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Monday, 20 September 2010 06:22

Public Health to hold second free Tdap clinic

slide4-public_health_to_hold_second_free_tdap_clinic.pngAmador County - Amador County Public Health Department will hold another free Tdap clinic in response to a whooping cough epidemic in California which health officials are calling the worst in 50 years. So far, seven infants have died in the state. Three cases have been confirmed in Amador County. In response, Amador County Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann is spreading the word about awareness and prevention. “The number of whooping cough cases reported this year is seven times greater than last year in the state,” said Hartmann recently. “All seven deaths reported in California were infants under three months old.” Hartmann said whooping cough is the leading vaccine-preventable disease. Known medically as pertussis, the disease is considered incredibly contagious, affecting close to 90 percent of those exposed to it, says the CDC. Close to 70 percent of infants under a year old are hospitalized. Babies are particularly susceptible because they have no natural immunity to whooping cough. According to state reports, the number of whooping cough cases tends to peak every two to five years. “We usually see an up tick in the number of whopping cough cases every 2 to 5 years,” said Joanne Hasson, Amador County Public Health Nurse. “It’s cyclical and not unusual.” In anticipation of the outbreak, Amador County has stocked up on Tdap, the most common vaccine for the highly contagious disease. Hasson said the youngest children get a slightly different formulation. She said a lot of people have been coming in for vaccinations recently, mostly for what is known as “cocooning.” The “cocoon” strategy aims to protect newborn infants from becoming infected by administering the Tdap vaccine to women who have just had babies and family members and friends who make frequent contact with the newborn. In order to successfully avoid infection, Hasson said children should receive vaccinations at 2, 4 and 6 months, 15 to 18 months and a final shot between 4 to 6 years old. “Basically, kids should get five valid doses before the age of seven,” she said. A free “Tdap” (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine clinic is scheduled from 2:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 22 at the Health and Human Services Building in Sutter Creek for people 17 years old or older. A parent or guardian must be present with minors under age 18. For other regularly scheduled immunization clinics, call Amador Public Health Immunization Line at 223-6697. For Spanish, call 223-6642. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
slide1-accc_candidate_forum_oct._5_ione_forum_sept._29.pngAmador County - The Amador County Child Care Council announced this week it will host a candidates forum on October 5th. All candidates running for federal, state, city council and school board offices have been invited. This includes District 3 Congressional candidates, State Senate and Assembly candidates, water agency candidates, and all candidates for seats in local city council races. Each attending candidate will be given the opportunity to make an opening statement and rebuttal/comment opportunities on questions developed by the Resource Conservation District. ACCC Manager Joyce Stone said in a release that this forum will be a good time to ask “questions about the issues that affect you and your family.” The forum will be moderated by Jack Mitchell, Publisher of the Ledger-Dispatch. The forum will take place at the County Administrative Building at 810 Court Street in Jackson in the Supervisors' Chambers. It is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm and end at 8:30 pm. The public is encouraged to attend. Stone will discuss the forum in more detail during an interview scheduled for TSPN’s noon news on October 1st. For more information call Joyce Stone at 209-257-5303. In related news, the City of Ione is holding a Candidate’s Forum on Wednesday, September 29th, at 7:00 pm in Evalynn Bishop Hall. Three of the six Ione candidates who are running for office will be attending—Lee Ard, Dan Epperson and Ron Smylie. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010 07:10

Ione police arrest 2 on meth, heroin charges

slide2-ione_police_arrest_2_on_meth_heroin_charges.pngAmador County – The Ione Police Department turned a traffic stop last week into felony arrests for possession and transportation of methamphetamine and heroin by two local men. Chief Michael Johnson said a “proactive enforcement stop” by the Ione police “spoiled the weekend for two local felons in possession of methamphetamine and heroin.” Johnson said that an IPD officer’s “keen observations and subsequent traffic enforcement stop” led to the arrest of two men at about 5:30 p.m. Friday, September 17th. A parolee Timothy Mitchell, 50, and Sean Tatum, 26, were booked into the Amador County Jail on charges related to transportation and possession of narcotics. Johnson said: “Upon conducting the traffic stop the IPD officer immediately recognized both occupants of the vehicle from prior law enforcement contacts.” Mitchell, a passenger in the vehicle had an outstanding misdemeanor drug-related warrant for his arrest. Mitchell was placed into custody immediately and was found to have drug paraphernalia on his person. An Amador County Sheriff”s Office K-9 deputy arrived at the scene to back up the IPD officer, and the K-9 officer and his partner conducted a search of the vehicle. Johnson said the “K-9 alerted on locations within the interior of the car.” He said syringes loaded with suspected methamphetamine and a baggy containing suspected heroin were recovered in the search. Tatum, who was driving the vehicle, was placed in custody. The vehicle was towed from the scene and both men were booked into jail on the drug related charges. Johnson said the investigation showed another example of the “cooperation between law enforcement agencies” in the “continued effort to protect and serve the interest of the Amador County community.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010 07:08

Sutter Creek MOU cuts SEIU 10% over 2 years

slide3-_sutter_creek_mou_cuts_seiu_10_over_2_years.pngAmador County – The Sutter Creek City Council in its first meeting this month approved an agreement with its employees’ union that includes a 10 percent cut in hours over two years. The council on September 7th approved the agreement on a 4-0 vote, with Tim Murphy absent. Acting City Manager Sean Rabe said in a staff report that the miscellaneous employees, represented by the Services Employees International Union, agreed to a 10 percent furlough, equal to 26 work days per year, along with other reductions that will save the city’s General Fund almost $38,000 over two years. The first year of the contract will save about $15,000 and the second year will save $22,624, Rabe said. As part of the agreement, the city will no longer pay “the employee’s side of Social Security” and Medicare, effective in the second year of the agreement, beginning July 1st, 2011. Vacation buy-back continues to be suspended for fiscal year 2010, Rabe said. The city will discontinue paying the employees’ side of retirement, he said, with that savings “rolled into salary on a cost-neutral basis for the city.” The agreement includes a “reopener clause for mid-year adjustment,” which will be activated if “projected General Fund balances change by 10 percent or more.” Rabe said the city and the SEIU have been negotiating the agreement since April. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.