Jeff Holman Auto Center

Proud Sponsor of The Pet Project TV Spot "Twins"  

Jeff Holman Auto Center

Proud Sponsor of The Pet Project TV Spot "Olive"  

Jeff Holman Auto Center

Proud Sponsor of The Pet Project TV Spot "Jaz" 

Amador County – Amador County Sheriff’s deputies discovered an indoor marijuana growing operation last week after a stolen truck was crashed through a cemetery.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details about the incident Friday. He said on April 30 at 4:01 p.m., the Amador County Sheriff’s Department received a call from the Amador Memorial Cemetery regarding a pickup truck that had had driven through the cemetery, damaging headstones and striking a pole. 

As a Deputy responded to the scene, the Department received a call regarding a vehicle driving recklessly through Buckhorn. The vehicle description was consistent with the pickup truck involved in the vandalism at the cemetery. Updated information was received that the vehicle was last seen on Meadow Drive.

The deputy sheriff responding to the calls checked the area and found the Ford pickup truck parked at a residence on Creekside Drive in Pioneer. The vehicle displayed a license plate reportedly stolen in San Francisco.

Upon the arrival of another Deputy and a CHP officer, the vehicle was approached and Robert Jason Figone, 41, of Redwood City was found hiding inside. Figone was detained. It was ultimately determined the vehicle was reported stolen. A search of the vehicle revealed equipment utilized in the indoor cultivation of marijuana.

Upon approaching the residence, the deputies smelled the odor of marijuana, and through a window they could see marijuana plants being cultivated. The Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team responded and secured the residence pending the issuance of a search warrant. Figone was released to the CHP who arrested him for vehicle theft and possession of stolen property. 

The investigation against Figone for felony vandalism of a cemetery is being forwarded by the Sheriff’s Department to the Amador County District Attorney for prosecution.

Wegner said upon execution of the search warrant, ACCNET Agents found a residence that was utilized solely for the indoor cultivation and processing of marijuana. The home had two grow-rooms, one drying-room, and one processing-room.

The suspect or suspects had bypassed the electrical meter, stealing utilities. Although it was evident a large number of mature marijuana plants had already been harvested and moved from the residence, approximately 5 pounds of processed marijuana and 120 marijuana plants were still located at the premise.

There was no evidence found at the scene to indicate the marijuana was being cultivated for medicinal purposes. Posted material connecting Figone to the residence was located at the scene.

The investigation into the commercial marijuana cultivation operation is on-going.

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Amador County – Assemblywoman Alyson Huber (D-El Dorado Hills) will be holding a series Town Hall meetings and Neighborhood Coffee discussions during the month of May, including a stop May 15 at the Amador Senior Center in Jackson.

She encouraged local residents to attend and bring their questions and ideas to discuss with her. Her district office staff will also be in attendance to take inquiries and assist constituents on state government matters.

Huber plans a Neighborhood Coffee from 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 at the Amador Senior Center Auditorium, at 229 New York Ranch Road in Jackson.

The series of meetings includes stops on May 17 in Rancho Cordova and Sloughhouse; May 22 in Gold River and Sacramento; and May 24 in Elk Grove and Stockton. 

For further information, or to RSVP, please call the District Office at (916) 464-1910 (Rancho Cordova) or (209) 333-5330 (Lodi).

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

Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services is leading the development of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update and is inviting the public to a kickoff meeting Wednesday, May 9.

Amador OES Sergeant John Silva announced the meeting for the plan update, which will better position resources to address potential natural hazards before they occur and to maintain eligibility for mitigation funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Silva said Amador County, participating cities and districts, neighboring communities, state and local agencies, and other interested stakeholders are invited to participate in the planning effort.

The plan updates the 2006 Multi Hazard Mitigation Plan, and it will address a comprehensive list of natural hazards, including flood, earthquake, wildfire, dam failure and severe weather. It will assess the likely impacts of such hazards to the people and assets of Amador County. The plan will also establish updated goals and prioritize projects to reduce the impacts of future disasters on people and property.

Silva said participating jurisdictions and local stakeholder attendance is invited and encouraged. The purpose of the kickoff meeting is to inform the planning committee and other interested stakeholders about the purpose and process of the plan update and to describe how to participate and the benefits of doing so. 

Silva said nationwide, taxpayers pay billions of dollars annually helping communities, organizations, businesses, and individuals recover from disasters. Some disasters are predictable and, in many cases, much of the damage can be reduced or even eliminated.

FEMA has targeted natural disaster loss reduction as one of its primary goals. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires local governments to have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan to maintain eligibility for certain federal disaster assistance and hazard mitigation funding programs.

Hazard mitigation is defined as any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from hazards, Silva said. Hazard mitigation planning is the process by which hazards that threaten a community are identified, their likely impacts are assessed, mitigation goals are set, and appropriate strategies for reducing risk are developed, prioritized, and implemented.

The Amador Sheriff’s OES has taken the initiative to develop this plan. Amador OES has drawn on the expertise of consultants with AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, a firm that specializes in hazard mitigation and emergency management.

Amador OES and the consultants will organize a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee to facilitate development of the plan update. Community stakeholders, including the public are invited to be part of the committee.

The kickoff meeting will be held starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 9 in Conference Room C of the Amador County Admin Center, at 810 Court Street in Jackson.

For more information and how to be involved, contact Silva at Amador Sheriff’s OES, at 209-223-6384.

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Amador County – Amador County Board of Supervisors this week will consider a request to overrule the Airport Land Use Commission’s determination that a restaurant does not belong in the Martell Plaza due to its being in a fly zone for the Amador County Airport.

Ron Regan, of Martell Investments Incorporated has requested the overrule by the Board of Supervisors for the proposed 725 square foot eating establishment, intended for a deli and sandwiches. The Airport Land Use Commission ruled that it “is not compatible with the land use compatibility guidelines for Safety Area 2 of the Westover Field Airport Land Use Plan.”

Regan’s property, Martell Plaza is 3.37 acres located on the north side of the Highway 88 and Martell Road junction in Martell, across the road from the Panda House Chinese Restaurant.

The Martell Plaza has two new businesses, including a dance studio and a hardware supplier. The proposed deli would be located next to the hardware supplier, Fastenal, which has been at the location since last July.

According to the Airport Land Use Commission meeting draft minutes, Lori Marcucci Yardley, business owner, said “she has been looking for a place for a deli and felt that this location would be ideal.” She said it is a tiny place and there will be limited seating for people to wait for takeout. She is proposing to serve ravioli, meatballs, and sandwiches.

Marcucci Yardley said she has been looking for an appropriate location that has parking, a grease trap, and zoning and the location has everything that is needed for a restaurant.

The Commission found that the restaurant was non-compatible with the current land use plan. The Board of Supervisors would be required to have a 4/5th vote to overrule the Commission’s decision.

The Board of Supervisors also will consider the Planning Department’s recommendation for “approval of a resolution declaring an economic need thereby providing for temporary off-site directional signs and additional on-site banners for Amador County businesses.” The consent agenda item will put into effect about six months’ worth of public meetings on the two topics, and was meant as a way to help businesses cope with the downturn while striking a balance in curbing sign or banner wars.

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Amador County – TSPN TV today announces the launch of its new show, Foothill Critters, a show for and about local animals along with their owners, trainers and caretakers.

It looks at domestic livestock, house pets, work animals, hobby animals, professional animals and wild animals, but there really is no limit to the range of topics that TSPN plans to showcase, as long as the subjects can be characterized as Foothill Critters.

TSPN travels the foothills, with various hosts, to farms, ranches, homes and businesses to showcase these local animals. The first show takes us to The Wine Country Cat Club’s annual Wine, Cheese and Kitties Please Cat Show in Ione.

Foothill Critters will have a different program each week, premiering new each Thursday and the weekly program repeats 17 times a week.

Foothill Critters airs every day at 9:30 a.m., and also on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m. Other airtimes of the weekly Foothill Critters are Monday through Friday at 5 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.

For an online schedule please go to the programming page link on our website, TSPNtv.com, and see the Orange blocks for show times. Also, all segments of Foothill Critters will be archived and available On Demand on the Foothill Critters page of our website.

We would like to thank our initial sponsors: The Feed Barn, Jeff Holman Automotive Center and Sierra Hearth and Home for helping to make this program possible. We are always looking for interesting folks and animals for this upbeat, informative and entertaining show.

If you are interested in participating or advertising on Foothill Critters please contact Sue Slivick at TSPN TV by phone at (209)223-4877 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-7-12 - Supervisor Richard Forster sits down with Tom Slivick to discuss the agenda for the upcoming board of supervisors meeting.

Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-7-12

• TSPN TV launches its new weekly program, Foothill Critters

• Amador Supervisors to consider request for overrule of Airport Land Use Committee denial of a restaurant in Martell Plaza.

• Amador County Sheriff’s deputies broke up an indoor marijuana growing operation last week after a stolen truck was crashed through a cemetery.

• The Amador County Sheriff’s OES kicks off a Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Wednesday

• Assemblywoman Huber plans a series of constituent meet and greets, including May 15 at Amador Senior Center