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Heavenly Mountain Resort prepares for opening day Friday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Opening day at Heavenly Mountain Resort is planned for Friday, November 20, with ski and snowboard operations exclusive for all pass holders until December 8.

This year there are many changes due to COVID-19 and Vail says their goal is to prioritize pass holders, including those who have the Epic Day Pass. Those with passes need to reserve their day on the slopes as does the general non-pass holding public.

There will be no ticket sales at the Vail ski resorts this season and all is conducted virtually except for sightseeing rides.

Mountain View Fire near Walker burns almost 21,000 acres; US395 remains closed

The Mountain View Fire near Walker, California has burned 20,879 acres according to the Mono County Sheriff's Office. There has been one fatality due to the fire which started Tuesday when a fallen powerline ignited dry brush. Winds drove the flames rapidly, finally stopping progress when rain started to fall overnight.

Fire operations report that damage assessments are underway and it could be days before its safe for residents to return. Evacuation orders are still in effect for Walker, Coleville and Topaz.

Heavy wet snow blankets Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The overnight snow storm that hit the Sierra Tuesday night left over a foot of snow on the mountains around Lake Tahoe.

Ten inches of new snow fell overnight at Homewood Mountain Resort’s summit on Lake Tahoe’s west shore, and two inches at the base (lake level). With a winter storm warning in effect until 6:00 p.m. tonight, the National Weather Service forecast is calling for another 4-8” of snow throughout the day today, and 1-3” tonight.

Heavenly staff reports 16" of snow overnight.

COVID-19 case update for Lake Tahoe area counties

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 97 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, 21 are in El Dorado Hills, ten in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, three in North County, two in South County, 14 in Greater Placerville, eight in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, five in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, and 33 in Lake Tahoe region. There are three positive results awaiting address confirmation.

One of those new cases, six are under the age of 18, 50 are aged 18-49, 23 are aged 50-64, and 18 aged 65 or older.

Boil water order in place for North Upper Truckee area

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Tahoe Public Utility District has issued a boil water alert for the North Upper Truckee neighborhood for all streets off North Upper Truckee between Highway 50 and Zuni Drive, and the Chiapa neighborhood. The boil water advisory is issued out of an abundance of caution and is expected to be resolved by Thursday evening or Friday morning.

New fire starts in Douglas County near Foothill

UPDATE 7:25PM: Voluntary evacuations have been lifted for residents around the fire. Mottsville remains closed, but should be cleared soon according to Douglas County officials.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A new fire has started in Douglas County in the Foothill area at the base of Kingsbury Grade. Voluntary evacuations have been put in place for the Apple Creek, Foothill, Mottsville and surrounding areas, all who have been asked to remain alert and stay vigilant.

Three fires burning from Doyle to Walker; all fed by high winds

UPDATE 8:15PM: The Mountain View Fire is currently burning around the community of Walker. Due to the fast moving nature of the fire, an Evacuation Order has been issued for the Walker, Coleville and Topaz areas, and US 395 is still closed from Bridgeport to the Nevada state line. There is 0 percent containment and 5,000 acres burned according to Inci-web. Liberty Utilities has de-energized the communities of Walker and Coleville up to Topaz at the state line for safety precautions. Liberty is working with all emergency agencies and will safely restore power when possible.

New stop signs installed on South Lake Tahoe streets to improve safety

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are three new stop signs in the Rocky Point neighborhood of South Lake Tahoe in response to complaints about speeding vehicles and unclear lines of sight.

Last week City of South Lake Tahoe Public Works staff installed stop signs at Chonokis Road and Rocky Point Road, and on Montreal Avenue at Moss and Fern roads.

The City hired a traffic engineer to do an assessment of the conditions after they received complaints and requests to look at speeders using the neighborhood to bypass Highway 50/Lake Tahoe Boulevard through the casino corridor.

Lake Tahoe Christmas Tree permits sold out in one day

Christmas tree permits for National Forest lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin are now sold out! They went on sale one day ago and all 2,000 online permits were issued on a first-come, first served basis.

Nearby Eldorado, Humboldt-Toiyabe and Tahoe national forests are also selling Christmas tree permits online. Check permit availability for these forests at www.recreation.gov.

No additional permits will be authorized for this season.

In addition, Christmas trees may be purchased from private Christmas tree farms in El Dorado, Nevada and Placer counties.

Non-essential services offered by City of South Lake Tahoe moved remotely

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The state has moved El Dorado County, and subsequently, South Lake Tahoe moved into the purple tier at noon on Tuesday. With the new restrictions on businesses, non-essential City of South Lake Tahoe offices will be closed. City employees working in non-essential offices will be available either by e-mail or telephone to the public.

El Dorado County schedules COVID-19 Town Hall meeting with health and education panel

Event Date: 
November 19, 2020 - 5:30pm

El Dorado County is hosting a virtual Town Hall meeting with a panel of experts from the health and education fields to explain the current COVID-19 situation on November 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Those on the panel:

Dr. Dean Blumberg - Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist, UC Davis
Dr. Clint Purvance - President/CEO Barton Health
Siri Nelson - President/CEO Marshall Medical
Nicole Ebrahimi-Nuyken - El Dorado County Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Director
Ed Manansala - County Superintendent, El Dorado County Office of Education

Tahoe Chamber to hold virtual Town Hall meeting on moving to purple tier

Event Date: 
November 20, 2020 - 3:00pm

UPDATE - This meeting has been changed to 3:00 p.m. from the originally scheduled 11:00 a.m.

Now that El Dorado County has been moved to the most restrictive Tier 1 Purple starting Tuesday the Tahoe Chamber has scheduled a virtual Town Hall meeting for Friday, November 20 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Local health experts will discuss what steps need to be made to reduce cases, and what modifications local businesses need to make to stay open safely.

Featured Speakers:
Dr. Nancy Williams, El Dorado County Public Health Officer
Dr. Clint Purvance, Barton Health President and CEO

Former Lake Tahoe News now offers archives for free

Stories published on Lake Tahoe News are now free in archival form.

Lake Tahoe News was the preeminent source for news about the greater Lake Tahoe area from 2009-18. When it closed in summer 2018 the site was accessible via a paywall. That has been removed so people may access past stories without paying a fee.

Tahoe Fund calls for projects to fund that help preserve the Lake Tahoe Basin

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fund has kicked off its annual Request for Projects process, a time they seek applications seeking funds of $5,000 to 1,000,000 to complete their goals to help preserve Lake Tahoe.

The funding for projects are designed to restore Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity, create healthier forests, improve transportation, create more sustainable recreation, and inspire greater stewardship in the region.

Safety grant awarded to South Lake Tahoe Police Department

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) has been awarded a $86,126 grant to combat recognized traffic issues in the city limits including DUI, pedestrian, and motorcycle enforcement.

The safety of everyone traveling is the focus of the grant with efforts to reduce deaths and injuries on South Lake Tahoe roads and to improve traffic analysis, reporting, and data collection.

The one-year grant is for the 2021 federal fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021.

Lake Tahoe storm upgraded from "watch" to "warning"

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - We are already experiencing the winds that are accompanying the latest storm for the Lake Tahoe Basin. The High Wind Warning is in effect until 4:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Winds are from the south to southwest winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. There are hazardous boating conditions on Lake Tahoe with waves 3 to 6 feet from mid-lake to north and east shores.

COVID-19 case update for Lake Tahoe area counties

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 64 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday. Of those, 18 are in El Dorado Hills, eight in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, four in North County, four in Greater Placerville, three in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, one in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, and 24 in Lake Tahoe region. There are two results awaiting address confirmation.

One of those new cases, seven are under the age of 18, 40 are aged 18-49, 13 are aged 50-64, and four aged 65 or older.

South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County join much of the state in the purple tier of COVID-19 restrictions

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The State of California today announced new COVID-19 tier assignments, moving El Dorado County into Tier 1 Purple starting at noon on Tuesday, November 17. This date has been changed from the county's previously announced noon on Thursday.

Under the Purple Tier, the following sectors are permitted for OUTDOOR ONLY operations These sectors must still maintain mitigation measures (social distancing, face covering, and sanitization):

-Cardrooms, satellite wagering

Prescribed fire operations scheduled at five locations around Lake Tahoe this week

North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts and California State Parks are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations this week, weather permitting. Smoke may be visible.

Scheduled operations at five locations this week:

Sugar Pine State Park - California State Parks, West of Hwy 89, along S Fire Rd and Campground Rd, 20.00 acres

Burton Creek State Park - California State Parks, North of Rocky Ridge, West of
North Tahoe High School, 17.00 acres

Another little burst of winter in the Lake Tahoe forecast

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It will be mild and quiet through Monday. The next storm moves in Tuesday for another round of strong winds, especially in eastern
California and far western Nevada. Rain and higher elevation snow are likely later Tuesday and Wednesday with travel in the Sierra affected. Temperatures will fall closer to average for the middle to the latter portion of the week, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

There is a High Wind Watch and a Winter Weather Watch in place for the Lake Tahoe Basin, though lake level should not see much snow.

High wind and winter weather watches issued for Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are two new weather watches issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin this week, but most of the impacts will be above the 6500 foot elevation.

First come the winds. A High Wind Watch is in effect Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Winds will be front the south 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. Stronger wind gusts to 75 mph are possible in Nevada for wind-prone areas along and west of Highway 395 and Interstate 580. Exposed ridges are likely to gust over 100 mph.

Two more students in LTUSD test positive for COVID-19; All contacts notified

UPDATE 11/16/20: Lake Tahoe Unified School District has issued a correction to their statement from Sunday. At Sierra House Elementary no students or staff have tested positive. One family member of a student tested positive so the student is currently quarantined.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) sent out a notice to staff and families Sunday night to inform them of two new positive cases of COVID-19 in the district.

El Dorado County to vote on changes to VHR ordinance including 1,050 cap of Lake Tahoe permits

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The Board of Supervisors will consider changes to the El Dorado County Vacation Home Rental Ordinance at its November 17 meeting. The 2:00 p.m. time certain public hearing will contain consideration of a cap of 1,050 total permits issued in the unincorporated portion of the Tahoe Basin.

A waiting list would be created for those wanting a VHR permit after the 1,050 number is met. The waiting list request shall become void upon change in ownership.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

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.

Last Week's Log: http://southtahoenow.com/story/11/08/2020/el-dorado-county-sheriffs-report

This Week's Log:

11/8

Change in store for Lake Tahoe Unified School District Trustees

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Board of Trustees will have a change December 15 with a changing of the guard on the Area 4
seat. Trustee Troy Matthews decided to not run for reelection so he could spend more time with his family which includes a new baby girl.

Kudos: Goal Club and Lady Vikings thank community

The South Tahoe High Goal Club and Lady Vikings would like to extend their appreciation to Grand Central Pizza & Pasta for hosting their recent "Pizza With A Purpose" fundraiser.

They would also like to thank the amazing South Shore community for supporting them at the event on November 4.

Fifteen percent of all sales that evening went to the Goal Club, the soccer team's nonprofit that helps with the program's team expenses.

Lake Tahoe, Sierra and El Dorado County roadwork November 15-21

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County. At this time there is no work scheduled for the South Lake Tahoe area.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

Quarantine in South Lake Tahoe leads to poem brought to life in new children's book

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In search of something positive to do while staying at home during the pandemic, South Lake Tahoe parent Gantt Miller and his daughter Mackenzie started brainstorming. They couldn't sew, so making masks were out of the question. What could they do?

They could tell a story.

The nine-year-old Mackenzie and her dad, who wrote the book under a pen name, M.C. Behm, started to explore what messages they could convey between the front and back covers.

Retired SLTPD K9 Tara dies after being honored with ceremony

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a special ceremony November 6, 2020, one that honored the police service of K9 Tara as she left her home for the last time. After surviving cancer surgery that resulted in the loss of one leg two years ago, K9 Tara was put to sleep after being hit by the disease once again.

COVID-19 case update for Lake Tahoe area counties

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 37 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, three in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, six in El Dorado Hills, three in North County, five in Greater Placerville, six in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, and 14 in Lake Tahoe region

One of those new cases, three are under the age of 18, 25 are aged 18-49, seven are aged 50-64, and two aged 65 or older.

Another 393 people were tested for the coronavirus and 356 negative tests results were received.

California, Oregon & Washington issue travel advisories

With a rising number of COVID-19 cases across the nation, The three West Coast state have issued travel advisories recommending 14-day quarantines for inter-state and international travel. California, Oregon and Washington are also asking residents to stay local to slow the spread of the virus.

Column: Recognizing the spirit of collaboration

For more than half a century, collaboration and partnership have been the bedrock of Lake Tahoe’s preservation. I speak often of the epic collaboration needed to restore our environment and lift up our communities. The creation of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) 50 years ago challenged us to bring people together to pull this majestic lake back from the brink. Today, TRPA is the backbone for 80 organizations and thousands of property owners working toward the common goals of clean water, a healthy watershed, and resilient communities

High Wind Warning for Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A High Wind Warning for the Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada area has been extended through 1:00 a.m. Saturday.

Southwest winds are expected to be 25-35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Wind prone areas such as the Sierra foothills and portions of US-395 through the North Valleys and Washoe Valley can see gusts to 75 mph at times. Sierra ridges will gust well over 100 mph.

This warning is for the Greater Lake Tahoe Area and Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area.

South Tahoe High soccer player Kelsey Hogan commits to University of Hawaii

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During the past three seasons at South Tahoe High, Kelsey Hogan has been a leader on the field with several multi-goal and assist games. On Thursday, she committed to attending the University of Hawaii to continue her stellar soccer career playing for the Rainbow Wāhines.

Placer County moves into the Red Tier; North Lake Tahoe businesses affected

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Like most of California, COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in Placer County, prompting state officials to move the area which includes Kings Beach and Tahoe City into the more restrictive red tier.

Beautiful Mess: New vintage and thrift store opens in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The middle of a pandemic is never an ideal time to open a new business, but the new Beautiful Mess vintage shop and thrift store has been a popular shopping stop for locals and visitors since opening September 3.

"If I can get through this, I can get through anything," said Beautiful Mess proprietor Jessica Marks of the pandemic.

COVID-19 case update for Lake Tahoe area counties

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 42 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Tuesday. Of those, eight are in El Dorado Hills, five in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, one in North County, -1 Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, one in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, eight in Greater Placerville Area, and 20 in the Lake Tahoe region.

One of those new cases, five are under the age of 18, 27 are aged 18-49, seven are aged 50-64, and three aged 65 or older.

Need help this Thanksgiving? The local Cricket Wireless store is giving away turkeys and trimmings

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The local Cricket Wireless store wants to help those in need fill their Thanksgiving tables this season.

From now until November 21, local families can stop by the Cricket store at 3442 Lake Tahoe Boulevard and register for a free turkey or any other necessities needed for their Thanksgiving dinner.

Sign up during the following times:
Monday - Saturday: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday - 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Southwest Gas reminds customers to build snow shelters over meters

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With an early snow storm dropping almost a foot of snow around Lake Tahoe last week, and another few days of possible snow on the way, Southwest Gas is reminding its customers to start preparing for the winter months now. Customers living in areas that receive heavy snowfall need to take extra precautions to keep their natural gas meters and piping safe.

Toys for Tots gift registry creates ease in donating toys for South Lake Tahoe youth

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Walmart is hosting a COVID-free virtual shopping event for Toys for Tots of South Lake Tahoe until November 30. From the ease of a phone or computer, select any of the items listed on the registry, add to your "cart" and the toys will come directly to South Lake Tahoe.

The list is under the retailer's gift registry as Toys 4 Tots Lake Tahoe's Registry, or visit https://www.walmart.com/lists/view-events-registry-items?id=98012121-7913-4cd7-b409-a4d7d488cd92.

Items on the list fit all budgets or a gift card can be added to the "cart."

Radio drama makes a comeback with KNVC's Secrets of Harridge House

In the days before television, the internet, cell phones and video games, families would gather around the radio each evening and listen to Sorry Wrong Number, Moon Over Morocco, Dragnet, The Adventures of the Thin Man, The Shadow, Flash Gordon, and War of the Worlds.

With no visual component, radio drama depended on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and the story. Each episode would leave listeners wanting more and the level of anticipation grew as the next airing date grew closer.

Wind Advisory in place for Lake Tahoe as next system approaches

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Wind Advisory is in effect Friday, November 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. for the greater Lake Tahoe area, greater Reno-Carson City-Minden area, Mono County and Western Nevada Basin and range including Pyramid Lake.

Expect southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. Wind prone areas such as; the Sierra foothills and portions of US-395 through the North Valleys, Washoe Valley, and Mono County can see gusts over 60 mph at times with Sierra ridges gusting over 100 mph.

Election result updates for El Dorado County - Updates for Douglas County expected Friday

More ballot counts have been released by the elections departments at both El Dorado and Douglas Counties.

EL DORADO COUNTY

El Dorado County election officials have released another tally of ballots counted. The results remain the same as of the November 10 count. Votes Cast: 116,744 of 135,554, or 86.12 percent of eligible voters.

Stay at Home 2.0: Governor Sisolak urges Nevadans to stay at home as COVID-19 cases surge

Gov. Steve Sisolak is asking Nevadans to voluntarily stay home for the next two weeks as COVID-19 cases spike statewide, warning that if the data doesn’t improve over that period he will be forced to take more drastic action.

Updates on closures and fire restrictions around Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The US Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has lifted its closure order at Taylor Creek so people are once again allowed into the area around the creek. This is a popular area each fall due to the Kokanee Salmon run and heightened wildlife sightings and was closed to both protect bears and discourage large gatherings. The Visitor Center has seasonally closed.

Humane Society of Tahoe Truckee starts pet bereavement group

The death of a pet can be devastating, and for some, the grief can be more intense than human loss. To help, the Humane Society of Tahoe Truckee (HSTT) has launched a Pet Loss Support Group for grieving pet parents. This group will help those experiencing this loss, or anticipated loss, of their furry friend.

Two South Lake Tahoe parcels facing zoning change for hotel and condominium project

Event Date: 
November 12, 2020 - 5:00pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two parcels behind Raley's at Stateline are the subject of a public workshop on Thursday, November 12 at 5:00 p.m.. The City of South Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency are seeking public scoping comments on an applicant-initiated proposal to rezone the two parcels located within the boundary of the City of South Lake Tahoe Tourist Core Area Plan. The proposed amendment submitted by HVR Acquisitions would rezone the two parcels from Recreation to Tourist Center Mixed Use.

No South Lake Tahoe Veterans Day ceremonies this year, but flags are up at Happy Homestead

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to restrictions on gathering due to the pandemic, Veterans Day ceremonies in South Lake Tahoe area canceled for 2020. The American Legion Auxiliary and Vets in Counseling members placed approximately 600 flags at Happy Homestead Monday, after the snow fell.

Barton Health brings back services to Robert Maloff Orthopedics & Wellness Center

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With services stopped during the first months of the pandemic due to safety concerns, Barton Health is bringing back health and wellness programs to its Robert Maloff Center for Orthopedics & Wellness.

COVID-19 case update for Lake Tahoe area counties

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 21 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, five are in El Dorado Hills, two in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, one in South County, one in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, and 12 in the Lake Tahoe region.

One of those new cases, two are under the age of 18, 14 are aged 18-49, and five are aged 50-64.

Another 417 people were tested for the coronavirus and 396 negative tests results were received.

There have been another 11 assumed recoveries with 228 assumed active cases.

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