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It has been a week since heavy rain and mud flowed through the Alpine County town of Markleeville, causing its main artery of SR-89 to close due to a large 20-foot hole under the road. The closure left no access to the Carson Pass thoroughfare, which most drivers used to travel to and from the town.

The South Lake Tahoe Library is wrapping up our Summer Reading Challenge and would like to thank three organizations that have generously supported our program.

Last month we were excited to host two outdoor performers for children and their caregivers to enjoy. These performers, Wild Things and Magician Brian Scott, were sponsored by the South Tahoe Optimist Club. We would like to thank them and those who contribute to their organization for their generous support!

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nevada –The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has announced that the Mobile Outreach Safety Team (MOST) is expanding from two days a week to four days a week.

MOST is a mental health assistance program in Douglas County designed to contact citizens with mental health issues and attempt to get them connected with mental health services in the community. They provide services to all Douglas County residents and visitors who experience mental illness, substance abuse disorders, or suicidal crises.

September 6 @ 10:00 AM: Interpretive Bird and Tree Hike @ Carson Pass. An easy hike focused on spotting and appreciating birds of the Carson Pass area as well as learning a bit about the trees of the Carson Pass area. Allow about 2 hours. This is a three-hour event. Meet at the Carson Pass Information Station on CA Hwy 88. Call 209 258.8606 to reserve a spot.

August 16 @ 10:00 AM: Interpretive History Hike @ Carson Pass. Frank Tortorich, local author, will lead a hike focused on the history of Carson Pass. His books can be found at the Carson Pass Information Station. He will share some stories during a relaxed hour and a half walk. All participants will leave knowing more about Kit Carson, John C. Fremont, and the pioneers of the area. This is a 2-hour relaxed hike. This is a three-hour event. Meet at the Carson Pass Information Station on CA Hwy 88. Call 209 258.8606 to reserve a spot.

The Carson Pass Information Station is wrapping up the summer season with a series of activities for youth and adults including Junior Ranger hikes, wildflower and watercolor painting hikes, historical hikes, and naturalist hikes including birds, geology, and trees. All are free but spaces must be reserved by calling 209.258.8606. There is a parking fee of $5 per day.

MARKLEEVILLE, Calif. - When rain fell over the Tamarack Fire burn scar last week, causing the mud to flow down roads and hills, it did much more than wash out SR-89, the main artery between Markleeville and the rest of Alpine County.

It took with it the hopes to finally have a disaster-free summer where businesses could end their busy season on a positive note.

The Las Vegas Golden Knights will be stopping by the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena for the first leg of their Summer Rink Tours on August 15 at 10 a.m.
They are encouraging all Golden Knights hockey fans to make those "Welcome Signs" and show up early to greet Chance, the Las Vegas Golden Knights Mascot along with one or two of the NHL Vegas Golden Knights players. The tour bus will be parked in the rink parking lot so come down, and snap some pictures with Chance and the bus. There will be pre-autographed handouts for those in attendance.

Wylder Resort Hope Valley continues its Eastern Sierra history series with a living history presentation - “Those That Survived-Living History" on Saturday, August 13 at 2 p.m.

David and Gayle Woodruff adopt the characters of Donner Party organizer and survivors, James and Margret Reed as they recount the gripping tale, of the courageous and heroic efforts of Reed and others, who saved the lives of 45 of the 81 destitute soles, who were trapped by severe, early season snowstorms in the Sierra Nevada Mountains during the winter of 1846-47.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A South Lake Tahoe man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and vandalism after a fire broke out at his home near the corner of Larch and Figueroa Saturday night.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) was dispatched to the home at 8:31 p.m. on August 6. Upon arrival, they found the home fully involved with fire, with flames along the rear of the home and heavy smoke at the front, according to Battalion Chief Tyler Jack.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Historical Society is hosting another "Tahoe History Talks on the Beach" on Tuesday, August 9. Learn about the "Daring and Dangerous Donner Summit" from historian and author David Woodruff.

Making it the largest tournament in its 38 years, 270 players recently participated in the annual Hersh Herschman Memorial Tahoe Classic at Zephyr Cove Park. The four-day annual event that ended July 24 brought even more people to our area for the fun tennis competition.

The tournament is the biggest fundraiser for the Zephyr Cove Tennis Club Foundation. The money raised from the event, including a silent auction and raffle, will help to continue to provide the only organized recreational tennis, with a growing kids program, on the South Shore.

TRUCKEE – Travel delays are continuing through November on Interstate 80 (I-80) in Truckee for roadway construction activities.

Motorists are advised to expect typical delays of 15 to 20 minutes when traveling through the work zones on weekdays. However, delays of 25 to 30 minutes are common on Thursday afternoons due to increased weekend travel levels.

ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. - After flooding closed the main route into Markleeville this week, the county economic official is asking the public to visit and support their businesses as they need support. With the closure of Highway 89 from Turtle Rock Park to Markleeville, businesses in Markleeville can be accessed over Monitor Pass (SR-89) and Ebbetts Pass (CA-4).

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) has made some leadership changes for the 2022-23 school year.

Manuel Sanchez, former principal at South Tahoe Middle School (STMS), has taken a new role as an administrator on a special assignment for the upcoming year. He will be supporting LTUSD with grant writing, English Learners support, and human resources needs.

Taking his spot at STMS is Cindy Martinez, the former principal at Bijou Community School. The District is looking forward to her bringing the same high-quality leadership to the middle school.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Live Violence Free (LVF) needs new board members to join its LVF Leadership Team and help them expand services and reach within the community. LVF has been a pillar within our community for 45 years, making an incredible impact through its programs and as an advocate for positive community change. Live Violence Free has a long history of meeting the needs of our community while remaining responsive and adaptive to emergent needs and challenges.

A series of statewide stings and sweeps conducted by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) identified unlicensed activity in the California construction industry, putting consumers at risk.

During the three undercover sting and sweep operations in South Lake Tahoe, Salinas, and Redding, 142 legal actions were taken, primarily for unlicensed and uninsured practices.

From June 6 to 24, 2022, CSLB partnered with local law enforcement in those operations to target unlicensed contractors, with investigators contacting the suspects through their advertisements.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — South Lake Tahoe’s first indoor mini-golf course, Flatstick Pub, also known as Tipsy Putt, will be teaming up with The ALS Association to give back to South Lake Tahoe’s environment and community. Each Sunday in August, Flatstick Pub will donate $1 for every beer and $1 for every round of mini-golf purchased from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

August 4 UPDATE: Due to large-scale rain events in Eastern Alpine County, the Alpine County Unified Command was notified by the California Department of Transportation that Highway 89 will be closed to all traffic from Turtle Rock Park to Markleeville until further notice. Access to Markleeville will be through Monitor Pass for residents. At this time, the County is asking all visitors to avoid the area.

Alpine County Unified Command is prepositioning public safety assets in Markleeville in anticipation of additional rain events and potential flooding.

Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening, prompting Douglas County officials to issue a Flash Flood Warning.

Heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding of low-lying areas and debris flows in and near recent burn scars, mainly the Caldor, Numbers, Tamarack, Mountain View, Slink, and Boot fire areas. Also at risk are areas of steep terrain and poor drainage south of US-50.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County Commissioners Danny Tarkanian and Mark Gardner are holding a meeting at Round Hill on Wednesday, August 3 to go over agenda items affecting the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Tarkanian said they are holding a "Town Hall" meeting at 5 p.m. at Casey's next to Safeway in the Round Hill Center.

In a letter he sent to residents:

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will hear the following items at the August 4, 2022 BOCC meeting:

Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church welcomes youth from the South Shore to its Vacation Bible School from August 7-11. Meet new friends, participate in amazing experiments, play creative games, and enjoy fun snacks, incredible music, and surprising adventures.

The five-day "Howlin' Good Time" is free and for ages 4-11. Kids can attend one day, or multiple days.

To register, fill out the form located at http://tahoepres.churchsites.com/spec_event_youth.asp, the email the form to
TahoePresChurchEvents@gmail.com. Call 530-544-3757 for more information.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services (OES) is holding a series of public presentations regarding the 2022 updates for the El Dorado County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).

A general overview of the plan will be presented and the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback at the Lake Tahoe Airport on Thursday, August 4 at 7 p.m. The airport is located at 1901 Lisa Maloff Way, South Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For 20 years, between 1856 and 1876, the legendary Snowshoe Thompson delivered mail between Placerville and Genoa (and for a time, Virginia City). He did it by the Norweigan version of snowshoes, looking like very long cross-country skis. It took him three days on this eastward journey, two days back to Placerville, carrying on his back a 60-100 pound package of mail.

The U.S. Forest Service Taylor Creek Visitor's Center will host an evening with John "Snowshoe" Thompson on Friday, August 5 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in their Lake of the Sky amphitheater.