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Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of a Sutter Creek man and 2 men from Citrus Heights in relation to a string of burglaries that occurred over more than a year. Sheriff Martin Ryan said in a release today that the series of burglaries occurred in the unincorporated county area off Shake Ridge Road and in the area of Willow Creek Road, between April 4, 2009 and April 13, 2010. Amador Sheriff’s “detectives conducted the investigation which connected the burglaries based in part, upon the time of day, method of entry and type of property targeted,” Ryan said. Based on the investigation conducted by ACSO detectives, arrest warrants were obtained for James Anthony Guerrero, 18, of Citrus Heights; Brandon Taylor Neuman, 19, of Citrus Heights; and Casey Robert Clark, 19, of Sutter Creek. All 3 have been arrested and charged with residential burglary. During the week of June 7th, Amador detectives arrested Guerrero, who was also charged with possession of stolen property. Guerrero’s bail was set at $60,000. Detectives also arrested Neuman, whose bail was set at $50,000. Sutter Creek Police Department arrested Clark on the burglary warrant during an unrelated traffic detention. Clark’s bail was set at $50,000. Ryan said to date more than $17,000 worth of stolen property has been recovered” by ACSO detectives. The stolen property primarily consisted of jewelry, computers and other electronics. Information obtained during the investigation indicates the suspects may be responsible for as many as 37 residential burglaries within unincorporated areas of Amador County and Citrus Heights, however, at this point the suspects have only been positively linked to 10 burglaries within Amador County. “During the course of the investigation, which included neighborhood canvases, interviews and surveillance operations, detectives obtained descriptions of 3 possible suspects and a possible vehicle used in the commission of the crimes.” A follow up investigation led to Citrus Heights, and with assistance from the Citrus Heights Police Department, some property stolen from burglaries in the Willow Creek area was recovered, dumped in a vacant lot, near one of the suspect’s residences. Ryan said that as the “burglary investigation continued, it was determined that 2 of the burglary suspects, were also the focus of a narcotics investigation being conducted by the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Taskforce.” Investigators found more stolen property that had been “hidden, pawned and/or dumped, within Amador County and within the city of Citrus Heights.” TSPN News Report. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Law Enforcement

Thursday, 17 June 2010 06:15

Huber to discuss Legislative Issues in Jackson

Amador County – A big turnout is expected to see 10th District Assemblymember and Amador County representative Alyson Huber speak this Friday (June 18th) at tiny Café de Coco in downtown Jackson. According to an announcement from Amador Democratic Central Committee Chairman Randy Bayne, Huber’s local appearance kicks off a series of forums across her district in which she’ll “discuss the state budget, the May revise, her legislative priorities, and her work on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government.” As Chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee for the state, Huber has been busy examining oversight and implementation of Federal Recovery Act funding. A recent hearing focused on oversight of ARRA funds and what is being done to prevent there waste and misuse, as well as implementation efforts. The California State Assembly this month, on an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, passed two far reaching governmental reform measures authored by Alyson Huber. The legislation if implemented will push government to identify waste, duplication and inefficiencies in state departments and agencies. Democratic Senator Mark DeSaulnier and Republican Assemblymember Roger Niello are co-authors of both bills. “For many years the legislature and the Governor have created governmental entities that were designed to solve particular problems,” Huber said at the times of the measures passage. “I think the time has come for us to review each of these bureaucracies, keep the ones that work and eliminate those that have outlived their usefulness. This will ensure taxpayers that their money is being spent wisely,” she said. Bayne encourages community members to attend the forum Friday and bring their “questions, ideas and solutions regarding state legislative issues that affect the community.” Huber is also scheduled to appear at the Rio Americano High School library in Sacramento from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22. She’ll be at the Bear Creek High School multi-purpose room in Stockton from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23. Finally she’ll appear at Rancho Murieta Country Club from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 24 and at the Monterey Trails High School theatre room from 7 to 8 p.m. on that same day. The Café De Coco lunch forum takes place this Friday (June 18) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Café de Coco in Jackson. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Thursday, 17 June 2010 06:13

AWA Hears From Jackson Prop 218 Backers

Amador County – The group Concerned Citizens of Jackson last week urged the Amador Water Agency board to support President Bill Condrashoff’s original will-serve fee payment plan, with a first payment of 10 percent. That was changed to 5 percent by the board on a 3-2 vote. The Jackson group reported on a drive to stop a rate increase in the Central Amador Water Project, with a Proposition 218 protest. Jack Georgette said he and Thornton Consolo formed Concerned Citizens of Jackson because cities were “greasing the skids for developers.” Georgette said the group plans to circulate an initiative to force a referendum that would enact Condrashoff’s 10 percent up-front will-serve fee. He said if they did not change it at last week’s meeting, he might try to write the initiative to enact a 15-20 percent first payment instead. Georgette said the group has a capable flier author in Consolo, whose fliers have been “deadly” to projects stopped in or near Jackson, such as the Wicklow Way Subdivision and Home Depot. District 2 Director Gary Thomas said such large payments were typically made in development agreements, such as JTS Communities’ $2 million water system improvements. Consolo criticized local television, newspaper and radio news coverage, saying the media ignored his group’s fights against development, especially Jackson Hills. He said “our system is paying for other systems,” and “these people are (ticked) off.” Martell resident Ken Berry said “there is a 95 percent signing rate of people contacted” about Proposition 218 to protest the CAWP rate increase. Berry also urged the board to look into the 1,705 households in CAWP, to see “who is eligible to do the Prop 218.” Condrashoff asked: “Did you tell us you believe you are going to be successful on the Prop 218 in the Upcountry?” Berry said he had “no doubt” it will succeed. Vice President Debbie Dunn said Prop 218 is getting support and will pass. She said “people stood up against Gold Rush Ranch, and people are standing up in this community.” Dunn said she wants to protect the ratepayers. Director Don Cooper said he has “heard this speech many times,” but it is AWA’s “duty to make plans relative to serving the people,” and to meet needs and replace infrastructure as it wears out. He said “we have a responsibility to serve the customers.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Water

Thursday, 17 June 2010 06:12

Gravity Supply Line Discussion Heats Up Over Fire, Water Issues

Amador County – Gravity Supply Line supporters say water will indirectly help fire suppression Upcountry, while opponents, including AWA Vice President Debbie Dunn say it is not a concern for the agency, and the GSL would over-commit the agency and be bad for ratepayers. She got support last week from the Concerned Citizens of Jackson, who urged the board to not follow its Gravity Supply Line plans. AWA is seeking a USDA grant for the GSL, which was approved to apply for in March, with Dunn and Board President Bill Condrashoff on the losing end of the 3-2 approval. Sherry Curtis urged the agency to keep pursuit of the GSL for its increase of water “pressure requirements to new development,” to help firefighting. Vice President Debbie Dunn said “there are 1,000 agencies out there that do fire. We don’t do fire.” Developer Ciro Toma said when the storage increases Upcountry, “we have to improve facilities beyond our project.” He said the Pine Acres project must build a 300,000-gallon water tank, and increase water mains from 3- and 4-inch lines (which are no good for fire) to a 10-inch line. Toma said it is required “to increase fire flow for the entire area,” and the improvements are made in addition to participation fees. He said those fees are based on figures that AWA staff came up with for improvements in the future. Martell resident Ken Berry said the agency has 50 “equivalent dwelling units” of capacity tied up in will-serves at Buckhorn, where “meters are in the ground but there is no house.” He said “you’ve got more of those than you have capacity.” Rich Farrington, a Central Amador Water Project customer, said he supported the up-front will-serve fee payments and he also supported the GSL. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Water

Thursday, 17 June 2010 06:10

Amador Voter Turnout is 7th Highest in State

Amador County – Party turnouts in Amador County ranked 7th overall of the 58 counties in California in last Tuesday’s Primary Election, according to information collected by the Amador County Elections Department. That accounts for over half of the registered voters in the County. The department lists 7,156 Democrats voters representing 34.18 percent of the all registered voters in the county, 4,195 of which voted in the latest election. Registered Republican voters equal a total of 9,404, or 44.92 percent of the overall total. Of those, 5,887 Republicans participated in Tuesday’s election. 18.75 percent of the County’s 3,381 registered nonpartisan voters cast 634 ballots on Tuesday. Another 706 citizens representing 3.37 of Amador’s registered voters also participated Tuesday, including members of the Libertarian, Peace and Freedom, Green and American Independent parties. California elections in general receive low voter turnout when compared to other states. Last week, only 24.8 percent of registered voters participated, which translates to an even lower 18.3 percent of Californians who are eligible to vote. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Wednesday, 16 June 2010 06:03

AWA Looks to Be Able to Serve Its “Will Serve”Commitments

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency last week discussed allowing new treated water connections of up to 24 in Ione, and another 186 on the Tanner plant system, as the agency reaches the “bottom of the barrel” of its capacities. General Manager Gene Mancebo said “being at the bottom of the barrel capacity is new for this agency.” The agency attorney will look into state peak flow requirements and whether the agency can allow those new hook ups, by looking at Title 22’s applicability. Mancebo said the agency is “not looking to make it a state campaign,” and hopes to handle it with the district representative of the California Department of Public Health. Ione-area developer Rob Aragon (representing Ione Villages 1 LLC and the Building Industry Association) said he wanted to confirm that a connection will be given if someone does improvements and gets a final map. President Bill Condrashoff asked what staff does when they get will-serve requests, which come in at a rate of 1 to 2 per month. Engineering Manager Erik Christesen said they had “been referring them to this board meeting.” Mancebo said: “Giving will-serves is not a board action,” but “changing agency policy is a board action.” He said they have to worry about places with existing parcels, such as at Castle Oaks, and they must prepare for people who will come and say “here’s my map, here’s my check, I want service.” He said the agency is worrying about how it should function when it tries to answer such a question for service. He said “staff has been concerned, so it was brought to the board to get direction. The board will allow 2 units to connect a month, until agency counsel Steve Kronick hears from Public Health in the next 2 weeks. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive