Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-8-12

• Amador Unified School Board will consider creating new positions, including an overall alternative high school principal position and a Department Secretary.

• The Rancho Murieta Airshow legend returns after 25-year hiatus on 2012 Armed Forces Day May 19.

• CDF Amador Unit Chief gives tips on creating space to defend against fire.

• Amador Water Agency last week sent out an informational letter to Lake Camanche Village water and wastewater customers.

• Amador LAFCO plans Brown Act training sessions for public officials May 29.  

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-8-12 - TSPN's Tom Slivick talks with John Chandler, general manager of Fastenal mining hardware supply company, which has been operating in Martell since July 2011.

Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday will consider creating a Department Secretary position and also creating a position of a Principal in an “Educational Options Program” at the high school level for the school district’s independent school programs.

The School Board will consider a recommendation of Personnel Executive Director Nancy Gamache to create a position and job description of a Department Secretary. Gamache in a report to the board for Wednesday’s meeting said the District has a secretary job description that identifies duties associated with school site responsibilities.”

She said “District negotiating team met with the California School Employees Association Local 239 to negotiate a job description that addresses responsibilities associated with District departments.”

Gamache said the “Department Secretary job description more concisely identifies the secretarial duties associated with a District department. This will allow the District to recruit for future Secretarial Department vacancies.”

The School Board will consider eliminating 8 hours a day of one full time secretary, a classified employee, and also creating a new secretary position. It will also consider the job description for the Department Secretary, which is defined as an employee “under the supervision of the Department Director to perform a variety of complex secretarial work of high difficulty.”

The School Board will also consider a Principal position in an “Educational Options Program.” On March, the Board approved a resolution of intention to dismiss certificated employees, which included eliminating the Principal of Continuation and Alternative Education.

Gamache in a report said the “District is proposing to create a position of Principal of the Education Options Program. This employee will be directly responsible for the administration, management and operation of the Community Court School, North Star, Independence High, and the Adult Education program.

The job description, to be considered by the School Board, in brief was that the Principal “is directly responsible for the instructional program, and for the administration, management, and operation of all Educational Options Programs.”

An administrative salary schedule to be considered, showed the new principal position would work 217 days a year with a salary of $82,000.

The School Board meets in open session at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 9 in the Supervisors Chamber in Jackson.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – After 25 years, the Rancho Murieta Airshow is back, and set for Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 19.

Rancho Murieta airport owner Bradley Beer wants to bring back the “magical mix of top notch talent and military might that makes this airshow memorable and recognizes our troops on Armed Forces Day.” He plans it to be an annual event every May on Armed Forces Day.

Rancho Murieta Airshows are considered legendary. Beer said his idea is first and foremost to have fun. Beer is passionate about connecting with his community and with others who love flying as much as he does and he wants to bring back the magic that Fred Anderson achieved 25 years ago with the original Rancho Murieta Airshow, first staged with John Sullivan in 1984.

Sullivan said it started “as an airshow for our friends.” They came out, enjoyed a catered lunch, took their seats, and were treated to non-stop airshow action for more than four hours. The aerial demonstrations were unprecedented. ¶ The mastermind of the airshow was Art Negrette who worked with Sullivan to choreograph what Sullivan calls the “aerial ballet.” One 1987 show schedule lists performers and military flights from 12:50, then every 5-15 minutes depending on the performance, right up until the Thunderbirds’ 45-minute show at 4:07. Four hours of non-stop action.

The seemingly ancient rosters include the U-2, B-1, F-117, AV-8 Harrier, SR-71 Blackbird, and appearances by B-52s, B-25s and B-17s; with aircraft flown by Bob Hoover, Team America, Jimmy Franklin, Julie Clark, and Craig Hosking.

The 2012 Rancho Murieta Airshow will honor veterans and troops with the top talent in the industry, and is hosted by the Rancho Murieta Airport. A portion of the proceeds will directly benefit the U.S.O., supporting our soldiers and their families, giving the show direction, and a worthy goal.

Airshow announcer great, Sandy Sanders of Sutter Creek will be the Master of Ceremonies. Airshow veteran Wayne Handley will be on hand to give play-by-play commentary on the aerobatics.

The talent is Julie Clark (in her T-34 Mentor), Bill Stein (in a Zivko, Edge 540), Eddie Andreini ( in a Stearman, PR13D with a 540hp Pratt Whitney), Vicky Benzing (in an Extra 300/S), Dan Buchanan (in the Buchanan Airwave Pulse), Dan Vance (in a P-51 Mustang), and the Sanders’ (in a Hawker Sea Fury).

Gates open at 8:30, Saturday, May 19. Fly-ins are welcome, but check NOTAM’s. Call (916)354-9889 for ticket information.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – The Amador-El Dorado Unit Chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection last week released tips to help create Defensible Space for protection of homes against wildfire.

Amador-El Dorado Unit Chief Kelly Keenan said creating a buffer zone between the home and wild land greatly reduces the risk of a home catching on fire from radiant heat or flying embers. Keenan said “these embers can destroy homes and even entire neighborhoods that are located far from the actual flame front of a wildfire.”

He said “with one of the driest winters on record, it is crucial to have your defensible space established before the heat of the summer is upon us. Don’t delay and start today if you haven’t already begun to create defensible space around your home.”

Some practices help achieve a defendable home and property and defensible space. “Zone One” extends up to 30 feet from every structure on your property, or to your property line whichever is closer. In Zone One, remove all dead and dying vegetation. Remove leaf litter from roof and rain gutters. Relocate woodpiles well away from homes. Trim trees so they are a minimum 10 feet from chimneys and roof lines. Also, remove “ladder fuels” of low-level vegetation that could allow fire to spread from the ground to shrubs, bushes and tree canopies.

Zone Two extends from 30 feet to 100 feet, or to your property line, whichever is closer. The key is to keep plant material separated from each both horizontally and vertically, Keenan said. This prevents vegetation from acting like a ladder and allowing the fire to move from the ground to tree canopies. Cut annual grasses down to a maximum of four inches in height.

Areas of your home should be checked annually and maintained as needed. Check that chimneys have approved spark arrestor screens in good condition covering the opening, with openings no smaller than 3/8 inch and no larger than ½ inch.

Keep the area under decks or balconies free of combustible material. Never store firewood under a deck. Consider having multiple garden hoses that are long enough to reach any area of the home and any structure on the property.

For information on local green waste programs contact the Amador Fire Safe Council for more detailed information, visit Cal-Fire’s ReadyForWildfire.org website or call (530)644-2345 to receive a free brochure.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador Water Agency last week sent out an informational letter to Lake Camanche Village water and wastewater customers about funding, costs and practices of the Agency in the systems.

The Public Outreach Committee finalized the letter which in part “tried to share some facts and information directly from the Water Agency.” AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo signed the letter, on approval by the board president. 

Mancebo in the letter said AWA has “completed a major personnel reduction, from 66 employees to 39” and “salaries and benefits have been cut by approximately 50 percent in the Camanche system and likewise for other operations, maintenance and administrative costs.”

He said “AWA directors voted to eliminate their health insurance benefit and reduce their monthly compensation. Employees have foregone salary increases and taken furlough days for the past two years. Our financial records are available to anyone who would like to examine them.” 

In the rate proposal under consideration, Mancebo said Lake Camanche customers who use less water will receive a rate reduction. Customers who use 4 units (3,000 gallons) per month would receive an 11.4 percent rate reduction. Those using 7 units (5,250 gallons a month) would receive a 3 percent reduction.

Mancebo in the said AWA has been awarded “more than $550,000 toward replacing water service lines and improving Camanche’s aging wood water storage tanks,” with work scheduled to begin this summer.

He noted customers’ voting rights, saying “you have the right to protest water rate increases, just as you have had previously. AWA did pass a resolution to use a ballot (which will be mailed to you when AWA considers a rate increase) to record protests against a proposed rate increase, instead of a casual signup sheet.”

Mancebo said “Groups or individuals will still have the ability to go door-to-door and discuss their opinion in public gatherings, but AWA will require that you use the official protest form, similar to any election where you fill out a ballot.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission last week announced plans for a free training session for public officials and the public on May 29.

LAFCO is sponsoring the training for board members and others on May 29 at 2:45 PM in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at the county administration center, 810 Court Street in Jackson.

Public officials and each member of every special district’s board of directions are required by state law to complete ethics training. The training for Amador County districts will be provided at no cost to the participants. Speakers will also cover information about the Brown Act and open meetings laws and Fair Political Practices Commission regulations regarding disclosure and disqualification. The training lasts 2 hours.

In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to meet and network with other officials, share best practices, and request topics for future training sessions.

Members of community groups and the public are welcome to attend. Seating is limited, so an RSVP will allow LAFCO to hold seats and to prepare certificates for attending the training. For questions, or to RSVP, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (209)418-9377.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Feed Barn

Iams Cat 

The Feed Barn

Iams Dog 

The Feed Barn

Purina Horse People