News

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The snow year is off to a good start for 2022-23 after this month's snow followed by rain covering the mountains that feed into California and Nevada's water supply.

As of December 29, the snowpack in the central Sierra is at 154 percent of the average for this date, and 52 percent of the April 1 average. The snow water equivalent is 14.4 inches, the amount of water contained and collected should the snow melt. The state as a whole is close, with snowpack at 156 percent of the average for the date, and 51 percent of the April 1 average.

Nevada’s nonrestricted gaming licensees reported a total “gaming win” of $1,220,869,734 for the month of November 2022, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board's monthly report released today. This amounts to a 7.62 percent decrease compared to November 2021, when licensees reported a gaming win of $1,321,592,551. For the fiscal year (July 1, 2022 through October 31, 2022), the gaming win has barely increased, up by .76 percent.

The "gaming win" represents the computed income of casinos before business expenses and taxes.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - County officials are informing residents to prepare for flooding due to storms moving through the region this Friday through Sunday. A Flood Watch is in effect for the Lake Tahoe Basin and Western Nevada from Friday morning through Saturday evening. Douglas County residents could expect to see some road closures on arterial roads such as Mottsville, Centerville Lane, Muller Lane, and Genoa Lane. Residents are encouraged to check the Douglas County website and social media channels for updates on flooding and road closures.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The end-of-the-year numbers concerning fentanyl in California show the state's National Guard and other agencies have confiscated 28,765 pounds of the deadly drug in 2022. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) said this amount is enough to kill every person in North America two times.

This is a 594 percent increase in the amount seized when compared to 2021.

When roads are wet from rain, water over the roadway reduces your vehicle’s tire traction. Add to that the fact that rain can reduce or impair a driver’s view of the road, and it’s easy to see that driving in the rain needs to be treated with extra caution.

Statewide, more than 175 crashes occurred in inclement weather between Oct. 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022, including two fatalities. Many of the crashes were due to unsafe driving in the rain, snow, and other wet conditions, such as driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or failing to maintain a lane and overcorrecting.

TUESDAY UPDATE: There is an update on the locations of the bags. Public Works Maintenance Yard at 1160 Rufus Allen will not be providing sandbags and it will be at the Recreation Center at 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd., in the back parking lot. Both this location and the fire station are open 24x/7 and bringing a shovel is recommended since supplies are limited.

El Dorado County is also offering sandbags. They are at 1834 Santa Fe Ave. in Meyers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A family disagreement led to one man allegedly shooting another person on Friday night in South Lake Tahoe.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) responded to a call on December 23 of a person injured by a gunshot in the 800 block of Gardner Street in South Lake Tahoe.

Upon arrival, they found one person with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. That person was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries according to SLTPD Sgt. Brian Hannick.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South and West Shore, including Meyers, South Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay, Tahoma, and the Echo Summit area. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at the time of the story.

December 15 - December 21, 2022:

12/15

09:36 CIVIL INCIDENT - Officer initiated activity at Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe. Disposition: SERVED.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Alpine County Public Health Officer Dr. Richard Johnson has issued a warning after multiple attendees at the Kirkwood 50th anniversary celebration have been diagnosed with COVID.

On Saturday evening December 17, approximately 200 people attended the party in the "old lodge" at the Kirkwood Mountain Ski Resort.

Johnson said it has been reported to his department that most attendees were the “old timers.”

Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) is informing the public they will be holding a second public hearing on its intention to adopt a Fire Code Ordinance.

The District shall hold its second public hearing on the adoption of the 2022 Fire Code Ordinance at 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at the LVFPD Station 7, 2211 Keetak St, South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

STATELINE, Nev. - Latitude 39, a luxury 40-unit condominium project with retail and a restaurant, is planned for the 1.81-acre property located at the corner of US50 and Lake Parkway at Stateline, Nev. It will be across the street from the new Tahoe Blue Events Center which will be completed in 2023.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The sale of flavored tobacco begins this week in South Lake Tahoe and the rest of California despite a plea from tobacco companies to postpone the ban. Last week, the California Supreme Court rejected a plea from the tobacco industry to block the state's ban on flavored tobacco products.

The ban, Proposition 31, was overwhelmingly passed by California voters in November.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev., Dec. 19, 2022 – Members of the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team (TFFT) may continue prescribed fire operations this week at Lake Tahoe as conditions and weather allow. Nevada Division of Forestry and the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District are scheduled to burn piles near Incline Village and Spooner Lake. Smoke will be present. For current air quality, visit AirNow.

The following areas on the map above are planned locations this week:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Lake Tahoe City Manager, Joe Irvin, has appointed Lindsey Baker as the assistant city manager, effective January 3, 2023. Baker will assume full oversight of the Communications Division, Parks and Recreation Department, and Human Resources. She originally joined the City of South Lake Tahoe as the assistant to the city manager and public information officer in June 2021. She will continue to serve as the public information officer.

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. - The new $65 million Base to Base Gondola opened this weekend, connecting the two valleys of the resort, making Palisades Tahoe the largest ski resort in California.

The Gondola will transport guests over 2.4 miles between The Village at Palisades Tahoe and the Alpine Lodge, allowing expert skiers and riders to unload at the KT-22 mid-station, KT Mid, should they desire. The ride from The Village to Alpine is expected to take about 16 minutes and will allow guests to experience both mountains without adding vehicles on the road.

Ridership on the El Dorado Transit buses which connect South Lake Tahoe to the West Slope and Sacramento has increased 47 percent this year, going from an average of 17.1 passengers per bus in 2021 to 25.2 passengers this year. This marks ridership that is steadily increasing toward pre-pandemic levels.

The affordable mode of transportation allows riders to go from either the Stateline Transit Center or the South Lake Tahoe Y Transit Center to Placerville, Cameron Park, and the Amtrak station in Sacramento. The one-way cost is $20 for all locations except for Amtrak, which is $34.

Crews from Caltrans have been able to reopen SR-89 around Emerald Bay. Snow from two series of storms led to the road shutting down. The road reopened Thursday with chain controls, and those controls have since been removed.

Before starting on any journey in the Sierra, check https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ as conditions can change.

There is little to no parking available along the highway, and parking spots are available at the Vikingsholm lot and, if snow is cleared, at the entrance to Eagle Falls.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - High pressure will continue to block storms from reaching the Sierra and western Nevada through the weekend. Due to the snow cover and light winds, we will continue to see below-normal temperatures.

Lake Tahoe will see slowly warming temperatures throughout the upcoming week. For Monday to Wednesday, models hint at a subtle, quick-moving trough to the north. There is a low possibility of snow showers during this time though there will be some gusty winds.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) project to improve safety for walkers and cyclists along US50 needed an agreement from the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) to allow access and easements to move forward. During its board meeting Thursday, the CTC board unanimously approved the items needed to support the safety project that will add street lighting, painted bike lanes, improved bicycle signage, and enhanced crosswalk visibility along the highway. The project extends from the South Lake Tahoe “Y” east to the intersection with Pioneer Trail.

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - Douglas County School District has released a Lake Schools Bus Notice for Thursday and Friday, December 15-16.

Due to current road conditions, bus RT 202 will be using these main stops:

- For George Whittell High School - the stop for Upper Kingsbury /Tramway/ area will be at SKI and TINA from 6:30 a.m. to 6:40 a.m.
- The stop for Chimney Rock students will be KINGSBURY and MANOR at 7:02 a.m.
- All other stops remain the same

- For Zephyr Cove Elementary School - the stop for Upper Kingsbury/ Tramway/Andria area will be SKI and TINA from 7:40 a.m. to 7:50 a.m.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The majority of Liberty Utilities customers around South Lake Tahoe and Meyers have had their power restored after Saturday's storm left thousands in the dark.

Anyone out of power that hasn’t received a message from Liberty is being asked to please report it, as it is possible there are individual outages the utility may be unaware of

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As over 3,000 Liberty Utilities customers in South Lake Tahoe and Meyers experience another day without power, there will be light at the end of the tunnel for many Tuesday at 6 p.m.

That is when another large section of customers should be back online according to Liberty Sr. Director of Operations Lindsay Maruncic.

"We are working on clearing a major outage today," said Maruncic Tuesday afternoon.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During the annual realignment of the South Lake Tahoe City Council, Cristi Creegan was elected as mayor, and Cody Bass was elected mayor pro team.

The terms are for one year but Bass brought up again his desire to make these two positions for nine months so all five would have a chance to be mayor during their four-year term as a council member. It was approved previously but the City Code prevented it so any future changes would have to result in a code change.

This message is from Liberty Utilities due to the number of downed power lines around South Lake Tahoe.

Safety is their top priority.

Please check your property for any downed wires prior to leaving your home or removing snow. If you see a downed wire, please stay at least 30 feet away and call them immediately at 1-844-245-6868.