The Amador Observer

To those of you who may stumble across this site, you may wonder, "…where is the breaking news?" or, "…there is nothing current here." etc.
Well, you’re right. I believe an explanation is in order.
At this time, the Amador Observer is in "hibernation mode". Time is lacking for the editor, thus, so are the stories.

If you are looking for current information, please visit the new Amador Community News site.
Here’s the address: www.amadorcommunitynews.com

Carol Harper is doing a great job supplying the community with news and info.

Until later, thanks for visiting!

Nothing like a little malicious controversy to spice things up around ‘ol Amador County. I am referring to the “did too” “did not” spat between Jack Mitchell, representing the Amador Chamber Commerce, and Tom Bambert, former County Supervisor, representing local government.

Jack…you are so incensed, so outraged at the vicious, unfair charges leveled at you for letting the Buena Vista Rancheria folks get into the Chamber. And Tom, you are so pontifically livid that the Chamber is allowing these unwelcome gambling miscreants in.

Well let me add my soapbox speech to this little mess.

Mitchell, spare me the “nobler than thou” outrage. The Chamber - and you, in particular -are renowned for smiling, shaking the hand of a local businessperson and telling them how good their local business is for the County on your way out the door to meet with “Big Business X” - their dreaded competitor - to try and woo them into the County. Give me a break. The Chamber’s business decisons haven’t exactly been of the highest caliber. It seems that just about anything goes regardless of the consequences to other local businesses. This Chamber has shown little discernment in “recruiting” appropriate businesses to our area. Balance in the types of businesses that populate our area creates a healthier business environment for everyone.

 Now, onto you Mr. Bambert. It’s easy to level criticism at the Chamber, but under your watch as Supervisor, this County had little vision for infrastructure goals or a General Plan to support its growth. Development was haphazard and without rhyme or reason and we are paying the price for this today. It did not seem that there was a great interest in the future of the County while you were in a position to do something about it. However, in looking into our County’s future now - and the possibility of yet another casino - I would agree that you are absolutely right to resign from the Chamber and send the message that you did. This Chamber and its leadership have no shame and no excuse for what they did. Instead of indignant self-righteousness, Mitchell should be rethinking what the heck he and the Chamber stand for, because as it is, it leaves a lot to be desired.

Which brings us to this issue: There has always been a squirming discomfort with the publisher of our one-newspaper town also being the head of the Chamber of Commerce. You know, conflict of interest, things like that. Mitchell only reinforced this concern by using the newspaper as a forum for his tirade against Bambert. This is wrong. If Mitchell wants to debate Bambert in the newspaper, then do it with equal footing. A Letter to the Editor from Bambert up against Mitchell’s 1/3 page Editorial hardly qualifies as "equal time". It is all to too easy for Mitchell’s inappropriate merging of duties to go in the wrong direction and he has very clearly shown why.

Opinions of growth in our county come from many sides. The developers see mainly their own financial gain and many residents would like to close the gate. Somewhere in between lays the reality. What is happening now in our county is a fascinating study of retail growth outpacing residential growth. The recent influx of big box stores requiring many people to staff them has created a glut of service-level jobs without enough people to staff them.

Read the rest of this entry »

Despite his acknowledged "pain" at having to do it, it is still difficult to understand why the Publisher of the Ledger Dispatch, Jack Mitchell, feels so compelled to offer his political endorsements for the November 7 election. There is some irony in the front page of this October 20 issue showing a reader poll that overwhelmingly disapproves of this action.

Further, it is extremely troubling that he firmly implies that since a reporter cannot be unbiased, why bother to try?
Well Jack, here are a few thoughts to chew on.

Read the rest of this entry »

I recently took a trip to Bakersfield via Highway 99. As I looked at the old, worn, paint-chipped neon motel and restaurant signs almost begging remembrance of eras gone by, along the way I noticed the construction of a sizeable highway ramp leading from a complex of large retail establishments in Manteca that would eventually merge onto the highway.

Writing for the Ledger Dispatch afforded me the opportunity to sit in on some interesting local government meetings these past few months as the subject of big box retail establishments often made front page news. In order to achieve some balance to hot agenda items passed back and forth through commissioner and council member hands, I was also privileged to correspond with The Home Depot and their representatives as I covered the large retail establishment debate.

Read the rest of this entry »

The recent decision by the Amador County Board of Supervisors to not initiate any kind of ordinance regulating the use of ATV’s is a major disappointment. What’s worse, it sets up the potential for neighborhood feuds that could rival the proverbial Hatfields and the McCoys.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Katherine Evatt

Act now to help preserve a special part of the Mokelumne River 

Working together, we can ensure that a very special part of our county is preserved for future generations.

That place is the North Fork of the Mokelumne River, a wild and beautiful river reach south of Highway 88 above Pioneer.

Read the rest of this entry »

Local residents have reported that the Home Depot stores in both Folsom and Rancho Cordova have set up a large display inside the front of the stores asking their shoppers to fill out ballots to support a store in Amador County / Jackson. Obviously there is no information available in regards to the controversy surrounding this issue, the ballot only allows a "yes" vote. There is no way to vote "no".

Read the rest of this entry »

In a recently released economic impact report prepared by Gruen Gruen & Associates for Home Depot, there are clear indications, supported by their own information, that our area plainly cannot support the sales volume required for this proposed Home Depot in Jackson.
Within this report are terms such as "divert sales from local retailers" which are used as a way to mask the reality of what this store would do to local businesses.
Read the rest of this entry »

Wish List for the Historic Jackson Business District
_{by Gwen Johnson}

I love shopping in Historic Jackson! Really, I do. Unfortunately, I’m not always able to make it there when the shops are open. I live in Fiddletown and work in Rancho Cordova so weekends and evenings are the only times I have to get my errands run. Saturday mornings are often consumed with chores around the house and property or attending special events in the area. By the time I get around to shopping, it’s late in the evenings or on Sunday. When I get to Historic Jackson, many of the stores and restaurants are closed. Read the rest of this entry »