Smoke from local prescribed burns can be seen, and smelled, through much of South Lake Tahoe today. A cool night and low inversion layer have trapped the smoke closer to the ground than normal.

What most residents are experiencing is coming from a 69-acre prescribed burn area near Trout Creek that was ignited Friday. The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department said there are no vegetative fires in the basin.

Smoke was especially heavy Friday night and looked much like fog while navigating many streets in the area.

Barton Health's Certified Enrollment Counselors are available to help community members enroll in Covered California insurance or Medi-Cal plan from now until January 31.

One-on-one enrollment sessions are available the follow days and times:

Tuesday, December 8- 3:30-6:30pm
Wednesday, January 20 - 3:30-6:30pm

Both sessions will take place at Lake Tahoe Community College in Computer Lab D123. Enrollment counselors will help individuals and families walk through the process of signing up and selecting a health care plan.

Every Friday for the last 6 years, Bread & Broth has been partnering with Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church (LTCPC) to feed the hungry through the “Second Serving” program. “Second Serving” meals consist of soup and a simple entrée such as pasta dishes, Sloppy Joes and chili cheese dogs which are served from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Family room of the LTCPC. These meals complement the Bread & Broth Monday evening full-course dinners served at St. Theresa Church Grace Hall.

More than 50 reports of local residents receiving an IRS phone scam came into the El Dorado County Sheriff's office on Wednesday.

The caller, usually a male, tells the person they owe the IRS money and if they don’t pay right now, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. The male caller has been reported as aggressive and threatening. Two women who received phone calls said the scammer threatened to “rape” them.

Hal Cole's term as mayor during the City of South Lake Tahoe's 50th anniversary is coming to a close. During the next City Council meeting on Monday, December 7, the next mayor and mayor pro-tem will be elected. All current council members are eligible though first term Councilwoman Wendy David is the current mayor pro-tem.

Normally held on Tuesdays, the Council meeting was moved to Monday so Tom Davis could attend his daughter-in-law's graduation from nursing school in Tennessee. The meeting starts at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers at the airport.

A South Lake Tahoe man is being credited for the arrest of two people Thursday afternoon after he saw them slowly cruising his neighborhood and stealing a package off a neighbor's front porch.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. The listed calls were responded to from November 19 to November 29, 2015.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

11/19

Drunk in Public in the 2300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 1900 block of B Street

11/20

Warrant in the 2300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Warrant in the 3500 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 800 block of Stateline Ave
Probation/Parole Search at Emerald Bay Rd and 10th St

The annual Barton Foundation Festival of Trees and Lights opened Wednesday at MontBleu with tree judging and the Senior Stroll.

The winners of the designer and school trees and wreath contests:

Designer Tree Category

Best Interpretation of Theme: No Place Like Home, by Cyndy Brown – Carlton

Most Elegant: Tantalizing Tango, by Belen Urrutia

Most “Out of the Box” (Creative): Steampunk Christmas, by Jeri Oishi & Enchanted Florist team

Best of Show: Tantalizing Tango, by Belen Urrutia

LTUSD Trees:

Whitney Gardner realized quickly she was overmatched when she first competed in the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup.

The competition was stronger and more experienced. The jumps intimidated her. The features scared her. The courses were too challenging. She was constantly falling. She just wasn’t meeting her own expectations.

Ever since she transitioned into skicross from alpine skiing, Gardner had strove to someday compete on the world cup tour. But now that she was there, she had to admit she wasn’t ready. That was difficult.