community

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - As most in the South Lake Tahoe and Meyers area already know, getting out of town over US50 and Echo Summit on Sundays and holidays can be slow moving during summer, but during the winter it can be a miserable time both for visitors and locals.

8:30 p.m. SUNDAY UPDATE: The Loyalton Fire which originated east of the town of Loyalton and southwest of Mount Ina Coolbrith is now estimated at 29,828 acres and 0 percent contained. It is north and east adjacent to the areas of Beckwourth Pass and Hallelujah Junction.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

MEEKS BAY, Calif. - The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is developing a plan to restore Meeks Creek to a more natural condition, while continuing to support sustainable recreation opportunities. The LTBMU, in conjunction with Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, will host a virtual public workshop on the project from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on August 19, 2020.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - A small business relief fund has been set up to assist in alleviating debt caused by the pandemic and COVID-10 related issues.

El Dorado County (EDC) has established a $5M Small Business Relief Fund through El Dorado Community Foundation (EDCF) to assist in coordinating the the Small Business Relief Fund with assistance from the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce, El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, and the Tahoe Chamber.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It has been a wild two weeks for the Howard family, ever since ten-year-old Maeson entered the UC Davis Children’s Hospital with what appeared to be a COVID-19-releated multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), or Kawasaki disease.

Maeson Howard is on the road to recovery and back in his Christmas Valley home with his parents and sister.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Barton Memorial Hospital has been designated as a Blue Distinction® Center for Knee & Hip Replacement. Solidifying a legacy of orthopedic care in the Lake Tahoe region, this national certification marks Barton’s expertise in delivering high-quality medical services and better patient outcomes with knee and hip replacement surgeries.

Now, as much as ever, our local community is coming together for the health and wellbeing of our residents and businesses. We are all being affected in different ways by COVID-19 and our local businesses are working to navigate this pandemic safely and successfully.

The South Shore of Lake Tahoe is in uncertain times, but we want to let you know that you can count on:

Businesses taking extra precautions to keep their staff and customers safe.
Residents are coming together to support local businesses.

Local businesses rely on the support of local residents.

September is right around the corner and we have an exciting activity for you to participate in while celebrating National Recovery month. This month-long event is designed to educate Americans on mental health and substance use disorders, in addition to celebrating the work of individuals in recovery and providing support to affected families and patients.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - One more person has died of COVID-19 in El Dorado County. A man from Placerville in the 50-64 age group died in an out-of-area hospital, it was confirmed today.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are several candidates who turned in their paperwork to run for office by the August 7 deadline, but with no incumbents running for South Lake Tahoe City Council, the deadline for that office is extended through August 12.

As of Friday at 5:00 p.m., the following candidates turned in their paperwork (there still may be some in transit):

South Lake Tahoe City Council (Two open seats)
Bruce Grego, Attorney/Advocate
Leonard Carter, Retired
Daniel P Browne, Jr., Retired Businessman
Cristi Creegan, Business Owner/Volunteer

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A new town hall series from the City of South Lake Tahoe will launch this September. The series, called “Community Conversations,” will be a quarterly discussion and a chance for a real dialogue about topics the community cares about.

“It’s an opportunity for the City to highlight issues and projects we’re working on and gives people a chance to ask questions directly to City leadership,” said City Manager Joe Irvin. “The more we are all able to have a healthy discussion, the easier it will be to move South Lake Tahoe forward.”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Join volunteers who are helping to clean up South Lake Tahoe, one region at a time. There are three clean up Sundays scheduled starting with August 9. #IRunWithMaud, a local anti-racism group, will be cleaning Sierra Boulevard from Barbara Avenue to US50 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Their goal is to help underserved areas by helping to keep them trash free.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Every ten years a Census is taken of all people living in the Unitied States. While the state of California currently has a 64.5 percent response rate, South Lake Tahoe once again is lagging far behind.

As of August 6, 28.1 percent of those living in South Lake Tahoe had turned in answers to the Census Bureau. El Dorado County as a whole, 58.6 percent. Nationally, the Census return rate is 63.2 percent.

Why is it so hard to get South Lake Tahoe residents to participate?

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - In response to the number of people and groups expected at a protest in Minden, Nevada on Saturday, Douglas County officials have expanded traffic controls to keep everyone safe.

Cement walls have alread been installed to block motor vehicle traffic on Water Street to allow participants to move safely and freely on foot in the area. The protest is planned for 11:00 a.m. on August 8 on the steps of the Judicial Law Enforcement Center in Minden. The road is planned to be closed until Monday.

STATELINE, Nev. - A familiar face on the South Shore is returning to be the senior vice president and general manager for Harrah’s and Harveys Lake Tahoe properties.

Caesars Entertainment made the announcement today that John Koster will return to the Lake Tahoe gambling scene after the merger of Eldorado Resorts and Caesars Entertainment.

The California District Attorneys Association today asked NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell to pull a video produced by the league as part of its new Inspire Change campaign because it “misrepresents the facts” of the officer involved shooting death of Sacramento resident Stephon Clark in 2018.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - New South Lake Tahoe Police Chief David Stevenson was sworn in during a ceremony on Monday, receiving his official badge from his wife Jennifer in front of his mother and sister. The virtual ceremony had just a few attendees due to COVID-19 restrictions, but many were able to log onto their phones and computers and watch the 25-year veteran of the force, and South Tahoe High graduate, move into the top spot in the police department.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue recently held ceremonies for the hiring of three new firefighter/paramedics and the promotion of three to the rank of captain. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, ceremonies were small and held at the fire station during their shifts.

Captain/Paramedic Mike Taormina

I am excited to share that Tahoe Youth & Family Services has two new board members: Captain Ron Mitchitarian of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Jen Tune Regional Manager of Anytime Fitness with facilities in Gardnerville, Fernley, Yerington and Reno. Both bring skills, talents and excitement to our organization along with a passion for our mission and vision. They understand the need and importance of providing mental health and substance abuse services along with education.

Board-certified rheumatologist, Leah Krull, MD, has joined the team of medical experts practicing at Barton Health. A physician skilled at addressing autoimmune and joint diseases such as inflammatory arthritis, vasculitis, gout, and lupus, Dr. Krull is treating patients at the Barton Center for Orthopedics & Wellness in South Lake Tahoe.

Rheumatology manages conditions that affect joints and the body as a whole due to systemic inflammation.

The Tahoe East Shore Trail will be temporarily closed to public access between the Tunnel Creek Café and Sand Harbor on Tuesday, August 4 (all day), and Wednesday, August 5 through Friday, August 7 (after 8:00 p.m.) for the initial phase of a community mural art project.

The Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Public Art and Nevada State Parks collaborated to commission the mural to augment the natural beauty of the Tahoe East Shore Trail and transform a utilitarian tunnel into a community-involved, relevant art experience.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During their May 11 meeting, the South Lake Tahoe City Council approved $200,000 to be used in the South Lake Tahoe community through business grants, COVID-related expenses, and a restaurant voucher program to help regain momentum and recover costs during the pandemic.

The grant money has been disbursed through the El Dorado Community Foundation, the restaurant vouchers are currently being redeemed at local restaurants and local businesses are being reimbursed for expenses incurred through COVID-related purchases.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County Library Director Amy Dodson and Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley met Tuesday to discuss the library's proposed Statement of Diversity, a topic that became very controversial after a letter from Coverley to the library was circulated.

Ildefonsa Balwing, age 65, passed away on July 22, 2020 in Riverside, California after a short, but hard fought, cancer diagnosis. She was born January 23, 1955 in Tanay, Rizal in the Philippines and was the tenth of eleven children in her family.