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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In less than 90 days life has changed in South Lake Tahoe, California and the United States. The West caught up quickly to the novel coronavirus pandemic that was first contracted by a human in China on November 17, 2019.

Scientists and doctors pled for the public to stay home to keep the virus from spreading, and that plea worked better in some areas than others.

STATELINE, Nev. - In what has been a hotly debated topic for months between the five Douglas County Board of Commissioners and members of the public, the Tahoe South Events Center passed the final hurdle Thursday. In a 3-2 vote, the commissioners approved bond issuance, the final step in the approval process. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) had previously unanimously approved it.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The new fire chief hired for South Lake Tahoe is no stranger to the Sierra Nevada and El Dorado County.

Clive Savacool, the former chief of the Garden Valley Fire Protection District, will be taking the helm at South Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, a position vacated when Jeff Meston retired in February 2019.

STATELINE, Nev. - Due to the catastrophic impact of COVID-19, the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Douglas announced its immediate initial commitment and disbursement of $20,000 in cash grants to four South Lake Tahoe Community proactive support agencies - Tahoe Magic, Christmas Cheer, Giving Angels and Bread & Broth.

The club has been serving the South Shore community since 1965 and just completed an online auction in lieu of their normal annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration.

MEYERS, Calif. - The members of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) help the community every day as first responders and protecting the community, but they are now adding on a new role.

They have donated money as well as started a program to go grocery shopping for the elderly in their district or for those unable to get to the store due to coronavirus impacts.

Last week members of the district's foundation presented a check for $1,000 to Bread & Broth to help supply food to those in the community who are impacted by layoffs due to the coronavirus.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As people watch the news they see the stories about a global shortage of the supplies needed by medical professionals fighting the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Barton Health is South Lake Tahoe is preparing for a potential influx of patients seeking care and is making every effort to ensure their supplies are adequate. They are working with regional health partners, new and existing vendors, local businesses and community members to procure the personal protective equipment (PPE) that may be needed to keep their healthcare workers and patients safe.

The following is a press release from Barton Health, Carson Tahoe Health, Marshall Medical Center and Tahoe Forest Health System:

With the continuing spread of COVID-19 within the U.S., the healthcare providers of the greater Lake Tahoe/El Dorado Region are working closely with each other and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as California and Nevada health authorities, to care for affected individuals. We are also jointly taking steps to limit person-to-person spread within our communities.

Information about COVID-19

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just as they have for the past 43 years, the Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra Club is honoring women and youth in the South Lake Tahoe community. They recently held their annual awards celebration and honored four young women from South Tahoe Middle School and South Tahoe High School as well as four women from the community.

For the GIVE Award, honored were Alexi Haven, Tovah Jordan, Esty Zanetti, and Maiella Riva. The Ruby Award was given to Suzanne Boyer and the Live Your Dream Award was given to Heather Wilson, Olga Zepeda and Kelly Meyer.

STATELINE, Nev. - Lakeside Inn in Stateline, Nevada became the first South Shore casino to close due to coronavirus COVID-19 concerns.

"This decision was based on concern for the health of our community and of our staff members," said Lakeside Inn President Stacy Noyes. "We decided to take the lead and help our family. It's the responsible thing to do."

All employees not working will get two weeks of pay. Noyes said the situation and decisions are evolving daily and the initial plan is to close for two weeks.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As residents face not only health uncertainties but also financial and employment uncertainties, three utility companies have announced they have suspended service disconnections for non-payment due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 health emergency.

So far, Liberty Utilities, Southwest Gas and NV Energy have all made this announcement, but each has different procedures at this time.

Liberty Utilities has suspended service disconnections for non-payment. This temporary suspension, through at least May 1, 2020, includes residential and business customers.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club has decided to cancel its 52nd annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration planned for March 20, 2020, but people may still participate in an online auction and Hawaiian vacation raffle.

The club said, that though no cases of the CoronaVirus Covid-19 have been confirmed in this area, they wanted to keep with its commitment to benefit the community and not hold the popular event.

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. — Lake Tahoe Community College Superintendent/President Jeff DeFranco has been selected for a prestigious honor from The Aspen Institute, an international non-profit organization focused on values-based leadership development in a variety of industries.

january 20 update: SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Christoper John Nicholson of South Lake Tahoe has been confirmed as the Heavenly Mountain Resort ski patroller who died on the slopes Saturday.

On January 18, 2020, the 36-year-old Nicholson had been working at the resort and was found unconscious in the Mott Canyon area of Heavenly. He was flown via Care Flight to the Carson Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Officials at Heavenly Mountain Resort had incorrectly identified the facility on Sunday but later corrected their news release.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The much-anticipated pairings for the Tahoe Arts Project's 8th annual Dancing With the Tahoe Stars have been announced!

The local celebrities met their professional partners Tuesday night during a party at the Hard Rock Casino.

"Everyone is super excited about it," said Tahoe Arts Project Executive Director Peggy Blowney.

The stars (on the left) and their dancing partners:

Debbie Brown, owner of Cold Water Brewery with Matthew Slater
Jeff Connor, local musician and California Burger partner with Rhonda Keen

A new agreement is resulting in a $5 million decrease in revenue needs for NV Energy which means Northern Nevada customer electric rates are going down.

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) approved the agreement between NV Energy, the Regulatory Operations Staff of the PUCN, the Bureau of Consumer Protection and other interested parties that start new lower rates January 1, 2020.

The year was 1969. And what a year it was. On July 20, 1969—the Viet Nam War was raging—American Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the surface of the moon. For much of the decade, America and indeed the world had been mesmerized by the space race.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the City of South Lake Tahoe in need of both a city manager and fire chief, the City Council today discussed the best route to take on their recruitment.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Timing seems perfect to have a fleet of electric buses for the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD), but trustees have the purchase of just one on their Friday night agenda along with the purchase of four diesel buses.

The Board's annual organizational meeting is set for December 13 at 5:00 p.m. instead of their normal Tuesday meeting. During the meeting, they will elect a new board president and clerk, and elect representatives to El Dorado County School Boards Association and Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation, and assign annual duties for the trustees.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Thanks to a triple match from Vail Resorts’ EpicPromise guest donation program at Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood, completion of the Lily Lake Trail will be a reality in 2020. Earlier this year, the planned 2.1-mile multi-use trail designed to provide new access to Fallen Leaf Lake and Desolation Wilderness faced a $75,000 funding gap.

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.

STATELINE, Nev. - The 378-room Ridge Resorts at the top of Kingsbury Grade on the South Shore has been purchased by Holiday Inn Club Vacations Incorporated, a national vacation ownership company.

The multi-faceted 11-acre property has been a timeshare resort since it was built in 1982.

Under previous ownership, The Ridge Resorts has operated as four different properties: The Ridge Tahoe, The Ridge Pointe, The Ridge View and The Ridge Crest; however, in late 2020, the entire resort will be branded as Holiday Inn Club Vacations Tahoe Ridge Resort and begin operating as one resort.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Barton Memorial Hospital received an ‘A’ grade for patient safety, recognizing Barton’s system-wide measures in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.