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ACCNET arrests Ione woman for theft and sale of veterans' prescription medications
Amador County – The Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team announced the arrest of a 45-year-old Ione woman on charges that she stole prescriptions drugs that had been mailed to veterans while the woman was working for the post office. She allegedly also sold the drugs while delivering mail on a postal route.
Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details Tuesday, saying that Shelly Lynn Crabb, 45, of Ione was arrested last week and charged with possession of controlled substances, possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Wegner said during the month of April, the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team (ACCNET) received information that a United States Postal Service employee was selling controlled substances to local residents, including while she was delivering mail. Information was also received that the employee was stealing mail addressed to veterans, which contained prescription medications.
ACCNET conducted an independent narcotics sales investigation, prior to collaborating with the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office, Wegner said. The investigations resulted in the issuance and subsequent execution of a search warrant May 9 at the employee’s residence on Poplar Street in Ione.
The search of the residence revealed controlled substances, two firearms, scales, drug use paraphernalia and stolen mail, Wegner said. Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies detained the U.S. Postal Service employee, Shelly Lynn Crabb, as she delivered mail in the Jackson Valley area. A search of Crabb revealed she was in possession of controlled substances, cash and other evidence confirming her involvement in the sales of controlled substances.
A second search warrant was subsequently executed at Crabb’s residence when it was determined that after she posted bail and was released from custody she attempted to remotely destroy electronic evidence.
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Jackson ponders political sign issue, excemptions
Amador County – Jackson City Council discussed revisiting city sign code in regard to Merzlak Signs on Monday, with council members apologizing for not addressing the issue earlier.
Councilman Wayne Garibaldi said he counts Kam Merzlak as a friend, but he did not think they could carve something out of the ordinance for sign shops. He said Merzlak has been a tremendous contributor to the community. He said when signs are dry they can be picked up, and if they sit out long, they can turned over.
Councilwoman Marilyn Lewis wondered if the health department could take issue with fumes if the signs were kept inside.
Vice Mayor Connie Gonsalves said she was sorry it was not handled and also sorry the complaint maker was not present. Councilman Keith Sweet said three public meetings were held since the new draft ordinance came out and “all that time this particular issue was never discussed.”
Mayor Pat Crew said: “I’ve never had a sign done anywhere else but Merzlak Signs, starting with Ralph and Sharon.” He apologized for not handling the issue, saying “we got so hung up on the pole signs that we did not get to the bottom of the page.” He said the council returned to the sign issue and the city attorney gave two solutions. One was to allow a larger, 32 square foot sign, and another would be to enforce the city code. City Attorney Andy Morris said the council should give direction on a draft ordinance change.
Garibaldi said “I do not support larger political signs. I am more in favor of having an exemption for commercial sign shops, so they will not have to worry about which sign they can put out.”
Crew said: “I could support that” and “kicking it around for two-and-a-half years is long enough.” The Council set a special meeting for May 22 to consider the draft ordinance. Garibaldi said it would be nice if we were all here. He said they also only heard one side of this and he did not want it to be seen as steamrolling it through.
Sweet said the Planning Commission had a consensus that no one wanted 32 square foot political signs.
City Manager Mike Daly said direction for the code was to exempt professional sign shops from this section of the sign code. Garibaldi said Daly and Morris should consult with Merzlak.
Garibaldi also suggested a code time limit for signs, possibly 30 days, so it would not create another problem, and to be fair to both sides. Daly asked about determining the length of time a sign is allowed to dry. Morris said they could say when the sign was finished.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
AM Live 5-16-12: Italian Picnic Parade
Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-16-12 - Robert Manassero stops by the AM Live set to discuss the 131st Annual Italian Picnic and Parade.
AM Live 5-16-12: Rancho Murieta Air Show
Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-16-12 - Kimberly Sanders stops by the AM Live set to discuss the Rancho Murieta Air Show which will be held this weekend.
AM Live 5-16-12: Daniel D'Agostini
Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-16-12 - Kam Merzlak sits down with Daniel D'Agostini to discuss his upcoming photography showing at Hanford Street Gallery in Sutter Creek.
AM Live 5-16-12: DUI Re-Sentencing
Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-16-12 - Megan Taylor and a number of Argonaut High School Students stop by the AM Live set to discuss an upcoming DUI re-sentencing that will be taking place at and Argonaut Student Assembly next week.
Jackson Rancheria opened its all new, all-day buffet with six live-action cooking stations
The Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort announced Thursday the grand opening of its new Rancheria Buffet, offering a world of flavors, “Rancheria Style.”
The new Rancheria Buffet is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The buffet seats 300 and features six live action cooking stations where guests can watch their meal being prepared.
Cooking stations include a fresh salad station, a wok station, Mexican station, live fire Churrascaria grill station, American station and Italian station. Each station and vegetables into each station. Finish off Rancheria Buffet with the dessert station’s wide variety of pies, cakes, cookies and pastries.
The buffet is the second of five new dining venues opening at the all new Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort planned this year.
JoBo’s Junction coffee and pastry bar opened earlier this year with specialty coffee drinks, fresh pastries, salads, sandwiches and more. The Lone Wolf Restaurant & Lounge, a casual steakhouse upstairs in the Casino, is scheduled to open later this month.
Still to come in 2012 are the Pacific Grill, featuring Asian and American cuisine, and Margaret’s Café & Bakery. Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort is at 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson. For information, call 800-822-9466.
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Amador County Animal Control open house adopts 14 pets
More than 100 people attended the open house at Amador County Animal Control last Saturday, May 5, in Martell, and helped the cause by adopting 11 dogs and three cats from the shelter during a half-price adoption special.
Animal Control Director John Vail said the shelter started the day of the annual open house and pet fair with 15 adoptable dogs, and 11 of those were adopted on that day. They also started with probably seven adoptable cats and three of those cats were adopted Saturday.
Volunteers and local pet businesses and suppliers of food and other items had booths around the parking lot of the office, and other animals that got exposure were adopted on Monday and later in the week. Vail said a rooster, which was crowing throughout the open house, was adopted on Monday, and “that may have been as a result of being seen during the open house.” A donkey that was also at the shelter had been adopted Thursday, he said, “so we have had a good week.”
He estimated that more than 100 people attended and there were probably 50 people there during the Amador County Sheriff’s Department’s K9 demonstration.
Jackson Rancheria wraps up Mollie Joyce Park and moves its Park Restoration Project to Volcano
Adam Dalton in his Park Restoration weekly update said Mollie Joyce Park in is 99 percent complete and work has started in Volcano. The entire Mollie Joyce parking lot has been resurfaced and gravel has been spread. Score boards have arrived and one is on display.
Mollie Joyce is now one of Amador’s premier parks to enjoy for many years to come. Dalton said it was “truly an astonishing transformation and “we are proud of all the work,” which is a “great example of how committed we are as a family in realizing our goals.” He reiterated “just how much our Tribe would love to continue rebuilding all the parks and fields within Amador County,” but “the community must understand that we need your help if we are to see this entire project through.”
The “park restoration plan is not a must-do project. It is not a county, state or government assignment. This project was simply a dream motivated by a family of Native American people,” he said, “business owners who recognize a need and are willing to help. Just think of what we could accomplish together, if we joined hands as a community for the sake of our families and our recreation.”
He saw “no reason why we cannot continue this project for years to come so long as we receive the support and funds we so desperately need.” The Jackson Band of Miwuk Indians will refuse to leave any project unfinished.
Dalton said: “You have my word that once committed, there’s no turning back. We will finish what we’ve started to the best of our abilities. With that said, beginning a new project will depend on the level of support we are receiving.”
So far the good folks who have volunteered and supported the renovation in Pioneer have given the Tribe enough incentive to start another project in Volcano.
Dalton said the tribe was greeted with open arms and overwhelmed by how kind and welcoming the Volcano community has been. “This was an awesome choice for our second project,” he said.
He said they will be in Volcano Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., “there’s still a lot to do so if you’re in the area and have the extra time, stop by and give us a hand.” They are improving more than just the park here. He said “in my eyes the entire town is one amazing park.”
Dalton said: “We are making improvements wherever they need them most and should be here for the next few months.” The Jackson Elementary Jog-a-thon raised $10,000 and counting for art, music and science programs
The Second Annual Jackson Elementary School Jog-a-thon held last Friday, May 4 on the school’s lower field raised more than $10,000 and counting for music, art and science programs at the school.
Children in all seven grades sought sponsors and ran in the Jog-a-thon, which raised money for arts classes for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. It also funds a classroom music teacher for the kindergarten through third graders. Part of Jog-a-thon funds help fourth graders raise money for their fifth grade science camp.
Jackson Elementary School Principal Barbara Magpusao said the Jog-a-thon was the brainchild of Stephanie Bramer, who modeled it after the annual golf tourney funding physical education classes for Pioneer Elementary. Jackson Elementary uses their funds to hire art and music consultants as private contractors. Bramer has organized the Jog-a-thon the last two years.
Magpusao said she was not sure how much money the Jog-a-thon raised but “so far we know it’s over $10,000 this year.”
Bramer has also been going to local businesses, and if they can’t donate funds, they donate items for the silent auction, to be held at the Jackson Elementary Open House next Tuesday, May 15. Silent auction earnings also go into the Jog-a-thon funds, and brought in an extra $200-plus last year.
The Open House starts at 6 p.m. Also part of the fundraising, Roundtable Pizza and Jamba Juice will have a sales booth at the bell starting at 5:30 p.m. Magpusao said 20 percent of the pizza and juice sales goes to the fourth graders’ science camp fund. And a book fair from 5-7:30 p.m. will benefit the parents’ group and the school library.
The silent auction is in the front hallway of the office.
A chunk of Jog-a-thon funds go to next year’s science camp, for which fourth graders are now raising funds. They pay for their individual camps in the trip at the end of February to the YMCA Point Bonita Outdoor Education Science Camp.
Magpusao said last year it was new, so fourth graders didn’t take advantage of the Jog-a-thon. The fifth grade science camp costs $350 per student. Fourth graders also sell See’s Candy toward science camp, she said, and some actually sold enough to pay their $100 deposits due in October.
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