children

On Wednesday morning, December 23, 2015, my wife and best friend, Charlene Middlebrook lost her long and courageous battle with cancer. As with everything she did, Charlene handled the cancer and a subsequent stroke, with grace, courage, total resolve and of course her humor and her smile, once again being the hero in our family. Charlene and I met here in Tahoe 35 years ago and soon discovered that we had both grown up in Southern California about two miles apart.

It has been 18 years since Sonny Bono, a California congressman and entertainer who had performed at Lake Tahoe, died in a skiing accident at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Bono was 62 when he set out skiing on that Monday morning, January 5, 1998. He was first reported missing at 4:30 p.m. In hopes that he left the mountain without telling anyone, Bono was paged in each of the Stateline casinos.

A Douglas County man is in jail this morning after allegedly battering his wife and strangling her, shooting off a gun inside their home and resisting arrest on Monday, January 5, 2016.

At 11:10 p.m., deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call from a home in the 1300 block of Banner Drive in the Gardnerville Ranchos neighborhood. A woman had called, saying she had been battered and strangled by her husband.

A new burger place has opened on the South Shore, giving residents on the Nevada side of town a new option for eating out (or on the run).

Neighborhood Burgers was opened by locals Erik Watada and Matt Grime, and in less than a week of being open its already a hit.

Grime, owner of The Fox & Hound at the top of Kingsbury, joined Watada in providing an option for people to get a quick bite, especially those on the Nevada side where options are at a minimum.

The Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club recently held their annual Children's Christmas party and traditional turkey dinner at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel. On the guest list were families from both Live Violence Free and Sierra Child and Family Services. Thirty families and 80 children enjoyed an afternoon of food, entertainment, a visit from Santa and gifts.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is happy to be hosting both a blood drive and a coat drive in South Lake Tahoe. The goal is to help the community by providing vital blood as a resource within our community and also provide coats to children in need. We encounter children on calls often who could benefit from a coat donation and hope to make a difference with this.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

12/13

No Report

12/14

9:00 a.m. - Driving without a license - Lake Tahoe Blvd - 16-YEAR-OLD MALE CITED FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE

9:36 a.m. - Death Investigation - 3rd St - 77-YEAR-OLD FEMALE

12/15

Some elves visited the South Lake Tahoe Children's Memorial tree for the third straight year, leaving behind signs of Christmas with stockings and garland.

The memorial was created 24 years ago when tragedy struct our community when South Tahoe High students Rory Hrbacek, Sandy Haynes, and Casey Wells died in an accident on Pioneer Trail.

A special holiday treat in South Lake Tahoe will be held on Saturday, December 19 when the public can enjoy the lighted Christmas truck, Santa and Mrs. Claus, latkes and cookies, carolers and tours of the decorated museum and cabin during the Holiday in History Open House.

The annual Lake Tahoe Historical Society event will be held at the museum located at 3058 Lake Tahoe Blvd from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Victorian Christmas scene is spread throughout the museum and the historic cabin.

Schedule:

- Free museum and 1930 cabin tours all day.

Watch the documentary, Into the Cold, at the next Lake of the Sky Outfitter's "Movie Night" on December 18, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at Unity at the Lake, 1195 Rufus Allen Blvd.

Admission: $5.00 (children free) Please call (530) 541-1027 to RSVP. Light refreshments will be served.

Two men embark on a dramatic expedition to the North Pole, where, for over 2 months, they journey 400+ miles on foot facing harsh temperatures. From their intensive training to the expedition’s successful completion, Into the Cold is a bone-chilling story of true bravery, courage, and determination.

Location

The annual Light Up Lake Tahoe parade led people through town Saturday night on their way to light the Christmas tree at the Y. Carolers kept the crowd entertained, as did cocoa and cookies, as they waited for Santa to arrive via fire truck.

With temperatures sitting at 30 degrees, bundled up children and their parents, and local community members counted down the flipping of the switch for the tree which will stay lit through the holidays.

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:

A father and his five children were rescued by the California Highway Patrol after becoming stranded in a wooded and snowy area of El Dorado County for hours, according to officers.

The family of six went on an off-road excursion about 8 a.m. in the Ice House Reservoir area, but realized they were lost soon after.

The Elk Grove father named Ed called the CHP about 2:30 p.m. and told them that his pickup truck had begun sliding toward a cliff, and that he had been holding the brake pedal with both feet for some time to prevent it from going over the edge, the CHP said.

Lights, trees, action! Lake Tahoe community members and visitors are invited to celebrate the holiday season at the seventh annual Festival of Trees and Lights.

The family-friendly festival runs from December 2 through December 6 at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa. This year, all proceeds will support prevention programs and trauma services for Barton Hospital’s Level III Trauma Center.

Douglas County and Lyon County Sheriff's Officers are joining law enforcement from around the state in a Click It or Ticket campaign to remind motorists that seat belts save lives and that failing to buckle up can result in costly ticket fees.

A baby’s brain is like a flower, if it’s stressed, it wilts; If the flower is nourished, it blooms.

Those are the telling words used to open the film, Effects of Domestic Violence on Children. As our brains grow, they create a blueprint for every new experience we have, the sounds, the touches and the sights. We may not remember what happens to us as a baby but our experiences are forever etched in our brains and create the building blocks of our lives.

South Lake Tahoe Police and Fire departments, and the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office will be handing out stuffed moose to children they come across in their jobs who are facing times of stress, uncertainty and anxiety.

Members of Women of the Moose, and the Loyal Order of the Moose, Chapter 408 donated a box of Tommy Moose to the departments. Tommy Moose personifies one of the tenants of the Loyal Order of Moose: caring for children.

“The healing begins with helping kids at the scene of a serious event—starting right away makes good sense,” said Police Chief Brian Uhler.

I'm proud to be an American,
Where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
Who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up next to you,
And defend Her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt,
I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A.

South Tahoe Now will be presenting a series on increasing drug use among children and adults in South Lake Tahoe, current trends and solutions. This is the first part in the series: Heroin.

It is euphoria, sensory overload and beyond any pleasure you know. That is the beginning, and the average heroin user will spend years trying to find the same feeling as that first high, ended only by death, or seeking help to rid themselves of the dark beast of addiction. Those are the only two options.

The Pet of the Week for November 3 is Akero, a 2-year-old who is house trained and likes to play with other dogs. He is good with children and likes to sit in laps. Akero cannot go home with cats. He will require grooming every 6 weeks as he does not shed. Call to schedule time to visit Akero at the El Dorado County Animal Services, 530-573-7925. For Spay-Neuter services and other support, call the Lake Tahoe Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at 530-542-2857.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

10/25

2:02 p.m. - Coroner's Case - James Ave - A DEATH INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED, DECEASED WAS 38-YEAR-OLD MAN.

2:20 p.m. - Obtain credit/money under false name - Henderson St - R/P REPORTED AN IDENTITY THEFT. A REPORT WAS GENERATED AND FORWARDED TO DETECTIVES FOR FOLLOW UP.

Halloween is often recognized as a holiday that offers just as much fun for adults as it does for children. Youngsters may look forward to a night of trick-or-treating, but many adults choose to partake in the festivities, too – oftentimes with alcohol included. While Halloween may be a spooky night, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) want to help ensure that it is also a safe one. If you plan on making alcohol a part of your celebrations this year, designating a sober driver or finding a safe ride home should be a top priority.

Halloween on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe will have something for all ages. Here are some activities for kids:

Lego Block Party at the South Lake Tahoe Library at 10 a.m. - Design, build, invent with Legos! Join us as we build with Legos and Duplo blocks. The whole family is welcome. Your Lego creation will be displayed in the library until next month’s Block Party when the fun begins again. All blocks will be provided. Sponsored by Friends of the Library.

Sierra Nevada Anime Fans Unite, also known as SNAFU, will be holding their 6th annual anime and gaming fan convention October 30 through November 1 at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks.