Local News
11/04/2009
California Residents Will Start Seeing Smaller Paychecks
Sacramento, CA - California workers will start seeing less money in their paychecks this month.
Beginning November 1st the state began mandating that employers withhold 10 percent more in state income taxes. It is a move that was placed into the budget package signed in February.
The California Franchise Tax Board claims the money will be returned after people file their tax returns at the end of the year, making this essentially a "cash advance" for the state to cover its current expenses.
The move is expected to accelerate the collection of $1.7 billion during the current fiscal year, resting on the shoulder of taxpayers.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Schwarzenegger Praises Water Package
Sacramento, CA -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says it is a major victory that a water package will go before voters in 2010.
"This is without any doubt the greatest and comprehensive water infrastructure package in the history of California," said Schwarzenegger at a Sacramento press conference. "The infrastructure that was built five decades ago by (Governor) Pat Brown was for 18 million people, we now have 38 million people, and in the next 15 years we are going to have 50 million people. This project will take that long to get it completed."
The $11 billion would help pay for dams, underground water storage, water recycling, restoration of the delta and regional projects.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Spike In State Marijuana Eradications
Sacramento, CA -- The amount of marijuana eradicated in California increased substantially this year.
The state's Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (C.A.M.P.) seized 4.4 million plants in 2009, compared to 2.9 million in 2008.
State Bureau of Narcotics Spokesperson Michelle Gregory told the Associated Press that the increase is attributed to larger pot gardens and better eradication strategies.
Meanwhile there were over 200,000 plants eradicated in Tuolumne County in 2009, compared to 107,000 in 2008.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Big Trees State Park Prescribed Burn Underway
Sonora, CA - The scheduled three day prescribed burn at Calaveras Big Trees State Park is underway.
Forest managers are in the process of conducting a series of prescribed burns in the vicinity of the South Grove Natural Preserve in Tuolumne County.
The burns planned for this year marks the second time most of the area has been burned.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Traffic Reduced To One Lane On Hwy 108 At Via Este
Sonora, CA -- Due to Caltrans work on Hwy 108 at Via Este traffic has been reduced to a single lane.
CHP Officer Mike Remmell states that traffic has definitely slowed due to the construction of a left turn lane for westbound traffic.
Remmell suggests you use an alternate route for perhaps the remainder of the week as this is a multi-day project.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Sonora City Council Learns State Is Facing $26 Billion Shortfall
Sonora, CA -- At its annual retreat Tuesday the Sonora City Council learned the state of California is now looking at a $26 billion budgetary shortfall.
That word came from Steven Qualls, the Central Valley Regional Public Affairs Manager for the League of California Cities.
An upside to the meeting was confirmation from Qualls that the L.O.C.C. will be sponsoring a ballot measure for next year's election that would eliminate the possibility of the state "taking" property tax, gasoline tax and other monies such as redevelopment funds from local governmental agencies. City Administrator Greg Applegate labels that action as "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul."
Accoding to Applegate, "In addition the state has forced the City to adopt a resolution that approves the authorization of and execution of a delivery of a purchase and sales agreement related to Proposition 1A. What this is is where the state wanted to borrow property tax monies to balance their budget which in essance leaves us short of property tax funding. We were able to convince the state to pool through a bond purchase program dollars so they could front us the money so that we don't lose the money this yeare."
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Cogdill's Water Bill Passes The Legislature
Sacramento, CA -- Now its on to the voters ... it being Senator Dave Cogdill's Safe, Clean, Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010.
Cogdill commented, "There's $3 billion for the public portion of surface water storage and about a half a billion dollars for local conveyance for canals to construct the surface water storage. The remainder of the funds will go for conservation efforts such as surface water cleanup.
At the end of the day we were able to negotiate an acceptable language relating to area of origin of protection. Another pot of money in the bond is set aside exclusively for mountain counties (Mother Lode) and that's something that had never happened before. Usually that area had to compete with larger counties but now the smaller counties will have their own pot of money to draw from."
If it were up to Cogdill he would like to see more "brick and mortar" content in the legislation but he admits that any legislation will call for compromise.
Cogdill admits "It's been a very personal issue for me especially over the past three years ever since the original introduction of SB59 which was the Governor's original water bond that I was the author of.
It's been a long, touch slog. These issues are never simple and that's is why we really haven't done anything major in the way of water structure in four decades."
Now it's up to the voters to pass the $11 billion bond.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Two Of Three Alleged Carjackers Identified By S.P.D.
Sonora, CA -- The Sonora Police Department has identified two of the three individuals who will be charged with the Monday evening carjacking of a vehicle owned by a 55 year old Sonora woman.
The two males have been identified as 19 year old Jesse Daniel Burkett of Sonora and 20 year old Duston Paul Jacobson of Columbia. The female juvenile involved in the incident has not been identified.
The carjacking took place at the Crossroads Shopping Center. The woman suffered minor injuries.
Her vehicle was located in Modesto at 2:20am Tuesday. Modesto police arrested the three after receiving a B.O.L. (Be On the Lookout) bulletin from Sonora Police.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Garamendi Captures 10th District Congressional Seat
Sacramento, CA -- California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi has won a special election to a Northern California congressional seat, keeping the district in Democratic hands.
Garamendi's victory was all but certain after he won the September primary election in the heavily Democratic district. He easily defeated Republican David Harmer.
He will take over the seat vacated by Ellen Tauscher, who resigned to become Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
The 64 year old Garamendi was born in Mokelumne Hill.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Calaveras Humane Society Adds New Thrift Store
The Calaveras Humane Society will be celebrating the grand opening of its new thrift store this Friday beginning at 10am.
The 2,400-square-foot thrift store is located in Arnold between Big Trees Market and Roundtable Pizza.
The Calaveras Humane Society Thrift Store Manager, Jenni Roland, was Wednesday's KVML "Newsmaker of the Day".
Roland has been with the Humane Society for two years. Roland's most recent retail experience was as the owner of Highland Books in Arnold.
The reason that the Calaveras Humane Society decided to add the thrift store was to give a permanent spot for revenue. Roland adds that they have monitored the successful results of Tuolumne County's thrift store.
The year-round, thrift store hours are from Tuesday through Saturdays from 10am - 5pm and Sundays from Noon - 4pm.
The Friday grand opening will include a 10am ribbon cutting, cake, drawings for gift certificates, plus local celebrities and community leaders will be on hand.
For more information call (209) 795 - GIVE.
The "Newsmaker of the Day" is heard each weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47am.
Written by mark@mlode.com
Calaveras County Election Results
San Andreas, CA -- The semi-official results from the two Calaveras County Tuesday elections have been released by the Elections Department.
In the race for the one open seat on the City of Angels City Council Rick Downey finished the evening with 504 votes, Betty Raggio, 435 and George C. Fry, Jr., 117.
Two positions were open for the Jenny Lind Fire Protection District. Dennis Petersen totaled 544 votes, Bruce Brown, 410 and John Boston, 394.
Of the 7,090 registered voters, only 29 percent or 1,949 residents voted Tuesday.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
