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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's that time of year once again when Christmas Tree permits go on sale at local Forest Service offices. With a limit of 2,00 permits there is no telling when they'll sell out.

Starting November 14, 2018, The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will begin selling the $10 permits on a first-come, first-served basis. Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar trees up to six inches in diameter (at the base) in designated cutting areas.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy has announced that the gates to Van Sickle Bi-State Park are closed for the winter season. Although the park's facilities are closed, the 725 acre park remain open year-round and are enjoyed by those on day outings, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just having fun in the snow.

The winter closure includes the Park’s gates, roads, parking lots, water, restrooms and trash collection. The Conservancy reminds visitors to pack out all trash.

Election season can be an exciting time of year with anticipation of the possibilities, but this year in South Lake Tahoe election season is full of negativity that has pitted neighbor against neighbor. One year ago I wrote an editorial "Use the election to create a community of collaboration and teamwork," and today I urge continuance of community, collaboration and teamwork.

10/30 Update: The shooting suspect from the officer involved shooting on October 29, 2018 has been positively identified as 34-year-old Billy Jo Johnson of Gardnerville, Nev.

Next of kin notifications have been completed.

This is still an active investigation and no further information is available at this time.

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7:15 p.m. update - The suspect who died after the pursuit had a felony warrant for arrest for a PC 211, Robbery with a Firearm.

STATELINE, Nev. - Nine projects were honored as "Best in the Basin" Wednesday during the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) board meeting.

For 28 years TRPA's program has showcased projects around the lake that demonstrate exceptional planning, implementation, and compatibility with Tahoe’s natural environment and communities.

The Best in Basin award winners:

The following is in response to the removal of an anti-Sue Novasel campaign sign and an investigation by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office. The DA's office made the following statement - "No charges will be filed because the sign was posted in a right of way, which is improper. Any public employee may remove a sign that is posted in a prohibited area, such as this one.

Bridgeport, Carson City, and Santa Rosa Ranger Districts on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest have lifted their Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, but the Mountain-City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger District’s fire restrictions remain in place as do those in Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council have answered the same ten questions given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses have been shared in the order received.

Today is the ninth and final candidate. Cody Bass gives his responses as he makes his first bid for a seat on the South Lake Tahoe City Council:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.

Today, the current Mayor Pro Tem Tom Davis gives his responses as he seeks re-election to the South Lake Tahoe City Council:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just as road construction is wrapping up for the second phase of the "Y" to Trout Creek Bridge project in South Lake Tahoe, plans were unveiled for the next building season.

Caltrans Project Manager Clark Peri presented an outline of three of their projects on the South Shore during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

"Y" to Trout Creek Bridge

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On the heels of the banning of electric scooters in many cities, Governor Jerry Brown of California has signed a bill that mandates helmets for users only if they are under the age of 18 and if the scooter goes above 15 miles per hour.

The bill, authored by Republican Assemblyman Heath Flora of Ripon, was written to encourage scooter use to alleviate congestion on the state's roads and meet climate change goals of reducing car emissions.

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2019.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.

Today, current Councilman Austin Sass shares his thoughts in his quest for another term on the South Lake Tahoe City Council:

Hiking trails have maps, roads have maps, bike trails have maps, and water trails have maps.

The Lake Tahoe Water Trail has been in place since 2003 and is a designated water route along the 72-mile shoreline that connects public launch/landing sites to help paddlers have a safe, responsible, and fun recreation experience while practicing good stewardship that protects the watershed.

The connect users to the trail, a newly designed website has been launched with paddle routes listed that match abilities and interests, navigation tools, and water safety tips.

I first arrived in South Lake Tahoe in June 1991 about 6 weeks after college graduation. In 1991, Tahoe had the most amazing roads; now, Tahoe has the worst roads. North Dakota – a very low tax state – just might have the best roads in the whole country. In 1991, there were many places to rent in Tahoe at affordable prices; now, too many people who work in South Lake Tahoe need to commute from the Carson Valley, unnecessarily increasing their carbon footprint.

Fall in El Dorado County means several things, but on the top of many lists is a trip to Apple Hill during the month of October.

Weekend crowds are already heading to the farms, wineries and breweries from Placerville to Pollock Pines, but the thousands of cars that make the trip each week during the month of October have prompted transportation, farming, tourism, safety and County officials to work together to alleviate the weekend gridlock on area roads.

It has taken firefighters 10 days to contain 98 percent of the Boot Fire. The remaining open line is in the northern reaches of the fire area. Very steep slopes and thick timber made it unsafe for firefighters to work, thus delaying containment.

The fire burned 6,974 acres and at times closed US 395 between Walker and Bridgeport.

With the increased containment of the Boot Fire, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is now able to reopen some of the closed area on the Bridgeport Ranger District.

El Dorado County’s Department of Transportation today announced crews will be
performing road work on Elks Club Drive and Waverly Drive in Meyers beginning Monday, September 10 and continuing through Friday, September 21, 2018.

The two roads will be closed to traffic for construction. The closures are necessary to ensure motorist and worker safety while the County’s contractor performs work on Elks Club Drive.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As expected, the South Lake Tahoe City Council's discussion of the El Dorado County District Attorney's review of allegations of Brown Act violations made by Councilwoman Brooke Laine in April, 2018 was tense, to say the least.

Philip Ritger has been selected as the Public Works Director effective October 8, 2018. Philip has served as the Genoa Town Manager for the past five years and brings a wealth of management and leadership experience to Douglas County.

As the Genoa Town Manager, Philip was responsible for the financial health of the town. He managed all public works, facility maintenance, professional contracts and related activities necessary to provide the residents with a high level of service in a fiscally responsible manner.

There ought to be a compromise letting city homeowners rent out their houses to vacationers, but the topic is controversial. The city once felt residents should know what was permissible in their neighborhoods and maintained an online database listing. This has been removed. Maybe residents shouldn't know about rentals allowing 22 guests?

Location

Due to increased Ferguson Fire activity in the areas adjacent to and on Yosemite National Park, park administrators and fire managers have made the decision to extend the current park closures indefinitely.

"The fire activity inside Yosemite National Park is dynamic," said park officials in a press release. "Over the past 48 hours, fire has impacted all of the roads used to access Yosemite Valley, burning dead and downed trees that can become very explosive and fall without warning."

U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) will host the 22nd Annual Lake Tahoe Summit at Sand Harbor State Park in Incline Village, Nevada on Tuesday, August 7th, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Beach and park operations will be closed until 1:00 p.m. that day.

Lawmakers from Nevada and California will meet on the shores of Lake Tahoe to discuss how to protect a national treasure as it faces continued threats to water clarity, invasive species, wildfire and drought.

The Perry Fire burning between Reno and Pyramid Lake has now burned 25,600 acres and is now 15 percent contained. It started Friday evening and the cause is unknown at this time.

Some smoke from the Fergason Fire burning west of Yosemite is still making its way into the Lake Tahoe Basin Thursday, and more of the same hazy conditions are expected Friday.

The fire grew by 1,723 acres overnight to a total of 43,299 acres and firefighters have been able to get a line around 27 percent of the fire. 3,686 personnel are currently engaged on the fire which includes 241 engines, 47 water tenders, 18 helicopters, 94 crews, and 63 dozers. South Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Fire and North Tahoe Fire all have sent crews to help in the efforts.