Ledger-Dispatch

By Kelly Scott (kenos@ledger-dispatch.com) =

Mule Creek State Prison spokesman Chris = Weathersbee presents Ione Police Chief Michael Johnson with a sigh = built=20 by inmates.

Photo by: Kelly=20 Scott
Amid a discussion on the progress the = city of=20 Ione is making, one resident stood up to criticize offensive comments = she felt=20 elected officials made in reference to a female council member at last = week's=20 meeting.

During the public comment period Tuesday night, Regi = Sargent=20 requested an apology from councilmen Jerry Sherman and Jim Ulm for = dismissive=20 remarks made toward Mayor Andrea Bonham at an April 7 special meeting. = The=20 exchange Sargent was referring to occurred when Sherman said, "Gee, = women," to=20 which Ulm responded with, "Make them mayor, and what happens next?" = according to=20 the minutes from that meeting.

Sargent, who is president of the = Ione=20 Homecoming Committee and daughter of a former councilman, said that = while=20 serving on the council was a "thankless job," she felt an apology was=20 necessary.

"If I did indeed say that then I am sorry," Sherman = said. Ulm=20 also offered an apology and the matter was dropped.

The council = then=20 moved on to a report on the accomplishments the city has made on = projects=20 between January 2007 and March 2008. The report provided an update on = matters=20 the city has begun to work on, such as construction of the new fire = station and=20 the needs that parks within the city currently face.

City Manager = Kim=20 Kerr said it had taken a lot of hard work to get the city back on track. = "This=20 is not on my account," she added. "This is city staff, city council and = the=20 citizens of Ione."

Police Chief Michael Johnson was also treated = to a new=20 department sign fashioned by inmates at Mule Creek State Prison. Inmates = at the=20 Ione prison attend a program in wood working and are currently working = on park=20 benches for the city, said Public Information Officer Chris Weathersbee, = who=20 made the presentation. Weathersbee asked program director Mike Dowd to = make the=20 signs for the department when he learned that it was something Johnson=20 wanted.

"I am here for a positive reason," Weathersbee said. "I = also=20 wanted to let you know that this service (woodworking) is available to = you and I=20 urge you to utilize it."

All requests for services have to be = approved by=20 Warden Michael Martel, according to Weathersbee. Johnson added that he = was=20 pleased with the partnership between the city and the prison.

The = light=20 agenda also featured Seth Hoyt III being honored for achieving Eagle = Scout=20 status with the Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 477 in Ione. Hoyt earned = the=20 status using grant funds from the Amador Flower Agency to construct a = garden=20 area at Ione Elementary School. Before the status of Eagle Scout can be=20 achieved, Hoyt had to attain the ranks of Tenderfoot, Star and Life. He = was also=20 awarded skill recognition for badges in citizenship, swimming, hiking, = first=20 aid, camping, cooking and physical science.

Kelly = Scott