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Friday, 27 August 2010 06:12

AC Fair to be featured on PBS Fair series

Amador County - Huell Howser, television personality best known for California’s Gold, says he wants to “sneak preview” six episodes of a new series he produced called California’s Golden Fairs throughout the month of September. The original plan was to roll out the series in the Spring of 2011. The popular PBS travel show host was reportedly so impressed with the project that he decided to preview six episodes on PBS stations in California. The first episode to air will feature the Amador County Fair, where he interviewed CEO Troy Bowers and a host of others on the longstanding popularity and history of the local event. So far, Howser has been to eight California Fairs including Riverside County Fair, Calaveras County Fair, San Diego County Fair, El Dorado County Fair, Alameda County Fair, Marin County Fair and the Nevada County Fair. “In addition to the three fairs remaining to be featured, Huell Howser Productions will produce a compilation episode focusing on the rich history and relevance of all California fairs,” said Bowers in a release. The series will promote the awareness, importance, and relevance of California fairs. “We are grateful for the sincerity and energy Huell has put into this series and the wonderful people who participated to help make California fairs the respected and important community assets they have become,” said Bowers. The Amador County Fair episode airs on KVIE on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Friday, 27 August 2010 03:21

Sheriff seeks info regarding burglary suspect caught on ATM camera

Amador County - The Amador County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding the identity of a female burglary suspect captured on camera at an ATM. She is connected to a burglary at a residence on Carbondale Road in the unincorporated area of Plymouth. A release from the Sheriff’s Department late Wednesday said “the suspect (or suspects) forced entry into the locked residence and detached garage and stole miscellaneous items including two motorcycles, tools, four firearms, alcoholic beverages and a wallet. The wallet contained various items including a driver’s license and a debit card.” The burglary occurred between July 1 and July 5, 2010. On July 5, between 9:01 p.m. and 11:19 p.m., the suspect was captured on camera fraudulently using the victim’s debit card at a US Post Office in El Dorado Hills. The card was also used at locations within Sacramento County, including a Walmart, Chevron gas station and the Cordova Restaurant Casino. The Sheriff is asking anyone with information regarding the identity of the woman or with information regarding this or any other crime to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500 or the Amador County Secret Witness Program at (209) 223-4900. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 27 August 2010 03:14

Walgreens cuts ribbon in Sutter Creek

Amador County – The long-awaited Walgreens held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday morning in Sutter Creek. The Amador County Chamber of Commerce and store officials welcomed local dignitaries including elected officials from Sutter Creek, Amador County, and Plymouth. Branch Manager Cathy Bennett of Elk Grove welcomed several dozen people to the store, which she said opened 8 a.m. Wednesday. Closer to 10 a.m., the store’s 70 parking spaces were full, with other cars parking along the lot around the store, at the corner of Highway 49 and Ridge Road. Bennett helped cut the ribbon, thanked the crowd for attending and invited people to tour the store and shop. Amador Chamber Executive Director Jackie Lucido said she had someone repeatedly call her to ask when the Walgreens drive-through pharmacy would be open – a first for Amador County. District Manager Joe Friello, who oversees 30 Walgreens stores in the chain’s Sacramento South district, said the company is “very excited to serve this community.” He said the location was selected about 6 years ago and chosen for a number of reasons. “We look to see how we can serve a community,” Friello said. “We’re a pharmacy first.” Construction of the branch in Sutter Creek was set back earlier this year when Sutter Creek Police Chief Rob Duke reported that thieves stole copper wiring from the location. The store and parking areas have empty retail space between it and Bowers Drive, and up on the hill sits the Jackson Rancheria apartment buildings. Friello said: “We are very happy to be here. We’ve been waiting on this location for a very long time.” Attendees included Sutter Creek City Council members Pat Crosby, Sandra Anderson and Linda Rianda. District 4 Supervisor Louis Boitano and District 3 Supervisor Ted Novelli also attended, as did personalities from TSPN and Hometown Radio, along with newspaper and internet media representatives. Walgreens is located at 475 Highway 49 in Sutter Creek. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 27 August 2010 03:18

Ione Police Department's fate could be on 2012 ballot

Amador County – A group earlier this month learned it has succeeded in forcing a city-wide vote on the future of the Ione Police Department. Jim Scully of rural Amador County and Denise Robertson of Ione submitted a petition for the ballot measure, and the Amador County Elections Department certified that they had enough valid signatures to proceed with the ballot initiative. Ione City Clerk Janice Traverso said the measure would not make it on this November’s ballot. She said the election office indicated that the item instead would be placed on the next general election ballot for the city, in November 2012. Traverso said proponents turned in the petition August 15th and she must verify that information in the petition is correct. She said Scully and Robertson had 213 signatures and needed 206 to place it on the ballot. She said it “definitely will be addressed at the Sept. 7th meeting,” the next regular city council meeting. She was not sure if the city would take legal action. In February, Ione City Attorney Kristen Castanos released a title and summary of a “petition for an initiative that proposes to transfer law enforcement services from the city of Ione Police Department to the Amador County Sheriff’s Department.” Castanos said the initiative appeared to be “illegal and unconstitutional” because it “attempts to compel the county” to “take over law enforcement services for the city.” Castanos said “it’s invalid because” the “right of the city to contract for police services is vested in the council’s discretion” and is “not a proper subject for an initiative.” Scully said Wednesday that this was only Castanos’ legal opinion. He said: “This has been done in other places,” and “I don’t view that as the potentially strongest legal argument in the world.” Scully said they turned in the petition with 225 signatures on August 13th and have not received “any official word from the city.” He understood it was confirmed they had enough signatures, but they were told they did not make the November ballot. Ione City Manager Kim Kerr in a Sacramento TV news report Tuesday said Scully and Robertson’s complaints stem from a 2003 incident. But Scully said: “We’ve moved on to new problems, including two reports made by one officer” and witnesses that were not identified and not interviewed. Scully said one complaint is from a 2008 incident. Scully said: “We don’t care about 2003. It’s dead and gone,” but Tuesday “was the 3rd time the city came back and brought it up again.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 27 August 2010 03:23

Ione burglary investigation leads to 2 Sacramento suspects

Amador County – The Ione Policed Department this week said a local burglary investigation has led to two Sacramento suspects and multiple felony cases in the greater Sacramento region. IPD Chief Michael L. Johnson announced the developments in the local case in a release Thursday. Johnson said in July, Ione Police Department responded to the 800 block of Fairway Drive to a reported burglary. Officers discovered forced entry into the residence and theft of a computer, credit cards, and other personal items. Johnson said: “Over the next several days, despite cancellation of the credit cards and bank accounts, the suspect (or suspects) used the credit card to purchase thousands of dollars in merchandise and even opened a new line of credit fraudulently assuming the victims identification.” During the course of the investigation, IPD “was successful in gaining surveillance videos at locations where the merchandise had been purchased.” Johnson said Ione police identified the suspects involved, and “a search warrant was served on the suspects’ cellular phone account.” That information led authorities to a residence. Johnson said IPD “solicited the assistance of the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department to execute a felony probation search” at the residence in Sacramento County. Several stolen property items from the Ione burglary, along with other identified stolen property, was discovered in the search. The investigation has linked these suspects to at least four other burglaries in Folsom, Woodland, and the Sacramento region, Johnson said. Suspects Arnold Kang and Rosa Chang are in custody on unrelated warrants and probation violation charges. Arrests warrants for the pending burglary, possession of stolen property, forgery, and identity theft related charges are currently being sought through the Amador County District Attorney’s office. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 27 August 2010 03:25

23-year-old Plymouth woman found dead off West Clinton Road

Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday that the body of a 23-year-old Plymouth woman was found last Thursday (August 19th) in a ditch on West Clinton Road. The body was later confirmed to be that of Tiffany Ann Groza after her mother reported her missing and identified her at the coroner’s office. According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, the body was first discovered by a reporting party who tried to approach “an unfamiliar canine that had been in the area since Tuesday.” The dog “became aggressive and was protective of a brushy area in a ditch on the south side of the road” in which there appeared to be a human body. Sheriff’s Deputies confirmed the presence of a white female in the ditch before passing the case to Sheriff’s Detectives to begin the investigation. The release said “the scene was processed for potential evidence, the decedent was recovered, witnesses were interviewed and a neighborhood canvas was conducted.” An examination of Groza’s body was conducted by a forensic pathologist in Placer County on Saturday (August 21st). The examination “showed no blunt force trauma injuries, no sharp force trauma injuries, no gunshot wounds, or other apparent injuries consistent with foul play.” Toxicology results are pending and are expected in four to six weeks. “During this on-going investigation, Amador County Sheriff’s Detectives have drafted and executed search warrants and court orders, they have conducted numerous interviews and searches, and have examined and reviewed miscellaneous records and surveillance video, in an effort to reconstruct the final days of Tiffany’s life and assist in determining the cause of her death,” said the Sheriff’s Office. This investigation is continuing. No further details will be released at this time, pending additional investigation. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Friday, 27 August 2010 03:30