Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-5-12 - TSPN's Tom Slivick talks with City Manager Sean Rabe for an update on Sutter Creek City Council budget update. 

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-6-12 - TSPN's Tom Slivick talks with Jim McHargue, director of the Amador County Waste Management Department about new commercial and multi-unit housing recycling and diversion mandates coming into effect July 1. 

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-5-12

• Amador County Supervisors approved 25 equivalent workforce reductions, pending a potential restoration of funds from the state.

• AWA directors seek outside assessment of agency financial systems.

• Education and career fair will help encourage local employment, small business development, and higher education

• RCRC supports AB1506, which would completely repeal the State Responsibility Area fire fees.

• Amador Supervisors OK layoffs, pending potential $1.1 million restoration of ERAF funding in the governor’s budget.  

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-6-12

• The Lone Wolf is Howling Again at Jackson Rancheria.

• PUSH America rides into Jackson for Arc BBQ.

• Upcountry Community Council looks for input on Buckhorn Town Center from 64 area property owners.

• Sierra Century releases bicycle road tour schedule to raise awareness for Amador County drivers for June 16 tour ride.  

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-6-12

• The Lone Wolf is Howling Again at Jackson Rancheria.

• PUSH America rides into Jackson for Arc BBQ.

• Upcountry Community Council looks for input on Buckhorn Town Center from 64 area property owners.

• Sierra Century releases bicycle road tour schedule to raise awareness for Amador County drivers for June 16 tour ride.  

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 6-6-12 - TSPN's Tom Slivick talks with Jim McHargue, director of the Amador County Waste Management Department about new commercial and multi-unit housing recycling and diversion mandates coming into effect July 1. 

Amador County – On Monday, several dozen local dignitaries attended the celebratory opening of Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort’s signature restaurant, the Lone Wolf Restaurant & Lounge, located at the heart of the casino.

The exclusive reception at the new venue was an invitation to come and see why the Rancheria says the Lone Wolf Restaurant & Lounge is a “casual steakhouse with a flavor for all.”

Two weeks ago, May 22, the Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort announced the reopening of their flagship restaurant the Lone Wolf Restaurant & Lounge. The restaurant is located upstairs in the Casino and features luxury and comfort combined with approachable entrees focused on local quality ingredients and precise execution.

The lounge opens daily at 4 p.m. with fine liqueurs and spirits plus a great variety of California wines. Food service is available seven days a week.

The restaurant opens at 5 p.m. and is closed Monday and Tuesday. It has both indoor and veranda seating. For reservations call 209-223-WOLF (9653) or visit JacksonCasino.com.

Lone Wolf is the third of five new restaurants opening at Jackson Rancheria this year. JoBo’s Junction coffee and pastry bar opened earlier this year offering specialty coffee drinks, fresh pastries, salads, sandwiches and more.

Also in May, the Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort opened the Pacific Grill, a quick service restaurant offering Asian and American cuisine. Its Asian Grill portion opened May 30 offering Southeast Asian wok specialties, Vietnamese style grilled meat and rice bowls, dim sum, pho noodle bowls, and family style dishes like a half chicken fried or poached and whole fish steamed or fried.

The California Grill portion was to open today, that is Wednesday, June 6. The California Grill will be the new home of Uncle Bud’s burgers, garlic fries, Indian tacos and fry bread, sandwiches, salads and pizzas. The Pacific Grill will open daily at 11 a.m.

A fourth restaurant to open later this year at the Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort will be the 24-hour Margaret’s Café & Bakery.

Located in the Sierra foothills town of Jackson, the Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort is owned by the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians, a federally recognized Indian tribe.

A sovereign government, the Rancheria is dedicated to developing projects that not only enhance the tribe’s ability to remain self-reliant, but also reflect a commitment to be a good neighbor.

Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort is located at 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson. For more information visit JacksonCasino.com or call 800-822-WINN (9466).

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Amador County – For the 23rd time in as many years, the Arc of Amador and Calaveras counties welcomed bicycle tour riders from across the county to St. Sava Mission in Jackson as a fundraiser and awareness-raiser for people with developmental disabilities.

Mike Sweeney, executive director of Arc of Amador and Calaveras Counties made the 23rd trip of the PUSH America Journey of Hope his own special fundraiser, and his last project to operate for Arc as he closes a 23-and-a-half year career with Arc with a retirement effective at the end of June.

Sweeney also made it a personal farewell by riding with the PUSH America riders, all college students or graduates, and members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, which has been holing its PUSH America national fundraiser for 35 years, and its Journey of Hope for 25 years now.

Ricky Rascon of New Mexico, the PUSH America public relations road liaison, said he has been involved since riding the trip in 2009. Now he is a recent graduate and intern for the PUSH America project. He said the ride gives $1,000 back to the host community organizations who host the Friendship Visits, as Arc has done since Sweeney took over as executive director in 1989.

The Journey of Hope is made to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities by raising money and awareness in a 4,000-mile cycling event across the country, which started Sunday, June 3 when 30 Pi Kappa Phi riders left San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge, and plan to end the trip Aug. 5 in Washington, D.C. Sweeney left San Francisco on Sunday with the group, but rode his own route and shorter schedules. He said he missed the rain on Monday and joined the riders Tuesday near Tonzi Road for the ride into Jackson.

PUSH publicist Ricky Rascon had this to say about the fundraiser. The 30 riders stopped to stage their descent into Jackson gathering at Vista Park on Highway 49, where Jackson City Councilmen Wayne Garibaldi and Keith Sweet and City Manager Mike Daly welcomed the group.

The team arrived at St. Sava Mission at about noon, met by participants of Arc of Amador and Calaveras Counties, which provides services to people with disabilities, including assisted living, working and travel. At 5 p.m., PUSH America riders were to be provided dinner by the Jackson Lion’s Club at Mel and Faye’s Diner.

Rascon, the traveling publicist, said three routes will be taken on the trek. A “TransAmerica” route of 30 riders left Seattle on May 31. The 27 north route riders left San Francisco on Sunday and arrived in Jackson on Tuesday, and the South Route riders, a group of 30 riders, will leave Los Angeles on June 11.

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Amador County – Upcountry Community Council is seeking input from Buckhorn area property owners on Amador County’s “Town center” designation for the area.

UCC Chairwoman Lynn Morgan sent a letter to 64 Buckhorn property owners whose addresses were provided by the County, and she thanked Supervisor Ted Novelli. Morgan sent Council members a copy of the final version of the letter (mailed May 31) in case they have questions.

Morgan in the letter said “Upcountry Community Council has started a discussion on how to create a unique identity for the Buckhorn Area. We think that developing a strong mountain-oriented theme could emphasize the area’s identity, making it a more attractive place to shop.”

She said: “This could increase the value of properties and the community as a whole and strengthen its economic viability in the future.” The Amador County Supervisors’ “proposed County General Plan designates Buckhorn as a Town Center in Pioneer, adding focus to the area. Under this new designation, the County will be reviewing zoning and making decisions about future development in the community.”

Morgan said it “opens up the opportunity for us to provide guidance to the County in advance of future decisions in the area. For these reasons it is timely to discuss ideas about the future of the Buckhorn Town Center area.”

Some ideas UCC has mentioned are developing a logo, placing entrance signs at each end of the area, and looking at how to develop and promote a “mountain architectural” theme for properties visible from Highway 88.

The Council is made up of any community members who attend, and make decisions on consensus of those present. Morgan said the Council “would like to communicate the results of our community discussions with the County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.”

In the letter, she asked property owners if they would be willing to join the Council for a pot luck dinner and discussion about the Buckhorn area at the July 9 UCC meeting. Those unable to attend were encouraged to share thoughts about the issue with UCC by phone or e-mail.

Morgan said the “purpose of this potluck will be to host property owners defined in the current, proposed Buckhorn Town Center to begin to gather feedback about our desires for that Town Center area.”

UCC next meets 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 11 at the Veterans Memorial Hall on Buckhorn Ridge Road in Pioneer. Morgan said the meeting will primarily focus on determinants of fire insurance costs Upcountry. One speaker will be Anne Lintz from State Farm Insurance and may have experts from county fire agencies.

The Monday meeting will also “tie up details” of the July 9 potluck meeting.

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Amador County – The Sierra Century bicycle tour returns to Amador and El Dorado County roads next weekend, and the tour co-directors announced the schedule to help local drivers be aware of when and where up to 1,500 riders will be riding across the Mother Lode, next Saturday, June 16, starting in Plymouth.

Sierra Century co-director Bud Leland said the Sierra Century Bicycle Event is a “ride” but it is not a “race” and there are no road closures. He released a list that includes only the major roads and approximate times.

The Sierra Century starts Saturday, June 16, at the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth and riders go to Howard Park in Ione. Expect riders between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., along Old Sacramento Road and Irish Hill Road.

From Howard Park, riders go to Sutter Creek, between 7 a.m. and noon on State Roade 104 and Sutter-Ione Road.

The next leg is between Sutter Creek and Fiddletown on Sutter Creek-Volcano Road, Rams Horn Grade, Shake Ridge Road and Fiddletown Road between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

From Fiddletown, there are two routes. Some bicyclists will go to Indian Diggings School, between noon and 3 p.m. via Tyler Road, Bridgeport School Road, Cedar Creek Road, Mt. Aukum Road, Fairplay Road, Perry Creek Road, and Slug Gulch. Another route from Fiddletown will go to back to the Fairgrounds on Fiddletown Road between noon and 3 p.m.

The route splits again. Some riders will go from Indian Diggings School to Highway 88, via Omo Ranch Road, between 2-5 p.m. Other riders will go from Indian Diggings School to the Fairgrounds on Omo Ranch Road and East 16 Highway, between 2-5 p.m.

Other riders will travel from Highway 88 to the Fairgrounds on Shake Ridge Road, Fiddletown Road, and Shenandoah Road between 2-5 p.m. CHP reminds drivers that bicycle riders have the same rights as vehicles on the roads.

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