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Calaveras County – A 23-year-old Manteca woman was killed during a head-on collision Sunday on Highway 4 near Copperopolis. At approximately 8 p.m., Virgina Guzman was traveling was traveling eastbound on Highway 4 west of O’Byrnes Ferry Road at an unknown speed when, for unknown reasons, her 1996 Saturn crossed over the solid yellow lane divider and into oncoming traffic. Eugenia Medina, 45, and Mario Tinicio, 38, both residents of Angels Camp, were traveling in the opposite direction in a 2006 Toyota at approximately 50 miles per hour. The two vehicles collided head on. The CHP arrived on scene and called emergency personnel. All parties were subsequently flown to the Dr.’s Memorial Medical Center in Modesto for treatment. Medina and Tinicio suffered major injuries but are reported to be in stable condition. Guzman succumbed to her injuries. All parties were wearing seat belts. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:52

AFPA Members Prep Measure M Staff Plans

Amador County – The Amador Fire Protection Association board of directors on Thursday will hear from member agencies about their efforts to create full-time firefighter positions, as the board prepares to decide how to disperse Measure M funding. The AFPA board, made up of Ted Novelli, Jake Herfel, Connie Gonsalves, Hal Gamble, Lee Ard, Greg Baldwin and John Asmus will hear individual entity Measure M staffing plans. The board is scheduled to receive “presentations by each fire agency detailing their efforts toward providing paid fire personnel for their respective areas including information about job descriptions, work schedules, wages and benefits.” The AFPA board will also consider Measure M and Proposition 172 funds, with a scheduled discussion and possible action of distributing those funds. The board will also discuss and possibly take action on the Joint Power Agreement that formed the Amador Fire Protection Authority. AFPA’s member entities are the Amador Fire Protection District, Jackson Valley Fire Protection District, Sutter Creek Fire Protection District, and Lockwood Fire Protection District, along with the cities of Ione, Jackson and Plymouth. AFPA agenda items also include an update on cooperation between Sutter Creek, Jackson, AFPD and Lockwood. The board will also look at the Amador County board of Supervisors’ County Fire Services Plan, with discussion and action possible. The AFPA board will look at the Amador County proposal regarding a “county-wide fire protection services plan.” The AFPA meeting is open to the public and is set for 4 p.m. Thursday in the Supervisors’ chambers at 810 Court Street in Jackson. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Fire

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:50

Plymouth Elementary Gets Title 1 Achievement Award

Amador County – Plymouth Elementary School was among the small percentage of California schools to be honored with a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award for 2009-2010, according to an announcement last week. “This is a great honor, and as far as I know a first for us,” said Plymouth Principal Rosalie McProuty, now in her second year. The Title I Academic Achievement Award is given only to schools receiving federal funds through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. As the single largest federal educational program for K-12 public education, it is designed to meet the educational needs of students living near or at the poverty level. The Department of Education says the criteria to qualify have become more rigorous in recent years. This means schools “must demonstrate that all students are making significant progress toward proficiency on California's academic content standards,” and “the school's socioeconomically disadvantaged students must have doubled the achievement targets set for them for two consecutive years.” In the case of Plymouth Elementary, at least 40 percent of students classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged in 2008 and 2009. “These award recipients prove that with hard work and high expectations, students can overcome challenges and achieve academic success," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. O'Connell personally called the principal at each of the schools selected to express his congratulations. “I feel this award is recognition of the kind of effort the staff, students and community have put in here,” said McProuty. In 2009, Plymouth received an 824 score on the Academic Performance Index - the school’s highest in six years. “By working together, administrators, teachers, staff, students, and parents have raised student achievement and narrowed the achievement gap. I congratulate these schools and everyone who worked hard to make them deserving of this significant award,” said O’Connell. The 2009-10 awardees will be honored at a reception and banquet at the Disneyland Hotel on April 21st. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Education

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:48

Senator Dave Cox Named Outstanding Legislator by CSSA

Amador County – The California State Sheriff’s Association (CSSA) announced Tuesday that they have honored State Senator Dave Cox as an Outstanding Legislator for 2009. The nonprofit professional organization comprised of 58 sheriffs from all California counties awarded the title to Cox after an annual review of the lawmakers’ voting record. “It is humbling to be recognized for doing my job,” said Cox. “My commitment to the safety of our citizens and their communities will be unwavering and I appreciate the recognition,” he said. The resolution was presented by Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness, acting on behalf of the association. McGinness praised Cox’s accessibility to residents, saying: “Senator Cox is a loyal public servant who is responsive to the needs of his constituents. The Sheriffs of California appreciate his dedication and support.” According to its website, the CSSA was “formed for the purpose of sharing information and providing assistance to sheriffs and departmental personnel, thus enabling them to improve the delivery of law enforcement services to the citizens of this State.” Cox has represented the 1st Senate District since 2004. His district includes all or portions of Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Placer, Plumas, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Sacramento and Sierra couties. He was previously a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 5th District. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in State

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:45

Ione Reports ’08-’09 Mitigation Fee Data

Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday received a report on last year’s development impact fees, including income and spending, as required to be reported to the public by state law. City Manager Kim Kerr gave the report to the city council, as prepared by City Finance Manager Colleen Pringle, with the help of the city attorney. Pringle prepared a report for fiscal year 2008-2009, which Kerr recommended the City Council receive, take public comment, and direct the city clerk to file. The report is on fees commonly known as development impact fees or public facility fees, and the report is open to the public for review. The report said Fire Services Impact Fees totaled less than $3,000, but the city (through that fund) spent more than a million dollars in the building of the new city fire station, doing so with fund transfers. The Fire Services fund had a beginning balance of negative $247,082 and a similar closing balance. The city spent $1.45 million on its new Fire Station Number 2 (completed last May 5th) and $25,000 on machinery and equipment. The Fire Services fund received $920,000 in interfund transfers or loans, including $278,000 from the General Fund, $600,000 from the Police Building Fund, and $25,000 from the General Administration Fund. The report listed no expenditures. The Police Services Impact Fee Fund had a beginning balance of $870,976 and an ending balance of $84,543. The Sewer Capital Fund began fiscal year 2008-2009 with a balance of $95,000, and ended with $227,000. The city collected $243,000 in the sewer fund, with expenditures totaling $560,000. Of that, $485,000 was paid for the Wastewater Master Plan. The rest went to ponds, monitoring wells and miscellaneous improvements. The report said $449,000 was transferred from sewer operations in fiscal year 2008-2009 for this fiscal year’s capital expenditures. Kerr said the “transfer is a result of the current negative beginning cash balance in the Sewer Capital Fund.” The Park and Recreation Impact Fees Fund collected $101,000 and spent $10,000, most of which went to the Howard Park Master Plan initial study. Its end balance was $249,000. The City Administration Facilities Impact Fees fund collected $33,000 in fees, made no expenditures and had an ending balance of $48,000. The city Local Traffic Mitigation Fee fund also made no expenditures in 2008-2009. It collected $95,000 in fees, and ended the year with a balance of $525,000. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in Local