champions plaza

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The annual 4th of July Parade in South Lake Tahoe is adding some new features in 2019, including a 20-foot-tall eagle balloon.

Starting at 10:00 a.m. the parade will leave the staging area on Ski Run Boulevard and head west along Lake Tahoe Boulevard (US50) to Bijou Community Park on Al Tahoe Boulevard.

There will be dancers, live music, floats, neighborhood groups with a Food Truck Park at the finish. A marching band isn't scheduled this year due to their high cost, but perhaps another one will find their wait to South Lake Tahoe.

"Today is a very special day," South Lake Tahoe Mayor Wendy David said as she opened the unveiling ceremony for the Walk of Champions Friday. "Local athletes are honored for giving South Lake Tahoe recognition on the international and national stage."

News spread through South Lake Tahoe this week that surprised and shocked many, the City Council's decision to put City Manager Nancy Kerry on indefinite leave. The council will be meeting in closed session on Monday, February 12, 2018 to discuss the situation. Their agenda item, "PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)" starts at 9:00 a.m.

That section of code allows special and closed session meetings to consider the appointment, employment, evaluation of performance, discipline, or dismissal of a public employee.

Its election time and the only local issue is Measure C; an increase of one-half percent in local sales tax (excludes groceries and prescriptions) for a term of 15 years to fund road rehabilitation. I voted YES to the measure because there is no long term funding solution within the current budget or the foreseeable future. And, our roads are in terrible shape.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Mother Nature delayed the completion of the Spirit of Competition bronze sculpture, but now it is ready and will be unveiled to the public in a ceremony on Friday, October 27 at 12:00 p.m. at Champion's Plaza.

Artist Gareth Curtiss has a studio in Montana, and wildfires in the area set back his completion date and canceled the previously scheduled ceremony.

The unveiling of the anticipated Spirit of Competition bronze sculpture at Champions Plaza in South Lake Tahoe will take place on Friday, September 29 at 2:00 p.m.

The 2017 inductees include; Elena Hight, Glen Plake, Hannah Teter, Jamie Anderson, Jonna Mendes, Kyle Smaine, Maddie Bowman, Shaun Palmer, Travis Cabral and Travis Ramos. They have all been invited to the event.

At the beginning of Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting, Austin Sass was voted in as mayor, Wendy David as vice mayor and new Councilmembers Jason Collin and Brooke Laine were sworn in.

It was an unanimous vote for Sass, but with three Councilmembers interested in being vice-mayor, the vote for that position was a much closer 3-2. Both Brooke Laine and Tom Davis also expressed a desire to serve under Sass. Collin was the only one not interested in either position, citing his being "the new kid on the block" and wanted to learn the job he was elected for first.

Mountain Resort Television reporter Nicole Marsel talks to Coach Finnegan from Elevation Elite travel basketball on how they are looking for more players, Tracy Franklin talks about how the City of South Lake Tahoe is looking for someone to make a bid to create a bronze sculpture for the Champions Plaza, and Meg Ragonese from NDOT fills us in on what will be covered at the Cave Rock Project meeting this Thursday night, which is open to the public.

In a quest to create a signature presence for Champion's Plaza, which is on the corner of Lakeview Avenue and Highway 50, the South Lake Tahoe City Council Tuesday awarded a local artist and LTCC professor with the task.

The plaza is meant to honor all athletes from the South Shore who represent the community on the international sports scene, such as the Olympics. It will contain Foster's creation as well as podiums with the lake as a backdrop, the perfect place for photo opportunities.

The following is a summary of accomplishments during 2014 by the City of South Lake Tahoe.

Strategic Priority: Fiscal Sustainability
The most important issue facing cities and local agencies is continued steadfast attention to the budget, both short term and long term fiscal impacts.

· Implemented “budget watch” approach to financial analysis; a year-long effort evaluating state, national and global economic impacts for South Shore economy, and capital investment opportunities

If you haven't been by Harrison Avenue lately you'll find some big changes. Landscaping has gone in, one way streets are in place, there are more walking and biking areas and stores are being updated to reflect the new look.

The final phase of this year's project is the parking lot at the north end across from Lakeview Commons. And after the City Council's unanimous vote at Tuesday's meeting, the corner will also be Champion's Plaza.

As a permanent landmark to honor Lake Tahoe's past, current and future National and Olympic champions.

How it will look is what isn't known.

It's long been joked that South Lake Tahoe has two seasons: winter and road construction.

Get ready for the latter as it's time to begin the South Lake Tahoe projects.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Jim Marino, the City's Assistant Public Works Director, outlined all 13 different projects happening within city limits this year.

On the photos in this story you'll their locations, and which ones are deemed to create the heaviest traffic as a result of closing intersections or reducing travel to one lane.