mud

No, this can’t be. It’s too interesting to be a Rav4. Over the waning ‘teens, Toyota has sought to seemingly reinvent itself as a carmaker of interest. Now, that begs an important question, though: did they have to? Even as the cars became more and more relentlessly boring, people still bought them to make for the single biggest car brand in the world.

Everyone knows what goes downhill, but the South Tahoe Public Utility District knows how to recycle it into 381,000 kilowatts of electricity per year. A recent feature article by the Association of California Water Agencies pointed out that STPUD is one of only a handful of utility districts in the entire world that can claim 100% reuse of wastewater and bio solids. Here’s how. We use centrifuges instead of the usual pollution causing burners. That allows us to make fertilizer for ranch land.

11:15 p.m. update: According to El Dorado County Jail logs, the suspect who turned themself into law enforcement is Joseph Matthew Chesler, 33, of South Lake Tahoe. His bail has been set at $125,000, $75,000 for Hit and Run Causing Injury/Death and $50,000 for Involuntary Manslaughter.

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An arrest has been made in Tuesday night's fatal hit-and-run crash in South Lake Tahoe.

When one thinks of Antartica they most likely don't think of the continent as a place to vacation, let alone a place to run a marathon. But 200 runners did just that March 16-17, 2018 when they tackled a challenging 26.2 course on King George’s Island.

Thirty countries will be represented at the Reebok Spartan Race World Championship, which is the preeminent event of the obstacle racing season, when it returns to Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe September 28-October 1.

500 elite athletes from more than 30 countries are set to descend on Squaw Valley to put their skills and conditioning to the test in both individual and team competitions, and to celebrate the culmination of the 2017 Spartan Race season.

Caltrans has reopened Highway 50 between Meyers and Placerville with one-way controlled traffic at Alder Creek where a mudslide closed it last night. They originally said all traffic would be rerouted to other highways through Friday evening but crews were able to get it open.

The slope is still not stable and they are working on getting the mud flow stopped.

For up to the minute reports, visit Caltrans twitte at @CaltransDist3 or on their app/website - http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.

The annual grading season of May 1 to October 15 begins today in the Lake Tahoe Basin and those who will be disturbing soil need to remember some rules after this wet winter.

No grading can take place during times of precipitation, and if the project site is still covered in snow, saturated or muddy, all grading and soil disturbing activities must be suspended.

4:15 p.m. update: Kingsbury Grade (State Route 207) will remain closed indefinitely on the Carson Valley side of the road as the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) continues safety evaluation and removal of major rockfall.

The highway was closed early Friday afternoon as NDOT and contractor Q&D Construction removed loose trees and earth from a roadside slope to help reduce rock and mud fall onto the highway. The slope had slid approximately one foot within the past 24 hours, posing the threat of bringing mud, rock and debris across the highway.

Good morning skiers and riders, and if you are visiting, welcome to Lake Tahoe!

Today is February 16.

A WET & WILD DAY AS A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS POSTED! STRONG WINDS ARE AFFECTING THE OPERATION OF UPPER MOUNTAIN LIFTS AT: HEAVENLY, MT ROSE, SIERRA AT TAHOE, KIRKWOOD, SQUAW, ALPINE, SUGAR BOWL, MAMMOTH… DONNER SKI RANCH CLOSED
ALL ROADWAYS IN AROUND LAKE TAHOE HAVE R1 OR R2 CHAIN CONTROLS.

10:30 p.m. update: Caltrans has reopened Highway 50 over Echo Summit and NDOT opened Highway 50 at Logan Creek. Currently there are no roads closed around Lake Tahoe.

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Roadwork to clear mud and rocks from Highway 50 continues on both sides of the state line of Lake Tahoe with no estimated reopening time released by either transportation agency.

Last week, five boulders fell onto the highway near Logan Creek on the east side of the lake, prompting Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to close the road due to an unstable hillside. Progress is being made on the stretch of road that connects South Lake Tahoe to Carson City according to Meg Ragonese of NDOT. She said the "monolithic-size boulders" are being removed.

4:25 p.m. update - Caltrans now estimates it will be 6:00 p.m. Sunday before reopening. If this changes again we will update this story.

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Caltrans says Highway 50 at Ice House Road is expected to be closed until 6:00 a.m. Sunday, February 12. This is an estimate and will depend on time it will take to clear the massive slide of mud and boulders.

Once open the road will be one-way controlled traffic.

On the North Shore, I80 will open to traffic in both directions at 1:00 p.m. Saturday. Expect heavy traffic.

A 13-year-old girl who became stuck up to her waist in a mud bog along a hiking trail near Combs Canyon was plucked to safety Friday afternoon by a Carson City sheriff’s deputy.

Kaitlin Schultz said she was “very cold” but “very happy” to be found safe after she had stepped into a four-foot deep mud hole and was unable to free herself along a hiking trail near Ormsby and Combs Canyon Road in northwest Carson City.

11:45 a.m. update: A large boulder has rolled onto Highway 50 near Bridal Veil Falls in the eastbound lane. Be prepared for diverted traffic.

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There are several flooded areas in the South Lake Tahoe and Meyers areas, resulting in some road closures.

As of 9:00 a.m. Thursday, the following roads are experiencing flooding:

Tahoe Keys - State Streets and Tahoe Keys Blvd
Bijou Area - Bill Avenue, Shirley Avenue, Betty Rae Ct, Vanda Lee, Woodbine Avenue
Portions of Glenwood Way
Portions of Pioneer Trail
Portions of lake Tahoe Blvd between the Y and High School

Caltrans closed part of Highway 50 near Kyburz Wednesday afternoon to allow them time to clean up a river of mud that was flowing over the roadway.

Travelers between Placerville and South Lake Tahoe had up to an hour delay as crews cleaned out overflowing culverts to get the water moving in a direction that wouldn't hamper drivers.

With more heavy rains on the way, and ground that is already saturated, residents and drivers can expect more of the same through Friday.

Traffic heading west from South Lake Tahoe is once again creating a long line of vehicles from the area near Ernie's and Tahoe Cottage Inn on Highway 50 over to Echo Summit.

With the road closure on Lake Tahoe Blvd., traffic heading to South Upper Truckee Road is being diverted onto Sawmill Pond Road, adding to a jam at the intersection with Highway 50.

There is also traffic heading west on Pioneer Trail.

Caltrans crews were on Highway 50 over Echo Summit all night, keeping an eye on areas known for mud slides.

Zawadisha's annual Holiday Bazaar returns this holiday season on Saturday, December 3 at the Blue Angel Cafe in South Lake Tahoe from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Knock out some of your holiday shopping while adding meaning to your gift by not only shopping local, but helping rural Kenyan women.

A portion of proceeds from this event allow Zawadisha to give small loans to rural Kenyan women for items with big impact like solar lamps, clean cook stoves, and water tanks. Stop by their table at the event to learn more.

The holiday travel week may not have started out as many hoped it would as a storm hit Lake Tahoe on Monday, stranding many travelers for hours. I was one of those stranded between Kyburz and South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50, making the 1.5 hour drive from Cameron Park in 8.5 hours.

This caught me off guard since I've been driving the mountain roads for the past 36 years and my four-wheel drive car with snow tires has been very steady and dependable. I normally don't drive the mountain passes when a storm is headed our way, but I had to pick my daughter up from the San Francisco Airport.

Studded snow tires in both California and Nevada need to be removed from vehicles by May 1.

By Nevada law, studded snow tires are only permitted in use between October 1 and April 30. Retractable studded snow tires are allowed throughout the year with tire studs retracted from May 1 through September 30.

In California, studded snow tires are only permitted in use between November 1 and April 30. Retractable studded snow tires are allowed throughout the year with tire studs retracted from May 1 through October 31.

9/29/14 8 p.m. update - The King Fire is now 92% contained and has remained at 97.099 acres burned. More personnel has been released and there are now 3,401 remaining on the fire.

Mop up and patrol continued. Continued the demobilization of excess resources. Continued to backhaul excess equipment and trash. Fire suppression repair is ongoing. Homes and damaged buildings on White Meadows Road are being evaluated for future damage from possible mud and debris flows caused by the last two days of rain. Some homes and buildings are being prepared with sand bags by crews.

August 01 Leche De Tigre / Connor Party @ Heavenly Village
Young Shakespeare: "As You Like It" @ Valhalla Boathouse
Theater
The Novelists @ The Beacon
Straight Jacket @ Himmel Haus
DJ Enfo @ Peek Tahoe
Tressa Bell @ 968 Park
the Wrinkle @ King's Beach
Lisa Marie Johnston @ Cottonwood bar and grill
Ana Popovitch w/ The Steepwater Band @ Crystal Bay Club
August 1-2 Ashley Red @ Cabo Wabo
August 02 LADY GAGA Artpop Ball w/ Lady Starlight @ Harvey's Outdoor
Amphitheatre
Naive Melodies / Patrick Walsch @ heavenly Village

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in the Sierra, Northern California and Nevada. This report is for the week of Aug. 28 through Labor Day. Don't forget, California's second free day of fishing without a license will be Saturday, Sept. 7.

Below is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, Lake Tahoe and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Dec. 12-18. We want to note a big fish caught by Eric St. Denis of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., pictured above. Eric caught a 28-pound, 9-ounce Mackinaw trout at Lake Tahoe on Dec. 9, at 10:30 a.m. Photos courtesy of Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters.
The Lake Tahoe record for Mackinaw Trout is a 37-pound, 6-ounce (44 inches in length) trophy caught by Robert Aronsen, way back in 1974. To date, only a handful of Macks have been caught that have weighed 30 pounds or more.

Snow, heavy rain and strong winds are expected for the Sierra, Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada through the weekend. The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Winter Weather Advisory and Wind Advisory from 10 Thursday night through 4 p.m. Friday for areas above 7,000 feet. For the first wave of a series of three storms, anywhere between 8 to 16 inches of snow is expected around 7,000 feet and above and between 2 to 3 feet above 8,000 feet.