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Sheriff's OHV team making Rubicon Trail safer for Jeepers

Off-road enthusiasts will be flocking to the Rubicon Trail once again this summer, and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) team will be there to keep it safe.

The mission of the team is to provide education to the public, maintain the family friendly atmosphere and when necessary, use enforcement to support that education. In its fifteenth year on the Rubicon Trail, the OHV team is again helmed by Sergeant Bryan Brown and staffed with one full-time seasonal deputy and eight part-time deputies who work the OHV team, in addition to their usual duties.

Phone scams hitting Douglas County residents

The Douglas County Sheriff's Department is warning residents of a series of scams that have been targeted at residents. Even though the recent reports have been in Douglas County, all people should be aware as the criminals know no county, or state lines.

Broadway hit musical Pippin featured on LTCC stage

The high-energy, smash hit and award-winning musical Pippin will be on the Lake Tahoe Community College Duke Theater stage June 12 through the 20th.

The school's Theatre Arts Department presents show with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz who was the composer of the hit Broadway musicals Wicked and Godspell.

New phase of construction to begin at The Chateau

Soon, memories of "The Hole" will be replaced with the vision of new retail, restaurants and condominiums as the next phase of construction begins in South Lake Tahoe.

The Chateau at the Village will continue its growth to the corner of Friday Avenue and Highway 50.

County responds to search warrant served at Tahoe Wellness Cooperative

Search warrants were served on Monday at five locations related to Tahoe Wellness Cooperative (TWC) and its owner Cody Bass. Staff from eight agencies spent hours at the South Lake Tahoe medical marijuana dispensary, pulling out boxes and containers of cannabis and records.

South Lake Tahoe man sentenced after 100 mph motorcycle ride

A motorcyclist who was injured trying to elude officers during a 100 mph chase in March was sentenced to six months in jail on Wednesday.

Peter Thomas Hall, 50, of South Lake Tahoe, appeared in custody before East Fork Justice of the Peace Tom Perkins.

Judge: ‘Cyber stalking’ evidenced in Tahoe bear case

A legal battle between bear advocates and a Lake Tahoe couple who says they were threatened and intimidated after reporting a problem bear to authorities will continue after a judge said evidence suggests “cyber-stalking” occurred.

Richard and Adrienne Evans failed to prove the Bear League intentionally interfered with the relationship between Adrienne and her professional mountain bike racing sponsors and that claim in the couple’s lawsuit is dismissed, Washoe District Judge Lidia Stiglich ruled May 27.

Lake Tahoe casino employee suspected of $10,000 theft

A Lake Tahoe casino employee has been arrested on suspicion of theft after police said he made off with a bundle of $100 bills totaling $10,000 that had been accidentally dropped by a gambler.

Douglas County sheriff's deputies say the gambler had won $70,000 and was walking to an elevator from the Harrah's Tahoe casino floor when he dropped the wad of cash early Wednesday.

Contract janitorial worker Richard Ferrer. 36, is accused of sweeping the money into a dustpan, then heading to the employee break room.

Tahoe Wellness Cooperative and owner's home raided Monday

A large team made up of members from multiple agencies served a search warrant on both the Tahoe Wellness Cooperative and owner Cody Bass's South Lake Tahoe home early Monday morning.

Agents from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), Board of Equalization, Department of Insurance, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, and El Dorado County Sheriff's Department (EDCSO) were on scene at the co-op according to Tami Grimes, Information Officer with the FTB in Sacramento.

"The contents of the search warrant are sealed," said Grimes.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

5/24

12:09 a.m. -Domestic Dispute - Glen Eagles Rd - A DATING COUPLE VISITING TAHOE GOT INTO A VERBAL ARGUMENT. DOCUMENTATION ONLY

1:05 a.m. - DUI Alcohol/Drugs - Brockway Ave - A VEHICLE AND ITS OCCUPANTS WERE DETAINED FOR DRIVING RECKLESS AND FAILING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THE DRIVER

History Sunday: The 1860s town of Rowlands on the South Shore

As the City of South Lake Tahoe celebrates the 50th anniversary of its incorporation, there is a long forgotten town that was once along the shores of Lake Tahoe.

Travelers came west in droves in 1849 after the discovery of gold near Placerville. Many used the Tahoe Wagon Road which is known as Pioneer Trail today. When the first major silver deposit in the United States was discovered in Virginia City in 1859, many of those same gold hunters traveled over that same road into Nevada.

Water guzzling marijuana plants adding to California drought issues

California cannabis growers may be making millions, but their thirsty plants are sucking up a priceless resource: water. Now scientists say that if no action is taken in the drought-wracked state, the consequences for fisheries and wildlife will be dire.

"If this activity continues on the trajectory it's on, we're looking at potentially streams going dry, streams that harbor endangered fish species like salmon, steelhead," said Scott Bauer of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Recent rains push Lake Tahoe back to its natural rim

Recent rains have Lake Tahoe lapping at its natural rim and while it may stay there for a time, the lake should soon start dropping again during this year of drought.

Thursday, the lake level was officially measured at just a few hundredths of an inch before its rim but a trickle of water flowed from the lake and toward the Truckee River. Similar conditions have existed since Monday, the first time the lake was so high since dropping below the rim last October.

“It’s basically at the rim,” said Federal Water Master Chad Blanchard. “Right now it’s at its peak that we’ve seen.”

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

5/17
4:30 p.m. - Driving on a suspended/revoked license - Eloise Ave - INITIATED A VEHICLE STOP FOR A VEHICLE CODE VIOLATION. DRIVER WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED DRIVER'S LICENSE AND RELEASED ON SCENE

5/18

South Lake Tahoe local holds Millionaire Maker Summit

Event Date: 
July 29, 2015 (All day)

Do you know your neighbor? The millionaire and millionaire maker that you don’t know who shops at your stores, eats at your restaurants and refers thousands of people to your hotels and businesses?

If you live in or visit the South Lake Tahoe area, you’ve probably driven by her Live Out Loud building in front of the Safeway on Route 50 and said to yourself, “I wonder what’s going on in there.”

Scientists now predicting near 100% chance of strong El Nino

Climate experts say El Nino is growing stronger and could bring drought-busting wet weather to California this year. While the ocean condition is nearly guaranteed, rainfall doesn’t always follow the sea temperature increase.

On Thursday, scientists at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) said chances for El Nino this summer are close to 100 percent, with simulations suggesting by December, it could exceed the devastating 1997-1998 event that brought widespread flooding and hurricane-force winds to most of California.

Fire ravaged forest brings sadness, also beauty for campers

Even as campers pour in to the El Dorado National Forest for the Memorial Day weekend, dangers remain.

Several members of a group of campers from Sacramento didn't even realize they were near the King Fire's burn zone as they set up tents at the Ponderosa Cove Campsite.

Fortunately, one camper did understand the risk from burned trees and branches that can still fall on unsuspecting hikers.

Nevada Casino Owners Hope to Attract New Generation of Gamers

Gaming in Nevada is about to see some changes. And casino owners hope that will bring a whole new generation of gamers. Video Gamers.

The Nevada Legislature has approved a bill that will allow the industry to adapt. They plan to add in games that are skill-based. Meaning that your skills can improve your odds of winning. And they think that will be a winner overall.

Chris Moyer is with the American Gaming Association in Washington, D.C.

Homeless in High School

Homelessness has many faces. Some are old, some are young. It affects all races, religions, and sexes. It can be triggered by a poor economy, inconsistent work, a medical catastrophe, and death of a family member. In the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD), there are 246 homeless students (1).

I recently sat down with one of those students to understand a day in the life of a homeless student.

Smart towns know how to capitalize on active and bike tourism

South Lake Tahoe can create a sustainable economy if we focus on "active tourism." This was the message relayed by the panel of speakers at Wednesday's Tahoe Talk series at Lake Tahoe Community College.

If the 15 page spread about Lake Tahoe in the May edition of Bike magazine is any indication, people know about the activity/recreation based tourism awaiting them in Tahoe, and they're about to come.

Are we ready?,

Just about.

Tahoe bear break-ins could spike with drought-related food shortage

As the drought begins to impact wildlife, there is concern that California black bears are breaking into Tahoe homes because the lack of rain is contributing to a lack of food.

Now some wildlife activists want to lure those bears away from neighborhoods by feeding them where they live -- in the woods -- even though that practice is illegal.

The activists argue that the drastic action will help the bears survive.

Historic Glenbrook locomotive set to steam back to life

For 140 years, the Glenbrook locomotive has helped write the history of Nevada and Lake Tahoe.

Whether it was hauling lumber from the great lake's shores up the narrow-gauge line to Spooner Summit from 1875-1898, transporting passengers between Truckee and Tahoe City from 1898-1925, or serving as the largest artifact in the Nevada State Museum's collection from 1943-1982, the Glenbrook is a testament to resiliency.

US Ski Team names nominations for 2015-16 alpine roster

The U.S. Ski Team announced its nominations for the 2015-16 season Thursday, identifying 51 total athletes on the A, B, C, and D Teams for next season.

Women
A Team
- Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA; Mammoth Mountain Ski Team; 7/3/1984)
- Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team 3/9/1984)
- Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, CO; Rowmark Ski Academy; 9/19/1989)
- Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; 8/17/1988)
- Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO; Burke Mountain Academy; 3/13/1995)

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

5/10
11:13 a.m. - Ordinance Violation - Mt. Tallac Rd - DISPATCHED TO AN ORDINANCE VIOLATION (VEHICLES BLOCKING THE ROADWAY). THREE VEHICLES WERE TOWED PURSUANT TO VC 22651(E).

Vaccine exemptions: California Senate overwhelmingly passes SB 277

A controversial bill that abolishes "personal belief exemptions" for vaccinations won overwhelming approval in the California Senate on Thursday, bolstering supporters' hopes that it will also clear the Assembly and be signed into law.

The measure by Democratic Sens. Richard Pan, of Sacramento, and Ben Allen, of Santa Monica -- introduced after a outbreak of measles in December at Disneyland sickened 136 Californians -- passed 25-10 after the two senators agreed to compromises aimed at easing its passage.

Songbird: Telling the Paiute Story

Event Date: 
May 23, 2015 - 10:00am

Christina Thomas is a woman of Paiute, Shoshone, and Hopi descent who has been acknowledged as an emerging leader of her people. Christina explores the performing arts of traditional singing, drumming and dancing. She has given lessons in the Paiute language, tells traditional stories, shares knowledge of traditional foods and plants, and also discusses the history of the Great Basin native peoples; and gives her unique perspective on contemporary Native American issues.

Location

Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park
1450 Hwy 88 Minden, Nevada 89423
United States

Drought claims Nevada's Washoe Lake

Washoe Lake is dry.

With almost all of the 11 streams feeding the lake between Reno and Carson City reduced to a trickle over the past five years, evaporation has officially claimed the last of Washoe’s waters.

Jennifer Ramella of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said Little Washoe at the main lake’s north end still has a bit of water in it but that too is fading.

Mental Health Awareness: Education and awareness are key

- Many children go undiagnosed and unidentified; they are penalized for inappropriate behavior though symptomatic.
- 42% of diagnosed students graduate with a high school diploma.
- 48% of diagnosed students drop out of school.
- 50% will serve jail time after leaving school; 20% serve sentences prior to leaving school.
- Currently 12 % of children in America under the age of 18 have a diagnosable
mental illness.
- Among the US population, mental illness impacts 1 in 4 individuals.
- 50% of adult cases of mental illness had signs and symptoms by age 14.

Owners of Hard Rock Lake Tahoe respond to contractor's legal action

On Monday, a story hit local media about legal papers filed in Douglas County court by SMC Construction, Inc against Neva One, LLC, the owners of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe.

In that suit, SMC alleged Neva One failed to pay them over $9 million on the remodeling of the old Horizon Casino. This amount represents expenses over the original contract according to SMC who was the contractor for renovations to the casino low-rise portion of the hotel/casino complex.

UNR grad students share experiences from Nepal

At least 50 people died in Nepal Tuesday after another large earthquake shook the country. University of Nevada, Reno seismologist Steve Wesnousky went to Nepal following April’s deadly earthquake to research the fault in Nepal, which is one of the world’s longest. He returned to California hours before this latest earthquake, but his doctoral students, Ian Pierce and Steve Angster, stayed behind.

They witnessed the quake and spoke with us from Kathmandu about their experience.

Water theft becomes common consequence of ongoing California drought

With the state of California mired in its fourth year of drought and a mandatory 25 percent reduction in water usage in place, reports of water theft have become common.

In April, The Associated Press reported that huge amounts of water went missing from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and a state investigation was launched. The delta is a vital body of water, serving 23 million Californians as well as millions of farm acres, according to the Association for California Water Agencies.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

5/3
1:27 a.m. - Disorderly Conduct: Alcohol - Cold Creek Trail - 30-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION AFTER DEEMED A DANGER TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS. RELEASE UPON SOBER PER 849(B)(2) PC.

Kids who collected 44,000 dimes visit burned firefighter

Maple Creek Elementary students learned the value of a dime Friday.

For collecting $4,402 — the equivalent of 44,020 dimes —for the Leon S. Peters Burn Center, they got a wave and a smile from Pete Dern, the Fresno fire captain who is recovering from severe burns he got while battling a blaze.

“It made his day,” said Dern’s wife, Kelly Dern, who accepted a check from the students for the burn center.

“His face lit up,” said Dern’s daughter, McKenzie Dern.

Blue Shield is largest employer in El Dorado County

Blue Shield of California hopped over El Dorado County to secure the No. 1 spot on this week's list of El Dorado County's 25 largest employers. The nonprofit health plan employs 2,069 in El Dorado Hills, up from 1,850 -- a 12 percent increase from a year ago. El Dorado County employs 1,859.

The list features companies and government agencies. Employers are ranked by the number of employees in full-time equivalents that at operations in the county.

Final kilometer told the story during Stage 1 of SLT Amgen race

"The way they're dropping off you'd think the Donner Party was back," were the words of the announcer as he reported on the racers heading up Keller Road during the final kilometer of Friday's Amgen race around Lake Tahoe. "There are bodies everywhere," he joked, commenting on the final uphill portion of the race just before the finish line.

After 73.5 miles, the last .6 mile separated the group of women who had stayed in a close pack as they spent three hours racing around the lake.

Vets warn of dog exposure to marijuana edibles

Pet owners would do most anything for their animals, protecting them from all kinds of hazards. But now, it has become clear that one problem dog owners are facing with alarming frequency is their pets overdosing on marijuana edibles.

A Pleasant Hill woman owns a dog that ate something while on a hike that made him very sick. She told KTVU she was shocked to hear the veterinarian say the dog was stoned.

Marko is a playful Beagle-Boston Terrier mix.

"We go on hikes every Monday and Tuesday," said Marko's owner, Kristy Safarians.

But this Monday's hike didn't go quite as planned.

Fire officials warn Sandoval of difficult summer

The ongoing drought, warmer-than-usual weather conditions and the fuel for fire those conditions produce could lead to a “perfect storm” this summer where multiple states in the West could be having large, simultaneous fires, state and federal fire officials told Gov. Brian Sandoval Monday.

“The system is going to be heavily taxed this year,” said Kit Bailey of the U.S. Forest Service. “We have preparedness levels of one through five and I’m a little concerned that we may get to an unprecedented level, a level six, and that is kind of a worst-case scenario.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

4/26
1:06 p.m. - Runaway - Lake Tahoe Blvd - 16 YEAR OLD MALE JUVENILE RAN AWAY FROM HIS GROUP HOME SUPERVISOR WHILE AT A STORE.

1:50 p.m. - Firearm Turnover - Johnson Blvd - SUBJECT TURNED OVER A FREIND'S FIREARM DUE TO HIS MENTAL STATUS.

California pot legalization effort is all about details

There’s no shortage of views on the question of legalizing recreational marijuana in California.

That much was evident at a series of focus groups earlier this year, where 48 men and women representing a cross-section of the state filed into rooms with one-way mirrors to share their opinions. The research is aimed at shaping an expected legalization initiative for the 2016 ballot.

Charges dropped against man accused of starting Rim Fire after witnesses die

Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against a Tuolumne County man accused of starting a massive 2013 wildfire that burned for more than two months and eventually charred more than 257,000 acres in the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park.

Win a Cruiser Bike during Tahoe Bike Challenge scavenger hunt

Hundreds of bicycle enthusiasts will be taking part in June's Tahoe Bike Challenge, and to kick off the event, organizers are giving away a Cruiser Bike.

If you see the banner pictured in this story, you email info@tahoebike.org with your name, email address, phone number and location spotted. This will give you an automatic entry to win the bike. If you also include a picture of you and the banner your entry will count as two entries.

Fish removed from Lake Tahoe due to low oxygen levels

At least 30 fish have been removed from in the area of Lake Tahoe beneath Fanny Bridge as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife combats low oxygen levels caused by the drought.

Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Kirsten Macintyre tells the Truckee Sierra Sun that 26 brown trout and four rainbow trout were caught below the bridge and relocated to a marina about six miles south. Recent readings showed low dissolved oxygen levels in the stagnant water below the bridge, so while there are fish remaining, the lower population should help.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

4/19

No Report

4/20

12:00 a.m. - Narcotics - Fair Meadow Court - .2 GRAMS OF HEROIN BOOKED INTO EDSO PROPERTY

10:54 a.m. - Impersonate to get Money - Zuni Street - VIA EDSO ON LINE REPORTING SYSTEM- VICTIM REPORTED IDENTITY THEFT BY UNKONWN SUSPECT(S). DOCUMENTATION

Lake Tahoe hikers in Nepal reportedly safe after 7.8 earthquake

Adrian Ballinger, a veteran high-altitude mountain guide from the Lake Tahoe-area with six Mt. Everest summits on his resume, was on the mountain when the deadly earthquake struck Nepal, killing thousands and causing havoc on the mountain.

Mel Kaida, 30, assistant operations director with Incline Village-based Tusker Trail Adventures, was also in the region and is reported to be safe, according to Andrew Springsteel, operations director for Tusker.

Jeremy Evans hired as new LTCC women’s head soccer coach

After taking the South Tahoe High Varsity Girls Soccer team to back-to-back NIAA state championships, coach Jeremy Evans has left the program to become the new Lake Tahoe Community College women's head soccer coach.

LTCC found themselves without a women's coach after first year Coyote coach Christian DeLeon recently left the program to become the new women's head coach at Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village.

South Lake Tahoe Earth Day celebration on Saturday

In typical South Lake Tahoe fashion, Mother Nature has decided to visit the local Earth Day celebration on Saturday. While sunshine may be preferred by some, needed moisture will be making a visit.

Don't let a forecast of rain or snow keep you from Earth Day 2015 though. As seen in the video in this story, snow fell just prior to last year's event too.

Female South Lake Tahoe sex offender called 'dangerous'

A 36-year-old South Lake Tahoe woman, described as dangerous, is being sought by police after she reportedly violated her parole and failed to register as a sex offender.

Jaime Lynn Olson's prison sentence stems from her arrest for kidnapping, sexual battery, multiple counts of forced oral copulation and false imprisonment, officials with the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office said in a Facebook post.

Thursday afternoon, Dave Stevenson, with the El Dorado County District Attorney's investigation division, said Olson and a man are believed to have committed a kidnapping.

Arson arrest made in Fresno fire that injured Fire Captain Pete Dern

Investigators say a woman arrested for a fire that severely injured a Fresno fire captain has a history with fire. Julia Harper, 52, is jailed on charges of setting a fire causing great bodily injury. Fire Captain Pete Dern was nearly killed while trying to put out the fire Harper allegedly started.

Park City taps Tahoe official for transportation planning efforts

City Hall has tapped an official from the Lake Tahoe region to helm the municipal government's transportation planning efforts, selecting someone from one of Park City's mountain resort competitors for the position.

Alfred Knotts will leave the Tahoe Transportation District to become the transportation planning manager in Park City. He will succeed the retiring Kent Cashel. City Hall announced the hiring in a prepared statement.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

4/12

9:23 p.m. - Disorderly Conduct - Marshall Trail - INTOXICATED 35-YEAR OLD FEMALE WAS ARRESTED IN A PUBLIC PLACE AND BOOKED FOR SOBERING.

11:43 p.m. - Vacation Rental Issue - Cold Creek Trail - VACATION RENTAL NOISE WARNING.

4/13

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