Tom
Monday, 29 March 2010 18:00
Buena Vista Biomass Power SEIR Scoping Wednesday
Amador County – Amador County Planning Department hosts a scoping meeting Wednesday for a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report on a possible use permit change for the former Cogen plant on Coal Mine Road near Ione. Earlier this month, the county Technical Advisory Committee found that a Subsequent EIR would be required for Buena Vista Biomass Power in its efforts to change operations at the former wax plant, to convert it to a power plant, burning only woody “biomass” fuel. Planner Nathan Lishman issued a notice of preparation of the Subsequent EIR, with a “public scoping meeting” to be held 2:30 p.m. Wednesday (March 31st) at the Amador Board of Supervisors’ Chambers in Jackson. The notice, made March 16th, was to provide “responsible agencies, organizations and interested parties” with “sufficient information describing the project and its potential environmental effects.” Amador County Planning is lead agency in the SEIR. Buena Vista Biomass seeks a facility use permit amendment for the facility. The project has a “conditional use permit” issued in 1983, but the applicant “has proposed project modifications requiring an amendment to that permit.” A county EIR was done in 1983, and an Amador Air District Supplemental EIR was done in 1997, for the cogeneration facility located at the project site. Lishman said Amador County and Buena Vista Biomass “have mutually determined” that under California Environmental Quality Act law, a Subsequent EIR is the “appropriate environmental document” to review the project. Lishman said “the existing facility has experienced a lapse in operations.” Also, its “project-specific and cumulative traffic impacts may have changed from those analyzed in previous EIRs, and previous EIRs did not evaluate the project’s greenhouse gas emissions,” now required under CEQA. An Initial Study identifies the potential environmental effects of the project. Written comments must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. April 15. The Notice of Preparation and Initial Study are available for public review at the county administration building and at Amador County Library branches in Jackson and Ione. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Monday, 29 March 2010 18:00
Amador County Awarded $30K in Supplemental Funding for Homeless, Hungry
Amador County - Amador County was recently awarded funding under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to further improve and supplement local support services for hungry and homeless peoples in our area. This is the 28th consecutive year that this grant award has been given to Amador County. The county will receive $31,094 for 2010. A recent press release said the Amador County Local Federal Emergency Management Agency Board met Monday, March 29 at 9 a.m. to determine how the funds will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs in the county. Last year, the local board distributed $43,178 in regular funds and $15,667 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds among Interfaith Food Bank, Operation Care and A-TCAA emergency shelter program. In 2009, these agencies provided more than 9,000 nights of lodging and more than 20,000 meals to homeless persons and households in need. The Amador local board consists of members and agencies of the community from law enforcement, the Salvation Army, Interfaith Food Bank, American Red Cross, Amador County Social Services, A-TCAA, churches and other local faith-based organizations. The award to Amador County was made by a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, consisting of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Council of Jewish Federation, Catholic Charities, USA National Council of Churches of Christ and the United Way of America. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Monday, 29 March 2010 18:00
Community Meetings Address Educational Funding Crisis
Amador County – In response to public concern over school district budget cuts and impending layoffs, the Amador County Unified School District has scheduled community meetings where residents will have a forum to voice their concerns. Over the past three years, the district has been reduced $14 million in revenue from the state. In a recent interview with TSPN, Superintendent Dick Glock said the district is left with few options and must explore different ways to make up the difference, including reductions in classroom size and staff. “There is no good outcome to actions we must take. It’s about financial survival, not about what’s good for kids and students,” said Glock. The school board recently authorized notices of dismissal to be sent to 56 district and 10 special education employees. Glock said if they laid off everyone on the list they “still would be a million dollars short” of breaking even. While the number of layoffs expected locally is small compared to bigger districts, the percentage of teachers facing unemployment is huge. 26 percent of ACUSD and Amador Office of Education teachers are expected to receive pink slips. The district is encouraging the public to contact their elected officials “who make the decisions that threaten schools.” These include Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Dave Cox and Assembly member Alyson Huber. The community meetings have already begun and will be held at every school site within the ACUSD jurisdiction. The next community meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 1st at Pioneer Elementary School at 6 p.m. Other upcoming meetings will take place at Jackson Junior High, Jackson Elementary, Argonaut High School, Sutter Creek Elementary, Independence High School and Community Court School. Contact your school or the school district for more information. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Tuesday, 30 March 2010 05:57
Charles Field - ACTC Project Funding 3-30-10
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News Interview Videos
Monday, 29 March 2010 18:00
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 3-30-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Monday, 29 March 2010 18:00
Community Meetings Address Educational Funding Crisis
Amador County – In response to public concern over school district budget cuts and impending layoffs, the Amador County Unified School District has scheduled community meetings where residents will have a forum to voice their concerns. Over the past three years, the district has been reduced $14 million in revenue from the state. In a recent interview with TSPN, Superintendent Dick Glock said the district is left with few options and must explore different ways to make up the difference, including reductions in classroom size and staff. “There is no good outcome to actions we must take. It’s about financial survival, not about what’s good for kids and students,” said Glock. The school board recently authorized notices of dismissal to be sent to 56 district and 10 special education employees. Glock said if they laid off everyone on the list they “still would be a million dollars short” of breaking even. While the number of layoffs expected locally is small compared to bigger districts, the percentage of teachers facing unemployment is huge. 26 percent of ACUSD and Amador Office of Education teachers are expected to receive pink slips. The district is encouraging the public to contact their elected officials “who make the decisions that threaten schools.” These include Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Dave Cox and Assembly member Alyson Huber. The community meetings have already begun and will be held at every school site within the ACUSD jurisdiction. The next community meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 1st at Pioneer Elementary School at 6 p.m. Other upcoming meetings will take place at Jackson Junior High, Jackson Elementary, Argonaut High School, Sutter Creek Elementary, Independence High School and Community Court School. Contact your school or the school district for more information. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Monday, 29 March 2010 18:00
Ione Police Assist with 5 Drug-Related Arrests
Amador County – The Ione Police Department reported 6 drug-related arrests in the last week, including one at a traffic stop and 4 in a sting at the Preston youth prison in Ione. Ione Police Sergeant Rocky Harpham in a release Monday said the latest sting operation at Preston was a success Sunday, when a multi-agency force ran a “visitor compliance detail” at the California Youth Authority facility at Preston. Harpham said the sting was a “continuing effort to curtail the illegal transportation of narcotics into Preston,” and into the city of Ione. Ione Police Department participated in the multi-agency “visitor compliance detail” at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facility at Preston on Sunday (March 28th). The operation was a “cooperative effort by local law enforcement to control illegal activity associated with visitation on state property.” The detail of law enforcement agencies included personnel from the tactical team at Preston, the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Ione Police Department, along with the IPD narcotics detection K-9 unit’s dog, “Hawke.” Harpham said “4 visitors were arrested and booked into Amador County Jail on drug related charges.” The Amador enforcement team “seized a large amount of cash from one of the arrestees.” Harpham said 5 additional visitors were issued citations for misdemeanor violations of California vehicle code, and a total of 6 vehicles were towed and impounded. Last week, Ione Police made another drug-related arrest, after an Ione Police Officer Jason Peppas made a traffic stop last Thursday (March 25th). Peppas conducted a traffic stop and “noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.” Further investigation by Peppas led to the recovery of large amounts of marijuana and methamphetamine. The case was eventually turned over to the Amador County Combine Narcotics Enforcement Team for further investigation. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Law Enforcement
Monday, 29 March 2010 18:00
Amador County Awarded $30K in Supplemental Funding for Homeless, Hungry
Amador County - Amador County was recently awarded funding under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to further improve and supplement local support services for hungry and homeless peoples in our area. This is the 28th consecutive year that this grant award has been given to Amador County. The county will receive $31,094 for 2010. A recent press release said the Amador County Local Federal Emergency Management Agency Board met Monday, March 29 at 9 a.m. to determine how the funds will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs in the county. Last year, the local board distributed $43,178 in regular funds and $15,667 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds among Interfaith Food Bank, Operation Care and A-TCAA emergency shelter program. In 2009, these agencies provided more than 9,000 nights of lodging and more than 20,000 meals to homeless persons and households in need. The Amador local board consists of members and agencies of the community from law enforcement, the Salvation Army, Interfaith Food Bank, American Red Cross, Amador County Social Services, A-TCAA, churches and other local faith-based organizations. The award to Amador County was made by a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, consisting of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Council of Jewish Federation, Catholic Charities, USA National Council of Churches of Christ and the United Way of America. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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