interview

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The candidate pool of 61 seeking the job of South Lake Tahoe police chief has been narrowed down to five finalists.

They are:

Captain John Gunderson, Redwood City Police Department
Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice, Master’s Degree Public Administration

Lieutenant Tina Jones, Portland Police Bureau
Master’s Degree Criminal Justice

Lieutenant Shannon Laney, South Lake Tahoe Police Department
Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice

Deputy Chief Katherine Lester, Sacramento Police Department

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - If you've been able to catch the coverage of the 31st American Century Championship from Lake Tahoe you may have seen the shoes Steph Curry has been wearing.

On Friday, his shoes showed an image of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old African-American emergency medical technician who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department officers on March 13, 2020.

Curry, who has been outspoken and active with social injustice matters, said the shoes were to "shine a light on Breonna Taylor, demanding and praying and
wishing for justice for her and her family."

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Law enforcement has come a long way in South Lake Tahoe since the first police department started on July 1, 1967. At that time there were 30 sworn male officers who were chosen from a list of more than 400 applicants who wanted to be part of the first police department for the new city. They were tested in Seal Beach, Roseville, and South Lake Tahoe then interviewed in Los Angeles and Sacramento.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In September, Danny Francisco was able to fly in a a B-17, 75 years after his last flight, and now today, June 5, the community can honor and celebrate him on this 96th birthday.

Everyone is invited to "attend" his party by driving by with a cheer, a wave, an American flag, or any other birthday greeting. He will be at 2216 Dunlap Street in South Lake Tahoe from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the public can join in a drive-by celebration of this WWII vet. The home is located a block from South Tahoe refuse.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County School District has hired a new superintendent to replace the retiring Teri White.

In a unanimous decision, the board voted 7-0 to hire Keith Lewis as the next superintendent. Lewis is the District's current Human Resources executive director. He will start to transition into the position immediately and officially take over when White leaves, sometime this summer.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After a dozen years as a trustee on the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Education, Barbara Bannar has resigned. To fill her spot as the trustee from Area 5 (pictured above), applications are being accepted until May 15, 2020.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Dr. Todd Cutler has been announced as the new superintendent for the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD). During their closed session meeting Saturday, the Board of Trustees decided to reveal their announcement ahead of the previously announced March 10 date. His contract has now been finalized and he will start work at the end of the school year.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a new school superintendent headed to South Lake Tahoe, but who that is won't be revealed to the public quite yet.

The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) trustees announced they are in negotiations with the chosen individual but it may be two weeks until the name is released. That person will also have to notify their current employer.

"The community will be very happy with who we selected," Board President Larry Reilly announced during Tuesday's board meeting.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An Interview Advisory Panel is being formed to participate in in the process of interviewing Lake Tahoe Unified School District superintendent candidates on February 7, 2020.

If you are interested in serving on the community panel, please email Penny Pyle of Leadership Associates (the district’s search firm) at ppyle@leadershipassociates.org, or drop off your written submission at the District Office, 1021 Al Tahoe Blvd., with your response to the following:

- Why are you a good candidate for the interview advisory panel?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) begins their search for a replacement for the retiring superintendent the people tasked with finding the right candidates are reaching out to the community.

What is being developed from public meetings and an online survey will create the profile of what makes up the desired characteristics neede or the person who will move into Dr. James Tarwater's position when he retires in June 2020.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, General Assistance, Welfare-to-Work programs and Employment Resource Center for El Dorado County at South Lake Tahoe will be moving into a new location on October 28.

The County announced earlier this year they had purchased the old post office at 3368 Sandy Way in order to move offices over from across the street as a "new campus" is created for services.

Dan Aykroyd called my morning radio show on 93.9FM Friday to talk about his appearance Sunday over at the Hard Rock Hotel Lake Tahoe. There he will present an evening of Q & A, tell some fascinating stories in an exclusive evening presented by his business, Crystal Head Vodka billed as 'An Evening with Dan Aykroyd.'

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After closing in May 2019 for much-needed repairs, the El Dorado County Employment Resource Center n South Lake Tahoe has reopened to the public.

Repairs completed include carpet replacement, minor mold remediation and painting.

The Employment Resource Center provides free job assistance services to El Dorado County residents who are looking for jobs or want to improve their job readiness skills. There is no income requirement to use the Center.

The Employment Resource Center provides the following services for members of the public at no charge:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Board of Trustees from the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) heard a presentation Tuesday about searching for the next superintendent.

LTUSD Superintendent Dr. James Tarwater submitted his resignation on June 21 after serving the South Lake Tahoe community since 2005. He gave the Board a one year notice, making his last day in June 2020.

While many local groups have joined forces to develop housing for residents, the reality is that it takes time to build new housing. And time is what many of our local employers don't have right now as we head into summer. Faced with an immediate need to house their employees, employers have created their own solutions.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There have been three sets of interviews this week for the six candidates interested in being the next fire chief for the City of South Lake Tahoe.

The different interview panels consisted of a group of City department heads and area fire chiefs, another of fire department senior staff and union members, and the final interview was with City Manager Frank Rush.

All six are quality candidates according to Rush and fire personnel.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Have you ever wondered who is there to advocate in court for the younger members of our community who are abused, neglected, or at-risk youth?

The Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, are volunteers there to advocate for and empower by speaking up for the needs of children and making a positive impact in their lives.

In School

This week started out great at South Tahoe High School with another snow day on Monday, making it three days for the year so far. With a week-long Presidents’ Day break coming up, here are what some STHS students plan to do:

Anthony LoRe, a junior, who also plays for Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy, is traveling to the Bahamas with his family for some fun on the beach.

Senior Jordyn Yochheim said she’s going to go sledding, work on her senior project, and spend time vacationing in San Diego.

South Tahoe Now will now be publishing stories from Ruby Abuhajleh, a student at South Tahoe High. Her column, Viking Corner: This Week at South Tahoe High, will feature stories about students, faculty, and events.

In School
This was a short week with Monday and Tuesday canceled due to snow days, which meant plenty of sleep and skiing for some of the students at South Tahoe High School.

With five feet of snow outside, Lily Perez, a freshmen, spent two nights at her friend’s house, unable to make it home.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Globetrotting rapper and hip-hop artist Dreda Dre is once again hosting the annual Christmas gift giveaway in South Lake Tahoe. On Saturday, December 22, the ninth annual event will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council today voted unanimously to hire Frank Rush as their new city manager starting December 5, 2018.

The 49-year-old Rush gave his notice to the Emerald Isle, NC town commissioners, resigning the position he'd held for 17 years in the small oceanside resort community.

There are two open seats for the Lake Valley Fire Protection District Board of Directors, and with only one candidate in the November 6 election, the Board is seeking nominees to fill the other vacancy.

Brian Hogan, an appointed incumbent, is the only person to file for the November 6 election. The current board is Chairperson Robert Bettencourt, Vice-Chairperson Dave Huber, Secretary John Rice and directors Leona Allen and Hogan. Huber is not seeking re-election.

If you've looked at the night sky lately you've probably noticed what looks like a very bright (and red) star. It's not a star though, it's Mars, and it's shining brighter than it has in more than a decade.

From July 27 until July 30, it will be Mars Opposition, the time when Mars and the sun are on directly opposite sides of Earth. It will appear Mars is rising in the east just as the sun sets in the west.

Mars will be closer to the Earth than normal during this time.

Those two things are making the Red Planet appear brighter than usual.

The South Lake Tahoe branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), recently awarded three sponsorships to a week-long STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) focused Tech Trek Camp on the UC Davis campus in July. The winners are Kyla Schrauben, Daniela Bonilla, and Evelyn Bennett  All three girls are from South Tahoe Middle School, with an alternate, Mia Roper, chosen from Whittell.

These girls who are entering 8th grade next September were nominated by their science/math teachers and selected following a personal interview.