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While the community is still in shock over the death of South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Mark Hounsell, his wife Jeanne and a family friend, a fundraising campaign has started to help their children as they move forward in life without a parent.

All four of Mark's children were in the 2004 Chevy Suburban on October 17, 2015 with Mark and Jeanne when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle left the roadway and crashed, killing all three adults inside.

During a special meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council on Monday, October 19, JoAnn Conner was publicly censured, a first of its kind for the City. An overflowing crowd spent over three hours in Council Chambers as comments were made both supporting Conner, and against what they said was "abusive, bullying and intolerant behavior."

During the September 15 South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting, a man who identified himself as Ross Tisanrich approached the speaker's podium during the public comment period. He said he was a local wildland firefighter and wanted to bring the use of pesticides to a halt. He told the council he would drink the chemical weed killer Round-Up if they wouldn't commit to ending the use of pesticides that get into Lake Tahoe.

MontBleu Resort on the South Shore is undergoing extensive exterior remodeling at the same time they are cleaning house.

Their ten-year-old sign came down on Tuesday and will be replaced. The driveway and hotel entrance area all being revamped.

Last week, the resort let go four directors including the Food & Beverage Director. A call was made to the property's new General Manager Tim Tretton to confirm, but his office said "no comment." Tretton has been on the job since August 4.

For an estimated 20 days a year, homeless people would have access to a "warm room" where they can seek refuge when temperatures drop below freezing and conditions are deemed unsafe.

The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) asked the South Lake Tahoe City Council today for access to the recreation center between the hours of 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. on nights when there is a forecast of extreme temperatures. Wanting to keep the homeless population on the South Shore safe, TCH asked for permission to house approximately 20 men and women on a temporary basis.

The capital city community has extended an outpouring of support for a Carson City Sheriff's Office deputy who was shot and killed early Saturday morning responding to a domestic violence call at an east Carson City home.

A new vacation home rental (VHR) ordinance will take effect in South Lake Tahoe on October 1, 2015.

The new ordinance will require all homeowners who want to rent out their homes to get it inspected by the Zoning Administrator prior to being issued a license. Since the real estate community told City Council that not having a permit prior to escrow may cause homeowners to lose sales, the current homeowner may now get it inspected prior to the sale in order to take as much uncertainty away from sales as possible. This inspection will be valid for one year.

Tom and Cheryl Millham have been operating Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) out of their home since 1978. Since then, they've treated over 22,000 animals, released over 14,000 rehabilitated animals back into the wild, have a volunteer crew of 2,000 people, and train 50 to 100 new volunteers annually.

Cycling in South Lake Tahoe was the focus of the second Annual Cycle Celebration on Saturday. Kids both young and old were at the Heavenly Village to participate in a Bike Parade, Bike Rodeo, Bike Tune-Up station and informational booths.

The celebration wrapped up the two-week long Tahoe Bike Challenge where hundreds of people got out of their cars and biked to school, work and for play.

During Saturday's activities, the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition honored the Town of Truckee and Karen & Pete Fink for their contributions to cycling in the region.

Twenty years and many meetings later, the Tahoe Valley Area Plan unanimously passed the first of two final hurdles at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

In the first reading to adopt the three resolutions which make up the plan, Mayor Hal Cole and the City Council thanked everyone who was part of the long process to start shaping things up at the "Y". "This plan will have an impact for years to come," said Cole.

Mental illness affects 1 in 5 children and 1 in 8 adults.

50% of us will experience a mental health challenge in our lifetime.

These are significant numbers, and because of them, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in South Lake Tahoe, May 10-16 is Mental Health Awareness Week. During a recent City Council meeting, the Mayor signed a proclamation to show the City's support of this significant week.

It is getting close to the final design approval on the Bijou Bike Park and the City of South Lake Tahoe and Bijou Bike Park Association would like the public's input before submitting it.

The meeting will be held at the multi-purpose room at Bijou Elementary School located at 3501 Spruce Avenue in South Lake Tahoe.

Motels and hotels being used for long term occupancy is a problem across the country and South Lake Tahoe is no different.

Of the 120 motels and hotels in the city limits, 58 of them are being used for long term occupancy. 1,300 rooms are now rented for long periods of time. These units were not built for people to live in long term as there is no refrigeration or cooking facilities, and many times there are families living in a room meant for just two people for a night or two.

Almost twenty years later and the Tahoe Valley Area plan isn't in place, yet. John Hitchcock, the City of South Lake Tahoe Planning Manager, gave the Council another presentation on the status of the plan and where things stand as of today during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

First proposed in the early 1990's, the resurrection of the Tahoe Valley Area plan made great strides towards adoption in 2014 with Hitchcock holding four public meetings where input was requested, presenting the plan to TRPA three times, three times to City Council and twice to the planning commission.

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- At first, Loly Garcia didn't have to travel far to her jobs in the chic hotels of this fabled tourist town. She shared a tiny studio apartment with her father, brother and a cousin after arriving from El Salvador more than 20 years ago.

But after she married and wanted a home of her own, she had to drive 23 miles west, past tracts of empty land and vacant mansions whose owners visit only a couple of weeks a year, to the mobile home park where she now lives.

A few hours after Wendy David was elected as Mayor Pro Tem for the City of South Lake Tahoe, her former colleagues at the LTUSD School Board elected a new president.

Barbara Bannar, the trustee from Area 5, was elected President with Dr. Larry Green elected Clerk of the Board. Green represents Area 4. He was also named Representative to the El Dorado County School Boards Association (EDCSBA) where he serves as Vice President. Bannar was named the Representative to the Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation.

New South Lake Tahoe City Council members Wendy David and Austin Sass will join Hal Cole, Tom Davis and JoAnn Conner today as they begin their official first day of service after being sworn in this morning.

The 9 a.m. meeting begins with an inaugural ceremony and election on who will be the next Mayor of the city and the Mayor Pro Tem for 2015.

All committee assignments will be laid for for the year as well.

Also on the agenda are BevMo's request for a liquor license and South Tahoe Refuse's request for a rate increase starting January 1.

For his "State of the City" address, South Lake Tahoe Mayor Hal Cole took everyone on a trip through the city, celebrating the successes of the last year and creating an anticipation for a future seen with new investments, an improved economy, more businesses and a community that will continue to thrive.

Mayor Hal Cole will deliver the 2014 State of the City Address during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

The agenda for the 9 a.m. meeting at the Council Chambers located at the airport also includes the graduation of the Citizen's Academy, the presentation of an audit that shows paid parking was profitable and a vacation rental home presentation.

If unable to attend the meeting in person one can view it on line,

The community is invited to the next South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting to hear Mayor Hal Cole's State of the City Address on Tuesday, November 18. He will be wrapping up his year as Mayor.

During the same meeting, the Fall 2014 Citizen's Academy Graduation will be held. The other agenda items will be posted on Friday, September 14.

City Council Chambers are located at 1901 Airport Road in South Lake Tahoe.

At the end of the month, costumed revelers will descend upon the MontBleu nightclubs for the 36th Annual Freaker's Ball in South Lake Tahoe. Partiers will be attired in everything from wild, provocative and risque to funny, crazy and creative costumes.

But how did one of the biggest and most popular Halloween events in the region ever come about?

The Beginning in 1978

To avoid going down the bankruptcy path as many cities had to over the past few years, the City of South Lake Tahoe today adopted resolutions to restructure the wage and benefit packages of its employees.

The new wage and benefit plans include a mixture of more clearly defined benefits and contributions. It was the undefined plans of the past that caused $25M in unfunded liabilities.

In front of a packed council chambers full of firemen and other staff, City Manager Nancy Kerry unveiled the results of negotiations between five of the six employee groups and the City.

The 25th annual Lake in the Sky Air Show at Lake Tahoe Airport in beautiful South Lake Tahoe, California is scheduled for this Saturday, September 20, 2014. The Lake in the Sky Air Show has been described as “the best in the west” by one of its many professional aerial participants.

This year’s show which will includes:

Aerial Performances by Jon Melby, Bill Cornick, Spencer Suderman and Carl Liepold
Static Displays
Two World War II aircraft will be on display and will do a Fly-By during the Show. The aircraft are the F6F Hellcat and The Japanese Zero
the Cash Only Band

What swept through South Lake Tahoe this past winter (as reported on South Tahoe Now) has morphed into an ice bucket challenge, this time as a fundraiser for ALS. KOLO-TV anchor Sarah Johns and Reno City Councilwoman/candidate for Mayor Hillary Schieve challenged Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval who accepted and has now challenged Nevada's two Senators, Harry Reid and Dean Heller.