Tom

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 03:24

CAL FIRE Anticipates Difficult Fire Season

Amador County - The Amador-El Dorado-Sacramento-Alpine Unit of CAL FIRE is reminding everyone that we are moving into a period of increased risk of wildfires. Although there has been an unusually wet and extended spring, temperatures will be increasing and humidities will be decreasing, drying out the lighter vegetation such as grass and increasing the risk of wildfires. Summer will be here soon and CAL FIRE anticipates that wildfires will be unusually difficult and hazardous to firefighters due to the amount of broken off or crushed to the ground trees from the December snow storm and an unusually thick and tall grass crop. Unit Fire Chief Bill Holmes reminds everyone to clean up around their property now making a 100 foot defensible space around all structures. Lastly, although dooryard burning is allowed with a burning permit now, there will be a burn ban around July 1. Visit CAL FIRE's website at www.fire.ca.gov or www.readyforwildfire.org for more information or call (530) 644-2345 for a free brochure. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Fire

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 03:18

AM Live - 6-2-10: Wine, Dine and Good Times with Gale

Published in Wine, Dine, & Good Times

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 03:14

AM Live - 6-2-10: Roaring Camp

Published in AML

Tuesday, 01 June 2010 06:17

Mule Creek Inmate Gets 25 to Life For Murdering Cellmate

Amador County – Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe announced today (June 1) that Kenneth Morton, an inmate in Mule Creek State Prison, was sentenced on May 27, 2010 to a term of 25 years to life in state prison for the first degree murder of cellmate David Noles. On August 30, 2010, Mule Creek Correctional officers discovered inmate Noles dead in his cell. An autopsy was conducted and it was determined that the inmate died of asphyxia due to massive blunt force trauma to the neck. District Attorney Investigator John D’Agostini met with a witness who stated that Morton, 43, had admitted to him that he had killed the victim by choking and hitting the victim in the throat because he was upset that the victim was selling their toilet paper. D’Agostini and District Attorney Investigator Ron Rios interviewed Morton, who admitted to killing the victim while intoxicated from drinking “pruno,” an inmate manufactured wine. Morton was serving a sentence of 15 years to life in state prison for second degree murder at the time he killed his victim. Pursuant to the sentence, Morton must serve his current term first before his first degree murder term begins. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Tuesday, 01 June 2010 06:14

Laurie Amick Named New Amador High Principal

Amador County – Amador County School Superintendent Dick Glock announced Friday that a new principal has been selected for Amador High School, after current principal Alan Van Velzen resigned to take the same job in Bishop. Glock said Ione Elementary School Principal Laurie Amick will take over as the new Amador High principal effective July 1st. Amick, in an introductory letter to staff, said she looks “forward to becoming part of the staff at Amador High School” and its “wonderful community of educators.” She said: “I clearly understand that our major task is support and refinement of existing programs and ideas.” Amick has been principal at Ione Elementary for about 18 months, and has 7 years’ experience as a high school teacher. The principal position is non-teaching. Vice Principal Tom Littlefair will remain at Amador High. She planned to be at Amador High today (Tuesday, June 1st) to observe schedule building, and will try to meet staff as well. Glock said Van Velzen will finish out this year as principal, with his term ending June 30th. Van Velzen applied for and was selected to be the next principal at Bishop High School, Glock said. Amick in her letter last week to staff said she has been in education for 22 years, has a bachelor of arts degree in music and a minor in theater, and has single- and multiple-subject teaching credentials. She began teaching in Union City. In 1994, she became a drama teacher at Amador Valley High in Pleasanton, where she taught for 7 years. The drama department expanded and joined the International Thespian Society, and she “collaborated with English and social studies departments to support cross-curricular learning.” She moved to Amador County with her husband in 2000, and has held various positions in Amador County Unified. Amick said she is an “active member of the community” and she sings with 2 local music groups: Mimosa and the SpeakEazy Jazz Orchestra. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Tuesday, 01 June 2010 06:16

Calif. Dept. of Education Closes Zysman Harassment Appeal

Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District released a copy of a letter last week from the California Department of Education that said an appeal will be closed on district action in relation to alleged religious harassment of a student. Sharon Felix-Rachon, director of the state education department’s Office of Equal Opportunity, wrote a May 12th letter to School Superintendent Dick Glock, saying her office had “completed our review of the appeal filed by Etan E. Rosen on behalf” of Justin Zysman, an Amador High School student, and his mother, Molly Zysman. Rosen alleged that Justin “was subjected to harassment based on his religion and that the district failed to address the situation.” Felix-Rachon’s letter said: “Following our review of all materials submitted, we have determined that the appeal does not warrant further review by the California Department of Education and will be closed effective the date of this letter.” Felix-Rachon said the “appeal cites disagreement with the district’s decision but offers no issues of dispute or where the law has been misapplied.” She said the complaint was filed “well beyond the 6-month timeline” as required by law, and additionally that the “review has revealed that the district took immediate and appropriate action when the issues were brought to their attention without the filing of a formal complaint.” She said the state department of education “has no authority to intervene.” Justin Zysman, who is Jewish, said his locker in the sports dressing room at Amador High was defaced with a swastika and the words “burn Jew burn,” and said he was regularly harassed by students for his religious beliefs. The Zysmans alleged that the harassment was improperly handled by teachers and administration at the school. Glock, in a January school board meeting, said the district “has been very direct in addressing specific acts of intolerance.” He also summarized current or upcoming programs introduced by Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Chapin-Pinotti designed to address issues including violence prevention, tolerance, stereotyping, bullying, prejudices, sexual harassment and empowering leaders. The school board was urged by members of Bnai Israel Foothill Jewish Community congregation to take a more broad approach to combat intolerance. The school board and Bnai members exchanged letters and comments saying they shared the same concerns. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Tuesday, 01 June 2010 06:11

Plymouth OKs Process Agreement With Reeder Sutherland

Amador County – The Plymouth City Council approved a “processing agreement” with the city’s biggest potential developer last week, with the aim to increase deposits and decrease city spending before reimbursement. The council voted 3-0 to approve the agreement with Reeder Sutherland, which is working on the Shenandoah Ridge and Zinfandel housing developments in Plymouth. Reeder had discussed the agreement with city staff and had already signed it when the council considered it last Thursday. Community Development Director Barry Siebe recommended changing the existing 2007 reimbursement agreement, which “has left the city with a burden of unpaid expenditures when applications stall.” He said considering actual costs for applications and “oversight and management of consultants” led to “the development of a different approach which requires advancement of funds prior to authorization of work” to be done for the developer. It also considered “financial coverage of previously unconsidered cost.” Siebe said the agreement “requires funds on deposit to be held above a particular level” of $20,000 “prior to authorization for any work to begin or continue.” The agreement also allows for the payment of an “administration charge” of 15 percent of the cost to pay consultants or city staff for work on the projects. The payment is to the city “for administering and overseeing the work.” Councilman Jon Colburn asked to be able to read the agreement, and Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin called a recess, then they reopened the meeting and with Councilman Mike O’Meara voted approval. Mayor Pat Fordyce and Councilwoman Pat Shackleton were absent. The council also heard from County Assessor Jim Rooney, who told them that his office has contacted more than 3,500 homeowners, but had not reached all people. He said if people think their assessment is too high, they should call his office. He said the economy was slowly on the way back, but had to level off or go negative before it rebounds. He said county home values were a little low now, but they “were just too high” 4 or 5 years ago, when homes sold for as much as $600,000. He said that is the equivalent of $500 a month in property taxes. The Plymouth City Council next meets June 10th. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Tuesday, 01 June 2010 06:12

Ione Quiet as Anti-Police Petition Period Continues

Amador County – A signature-gathering period continues for a pair of locals trying to put Ione Police Department’s fate to a vote. The Ione City Council will see if it needs to answer an August 15th call to protect its police department. Denise Robertson of Ione and Jim Scully of the Jackson Valley requested a title and summary for a ballot measure in February. Since then, they have been able to gather signatures on the measure, called “the City of Ione Law Enforcement Service Act.” It is an “initiative that proposes to transfer law enforcement services from the city of Ione Police Department to the Amador County Sheriff’s Department.” Last month, City Clerk Janice Traverso said the city attorney provided an “initiative check list” that spelled out when the signatures are due. It said signatures and all portions of the initiative must be filed 180 from the day the petitioners received the title and summary. The title and summary were received February 16th, Traverso said, so the deadline ends August 15th. City Attorney Kristen Castanos in February supplied the measure title. Castanos said the initiative appears 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.” Councilman Lee Ard said “nobody has seen anybody on Main Street,” or at the Ione Picnic, trying to gather signatures, and there has been no talk in his Castle Oaks neighborhood. He said “95% of people in Ione think the whole thing is ridiculous, and would in no way, shape or form support it.” He did not think it should have gotten to the stage it did. Ard and Vice Mayor David Plank supported filing suit to stop the initiative, but the council majority wanted to wait to see how it played out with the public. Ard said the city has excellent police staff, “and they deserve our support.” He said if Scully and Roberston “don’t get enough signatures by the deadline, then it dies.” They need 206 signatures to place the measure on the ballot. Ard said the “damage has kind of been done” by council inaction, but at least it “finally voted to say they don’t agree with the initiative.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Tuesday, 01 June 2010 06:21