trust

In order to be a successful community on the South Shore, the state line needs to become a blur and both sides need to work together. There should be no "us" and "them" but a collective "we."

When travelers come to Lake Tahoe they don't see a state line, or a direction on the compass, they see a beautiful recreational paradise that just a few people are able to call home, but millions can call a vacation destination.

The owner of Advanced Financial Services (AFS) in Placerville pleaded guilty to filing more than 250 false claims for refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) along with two of her employees. They all face large fines and years in jail.

Do the people you love and trust the most have the proper authority to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself?

Do they know how you’d want to be cared for? Not sure?

Come to the free Advance Healthcare Directive workshop and learn how to ensure you are cared for in the way you want if you are unable to communicate those wishes yourself. (And check it off your list of things you must do this year!)

A 3.43 acre piece of land once owned by Randy Lane's Falcon Capital LLC may soon have a 22-unit condominium project built on it. The property (made up from two parcels) is underneath the gondola, adjacent to the Van Sickle Bi-State Park near the state line in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. The listed owner of the property is now Lucky Look LLC.

The next cast for the Tahoe Arts Project's Dancing with the Tahoe Stars has been announced, and the list contains ten South Lake Tahoe business owners, educators, police sergeant, and other well known locals.

Professional dancers will be working with the "celebrities" to teach them each a dance they'll bring to the MontBleu stage on Saturday, March 5, 2016.

The Stars:

Dr. Kelly Shanahan will be teamed up with Rainer Herm to dance Disco.
Iris Kahm is teamed up with Jorge Favio Orozco to dance Salsa.

A new website puts comprehensive information about the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program at everyone’s fingertips, allowing people to easily learn more about “Lake-Saving Projects” completed in their own neighborhoods and all around Lake Tahoe.

The new Environmental Improvement Program Project Tracker is online at www.conservationclearly.org/tracker.

A consumer alert has been issued regarding scams targeting seniors who served in the military and their survivors.

“California’s veterans have made extraordinary sacrifices to keep our nation safe and uphold our most sacred values and freedoms,” said Attorney General Kamala Harris. “Sadly, many of our senior veterans are being targeted by scam artists seeking to take advantage of them for a quick profit. My office will continue to protect our veterans and ensure that predators who seek to profit from their service are held accountable.”

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board on Wednesday approved a $7,500 settlement agreement with the Tahoe Keys Marina and Yacht Club, LLC.

The settlement is for the Tahoe Keys Marina and Yacht Club’s unauthorized grading and creation of coverage at a California Tahoe Conservancy property located near the end of Venice Drive in South Lake Tahoe. The property impacted by this violation is not classified by TRPA as a stream environment zone or wetland.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is inviting the public to comment on planned transportation projects and improvements that include bicycle and pedestrian paths, buses systems, sidewalks and the V & T railroad.

In the Carson City area alone there are over $9 million in proposed projects.

Last year, the El Dorado County Grand Jury found that the workplace environment of the South Lake Tahoe Probation Department was "toxic." That report also said, "Officers were being micromanaged, a clique system of disparate groups had formed
wherein out of favor clique members were unfairly disciplined at times. Those things lead to poor morale and perhaps reduced productiveness at the South Lake Tahoe Probation Office."

The 2014-15 Grand Jury followed up with the department to see if things had changed.

A South Lake Tahoe man who bilked 11 people out of $3.6 million will be spending the next 19.5 years in prisons.

Scott H. Summerhays, 56, made false statements and used phony documents to solicit the money from victims who thought they were helping him purchase the Genoa Lakes Golf Course.

On Monday, May 18, Senior U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks ordered Summerhays to prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1.4 million in restitution.

Suicide does not discriminate. Suicide does not know income levels, race or neighborhoods. Suicide can happen next door.

Every day in California, Nevada, and every other state, there are friends, family and co-workers who struggle with emotional pain. And, for some, it's too difficult to talk about the pain, thoughts of suicide, and the need for help.

- Nearly 40,000 Americans commit suicide every year.
- In the U.S., suicide rates are highest during the spring.
- Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds and 2nd for 24 to 35-year-olds.

The National Little League pledge, written by Peter J. McGovern in 1954, reads as follows:

I trust in God
I love my country
And will respect its laws
I will play fair
And strive to win
But win or lose
I will always do my best

It has long been a tradition in South Lake Tahoe where players recite the pledge prior to every Major Division Little League game.

That tradition ended this year as the local Board of Directors decided to remove the words "God" and "country" from the pledge so it would read like this:

I will play fair
And strive to win
But win or lose

The most innovative South Shore businesses will exhibit at the 2015 Business EXPO: Innovation in the Basin on Friday, March 27. The largest business and networking event of the year, Tahoe Chamber’s Business EXPO includes 100 local businesses ranging from restaurants and resorts to recreation providers to retailers. The event includes food and drink tastings, giveaways and a new networking lounge sponsored by the City of South Lake Tahoe, Winters Construction Group and Red Carpet Events and Design.

A real estate investment trust that’s considering getting out of the snow business could sell more than dozen ski resorts from Maine to California that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

CNL Lifestyle Properties owns 16 resorts including Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe in California, Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine, Bretton Woods, Loon Mountain and Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire, Okemo Mountain in Vermont, Crested Butte in Colorado and Brighton in Utah.

Brad Trexell, a former Opera Colorado and San Francisco Opera administrator was appointed executive director for Lake Tahoe SummerFest (www.tahoesummerfest.org), the classical music concert series in August.

Coldwell Banker McKinney’s team of over 30 professionals has been providing services for clients since 1978 in South Lake Tahoe. Their award winning office in the heart of the community and they call themselves the most established and experienced real estate company in the City.

Casino company Caesars Entertainment (CZR), the owner of Harrah's and Harvey's in Lake Tahoe, announced early Thursday that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court in Chicago for its main operating unit in an attempt to beat back an effort by some creditors who filed their own bankruptcy plan in Delaware on Monday. They claim the company has cheated them.

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.

Kenny Curtzwiler – www.voteforkenny.com

I have lived, worked and enjoyed South Lake Tahoe as a resident since 1977 when I came here for a vacation and stayed on as so many have. What makes me qualified for this position?

Commitment. I have been married for 33 years, raised three children, owned a Tree Service and Roofing Company for 33 years and served for 20 years in the Nevada Army National Guard, retiring as an officer with the rank of Major. I will not go along with the status quo of cronyism and favoritism that has stifled our local economy in El Dorado County District 5.

Tahoe Chamber has a long history of Representing Business to Government via advocating for policies that provide a fair and predictable process for businesses of any size. This process is guided by our Government Affairs Committee (GAC), the
board, the Chamber CEO and our Government Affairs Liaison.

With a $412,900 fine from previous violations in 2007 still outstanding, Tahoe Tom's Gasoline Station in South Lake Tahoe is once again in trouble with the Lahontan Regional Water Board.

Recent water samples from a drinking well at a Stateline area motel near Tahoe Tom's have revealed the presence of the contaminant MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) at concentrations above the drinking water standard for taste and odor. The detection in MTBE from the well have been increasing during the past year, probably as a result of drought conditions lowering the water table.

There are a few buzz words that are evidently going to be used during the El Dorado County District 5 Supervisor race this summer and fall.

Economic Vitality - An economy with sufficient jobs, products and services to support the community. A sufficient tax base provides citizens with police and fire, parks and recreation and public services needed by the population.

Thanks to Tahoe Maritime Museum and a generous grant from the Lana Vento Charitable Trust, there is an exciting opportunity at the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe this summer. During the first weeks of summer a selected group of teen members will work together with Tahoe Maritime Museum volunteers to build Kaholo Stand Up Paddleboards from Chesapeake Light Craft.