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Defensible space is the barrier that helps slow or halt the progress of fire that would otherwise engulf a property, and Lake Tahoe area fire departments are offering free chipping services to help with that task. Creating and maintaining defensible space is a key concept in wildfire prevention and is important for local fire-adapted communities.

All neighborhoods can take steps toward creating defensible space around their homes by clearing vegetative debris, pine needles, and woody materials.

I am sure many of us are tired of all the negative TV political ads and how our leaders and the news media tend to divide us!

Well let’s try something a little different, we at the Pay it Forward Project would like everyone to consider something a little more positive, working together with others in our community and volunteering a minimum of two hours a month, that’s just 24 hours a year. In this work, you will find that we all have a lot more in common than the differences we hear about in the media.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has been invited as the keynote speaker for the 28th annual Lake Tahoe Summit on August 14.

This year’s theme is “Connecting Tahoe: Investing in Transit, Trails, and Technology for the Future” and the summit is open to the public. The focus will be on efforts by federal, state, and local stakeholders to address Lake Tahoe’s transportation challenges and support innovative solutions to protect the lake for future generations.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – August 9, 2024, marks the 80th birthday of the beloved icon of the USDA Forest Service, Smokey Bear! To celebrate, the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit in coordination with Great Basin Institute and Heavenly Mountain Resort, will host two events in celebration of Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday.

9:00AM THURSDAY UPDATE: The Crozier Fire burning on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada in El Dorado County has grown to 706 acres and is five percent contained. The fire is burning in a remote area of heavy timber and thick brush which makes access difficult. There are 752 firefighting personnel working on the fire with 46 engines, four helicopters and 14 hand crews.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Join the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) for an overview of the Connections 2050 Regional Transportation Plan, which will identify a broad range of projects, programs, and strategies needed to improve Tahoe’s transportation system over the next 25 years.

This plan creates a vision for a comprehensive transportation system that will reduce congestion and preserve Tahoe’s environment.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Johnson Meadow behind Grocery Outlet in South Lake Tahoe is often the spot where homeless encampments pop up with tents, chairs, sleeping bags, and trash intermingled among the willows, wildflowers, and river.

In early June this year, part-time resident Randy Smith wandered into the meadow and was delighted to see the wildflowers. Those views were quickly replaced with abandoned camp debris.

RENO, Nev. – Fresh off the success of the Bass Camp Fest VII, which electrified Wingfield Park, the excitement continues as Bass Camp brings another major event to Downtown Reno - the Tacos & Tequila Festival. Scheduled for August 17 at 12 p.m. at J Resort’s Glow Plaza, this all-day celebration promises a vibrant mix of music, food, and entertainment!

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A juvenile was arrested on Saturday after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a home on Tanglewood Drive. South Lake Tahoe Police Lt. Scott Crivelli said the car was stolen at 3 a.m., and later in the day it was spotted near Martin Avenue and Black Bart Avenue. The officer from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) who saw the stolen car attempted to make a traffic stop at Black Bart and Genoa avenues. The car sped away.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The driver of a 73-foot big rig took a route not approved as a truck route on Monday morning, finding himself, and the truck, stuck on SR89 and stranding motorists. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded at 11:12 a.m. to the area just north of Cascade Creek, and south of Emerald Bay. Traffic was held up for hours when the truck took a turn too tight, blocking the flow of vehicles.

The truck-trailer combination will remain on the highway until it can be moved safely, but traffic is flowing. The air lines on the truck are inoperable.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County School District (DCSD) has been filling open leadership positions, a positive change after what many looked at as a turbulent year. After the board recently approved the hiring of Frankie Alvarado as its new superintendent, other new roles have been made known.

I have been a South Lake full-time resident for nearly five years, and in that short time, I’ve managed to build a community here for myself. I have no plans to leave or become a part-time resident. This is my home, and I love and cherish it deeply.

Politically, I lean far left. But I have enough experience working in progressive spaces to recognize that no singular piece of legislation is exceptional enough to escape any sort of critical review. Policy only works when it’s written well, regardless of which side is pushing it.

Nevada’s nonrestricted gaming licensees reported a total “gaming win” of $1,286,686,312 for June 2024, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board's latest monthly report. This amounts to a 3.25 percent increase compared to the same month a year ago when licensees reported a gaming win of $1,246,020,144. For the fiscal year, the gaming win has increased by 4.36 percent with $15,765,165,340 in "win".

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

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Join the Marcella Foundation and Mountain House, in partnership with Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS), for a Back-to-School Drive from August 1-14, 2024. For over 20 years, SITS members have provided thousands of backpacks and school supplies to children in South Lake Tahoe. This year, SITS, Marcella Foundation, and Mountain House (formerly Lake Tahoe Christian Fellowship) have teamed up to support even more students and classrooms with the essentials they need for a successful school year.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The November 5 election is just over 90 days away, and candidates have started to file the necessary paperwork for several local elected positions open this year.

The deadline to file is August 9, 2024. If an incumbent does not file for reelection, the filing period will be extended to August 14 for that position only.

As of Friday, August 2, the following people have completed the needed paperwork to run for office:

County Board of Education Trustee Area 5 - appointed incumbent Kathy Jensen is running.

This week, nine community advocates and I were named in a frivolous lawsuit, the vacancy tax opposition’s latest attempt to use their deep pockets and outside money to sap resources and intimidate local supporters on behalf of special interest groups.

The opposition, funded by California’s real estate lobbying group, is afraid that November’s election won’t turn out in their favor. Sharon Kerrigan, VP of the Realtors Association, recently went on record at a public meeting to say that, “governing shouldn’t happen at the ballot box.” Now they are apparently trying the courts.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Inflatable paddleboards are easy to carry and can help alleviate parking congestion, but did you know they can also spread aquatic invasive species (AIS)? Many paddlers are unaware that the water that collects in the folds and carrying bags can transport AIS that threatens Lake Tahoe’s ecology and water clarity.

The Tahoe Knight Monsters, proud ECHL Affiliate of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights have announced the addition of two new players for the 2024-25 season: Logan Nelson and Jeff Solow.

Forward Logan Nelson

Nelson, 30, brings a wealth of experience and talent to the Knight Monsters lineup. Nelson has orchestrated three productive seasons with the Rapid City Rush totaling 173 points (60g, 113a) in 179 games played from 2021-2024. Nelson served as an alternate captain for the Rush during the 2021-22 season.

In a world that increasingly values self-expression and individuality, it is essential to remember that beauty comes in many forms. Each person possesses unique features that make them one of a kind and there is no one-size-fits-all definition of beauty.

Over time, or as a result of trauma or lifestyle, our features and skin may change or become altered. Some individuals opt for enhancement to combat these changes, enhance their self-esteem, and feel more comfortable in their own skin.

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) has changed its rate schedule that cover many aspects of the services it provides to the community. The rise in rates includes, but is not limited to, construction inspections, vacation home rental inspections, special event inspections, plan reviews, incident response, and stand-by fees.

Fees enable TDFPD to recuperate expenses incurred by vehicles, personnel, and materials involved with fire prevention, fire suppression, and emergency medical services used by locals, businesses, and visitors.

If you have ever encountered housing insecurity or homelessness in South Lake Tahoe, your valuable insights are sought by Tahoe Youth and Family Services (TYFS). You're needed to represent our community on the El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB). The primary purpose of the LEAB is to ensure the active participation of individuals with direct experience of homelessness in decision-making processes related to homeless and housing services within El Dorado County.

When the Tahoe Regional Planning Authority (TRPA) was established in 1969, its mandate was clear: to preserve, restore, and enhance the Lake Tahoe Basin's unique natural and human environment. Has the TRPA lived up to its promise, or has it become an unwieldy bureaucracy that hinders more than it helps?

ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. - The Smile Dental Services Mobile Dental Services Van is heading to Alpine County August 22-23 in Markleville. They understand that sometimes it can be difficult to find a dentist in the area, so they’re bringing the dentist to you!

ASmile Dental Services is dedicated to ensuring each patient receives not only the best care available but also the education necessary to maintain good oral health throughout their lives. They invite you to visit them and learn how we can help you achieve your oral health goals.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A head-on collision on Pioneer Trail Friday sent all four people involved to the hospital. On July 26, 2024, at approximately 1 p.m., A 2022 Prius was being driven northbound near Tionontati Street when, for unknown reasons, the Prius crossed into the southbound lane, hitting a 2022 GMC Sierra head-on.