Tom
Thursday, 05 August 2010 06:28
Prop. 8 Ruled Unconstitutional by Federal Judge
California - Opponents of Proposition 8 were celebrating in the streets after a federal judge ruled Wednesday that the voter-approved ban on same sex marriage in California is unconstitutional. Judge Vaughn R. Walker,Chief U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of California, said in his ruling that Proposition 8 “fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license.” “Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same-sex couples,” wrote Walker. “Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.” The decision effectively overturns Proposition 8 with a temporary stay to allow suspension of the ruling pending appeal. “Justice is advancing thanks to today's ruling affirming Californians' constitutional right to marriage in faithful, same-gender relationships," said Bishop J. Jon Bruno, head of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, which has recently become one of the Christian denominations most supportive of gay rights. Gay marriage foes have already vowed to appeal the ruling all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary, saying it subverts the actions of California voters. In court papers filed Tuesday, lawyers defending Proposition 8 asked for a stay if the ruling is to declare the law unconstitutional. “A stay is essential to averting the harms that would flow from another purported window of same-sex marriage in California," wrote the lawyers. The motion indicates that the Proposition 8 defense team will immediately ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the ruling if it is not in their favor. Same-sex marriages will not be allowed to go forward until after the appeals process concludes. Wednesday’s ruling will not impact the roughly 18,000 same-sex nuptials that took place before Proposition 8 went into effect after a past state supreme court ruling that briefly legalized gay marriages in California. Proposition 8, also known as the California Marriage Protection Act, was passed by California voters with 52.24 percent approval in the November 2008 election. It added a new provision to the California Constitution which provides that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Following the passage of the amendment, mass protests took place across the state, eventually leading to several lawsuits being filed in State Supreme Court and Federal District Court, including the suit which led to Wednesday’s decision. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
State
Thursday, 05 August 2010 06:24
Sutter Creek Ends Knight Foundry Property Negotiations
Amador County - The Sutter Creek City Council has announced an end to the ongoing negotiations for property acquisition of the historic Knight Foundry in Sutter Creek. Irreconcilable differences during negotiations with the property owner and the City have caused the City Council to halt any potential purchase at this time. “Several untenable demands made by the property owner and a difficult economy have created a situation where the City Council cannot continue with the purchase of the Foundry,” Sutter Creek Mayor Pro Tempore Tim Murphy said. “While it saddens me that the purchase of the Foundry cannot happen at this time, the City Council felt the City had no choice in this matter. The structure of the purchase simply put the City at too great a risk.” The City had been negotiating with the Foundry’s property owner for more than eight years and recently was awarded several state and federal grants that were to be used for the purchase of the Foundry. The California Cultural Historical Endowment (CCHE) granted the City $870,000 in May 2008 for a partial purchase of the Foundry. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) also granted the City $600,000 in environmental clean-up grants to clean the site. The City successfully negotiated a quit-claim deed to take ownership of the property last year and has been in ongoing negotiations over the terms of the purchase since that time. The City Council felt it could not place the City in a potentially risky situation regarding indemnification for ongoing environmental contamination. The Council also felt it could not create the financial obligation that the property owner was seeking given this economic climate. “Although the City cannot consummate the purchase of the Foundry at this time, the City looks forward to continuing to work with the property owner to preserve this important piece of Sutter Creek’s history,” City Manager Sean Rabé said. “The format of that preservation is still undetermined.” The Knight Foundry is a historic, water-powered, cast iron foundry and machine shop that was established by Samuel Knight in 1872 in Sutter Creek. In uninterrupted operation until it last poured iron in 1996, it is the last American workplace where traditional cast iron foundry production processes and skills have been handed down almost unchanged. Please contact City Manager Sean Rabé with any questions at 209-267-5647. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
Local
Thursday, 05 August 2010 06:19
AC Fair Experienced Slight Decline in Attendance
Amador County – While still as popular as ever, initial figures indicate the Amador County Fair saw a slight decline overall in the number of visitors to this year’s fair. The total amount of attending customers reported as paying at the gates was 16,048. Amador County Fair CEO Troy Bowers said that overall, the fair saw a decrease of about 2 percent in gate customers. He stressed that this “is not quite 50 percent of the story” because gate figures do not include presales or sponsors and media representatives the fair provides with free passes. But, said Bowers, the overall figures “indicate a slight decline” in the number of attendees. “What our numbers are showing is that families are still struggling out there in this economy,” he said. Adult and child attendance was down 5 percent, while senior attendance was up 7 percent. Bowers said the slight dip in attendance was anticipated considering the economic climate and the numbers from last year. The 2009 Amador County Fair saw paid attendance drop by a 7/100ths of a percent decrease, and gate attendance that year was also down 466 tickets, or 2.8 percent compared to 2008. “People are coming to the fair, but these are still hard times,” said Bowers. In related news, the results are in from one of the fair’s biggest money makers: the Junior Livestock Auction. Every year, young farmhands, agriculturalists and 4H members proudly display an animal they have helped raise at an auction designed to raise money for the kids as a reward for all their hard work. Bowers said that although fewer animals were offered this year, the money made was still very high. $275,223 was grossed from the event. Bowers said that money will all go to the kids. When asked what his favorite part of this year’s fair was, Bowers said he really enjoyed the Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival. “They are really doing something special with that,” he said. “It’s a great fit for the community and I hope to see it grow.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
Local
Thursday, 05 August 2010 06:16
Ione Withdraws from Participation in Regional Planning Commission
Amador County - The Ione City Council Tuesday evening discussed whether or not they would be continuing to participate in the Regional Planning Commission. The Regional Planning Commission was created in 2007 for the purpose of providing a forum for the review, discussion, and coordination of ideas, issues, and projects that are of regional interest. Members of the Regional Planning Commission include the Amador County Board of Supervisors and the cities of Ione, Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Plymouth. On July 27th, the Amador County Board of Supervisors met and voted unanimously to discontinue their participation with the committee. The question before the Ione City Council Tuesday night was whether or not they wanted to do the same. After a short discussion by the Council on benefits versus burden, it was voted unanimously to withdraw the city’s participation in the Regional Planning Commission. The council also approved a solid waste franchise agreement with ACES at the meeting. The City Council previously adopted a new Solid Waste Franchise Agreement at the July 6th City Council meeting that is scheduled to take effect on Thursday, August 5th, 2010. The franchise agreement approved at the meeting is a 5 year non-exclusive agreement with the potential for two 5 year extensions. Per the agreement, ACES will be taking over the responsibility of emptying the trash cans on Main Street, with no cost to the City, from Ione street to the bus stop at Sacramento Street. The agreement, however, does not make pick up mandatory for the residents of Ione by ACES or any other solid waste provider. One issue not discussed during the meeting was a proposed rate increase identified by ACES. Due to time constraints, a public hearing on the proposed increases could not be noticed for the August 3rd meeting and is expected to be scheduled for the next regularly scheduled Ione City Council meeting on August 17th, with new rates potentially taking effect in September. Story by Judee Schmidt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
Local
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 06:24
Sierra Nevada Conservancy Updates Current Funding Opportunities
Amador County - The Sierra Nevada Conservancy has updated its Current Funding Opportunites page on their website. The list, which is updated monthly, includes funding opportunities, workshops, and resources specific to the Sierra region. The updated list includes ten new funding sources, webinars on USDA Rural Development renewable energy and business and cooperative programs; free classes for small business employers; an updated schedule for funding webinars and workshops; information on IRS requirements for nonprofit organizations; and registering interest in land donations from the Stewardship Council. Also on the site are 24 previously-listed opportunities that are still current, as well as information and other resources for potential grant applicants. The newly-listed funding sources include the following topic areas: support for artistic creativity and innovativeness and to encourage making the arts more widely available in underserved communities; funding for bicycle parks, paths, trails, BMX facilities and large scale advocacy initiatives; funding for public water system facilities which include sources, treatment, distribution, and storage in both the preconstruction and construction phases; land acquisition that conserves important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants; the Sierra Nevada meadow restoration; National, Regional, State, and local energy efficiency programming through market-based approaches in delivery and design to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in homes and businesses; small business innovation research on agricultural problems including rural development, marketing and trade, air, water, and soil; animal production and protection; plant production and protection; food science and nutrition; biofuel and biobased products; the preservation of art, historical documents, and artifacts held in small to mid-size museums, libraries, and archives. Topics also include threats to biodiversity such as global climate change, loss of species and habitat destruction, toxins in the environment, waste generation, air pollution, and funding for recreational trails and trail-related projects for both motorized and non-motorized opportunities. New information, opportunities, and revisions are expected to be updated in late August. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy initiates, encourages, and supports efforts that improve the environmental, economic, and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region, its communities, and the citizens of California. Via Press Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
News Archive
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 06:28
Amador-based Fire Crews Assist in Fighting Palmdale Blaze
Amador County – Amador County-based fire crews have joined other firefighters in the region to assist in fighting fires in the Palmdale area of southern California. Last Thursday, 50 firefighters and 10 engines from the Sacramento region were sent south, according to Cal Fire. Officials said five engines from Cal Fire's Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit met with five companies from the Amador-El Dorado region in Auburn as the convoy readied to leave. Cal Fire said yesterday that most of those crews have now returned home safely. The wildfire that started five days ago has now consumed 13,918 acres in a blazing inferno. More than seven square miles were scorched, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes in the hills of northern Los Angeles County. As of Monday night, fire officials estimated that the fire was 97 percent contained. The cause of the blaze, which started around 2 a.m. last Thursday, remains under investigation. Authorities suspect the flames may have been ignited by someone working on their car in the Agua Dulce area. Final damage estimates have yet to be tallied. The cost of fighting the fire so far has not been determined. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
News Archive
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 06:30
2010 Miss Amador Announced
Amador County - The results are in for the popular 2010 Miss Amador County and Mutton Bustin’ contests that took place at this year’s Amador County Fair. In the Miss Amador contest, the top honor went to Rachel Jenkins. First Runner Up was Arielah Dreksler, Second Runner Up was Morgan Hirschel, Third Runner Up was Savannah Gray and Fourth Runner Up was Angela Faryan. The 1st place “mutton buster” was Elise Lenz, followed by Luke Vasquez in 2nd place and Luke Hermanson in 3rd place. Congratulations to both the winners and competitors in these fun and popular events! Story by Alex This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
News Archive
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 06:32
Amador County Fair Destruction Derby, Survivor Winners Announced
Amador County – The Amador County Fair wrapped up Sunday with winners in the Destruction Derby and the Amador Survivor Competition. Amador Survivor contestants faced their final challenge of their competition at the Destruction Derby opening festivities Sunday night. Contestants did their own version of the traditional Miss Amador court mud puddle dive, winning points for public acclaim of their style and effort. Amelio Petretti, representing Common Ground Senior Services, pulled ahead of Christian Mullen of the Amador Catholic Youth Group in the final event to win Amador Survivor. Petretti won $500 for his charity and $500 for himself. Other survivor contestants were James Tari representing A-Pal, and Jeremy Arellano representing the Amador Pregnancy Help Center. In Destruction Derby action, Chris Gascon returned to win 1st place, Ryan Duke took 2nd place with honors, and Bryon Belany came in 3rd. Via Press Release This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
News Archive
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 06:34
Mission Boulevard Extension Opens to Public
Amador County - The new Mission Boulevard extension in Jackson officially opened on Tuesday afternoon. The recently completed project extends the Mission Boulevard cul-de-sac near Sutter Amador Hospital to intersect with Broadway for the cost of roughly $1 million. Completion of the project fulfills a commitment made to the Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans by the City of Jackson that this roadway segment would be constructed by 2014.
“This project will improve local and regional traffic circulation, reducing congestion at the busiest intersection in the County at Highway 49 and 88 adjacent to the Jackson Civic Center,” said Jackson City Manager Mike Daly at a groundbreaking ceremony last month. The ceremony was attended by the Jackson City Council and various other dignitaries. Sutter Amador Hospital CEO Anne Platt said extending the road was a “tremendous opportunity to serve the community.” District 1 Supervisor John Plasse, representing the Amador County Transportation Commission (ACTC), said the commission “is proud of this project.” The project is partly financed by a state grant and Regional Traffic Mitigation Fees. In addition, ACTC obtained a Proposition 1B State and Local Partnership Program grant to fund half the construction costs. This is a competitive statewide grant program in which the Mission Boulevard project ranked No. 1 in the state. City of Jackson and ACTC staff led the effort, including design, applying for funding and acquiring rights of way. The original construction estimate was $1.6 million. Daly said they were in “a favorable bidding climate” that lowered construction costs. ACTC said in a release that “this project exemplifies the benefit agency and community cooperation can provide when construction activity is so scarce.” In an announcement Tuesday, Daly said the remaining punch list items were recently completed and the road officially opened at approximately 4 p.m. that day. “We're holding off on any official ribbon-cutting until Labor Day weekend, when officials from St. Sava Mission and the Western Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church will be in town for their annual gathering,” said Daly. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
News Archive
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 06:26
Lyme Disease Documentary to Play in Pine Grove
Amador County - Every year it is estimated that thousands of patients with Lyme disease may go either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The new documentary “Under Our Skin”, a 2010 Academy Award Semifinalist, aims to expose our medical systems failure in addressing one of the most serious epidemics of our times. A dramatic tale of microbes, medicine, and money, this eye-opening film investigates the untold story of Lyme disease and the emerging epidemic. Lyme disease was first discovered in the 1970’s around the town of Lyme, Connecticut and has since become known as one of the most misunderstood and potentially misdiagnosed illnesses of our time. Lyme disease is a vector borne illness transmitted from the bite of an infected deer tick, in California the only known tick to transmit Lyme disease is the Western Black-legged tick. According to the Centers for Disease Control, early indicators of the disease typically include flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, and fatigue. Other symptoms may include: swollen lymph nodes, joint and muscle pain, and a circular “bulls-eye like” rash. While many of the symptoms of Lyme disease may clear up without treatment, the disease does require antibiotics. If left untreated Lyme disease may lay dormant for days, weeks, months, or even years before potentially affecting any of the bodies’ organs, muscles, and nervous system. The CDC admits that perhaps more than 400,000 people may acquire Lyme disease every year, a number greater than that of AIDS, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu combined. “Under Our Skin” follows the stories of patients and physicians as they battle for both their lives and livelihoods; the film brings into focus the haunting picture of our current health care system and the inability to cope with the silent terror hidden under our skin. The film, which had been shown earlier this summer in San Andreas, drew a small crowd and was followed by the presentation “Prevention: Reduce Your Chances of a Tick Bite & Lyme Disease,” by Steve Diers, a Ranger/Naturalist with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). “Under Our Skin” will be shown again on August 14th at the New Life Christian Center in Pine Grove off of Highway 88 at 4 p.m. The film will be immediately followed by a question and answer session. Story by Judee Schmidt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in
News Archive
