Even with lopsided poll numbers favoring the incumbent Governor Saturday’s debate between Gov. Schwarzenegger and state Treasurer Phil Angelides was relatively calm. The candidates sparred over the direction of the state's economy and a collection of other issues facing California in the candidates' first and only debate in the race for governor. During the exchanges before a crowded California State University Sacramento's Capistrano Hall, the candidates traded very different philosophies over higher education fees, taxes…

A new law passed late last month now increases the amount of time a driver’s license is suspended for persons convicted of Driving Under the Influence, including those with commercial licenses and juveniles. The bill, SB 1756 written by Senator Carol Midgen, D-San Francisco, was signed by the Governor on September 29th. This bill further strengthens California’s drunk driving and driving under the influence laws closing more loopholes that allowed offenders to be back on…

Speaking of smoke and fire, it’s that time of the year again when homeowners are warming up around the comfort of their fireplaces or wood stoves, many times with out a thought in their minds about the condition of their chimney. However, if you don't give some thought to it before you light those winter fires, your enjoyment may be very short-lived as chimney fires can be deadly.

Caltrans is announcing two road construction projects that could impact Amador County Drivers. The first project is in Amador County in the upcountry area. The project to widen Hwy 88 near the 6000 foot level will now be conducted during the day from 7 am to 6 pm and will cause motorists 20 minute delays. The construction, originally planned for night construction, has been moved to the daytime hours due to the sudden drop in…

Due to the onset of cool, rainy weather, the Folsom Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management has lifted Stage One fire restrictions on all BLM-managed public lands within the Folsom Field Office boundary. This includes BLM-managed public lands in Nevada, Yuba, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Sacramento, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Sutter, and Mariposa Counties, a total of about 230,000 acres.

The Plymouth City Council this Thursday, at their regularly scheduled, meeting will hold a discussion regarding a copy of a letter of September 19, 2006 from Carl J. Artman, Associate Solicitor, Division of Indian Affairs to James E. Cason, Associate Deputy Secretary U. S. Department of the Interior on the matter of the Ione Band Indian Lands Determination as well as, a discussion about the letter dated September 26, 2006 from James E. Cason, Associate…

Yesterday afternoon around two o’clock a head on collision closed both Ridge Rd and New York Ranch Rd. The fatal accident involved a Chevy Cavalier and a Honda CRV both registered out of Pine Grove. According to witnesses on scene, the accident occurred, when for unknown reasons, one vehicle, the Chevy crossed into oncoming traffic just east of Bates Rd. near Ridgeview Court striking the Honda head on.

Columbus Day will be observed today, Monday. Here's how various businesses and government operations will be affected: » BANKS: closed.» POSTAL SERVICE: no mail delivery. All governmental offices closed. Also, this is the first day of fall break for Amador County Unified students.

Candidates vying for the 3rd Congressional District will debate and compare issues in Angels Camp on October 16. The candidates’ night is being hosted by the Calaveras County Chamber of Commerce and the Calaveras Enterprise and will be held at Bret Harte High School. Democrat Bill Durston is running against Republican Congressman Dan Lungren in the November election. The candidates will talk about the major issues facing the county such as the war in Iraq,…

The governor has issued an emergency proclamation to move forward with housing some California inmates in other states as a result of prison overcrowding. The order will allow the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to immediately contract with out-of-state incarceration facilities to temporarily house prisoners. Corrections officials estimate the state will run out of beds in the state's 33 prisons as soon as January 2007.