Amador County - The Eldorado National Forest is planning to continue with the Cat Anderson Prescribed Burn north of Highway 88 this week in the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River area. The burn caused some alarm recently when unexpected wind patterns shifted huge billows of smoke into the Plymouth area, creating a hazy fog. Approximately 300 acres were scheduled to be control burned on Wednesday and another 200 acres on Thursday. “Fire is a natural part of the ecosystem,” said Jennifer Boyd, Fuels Specialist. “Prescribed burning allows us to reintroduce it back into the forest under carefully controlled conditions after 100 years of fire suppression resulting in a healthier and safer forest,” she added. Smoke management is part of every prescribed fire burn plan, and efforts will be taken to reduce actual or potential smoke impacts on community areas. Be advised that Sierra Pacific Industries is also conducting prescribed fire operations on their private timber lands during this period. For more information on the Fuels Projects on national forest land planned for this fall and winter visit our website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado. To be added to the smoke notification list contact Jennifer Boyd, Forest Fuels Specialist, at 530- 622-5061. Staff Report (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

By Alex Lane - Two suspects who fled the scene of an accident after a dramatic car chase in the Pine Grove area have been connected with burglaries in Sutter Creek. The suspects led Sheriff’s Deputies in a vehicle pursuit on September 29th which ended when one officer rammed their vehicle off the road. The white sedan then rolled down in a ravine and the suspects escaped on foot. A search of the vehicle revealed methamphetamine, marijuana, and indicia related to the suspects. Only days before, on September 27th, an Amador County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a burglary at 17140 Moonshine Lane in the upcountry above Sutter Creek. Two ATV’s and outdoors equipment were stolen. On the day of the vehicle pursuit, the same Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to the scene of another robbery at 6772 Amber Way in Sutter Creek. The victim on Amber Way reported tools were stolen from his barn. The victim stated he is the property owner and he maintains the barn, however he had renters living in the associated residence. “The victim reported finding two ATVs on his property that did not belong to him, and the deputy recognized the ATV’s as the two which had been reported stolen two days prior,” said Undersheriff Jim Wegner in a release Monday. The Sheriff’s office subsequently drafted a search warrant for the premises. While the search was conducted early on the 29th, the suspect’s vehicle, a white sedan, pulled up in the driveway. “As investigators approached the vehicle and attempted to contact the occupants, the vehicle sped away from the location,” said Wegner. The driver of the vehicle matched the suspect’s description and was the same person caught in the pursuit later that evening. Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at 209-223-6500 or the Secret Witness Program at 209-223-4900.

The Tuolumne/Calaveras Unit of CAL FIRE will be conducting a focused defensible space compliance law enforcement operation in Calaveras County on Saturday and Sunday, August 30th and 31st, 2008. The purpose of this operation is to issue citations to homeowners who have not cleared around their homes as required under Public Resources Code 4291. Since 2005, the Code has required 100 feet of clearance around all structures, or to property lines, whichever is closest. The minimum fine is 340 dollars per violation. Officers will be out in the field for both days inspecting homes that were previously inspected earlier in the season. According to Fire Chief Mike Noonan, "maintaining defensible space is critical to protecting not just your home from wildfires but also your neighbors home. We cannot guarantee that a fire engine will be available to protect every single home during a wildfire." For more information about defensible space requirements contact your local Cal Fire station, or visit www.fire.ca.gov.

Mark your calendar for Friday, October 24th and plan to support the 2nd Annual Firefighters fundraiser in Ione, sponsored by the Rancho Arroyo Seco. Once again, the community will be invited to participate in raising funds for this volunteer group that contributes so much to public safety. A bar-b-que in the Big Red Barn is planned. The goal this year is to raise 20,000 with Rancho Arroyo Seco matching up to 10,000 in donations. Last year, the community contributed 8,500 that was matched by Rancho Arroyo Seco for a total contribution to the department of 17,000 dollars. Funds were used to replace all of the wildland fire protection gear.

The Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit of CAL FIRE has suspended all burning permits within State Responsibility Areas of Tuolumne County, Calaveras County, Eastern Stanislaus County and Eastern San Joaquin County as of 8AM, Tuesday May 6, 2008. “(We) have had numerous burn pile escapes occurring on a daily basis,” said CAL FIRE TCU Unit Chief Mike Noonan. “The weather and dry condition of the forest fuels are quickly approaching a critical point. Experience has shown that suspending debris burns is an effective way of preventing wildfire escapes, especially as California enters a period of hotter and drier weather. Although all fires cannot be prevented through a burning suspension, their numbers can be significantly reduced.” Chief Noonan thanked residents who have been burning in a responsible manner. This declaration rescinds all previously approved Dooryard Burn Permits and large-scale Project Burn Permits. Property owners wishing to burn debris on their property are now prohibited from doing so unless they can prove that their project burn must be completed for health or safety reasons. Any planned burning site must be inspected and approved before a permit may be reissued. Camp fires will be allowed in designated campgrounds with permission of the jurisdictional authority. Anyone with questions about this declaration may contact their nearest CAL FIRE facility.

We have a correction to the story aired January 28 on the arrest and conviction of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation employee Joseph Maita of Ione for workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Although sentenced to 40 days in jail, Maita was permitted to serve on a work program in lieu of jail pending good behavior. According to the District Attorney’s official press release, Maita also “received benefits and medical treatment as a result of” an “alleged (knee) injury.” There has been dispute over the use of the word “alleged”, as Maita contests his injury is valid and still existing. When contacted, the District Attorney’s office said they are not disputing whether the knee injury was valid, but whether a doctor’s note was forged. Maita was convicted on January 15.

Amador County - A routine traffic stop for expired registration resulted in a major drug bust for the Amador County Sheriff’s Office last Wednesday, January 7. In a statement released yesterday, Undersheriff James Wegner outlined the circumstances surrounding the arrest of driver Cheryl Phelps and her passenger, Deanna Williams, who were both under the influence of a controlled substance. Upon arriving at the jail, both women confessed to carrying a virtual cornucopia of drugs. Williams had secreted 10.4 grams of base cocaine and 6.4 grams of heroin inside her lower body cavities during the traffic stop. A search of Williams’ backpack revealed scales, additional packaging materials, a crack pipe, 4 grams of heroin, and $178. A search of Phelps’ purse revealed approximately .04 grams of base cocaine, 5 milliliters of liquid methadone, several hypodermic syringes and several crack pipes. The Amador County Narcotics Enforcement Taskforce conducted a follow up search of Williams residence in Stockton. Seized from the residence were an additional grab bag of heroin, cocaine, scales and weapons including a sawed off shotgun and .22 caliber rifle. Williams and Phelps were booked for possession for sales of heroin and base cocaine, under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of smoking paraphernalia, and possession of hypodermic needles. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). 

Amador County - The Jackson Volunteer Fire Department recently honored its “Firefighter of the Year” and two other special volunteers for their service during 2008. A new award was created this year to recognize Laura Craig, the Volunteer Firefighters Auxiliary member who helped lead a re-emergence of the organization. Laura helped coordinate the department’s famous Tri-Tip Sandwich booth at Dandelion Days, and worked with the auxiliary organization to provide support at other special events, including special training activities hosted by the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department.

Another new award was created by the JVFD to thank the non-officer volunteer who responded to the most calls for service. The award was dedicated to David Gardella who gave his life in the line of duty in June 1984. His wife Cely was on hand to help present the award to Cody Martinsen. Firefighter Martinsen has responded to 390 calls from January through November 2008, and is a reliable and valuable member of the Fire Department, never hesitating to respond at any time of the day or night. The final award was bestowed upon Franck Tremaine by Chief Mark Morton. Franck has been involved in the fire service for over 35 years and is valuable asset to the Jackson Fire Department and the community with his knowledge and expertise acquired during his tenure. A regular member of “strike teams” deployed to other regions of the state, he also was a strong advocate for Measure M and was charged with developing specifications for new fire apparatus equipment. Staff Report (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - A Lodi man was arrested on charges of burglary, stalking, grand theft of a firearm and vandalism in the Pioneer area. On October 27, Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence on Silver Drive in the Pioneer area of Amador County to investigate the report of a residential burglary. According to police reports, the “deputies noted forced entry into the residence via the front door.” The female victim reported a number of items stolen. The suspect also damaged various household items within the residence. Deputies believe the act to have been perpetrated by the victim’s estranged husband. Investigators from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office working cooperatively with Investigators from the Amador County District Attorney’s Office, were able to link the suspect in the case to physical evidence collected at the scene, said the report. Additional evidence indicated that the suspect had actually been stalking the victim. Based on the case, an Amador County Superior Court Arrest Warrant was issued for Travis Mark Cook, 29, of Lodi. On October 31, Amador County Sheriff’s Investigators arrested Cook at his home in Lodi. Sheriff’s Investigators were successful in recovering numerous items of stolen property from Cook. Cook is currently in custody at the Amador County Jail with bail set at 100,000 dollars. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Amador County - A woman arrested on an outstanding warrant in Amador County has been tied to a home invasion in San Lorenzo and a complicated web of criminal activity that resulted in murder. Crystal White, 35, was arrested November 19th in Amador County, according to Alameda County Sheriff's Detective Kirsten Tucker. White, who is eight months pregnant, was arrested along with John Favley, 48, who has a long criminal history. The puzzle began to take shape when Alameda County investigators discovered the body of George Bailes, 54, in Favley’s residence, dead of a shotgun blast to the chest. According to court documents, Falvey, White and Bailes entered a single-family residence on Via Ventana in San Lorenzo at around 9:45 pm on Sept. 8 while the homeowner — a man in his 30s who had previously had an intimate relationship with White — was in a back bedroom watching television. The now deceased Bailes was carrying a .22-caliber handgun with a soda bottle taped over the barrel as a makeshift silencer. There was a protracted struggle between the homeowner and Bailes, during which the handgun discharged four times, striking both Bailes and the homeowner in the legs. Favley reportedly struck the homeowner in the head with a flashlight before the three suspects fled without taking anything from the residence. Detective Tucker said the gunshot wounds were not life threatening. Nevertheless, Bailes was found at Favley’s residence nine days later dead of a shotgun blast to the chest. Bailes was reportedly shot by yet another man, Ben Eddleman, 33, of San Diego County, who had been arguing with Bay Area resident Aaron Hammond, 33, about a vehicle, authorities said. Bailes intervened with a shotgun on behalf of Hammond, but Eddleman wrestled the weapon away and shot Bailes, according to investigators. Eddleman turned himself in to deputies Sunday, but is now out of custody. Bailes body was found near a vehicle that matched the description of the one used during the home invasion. White, who has lived at a number of addresses both in the Bay area and Amador County, subsequently admitted to participating in the home invasion and was transported to the Eden Township Substation in Ashland. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).