News

Lake Tahoe ski resort closing dates updated

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - March snowstorms have helped push the Sierra snowpack to just about average, allowing the ski resorts to keep operations open at several Lake Tahoe ski resorts. The 2022/23 season ended with the Central Sierra snowpack at 192 percent of normal, and as of today that total is 99 percent with more snow forecast before the end of the month. April 1 is the date normally used as the highest water content for the Sierra snowpack.

Kirkwood announced they will remain open until April 28, and Heavenly's last date is April 21. Sierra at Tahoe will also close on April 21.

Karen Goldberg and Karin Holmes honored with California school administrator awards

The Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 2 celebrated its Administrators of the Year during a gathering at the Catta Verdera County Club in Lincoln.

This event spotlighted the dedication and achievements of educational leaders from ACSA's Region 2, which encompasses the Northern California counties of Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, and Yuba. Notably, several leaders from the El Dorado Charter received accolades for their exemplary service.

South Lake Tahoe Police Blotter

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to during the weeks of Mar. 11 - Mar. 24, 2024. Location Checks are when officers search an area at a certain address. Transient/Homeless arrests/citations and calls are those normally categorized in other columns (Drunk in Public, Trespassing, etc.) but stats are collected separately.

Log for March 11 - March 24, 2024

3/11

Arrests
16:16 Misd Domestic Assault - Occurred on Emerald Bay Rd. Disposition: Misdemeanor Arrest.

Forest Service, Aramark to host open house on potential development at Zephyr Cove Resort

Event Date: 
April 10, 2024 - 5:00pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – There will be a public meeting on April 10 to discuss potential new development at Zephyr Cove Resort. The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and Aramark Destinations, the company that manages Zephyr Cove Resort, want to hear from interested community members and stakeholders about possible changes at the popular resort along the shore at Zephyr Cove.

Winter Weather Advisory issued for Lake Tahoe area

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Lake Tahoe from 2 p.m. Wednesday to 11 a.m. Thursday for areas above 7,000 feet.

Lake level is not included in this advisory.

Snow is forecast for the Tahoe Basin above 7000 feet with accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, locally up to 16 inches along the Sierra crest. Winds gusting as high as 90 mph along ridgelines.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue invites public to wet down ceremony for new fire engine

Event Date: 
April 5, 2024 - 4:00pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) is inviting the public to see the newest addition to their fleet of firefighting apparatus. They will host a traditional new engine wet down and push-in ceremony to celebrate placing the new engine into service at Fire Station 1.

Small scale prescribed fire operations at Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Members of the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team (TFFT) will continue prescribed fire operations this week at Lake Tahoe, conditions and weather permitting. Smoke may be present throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding areas. View smoke management tips and the current air quality index at AirNow and the U.S.

Family of men attacked by mountain lion release updates on what happened, fundraising

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The family of the two young men involved in Saturday's mountain lion attack near Georgetown have released updated information. Taylen Robert Claude Brooks, 21, was killed, and his brother Wyatt Jay Charles Brooks, 18, was severely injured.

The following is from the Brooks/Welsh Family and Wyatt:

The week ahead in South Lake Tahoe - dry, sunny until mid-week, rain and snow through Easter

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Other than a slight chance of showers over the Sierra and western Basin this afternoon, the first half of the week will feature dry conditions and gradual warming, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno. The next storm arrives on Wednesday with periods of unsettled weather lasting through Easter weekend.

Liberty power outage in South Lake Tahoe

10PM Update: Over 500 customers of Liberty were without power for several hours Monday, with a handful still out at this hour. Liberty estimates all will be restored by 1:30 a.m.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A power outage was reported for a section of the South Shore Monday morning, just before 10 a.m. At this time, Liberty is reporting 3814 customers without electricity. It is affecting people from Elks Club to the Y in Meyers/South Lake Tahoe.

The cause of the unplanned outage is unknown at this time.

According to the Liberty outage map, the estimated restoral is by 2:30 p.m.

South Lake Tahoe annexation, new Lakeview Commons operators, and more at next Council meeting

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The next meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council will be held on Tuesday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Airport.

New business agenda items:

Keith Lewis, former Douglas schools chief, named executive director of Carson Valley Visitors Authority

CARSON VALLEY, Nev. - Keith Lewis will take the reins as the Carson Valley Visitors Authority’s (CVVA) executive director on April 2, 2024. He will be leading the organization’s tourism efforts. The CVVA’s mission is to connect and influence travelers to visit the four areas that fall within the visitors authority’s marketing region — Gardnerville, Genoa, Minden and Topaz Lake — under the forward-facing Visit Carson Valley brand.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office calls in Lake Tahoe area

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following calls 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.

Mar. 14 - Mar. 20, 2024

3/14
13:37 VERBAL DISTURBANCE IN PROGRESS - Occurred on Us Hwy 50, in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Disposition: REPORT TAKEN.

South Lake Tahoe Police Blotter

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to during the weeks of Feb. 26 - Mar. 10, 2024. Location Checks are when officers search an area at a certain address. Transient/Homeless arrests/citations and calls are those normally categorized in other columns (Drunk in Public, Trespassing, etc.) but stats are collected separately.

Log for February 26 - March 10, 2024

2/26

Arrests
04:00 ADW - Occurred at Margaritaville on Lake Tahoe Blvd. Disposition: Felony Arrest.

Mountain lion kills man in El Dorado County, injures his brother

SUNDAY UPDATE: Per a spokesman for the family, the 18-year-old victim has undergone multiple surgeries for his injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. The family is grateful for the prayers and condolences from the community however wishes for privacy to process this tragic event.

Additionally, there have been multiple “Go Fund Me” accounts allegedly set up in support of the family. These accounts are not associated with the family or authorized by the family, according to EDSO.

Douglas County School Board meeting: "Let's get back to the kids!"

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County School Board (DCSB) held a special meeting on Thursday to correct their actions the previous week when there was a violation of the Open Meeting Law (OML).

During their March 13 meeting, new board member Yvonne Wagstaff made a motion Tuesday to select Jeanne Dwyer as superintendent, and the motion passed 5-0 with current Board President David Burns and Past President Susan Jansen abstaining.

A look at the staffing numbers and budget comparison at LTUSD

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With potential layoffs pending for eight teachers and two high school administrators in Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD), speculation has been circulating that the District is too "top heavy."

For a comparison, we have looked at the budgets for the 2017-18, 2020-21, and 2023-24 school years. For the same years, we also looked at the number of staff at the District level and school enrollment.

LTUSD budget

City of South Lake Tahoe launches community survey

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe has initiated a resident survey to get input on government services and measure the quality of life in the community. The City plans to use the data in future strategic planning and priority setting. The survey allows more people to participate in shaping the future of South Lake Tahoe.

“We are excited to receive more input from the community on priorities. The survey will help us get a baseline understanding of our services and allow us to measure our impact going forward,” said City Manager Joe Irvin.

Spring weather is coming, and with it some very hungry bears - Keep Tahoe bears wild!

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – The snow will melt soon in the Lake Tahoe region and winter will give way to a busy spring for area wildlife. Bears that have been wintering in their dens will emerge soon and they will be hungry!

Winter Weather Advisory issued for Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just when you thought it was safe to start dreaming of spring and gardening, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Lake Tahoe Basin. The warning is in effect from 2 p.m. Friday to 11 a.m. Saturday.

Footprints in snow and mud lead law enforcement to South Lake Tahoe man hiding behind boulders

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A South Lake Tahoe man was arrested on Thursday after attempting to hide from law enforcement on the hill above Amerigas.

A deputy from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) attempted to pull over a vehicle being driven recklessly at approximately 10:51 a.m. on US50 near Elks Club Drive. The driver attempted to abscond from EDSO and hide his vehicle behind the local Amerigas. After attempting to hide his vehicle, the driver ran through the snow into the forested area attempting to flee from the deputy.

Suspect arrested for attempted lewdness with a child, other charges in Douglas County

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A 31-year-old Douglas County man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted lewdness with a child under 16 years of age, luring a child, using a child to produce pornography, and indecent or obscene exposure in the presence of a child.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) arrested Valeriu Monchamp of Gardnerville and he is currently in the Minden jail on a $225,649 bail hold.

El Dorado County VHR Advisory Committee presents list of recommended changes

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - El Dorado County Supervisor Brooke Laine held a community vacation home rental (VHR) meeting Wednesday to review the results of the 13-member VHR Advisory Committee. Laine put together a volunteer committee from many segments of the community to evaluate the current VHR ordinance over the last eight months. Their goal was to create a document to help reduce community divisiveness and discover where the community might find common interests and common ground on the design and management of its VHR Program.

More than $2M coming to El Dorado County for water projects

The House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which included Representative Kevin Kiley's request for more than $2 million in funding for projects in the El Dorado County region.

South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) will be receiving $1M for enhancing the resilience of critical water infrastructure.

Man facing multiple life sentences after South Lake Tahoe jury finds him guilty

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An El Dorado County man is facing multiple life sentences after being found guilty of 10 felonies in a South Lake Tahoe courtroom on March 6.

On July 17 and 18, 2021, Joshua Thomas Lee Gardner went to the Sunray Motel in South Lake Tahoe to collect a drug debt from a woman who lived there. Once inside her room, Gardner robbed the victim at gunpoint and threatened to kill her.

Possible changes in transportation services coming to South Lake Tahoe and Meyers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Transportation services on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe have changed over the years, going from free casino shuttles to the fun, Nifty Fifty trollies, and many other steps along the way. There have been many challenges, but a new proposition is in the works to help fix it.

Currently, the South Shore is serviced by two fixed bus routes along US50 provided by the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD). There is a large area that is not serviced by a bus, including Meyers (except for paratransit services).

Conservancy announces acquisition of Motel 6 property and surrounding sensitive land

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After months of negotiations, Motel 6 in South Lake Tahoe and the 31 surrounding acres are being sold, and escrow should close in the coming weeks. The motel, the adjacent vacant restaurant, and the parking lot will be removed and the environmentally sensitive land along the Upper Truckee River will be restored and preserved.

The land was owned by the Knox Johnson family.

Contract signed as ExplorUS expands operations at Camp RIchardson to include marina

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Even though the U.S. Forest Service gave the 20-year concessionaire permit for Camp Richardson to ExplorUS, the marina was still owned and operated by Bob Hassett and Camp Richardson Resort Incorporated (CRRI). Hassett was the former concessionaire of the government-owned resort.

A one-year contract was signed this month to have ExplorUS take over operations of the marina.

College Bound Lake Tahoe hosts guided workshop for parents

Event Date: 
March 20, 2024 - 8:30am

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - College Bound Lake Tahoe (CBLT) will host a free workshop for parents on Wednesday, March 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Family Resource Center (FRC) in South Lake Tahoe. The workshop is meant to prepare parents to ensure their children meet the high school graduation requirements needed to attend college.

CBLT is a collaboration between the Lake Tahoe Community College Dual Enrollment program, the FRC, and the Lake Tahoe Unified School District.

"Bear Aware" more than a snappy slogan - it shows how human behavior must change at Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The black bears who call Lake Tahoe home need the humans that live and visit there to know proper bear behavior. And it isn't the behavior of the bears, but of the humans, that will keep the bears healthy and alive.

Bears have started to emerge from their winter lodging, and they need humans to properly secure their food and property to ensure their survival. The sooner in a bear's life we do this, the better the chance they have to safely coexist with humans.

Small-scale prescribed fire operations continue at Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Members of the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team (TFFT) will continue prescribed fire operations this week at Lake Tahoe, conditions and weather permitting. Smoke may be present throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding areas. View smoke management tips and the current air quality index at AirNow and the U.S.

Enjoy the dry and quiet weather at Lake Tahoe while it lasts - snow and rain expected at end of week

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif - The dry and quiet weather pattern with a warming trend continues in the region through midweek. The only exception will be the slight chance for some isolated showers and thunderstorms along the Sierra crest on Tuesday afternoon. Enjoy it while it lasts because we`re in for a bit of a rude awakening by the time the weekend comes around. More winter-like conditions will be resurging Friday into the weekend with a trend to wetter, colder conditions, and snow.

Fix a Leak Week March 18-22 - Help prevent 1 trillion gallons of water wasted annually through leaks

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Did you know that nearly 1 trillion gallons of water is wasted from household leaks yearly across the country? Join the nation and South Tahoe Public Utility District (District) during Fix a Leak Week, March 18 to 24, to save water and money.

Sponsored by EPA's WaterSense® program, Fix a Leak Week is an annual event that promotes water conservation by supporting utility customers as they chase down and repair leaks in their homes.

Team Tahoe on Capitol Hill in support of extending the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - It was the late California Senator Diane Feinstein who dubbed those who protect our beautiful lake "Team Tahoe." Since she and the late Nevada Senator Harry Reed hosted the first Lake Tahoe Summit, over $1B has been allocated through the bi-partisan Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA) in 2000 and 2016 for projects around Lake Tahoe to keep sediments from entering the lake, keep forests healthy, remove invasive species, along with other projects.

California Dream for All first-time homebuyer program opens again in April

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California program to help first-time, first-generational home buyers with a down payment will be starting again in April, and for those interested in being part of it the time is now to start preparing.

The California Dream for All program exhausted approximately $300 million of funding within 11 days last year. It was a first-come-first-served loan program in 2023, and for 2024 it will award funds on a lottery system.

The down payment assistance program opens again to California residents on April 3.

El Dorado County Sheriff's calls in the Lake Tahoe area

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following calls 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.

Mar. 7 - Mar. 13, 2024

3/7

14:31 SNOW TOW - Occurred on Wintoon Dr, in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day responsibly: Designate a sober driver, your lucky charm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations here, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD_ will be on alert for suspected impaired drivers. The community is reminded to celebrate responsibly by designating a sober driver, your lucky charm, for a safe and enjoyable celebration. Additional officers will be on patrol on March 17 looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Second special LTUSD meeting of the week: Budget cuts could still eliminate teachers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Tuesday's special meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) did not meet the requirements of the Brown Act as public comment was not allowed until after the board voted on the agenda item.

Douglas County 2024-25 budget hearings planned

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County is holding a budget kickoff session, followed by a series of budget hearings for the fiscal year 2024-25 tentative budget planning. At these meetings, the Board of County Commissioners will discuss the development of the upcoming fiscal year operating budgets. County departments will provide presentations and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

With Love, From Tahoe: A Stewardship Journey for Lake Tahoe's Future - Author Kristen Schwartz shares Tahoe tales with a call to action

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Lake Tahoe is the focus of a new all-ages book by local author/illustrator Kristen Schwartz. “With Love, From Tahoe—Stories About Simple Things We Can Do to Protect Lake Tahoe” delves into the heart of Tahoe's environmental challenges and offers practical solutions for preservation.

South Lake Tahoe City Council votes to update ADU codes that hope to ease housing crunch

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As regulations change around Lake Tahoe and start to allow more accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to help ease the housing crunch, the South Lake Tahoe City Council updated its ADU codes. During their Tuesday meeting, the Council unanimously voted to amend its current code.

In 2021, the City of South Lake Tahoe adopted an ADU ordinance, and changes at the state level on January 1 required the City to follow with amendments to its code,

South Lake Tahoe City Council gives rental assistance and abandoned structures items a yes, rental registry a no

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe City Council heard several items during its meeting on Tuesday, including the passing of items meant to alleviate housing issues in the community.

Rental Assistance

City of South Lake Tahoe to spend over $4.8 million on road projects in 2024

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe will be spending over $4.8M on its road rehabilitation projects this year.

There are 257 lanes miles of roads in the city limits. To fix them all it would cost $225M, but that is far above the budget so the Public Works department will start on these areas in 2024:

The main project will be a 4" mill and overlay on Keller and Saddle roads - 4.85 lane miles for $2.6M. The road there is currently low-rated and in need of attention.

Highway audit of US50 and SR89 in South Lake Tahoe completed

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In 2023, Caltrans unveiled its plan to raise speed limits along three segments of US50 and SR89 after their tests showed drivers consistently went over the speed limit in those areas. The public and the City of South Lake Tahoe disagreed and objected to the plan due to safety and other concerns in these areas. At the time, Caltrans agreed to keep the existing speed limits in place with a plan to hold a workshop to go over the results with the City and come up with solutions.

Second special LTUSD board meeting for discussion of reduction in workforce

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to concerns brought forward regarding a procedural process at the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) special board meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, along with the Board’s interest in providing an additional opportunity for public comment regarding the reduction in force, the Board will hold a special meeting on Friday, March 15, at noon at the District Office.

Tree fell on powerlines over US50 west of Sierra at Tahoe, road closed

UPDATE: The road has reopened.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Traffic is being held between Sierra at Tahoe and Twin Bridges as a tree and powerlines are cleared from US50. There is no estimated time for the road to be cleared.

At 10:58 a.m., a call was received by the California Highway Patrol, stating a tree fell onto a powerline. PG&E is on the way to take care of the situation.

No other information is available at this time.

Gardnerville teen dies in single vehicle crash on Jacks Valley Road

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A 19-year-old Gardnerville man died at the scene after an early morning crash on Thursday.

The Nevada State Police responded to a crash at 12:39 a.m. on March 14 on Jacks Valley Road near Bavarian Drive in Douglas County near the curve in the road north of Genoa Lakes.

Wind an issue at Lake Tahoe until warming trend settles in

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a High Wind Warning that will be in place until 5 p.m. Thursday. It will be followed by a Lake Wind Advisory from 5 p.m. Thursday to 5 p.m. Friday.

For the High Wind Warning, expect northeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts 40 to 50 mph for the Lake Tahoe Basin. Ridge wind gusts could be over 100 mph. Wave heights up to 5 feet on Lake Tahoe. For the Lake Wind Advisory, winds will be from the northeast 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph and wave heights of 1 to 3 feet.

Douglas County School Board missteps in offer to interim superintendent, special meeting planned

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - In a move that wasn't on the agenda, the Douglas County School Board voted to offer Jeanne Dwyer the job she has been filling on an interim basis.

With RIF deadline Thursday, Lake Tahoe Unified School District to advise ten people of possible layoffs

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a tough meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) on Tuesday, with a reduction in force (RIF) being the sole topic. With a RIF March 15 deadline looming, the trustees had to pass a resolution to inform certified staff members that could be laid off if more funding could not be found.

"This is not a time or place we'd like to be here right now," said LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Todd Cutler.

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