carson valley

The Nevada Division of Tourism recognized outstanding members of the state’s rural tourism industry at the VolunTourism Awards Dinner April 27 in Elko. The awards ceremony was a highlight of the state’s annual Rural Roundup conference.

“Tourism is a significant component of rural Nevada economies,” Claudia Vecchio, Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs director, said. “It is a $2.3 billion industry that continues to grow thanks to the efforts of the tourism professionals in rural Nevada. It is our pleasure to recognize those efforts with this year’s VolunTourism awards.”

Casinos on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe had a gaming "win" of $16,742,788 in March, 2.3 percent less than they did in the same month last year according to a report released today by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The gaming "win" represents the computed income of casinos before business expenses and taxes.

Even with a loss in March, local casinos are still 5.45 percent up from 2016.

Thousands of communities across the United States will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration “National Drug Take Back” day scheduled for Saturday, April 29 in South Lake Tahoe, Zephyr Cove, and spots in the Carson Valley.

46,000 people a year die from drug overdoses and more than half of those die from prescription opioid overdoses. Four out of five new users of heroin began with abusing prescription opioids.

Kingsbury Grade (State Route 207) reopened at 4:30 p.m. Saturday after closing Friday afternoon to allow crews to remove a slide and remove trees and boulders.

Rockfall mitigation experts spent Saturday bringing down boulders from the top of a roadside slope on Kingsbury Grade. Heavy precipitation had loosened not only the boulders, but trees as well.

The roadway is now clear and traffic is moving from the Carson Valley to Lake Tahoe. Nevada Department of Transportion (NDOT) and their contractor Q&D Construction made repairs to an eroding roadside slope and extensive rockfall.

4:15 p.m. update: Kingsbury Grade (State Route 207) will remain closed indefinitely on the Carson Valley side of the road as the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) continues safety evaluation and removal of major rockfall.

The highway was closed early Friday afternoon as NDOT and contractor Q&D Construction removed loose trees and earth from a roadside slope to help reduce rock and mud fall onto the highway. The slope had slid approximately one foot within the past 24 hours, posing the threat of bringing mud, rock and debris across the highway.

Neddenriep Financial of Minden, Nevada has pledged $4,000 to the Douglas County Senior Center. Last year, he pledged to support and sponsor the senior dining room and repeated his generosity for the 2017 year.

The long time local accounting firm is owned by Mark Neddenriep.

Hundreds of senior citizens use the dining room on a daily basis. The donation will be used for equipment and supplies for the dining room.

Closed highways and chain controls are hampering travel on Lake Tahoe area roads as the throngs of weekend skiers attempt to make their way home.

As of 9:45 a.m. Sunday, I-80 remains closed in both directions from Colfax to the Nevada state line due to hazardous driving condition. It has been closed since Saturday evening when the recent storm hit the region.

Two men are wanted for questioning in two recent thefts at the Walmart on Topsy Lane in the Carson Valley. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is investigating the thefts which occurred on January 30 and February 20.

In both cases, two male subjects stole used vehicle battery cores from a fenced area near the automotive service department. At this time it is believed that over 100 battery cores were taken between the two thefts.

9:40 p.m. update: Internet and cable service for customers in the South Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley region have been restored.

The severed fiber option lines above Airport Road in Minden were reconnected one-by-one. According to Charter, there can be thousands of wires in each line.

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5:15 p.m. update: Charter Communications estimates their crews will have services restored to the region by 8:00 p.m.

Roadwork to clear mud and rocks from Highway 50 continues on both sides of the state line of Lake Tahoe with no estimated reopening time released by either transportation agency.

Last week, five boulders fell onto the highway near Logan Creek on the east side of the lake, prompting Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to close the road due to an unstable hillside. Progress is being made on the stretch of road that connects South Lake Tahoe to Carson City according to Meg Ragonese of NDOT. She said the "monolithic-size boulders" are being removed.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners have declared a State of Emergency due to a flood and wind event that took place over the last couple of days. The flood event is supposed to continue into the duration of the weekend. The declaration has been submitted to the State of Nevada and will allow regional partners to speed up the delivery of resources required to more effectively aid in requesting additional resources, aid in recovery, and meet the needs of the community during a time of crisis.

Rain is still falling in South Lake Tahoe but chain controls are starting to go up at upper elevations as snow begins to fall. Up to 1"-2" more precipitation is still expected Thursday night at the 6,200 ft elevation.

Lake level rain is forecast to end Friday with a winter storm warning in place until Saturday morning at 1:00 a.m. 4"-7" of snow is expected in South Lake Tahoe during that time.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif., - Tahoe Transportation District is suspending all transit services at noon on Sunday, January 22 due to current and expected weather, and road conditions.

All winter routes serving Heavenly Mountain Resort, routes 50, 53, 23, 20x, 19x and all on-demand response services will be suspended. This includes routes to, and around, the Carson Valley

It is unknown at this time when service will be resumed.

Kingsbury Grade, the main connection between Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley, has been reopened by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT).

In December, a sinkhole formed where a drainage pipe crosses underneath the road at mile marker 4.3, approximately 10 miles up the road on the Carson Valley side. NDOT closed it on January 3 to put in temporary repairs and reopened three days later.

The Douglas County road crews cannot work anymore hours over the three-day weekend due to their having reached the maximum number of driving hours allowed due to flooding and snow conditions in the Carson Valley over the last week.

Hours are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The Douglas County staff can resume regular duty on Tuesday January 17, 2017 at 7:00 a.m. If an emergency arises, staff may be called in after 5:00 a.m. on Sunday.

After drivers were stuck on both sides of Echo Summit starting at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Caltrans has closed the highway as of 7:05 p.m. Eastbound traffic is being stopped at the Sly Park, and westbound in Meyers. Unsafe driving conditions due to heavy snow and the threat of avalanches have been a concern all day.

As of 7:00 p.m., cars hadn't moved much. For a short time at 4:00 p.m. Caltrans was attempting escorted travel from Meyers heading west before closing down the highway.

Crews from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) are headed to SR207/Kingsbury Grade to investigate a sinkhole which has resulted in another closure of the main connection between Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley.

A sinkhole formed Sunday night in the same general area of the previous erosion which kept the road closed for 4 days. Crews will determine if is the the exact drainage pipe impacted before, or if it is a new one according to Meg Ragonese of NDOT.

The road is closed from Tramway to Foothill Blvd, leaving the lake side from Highway 50 to Tramway open.

Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has announced that State Route 207/Kingsbury Grade, the main connection between South Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley is back open after temporary repairs were made to stabilize the sink hole.

"We actually put in an interim repair and in the spring or early summer we'll come back and completely reinstall the eroding drainage pipe that caused the sinkhole," said Meg Ragonese, NDOT Public Information Officer.

She told South Tahoe Now to remind motorists that even though the road is open tonight, chains or snow tires are required.

One storm has entered the Lake Tahoe Basin, and another is waiting off shore, bringing snow and accompanying road controls with it.

The current winter weather advisory is in place until Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., but that is the same time a new winter storm warning goes up. The National Weather Service is forecasting 5-10" at lake level, 10-20" over the Sierra Crest and 10-15" in the Carson Range near Mt. Rose through Tuesday morning. From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday night, expect another 12-18" at lake level with 2-3 feet above 7000 foot elevation.

The presents have just been opened and the celebrations wrapping up, but its already time to think of Christmas tree disposal.

South Tahoe Refuse and Recycling offers free pickup of trees during normal trash pickup days starting December 26 and going through January 6. The trees will be used as compost by their Carson Valley partners.

On normal trash days, take trees out to the curb that are six feet or less in size, have had all decorations removed and are out of stands. Flocked trees are not allowed.

The National Weather Service in Reno has cancelled the winter storm watch for Reno, Carson City and the Carson Valley, but South Lake Tahoe will still see the affects of the storm. There is a delay in the storm's arrival and snow should start to fall late Tuesday morning and last through late Tuesday evening.

Snow may be heavy at times. The winter storm warning for Lake Tahoe is in effect from 10 a.m. December 13 to 4:00 a.m. December 14.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a runaway juvenile.

Kyle Bidgood, age 15, left home on October 25 with skateboard in hand and hasn't been seen by his family since.

Bidgood is described as a Caucasian male, with dark hair, 5’7” and around 110 lbs. He was last seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with black sleeves, black jeans and a baseball cap.

The 2007 Douglas County Transportation Plan did not address any needs in the lake portion of the county, and the newly completed 2016 plan doesn't as well though it discusses a potential gondola from the base of Kingsbury Grade to Heavenly Mountain Resort.

The results of 2016's Douglas County Transportation Master Plan update will be presented during a public meeting on October 20 at 6:00 p.m. in the C.V.I.C. Hall.
Parsons Corporation, the organization which prepared the update, will give the presentation.

5:15 p.m. update: Weather is helping fire fighters on the fire burning south of Gardnerville.

Recommended evacuations have been lifted and residents can return to their homes in the Ruhenstroth area. The area on the west side of Highway 395, including Stone’s Throw, Frontage Road and the Riverview Mobile Home Park remain closed to the residents.

Highway 395 north and southbound will be opening soon, single lane only with a pilot vehicle.

“The conditions are improving due the light rain, decrease in the winds and cooler temperatures,” said Deputy Chief Dave Fogerson.

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