homeless

After several years of declining enrollment, Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) has seen more students sitting the seats of local schools over the past two years.

The lowest enrollment figures were for the school year 2012-2013. When school ended in June of 2013 there were 3,793 students in South Lake Tahoe's eight schools.

When school started back up in the Fall of 2013 there were 3,855 students enrolled. An additional 26 students started off this school year.

What are the first thoughts that go through your mind when you see a youth on the streets? How did they get there, where are their parents, and are they safe? It’s disturbing to realize that between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away annually. Most youth who run away do so because of threatening environments at home, such as physical/verbal abuse, substance abuse issues, questions of sexual orientation, or escaping state care. Unfortunately, by choosing to run away, they further subject themselves to threatening situations that impede their progress in life.

Editor's note: This is part of a series on all of the change going on in South Lake Tahoe. We'll be updating you with photos and news.

What was once a run down trailer park, and sometime homeless camp, will soon be a three story, 28 unit condominium complex named Tahoe Woods Condominiums. In an area at the southern end of Cedar and Manzanita Avenues, seven separate buildings are currently being constructed amidst the trees. The northern tip of the property is a pathway that runs adjacent to the Tahoe Meadows community.

Studies show that an average of 4.6% of a population are in need of services to treat a serious mental illness at any given time. That number doubles in a population where people live below 200% of the poverty level (an annual income of $23,340 for 1 person, $47,700 for a family of 4 for example).

With the current population of El Dorado County at approximately 181,000, that means anywhere between 8,329 and 16,114 people are in need of Mental Health Services.

There are several choices for South Lake Tahoe voters in Tuesday's primary election.

Local Issues and Offices
El Dorado County Supervisor: Kevin Brown, Kenny Curtzwiler, Gerri Grego, Sue Novasel, Teresa Piper, Angela Swanson

Assessor - Karl Weiland

Auditor/Controller - Michael Owens, Joe Horn

District Attorney - Judson Henry, Vern Pierson

Recorder Clerk/Registrar of Voters - Chris Amaral, Bill Schultz

Sheriff - John D'Agostini

Surveyor - Rich Briner

Treasurer/Tax Collector - Ron Briggs, C.L. Raffety

In a quest to make a difference, South Tahoe High School senior Brooke Georguson is collecting jeans that will be donated to homeless youth in the Reno/Tahoe community. On top of that goal, Brooke wants to collect the most jeans in the region so her school will be awarded a $10,000 grant.

It took several cashiers and 3 check out lines to process the carts full of clothing, coats and shoes that 120 South Tahoe Middle School students spent the day shopping for at Kmart. On Saturday, October 5. The Assistance League® of Sierra Foothills (ALSF) partnered with the South Lake Tahoe Kmart to bring the Operation School Bell® program to the students.

The Carson City Chapter 388 of the Vietnam Veterans of America are inviting you to mark Vietnam Veterans Day by attending a short ceremony and social gathering on Saturday, March 30, 2013.

The short ceremony will be held at the Vietnam Memorial, located in Mills Park in Carson City, in the southeast corner of the park at 5 PM. (The park may be accessed from either Saliman Road or Seely Loop, across from Carson High School).

The 2012 American Century Championship continues to benefit Tahoe South as the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority distributed $64,500 to 23 non-profit groups through funds raised during the annual celebrity golf tournament.

El Dorado County has agreed to join the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association class action lawsuit seeking to overturn California's controversial fire fee.

“Hundreds of residents have contacted the county to voice their frustration about the fire tax,” said Supervisor John Knight. “The Board of Supervisors can’t sit idly by while the state is running a legalized extortion scheme on rural residents.”

In an effort to impact the health of our community the Barton Foundation recently opened their grant opportunities for programs and organizations benefitting the South Lake Tahoe area. Barton Health Grants provide funding for programs targeted at underserved populations and/or providing great impact to the health status of the community. The total grant amount available for 2012 is set at $25,000 and is generally dispersed between five and 10 local organizations.

TRUCKEE, Calif. - The death of a homeless man in Truckee last month, likely due to climate exposure, is heightening the need for an emergency shelter in a region known for its harsh winter conditio...