public safety

Lake Tahoe Community College gained the support of the South Lake Tahoe City Council today in their pursuit of $55,000,000 in bond funds through Measure F. The Council voted unanimously to adopt the support resolution.

Dr. Kindred Murillo, Superintendent/President of the Lake Tahoe Community College District, was on hand at Tuesday's City Council meeting to provide an explanation of what the bond would mean to the South Shore community and answer any questions the five council members had.

There are a few buzz words that are evidently going to be used during the El Dorado County District 5 Supervisor race this summer and fall.

Economic Vitality - An economy with sufficient jobs, products and services to support the community. A sufficient tax base provides citizens with police and fire, parks and recreation and public services needed by the population.

Lake Tahoe Community College has selected Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Chief Ben Sharit as its Distinguished Alumni Award winner for 2014.

The El Dorado County Grand Jury has released their final report for the 2013-14 year and several South Lake Tahoe situations have been brought to light.

According to Jury Foreman Neil Cunningham, the jury compiled 20 reports and recommendations which were created as they followed up on inquiries from citizens and Grand Jury required inspections.

Summer is on it’s way and with it comes the risk of wildland fires. Already throughout the State many lives and homes have been in danger due to wildland fires. If your home, or the home of someone you care for is at risk, will you be notified? Have you registered for emergency notifications through the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO), Office of Emergency Services (OES), Emergency Notification System? If not, now is the time to do so. The system sends out individual alerts about public health and public safety emergencies affecting specific geographical areas.

Thinning of the forest areas near South Tahoe High and the Sand Pit OHV began last week. This is part of the South Shore Fuels Reductions and Healthy Forest Restoration Project which will thin out about 10,000 acres between Cascade Lake and Stateline, Nevada.

The thinning of trees is for fuels reduction and forest health.

The Forest Service has closed the areas in units 19 and 117 (marked by a red "X" on the map above, from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily through October 14, 2014, for public safety due to heavy equipment operations and falling trees.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is seeking public input on a proposal to remove the Incline Lake dam and restore the area impacted by it. The Forest Service purchased the 777-acre Incline Lake parcel, located off State Route 431 in Washoe County, Nev., on July 29, 2008, for its recreational, scenic and natural resource values. During the acquisition process, a site investigation and assessment determined that the Incline Lake dam and spillway do not meet federal, state or local standards for a high-hazard dam (designated as such due to downstream development).

South Tahoe Now sent a questionnaire out to all of the candidates for El Dorado County Supervisor. We will be posting them in the order received.

1)What do you see as the Number 1 issue facing residents of District 5?

The Douglas County Sheriff's Department reports that the New Year's Eve party in the Stateline area went as expected, resulting in 24 arrests. The charges included assault, affray, domestic battery, disorderly conduct, minor consuming alcohol and civil protective custody. During the downtown party last year there were 14 arrests.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has lowered some building fees by 25% in order to facilitate economic development and encourage public safety.
Building Division fees for the building of an addition, deck, garage, granny flat and for remodeling are now reduced.

The new fees will start February 10, 2014 and be in effect until December 10, 2016.

Another group of locals successfully completed the South Lake Tahoe Citizen's Academy. The graduates were presented with certificates at Tuesday's city council meeting. The 16 graduates are Anita Boel, Brandi Bannister, Brooke Martone-Ballachey, Gia Richards, Greg Carlson, Jennifer Story, Jonathan Moore, Julie Stewart, Karen Kuentz, Mike Allen, Mike Peron, Peter Gochis, Peter Spellman, Rachel Roberts, Scott Fair, and Scott Weavil. Most are pictured here with Mayor Tom Davis.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host a drug disposal day on October 26th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Safeway. They are giving the public its seventh opportunity in three years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to Safeway at 1020 Johnson Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Forest thinning on public land along the west side of Fallen Leaf Lake will begin Friday, Aug. 16, the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit announced Thursday. Thinning will take place south of the dam and will move closer to the dam in a couple of weeks.

Headed to Lake Tahoe for the Independence Day holiday? The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit asks residents and visitors to help protect public safety and the environment, and keep wildfire prevention in mind while celebrating.

Possession of fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin and campfires are not permitted on National Forest beaches or in the general forest. For those planning to barbecue on the beach, the Forest Service requires the use of portable gas stoves.

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers as well as other employees for the state's Department of Public Safety will be volunteering their time at Lake Tahoe to raise money for Special Olympics Nevada and California, Friday, June 14.

The Hard Rock Café, located inside Harveys Lake Tahoe at Stateline, Nev., is where all of the fun will be taking place during the lunch and dinner hours. Patrons will enjoy our employees serving as volunteer waiters and waitresses as they assist the restaurant staff that day while they work for “special tips.”

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors honored Mark Divittorio for helping to rescue a family last month when their car plunged into the South Fork of the American River.

On Thursday, April 4 the Lemler family was traveling along Highway 50 when their vehicle left the roadway and ended up submerged and on its side in the American River. The three young daughters managed to escape to the roof of the vehicle. Mr. Lemler remained trapped inside the vehicle while Mrs. Lemler worked to keep his head above the water.

Plans to restore around 300 acres of meadow, provide for wildlife habitat and re-establish natural fire breaks around the west shore of Lake Tahoe near Meeks Bay is up for public review.
A 30-day public comment begins Saturday, March 30 for the proposed Meeks Creek Meadow restoration project, the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit announced.
Here is a news release:

Nevada son and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid addressed a joint session of the Nevada State Legislature today in Carson City. Here is the text of his speech:

A tree thinning and fuels reduction project on about 100 acres in the Upper Echo Lakes area and portions of a roadless area could begin this year, according to a decision by the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

The project would take up to six years to complete and includes the removal of trees up to 16 inches in diameter, which would be collected, put into piles and either burned or made available for firewood. There is a possibility of brief closures of areas adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail, according to the Forest Service.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reports the New Years Eve celebration in the casino core area of Stateline, Lake Tahoe went as planned with 14 arrests made.

The celebratory crowd seemed no larger than in past years. Highway 50 was closed to vehicle traffic at about 11:00 p.m. for public safety reasons. The celebrants were allowed to flow into the roadway as they celebrated the coming of the New Year. The Nevada side of U.S. Highway 50 was cleared of celebrants at 12:20 am and was reopened to vehicle traffic at approximately 1 a.m. after the crowd peacefully moved off the roadway.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is readying itself for the upcoming New Years Eve celebration at Lake Tahoe beginning Monday, Dec. 31. Each year upwards of 60,000 celebrants ring in the New Year in the casino core area of Stateline, Nev.

Due to the ordinarily high volume of celebrants within the Stateline casino core area during the event, U.S. Highway 50 may be closed to vehicle traffic in the evening if necessary for public safety. If that should occur, vehicle traffic will be diverted around the Stateline casino core area using upper and lower Lake Parkway Drive.

As I end my role as Mayor, I am jazzed. While the tendency is to focus on what's wrong with the City, the truth is the City has had a very successful year. In April, Council set five strategic goals:

I thought it of value to write colleagues in public safety about my son so you might recognize our important role in helping families and people with addiction problems. I do not ask for specific action, but hope you seek to make a positive difference in your own way when the opportunity comes.

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers and employees of the state's Department of Public Safety will be at Harveys Lake Tahoe inside the Hard Rock Cafe to raise money for Special Olympics Nevada and California Saturday on Sept. 15.
The troopers will serve as volunteer waiters for the event, which will run through the lunch and dinner hours.