News

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is preparing for the upcoming 4th of July celebration and is wishing everyone a safe and happy Independence Day. Due to the volume of celebrants within the Stateline casino core, Nevada Beach, and Zephyr Cove areas throughout the holiday, DCSO is reminding residents and visitors to be safe and mindful of the laws surrounding the festivities.

The goal of DCSO is to protect life and property while at the same time allowing celebrants to enthusiastically celebrate the holiday. DCSO emphasizes safety first.

7:45PM UPDATE: A crane has removed the plane from the runway and it is now reopened. About seven gallons of fuel spilled and it has been cleaned up.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A four-passenger Bellanca Super Viking plane had to land at Lake Tahoe airport Wednesday afternoon without the use of its landing gear.

A call came in at South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) at 6:32 p.m. about a pilot unable to get their plane's landing gear down. By the time the first responders made it to the airport, the plane had already landed on its "belly."

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Tiffany Schmid to permanently fill the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) during its meeting Tuesday. Schmid has been acting and interim CAO for three months. She will be responsible for the County's budget and its overall operations.

“The Board of Supervisors is unanimous in their support of Tiffany Schmid, and we are delighted to appoint her as our new Chief Administrative Officer,” said Board chair Wendy Thomas. “Tiffany brings a wealth of

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is hosting a series of sessions around Lake Tahoe to foster meaningful discussions with Executive Director Julie Regan on critical topics. Morning Coffee Talks in May and June gave community members the chance to share their thoughts on issues affecting Lake Tahoe and our communities like housing, traffic and safety, and major projects.

Evening Coffee Talks scheduled for this summer:

July 19, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., South Shore location TBD
August 17, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Incline Village, Nevada, UNR Tahoe Campus

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is proposing to temporarily restripe a one-mile section of US50 on Tahoe’s East Shore to reconfigure the highway from two lanes to one lane in each direction, with a middle turn lane. Highway officials say this is a limited test project aimed at enhancing transportation safety and access on the corridor.

On June 21, Melissa Chandler, the leader of the NDOT Corridor Planning & Special Studies Program, emailed Douglas County commissioners according to Commissioner Danny Tarkanian.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Carlos Villasenor, 40, of Placerville, was sentenced Monday to 15 months in prison for possession of dogs for use in an animal fighting venture, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Villasenor was also ordered to pay a $5,500 fine and a $2,700 special assessment.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - NV Energy will resume work on its Carson City to Glenbrook Transmission Line Rebuild Project on Monday, June 16 in the Glenbrook and Spooner Summit area.

During construction, the public may experience traffic delays primarily within the Spooner Summit area of US50 and just south of the SR28 interchange. The Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT), Spooner Summit Trailhead, and Spooner Summit South Day Use Area will remain open for public use.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - The Nevada Department of Transporation (NDOT) continues its work on SR28 in Incline Village. They will not be working on the SR431 (Mt. Rose Highway) project over the next few weeks. Commercial vehicle restrictions are lifted now through July 9.

Multiple Work Zones on SR 28

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - The U.S. Forest Service responded to a small wildfire on the east shore of Lake Tahoe on Friday afternoon. The fire was in an area south of US50 called Montreal Canyon and was named the Genoa Fire.

The Genoa Fire was reported at 3:26 p.m. and was approximately 1/2 acre at 4 p.m. A helicopter provided by Bridgeport Helitack made bucket drops as fire engines headed to the area.

As of 7 p.m., a fuel break is around the fire and it is contained. Crews will remain on the scene overnight to watch the area.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - A 37-year-old man from Cameron Park, Kevin Van Streefkerk, has been arrested by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) after an investigation by detectives into the death of the man's 5 1/2-week-old infant.

According to EDSO reports, detectives were called to investigate a report of physical abuse against an infant. As a result of the abuse, the infant sustained numerous injuries and was taken to a hospital in critical condition on Saturday. Sadly, the infant succumbed to the trauma and passed away while in the hospital on June 18, 2023.

Tahoe National Forest, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, plans to prescribed burn up to 500 acres near French Meadows Reservoir, approximately 36 miles northeast of Foresthill, west of Lake Tahoe. Dependent on environmental conditions, the burn is planned to start June 21 and may last up to two weeks.

After ignitions, Tahoe National Forest fire staff will patrol and monitor the area 24 hours a day until the fire is determined out.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There was a quick response Tuesday to a reported vegetation fire at Vikingsholm on SR89 north of South Lake Tahoe. An emergency call was received at 1:41 p.m. for a "small vegetation fire."

Upon arrival, fire teams were able to extinguish the 2 ft x 2 ft fire.

CalFIRE responded since it is on California State Parks land. With the winds at Lake Tahoe Tuesday, any small fire is a threat so caution is urged.

The cause of the fire at this time is undetermined.

STATELINE, Nev. - One person was critically injured Monday morning after the vehicle they were driving left the roadway in front of Harveys Lake Tahoe crashing into the fence along US50.

At 10:25 a.m. on June 19, a red Kia Forte departed its westbound travel lane on US50, crashing into the fence line in front of the casino, and sticking it twice before returning to the roadway where it struck a vehicle stopped at the red light, causing that vehicle to then strike the car in front of it.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Former South Tahoe High School (STHS) basketball star Jerod Haase will be honored with a brick at Champions Plaza in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday, June 22 at 2 p.m.

The public is invited to celebrate Haase's contributions to the world of sports. The plaza honors local athletes that represent South Lake Tahoe on the national and international stage.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - During its meeting on June 15, 2023, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners approved a contract for Jenifer Davidson to serve as the county’s new county manager. Davidson took the role of interim county manager on June 6 and has been the assistant county manager since April 2016.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Low water levels at Lake Tahoe the last two years caused the closure of the boat ramp at El Dorado Beach by this time of year, but the City of South Lake Tahoe announced they will expand its hours starting Friday, June 16.

The ramp will be open Fridays through Mondays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and it will be closed on July 4.

Fees for the boat ramp are collected on-site and can be paid via debit or credit card. The 2023 summer boat ramp fees are as follows:

$ 17.00 Day Use
$ 138.00 Season Pass
$ 45.00 Tahoe Only Sticker

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County’s Emergency Management Director Kara Easton was officially appointed at the Board of County Commissioner’s meeting on June 15, 2023. Although Easton started her employment with Douglas County on May 8, the County was still under contract for Emergency Management services with East Fork Fire District through June 30, 2023. She assumes her official position on July 1, 2023.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) and Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) have joined forces and developed a new chipping program for residents in South Lake Tahoe and Meyers.

Requests are now being taken through an online portal that can be accessed on both the SLTFR and LVFPD websites at South Lake Tahoe or Lake Valley. Links can also be found on both of the agencies' Facebook pages.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The property that once housed the Elk's Club in Meyers and was home to years of flea markets is on the next agenda for the California Tahoe Conservancy. On Thursday, June 15, the Board will consider spending up to $1,200,000 on water quality improvements and creating better access to trails and the Upper Truckee River by reconstructing the parking lot and trail connections.

The Lake Valley Fire Protection District is currently accepting applications for a new job opening from qualified individuals for the position of Fire Safety Inspector I. The eligibility list established from this recruitment will be used to fill a new position. Under the direct supervision of the Fire Prevention Captain, with a 40-hour staff assignment to Fire Prevention, the Fire Safety Inspector I will perform a variety of tasks relating to Fire
Prevention and Community Risk Reduction including:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Timothy Mackey, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, pleaded guilty today to distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Mackey was a member of chat groups that shared child pornography on the social media platform LiveMe, including a group named “No Limit!!!” On Feb. 6, 2020, and Feb. 25, 2020, Mackey, using the username “bag of rock,” posted multiple images of child pornography in the “No Limit!!!” group.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Repair work on a 2.5-mile stretch of US50 between Pioneer Trail and Jewell Road gets started on Tuesday, June 13. Caltrans is alerting motorists that the work will be traffic-interfering as Granite Construction will be grinding down and repaving rough sections of pavement on US 50 in both directions.

This work is part of the $17.1 million Caldor Fire Restoration Project.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - While there have been parking challenges in the Heavenly neighborhood of South Lake Tahoe for several seasons, the past winter exposed the lack of adequate parking for those using Heavenly Mountain Resort. It was a chaotic scene on several weekends and holidays with cars stuck on the roads surrounding the resort, vehicles sliding and colliding on most streets, and residents in the area unable to get in and out of their driveways.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District's (NTLFPD) annual Summer Water Safety Program was a great success at Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

They thank their agency partners, Incline Village General Improvement District Recreation Center – Aquatics, for their support with lifeguard and water safety instruction and Nevada State Park for allowing them to continue this program by moving it to Sand Harbor. NLTFPD would also like to extend a special thank you to Raley’s at Incline for donating the food for the barbeque lunch.