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Mono County, home to Mammoth Mountain, Bridgeport, and Topaz Lake, is set to go on Stay-at-Home orders with the rest of the Southern California counties on Sunday. They will join the San Joaquin region as areas set to move to the stricter health orders due to a rapidly dwindling supply of ICU beds.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Clerk Susan Blankenship has earned the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), which was awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), Inc.

IIMC grants the CMC designation only to those municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements, and who have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community and state.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With a surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, California Governor Newsom today issued a new regional stay-at-home order as an "emergency brake" to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

This order goes into effect in regions with less than 15 percent ICU availability. At this time, the El Dorado County does not fall into that group but it could be a matter of days until it does. The county is part of the Greater Sacramento Region which is at 22 percent capacity as of Thursday.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There has been a lot of recent conversation about the stress COVID-19 patients have put on hospital systems across the country, including El Dorado County and South Lake Tahoe. Concern has been expressed about the occupancy rates at Barton Hospital and what its capacity is to handle the current surge of residents testing positive for the virus.

Douglas County has recently seen an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in an extremely short period of time. This is part of a regional and statewide trend in rapidly increasing confirmed COVID-19 infections and they are experiencing strain to their healthcare system and first responders.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. = After consultation with the Douglas County officials, the towns, public safety agencies, and Douglas County Emergency Management it was determined in-person public holiday events in the towns of Gardnerville, Genoa, and Minden have been canceled. This includes the 25th annual Parade of Lights hosted by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce. County officials said the action was deemed necessary for the safety of the community, due to the most recent State directive limiting public gatherings to no more than 50 people.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) today recognized individuals who, over the agency’s 50-year history, worked tirelessly to protect the spectacular environment of the Lake Tahoe Region and to create more resilient communities, TRPA announced today.

Beginning Monday, November 30, drivers will see changes to the flashing warning signals placed in advance of some traffic signals in Carson City and Douglas County, including Lake Tahoe, as the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) updates the warning signals.

If those who attended the first Thanksgiving in 1621 happened to time travel and visit the 2020 version, what would they think of our version of the holiday?

That first celebration wasn't called Thanksgiving, they didn't have potatoes or pumpkin pie, but they did have a feeling of gratitude and thankfulness over the three-day celebration after a successful harvest.

Thanksgiving is based on the idea that we should all take time to count our blessings at least once a year and to celebrate it with family and friends.

ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. - The smallest county in the state has now moved from from the yellow tier to the orange tier of California's Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Alpine County has experienced a large increase in COVID-19 cases so the Dr. Richard Johnson, the county's health officer had anticipated the move.

STATELINE, Nev. - Nevada’s non-restricted gaming licensees reported a total “gaming win” of $822,676,544 for the month of October 2020, the fifth month of casinos reopening in the state after being closed due to the coronavirus. This amounts to a 19.50 percent decrease compared to October 2019, when licensees reported a gaming win of $1,021,966,875, according to the monthly report released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board today.

Sugar Bowl Resort and Royal Gorge Cross Country will open for the 2020/21 winter season on Friday, November 27, 2020 with new safety procedures.

“We are eager to welcome our guests back to the mountain and are thrilled that opening day is just a week away,” said Greg Dallas, President and CEO of Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge. “Our team has worked tirelessly on a reopening plan that keeps the safety of our guests and staff as the top priority.”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County. At this time there is no work scheduled for the South Lake Tahoe area.

Most traffic-interfering work will be restricted from 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 until 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

We are a very small congregation; we are following all the guidelines from State, County, City and our governing body Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Tattoo, hair, and massage parlors are allowed to remain open and deemed as “essential” for Personal Care Services.  What about Spiritual Care Services?

When we are at church, we are one in Christ, in prayer, taking authority over the enemy and over the fallen things in this world. There is a supernatural power in the “two or three” gathering together!

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, California has issued a limited Stay at Home Order. All non-essential work and gatherings must stop from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in counties in the purple tier, including El Dorado County.

This will take effect at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2020 and remain in place for one month until 5:00 a.m. December 21.

The curfew comes after 40 counties moved into the more restrictive purple tier after experiencing a rise in hospitalizations and positive cases of COVID-19.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The safety of patients and healthcare workers is Barton Health’s top priority. The health care system has operations in place to continue to meet the demand for medical services as COVID-19 cases surge across the nation and Lake Tahoe. After preparation for the anticipated increase of patient volume this fall and winter, aspects of Barton’s plan are being implemented to meet the needs for patient care.

UPDATE 8:15PM: The Mountain View Fire is currently burning around the community of Walker. Due to the fast moving nature of the fire, an Evacuation Order has been issued for the Walker, Coleville and Topaz areas, and US 395 is still closed from Bridgeport to the Nevada state line. There is 0 percent containment and 5,000 acres burned according to Inci-web. Liberty Utilities has de-energized the communities of Walker and Coleville up to Topaz at the state line for safety precautions. Liberty is working with all emergency agencies and will safely restore power when possible.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fund has kicked off its annual Request for Projects process, a time they seek applications seeking funds of $5,000 to 1,000,000 to complete their goals to help preserve Lake Tahoe.

The funding for projects are designed to restore Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity, create healthier forests, improve transportation, create more sustainable recreation, and inspire greater stewardship in the region.

North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts and California State Parks are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations this week, weather permitting. Smoke may be visible.

Scheduled operations at five locations this week:

Sugar Pine State Park - California State Parks, West of Hwy 89, along S Fire Rd and Campground Rd, 20.00 acres

Burton Creek State Park - California State Parks, North of Rocky Ridge, West of
North Tahoe High School, 17.00 acres

With a rising number of COVID-19 cases across the nation, The three West Coast state have issued travel advisories recommending 14-day quarantines for inter-state and international travel. California, Oregon and Washington are also asking residents to stay local to slow the spread of the virus.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to restrictions on gathering due to the pandemic, Veterans Day ceremonies in South Lake Tahoe area canceled for 2020. The American Legion Auxiliary and Vets in Counseling members placed approximately 600 flags at Happy Homestead Monday, after the snow fell.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - California is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases and state health officials today moved several counties back into more restrictive tiers to stem the tide of the pandemic.

With this direction, El Dorado County was to move into the red tier, the one reserved for areas with substantial cases, but the county has entered the state's tier adjudication process and asked to remain in the orange tier.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) will begin conducting prescribed fire operations in the Lake Tahoe Basin this week, weather and conditions permitting.

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District is scheduled to being operations Monday at Diamond Peak Ski Resort (50 acres) and later near War Bonnet Way/Peace Pipe Lane in Incline Village (20 acres).

California State Parks is scheduled to begin operations at Burton Creek (17 acres) and Sugar Pine Point (20 acres) state parks beginning as early as Tuesday.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Law enforcement has been busy this morning with vehicles stuck in the snow around Lake Tahoe and on the surrounding mountain passes. Meyers is reporting 12" of snow, South Lake Tahoe 9.5", Genoa 7", Alpine Meadows 7" and the Gardnerville Ranchos up to 14".

This is a good day to stay off the roads. If driving, follow all controls, give yourself distance from the car in front of you, and take your time. The storm is moving out of the area but there will be some lingering snow until around 1:30 p.m.