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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 01:08

Sheriff’s Office Applies for Off-Highway Vehicle Grant

Amador County - The Amador County Sheriff’s Office has applied for the 2010/2011 State of California Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant for law enforcement activities. If awarded, the grant will allow the Amador County Sheriff’s Office to maintain a successful partnership with the United States Forest Service and continue to provide the public with outstanding OHV recreation opportunities. The State is using an Internet-based “On-Line Grant Application” application process as the means to apply for this state funding. This grant application requires the Amador County Sheriff’s Office to seek public comments on the proposal. Public comments may be submitted from March 2 through April 5, 2010. A two-step application process will allow public comment and feedback before final submittal of the grant application. The preliminary application is due March 1. This will open a 30-day public review and comment period and will follow with final applications due on Monday, May 3. Current State regulations require annual public participation in the OHV fund allocation process. State-wide the agreements support OHV management activities in the national forest, including operations and maintenance, restoration, law enforcement, education and safety. The preliminary application will be available online by visiting the California State OHV Grants and Cooperative Agreements program at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov. Copies may also be requested by contacting Amador County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Mendonsa at 209-223-6785. For additional details please contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500. A TSPN TV Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 01:09

7 Drug-Related Arrests Span County Over Last Week

Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office logged at least 7 arrests for drug-related offenses in the last week across the county, with the offenders including Pine Grove and Pioneer residents, and each of the 7 facing one or more felony charges. Various jurisdictions in Amador County last week made 7 drug-related arrests. 6 of those face felonies for possession of controlled substances. Randy Allen Reinhardt, 40, of Pioneer was arrested at 12:16 a.m. Wednesday in Pioneer. Enrico James Cocco, 30, of Jamestown was arrested 3:20 a.m. Sunday, February 21st at 105 Main Street in Jackson Mark Anthony Mastel, 20, of Lodi was arrested at 5:55 a.m. February 20th at New York Ranch Road and Trent Way in Jackson. Brian Jeffrey Wilhelm, 50, of Reno, Nevada, was arrested a 12:25 a.m. February 20th on Highway 88, west of Buckhorn. Debra Sue Wittenbrink, 39, and Larry Earl Lucas, 48, both of Modesto were arrested at 1:20 p.m. February 19th on Brickyard Road in Ione. The 7th was last Thursday, on Robin Road in Pioneer, when authorities arrested Nicole Bernie Lara, 27, of Pioneer on felony marijuana possession charges for possession of more than 28 grams of the drug. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 01:14

Officials Discuss Impacts of Williamson Act Funding Cuts

Amador County – Elected leaders at both state and local levels are bracing themselves for the potential impacts of major reductions in Williamson Act funding from the state. Governor Schwarzenegger has all but eliminated state aid as part of a wide-ranging cost-cutting plan meant to help solve the state budget crisis. Officially known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, the Williamson Act enables local governments to provide extremely low tax assessments to owners of farm and open-space land in exchange for a ten-year agreement that the land remain undeveloped. Specifically, the Act is intended to promote voluntary land conservation. The statute applies to nearly 16.6 million acres in 53 counties- close to half of all California’s private farmland. During recent budget discussions, Amador County Supervisor Louis Boitano made it a point to say that Williamson Act funding cuts could change what the county has to spend to perpetuate local land conservation. State Senator Dave Cox, Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, will lead a Legislative Oversight Hearing today on the Williamson Act titled “The Williamson Act: Past, Present, Future?” Also serving on the committee are Senators Kehoe, Aanestad, Price, and Wiggins. A briefing for the meeting says that since 1972, “the State General Fund has paid about $875 million as direct subventions to the participating county governments.” Exercising his constitutional authority, the Governor all but eliminated direct subventions by reducing the annual appropriation from $27.8 million to $1,000 earlier this year. The briefing says “landowners, conservation groups, and county officials now question the state government’s commitment to conserving farmland and open space.” The committee expects to hear testimony from county officials, landowners and conservation organizations. They will address the future of the program, including questions on statewide benefits, land base, tax relief, county programs and subventions. The Cox-led Senate Local Government Committee is meeting today from 9:30 am to 11 am in the State Capitol, Room 112. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 01:15

Sutter Creek Mid-Year Budget Shows $80,000 in Projected Losses

Amador County – In a mid-year budget update, Finance Director Jeff Gardner said Monday that Sutter Creek should expect “$80,568 in projected losses” in the current year. With adjustments, the budget was $1.5 million at mid-year. Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe said Sutter Creek Police Department will be losing an officer, and the position will not be filled, which could drop the deficit from $80,000 to about $50,000 through the end of the year. Councilman Pat Crosby suggested the city look at more contracting, possibly including finance. And he said Plymouth and Pine Grove had good police agreements with the sheriff and he would like to look into that. “Pine Grove is at least as big as Sutter Creek,” Crosby said. “It has lots of commercial” activity, “lots of people and seems to be doing OK.” He said the areas the city should look at cuts are in police, city manager and public retirement costs. Wooten said: “We have a $900,000 police budget, and for the last 10-and-a-half years, we’ve had a police chief for nothing,” paying only a city manager’s wage to Rob Duke, who works very hard doing both jobs. Wooten said Duke has probably saved the city $1 million over his tenure. Councilwoman Linda Rianda said the budget committee is “still looking at contracting out,” and the council will hear from Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan at its April 1st meeting. Ryan will address the council on costs to serve the city with law enforcement. Wooten said he thinks “in April, when Sheriff Ryan comes, you’ll hear” that they will not want to do the job “half way.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 05:09