Peace

As we prepare to bid the year of 2020 a fond farewell, we are celebrating Christmas as best we can during these unprecedented and uncertain times.

I could start with all the normal holiday greetings like Merry Christmas, May your holidays sparkle with joy and laughter, or I hope the magic of Christmas fills every corner of your heart and home with joy — now and always, but this year seems like so much more is needed.

North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts and California State Parks are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations this week, weather permitting. Smoke may be visible.

Scheduled operations at five locations this week:

Sugar Pine State Park - California State Parks, West of Hwy 89, along S Fire Rd and Campground Rd, 20.00 acres

Burton Creek State Park - California State Parks, North of Rocky Ridge, West of
North Tahoe High School, 17.00 acres

There are those that would say 2020 is hands down the scariest Halloween movie ever and yeah, I wouldn’t argue with that. The script for this year has certainly freaked everybody out. Add to that an election year and the advent of modern day zombies who’ve been quarantined a little too long and you have the ultimate scary flick that appears to have no ending. Are you wearing your mask? Yeah, I’d rather be scared by a movie and not real life if that’s okay?

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Of the 133,251 registered voters in El Dorado County, 30,886, or 23 percent, have already turned in their ballots. The elections department does not have data from the 2016 election at the same point in time. That election had 97,024 or 83.31 percent of the 116,459 registered that year, turn in ballots by election day.

As of October 15:

Ballots returned by mail - 14,966
​Ballots returned in a drop box - 15,920

Of those ballots, 28,996 have had signatures verified against reference signature and the balance of 1,890 are awaiting verification.

Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar, all members of the Vail Resorts family, will be operating differently during the winter season 2020/21. Vail plans on opening both Heavenly and Northstar on November 20 and Kirkwood on December 4.

Ticket sales, use of season passes and facility uses will all be handled to promote physical distancing and protect the safety of staff and guests.

September is right around the corner and we have an exciting activity for you to participate in while celebrating National Recovery month. This month-long event is designed to educate Americans on mental health and substance use disorders, in addition to celebrating the work of individuals in recovery and providing support to affected families and patients.

My pragmatic mind looks at the recent George Floyd riots in our cities, and as usual, I am astounded with the contrast of how our society and press view the participants, the two sides, in rioting demonstrations recently in our cities.

Peaceful demonstrations as stated by the constitution I have no problem with, even if I disagree with the position of the demonstrators. However, there are two sides to the action in these riots.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There will be some very big shoes to fill when finding a replacement for retiring El Dorado County Undersheriff Randy Peshon. On Tuesday, June 30, Peshon will be putting his badge on for the very last time. For 43 years he's been in some level of law enforcement, the last 33 years in El Dorado County.

During his career in El Dorado County, Peshon has been at the forefront of change from implementing a change in culture at the jail in South Lake Tahoe to getting the new Public Safety Facility built under budget and ahead of schedule.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two 14-year-old boys from South Lake Tahoe were arrested on Tuesday on several charges after attacking a man on the beach after a barrage of offensive words yelled at people on the beach.

At 4:25 p.m. on June 16, officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) were called to what is known as the Timber Cove Marina and Beach on a report of an assault.

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. - There have been public gatherings across the country in response to the death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, some peaceful, some turning into riots.

On Saturday, May 30, a peaceful candlelight vigil was held at Lakeview Commons in South Lake Tahoe to highlight "Black Lives Matter" and to raise awareness of racial injustice.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It still isn't too late to prevent pesky yellow jacket interruptions of July and August picnics and outside dinners in Lake Tahoe. Now is the time to prepare by placing traps for the queens as they start to emerge from their winter hibernation.

The queens are the only bee colony member to hibernate in the winter. She emerges in spring and begins to look for a suitable place to build a nest and begin her new colony. By the end of summer one colony can have 4,000 to 5,000 yellow jackets.

Back in 2019, the World Health Organization, the American Nurses Association and others pronounced 2020 Year of the Nurse, and in 2020 it would celebrate nurses and nursing. They chose this year because it’s the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing who trained nurses to focus on compassion with a commitment to patient care.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – After the coronavirus shut down operations early this winter, Sierra-at-Tahoe has released a comprehensive season pass plan which lays out an extended Spring Pass Sale deadline, reduced pricing, exclusive discounts for renewing pass holders for 2020/21 Season Passes, credit for unused products and more.

Times may have changed, but the local resort's commitment to guests has not.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 26-year-old man was arrested Thursday night after allegedly leading officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) on a pursuit through the Ski Run neighborhood.

At approximately 10:45 p.m., an SLTPD sergeant noticed the driver of a small motorcycle fail to stop at a stop sign at Spruce Avenue and Ski Run Boulevard. The motorcycle was also without a license plate attached, according to reports.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to January 30 - February 3, 2020.

1/30

ARRESTS (4):
31-year-old female arrested for felony domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, false imprisonment, and preventing a witness or victim by threat or force.
47-year-old male arrested on a Douglas County warrant.
40-year-old female arrested for public intoxication, battery on a peace officer, and resisting arrest.
58-year-old male arrested for trespassing.

TRAFFIC STOPS (11)

The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), together with support from community partners, will host the 4th annual Science of Cocktails with proceeds directly supporting the UC Davis Tahoe Science Center and innovative science education programs.

Shake things up at the UC Davis Tahoe Science Center on Friday, January 31, 2020, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. when they hold "The Science of Cocktails," a unique evening event where mixology and science meet.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following are some of the calls officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department recently responded to.

11/13

ARRESTS (2)
49-year-old male arrested for indecent exposure.
25-year-old male arrested for assault and battery.

TRAFFIC STOPS (8)

OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE (31):
Alarm: 1000-block Heavenly Village Way
Alarm: 3600-block Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Assist Outside Agency: Saddle Rd/Pioneer Trail
Assist Outside Agency: 800-block Lakeview Ave.
Attempt to Contact: Murietta Dr/Al Tahoe Blvd.
Battery: 4000-block Cedar Ave.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - American Legion Post 795 of South Lake Tahoe invites residents and visitors to join members of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion in honoring all veterans this Veterans Day. Their ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, at the American Legion Hall, 2748 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe. Light refreshments will be served.

October isn’t all about ghouls and witches. This spooky-themed month is also known as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On Wednesday, October 30, Live Violence Free is South Lake Brewing Co. to bring a fun-filled evening to the community while also bringing awareness to domestic violence and how to prevent it.

From 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., join them for a family-friendly event filled with arts and crafts for the kids, a costume contest and trivia for the family, an information booth to spread awareness on domestic violence, and fun prizes for all ages!

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Undersheriff Randy Peshon has been reappointed to the California State Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee. This committee is made up of superior court judges, court executives, and advocates who report to the Judicial Council of California. They make recommendations to improve justice courts and their processing of cases.

Peshon, who once ran the jail in South Lake Tahoe, has served in this capacity for the past six years and will begin a new three year term on November 1.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Video footage found on Facebook of a fight at a Gardnerville Ranchos home has led to the arrest two juveniles on charges of battery, affray (an instance of fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace), and destruction of property.

On September 3, 2019, at 3:15 p.m., deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) were dispatched to the area of Wagon Drive in the Gardnerville Ranchos area of Douglas County for a fight in progress. Upon arrival, the deputies discovered one of the involved subjects had what they called "obvious injuries."

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - "This is a nightmare," says life-long South Lake Tahoe resident Monica Eisenstecken.

Her summer has been filled with preparing to fight the South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission's decision in June to allow Verizon to place a 112’ monopine cell tower next door to the home her dad built (it could go as high as 123' with a ten percent change allowed).

Live Violence Free has announced their next fundraiser, An Afternoon of Peace & Harmony, that will be held at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys on Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 04:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.