Christmas

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a great day of cycling for the women racing in the Amgen Tour of California, light winds, mild temperatures and clear skies. They left the Heavenly California Lodge at 11:00 a.m. and the first racer crossed the finish line three hours and six minutes later after a trip through Christmas Valley, Hope Valley, Alpine County and the big climb on Kingsbury Grade.

Katie Hall, 31, of Saratoga, California won the day, but it was a close one as she crossed the finish line 29 seconds ahead of Tayler Wiles.

Author Gage McKinney will share with us the incredibly interesting tale of the hard-rock miners from Cornwall who came to America early in the 1800s to tap the continent’s rich mineral wealth. They were crucial to the California Gold Rush and settled in the mining camps of the Sierra Nevada. Along with their mining skills, they brought their folk music and especially their Christmas carols. Gage will describe the origins of this music, which was composed, performed and enjoyed by mining families, and is preserved today by their descendants.

Location

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - 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 time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

4/6

There will be a memorial day on the slopes in memory of Ronson Sakioka on Friday, April 6 on the face of Heavenly, followed by an after-party in the California Lodge.

The 64-year-old Sakioka was a long time South Lake Tahoe area local. He was killed by a car as he attempted to cross Highway 49 at night during the Victorian Christmas in Nevada City on December 20, 2017.

The next Shops at the Heavenly Village Wine Walk on Thursday, March 22, will be raising funds for Christmas Cheer All Year. It takes place at shops throughout the village from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Sample wine crafted from Amador County, food specials, and chances to win great prizes at every location.

Check in at the tent in the center of the Village. Cost is $20 per person.

The trip to Lake Tahoe on Highway 50 and Interstate 80 Friday was not a pleasant experience for most drivers. Multiple accidents, road closures and heavy snow greeted them throughout the day and night. A winter storm warning is in effect for South Lake Tahoe until 10:00 a.m. Saturday.

It is a cold start to the morning Saturday with 13 degrees at 8:00 a.m. The forecast high for the day is 27. Expect snow showers after 5:00 p.m. with scattered snow showers during the day with an additional 1-3" possible, and another 1-3" possible overnight. Winds 5-10 mph.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The first of two storms due to hit Lake Tahoe this week has arrived. This current storm will head out Monday night with the next one due Wednesday through Friday.

Chain controls are up on most mountain roads as of 8:20 a.m. on Feb. 26:

R1 controls: Chains are required - snow tread tires allowed
R2 controls: Chains are required on all vehicles except four wheel drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels

HWY50 - R2 FREDS TO MEYERS^ SPLIT CONTROLS
HWY50 - R2 PLACERVILLE TO FRESH POND
SR88 R2 FRM SILVER LAKE TO CRYSTAL SPRINGS

Joining the efforts to give every girl in the world a dress, local members of Soroptimists International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS) have been sewing away. 100 dresses were made in South Lake Tahoe during two sewing sessions to send to Cuba, Mexico and other points around the globe.

SITS President Diane Imbach has "Dress a Girl Around the World" as her focus this year, and the members have been participating with sewing parties to fulfill her goals.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - 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 time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

1/17

2:56 p.m. - Death Investigation - South Lake Tahoe - 87-YEAR-OLD MAN DECEASED.

The Tahoe Coalition for Homeless (TCH) made a presentation to the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) board members Tuesday, updating them on the Warm Room, and how things have gone since opening in their new home January 1, 2018.

As the tents are taken down, the stage removed and all other components of SnowGlobe disappear for another year, an evaluation of the Community Play Field and other aspects of the seventh annual event in South Lake Tahoe are being made. There may be negatives to the popular event that draws in 20,000 people a day, there are also many positives to be celebrated.

There is more to the three-day festival, SnowGlobe, than music and crowds, a side of the event many aren't aware of.

Weekly residential customers of South Tahoe Refuse and Recycling in Nevada and California can now get rid of their Christmas trees through their free curbside recycling program.

From December 26, 2017 through January 8, 2018, place the tree out on normal trash pick-up days for pick up.

To have them pick up trees, make sure the following are done:

Cut tree into six-foot lengths.
Remove tinsel, lights, nails and stands from your tree.
Flocked trees are not accepted as they cannot be recycled into compost.

With no storms are on the horizon and snow-making operations ramped up, both Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California have unwrapped more terrain for holiday skiers and riders, and they are joined by other area resorts with plenty to do for holiday visitors.

Abundant mid and high clouds and periods of gusty winds in the high Sierra are expected through the weekend, leaving Lake Tahoe with party sunny conditions for Christmas. Abundant mid and high clouds and periods of gusty winds in the high Sierra are expected through the weekend.

A very weak system is passing through Northeastern California and Northern Nevada next week, and with it comes a very slight chance of snow coming into the Lake Tahoe Basin, but more precipiation will be staying near the Oregon border.

There will be two homes for the Warm Room this winter, and the first one opens on Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m.

From December 24 - December 31, 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) will open the Warm Room at the Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church located at 2733 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. Access to the room will be through the lower parking lot in the back of the church, not through the front door.

"We appreciate the support of the local faith community for rallying behind our common missions of service," said the Coalition.

Christmas is a little brighter this Christmas for ten South Lake Tahoe area families who received a box full of food from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) and Blue Shield of California.

The El Dorado Hills based insurance company paid for the food for families throughout the county, and the deputies delivered them.

"It felt really good. I was glad we could do something like this, especially this time of year," said Deputy Vince DeLeon who has been with the Sheriff's Office for 17 years and helped do the deliveries.

Christmas was made very special for 100 South Lake Tahoe children on Saturday, December 16, 2017 when philanthropist Lisa Maloff joined Tahoe Youth and Family Services (TYFS) in ringing in the holidays with a special celebration that won’t soon be forgotten.

Earlier this month, Mrs. Maloff made a generous donation of $75,000 to the agency that serves the youth and families South Lake Tahoe, Douglas County and Alpine County. Mrs. Maloff asked TYFS to hold a very special Christmas party so she could spread some holiday cheer and create magical memories for our local children.

Kona Zeppelin is shown here showing off his "UGLy CHRiStMaS SwEAteR." Thank you to reader Jule Abner for sending in this photo.

Location

It most likely won't be a white Christmas in Lake Tahoe, but snow is headed to the Sierras this Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. It is a quick moving storm but has a chance to leave behind the much-needed snow. Christmas Day is expected to be sunny and cold, with a high of 39, low around 12.

Plan on slippery road conditions during the morning commute Wednesday from Lake Tahoe to Reno and the Carson Valley. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are forecast for lake level, with up to 10 inches expected above 7000 feet.

One thing was evident as the special Polar Express Train departed the depot, you don't have to have kids with you to enjoy the annual holiday favorite on the historic V & T Railroad.

For eight years V & T has held the Polar Express during the Christmas season. Tickets normally disappear as quickly as they're posted for sale, but this year organizers are trying something new to give more people a chance to enjoy the experience.

The South Lake Tahoe Cancer League would like to thank Sage Alexander and Sophia Lamore from the advanced art class of Candy Lincoln at South Tahoe High School for their holiday window painting at their seasonal See's Candy store.

For the fifth year, the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (LTVA) and South Tahoe Refuse & Recycling (STR) teamed up to benefit Christmas Cheer All Year with “drive and drop” at LTVA’s California Visitors Center and curbside collection on regular garbage pick-up days.

Once again we were overwhelmed by the generosity of our South Shore community. 160 pounds of food and 85 toys were collected.

Thank you to all the individuals and businesses who participated in making the holidays a little brighter for those in need.

With gratitude

Anne Sutterfield
Online & Operations Manager

Santa's Elves were at it again this year in South Lake Tahoe! They visited the South Lake Tahoe Children's Memorial tree for the fifth straight year, leaving behind signs of Christmas with stockings and garland.

There is a stocking at the tree for every child who is memorialized there.

The memorial was created 26 years ago when tragedy struct the local community when South Tahoe High students Rory Hrbacek, Sandy Haynes, and Casey Wells died in an vehicle accident on Pioneer Trail.

EpicPromise grants and donations were given away on Wednesday to dozens of non-profits who serve the communities around both Heavenly Mountain Resort and Kirkwood.

Grants and donations are given by Vail Resorts in all of the communities where they have operations and go to programs who serve youth or environmental initiatives.

This year's recipients:

Alpine County Unified School District
Alpine Watershed Group
American Youth Soccer Association #282
Austin's House
Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation (3)
Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
Bread & Broth
CASA El Dorado