el dorado county

A California-imposed fire prevention fee on property owners will be issued for El Dorado County residents including those living in rural areas around South Lake Tahoe, officials said Wednesday.

A recent survey conducted in El Dorado County showed that fewer merchants are willing to sell tobacco products to minors compared to just two years ago. Of the 100 tobacco retailers surveyed countywide, only 11 stores sold tobacco products to youth, resulting in a sales rate of 11 percent. In March of 2010, a similar survey resulted in a sales rate of 14.5 percent.

Kim Wyatt, local publisher and editor, will talk about Tahoe Blues ("Short Lit on Life at the Lake) and other forthcoming events at Bona Fide books. She will have books available for purchase. FREE. Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the El Dorado County Friends of the Library.

A 39-year-old Sparks man died during the Sierra Recon challenge on Saturday. Joseph Axtman collapsed on the course near the base lodge at Sierra-at-Tahoe on July 14. “He was going up a portion of the course and just collapsed,” El Dorado County sheriff’s Lt. Pete Van Arnum told Lake Tahoe News.

UPDATE MONDAY: Saturday's grand opening of Bonanza Park brought community members of all ages to hear the dedication from Chuck Scharer, President and CEO of Edgewood Companies and South Lake Tahoe Mayor Claire Fortier.
Youth immediately began playing on the park equipment and the basketball court was ready to host its first game while hot dogs and hamburgers were grilled for the crowd of families and dignitaries to enjoy.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors will begin its July 17 meeting with a Hindu invocation with verse from the world's oldest existing scripture, the first time since its 1850 incorporation. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will deliver the opening prayer from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the leaders. After Sanskrit delivery, he then will read the English translation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.

Join us Thursday, July 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. for the Pints For Paws Beer Tasting at the Cork & More, 1032 Al Tahoe Blvd., in South Lake Tahoe. Tasting features beer from Lagunitas Brewing Company. The cost is $15 at the door. This event is to benefit the El Dorado County Sheriff Canine Association. There will also be a canine demonstration. Take home some beer with you too, with a 15 percent discount at the benefit.
For more info call (530) 544.5253 or go to www.thecorkandmore.com.

With the South Shore swelling by more than 100,000 people, authorities remained busy over the Independence Day holiday with a number of calls on both sides of the state line. South Lake Tahoe Police Department Lt. David Stevenson reports the following:

The El Dorado County Grand Jury released its 2011-12 report this week. In the report, the grand jury recommends South Lake Tahoe and the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Facilities Joint Powers Authority hold a special election to give property owners a say in the refinancing of bonds related to the construction of the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena.

Most Americans may not realize it, but the Fourth of July is one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to alcohol-impaired driving crashes. That’s why this Fourth of July the Avoid the 6 DUI Task Force is stepping up enforcement efforts as part of the ongoing “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement crackdown to catch and arrest impaired drivers who put themselves and others at risk.

The El Dorado County grand jury is recommending a radical step, asking the cities of Placerville and South Lake Tahoe to consider letting El Dorado County absorb the services they now provide.
Noting that the two cities' budgets total more than $50 million, the 2011-12 grand jury asserts, "(t)here would be a substantial cost savings with consolidation of city and county services."

UPDATE 6:11PM: One person was stabbed and a suspect is at large and being sought by South Lake Tahoe police Friday evening.
The stabbing happened at about 3:46 Friday afternoon in the area of 11th and Eloise. The suspect is described as late teens, a white male, without a shirt, wearing plaid white and blue shorts, a Boston Celtics ball cap being worn backwards, with a backpack and carrying a knife. The stabbing may have stemmed from an incident where the victim, a 22-year-old man, was riding a bicycle and the suspect was on a skateboard. The victim was taken to Barton Memorial Hospital with a stab wound to his arm, said South Lake Tahoe Police Lt. David Stevenson.

El Dorado County Animal Services is advising pet owners to not leave dogs, cats or other pets unattended in vehicles during warm weather. According to Henry Brzezinski, Chief of Animal Services, if the outside temperature is 80 degrees or higher, temperatures inside vehicles can climb to 120 degrees or more within ten to twenty minutes, even with the windows opened two or three inches; heat stroke, irreparable brain damage and death can follow shortly thereafter.

A man found dead and hanging from a tree Friday in an apparent suicide may have been involved in a homicide being investigated since Wednesday, South Lake Tahoe authorities report.

The Dedication Ceremony of Lakeview Commons at El Dorado Beach was held today with a large turnout of contributing agencies, visitors and locals alike.

West Nile virus has been detected in two birds found in the South Lake Tahoe area.According to a release from the El Dorado County Environmental Management and Health Services Departments, the viru...