outdoor

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As tourists fill the Lake Tahoe Basin and locals plan their holiday weekend there are rules that everyone needs to remember - no outside fires with charcoal or wood, and wear a mask.

Although people may want to take a vacation, the pandemic doesn’t so make sure you are following proper safety precautions.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Internationally recognized psychiatrist, Joe Hibbeln, MD, has joined Barton Health’s team of expert mental and behavioral health providers. A board-certified physician, Dr. Hibbeln is working with patients over 18 years of age at Barton Community Health Center in South Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will start enhanced fire restrictions in national forest campgrounds on September 1, 2020 due to dry conditions.

On August 21, fire agencies around the Lake Tahoe Basin banned all open burning utilizing wood and charcoal at homes, parks, beaches and most campgrounds. LTBMU was not part of that original ban.

All areas in the Lake Tahoe Basin are now under these restrictions.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Glag Warning from noon to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 25. They are calling for a chance of thunderstorms and strong outflow winds in the Lake Tahoe area.

There is the possibility of isolated to scattered thunderstorms with little, or limited, rainfall though the storms may be a hybrid of wet and dry. The faster storm motions will likely allow for lightning strikes outside of the main thunderstorm cores. With fire fighting resources already stretched thin, any new fire starts will be an issue.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - In a unified move, all fire agencies around the Lake Tahoe Basin have banned all open burning utilizing wood and charcoal for the remainder of the summer, or longer if needed. This includes campgrounds with fire rings, fire pits at homes and all charcoal barbeques whether at home or at public and private facilities.

The suspension takes effect at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2020 and will be enforced with extinguishment and possible citations and fines.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Head, Heart, Hands, Health. The 4-H Youth Development Program offers many fun and educational activities for its members and it is now available for youth in the South Lake Tahoe area.

Now, as much as ever, our local community is coming together for the health and wellbeing of our residents and businesses. We are all being affected in different ways by COVID-19 and our local businesses are working to navigate this pandemic safely and successfully.

The South Shore of Lake Tahoe is in uncertain times, but we want to let you know that you can count on:

Businesses taking extra precautions to keep their staff and customers safe.
Residents are coming together to support local businesses.

Local businesses rely on the support of local residents.

STATELINE, Nev. - A familiar face on the South Shore is returning to be the senior vice president and general manager for Harrah’s and Harveys Lake Tahoe properties.

Caesars Entertainment made the announcement today that John Koster will return to the Lake Tahoe gambling scene after the merger of Eldorado Resorts and Caesars Entertainment.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. _ There is a special meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) on Thursday, July 30 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss and take action on a reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms and strong outflow winds for Monday, July 27 from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

Normally, the Basin averages six Red Flag Warnings per season, and this makes four - and it's still July. Please remember all outdoor sources of open flame are prohibited until the Red Flag Warning declaration expires, and that includes gas/propane fire pits and grills.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act today, a piece of bi-partisan legislation that will fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide much needed funding for the crippling $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at national parks.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The popular farm-to-fork festival, Sample the Sierra, is moving to a digital format this year due to the current pandemic.

The 11st annual event will still include a variety of food-related entertainment typically found at Sample the Sierra, including cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, musical performances, giveaways, and shopping. Instead of only having these things during the day of the traditional in-person event, this year's will be spread out throughout August and September (a more detailed schedule is coming later).

In South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Mammoth Lakes, our public lands are woven into the fabric of life. These lands are symbols of our strength and keepers of serenity in these turbulent times. As we've seen locally, our parks and public lands are a beloved resource and one that is essential for our collective recovery. If we want our parks and public lands to be there for us for the long haul we need to invest in them now.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The Board of Supervisors held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the current situation of positive cases of COVID-19 in the county, especially in South Lake Tahoe where numbers are starting to grow.

After almost four hours of discussion, both amongst themselves and during public comment, the Board made the following action items but didn't vote on any county-wide orders:

The Resilience Fund-Tahoe has funded its first local loan to Freshies Tahoe. The funds helped save their outdoor patio deck, which was in desperate need of repair and will be critical to ensuring their future success serving customers outdoors.

“After many months of unsuccessfully trying multiple federal avenues for support of Freshies during the business disruption caused by the pandemic, we are thrilled to have qualified for this very generous Resilience Fund loan! We are ready to get our deck open! Thank you so much,” said owners Erik and Melodie Ulman.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Valhalla Tahoe will be hosting three week-long sessions of Outdoor Painting Art Camps with local art teacher Gina Stowell. The camps will be held on the Grand Lawn and are designed to allow students to play through painting.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Washoe County deputies on board Marine 9 found a couple clinging to a deflated raft on Lake Tahoe around 3:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18.

Deputies aboard the boat were patrolling just northwest of the Thunderbird Lodge on the east shore when they spotted a number of items, including paddles and shoes, floating on the lake.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As California reaches over 5,000 deaths, Governor Newsom announced Thursday that almost everyone in the state will now be required to wear face masks in public.

“Science shows that face coverings and masks work,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “They are critical to keeping those who are around you safe, keeping businesses open, and restarting our economy.”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After nearly 61 years in existence, the Tahoe Parents Nursery School (TPNS) will finally have a permanent home in South Lake Tahoe. It will be located on the campus of Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC).

LTCC is hosting a small group of physically distanced dignitaries and campus leaders to help break ground and usher in the new Early Learning Center on Wednesday, June 17 at 3:00 p.m. This event will be live-streamed at www.ltcc.edu/measuref.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Library in-person events have been canceled and instead have taken a different form during the pandemic, and their Wild Things, Inc. 2:00 p.m. performance on Friday, June 19 has moved to Facebook Live.

Outdoor performances have always been part of the summer South Lake Tahoe library event schedule and the Summer Reading Challenge, but due to current circumstances, all performances have been moved online.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The State of California issued guidelines on Friday for 12 business sectors that can open in some counties on June 12, 2020. Counites that have approved attestations like El Dorado County can open those sectors once they have developed and implemented their safety plans on June 12.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. The South Lake Tahoe City Council unanimously passed an urgency ordinance during their special meeting Thursday, one that relaxes the regulations regarding temporary signage, building permit fees, and outdoor restaurant seating rules.

As the City and County move into Governor Newsom's Stage 2 plans, restrictions placed on some places of business to promote social distancing and safety practices will not allow many to reopen in the same manner as pre-pandemic.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Council will hold a special meeting on Thursday, May 28 beginning at 9:00 a.m. to discuss and vote on Emergency Order Number 1, send $100,000 to the Sierra Business Council’s “Resilience Fund Tahoe," the City's reopening plans and an urgency ordinance for relaxation of certain City regulations that may assist local businesses with a successful reopening.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Spring is in full swing in the Tahoe Basin and Tahoe black bears are searching for food. Intentional or unintentional feeding of bears results in unwanted bear behaviors, increased human-bear conflicts, and public safety issues as well as fines and possible jail time for violators. Each year, local law enforcement and state wildlife officers respond to hundreds of calls in which bears may pose a public safety threat or are damaging property. In some cases, the bear must be euthanized.