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CalTrans opens I-80 in both directions from Nevada state line to Colfax

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - CalTrans has opened I-80 to both westbound and eastbound traffic that are essential commercial trucks and passenger vehicles only from Colfax to the Nevada state line.

Permit loads & non-essential commercial trucks are NOT permitted to use the interstate at this time.

US-50 opened overnight to both directions, resulting in massive traffic jams the whole length from Placerville to Nevada.

Always keep up on road conditions by visiting http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ for California roads and https://nvroads.com/ for Nevada roads.

Bottlenecks around Lake Tahoe prompt Governor Sisolak declaring State of Emergency

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After the City of South Lake Tahoe activated its Emergency Operations Center, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak declared a State of Emergency for Northern Nevada due to impacted roads.

COVID-19 cases for South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There have been 72 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 17,495. The wrapup of all other counties around the lake takes place on Fridays.

There is an issue today with the new interactive dashboard for the county and extra details are not showing. See HERE.

Pollock Pines, Camino, Kyburz - 1005 cases - +3
El Dorado Hills - 3749 cases - +17

City of South Lake Tahoe activates Emergency Operations Center - Advises essential travel only

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With all roads in and around South Lake Tahoe bogged down with standstill traffic for hours Tuesday, the City of South Lake Tahoe City Manager Joe Irvin has activated the Emergency Operations Center. The opening of the center will be to effectively manage the local impacts of the extreme weather and road conditions.

Only essential travel is advised at this time.

I-80 partially reopens to some eastbound traffic

CalTrans has reopened eastbound I-80 to passenger vehicles and essential commercial vehicles only. No estimated time of reopening westbound lanes or allowing other vehicles.

R2 chain controls are in effect from Alta to the Nevada state line.

The highway has been closed for days along with other mountain highways. When US-50 opened late Monday, stranded motorists hit the road. After a jackknifed truck and multiple vehicles slid into the snowbank, it closed again Tuesday morning.

Mt. Rose Highway reopens after being closed since Dec. 23

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - The entire length of Mt. Rose Highway (State Route 431) is now open in both directions, with chains required for all vehicles except 4-wheel drive with snow tires. Trucks remain prohibited on the highway from Douglas Fir Drive to Incline Village.

Expect long delays through South Lake Tahoe Tuesday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If you plan on passing through South Lake Tahoe as a means to get over US-50, be prepared for not only long waits but possibly no gasoline at local stations.

With I-80 still closed, US-50 is the only major route open over the Sierra to get trucks and vehicles between the Sacramento valley and Reno/Carson area.

At 11:00 a.m., a quick overview of the situation on supplies:

Safeway in South Lake Tahoe has no gas, but shelves are still pretty stocked. No delivery trucks have been able to get to the store.

US-50 reopens, again, after accident and jackknifed truck

UPDATE 10:22AM: US-50 has reopened but drivers need to be aware there is massive gridlock in both directions for miles. Trees are still in the roadway so use caution. R2 chain controls are in effect: Trucks full chains, only 4-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires on all four are allowed without chains.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - US-50 was not open very long as a jack-knifed truck and a collision has closed it again.

As of 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, the highway is closed from Meyers to Sand Flat so emergency crews can clear the roadway.

New Winter Weather Advisory issued for Lake Tahoe Basin

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - First the good news: A Winter Storm Warning has been canceled for the Lake Tahoe Basin. The bad news? A Winter Weather Advisory took its place. Not too bad of news since the new storm isn't as strong as previously predicted.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno said the warning will start at 10:00 p.m. Tuesday after a brief break in the snowfall through Tuesday afternoon. 1-4 inches of snow is possible for communities around Lake Tahoe and the Carson Range. 4-8 inches along the Sierra crest.

The warning will be in place until 10:00 p.m. Wednesday.

Truckee man missing at Northstar since Christmas Day

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The search continues at Northstar Ski Resort after a 43-year-old skier went missing on Christmas Day.

Placer County Sheriff's Office was contacted at 9:57 p.m. on December 25 after Rory Angelotta of Truckee did not show up at a planned dinner with friends. Angelotta had told the reporting party that he was going skiing during the day.

CalTrans crews reopen US50 over Echo Summit

9:00AM UPDATE 12/28: The road has closed again due to a jackknifed truck and accident. Cars are also sliding. Follow http://southtahoenow.com/story/12/28/2021/us-50-closed-again-due-accident-and-jackknifed-truck for updates, or the CalTrans quickmaps.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Crews have been able to tackle all of the snow on US-50 over Echo Summit and it has reopened. All westbound and eastbound lanes are open from Meyers to Placerville.

Chains are required on all vehicles except for four-wheel-drive with snow tires on all four wheels.

I-80 remains closed at this hour.

COVID-19 cases for South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There have been 235 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths recorded since Wednesday, December 22 in El Dorado County. This brings the total of COVID-19 cases in the county to 17,423. The wrapup of all other counties around the lake takes place on Fridays.

There is an issue today with the new interactive dashboard for the county and extra details are not showing. See HERE.

Pollock Pines, Camino, Kyburz - 1002 cases - +23
El Dorado Hills - 3732 cases - +65

Zillow names South Lake Tahoe the "Most Popular Overall Town"

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - West Coast cities took the top four spots of the most in-demand places of the year according to Zillow, the leading real estate marketplace in the country. Most of those spots belong to South Lake Tahoe.

Postal carriers unable to get to your home? How to get your mail in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Since many South Lake Tahoe roads have not yet been plowed after the most recent snow, mail carriers are unable to deliver mail to most homes.

The post offices in Meyers and Tahoe Valley were closed Monday but officials hope to get them open by Tuesday.

The main post office on Al Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe is open and staff will hold all mail that hasn't been delivered due to inaccessible mailboxes for ten days, but there are actions residents can take to assure mail will be held longer in case of more storms.

"Record" snowfall figures non-existent for South Lake Tahoe, but snow lab near Boreal broke their record

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There has been a lot of snow around Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada this week, but official records on whether this storm is record-breaking for South Lake Tahoe are non-existent.

The Central Sierra Snow Laboratory (CSSL) located just southwest of Boreal Ridge off of I-80 is at the 6,894-foot level and has been keeping current records since 1970. It is a research and teaching facility of the University of California, Berkeley under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Schwartz, the station manager and lead scientist at the lab.

Bread & Broth food distribution canceled for Monday due to current conditions

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Bread and Broth normally provides bags of food to the community on Mondays, but they will be unable to open on December 27 due to road and weather conditions.

Since most people are unable to get out on the road due to plowing status, the non-profit group did not want people venturing out for food. Food deliveries to its Lyons Avenue location also could not happen due to conditions.

Bread & Broth will be open on Friday, December 31 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with normal food bags distribution.

Epic powder days will have to wait as Lake Tahoe area ski resorts closed due to conditions

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is currently too much snow to allow Lake Tahoe resorts to open today due to closed roads leading to the ski areas and hazardous conditions.

The Sierra Avalanche Center said due to another round of heavy snowfall last night and early this morning combined with gale-force winds and intense blowing and drifting snow, dangerous avalanche conditions continue in the backcountry. Large avalanches could run down into treed areas below. Traveling in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended today.

As of 10:00 a.m. Monday:

Major routes between the west and Lake Tahoe remain closed Monday morning

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It keeps snowing around Lake Tahoe, the Sierra, and down to lower elevations that don't normally see snow measured in "feet." A Winter Storm Warning is in place for the Lake Tahoe Basin until 1:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 28.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno, heavy snow should end around 1:00 p.m. Monday with another 4-8" of snow during the day to add onto the measured "feet" of snow in the last 24 hours.

South Tahoe Refuse cancels Monday routes

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to extreme weather and road conditions, there will be no trash pickup Monday on their residential and commercial routes on the South Shore.

South Tahoe Refuse said they anticipate routes will resume Tuesday and are monitoring conditions.

Once able to move through neighborhoods again the refuse company will not go back and pick up missed homes but residents can drop off at their Ruth Avenue dump location.

Douglas County closes offices Monday due to unsafe conditions

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Calif. - For the safety of staff and the public, Douglas County officials have announced the closure of all county offices and buildings on Monday, December 27, 2021, due to the winter storm conditions and the potential increase to already significant snowfall.

A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service of Reno for the Greater Lake Tahoe/Minden/Gardnerville/Carson City Area. According to their special statement, the area can expect gusting winds, cold temperatures, and additional snow accumulations through 1:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 28, 2021.

More snow this week for Lake Tahoe, as well as single digit lows

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the Winter Storm Warning expiring at 1:00 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has come out with a special weather statement. There are signs that we'll see some sunshine, but also a few days of single-digits.

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.

Report for December 16 - December 22

12/16
02:00 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN PROGRESS - Occurred on Angora Creek Dr, in South Lake Tahoe. Disposition: 1022 (Disregard)

CalTrans closes I-80 for whole day Sunday, will reassess Monday - no word on US-50

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Snow and wind are creating hazardous conditions on roads around Lake Tahoe. CalTrans has announced that both westbound and eastbound lanes of I-80 between Colfax and the Nevada state line will remain closed Sunday. They will reassess the situation on Monday but at this time there is no estimated time of reopening.

Some roads around Lake Tahoe closed due to heavy snow and more on the way

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a white Christmas for everyone in the Sierra and even down to low elevations, and the storm is not giving up as another 15" to 25" of snow is still forecasted before it's over. Major travel arteries are closed and the California Highway Patrol reports cars still stuck in snow from Saturday evening when US50 closed.

The Winter Storm Warning is in place for the Lake Tahoe Basin until 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 28.

Man arrested as suspect in Alpine County murder

ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. - A Markleville man died from multiple gunshot wounds at the Sierra Pines Mobile Home Park on Thursday, and a man has been arrested as a suspect in the murder.

On December 23, 2021, deputies from the Alpine County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of gunshots at Sierra Pines, 19750 SR89. When they arrived, they found James Foley on the front porch of a home, deceased.

Deputies arrested 49-year-old Christopher Joseph Torok of Markleville as a suspect in Foley's murder.

There were other injuries in this incident.

California DAs: DUIs are 100% avoidable - celebrate safely

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Deadly DUIs are on the increase across California, and the state's district attornies are sounding the alarm: They are 100 percent avoidable, and it's easy to celebrate safely.

"Don't Drink and Drive" has been a campaign from the Ad Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since 1983, but its message continues to be extremely important as people continue to lose their lives due to a driver under the influence, and those numbers are rising.

White Christmas at Lake Tahoe brings road controls, power outages

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The forecasted snow has arrived this week around Lake Tahoe and the Sierra, and coming with the heavy loads have been power outages along with chain controls. Liberty Utilities reports over 4,000 of its customers at Lake Tahoe remain without electricity, 2,195 of those in El Dorado County. At 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, 9,000 customers did not have power and crews are working to get the remaining customers back on line.

Last minutes gift shopping in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Need a last-minute gift or something for the hard-to-buy-for person? South Lake Tahoe has plenty to offer in unique gifts that may not be found in other communities. Shop early on Christmas Eve as many may be closing early, especially with the stormy weather expected.

Just a few ideas:

City and County offices closed for holiday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe administrative offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 24 and Monday, Dec. 27 in observance of the Christmas holiday and Friday, Dec. 31 in observance of New Year’s Day. Parks and Recreation will operate on a modified schedule. El Dorado County also announced closures.

The following municipal offices and services will be closed:

The City Manager’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Human Resources, and the Finance Front Counter, all located at City Hall, 1901 Lisa Maloff Way.

Development Services, 1052 Tata Ln.

South Lake Tahoe Police Blotter

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to the weeks of November 22-28, 2021. 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 November 29 - December 5, 2021

11/29
Arrests
09:32 Drunk in Public Cave Rock Av & Bigler Av
15:35 DUI Glenwood Wy & Fawn Wy

Other Calls

Heavy snow around Lake Tahoe - chain controls, accidents, power outage

2:45 p.m. update: Caltrans is holding traffic on I-80, SR267 is closed, SE88 at the Carson Spur is closing at 3:00 p.m. for avalanche control and there is no estimated reopening time. The Mt. Rose Highway is closed. If traveling, watch the California and Nevada road websites.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has closed all state officers so staff can get home and off the roads.

Department of Water Resources sending $10M to El Dorado County to fix Caldor Fire damage

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today released its first phase of awards to 20 projects through the Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant Program. El Dorado County is being awarded $10 million for the Irrigation District to construct an intertie between drinking water sources to increase system reliability in response to major impacts to its infrastructure by this year’s Caldor Fire.

The funding awards will provide critical support to communities across the state dealing with the impacts of drought conditions.

Ring in New Year with Murder Mystery dinner party at West Shore Cafe

New Year’s Eve revelers are invited to ring in 2022 with a Murder Mystery dinner party at West Shore Cafe this year. Presented by the Murder Mystery Company of Los Angeles, the evening will include a fun evening of costumes, intrigue, fun, a three-course pre-fixe dinner prepared by the West Shore Cafe culinary team, and a cash bar.

“Midnight at the Masquerade,” will encourage guests to trade clues, gather information, and solve the “crime” before the masked menace gets away! Evening wear, ball gowns, Venetian masks, suits, and tuxes are what to wear to this festive event.

Avalanche warning for Lake Tahoe through Monday

The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee has issued a Backcountry Avalanche Watch for the Greater Lake Tahoe Basin through Monday at 7:00 a.m. with a period of Avalanche Warning with "high" danger during the period through Friday morning.

Periods of HIGH avalanche danger may occur in Central Sierra Nevada from Thursday, December 23 through Monday morning between Yuba Pass (Hwy 49) on the north and Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4) on the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area.

City warns skiers that parking will be heavily enforced in residential areas by Heavenly

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With only one ski resort operating within ten miles of South Lake Tahoe and excellent conditions on the slopes, skiers and riders are heading to Heavenly Mountain Resort.

With so many vehicles using the two levels of parking lots at Heavenly, many people are utilizing city streets to park for the day, sometimes double-parking, blocking driveways, or making streets impassable.

COVID-19 cases for South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There have been 50 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 17,188. The wrapup of all other counties around the lake takes place on Fridays.

There is a new interactive dashboard for the county with many more details. See HERE.

Pollock Pines, Camino, Kyburz - 979 cases - +1
El Dorado Hills - 3667 cases - +4
Diamond Springs, El Dorado - 877 cases - +1

DEA warns of counterfeit pills flooding the U.S. and the use of emojis for transactions

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released information this week about the use of emojis on Snapchap and other social media sites, and e-commerce used in the buying and selling of counterfeit pills and other illicit drugs.

In a statement, the DEA said they are aware of drug trafficking organizations using these symbols to buy and sell counterfeit pills and other illicit drugs and want the public to be aware.

Tahoe Douglas Fire hiring for the Zephyr Fire Crew 2022

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) is hiring for next year's Zephyr Fire Crew. The crew is a Type 2 Initial Attack hand crew that is trained to respond to a variety of emergency incidents but primarily responds to wildland fires.

TDFPD is looking for candidates who are physically and mentally tough and enjoy working outdoors with a team. They will be taking applications until January 31, 2022.

The Zephyr Fire Crew was established in 2008 and is partially funded by the Fire Safe Community Fund.

Qualifications:

Wylder Resort Hope Valley has history and kids events this weekend

Event Date: 
Repeats every day until Sun Dec 26 2021 .
December 24, 2021 (All day)
December 25, 2021 (All day)
December 26, 2021 (All day)

Wylder Resort Hope Valley has a variety of events this Christmas weekend, all to be held at their General Store on State Route 88. Three different programs will be held, one on the 24th and two on the 26th. With the predicted storm this weekend, call ahead to ensure the programs will still take place.

Winter snow operations: Keeping Lake Tahoe's roads clear

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With hundreds of lane miles to keep clear each winter on the South Shore, its often a 24/7 operation by staff with the City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)

These agencies tasked with snow removal in the South Lake Tahoe, Meyers, and Stateline area are facing more than heavy snowstorms this season, many are also facing staffing issues.

COVID-19 cases for South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There have been 13 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 17,138. The wrapup of all other counties around the lake takes place on Fridays.

There is a new interactive dashboard for the county with many more details. See HERE.

Pollock Pines, Camino, Kyburz - 978 cases - (-1)
El Dorado Hills - 3663 cases - +7
Diamond Springs, El Dorado - 876 cases - +3

The show must go on! Guilty Christmas performances rescheduled for January

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Mother Nature, frozen pipes, and a power outage prevented the cast of Guilty Christmas from performing during their one-week stand, and they are trying again! Opening night was the only performance they were able to have at Vahalla Tahoe.

Those who missed out can now watch the musical comedy written for about by people on the South Shore, there will be a three-day run at the Lake Tahoe Golf Course on January 5, 7, and 8 at 7:30 p.m. each night (there is no show on the 6th).

Bald Eagle Tahoe East Shore

Photo by Bob Buehler of a Bald Eagle on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Location

Snug Harbor East Shore Lake Tahoe
Mason Court
United States

First wave of storm not as strong as originally thought, expect heavy snow Christmas Day

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The first wave of storms headed to Lake Tahoe this week will not be dropping as much snow as originally forecast, but waves of storms starting Christmas Day are still looking strong.

The key to this first wave is the elevation one is at. At lake level, there is a chance of rain and snow, while above 6700 feet the forecast is snow so passes could still see travel issues.

Recent models are showing forecasters there is less snow for Lake Tahoe, especially in this first portion of the weather pattern hitting the area Tuesday night.

Lucky Beaver Toy Run helps families in South Lake Tahoe and Reno

STATELINE, Nev./RENO, Nev. - The annual Lucky Beaver Toy Run was once again successful, raising $15,000 in cash and toys at the business's Reno and South Shore locations.

The drive was kicked off with donations from Lucky Beaver Bar and Burgers' inaugural ten-team “Lucky Beaver Dodgeball Tournament” fundraiser hosted at South Tahoe Middle School on December 1. The tournament was won by a local business, Team Vacation Rental Assistance, and the event raised almost $7,000, according to organizer Dreu Murin.

Arriving early is key if using Reno Tahoe International Airport during holiday season

RENO, Nev. - Large crowds are expected at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) during the Christmas and New Year's holidays, and to lessen the stress, airport staff is working to make the travel experience festive and safe.

New restaurant for Harrah's Lake Tahoe: Sapori Italian Kitchen opens in top floor location

STATELINE, Nev. - There is a new restaurant at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Sapori Italian Kitchen. It moved into the now-closed buffet location on the top floor of the resort and offers the same panoramic views of the Sierra and the South Shore.

Sapori, which means "flavors" in Italian, features dishes cultivated by Chef Ivano Centemeri, executive chef and longtime chef of La Strada at Eldorado Resort Casino in Reno. At Sapori, guests will experience authentic Italian dishes from the pages of the Carano family recipe book with modern additions.

Wreaths Across America becoming a Tahoe Tradition

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The 3rd annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at Happy Homestead Cemetery in South Lake Tahoe was held in very chilly temperatures on Saturday, December 18.

Not even a 12-degree morning, could stop the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) from organizing the event with participants including El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel, South Lake Tahoe Fire and Rescue Chief Clive Savacool, and Battalion Chief Karl Koeppen, and Sergeant Blake Braafladt and Deputy Nick Jones from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Honor Guard.

COVID-19 cases for South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There have been 88 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths recorded since Friday in El Dorado County. This brings the total of COVID-19 cases in the county to 17,125. The wrapup of all other counties around the lake takes place on Fridays.

There is a new interactive dashboard for the county with many more details. See HERE.

Pollock Pines, Camino, Kyburz - 979 cases - +0
El Dorado Hills - 3635 cases - +21
Diamond Springs, El Dorado - 868 cases - +5

Judging period for South Lake Tahoe Holiday Lights Trail homes and businesses extended

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Tahoe Chamber has extended the People's Choice Award voting period for the homes and businesses on the Trail of Holiday Lights through December 25.

Local businesses and residents have lit up the town again for the Light Up the South Shore Holiday Contest and bringing much-needed cheer with their festive light displays. The community is invited to travel the Holiday Light Trail Map for a fun and safe activity to enjoy some holiday spirit!

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