Prevention

Barton Health is holding a free lecture, The Signs of Suicide, on Wednesday, September 6 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Lake Tahoe Community College Board Room in South Lake Tahoe.

Alisa Merino of the Suicide Prevention Network will be presenting this important subject during Suicide Prevention Month.

Learn how to identify people who may have thoughts of suicide. Be able to ask directly about the possibility of suicide. Connect people to life-saving resources.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

Since August 24 there have been 13 burglaries with losses or attempted burglaries from unlocked cars in the lower Kingsbury and Stateline area of the South Shore. The crimes have been occurring in the dark hours to vehicles parked in driveways and on the street.

The losses include cash, wallets, a checkbook and and iPad. One witness reported seeing a white male 5’10, wearing shorts and a tee shirt wearing a baseball cap, carrying a backpack, trying to open a car door on a surveillance recording.

For 20 years, every August we’ve paused to reflect on our collective commitment to Lake Tahoe’s restoration at the Lake Tahoe Summit. This year, with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein hosting the event, the issue of climate change will be front and center. Climate change poses incredible challenges for Tahoe, affecting not only the health of its famously cold, clear waters, but the health of its expansive forests and what is to become of our $5 billion outdoor recreation-based economy.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Chief Jeff Meston has been elected as president-elect of the California Fire Chief's Association (CalChiefs). The 925 voting members of the association voted for Meston during their recent election period that concluded August 4.

This is not only the first time a chief from South Lake Tahoe has been elected to the state's top spot, but also the first time anyone has from cities along the Sierra Nevada.

"I am rally humbled and very much thrilled," Chief Meston said of his appointment.

Every year, on the first Tuesday in August, nearly 40 million people in 16,000 communities across the United States turn out to celebrate National Night Out. The event was first hosted in 1984 as a way to bring communities together and promote stronger ties between citizens and the law enforcement personnel who serve them. Communities are at their best when neighbors feel a common bond and a sense of community not only among themselves but also with their local public servants, and National Night Out is a fun and enjoyable way to foster those important ties.

By proclamation of the County Board of Supervisors, El Dorado County celebrated Probation Services Week this week, July 17 – July 21, 2017. As the Chief Probation Officer in El Dorado County, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect on the critical work probation does in our criminal justice system and say thank you to all the men and women of my department who work tirelessly to protect our communities, reduce recidivism, restore victims, promote healthy families, and live the vision of our department: Safe Communities Through Changed Lives.

It’s that time of year where heat-related illnesses are on the rise for locals and visitors alike. Heat illnesses include dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. It is important to understand the differences, especially when exercising in an area like Lake Tahoe with higher altitudes and higher temperatures.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - On June 24, 2007, the Angora Fire started at an illegal campfire at about 2:15 p.m. near North Upper Truckee Road in Meyers. The wind driven wildfire consumed 3,100 acres, destroyed 242 homes and 67 commercial structures, and damaged 35 other homes. As many as 2,180 firefighters battled the blaze with was 100% contained by July 2. There will be several community events to mark this tragic anniversary.

Thursday, June 22

Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Teresa Duffy will lead the 107th annual Carson Valley Days parade as the Grand Marshall. The theme of the parade and festival is "A Salute to First Responders."

The Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club is organizing the event which runs from June 9 to June 11. The club wanted to raise awareness, celebrate, honor and, most importantly, say thank you to the first responders of Douglas County, those who protect the community on a daily basis.

As an active leader in the South Lake Tahoe chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, I work closely with family members who have loved ones with mental health issues. For many, one of the hardest times was learning about their child, partner, or friend’s diagnosis and not knowing what do next. Some were shamed for not addressing their loved one’s needs sooner and others were told they were too protective or doing too much.

The snow is melting, water is flowing, and wildfire fuels are growing. Despite all the moisture, the wildfire threat remains a concern. Preparing your home and community now is more important than ever. June is “Wildfire Awareness Month” in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and members of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team are continuing last year’s campaign by asking all Tahoe residents and visitors to “Think First to Keep Tahoe Fire Safe”.

Construction season has started in the Tahoe basin and the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District will utilize the warm weather and their student’s summer exit to complete projects that were approved under Measures E and U in 2014.

Auerbach Engineering Corporation was selected through a competitive bid process to provide Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) services for the Tahoe Lake Elementary reconstruction and the Rideout/Tahoe Lake Elementary temporary relocation projects.

Life isn't always easy and sometimes people just need someone to talk to. Everyone can benefit from some sort of support and it can be as simple as a cup of tea with a friend, a walk around the block or a conversation.

The "You Matter, I Sill Listen" campaign was started last year by Sabrina Owen, manager of El Dorado County Mental Health programs in South Lake Tahoe, to help people be that needed a little support.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) released the final decision to reduce hazardous fuels on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. The West Shore Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Project will treat approximately 4,875 acres extending from Emerald Bay to Burton Creek State Park.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) honored four people with Lake Spirit Awards Wednesday who have shown exceptional commitment to protecting Lake Tahoe and fostering a spirit of collaboration in their work and volunteer time.

This year’s award winners do everything from helping protect Lake Tahoe communities from wildfire and aquatic invasive species to promoting alternative transportation and sustainable lifestyles.

In 2015 and 2016 the Washoe County Detention Facility was faced with a spike of in-custody deaths. Each of these resulted in a thorough and thoughtful investigation to help us better understand and mitigate critical community-wide issues that permeate our facility. These investigations helped lead to changes and pursuits aimed at prevention.

The South Lake Tahoe community came together early in 2016 to raise money for a new Strength and Conditioning room at South Tahoe High, and the investment is already paying huge dividends.

"This room is changing the culture of our school," said STHS Football Coach Louis Franklin. "Having a room like this allows each kid to reach their genetic potential."

Student athletes are getting stronger, injuries are down and they are able to maximize their potential on the court, the field, the pool, or whatever the venue is for their sport. Cheerleaders and dancers also utilize the facility.

There has been an increase of positive pertussis, which is commonly known as whooping cough, in the Carson City and Douglas County areas of Nevada.

The Disease Control and Prevention Division at Carson City Health & Human Services (CCHHS) oversees disease surveillance and investigations in Carson City and Douglas County and is currently investigating the increase.

At this time, CCHHS is reporting the outbreak as an isolated event; however, the Health Department is encouraging families in the community to take preventive measures.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department is warning residents and visitors to take extra precaution in protecting their valuables as nine thefts from vehicles occurred between February 20-25, and two cars were stolen on February 24.

Six of the auto burglaries were in the Tahoe Island area and most of the cars involved in the City were left unlocked by their owners.

The first stolen car was a 2010 Silver Nissan Altima with Illinois license plate Z495853. It was stolen from the 1100 block of Herbert Avenue but has since been recovered.

Over the last two decades, the Lake Tahoe Region has become a national leader in fighting the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) that threaten to harm its world-renowned environment and the $5 billion recreation-based economy it supports.

The Lake Tahoe Region is working with other partners throughout the American West to better safeguard waterbodies and improve national invasive species policies. We are also working with the boating industry to help manufacturers design watercraft that are less likely to carry AIS and are easier to inspect and decontaminate.

Marshall is looking for a home. He is 6 years old, house-trained and likes other dogs. He can climb fences so must be kept on a leash while outside.

Visit Marshall at The El Dorado County Animal Services, 530-573-7925. Don’t forget all animals come spayed or neutered, with all vaccinations and a microchip! For Spay-Neuter services and other support, call the Lake Tahoe Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at 530-542-2857.

Update of last week’s Pet of the Week, Horace is still looking for his forever home.

Gambit is this week's Pet of the Week! He is a very sweet and playful 5-year-old Pitty who needs a loving home. Gambit is a big boy and gets excited, so not the best fit for a home with toddlers or infants. He is good with other dogs, but not so good with cats.

If you are interested in giving this boy a home please call the Lake Tahoe Humane Society at 530-577-4521.

For Spay-Neuter services and other support, call the Lake Tahoe Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at 530-542-2857.

Heavenly, last week’s Pet of the Week, is now at her forever home!

Barton Health's Chris Proctor, MPT will fill in the public on how the Robert Maloff Center of Excellence is changing the face of healthcare in the South Lake Tahoe community at the next Wellness Lecture on January 25 at 6:00 p.m. Proctor will discuss how they're moving from a reactive healthcare model based on treating illness/ injury, to a proactive model using prevention and education.

CVS announced today that it will now sell the opioid overdose antidote naloxone without a prescription in all of their Nevada locations. This brings the total to 37 states where the drugstore chains sells naloxone over-the-counter, including California.