helicopter

Firefighters from South Lake Tahoe head to New Mexico and Arizona fires

Two local firefighters will be joining almost 600 California-based U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighters and support personnel as they head to Arizona and New Mexico to fight massive fires.

In Arizona, almost 40,000 acres have burned in over ten fires; In New Mexico 13,000 acres have burned this week, over 30,000 acres last week.

The personnel that are part of this mobilization come from all 18 national forests in California (Pacific Southwest Region).

Bicycle accident at Emerald Bay sends one to hospital

An unidentified woman was transported to Renown Hospital in Reno via CalStar helicopter on Tuesday afternoon after being injured in a solo bicycle accident at Emerald Bay.

She sustained major injuries according to the California Highway Patrol of South Lake Tahoe.

No other information is available at this time.

Lake Tahoe Airport Master Plan approved

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the Lake Tahoe Airport not having scheduled passenger service since 2001, and with a master plan last updated in 1992, it was time to create a new plan based on the needs of the area today, and in the future.

Three fires burning south of Lake Tahoe

9:30 p.m. update - Highway 395 has reopened in both directions after firefighters got the upper hand on the Topaz Fire which burned 8 acres between Topaz Lake and the highway near Topaz Lodge. One outbuilding burned. 4 engines will remain on the fire overnight. No containment has been listed at this time. Jurisdiction is East Fork Fire Protection District.

Lightning caused fire on backside of Kingsbury above Foothill Road

A tree caught on fire Monday afternoon after being struck by lightning. The tree and surrounding brush are still burning today and the fire has covered about one acre in steep terrain above Foothill Road in the Carson Valley southeast of Lake Tahoe.

Two engine crews hiked up to the fire and they are getting assistance from helicopter drops of water.

Fire officials kept an eye on the fire last night since hiking into the remote area was not safe for crews. They headed up the mountain Tuesday according to the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

A few areas around Lake Tahoe without power

Approximately 240 customers in the Commonwealth Drive area of Kings Beach are experiencing an outage. Crews are onsite repairing a bad underground cable with estimated restoration around 3:00 p.m.

About 15 customers in the remote back area of Fallen Leaf Lake (Lilly Lake and Glen Alpine areas) will be without power for about two weeks as power poles and lines destroyed by winter storms are replaced via helicopter.

"Thank you to our customers for their patience and understanding as we make repairs in both these areas," said Kathy Carter of Liberty Utilities.

Rescue and law enforcement crews keeping busy over holiday weekend

10:30 p.m. Sunday: Updated story below:

It has been a busy holiday weekend for the South Lake Tahoe fire and police departments.

Carson City mom accused of faking son's death for money

Investigators continue to unravel the bizarre circumstances surrounding a Carson City woman who was arrested Friday after she allegedly faked her 10-year-old son's death in order to generate money through community donations and a GoFundMe account, said Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong.

On Friday, April 14, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office was contacted to investigate the possibility of a fraudulent claim of a child’s recent death and concerns that the child could be alive and endangered at a South Carson Street motel.

Noise, fees, roads and budget on SLT City Council meeting agenda

A possible change in the way the City of South Lake Tahoe addresses noise at the airport will be discussed during the City Council's April 4 meeting. The City's current noise monitoring program is strictly voluntary since South Lake Tahoe is not considered a "noise problem airport."

Since 1992, SLT has collected data and reported it to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) per a 20-year agreement that expired on September 30, 2012.

22 tons of cocaine worth $577.5 million seized by U.S. Coast Guard in 26 days

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - The U.S. Coast Guard unloaded 22 tons of seized cocaine this week, six in San Diego, 16 in Florida. The wholesale value of the cocaine is about $577.5 million.

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Stratton offloaded the cocaine in San Diego during a media event Friday. Several cutters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean area seized the drugs mid-January through February.

The drugs were intercepted in international waters off the coast of Central and South America.

Injured backcountry skier rescued from Lake Tahoe's Jake's Peak

Search and Rescue volunteers were dropped off on Jake's Peak Thursday to help an injured backcountry skier get off the mountain which is located inside Desolation Wilderness at Lake Tahoe.

At 2:30 p.m. on March 30, El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) received a call about the injured skier, a 24-year-old man from San Luis Obispo who was in the area on Spring Break. He had been skiing near Jake's Peak when he suffered a lower leg injury and couldn't get out on his own.

Tahoe Douglas Rotary holds 49th annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration

Event Date: 
March 17, 2017 - 6:00pm

The Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club is holding their 49th annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration at the Harrah's Lake Tahoe Convention Center from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17.

It started with a wine and cheese party on the second floor of Dart Liquor and it has morphed over the years into one of the top annual fundraisers on the South Shore.

600 people are expected at the evening full of food, fun, dancing and drinking, all in the name of community to raise funds for the Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club's scholarships and grant programs.

Teen in stable condition after stabbing self when warrant served at South Lake Tahoe home

A South Lake Tahoe teen is in stable condition tonight after stabbing himself as officers arrived at his home in the 800 block of San Jose Avenue with a no bail warrant for his arrest.

At approximately 12:51 p.m. on March 9, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, El Dorado County Probation Department and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department arrived at the juvenile offender's home and asked the suspect to exit the residence.

Team rescues injured backcountry skier in Lake Tahoe

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office brought together a Search and Rescue team on Sunday, February 26 after they were notified of an injured woman in the Eagle Buttress area that needed to be rescued off the mountain.

The 56-year-old Truckee woman was in the backcountry skiing with a group when she suffered an injury to her leg and was unable to ski out on her own.

Eagle Buttress is located to the north of Eagle Lake near Emerald Bay.

Snowboarder spends cold night lost in mountains after going out-of-bounds at Heavenly

A 32-year-old man is lucky to be alive today after spending the night lost in the mountains of South Lake Tahoe after snowboarding out-of-bounds at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) team was notified at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday that the man, identified only as "Aarin," was disoriented and lost. Aarin was able to call Heavenly Valley Ski Patrol to tell them he was in deep snow and having trouble navigating.

Power issues for Placer and Nevada counties

7:30 p.m.update 2/23:
Floriston: After working nearly 24 hours and bringing in a second generator, attempts to provide temporary power have failed. Crews will begin to rebuild the line on Friday in this steep terrain with the goal of restored power by early Saturday morning.

River Road/Silver Creek/Fir Crags/Hwy 89: Crews were able to begin repairs today; a helicopter will come in tomorrow to complete with restoration expected late Friday/early Saturday.

El Dorado County man drowns after car goes into American River

A Silver Fork man was on his way to work in Pollock Pines Friday when it is believed his vehicle crashed into the American River, sending him and his vehicle into the water.

Digger Gooch, 37, was westbound on Highway 50 February 10 when deputies from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) believe he crashed into the river which was moving rapidly due to heavy rains in the area.

CHP helicopter pulls out injured backcountry skier from Donner Lake area

A California Highway Patrol helicopter was called out to help with an injured skier who in the backcountry with three friends between Donner Lake and Boreal Ski Resort on Friday.

The victim said he and three other skiers had started their day at the Donner Pass Rest Area, hiked up the mountain for some backcountry skiing and then injured his lower leg while skiing down a shoot between two cliffs. The group used a cell phone and called 9-1-1 to request help. They were found near Flora Lake at approximately 7,500 feet in elevation.

Power being restored to more Lake Tahoe residents

7:00 p.m. update - All customers except those who live in the River Road area have had their power restored. Since Saturday, Liberty has been using a helicopter to reach remote areas to repair severe damage necessary to restore service to the 136 customers in the River Road area. Unfortunately, helicopter operations were limited today due to weather and once they were underway, additional damage was discovered. If the weather cooperates and the helicopter is able to fly, Liberty hopes to restore power to these last customers by Tuesday night.

Helicopters used to survey power line situation in Lake Tahoe

Liberty Utilities is continuing their restoration efforts throughout the north, west and south shores of Lake Tahoe. On Friday, helicopters helped Liberty Utilities take a look at previously inaccessible areas to survey damage to downed power poles and lines.

A helicopter is coming in from Southern California on Saturday and will drop crews and equipment into remote areas to begin restoration that is expected to take several days. Snow cats and snowmobiles will be used to get crews and equipment into Tahoe Pines tomorrow, and this is also expected to take several days.

Power could be out for days for those between Tahoe City and Fallen Leaf Lake

5:30 p.m. update Thursday - The Tahoe Keys and Tahoe Mountain area has just lost power temporarily. The West Shore has been restored from Tahoe City South to Sugar Pine Rd. and HWY89 (735 Customers). South Shore crews are deployed and working on six primary wires serving multiple areas. Restoration times are estimated between 8:00 p.m. tonight and tomorrow afternoon. Tahoe Pines Area (Barker Pass Rd. to Cherry St.) has very heavy damage with multiple poles down that requires helicopter repair. Weather permitting, helicopter repair will start tomorrow.

DUI crash near Hope Valley sends one to hospital via Calstar

A 23-year-old Markleville woman was transported to Renown Medical Center via Calstar with moderate injuries on Sunday, December 11 after crashing her vehicle on SR-89.

Scouts enjoy day of aviation events at Minden-Tahoe Airport

Boy Scouts from around the region took part in "Minden Youth Aviation Adventure" at the Minden-Tahoe Airport last weekend.

The event, sponsored by the Sports Aviation Foundation, drew more than 70 members of the Nevada Area Council of Boy Scouts of America.

Meyers Community Foundation Annual Tree Lighting

Event Date: 
December 2, 2016 - 5:00pm

On Friday, Dec. 2 the Meyers Community Foundation (MCF) will hold the sixth annual Tree Lighting at 5:00 p.m. in the Divided Sky/Downtown Café parking lot. The MCF will serve popcorn, hot chocolate and other goodies.

The Christmas fire truck and Santa will return via the CALSTAR helicopter (weather and circumstance permitting). The event is free and open to the public.

The Meyers Community Foundation (MCF) is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving life in Meyers, California through its support and promotion of creative and sustainable local projects and community-enhancing events.

Location

3200 US Highway 50 Divided Sky and Downtown Cafe Parking Lot
United States
28° 33' 19.8216" N, 82° 3' 3.9204" W

Power restored to Spring Creek area after Emerald Fire - expect more outages

Liberty Utilities restored power yesterday to the 131 Spring Creek residents in South Lake Tahoe who had been without power since the October 14 Emerald Fire. The utility company had originally thought they wouldn't be able to get the power back on until November 4.

Owens River Fire in Mono County jumps to 4,500 acres; 10% contained

9:00 a.m. update 9/18: The Owens River Fire burning east of Highway 395 and north of Owens River Road in Mono County has exploded to an estimated 4,500 acres. Even with the growth, firefighter were able to get it 10% contained.

Named the Owens River Fire, it is burning in sagebrush and Jeffrey pine.

Man arrested after leading officers on high speed chase from Tahoe to West Slope

A high speed pursuit that started near Sierra-at-Tahoe on Wednesday ended with the suspect crashing his 2006 BMW and being airflighted off the highway due to his injuries.

On September 7, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer spotted 27-year-old Allen Elseth from Lodi, Calif., driving at high rates of speed and crossing over the double-yellow lines on Highway 50 near the ski resort exit.

Man dies after 100 foot fall at Cascade Falls

Update 5:00 p.m. 9/7/16: The man killed in Monday's hiking incident near Cascade Falls has been identified as Airman 1st Class Tyler Oimoeon of Beale Air Force Base. He from Mt.Horeb, Wisconsin.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Airman Oimoen's family, coworkers and friends," Lt. Col. Matthew Mountcastle said. "During this difficult time, we are caring for his family and coworkers with the support of the Beale community."

* * * *

A 21-year-old man died at Cascade Falls on Monday afternoon after taking a fall off granite rocks in the area.

Woman hit by car while crossing Hwy 89 in South Lake Tahoe

12:00 p.m. update Sept. 6: A 27-year-old woman from San Francisco was hit by a car Monday as she attempted to run across Highway 89 in South Lake Tahoe. The driver, a 55-year-old man from Chatsworth, Calif., was driving northbound and did not see the woman as she ran across the five lanes from the 7-11 store to Sonney's BBQ Shack just before 6:00 p.m.

Neither identities have been released. The driver stopped immediately and was cooperative with investigators. Alcohol or other driver/pedestrian impairment is not a factor in the crash.

Body of missing Gardnerville woman found near old Kingsbury Grade

The body of a missing Gardnerville woman was found by searchers on Sunday near old Kingsbury Grade. At 10:00 a.m. a bicyclist on the road spotted her abandoned pickup truck with the passenger side door open and called authorities.

Randi Maclean, 51, was found down a steep canyon after Douglas County Sheriff's Office Deputies and Search and Rescue team members combed Daggett Creek and the surrounding area for several hours. A helicopter from the California Highway Patrol that was near the area at the time of the initial call joined in the search but was unable to locate Maclean.

August 27: 36th anniversary of Harvey's Resort bombing

For those that were on the South Shore on August 27, 1980, they'll be able to tell you exactly where they were, or what they were doing when law enforcement detonated a bomb that had been left inside Harvey's Resort casino in Lake Tahoe.

Three men planted a bomb containing 1,000 pounds of dynamite inside a machine they delivered to the second floor. Successful landscaper, John Birges from Clovis, Calif., the mastermind behind the bomb, was attempting to extort $3 million from the casino, claiming he had lost $750,000 gambling there.

Tahoe Rim Trail worker injured after serious fall

A worker on the Tahoe Rim Trail sustained serious injuries Thursday when he fell down a steep slope and landed on rocks near Heavenly Mountain Resort.

"The unidentified man was taken to the hospital with multiple traumatic injuries," Tahoe Douglas Fire Marshall Eric Guevin told South Tahoe Now. "He was with a snagged tree and thrown 40 feet down a 40 percent slope."

Boat sinks in Lake Tahoe with 4 men on board; All rescued after late night search

Four men from San Francisco are very lucky today after being rescued early Sunday morning after their rented boat sank three miles off shore in the cold waters of Lake Tahoe.

Shouts for help were heard from people staying both at the Zephyr Cove Presbyterian Center and in Marla Bay, and 911 calls were made into the Tahoe Douglas Fire station.

For reasons unknown at this time, the boat started taking in water at about 10:00 p.m. None of the four passengers were wearing life jackets.

Man dies in Lake Tahoe after jet skiing accident

A 22-year-old man from Oakland, Calif., drowned off the shore of South Lake Tahoe on Saturday after a jet skiing accident.

At 6:10 p.m. August 13, a person at the Timber Cover Marina reported an over due jet skier. Officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to the pier where they learned two men had been thrown off a rented jet ski after hitting a wave about 100 yards off the the marina. One man was able to swim back to the jet ski, but the other man, Raeshon Williams, did not. Neither man was wearing a life jacket.

Placer County SAR volunteer shot while looking for missing hiker

A Placer County Search and Rescue volunteer was shot in the hip on Tuesday evening while out with a team searching for a 75-year-old missing hiker.

Steven Wolf was part of a three-person team searching between Brown and Fish Creek for the hiker who was last seen near the town of Washington on the South Yuba River. The other two members of Wolf's team found cover and radioed for help.

Man seriously injured when he crashes into light pole in SLT

The man responsible for over 2,300 homes being without power on Tuesday morning in South Lake Tahoe was flown to Reno after receiving major injuries in a single car crash.

According to Lt. Brian Williams of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the unidentified man was traveling west on Pioneer Trail just before 3:30 a.m. when, for unknown reasons, he left the roadway and hit a power pole.

The condition of the 21-year-old South Lake Tahoe man is unknown at this time. He had to be extricated from his Ford Explorer by SLT Fire Rescue.

Bandaged Bandit arrested after another bank robbery

A 22-year-old El Dorado Hills man is behind bars on suspicion of robbing several area banks between June 29 and July 25 from Stateline to Folsom with his face covered in bandages, earning him the nickname, the Bandaged Bandit.

On July 25 at 2:35 p.m., the US Bank on White Rock Road in El Dorado Hills was robbed by a suspect who fled into a wooded area southeast of the bank. Deputies from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol officers and helicopter started searching the area.

Woman airlifted to Reno after Lake Tahoe boating accident

Updated Story 7/25/16:

A 22-year-old woman from Oregon is in serious condition at Renown Medical Center in Reno after having her leg caught in the propeller of a boat on Lake Tahoe Sunday afternoon. The boat with twin propellers had been pulling her on an innertube, but upon re-entering the boat the unidentified woman's legs were caught in the props.

Montreal Fire sparks another spot fire; Small fire in Desolation Wilderness

Another spot fire from Tuesday's Montreal Fire in South Lake Tahoe flared up overnight, burning about .16 acre before being controlled by firefighters. This spot was under the Heavenly Gondola tower 7.

This was the third spot fire started from the original fire which started behind the electrical substation on Montreal Road. All are out at this time.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation though the area where the first fire ignited is known to be used as a transient encampment.

Procession for fallen firefighters from Zephyr Cove and Reno

Honor guard processions were held Wednesday for two U.S. Bureau of Land Management firefighters who died Sunday in a rollover crash. A procession was held for Will Hawkins, 22 of Reno and Jacob M. O’Malley, 27, of Zephyr Cove which began in Reno and went to Walton's Chapel of the Valley in Carson City.

The firefighters were returning to Winnemucca after looking for lightning-sparked wildfires in Northern Nevada. The vehicle crash happened near the junction of State Highway 140 and U.S. 95. A procession was held Monday for the fallen firefighters, escorted from Winnemucca to Reno.

Firefighter from Zephyr Cove dies in Northern Nevada crash

A single-vehicle crash has claimed the lives of two Bureau of Land Management (BLM) firefighters, one who is from Zephyr Cove. One other BLM firefighter was injured.

On Sunday evening, the firefighters were returning to Winnemucca after looking for lightning-sparked wildfires in Northern Nevada. NHP said tire failure may have caused the crash near the junction of State Highway 140 and U.S. 95 at about 5:00 p.m.

Woman drowns while rafting on American River near Kyburz

A San Francisco woman died on the South Fork of the American River near Kyburz while rafting on Saturday, July 9.

Elaine Yi Mau, 32, was camping at the China Flat Campground with friends when they took rafts into the nearby river. At 4:09 p.m., the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office was told of a rafting accident involving Mau. She had been on a raft with someone who fell off, and when he surfaced, Mau was gone.

Liberty Utilities begins tree removal for electrical line upgrade at North Shore

On May 31, 2016, Liberty Utilities began helicopter tree removal for the portion of the 650 Electrical Line Upgrade Project on National Forest System lands north of Highway 267 from Brockway Summit to Kings Beach. Public access to the area will be limited during the helicopter operations for public safety.

Wounded Warrior Andrew Bachelder added to American Century Championship

Retired Staff Sergeant Andrew Bachelder, a decorated veteran of Iraq and the ongoing war in Afghanistan, has been added to the American Century Championship field of celebrities for their annual Lake Tahoe tournament July 19-24, 2016.

Bachelder earned a spot by winning the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Warrior Open this past October in Irving, Tex.

Missing hiker and dog found alive near Donner

A man from Rocklin, Calif., and his dog have been found safe after missing in the Sierra near Donner Pass since Monday.

Cody Michael, 23, and his German Shepherd, Bauer, were spotted about 10 a.m. Thursday by a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the Cherry Point area. Michael had gone out for an overnight hiking and camping trip on Sunday and didn't return on Monday as planned. A video sent from his phone Sunday showed him cooking a meal and drying out his shoes on rocks surrounded by snow.

Revive Interior Design opens in Lake Tahoe

Interior designer, Jessie Marchesseau, recently opened Revive Interior Design – a full-service interior design and home staging firm that serves communities in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Marchesseau, originally from Montana, has lived in the Lake Tahoe region for more than 15 years and has worked in local interior design and real estate industries for more than a decade. In addition to being a Tahoe local, Marchesseau has sold and designed homes in both California and Nevada, and understands the complexities of mountain and lake living.

Domestic violence situation turns into kidnapping in Douglas County

A 32-year-old Joshua Albericci of Gardnerville has been arrested on multiple charges stemming from his alledged assault and kidnapping of his 29-year-old wife.

Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to the report of a domestic dispute in the Gardnerville Ranchos area of the county on April 27, 2016 at 10:45 a.m. When they arrived at the home in the 800 block of Short Court, they learned that the victim had fled to a neighbor's home after being physically assaulted by her husband.

Search and Rescue teams help two groups of stranded hikers at waterfalls

With the warmer weather and melting snow, more hikers are headed to the back country, and with that migration the El Dorado County Search and Rescue teams are getting busy.

South Lake Tahoe man seriously injured in felony hit and run in Meyers

A South Lake Tahoe man was hit by a car on Saturday night, resulting in serious injuries and an arrest for felony hit and run.

Scott Murphy, 26, was walking along the eastbound side of Highway 50, east of Apache Avenue, talking to his girlfriend on the phone at about 9:45 p.m. on March 26 according to the California Highway Patrol. A BMW driven by Roberto Luna, 21, was also heading east and, for unknown reasons, allowed the right front side of his car to hit Murphy. Luna, of San Francisco, Calif., was driving an estimated 50 mph, ten miles above the posted speed limit.

CHP officer hit on I-80, suffers multiple injuries

An officer with the California Highway Patrol was hit by a SUV on Interstate 80 at 2:25 p.m. Saturday, sending him to Renown Medical Center with multiple injuries.

According to CHP-Truckee, the officer was finishing up working a different collision scene when he was hit by the westbound vehicle at the Castle Peak off-ramp.

The CHP reports that the officer suffered from multiple injuries, including internal injuries and broken legs. He was transported by ambulance to Reno, the nearest trauma center, as weather prevented a helicopter from responding.

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