joint meeting with the Amador County Board of Supervisors for later this month to discuss elements of a city annexation.

City Manager Kim Kerr said the joint meeting will take place October 28th.

Kerr said the city was told by the Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission board of directors to complete and sign an agreement with supervisors on a Sphere of Influence amendment. She said the city “council always wanted an agreement.”

Ione’s committee on the agreement met with Supervisors Louis Boitano and Richard Forster last week, and the draft agreement has been rewritten, Kerr said. She said they “eliminated some of the prior concerns,” and based the agreement somewhat on the Jackson Memorandum of Understanding with the county.

It eliminated the requirement for “pre-zoning,” Kerr said, and basically allows each party to continue what it is now doing as far as zoning and land use designation, and the “city has no jurisdiction until land is annexed.” They tried to allow the county to maintain its land use authority.

Kerr said the annexation came about when the General Plan update identified parcels that wanted to be included in the Ione Sphere of Influence, so were voluntarily added, including Q ranch. Other areas are being amended in the Sphere of Influence border to follow property lines, and one area has a “flip-flop” of land to make the sphere follow a road.

She said two properties that want to join the sphere surround another, which must also be placed into the sphere. And when that is completed, they may be able to get to LAFCO in November.

Ione City Council will hold its joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors 6 p.m. Thursday, October 28th at City Hall, after a light turnout at the last meeting, which was held at Evalyn Bishop Hall.

Also, last week, the city council asked for more information on its public facilities fees update and will set a special meeting as a workshop, at a date to be determined. Kerr said staff will bring back information in a public hearing, to discuss the impact fee changes with the public.

Staff will work on the public facilities fee update and probably return to the council by early November.

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

Amador County – GOP candidate George Runner is getting a run for his money from newcomer Chris Parker in the race for Board of Equalization in District 2.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen reported September 30th that Parker, a Democrat, has outraised Runner across the board in what is traditionally a conservative district. Up until that date, Parker had raised $72,874 compared to $64,199 raised by Runner. Parker also has more cash on hand as he entered last month, with $86,571 compared to Runner’s $61,231. Runner’s debt exceeded his cash on hand at the time of the report. His debt was $73,261 compared to $61,231 in cash.

Speaking at a private function last Thursday, Parker told TSPN he feels good about his chances, considering this is an election year where many seats on all levels of government will likely fall into Republican hands. Parker describes himself as a standout Tax Attorney for the California Franchise Tax Board who “has dedicated his career to public service by working tirelessly to hold socially irresponsible corporations and individuals accountable when they try to cheat the system.”

Runner was not available for comment at the time this story aired. “Runner believes that when people are taxed too much, liberty is lost,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, in a 60-second radio ad for the candidate. Runner is a self-proclaimed “Tea Party” supporter.

The traditionally conservative 2nd District represents 34 counties, including Amador County. One of four districts in California, it stretches from the Oregon border south to Los Angeles County and encompasses most of northern California and the central valley.

State Board of Equalization District 2 is currently represented by Barbary Alby, Acting Board Member, who is also running for State Senate in District 1.

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