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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), in partnership with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), has begun the largest invasive plant removal project at Lake Tahoe. This new project will remove 17 acres of invasive plants in the Taylor and Tallac creeks and marshes as part of a comprehensive restoration of one of the last natural wetlands in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Left unchecked, aquatic invasive plants can have devastating effects on Tahoe’s ecosystem and recreational resources.

The South Lake Tahoe Tourism Improvement District (SLTTID) meeting has added a virtual option to its meeting today, Thursday, December 16 at 1:00 p.m. They will also continue to hold the in-person meeting as well in the Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority Conference Room at 169 US Hwy 50 Stateline, Nev.

The agenda for the meeting:

A. Call to Order
B. Roll Call
C. Introduction of Guests and Staff
D. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting
E. Approval of Agenda
F. Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items, 5-Minute Limit)

AGENDA

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Unified School District is on a snow day today, Thursday, December 16.

Tahoe Truckee Unified School District is also on a snow day, all schools are closed. All school activities are canceled unless notified otherwise.

Lake Tahoe Community College will open at 10:00 a.m. due to a power outage on campus. The first final exam block is at 11:00 a.m. There are hot showers in the gym available for students and staff.

All WCSD schools will be on a two-hour delay for Thursday, Dec. 16 due to hazardous road conditions. Winter bus stops in effect.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Liberty crews continue to work around the clock to restore power, including rebuilding electric infrastructure in areas that can be safely accessed.

According to Liberty, most customers had their power restored today but, as of 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, about 1,900 customers were still out of power.

Because of severe storm damage, avalanche conditions, and inaccessibility, some customers may be out of power for an extended period, said a Liberty spokesperson.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The El Dorado County, Department of Transportation, Tahoe Engineering Unit is holding a public meeting for the Apache Avenue Pedestrian Safety and Connectivity Project on Thursday, December 16 at 5:30 p.m.

This project will include the construction of roadway improvements on lower Apache Avenue from Highway 50 to East San Bernardino that will include a shared-use path, sidewalk, drainage, and roadway safety improvements.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors yesterday unanimously appointed
Karen Garner as Director of Planning and Building, effective January 1, 2022.

“We are delighted to have someone of Karen’s caliber join the County and help lead the department through the current challenging issues and those that are on the horizon,” said John Hidahl, Board chair. “She has an
excellent background which is well suited to take on the responsibilities of this position.”

JoAnne unexpectedly passed away on December 1, 2021, while knitting, one of her favorite pastimes.

She was born in San Francisco on February 19, 1944, to Robert and Dorothy Henderson. She grew up in Rialto, Calif., graduating from St. Bernadine’s High School in 1961. Thereafter, she attended San Bernardino Valley College. In 1965, she graduated from San Francisco State College earning her Teacher’s Credential. She began her teaching career in Santa Rosa, a profession she dearly loved and dedicated her life to.

MEYERS, Calif. - All the snow that fell at Lake Tahoe this week helped one local business open up before the holidays - Tube Tahoe. They will open on Saturday, December 18, and operate from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Tube Tahoe has winter operations at Tahoe Paradise Golf at 3201 US 50 in Meyers and offers people a way to enjoy the snow in a safe environment. At over 500 feet in length, their machine groomed tubing lanes are some of the longest in the area. The price of admission covers a tube rental and 1.5 hours of hill use.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As many around Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada still try and dig out from the first storm this week, another is brewing and heading to the mountains.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from Wednesday, December 15 at 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 16.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two-to-three feet of snow fell overnight through the South Shore, creating havoc on roads, power outages, and closures.

Every resource from all agencies involved in power restoral and road clearing is in the field, working as quickly as possible.

The City of South Lake Tahoe said their crews are working two 12-hour shifts in the eight zones the city is divided into for snow removal. There are 10 staff members on those teams. With so much snow, expect plow gates on the first run through neighborhoods to not be able to contain all snow.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe had planned on having a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for youth ages 5 to 11 years on Tuesday, but due to power outages and unplowed roads, it has been postponed to Tuesday, December 21 during the same hours, from 3:00 p.m. - 7;00 p.m.

UPDATE 2:00 PM: As the power outage continues to affect the medical offices located on Barton Health's California campus, today's appointments will be rescheduled. Patients will be contacted by their provider's office to reschedule.

Services located within the Center including Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Rehabilitation, and Performance will be rescheduled as needed; patients will be contacted if their appointment is being rescheduled.

Services within the hospital will continue as scheduled.

Patients experiencing a medical emergency are instructed to call 9-1-1.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is no school today around Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe Unified School District- Due to snow and further anticipated school, all schools are closed.

Lake Tahoe Community College - Is closed. All finals scheduled for Tuesday are moved to Thursday.

Douglas County - All Valley Schools, (Valley and DNO) will be on a 90-minuted delayed start today, Tuesday. December 14th due to hazardous road conditions.

Classes will begin and buses will pick up students 90 minutes later than regularly scheduled.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A Winter Storm Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno for the Greater Lake Tahoe and Minden/Gardnerville area. The warning is in effect from 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 13, through 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 14, 2021.

Due to the potential of significant snow and high winds creating hazardous road conditions Douglas County officials have closed the following Lake Tahoe offices for Tuesday, December 14, 2021:

Kahle Community Center (Closed beginning at 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 13th)
Douglas County Lake Tahoe Library Branch

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Three more bear cubs have arrived at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) in South Lake Tahoe. Thelma, Louise, and Bodie arrived and have joined Ponderosa who came last week.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Members of the Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club were able to resume the annual Children's Christmas Party for deserving families from Live Violence Free and Sierra Child Services. After two years of COVID-caused cancelations, the club was able to help make the season brighter for the families.

Also joining in the festivities were children of Rotarians and high school volunteers.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A look at area schools for Monday, December 13:

There is school today for students in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District. Buses will get to their first bus stop on time and adjust their driving speed to accommodate conditions. They start picking up middle school, then high school followed by elementary schools.

Douglas County schools at Lake Tahoe, Whittell High School, and Zephyr Cove Elementary are closed due to snow.

As winter truly sets in, a number of folks have expressed concern about Tamarack and the other orphaned cubs moving around the South Shore as it pertains to their survival over winter alone.

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.

Report for December 2 - December 8

12/2

17:04 DECEASED PERSON - Occurred on Bonanza Ave, in South Lake Tahoe. Disposition: REPORT TAKEN.

Get into the spirit of the Holiday Season with an afternoon of festive fun at Wylder Hotel Hope Valley on Saturday, December 18 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Kids can craft their own festive Christmas wreaths and tree ornaments, and enjoy delightful holiday treats. The joyous afternoon will be finished off with an entertaining reading of the Christmas classic, The Night Before Christmas.

The Holiday Celebration is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Wylder Hope Valley General Store, located 300 yds. east of Wylder Hotel Hope Valley on CA Hwy 88.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A few weeks ago, a USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) wilderness ranger discovered a very large, illegal campfire near Round Lake in Meiss Country. Meiss Country is a popular backcountry destination south of Lake Tahoe on Highway 89 that receives approximately 50,000 visitors each year. Fortunately, the ranger was able to extinguish the illegal fire before it could spread to the forest and cause another devastating wildfire.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The first confirmed case of COVID-19 identified as the Omicron variant has occurred in El Dorado County.

“This was not unexpected,” said El Dorado County Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams. “The variant has already been detected in at least 25 U.S. states, including California. Since the first case involving a California resident (which was also the first in the U.S.) was identified on December 1, 2021, in a traveler who had returned from South Africa on November 22, several other California counties have identified cases among their residents.”

There have been 22 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths recorded since yesterday in El Dorado County. This brings the total of COVID-19 cases in the county to 16,859. In the Quad Counties, there were 9 deaths, 222 new cases this week. In Placer County, the average daily new cases are 60.43, and there were 15 new deaths recorded this week.

EL DORADO COUNTY

Pollock Pines, Camino, Kyburz - 966 cases - +0 - The 14-day new case rate is 28 with 206 per 100,000 residents.
El Dorado Hills - 3596 cases - +5 - The 14-day new case rate is 61 with 144 per 100,000 residents.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care has a new guest in residence, Ponderosa the bear cub.

The 25-pound black bear arrived at the South Lake Tahoe facility Thursday. He had been watched by the community of Ponderosa which is located east of Porterville, Calif., near the Sequoia National Forest. It is unknown how he became separated from his mother.