South Tahoe High

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) held the annual awards ceremony Thursday, honoring the retirement of K9 Tara, the promotion of Jeff Roberson to Sergeant, awards for bravery and for service.

The celebration was started with the National Anthem sung by South Tahoe High School senior Caroline Krolicki and a presentation of the colors by the department's Honor Guard.

The Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe club awarded students from Lake Tahoe Community College, South Tahoe High and Whittell High School with $21,000 in scholarships during their annual Rewards for Excellence Scholarship program Wednesday.

Those honored:

Lake Tahoe Community College
Hannah Brown
Robert Gutknecht
Mika Klitsch
Farrah Kuenzi
Jennifer Lenches
Tristy Medina
Morgan Montoya
Thorne Saunders
Kathryn Spence
Lakin Smith
Kyle Sullivan

South Tahoe High School - Ivone Larsen AVID awards
Briana Alamilla
Halle Alvarez

The Barton Foundation will be awarding $50,000 in grant funding to improve community health. As part of Barton Health’s commitment to community health and collaboration, this annual grant cycle provides funding for programs and services that positively impact the health of the local community. Applications are being accepted through May 31, 2018.

Grant criteria and the application can be found online at bartonhealth.org/grants, and for more information contact Marty Chartraw at 530.543.5784.

South Tahoe High School received great news from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Commission with confirmation that the school is fully accredited through June 2022. When the accreditation team left the campus in March they had nothing but glowing reports for the staff and school, but the final decision was mailed to the school May 3.

The community of South Lake Tahoe lost a beloved member when Jean Gurney passed away on April 24, 2018. Like Lake Tahoe, Jean made people feel relaxed, elevated, and happy.

Jean was born on May 31, 1945 in Longview, Texas, to Viola and Frank Gurney. She spent her formative years in Massachusetts with her parents and sister Ann, and graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School in 1963.

Location

Over 200 dancers of all ages graced the stage at Harrah's Tahoe during each show of the Marcia Sarosik Dance Studio last weekend as the annual recitals opened up to full houses. The shows continued Saturday, April 28.

The opening night is still being talked about, especially the opening number, The Greatest Show on Earth, though details are being kept secret until all have seen the show. Other numbers include Put a Little Love in Your Heart, Catch a Falling Star, Sit Still Look Pretty, Bitter and Sweet Symphony, True Colors and Buenos Aires.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Students will soon be able to graduate from South Tahoe High, move into Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) for their associate degree, then head over to the new Lisa Maloff University Center for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts, Global Business Management, Psychology, and possibly in the near future, Ski Resort Management.

Sierra Nevada College was the first school to offer four-year degrees at LTCC, and now there will be another.

Have boxes of paperwork you need shredded now that tax season is drawing to a close? The South Tahoe High Booster Club can take care of that for you on Friday, April 20 from noon to 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the American Legion on Lake Tahoe Blvd.

The cost is $10 per legal size box.

They are also looking for volunteers and boxes, so stop by if you can help.

This isn't your mother's school play. Tahoe Valley Elementary Performing Arts is presenting The Jungle Book to local schools, parents and the community this week, and the production shouldn't be missed.

Under the direction of Jack Suglian, a Tahoe Valley Elementary and South Tahoe High graduate and stage veteran, the 55 students have been in rehearsal since January, not only working on lines but also on 15 musical numbers.

The play is inside the schools "Thunderbird Theater."

The creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop (in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious "Stage Door Slasher") assemble for a backer's audition of their new show at the Westchester estate of a wealthy "Angel." The house is replete with sliding panels, secret passageways and a German maid who is apparently four different people -- all of which figure diabolically in the comic mayhem which follows when the infamous "Slasher" makes his reappearance and strikes again -- and again.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The three member visiting accreditation committee from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) finished up their review at South Tahoe High School (STHS) today, parting with very positive comments about their experience.

"It is amazing what I've seen in two years," said Cheryl Townsend, Director of The Reach School in Sebastapol, Calif., and the only member of the accreditation team that originally reviewed the school in 2016. "There is a great level of intensity and quality at this school, give yourselves a hand."

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The student body, teachers, staff of South Tahoe High School and community members came together Wednesday to be part of the National School Walkout and March For Our Lives, events held across the country one month after 17 students died in Parkland, Florida when a fellow student opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS) club of South Lake Tahoe honored three women as winners of their Violet Richardson, Live Your Dream and Ruby Awards during a special breakfast meeting on Thursday, March 8.

Mountaintop cameras from the University of Nevada, Reno spotted or tracked 240 fires in Nevada and California in 2017. This helped to keep firefighters more situationally aware and able to mount appropriate responses more rapidly over tens of thousands of square miles of forests and rangelands, including rural communities.

This is a new and expanding tool for fire managers who oversee the wildland and wildland/urban interface.

Dean Eastin, a South Lake Tahoe resident, passed away at home on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018.

He was born on July 15, 1959 in Santa Rosa, Calif. to Ruth and Jerry Eastin. The family moved to Lake Tahoe when Dean was 4. He attended Saint Theresa's Catholic School and South Tahoe High School.

He was co-owner of South Side Auto Body for many years, and then after it sold he worked at Welcome's Autobody until his health failed. Dean was active in the "Hi-Lows" 4x4 club for many years and enjoyed camping, four-wheeling and working on street rods with his ex-father-in-law.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - Since January 1, 2018 there have been 18 school shootings in the United States, 25 fatal school shootings since 1999's Columbine High School tragedy. With the deadly shooting February 14, 2018 at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, many communities are looking at their own schools and their safety procedures to help prevent a repeat of a tragic event.

What is commonplace at schools across the country are drills for "shelter in place" and for students to understand what to do, and not do, in case of an emergency.

Five South Tahoe High seniors and graduates signed their letters of intent to play for the Lake Tahoe Community College Coyotes this fall.

Cesar Hernandez (class of 2017), Giovani "Gio" Yanez, Ignacio Vazquez, Andy Salazar and Oscar Villagrana (class of 2016) were all on hand with LTCC Soccer Coach Nick Arbelaez.

The five athletes were all born and raised in South Lake Tahoe and have a combined 55 years of soccer already under their belts.

"I'm very stoked," said Villagrana of his heading to LTCC to play at the college level.

South Tahoe High offensive tackle Logan Langemeier will be wearing the green and white of the Jacksonville University Dolphins football team this fall.

During an official signing ceremony at the school Wednesday, the 6'4" 240 pound senior credited his mom and his training for getting him to this point.

A football player since the age of eight, Logan said he tried soccer but fell in love with football through Pop Warner.

The South Tahoe High School Viking Dance Team took 1st place at the Northern Nevada Cheer & Dance Invitational on Saturday February 3, 2018. Their high energy jazz dance received a standing ovation.

“It was the best thing I have seen all day,” said an observer from a competing high school.

All 26 members of this elite dance team have a rigorous schedule of early morning practices throughout the season. In addition to their formidable practice schedule, the dancers also dedicate themselves to training in various styles of dance multiple nights throughout the week.

An overflowing crowd of family, friends and community members filled the City Council chambers Monday as South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue held their 5th annual awards ceremony.

The staff was honored for their service doing a job that protects the lives, homes and environment of the South Lake Tahoe community and its visitors.

"Your recognition is well deserved, and well earned," said Mayor Wendy David.

SLTFR Fire Chief Jeff Meston led the ceremony which honored the following:

Firefighter/Medic of the Year: Dustin Winter
Dispatcher of the Year: Jillian Gard

The show must go on! Over a dozen cases of flu postponed opening night of the South Tahoe High production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, but all things are a go for the Saturday and Sunday performances, as well as next week.

Director Liz Niven and at least one of the cast members will still be out on Saturday with the flu, but local theatrical talents have jumped in to help.

The South Lake Tahoe Cancer League has a lot to be grateful for this past year. For nearly four decades, the volunteers of this organization have driven patients from South Lake Tahoe to their medical treatment, at no charge to the patients or their families. The drivers take patients to Reno, Carson City, Minden, Truckee, and as far away as UC Davis. The Cancer League also gives limited monetary assistance in the form of small grants to the patients to help with their monthly expenses.

All students from 1st grade to 8th grade are invited to be part of the South Tahoe High Dance Team during the squad's 3rd annual Dance Team for a Day.

On January 20, participants will learn all the moves and then perform during halftime of the South Tahoe High Varsity Basketball game against Lowery High.

All participating kids get a t-shirt, lunch and a day of fun for $35. Funds go to held with Dance Team uniforms. Check in at 10:00 a.m. and perform at 2:30 p.m. Attire for the day are black leggings or sweatpants, jazz or tennis shoes, and hair needs to be worn away from face.

A former South Lake Tahoe resident visiting family for the holidays on the South Shore was on his way home to La Mesa, California when he and girlfriend were involved in a three-car head-on collision south of Kramer's Crossing on Highway 395 near Victorville on December 28, 2017.

Chris "Coco" Cocores, 26, was in a Toyota Corolla driven by his girlfriend, 21-year-old Cecilia Casares, when the car crossed over a solid yellow line to pass a slower vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol. They collided with two vehicles heading northbound.