emergencies

Column: 2020 Highlights from your Water and Sewer District

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Back in the 1940s, before South Tahoe Public Utility
District existed, sewage flowed directly into beautiful Lake Tahoe. Citizens rallied to sign a petition to form the District and this year marks our 70th anniversary. From a single septic field to an award-winning 7.7 million gallon per day wastewater treatment facility, with 100% recycled water and biosolids, a lot
has changed over the years.

Liberty Utilities to hold virtual workshop to report on reliability of service

Liberty Utilities will host a virtual workshop on Wednesday, December 2 at 7;00 p.m. to provide information about service reliability and, more importantly, plans and progress being made to improve your electric service.

Reliability Reporting Virtual Public Workshop
Wednesday, December 2
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Register to attend the meeting here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7145023892160935696

Liberty makes continuous infrastructure investments to improve service reliability. However, outages can still occur for many reasons—some beyond Liberty’s control.

City Council candidates respond to South Lake Tahoe Chamber questions

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce Board recently asked the nine City Council candidates ten questions they felt were of most importance to its members. The questions focused mainly on topics relating to things that will or may affect both the local small businesses and the community in general.

Their board made the decision to not endorse a specific candidate this election, but instead rank them based on how much they align with the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce goals based on their answers to the questions below.

STPUD candidates respond to questions

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are three open seats on the South Tahoe Public Utility Board of Directors this election season, two for a four-year term and one for a two-year term.

South Tahoe Now reached out to the candidates and below are their answers to a set of questions. For the two four-year terms, incumbent Kelly Sheehan is running for reelection, Duane Wallace is running after being appointed to fill Jim Jones's spot on the board until this election, and they are joined by David Peterson.

Very high fire danger at Lake Tahoe; Red Flag Warning through Friday

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Lake Tahoe Basin is under Red Flag/Critical Fire Weather conditions through 11:00 p.m. Friday.

California is extremely stressed for resources and it is important for residents and guests to understand the dangers these weather conditions present.

With 70-90 mph ridge winds and low humidity values predicted Thursday night into Friday along the crest of the Sierra, any spark could easily become a catastrophic wildfire.

All wood and charcoal fires banned in Lake Tahoe Basin

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - In a unified move, all fire agencies around the Lake Tahoe Basin have banned all open burning utilizing wood and charcoal for the remainder of the summer, or longer if needed. This includes campgrounds with fire rings, fire pits at homes and all charcoal barbeques whether at home or at public and private facilities.

The suspension takes effect at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2020 and will be enforced with extinguishment and possible citations and fines.

City Council meeting change Tuesday - 2 p.m. start to Budget Workshop

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The time of the Tuesday, August 25 South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting has been moved to start at 2:00 p.m.

Most of the agenda focus is on a budget workshop for fiscal year 2020-21 (FY 20-21) which includes a $2.5 million decrease from last year. A presentation will be made on the $93.7 million total budget of which about $40.5 million is the general fund.

Tuesday: Numbers Fire south of Gardnerville now at 18,000 acres and 0% containment

UPDATE 7:335 p.m.: Douglas County officials say the Numbers Fire has now reached 18,000 acres and is 0% contained. The recommended evacuations for the Bodie Flats and Pineview areas have been lifted. Only residents are allowed to these areas. Please drive safely, watch for emergency vehicles, and be ready for possible future instructions in an ever-changing situation.

Multiple local, state, and federal agencies continue to work on containing the fire using dozers, hand crews, and aircraft.

Stay at Home in South Lake Tahoe: Police and City addressing concerns

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Ever since Governor Newsom issued a 'Stay at Home' order on March 19, 2020, there has been confusion on what businesses are essential and what the public can and cannot do. The order was created to protect the health and well-being of all Californians and to establish consistency across the state in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

LTUSD asks students and staff to self-quarantine if returning from any COVID-19 infected area

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) sent out a letter to all students and staff concerning the district's Pandemic Preparedness Plan in regards to travel and self-quarantine.

Effective Monday, March 9, 2020, all students and staff returning from travel out-of-the-country or from COVID-19 infected areas in California or other areas of the United States are strongly recommended to self-quarantine in their home for 14 consecutive days beginning the date of their return to South Lake Tahoe.

Letter: Learn the facts, become informed and vote YES on Measure B

I support the upcoming Measure B and believe all voters should be informed as to the importance of passing this $52/year bond issue. As a 47-year resident, I have developed a very high degree of respect for and confidence in the Lake Valley Fire Protection District and it’s publicly elected Board of Directors.

Column: 2019 Highlights from South Tahoe Public Utility District

Every day we wash our dishes, fill our water glass, and flush the toilet, likely without thinking much about the systems required to make this all possible. I’d like to think we are doing our job so you don’t have to think too much about it.

City looks at South Lake Tahoe Police Take-Home Vehicle Program

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Chief Brian Uhler presented the idea of a take-home vehicle policy for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) to the City Council Tuesday, something that many other departments across the world have found to be successful in both recruiting and retention. Not only for these reasons, but take-home vehicles have also resulted in cleaner cars with fewer mechanical problems, longer life-spans and reduced costs.

Governor Newsom signs slew of bills including wildfire protection and defensible space

The 2019 legislative year for California has come to an end and Gov. Gavin Newsom wrapped u the session with signing several bills. His first year of office saw 870 new laws and 172 vetoed proposals.

North Upper Truckee neighborhood evacuation drill and BBQ September 18

Event Date: 
September 18, 2019 - 6:00pm

MEYERS, Calif. - The Upper Truckee Neighborhood is invited to participate in an evacuation drill and fire preparedness meeting on Wednesday, September 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Lake Valley Fire Station 7.

New partnership created to "Keep Tahoe Bears Wild"

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – The Tahoe Basin is bear country and natural resource and law enforcement agencies are working diligently to remind residents and visitors to practice proper food storage and trash disposal when living in or visiting bear country. To help spread the message, a new website has been launched, TahoeBears.org, where residents and visitors can go to learn everything they need to know about living, visiting and playing responsibly in bear country.

New fire preparedness tools unveiled by the City of South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be another fire in California, but when and where cannot be predicted and is unknown - but what is known is there will be another community that is devastated by wildland fire.

Residents around Lake Tahoe and the Sierra know this all too well and have been talking about concerns of wildfire threats in and around the Tahoe Basin. Those conversations have turned into plans and the City of South Lake Tahoe has just released an interactive website to help both residents and visitors map out an evacuation plan based on their neighborhood.

Column: Be aware of cold water immersion

Summer is here and after a snow-packed winter, locals and visitors alike are ready to get out and enjoy Lake Tahoe. Whether out on the water, lounging on the beach or hiking to a rock outcropping to take a plunge, there are important precautions to keep in mind with water surface temperatures and cold water immersion.

300 neglected animals removed from El Dorado County property: Local shelters close to take them in

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Officials found 300 neglected animals, including more than 100 dogs and numerous cats, birds, horses, pigeons, ducks, roosters, hens, and goats on a property in Shingle Springs on May 2, 2019.

With the extra demands on the animal shelters in transferring and caring for these animals, the shelters in South Lake Tahoe and Diamond Springs are closed through Tuesday, May 7. Over the past five days, El Dorado County Animal Services has been safely removing the animals from the Shingle Springs property.

Water safety Instructor and Lifeguard classes to begin soon in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Classes will begin soon for those interested in becoming a lifeguard or swim instructor in South Lake Tahoe. Offered by the American Red Cross, both classes are open to community members and will be taught at the Recreation and Swim Complex.

Navigating through South Lake Tahoe road construction

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With three major road construction projects on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe this summer, both residents and visitors alike will have their patience put to the test as they navigate local roads.

Not only will CalTrans have three major projects on Highway 50 between Echo Summit and Al Tahoe Boulevard, but the City of South Lake Tahoe will have their own road projects going on at Sierra Boulevard and Gardner Mountain.

It truly will be a six-month-long "Road Construction Season."

South Lake Tahoe to spend almost $3M on new snow removal equipment

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With about $8 million in unassigned General Fund reserves, the South Lake Tahoe City Council voted last week to spend about $2.5 million for the replacement of four pieces of critical snow removal equipment and the purchase of one new piece of equipment.

The Department of Public Works has thirty-one pieces of heavy equipment assigned to snow removal operations for use on roads, the airport, facilities, parks, and
trails. Some of that equipment can do double duty and work during non-winter months including loaders, pick-up trucks, and tractors.

Full response to reported Lake Tahoe emergency turns out to be "swatting" hoax

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - Authorities responded in full force Thursday morning to a home in the 500 block of US 50 in Zephyr Cove after a crisis call led them to believe a teenage girl was in labor and in danger.

At 6:43 a.m. on April 18, deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) were dispatched to a residence in Zephyr Cove after the Live Violence Free crisis hotline center received a concerning call. The unidentified caller said they were a pregnant 13-year-old who believed she was in labor and had previously been raped by her father.

Public workshop on proposed STPUD rate increases

Event Date: 
April 18, 2019 - 6:00pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive to discuss proposed rate increases.

Most of South Lake Tahoe’s water and sewer system was built in the 1950s and 1960s. Much of this infrastructure needs to be upgraded, repaired or replaced.

South Lake Tahoe shelter participating in National Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week

National Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week is April 7 through 13, 2019, a time to recognize the many contributions of Animal Services officers, shelter and office staff, and volunteers in El Dorado County.

“Working and volunteering in the animal services field requires a strong passion for helping animals and serving others,” said Henry Brzezinski, Chief of El Dorado County Animal Services. “The work can sometimes be difficult, but we love what we do. We are very grateful for our dedicated staff and volunteers!”

El Dorado County Sheriff D'Agostini to speak in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
March 19, 2019 - 1:00pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The public is invited to join El Dorado County Sheriff John D'Agostini as he presents "Criminal Activity: Awareness, Reporting & Prevention" on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Library.

He will discuss topics the South Shore community is interested in including homelessness, crime trends and the most common financial scams targeting our communities and ways to avoid falling victim to scammers.

In addition, the Sheriff encourages questions from the audience on any other subjects that are of concern.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Jeff Meston hanging up his hat

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Fire Chief Jeff Meston is retiring from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) on February 28, five years and five months after he came out of retirement to head up the department.

On Friday, February 1, Meston submitted his resignation to the City.

"When I was hired by CM (City Manager) Kerry I promised to spend between 3-5 years with the City Fire Department and bring them as far as I could to be a “world class” fire department," Meston said in his resignation letter.

He feels he's accomplished what he set out to do.

Letter: Agencies alert public on what they're doing to alleviate traffic leaving South Lake Tahoe

The following is a letter created by the four agencies currently working together to try and find a solution to the traffic problem in Meyers as visitors exit Lake Tahoe after a weekend. A public meeting was held on Friday night and that story will be carried on Saturday.

Tahoe Douglas Fire boat named one of '10 Significant Boats of 2018'

The boat Lisa "Angel of Tahoe" Maloff and Bob and Nackey Scagliotti helped bring to the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) in 2017 was named one of WorkBoat magazine’s “10 Significant Boats of 2018” an international in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Lake Assault Boats fire and rescue craft on duty with TDFPD, named Marine 24, was christened in 2017. At a cost of $500,000 it is designed to respond to a wide range of emergencies, including structural and wildland fires, and on-the-water rescue operations.

Letter: Concerning that LTUSD staff doesn't feel safe in reporting potential threats to safety

Dear Community, With a very heavy heart, I feel it is my responsibility to share the statement I gave yesterday at the Public Comment portion of the special School Board meeting that focused on the events of Sierra House’s 11/11 fire and clean-up. We are all deeply grateful for the success of Lake Valley Fire and all the specialists and District staff that have bent heaven and earth to help remediate all aspects of this situation. I write with deep respect and gratitude for all that LTUSD leadership has done for our family and community as well.

Meet the Candidate: Wendy David seeks second term on South Lake Tahoe City Council

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For each of the next nine days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.

First up is Wendy David, the current mayor of South Lake Tahoe. She is seeking a second term on the Council.

Liberty Utilities hosting two Lake Tahoe meetings about de-energization plans

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be two public workshops hosted by Liberty Utilities, one on each the north and south shore, to provide information about the utility's new de-energization plan during emergencies.

Since July 2018, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires utilities to develop a plan to shut off power only as a last resort and
for a good reason in order to protect public safety.

Liberty's workshops will be to share information and answer questions about their plans. The two opportunities for the workshop are as follows:

Monday, October 8 @ 10:00 a.m.

AlertTahoe system to get final two Lake Tahoe fire cameras

Over 50 possible major forest firest have been prevented in the Lake Tahoe Basin since the AlertTahoe camera system was installed around the lake over the last four years. The combination of technology, human observation and firefighters on the ground kept those small fires contained to a space of less than one acre.

Two-person police team protecting South Lake Tahoe waters

A day on the lake is a dream come true for many, but for two South Lake Tahoe Police Department officers it's another day at the office. As they navigate Lake Tahoe they are looking for speeders, unsafe practices, life vests, drunk boaters and boat registrations, as well as responding to life threatening crashes and drownings.

"It's our little city out here," explained Steve O'Brien who has manned the South Lake Tahoe police boat for 17 summers.

South Lake Tahoe locals graduate from STAT training

South Tahoe Fire Rescue graduated another session of South Tahoe Action Team (STAT) graduates during yesterday’s city council meeting.

New South Lake Tahoe communications system; Price tag close to $4M

In the South Lake Tahoe public safety communication system installed in 1965, there are three major problems:

1) There are three systems working totally separately: the police, fire and public works departments;

2) Trees have grown since the system was installed 53 years ago, now blocking signals through the town;

3) Having functioning radio frequencies near water is challenging.

A peek into the hub of public safety for South Lake Tahoe

This has been National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, so what better time to sit down with the women who answer 911 calls in South Lake Tahoe who are the first step in protecting homes, property and people and the unsung heroes of the community.

With an average of 300 to 400 calls going into dispatch each month, staff has to be ready to handle an emergency at every moment through their shift, which in South Lake Tahoe is normally 10 hours long, though they can be up to 12 hours.

Join the next STAT class with SLTFR

Event Date: 
April 18, 2018 (All day)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is another chance to become part of the South Tahoe Action Team (STAT), a team that provides valuable assistance to the community during a disaster.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) is now accepting applications for the next four-week long STAT Class starting April 18, and continuing on April 25, May 2 and May 16. The Wednesday classes run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and participants must be able to commit to all four classes.

Small planned power outage in South Lake Tahoe Thursday

There is a planned power outage in South Lake Tahoe along Panther Lane on Thursday, April 5 to replace a transformer. The small number of customers who will be affected have been notified.

To follow all Liberty Utilities outages, visit their outage website at https://california.libertyutilities.com/south-lake-tahoe/residential/emergencies/electrical/outages-map.html.

Christening ceremony for Ms Lisa, the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue boat

In South Lake Tahoe, the name Lisa Maloff is synonymous with philanthropy. She has earned the name "Angel of Tahoe" through her large donations, including $10 million to Barton Memorial Hospital for their new Robert Maloff Center of Excellence (Wellness and Sports Performance Center) and $5.8 million to Lake Tahoe Community College for the Lisa Maloff University Center. To date, Mrs. Maloff has donated $35 million in the past four years.

Scattered small power outages in Lake Tahoe area

Liberty Utilities is experiencing multiple small outages in the Lake Tahoe region due to the weather.

At this time, there is an outage in the North Lake Tahoe area around Klondike Flat Road, Silverado Way and Hwy 89.

Reports started coming in a 11:43 a.m. and the person tasked with locating the probem was dispatched at 12:36 p.m. and a downed wire was discovered. The line crew was dispatched at 12:50 pm.

No estimated restoration time yet.

South Tahoe Action Team graduates honored at meeting

A new group of local volunteers graduated from the South Tahoe Action Team (STAT) program during Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting.

There were 16 citizens participate in this session of the STAT training.

Aging and Caregiving educational series in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
April 16, 2018 - 1:00pm

The Family Caregiver Support Program of the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency is pleased to present a free “Aging and Caregiving” educational series in South Lake Tahoe. This series will be held weekly on Mondays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. beginning April 16, 2018, and ending May 21, 2018, at Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel located at 4130 Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe.

The educational series will give instruction and support for people who provide care for a family member or friend aged 60 years or greater.

The series will feature a different topic each week:

Liberty Utilities wants customers prepared as blizzard heads to Lake Tahoe

Liberty Utilities is reminding customers to be prepared for possible extended power outages due to incoming winter storms.

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning and avalanche watch starting Thursday morning for the Sierra and Lake Tahoe areas citing that this weather pattern could be the biggest snowstorm of the season.

”Although we prepare for extreme weather impacts to our electric system, we remind customers that power outages may occur and we encourage them to be prepared,” said Travis Johnson, Liberty Utilities’ VP of Electric Operations.

Fire Chief Meston heading to Sacramento to speak on fire response in the state

A hearing at the Capitol in Sacramento Tuesday will feature fire experts from across the state, and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Chief Jeff Meston will be part of the panel discussion.

Community action team, STAT, starts new session in South Lake Tahoe

A new team of South Lake Tahoe residents is being recruited to take part in the next South Tahoe Action Team (STAT) training session. This program is designed to incorporate trained citizens in the field with the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) and other first responders during times of crisis.

The next four-week session starts on Monday, February 5, 2018 and there are still spots available in the free program. They meet on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. at the SLTFR Training Center next to the Boys & Girls Club at 1100 Lyons Avenue.

Douglas County Search and Rescue recruiting new volunteers

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (DCSAR) is looking for physically fit and energetic individuals to participate in its upcoming April academy and join their team.

DCSAR is a highly qualified and respected team comprised of approximately 50 trained volunteer members within the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and responds to emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are frequently called out to assist surrounding counties in their rescues, it requires a considerable commitment, but is tremendously rewarding when a life is saved.

New graduating class of South Tahoe Action Team members

The South Tahoe Action Team (STAT) is now stronger by ten members as the most recent class of graduates was announced at Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting.

Nearly 100 residents have been trained in the program offered by South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR).

“The STAT program is designed to have neighbors helping neighbors,” said South Tahoe Fire Department Chief Jeff Meston.

Letters: Please vote YES on Measure C

Ever since I moved to South Lake Tahoe, potholes and cracks have covered our city’s roads and presented a danger to residents. We have all seen cars swerve all over the road, only to realize it’s not a drunk driver, but rather someone trying to avoid potholes. Our roads should not be in such disrepair, that a simple trip to the grocery store can feel like an obstacle course. We need to solve this problem.

Opinion: Vote YES on Measure C

As a proud longtime resident of South Lake Tahoe, I find it embarrassing that our community has not been able to take care of our roads. From a lack of sidewalks to enormous potholes and cracks, our roads are dangerous and need to be fixed.

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