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The year was 1969. And what a year it was. On July 20, 1969—the Viet Nam War was raging—American Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the surface of the moon. For much of the decade, America and indeed the world had been mesmerized by the space race.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A new forest management officer (FMO) has arrived in Lake Tahoe to assume the duties left vacant by the retiring Steve Burns.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) Board has authorized spending $1,036,750 to implement three high-priority projects to reduce fire risk and improve forest health in South Lake Tahoe and on the west shore.

During their meeting on Thursday, the CTC Board approved funding for projects that include:

- Spending up to $211,250 on forest thinning on Conservancy land in the South Lake Tahoe Ski Run and Bijou neighborhoods,

- A grant to the South Tahoe Public Utility District for up to $338,000 for forest thinning on the grounds of its treatment plant, and

The AlertTahoe 11-camera system surrounding the Lake Tahoe Basin has been credited for detecting its 57th fire since first being installed in 2013.

As the Kincade Fire in Sonoma and the Easy Fire in Southern California raged, a camera in Lake Tahoe spotted a small fire on the West Shore. Fire crews were able to respond and quickly put it out.

PLACERVILLE, Calif. - Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Laurence Crabtree announced that he will retire on January 6, 2020, completing a career that spanned 50 years.

The following 43 businesses took out a license to operate in South Lake Tahoe during the months of October 2019:

10/1
STATEN SOLAR CORPORATION

10/2
TAHOE DAVE'S SNOW REMOVAL
URIAH KAUFMAN SHARED HOME RENTAL

10/3
PC EXPLORATION INC

10/4
THE ALDER INN

10/6
DK ACOUSTICS INC
L&L INTERIOR INC

10/7
AMAZING HOME BUILDERS INC
BRYANS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
ELITE LIBATIONS
MARKET CONTRACTORS
THE FOREST

10/8
CROWN PAINTING INC
NC CONCRETE CONST.

10/9
BASE LEVEL
DULCE'S MARIA CLEANING
FRANCISCO'S HOUSEHOLD SERVICES

10/10
ASPEN AVE LLC

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Long lines at the US Forest Service office in South Lake Tahoe on Monday put a dent in the supply of Christmas tree permits, but there are still many left.

Last year the supply was depleted in two weeks but the change in policy to only one permit per family instead of two may have had an effect on the numbers still available.

The USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit in South Lake Tahoe is open Friday until 4:30 p.m.

North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, along with California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy and the USDA Forest Service are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations over the next few weeks in the Tahoe Basin, weather, conditions, and staffing permitted.

Scheduled Prescribed Burns:

Tahoe Pines Campground

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will begin the sale of Christmas tree permits on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. Permits cost $10 each payable by cash, check or credit card (though they prefer the quicker transaction of cash).

There is a change to the policy this year - only one permit will be allowed per family or per address, instead of the previous two. They said by limiting permits to one per family, more will enjoy cutting down a tree this year.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It will be a grand weekend at the Tallac Historic Site as the Valhalla Holiday Faire and Winter Wanderland help everyone get into the holiday spirit November 22-24.

The three-day holiday celebration includes 30 local vendors inside the Valhalla Grand Hall with holiday music, treats, pictures, and a Forest of Lights between the Grand Hall and Pope-Baldwin Estates with shopping at the historic site museum.

Friday, Nov. 22 - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - When the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) revised their Forest Plan over 10 years ago, many wanted them to include changes to snowmobile and other winter travel access to public lands at the same time. With the amount of public comment and the recognized need to have its own plan, they separated the two.

In 2011, LTBMU started a collaborative group to develop a proposed action plan for Winter Recreation and Over Snow Vehicle (OSV) use in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to October 30 - November 6, 2019.

10/30

ARRESTS:
41-year-old male arrested for trespassing.
38-year-old male arrested for driving on a suspended license, and on 2 warrants for driving on a suspended license and DUI.

TRAFFIC STOPS (14)

OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE (28):
Alarm: 2200-block South Ave.
Alarm: 300-block Beach Ln.
Assist Outside Agency: 1300-block Johnson Blvd.
Assist Outside Agency: 3600-block Saddle Rd.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – There was a lot of public reaction when the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) released their "Proposed Action for the Winter Recreation and Over Snow Vehicle (OSV) Travel Management Project" in September. That document outlined changes to snowmobile access in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following are the 149 incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Cal-Tahoe JPA ambulances to from September 24 - October 8, 2019.

9/24

EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury - 1200 block of Margaret Ave
EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury - 800 block of Emerald Bay Rd
EMS call - Interfacility Transfer - Barton Hospital
Gas leak (natural gas or LPG) - D St at Dedi Ln
Motor vehicle/pedestrian accident (MV Ped) - SR 89 Hwy at Fallen Leaf Rd
Smoke or odor removal - 500 block o Emerald Bay Rd

A burned area assessment of the area burned by last month's Caples Fire is now underway. The Incident Commander Kevin Breitwieser has declared that the Caples Fire is now 100 percent contained and in patrol status at 3,435 acres.

There has been almost no change in fire size since October 18. The extreme wind event on October 26 that prompted a public safety power shutoff was a good test of the containment lines and resulted in three small spots that were extinguished. Traces of smoke from interior burning will continue to be visible, but no additional fire growth is expected.

TAHOE CITY, Calif. - What many have been waiting for is now open to traffic on the North Shore. The long-anticipated new quarter-mile segment of State Route 89 includes a new 153-foot bridge crossing over the Truckee River, a roundabout on the south end next to the Tahoe City Transit Center and another roundabout on the north end near the Caltrans Maintenance Station, allowing a second entry/exit route for Lake Tahoe’s West Shore.

The new Truckee River Bridge and realignment of SR89 are meant to ease congestion in the Tahoe City area.

The Caples Fire has been transferred back to USFS and managed by a smaller Type 4 organization now that it is 73 percent contained. A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is assigned to the fire to determine what actions need to be taken to repair damage or prevent further damage from erosion and precipitation.

What started as a USFS prescribed burn on September 30 was reclassified as a wildland fire ten days later, giving crews extra and needed resources from local and state responders when winds fanned flames.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's that time of year again when the Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) begins the winter closure of their recreational facilities around the Lake Tahoe Basin. Seasonal closures apply to many Forest Service recreation sites including beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and National Forest roads.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following are the 126 incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Cal-Tahoe JPA ambulances to from September 11 - 23, 2019.

9/11

EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury - 3900 block Pioneer Tr
EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury - 3900 block Saddle Rd
EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury - 2100 block Fallen Leaf Rd
EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury - 1000 block Lakeview Ave
EMS call, Interfacility Transfer - Barton Hospital

The Historic Pope and Baldwin Estates have once again been turned into South Lake Tahoe's most haunting Halloween experience, Tahoe Terror.

South Tahoe High students have transformed the estate into unimaginable scares, yet unsolved historical mysteries and ghoulish thrills that can't be found anywhere else. This event has all the ingredients of a truly spectacular outdoor Halloween experience, and the public can "enjoy" them (if they dare) nightly October 18, 19 and 20.

The Caples Creek prescribed burn that has been sending smoke into the Lake Tahoe Basin and Carson Valley all week has turned into a wildland fire.

On October 10 at approximately 1:30 p.m., fire managers made the decision due to unfavorable weather conditions and the inability to meet previously established objectives. This change allows for additional resources to assist in suppression from partners such as CalFire.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Smoke from the prescribed burn near Caples Creek should affect the Lake Tahoe Basin through Wednesday afternoon, then shift direction as the winds come from the Northeast.

The USFS Eldorado National Forest has completed ignitions on the Caples Prescribed Fire. Crews will patrol and monitor the area over the next few days during the wind event Wednesday through Thursday. Smoke sensitive individuals are encouraged to reduce their exposure by avoiding smoky areas, closing windows, or staying indoors.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Weather and conditions permitting, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District and California State Parks may continue prescribed fire operations over the next several weeks in the Tahoe Basin.

D. L. Bliss State Park - Along Lester Beach Road, between Group Camp and Beach Camp
Type of Burn: Understory, Total Acreage: 65, Planned Ignition: 10/8/2019
Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 1 week
Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: Northeast
Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Rubicon Bay, Hwy 89

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The annual Fall Fish Festival returns to the South Shore on Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Celebrate the annual fall migration of the Kokanee salmon at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center on SR-89.

The Fall Fish Festival focuses on a variety of fish species that live in Lake Tahoe and its rivers. In addition to the Kokanee, these species include the federally threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout and little-known smaller fish, such as speckled dace.