News

UPDATE 8:02PM: State Route 207 Kingsbury Grade is now open to motorists with controls. Please use caution around firefighters and equipment that remain working the fire.

Fire personnel will remain on scene to gain further containment of this fire. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.

***
UPDATE: 7:17PM: Around 200 firefighters remain on scene tonight on the Kings fire on the Carson Valley side of Kingsbury Grade near Lake Tahoe. The fire is approximately 4 to 5 acres in size, Douglas County authorities report. Containment is estimated by 8 p.m.

South Lake Tahoe police have arrested couple who faces charges of selling marijuana at South Tahoe Middle School and South Tahoe High School.

William Anderson, 30, and his fiancé Makayla Hoehn, 25, were arrested Monday and are accused of furnishing marijuana to South Tahoe High School and South Tahoe Middle School students, said South Lake Tahoe Police Lt. Brian Williams. Both admitted to the crimes.

With tinder-dry conditions after one of the driest winters on record, California fire officials will suspend burning permits along the West Slope and Eldorado National Forest beginning June 17. Fire restrictions in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin July 1.

CAL FIRE’s Amador-El Dorado- Sacramento Unit will suspend door-yard burning permits and the Forest Service will begin fire restrictions in portions of Eldorado National Forest.

The Nevada Highway Patrol has identified a Lodi, Calif., woman as the victim of a two-vehicle fatal crash that happened Sunday on Highway 50 near Zephyr Cove at Lake Tahoe.

Reyna Vizcaara, 24, died at the scene of the crash, reported at 2:55 p.m., said NHP Trooper Chuck Allen. Four others were injured and taken to area hospitals, including three Carson City residents. Two remain hospitalized.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing elderly man who may be suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia.

On Friday South Lake Tahoe Police officers were dispatched to an apartment complex at 3421 Spruce Ave., in reference to a call involving Norman Gary Lambert, 74, said SLTPD Sgt. Shannon Laney.

When officers arrived at the Lambert's residence where he lives along, he was gone. There was no evidence of any crime and apartment management, staff and witnesses report Lamber has appeared to be confused and disoriented, said Laney.

Former South Lake Tahoe City Attorney Cathy DiCamillo is back on the payroll. She started this week as interim deputy city attorney. She will be working for Nira Feeley, who is interim city attorney until Tom Watson takes the helm July 8.

An Arizona man was arrested Friday in connection with the discovery of a burned body found in the desert almost a year ago. Vrouyr Manoukian, 22, was taken into custody without incident and booked into jail on a charge of second-degree murder.

The burned body was found July 28, tied to the remains of a love seat and other furniture items in the area of 30205 N. Black Canyon Hwy. and Dixileta Street. The victim was identified as 24-year-old Matthew McMasters of Stateline.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is asking for public input on the proposed Homewood Mountain Resort 20-year Ski Slope Permit. The permit would allow Homewood to continue to provide downhill skiing and snowboarding opportunities on the recently acquired Quail Lake parcel.

The Forest Service purchased the Quail Lake parcel from Homewood Mountain Resort in 2009. Prior to the purchase, the parcel was used for skiing and snowboarding along with Homewood’s grooming operation.

Lake Tahoe Community College faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, and administration express their heartfelt condolences to the family of LTCC distinguished alumnus Carl Young. Carl and his former “Storm Chaser” colleagues star Tim Samaras and his son Paul Samaras were killed on Friday, May 31 while chasing storms in Oklahoma.

The Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation is seeking nominations for the 2013 Lake Tahoe Community College Distinguished Alumni Award. This award is based upon alumni or a former students’ exemplary achievement in his or her life endeavor.

Their accumulated academic, business and / or civic activities are also considered. It is expected that nominees attribute their success in life in some way to the knowledge and experience they gained while attending Lake Tahoe Community College.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will resume prescribed fire operations on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe beginning Thursday, May 30. Crews expect to burn approximately one to three acres west of the Spooner Summit area. Operations are scheduled to last through the day, weather and conditions permitting.

Lake Tahoe Community College is holding a visioning session on Saturday, June 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the LTCC Board Room next to the Library. The community is invited to contribute to a conversation about the future of the College as we move toward 2020.

Changes in state regulations are forcing LTCC to change what we do and who we serve. These changes have created challenges that must be overcome if LTCC is to continue serving the communities of Lake Tahoe.

Do you love Lake Tahoe and have an interest in learning more about the lake? Do you enjoy science, learning new information, and sharing your knowledge? Would you like to become a local expert on research taking place at Lake Tahoe?

The Vietnam Veterans of America, Carson Area Chapter 388 invite you attend a Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 27th, 2013 beginning at 11 AM at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada.

The service will be an hour long. Immediately following the service, there will be an unveiling of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The shrine lists the names of 151 young men from the State of Nevada who gave their lives in Vietnam. Adjacent to that are the names of eight nurses who also gave their lives in Vietnam while they were there caring for our troops.

Co-GRAMMY winners Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros offered revelation, during Thursday evenings performance, at the MontBleu Theatre. They won a GRAMMY at the '55th Annual Awards' for “Best Long Form Music Video” category portraying the bands incredible performances with Mumford & Sons and Old Crow Medicine Show, in the docu-concert film, “Big Easy Express". Last nights performance at MontBleu, the Los Angeles bands indie-rock-folk sermon, at times, huanted then elevated the nearly sold out audience.

Parking at and around Regan Beach will remain free, but additional paid parking is expected near El Dorado Beach following a Tuesday decision by the South Lake Tahoe City Council.
Go here for the full story.

In honor of Peace Officer Memorial Week, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department honored officers, dispatch and citizens during its Annual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

“We are so proud of the selfless efforts by our police force on a daily basis and it’s nice to have an opportunity to support them in this way” said City of South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tom Davis. “These are all local heroes in our police and fire departments and its good we take the time to honor them.”

Elizabeth Carmel, a former land use planner and advisor with extensive experience working in the Sierra, has joined the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board following her appointment by California Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles).

The seat is one of 14 voting positions on the environmental planning agency’s board - seven representing California and seven representing Nevada. One board seat, appointed by the President of the United States, is non-voting.

The Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Coordination Committee will host a free public forum on Thursday, May 23, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Inn By The Lake, located at 3300 Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

South Lake Tahoe police Officer Johnny Poland is expected to plead guilty next week to federal charges. “They said in court that they needed a week for negotiations,” Lauren Horwood with the U.S. Attorney’s Office told Lake Tahoe News after the May 15 hearing in Sacramento. “Another hearing is set for May 22 for entry of a guilty plea.”

A pilot and two passengers escaped injury Wednesday after a plane crash northeast of Spooner in the Kings Canyon area, Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong confirmed.

The passengers of the aircraft were taken by Carson City Fire and Rescue to the staging area at the Kings Canyon Trailhead where they signed statements with the Carson City Sheriff's Office. Both declined comment. An official at the scene said the three had taken a flight to celebrate the birthday of a 23-year-old female passenger and that both passengers were shaken and didn't wish to speak. It is believed but not confirmed the flight originated from Lake Tahoe.

The governors of California and Nevada have agreed to renew a bi-state partnership to preserve, protect and enhance Lake Tahoe through the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Compact.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Calif. Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced Tuesday an agreement that renews the partnership, which has been under threat of repeal.

A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 5 years and three months in prison for defrauding a Lake Tahoe investor of more than $2.9 million, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. sentenced Jed Baron, 55, of Las Vegas, on Friday, May 10 to prison for wire fraud related to the investment scheme, according to a news release.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors honored Mark Divittorio for helping to rescue a family last month when their car plunged into the South Fork of the American River.

On Thursday, April 4 the Lemler family was traveling along Highway 50 when their vehicle left the roadway and ended up submerged and on its side in the American River. The three young daughters managed to escape to the roof of the vehicle. Mr. Lemler remained trapped inside the vehicle while Mrs. Lemler worked to keep his head above the water.