South Tahoe High

Enrollment up slightly at South Lake Tahoe schools

After several years of declining enrollment, Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) has seen more students sitting the seats of local schools over the past two years.

The lowest enrollment figures were for the school year 2012-2013. When school ended in June of 2013 there were 3,793 students in South Lake Tahoe's eight schools.

When school started back up in the Fall of 2013 there were 3,855 students enrolled. An additional 26 students started off this school year.

South Lake Tahoe locals help set Workout World Record

An attempt to set the record for the World's Largest Simultaneous Group Workout happened at noon on Saturday, January 3 at cities around the globe, and South Lake Tahoe was not left out.

For the 18 people who showed up, it wasn't all about breaking a record, it was about starting off the new year right with an hour of exercise. They walked along the new bike trail from Sawmill Pond to South Tahoe High School and back.

South Tahoe High grad to present cost-effective way to detect Lake Tahoe hazards

Event Date: 
January 8, 2015 - 5:30pm

1980 South Tahoe High graduate Dr. Graham Kent from the UNR Seismological Laboratory will give a presentation on ALERT Tahoe in Incline Village on Thursday, January 8.

ALERT Tahoe is a new, one-of-a-kind, fire camera and multi-hazard tracking system that includes smoke investigation, prescribed fire oversight, wildfire tracking, Earthquake Early Warning, and monitoring of extreme weather events. A prototype of the fire camera system is functioning, scoring early successes during the summer of 2014.

Dr. Kent will present on the existing and planned camera system.

Subaru WinterFest Kicks Off 2015 in South Lake Tahoe

The Second Annual Subaru Winterfest will be held at Sierra-at-Tahoe resort this weekend, January 3 and 4. Winterfest includes a Freeride Skills Course and equipment demos as well as the chance to meet an Olympian. South Lake Tahoe resident and Olympic Gold Medalist Maddie Bowman will be signing autographs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Subaru tent on Saturday. Bowman, 20, brought home the gold she won in the Women’s Ski Halfpipe in Sochi during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

South Lake Tahoe's Top Stories of 2014

When reflecting over the past year it's hard to remember all that happened in one's life, unless you're good at keeping a journal and you have time to re-read it.

As I look back at what happened in South Lake Tahoe over the last 365 days, a lot happened, but what may seem to be a top story to me may not seem as important to a reader.

I reviewed our analytics, the numbers that are kept to show how many people read South Tahoe Now stories at any given point, and drew from those numbers to come up with the "South Lake Tahoe's Top Stories of 2014."

South Tahoe High grad opens up SnowGlobe with Vokab Kompany

South Tahoe High graduate Robbie Gallo (aka Rob Hurt), the founder, MC and front man for the popular hip hop band, Vokab Kompany, hits the main stage Monday to open up the three day outdoor concert in South Lake Tahoe.

Sunday night, he and the group were in Reno and will be spending New Year's Eve at Park West in Chicago, but for today, South Lake Tahoe gets their own back on stage at both SnowGlobe and the after concert at Blu Nightclub at MontBleu.

Christmas decor at South Lake Tahoe's Children's Memorial Tree

The children of South Lake Tahoe who have lost their lives are memorialized in a tree located at the corner of Highway 50 and Wildwood Avenue.

A tragedy occurred on February 2, 1991 when three South Tahoe High students died when the car they were riding in struck a tree on Pioneer Trail. They tree they struck became the Children's Memorial Tree.

A newly designed memorial was unveiled a year ago and it now holds over 230 names.

Kudos: Liberty Utilities employees give back during the holidays

You may recall that a month ago employees from Liberty Utilities donated cash and boxes and cans of food for the South Lake Tahoe backpack food program, Page and Sage. This generous donation allows the group to continue to feed the kids in need in our community.

Candlelight vigil held for Dejon Smith; Tribute at STHS

Memories were shared all day Thursday in South Lake Tahoe, from white ribbons and thoughts shared on banners to an evening candlelight vigil.

It marks one week since 14-year old Dejon Smith went missing after spending time with friends during a storm with high winds and rain. His body was found under a fallen tree two days later.

Rumors and accusations surround South Lake Tahoe boy's death

Unless you're not connected to social media or watching television news in the region you have most likely heard of accusations of racism on the part of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) in their handling of the Dejon Smith missing person and subsequent death case. This claim and other rumors circulating around the case were discussed today with SLTPD Lt. Brian Williams who spoke to South Tahoe Now about the case

South Tahoe High planning tribute to Dejon Smith on Thursday

The tributes and memories of Dejon Smith continue to pour in via Facebook and media outlets as well as through much desired hugs.

South Tahoe High had counselors on hand Monday during the school day, helping students deal with grief. The death of 14 year old freshman Dejon Smith has affected not only his friends and classmates but also unknown people around the country.

STHS: Counselors on hand to help students cope with Dejon Smith's death

The administration team at South Tahoe High School met this weekend to prepare for the return of students on Monday, the first day of school after the death of their classmate, freshman Dejon Smith.

Principal Chad Houck sent out a phone and email message Sunday evening to all parents to inform them of the plan for Monday.

Missing South Lake Tahoe boy found dead; apparent victim of falling tree

South Lake Tahoe Police found the body of a missing 14 year old South Tahoe High freshman on Saturday afternoon.

Dejon Smith had been missing since Thursday afternoon when he never returned home after heading out to play after school. Police responded to the 1100 block of Wildwood Avenue to follow up on a report of a missing juvenile. They followed leads with no results at that time.

Vincent Francis Campodonico, Jr. 1931-2014

A photograph hangs in our father’s home—Needham Grammar School, Lodi, California, class of 1944, 120 kids from a different time. Amazingly, Dad could name a fair number of those classmates 70 years later.

A teacher for 25 years, the former students of South Tahoe High School will remember having Mr. Campodonico for history or civics. Vince held an optimistic belief in society and citizenship that he practiced all life long. He was always planning a trip, back from a trip or on a trip. Vince enjoyed people and would want us to say his goodbyes to his friends and family.

Teddy Bear Hospital a big hit at Barton's Festival of the Trees

The anticipation from youngsters was contagious on Friday night during Barton's Festival of the Trees. Not only did they have hot chocolate and popcorn, but kids were making ornaments, writing letters to santa, watching the performers from Marcia Sarosik Dance and South Tahoe high, but the jolly guy himself was there, listening to all of the wish lists.

Teddy bears of all shapes, sizes and conditions were taken to the Teddy Bear Hospital where doctors and nurses from Barton Health examined, x-rayed and bandaged the bears who weren't feeling too well.

South Tahoe High sends out anti-bullying message through assembly and video

"This was the best school assembly ever," said a South Tahoe High Junior after hearing youth motivational speaker Mike Smith on campus Wednesday. "His message was amazing."

Smith spoke of how the words that you say can leave a mark on someone’s life forever. And if you’re a bully, that mark is a scar.

Liberty Utilities employees donate food and cash for Page & Sage backpack program

Page & Sage has been serving students in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District for three years, giving children in need a backpack of food and a book to take home over the weekends when they don't receive free lunches and breakfasts at school.

When Liberty Utilities in South Lake Tahoe found out about the program they began a food and donation drive in order to help fill the program's shelves. They gathered boxes and cans of food and almost $300 in cash.

Long time local fights for public access at Connelly Beach

Janet McDougall used the public comment portion of a recent South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting to speak of her concern that people would lose access to Connelly Beach. Council members took interest and the subject is on Tuesday's Council agenda.

McDougall, a resident of South Lake Tahoe since 1963 and a graduate of South Tahoe High in 1975, spent 17 years working in the city attorney's office in town. She said that during that time she saw a growing amount of beaches becoming unavailable to the public.

South Tahoe grad aims for the SnowGlobe stage through music contest

Charter Communications installer by day, electronic producer by night. South Lake Tahoe local Jose Meza is following his dream to make it big in the competitive world of DJs, beats, mixes and electronic music.

With a stage name of Manny Maze, the 22-year-old South Lake Tahoe native has been perfecting his talent and mastering the making of the tracks he hopes will make him well known in the electronic music world.

South Tahoe Viking Girls win State Soccer Championship

For the fourth time in five years the South Tahoe High School girls soccer team has brought home top honors from the Nevada State Championships.

The Lady Vikings and the Sierra Vista High team were tied 2-2 after the Division 1-A regulation match after South Tahoe's Ashlee Schouten and Maia Bickert each scored goals, one in each half. Freshman Annie Brejc shot in the winning goal in overtime, resulting in a 3-2 victory over the team from Southern Nevada.

On the boys side, Truckee and Chapparal were tied in their match as well. Truckee went on to win the State Championship.

Vail Resorts honors 49 local non-profits during EpicPromise grant giveaway

As part of their mission to give back to the community and protect the environment, Vail Resorts gave away 49 grants to Lake Tahoe area groups during a ceremony on Tuesday at Heavenly Valley.

South Tahoe Girls Soccer Team goes for 4th State Title Saturday

This just may be the year of South Lake Tahoe girls soccer dominance. One week after the Whittell warriors won the state title for Division III schools, the Lady Vikings will try to win one of their own.

On Friday night, the South Tahoe High Varsity Girls beat the #1 seed from the South, Faith Lutheran by a score of 2-1. Junior Ashley Schouten scored both goals for STHS. Their nemesis from the North, Truckee, lost their match Friday against Sierra Vista High 1-0.

Jean "The Dancing Machine" Dahlinger celebrates her 100th birthday at Barton

The year was 1914. Charlie Chaplin appears in his first movie. Ford Motor Company announces an 8 hour work day and a wage for employees of $5/day. Woodrow Wilson is President and Babe Ruth makes his major league debut. November 12th of that year was when Jean Dahlinger of South Lake Tahoe was born.

Today, 100 years later, Jean celebrated her 100th birthday at the Barton Mountain Cafe with family, friends and community members. Known as "The Dancing Machine," Jean was serenaded by the South Tahoe High Jazz Band as they played "Happy Birthday" and "America the Beautiful."

Emily Ann Alessi - March 23, 1990 - October 30, 2014

Emily Ann Alessi, 24, passed away unexpectedly at her home in South Lake Tahoe, California on Thursday, October 30, 2014.

South Tahoe High's girls soccer team headed to state tourney

One week after the Whittell High girls brought home the state soccer trophy for division III schools, the girls from South Tahoe High are headed to the state tournament for division 1-A. They are entering the tournament as the number two seed from the North after losing to Truckee in the Regional Playoffs.

South Shore high schools do well in NIAA State Cross Country Races

South Tahoe High's Boys cross country team is bringing home a Division 1-A fifth place finish from the 2014 NIAA State Cross Country Championships in Las Vegas. Their counterpart across the state line, Division III Whittell High School, is also bringing home fifth place honors from the tournament.

South Tahoe's highest finisher was Dillon Lemons who finished 18th. He was followed by Orion Maxwell (21st), Paul Mutz (25th), Mario Mangiaracina (33rd), George Freeman (42nd), Paul Hoefer (45th) and Chase Stalter (52nd). Their top five finishers ended up with a total time of 1:31:27.1.

South Tahoe Girls soccer team wins NIAA Semifinals; Championship match Saturday

The Lady Vikings of South Tahoe High extended their season at least one more day by beating Lowry Friday during the Division 1A Regional Semifinals. Freshman Annie Brejc had two goals on the day with Junior Ashlee Schouten and Senior Maia Bickert each kicking in one.

They are now 19-2-1 on the season and meet their league rival Truckee Wolverines for the Regional Championship. That match will be in Truckee on Saturday, November 8 at 2 p.m.

South Tahoe High's Cross Country teams at Nevada State Championships

The South Tahoe High Cross Country team is in Clark County this weekend for the Nevada High School Cross Country Championships. The boys will compete on Saturday at 1:20 p.m. and the girls run at 10:45 a.m.

South Tahoe's Dillon Lemmons led the Viking runners during the regional championship on Halloween with an 8th place finish. Teammates Orion Maxwell (12th), Paul Mutz (16th), Mario Mangiaracina (17th), George Freeman (26th), Paul Hoefer (35th), David Holmes (39th) and joined Lemmons to give South Tahoe a third place finish with an average time of 18:49.

Ceremony to celebrate opening of new bike path segment

Event Date: 
November 12, 2014 - 11:00am

If you've driven past South Tahoe High School in the last month you've most likely noticed a new bike trail heading from Lake Tahoe Blvd and Viking Way, through the forest to Sawmill Pond.

This new segment of bike trail, which is part of the Lake Tahoe Blvd Enhancement Project, will help to connect Meyers to the City of South Lake Tahoe.

South Lake Tahoe students to perform a Veterans Day Musical Tribute

Event Date: 
November 12, 2014 - 7:00pm

Music students from throughout the Lake Tahoe Unitied School District will be treating local veterans and community members to an evening of entertainment with their bands, choirs and orchestras.

South Tahoe Middle School, South Tahoe High School and Tahoe Valley Elementary
Bands, Orchestras, and Choirs celebrate and honor veterans of the armed services at the concert which will be at the STMS multi-purpose room on Wednesday, November 12 for the concert.

The theme for the night is "A Veterans Day Musical Tribute."

The concert is free!

It's "Curtains" for South Tahoe HIgh

Event Date: 
Repeats every day on the 14 of November until Sat Nov 08 2014 .
November 7, 2014 - 7:00pm

It’s the brassy, bright, and promising year of 1959. Boston’s Colonial Theatre is host to the opening night performance of a new musical. When the leading lady mysteriously dies on stage the entire cast & crew are suspects.

Letter: Measure F will provide new pathways

I’ve lived in South Lake Tahoe for 22 years, and I’m the Dean of Career & Technical Education and Instruction at Lake Tahoe Community College. I'd like to share a few stories about students I’ve known through my work at LTCC, and how Measure F will provide new pathways to create many more great stories like these – stories about young people whose lives were changed because of the programs and opportunities available through our local community college.

LTCC library to be renamed the Roberta L. Mason Library

The name Roberta Mason has been synonymous with Lake Tahoe Community College for the last 40 years, and her name will soon be permanently added to a college building.

South Tahoe High plans full day of Halloween activities for students

Event Date: 
October 31, 2014 (All day)

South Tahoe High School has a full day of Halloween activities on Halloween, from costumers during the school day through the final home football game of the season to late night ice skating.

During the School Day

South Tahoe High Grad teaching in SF as part of teacher residency program

South Tahoe High Graduate Francisco Figueroa-Yanez, known as "Frankie" to his friends, has his new career as a school teacher in San Francisco highlighted in a recent SFGate article titled "Bay Area schools scramble for qualified teachers amid shortage." Frankie graduated from STHS in 2007, went to Santa Clara University where he majored in Biology and Spanish and is now at the University of San Francisco working on his masters degree. He visits South Lake Tahoe when time allows to see his parents and friends.

Letter: Girl Scout Gives Back to Patients in Need

My Girl Scout Gold Award project is called "Easy Access Books," mini-library program. The project began after realizing the difficulty for community members without permanent residence to obtain a library card and access books. Therefore, I created a mini-library in the lobby of the Barton Community Health Center to provide patients access to books and reading material. With the help of the Barton Auxiliary, The Barton Attic Thrift Store, and generous donations from employees and community members, the library has been fully stocked since April.

Prep roundup for Whittell and South Tahoe High Schools

The Whittell Warriors Varsity football team improved their record to 8-0 after a double overtime win over Mineral County on Friday night. The Warriors fell behind in the first quarter 22-8 and went into the locker room at half time trailing 44-22. At the end of regulation play the score was tied at 44 after Whittell came back with two touchdown passes by Colin Buchholtz late in the game. Max Primo's 6 yard rushing TD in overtime was followed by a pass by Buccholtz to Armando Rodgriquez for a touchdown put Whittell on the win column with a final score of 56-50.

South Tahoe High Jazz Band invited to Chico State jazz clinic

Members of the South Tahoe High Jazz Band have been invited by Chico State professor, and Director of Jazz Studies, Rocky Winslow to take part in an individualized, private, jazz clinic with himself and two other jazz all-stars: Paul Romaine and Mark Patterson (both of Convergence Jazz Sextet).

The students will also participate in a sound check on stage with the Jazz All Stars and the Chico State Jazz X-Press. That evening they are the invited, special guests at the Chico State Jazz X-Press Concert, followed by backstage mingling with the performers.

South Tahoe High focuses on the power of words #IAMNOT

Over 100 South Tahoe High students, teachers and staff participated in a demonstration of the power of words on the campus today. I AM NOT was the theme of t-shirts worn for the day.

"The project focuses on the power of words and the fact that they can negatively affects all of us," said Principal Chad Houck. "These words are often the language of bullies, the reason kids miss school, and sometimes even the reason our students find little worth in themselves."

Someone 2 Know: Health 2 Humanity

Four Business and Economics Majors at Chapman University are working to change the lives of millions of people around the world. One of the young men who started ‘Health 2 Humanity' is from our area. John Cefalu is not only a South Tahoe High School grad, the 19-year-old entrepreneur is now also a soap-making expert.

Forest Service set to start fall pile burning in South Lake Tahoe this week

The Forest Service will start their fall prescribed burn operations in South Lake Tahoe this week. The weather conditions expected on Tuesday and Wednesday will determine which area will be burned first.

The two areas that will have piles burned are located near South Tahoe High School and in Christmas Valley.

100 acres near the high school are planned to be burned between October 14 and 16 with spoke expected to travel Northeast.

15 acres in Christmas Valley are planned to be burned between October 14 and 15 with smoke traveling in a Northeast direction.

South Tahoe High football team gets first win during homecoming celebrations

A pep rally and a parade through South Lake Tahoe started off the South Tahoe High homecoming festivities on Friday afternoon which culminated in a convincing win on the gridiron for the varsity Viking football team.

Looking for their first win during the 2014 football season, South Tahoe took their 0-6 record to the field against the team from Dayton. They scored 28 unanswered points after Dayton started off the game with a safety.

Division iA Standings

School Name League W-L Pct. PF PA overall W-L
Churchill County 6-0 1.000 269 65 6-1

South Tahoe High Homecoming Parade and Game Friday

South Tahoe High has been celebrating Homecoming Week since last Saturday's dance. Each day this week has seen students dressing up according to the day's theme. Monday was Farmers and Agriculture, Tuesday was Beach Bum Day, Wednesday was Hollywood, Thursday was Tacky Tourist and Blue And Gold Day on Friday wraps up the week.

South Tahoe Lady Vikings win cross town rivalry

The girl's varsity soccer team from South Tahoe High beat the Whittell Warriors on Saturday by a score of 6-0. Senior Ally King led all scorers with three goals, followed by Junior Ashlee Schouten's two and Alejandra Gutierrez, a junior, kicked in one. South Tahoe seniors Kendall Egan and Jordyn Dion each has assists.

Both teams are having big seasons. The Whittell girls are now 9-1 overall with 4-1 in league play and are in first place in Division III North. South Tahoe is now 10-2-1 overall and 7-0-1 in league and are in first place in the Northern Nevada 1A Soccer League.

Op/Ed: I'm in Support of Measure F

My wife and I bought a retirement home in Tahoe in 2002, in part because there was a college in South Lake Tahoe. I have been on the LTCC Foundation Board since 2009. I am writing to urge everyone to support Measure F to modernize Lake Tahoe Community College and increase the educational opportunities offered there.

Support the performing arts at South Tahoe High School

The Performing Arts Booster Association (PABA) at South Tahoe High School is looking for members to help support the student arts programs. They are a non-profit organization that was created to provide support to the students and staff of the Tahoe Arts & Design Academy (TADA) at the school.

Community members can join for free. PABA also needs donors and volunteers to
- help assist with production costs of musicals, plays and concerts
- provide funds for guest teachers and student scholarships

Hockey players from around the world playing for Lake Tahoe Blue this year

Did you know that South Lake Tahoe has a professional ice hockey team? The Lake Tahoe Blue are members of the Western States Hockey League and host teams from across the country at their home ice, the Lake Tahoe Ice Arena.

If you were at the South Tahoe High football game last weekend you would have caught a glimpse of the team as they rooted on the Vikings.

TahoeChamber Endorses Seven Candidates for California Elections

TahoeChamber has endorsed seven candidates for the upcoming election that best portray the values and abilities necessary to serve the South Shore business community. As directed by the TahoeChamber Board of Directors, the TahoeChamber Candidate Endorsement Committee (TC-CEC) used the pillars of the Chamber’s adopted Tahoe Future A South Shore Community Vision 2020 as the foundational criteria for evaluating candidates. The pillars include Economic Vitality, Quality of Life, Sustainability, Infrastructure and Intellectual Capital.

South Tahoe High reunion this weekend

A multi-class reunion for South Tahoe High is being held in South Lake Tahoe this weekend.

The All Class Reunion held a meet and greet on Friday evening at Mo's, followed by a football game at the high school. The Class of 1964 started the reunion celebrations with their 50th Reunion dinner Thursday night at Tep's Villa Roma.

On Saturday, September 13 there is a breakfast followed by a tour of South Tahoe High at 1:30 p.m. Meet at the Student Union.

Dinner and Dance Saturday night back at Mo's Place at the Super 8 Motel. The evening gets under way at 4 p.m.

South Tahoe Boys Soccer have mixed results in Truckee

Event Date: 
September 9, 2014 (All day)

On Tuesday September 9th, South Tahoe High Schools JV and Varsity team visited Truckee, the defending champion.

The South Tahoe Vikings JV team had a huge win, beating Truckee 5-0 , Nacho Vasquez opened the score with a impressive volley that passed the goalkeeper. Brandon Estrada scored 3 goals to make it 4-0 and a late goal by Luis Munoz wrapped up the scoring for the afternoon.

The Varsity team didn't fare as well as they lost to Truckee, 4-1. The loan goal was scored by Michal Lis early in the game. Lis just moved to South Lake Tahoe from Poland.

Syndicate content