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Two irresistible forces are converging over the election of a Speaker of the House. One is simple math; the other is the full weight of history.

Republicans are only in the majority if they vote as a majority. In a House divided between 222 Republicans and 212 Democrats, any five Republican dissidents can forfeit that majority at any time and on any issue.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County offices in South Lake Tahoe will be closed on Thursday, January 5, due to road and weather conditions.

This includes the South Lake Tahoe Library.

Library staff reminds the public they can access its digital media collection which includes ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines. They are teamed with the Northnet Library System, and Marinet and Peninsula Library Systems to make the collection even bigger.

This can be found at https://eldoradolibrary.org/.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – There is new leadership within South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) with promotions for Captain Justin Keys and Captain Kim George.

Fire Chief Jim Drennan selected Keys as battalion chief, effective December 10, and George as fire marshal, effective January 9.

As battalion chief, a position vacated when Drennan was appointed fire chief, Keys will be responsible for the Training Division. He is one of three battalion chiefs with SLTFR (the other two are Karl Koeppen and Jay Manning).

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Lake Tahoe’s first indoor mini golf course, Flatstick Pub, also known as Tipsy Putt, will be teaming up with Sierra Child & Family Services to give back to the South Lake Tahoe community.

Each Sunday in January, Flatstick Pub will donate $1 for every beer and $1 for every round of mini golf purchased to the local nonprofit.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Liberty Utilities is staging crews and preparing for potential impacts from the incoming storm.  They encourage customers to prepare as well. 

Winter weather and extreme winds are anticipated across the region this week. The expected combination of snow, freezing temperatures, and dangerous winds may produce hazardous conditions and the potential for outages. Liberty's crews are prepared to respond to outage emergencies. Liberty encourages customers to prepare as well. 



Prepare in advance

RENO, Nev. - Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to clarify details regarding actor Jeremy Renner's New year's Day accident and his department's response.

Renner, who is a resident of Washoe County, lives about two miles from the summit of Mt. Rose.

The first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station was conducted Tuesday by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). This manual survey recorded 55.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 17.5 inches, which is 177 percent of the average for this location which is at the entrance to Sierra-at-Tahoe.

The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide the snowpack is 174 percent of average for this date.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Brooke Laine was sworn to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, January 4, 2023. She takes her role after winning the November election and replacing the termed-out supervisor from District 5, Sue Novasel.

It took just 20 minutes into her term when she had to be the voice of reason as the board decided on its 2023 leadership roles.

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada Thaw Enforcement is one of the creative winning names selected in the Nevada Department of Transportation’s first-ever Name-A-Snowplow contest.

The winning snowplow names, representing the three regions of Nevada, are:

Cirque du Snowleil – Southern Nevada / Mt. Charleston

Sierra Scoop – Northwestern Nevada / State Route 431, Mt. Rose Highway

Nevada Thaw Enforcement – Northeastern Nevada / Interstate 80, Near Elko

SnowBeGone Kenobi – Honorable Mention

The winning names will be placed on the named snowplows using a specially-made decal.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Pacific storm door has opened and an active weather period will be bringing more storms to the region. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Lake Tahoe Basin in effect from Wednesday, January 4 at 10 a.m. to Thursday, January 5 at 10 p.m.

Heavy, wet snow is possible with total snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches, except 1 to 2 feet with isolated amounts of 3 feet above 7000 feet possible. Winds could gust as high as 100+ mph along the ridges.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) and El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) received a call on Sunday, January 1 about a road rage incident near the Y in South Lake Tahoe.

The caller said another driver had brandished a handgun at them during the incident. They said they saw the suspect crash his vehicle into a snowbank in the eastbound lanes of Lake Tahoe Blvd.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just as everyone is clearing out after the New Year's Eve storm, two more incoming storms are expected to impact the Lake Tahoe Basin again this week, with additional storms into the second week of 2023.

For this week, a weak storm will bring light snow accumulations to all
elevations from late Monday afternoon through daybreak Tuesday. A stronger storm will then bring gusty winds late Wednesday with another round of heavy wet Sierra snow and a mixture of rain and snow to lower elevations Wednesday night and Thursday.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is an announcement from Phil Blowney, who has owned Sessions Salon in South Lake Tahoe with La Donna Faedi since 1987:

To all our many friends and clients we have met since 1986 at Sessions Salon, La Donna and I are pleased to announce we are turning over the ownership to Kelly Escobedo.

To the dozens of stylists that we have helped to build their careers, we thank you all for your efforts and professionalism that have helped make Sessions the longest-running successful salon at the Lake.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The atmospheric river that slammed into California continues to cause issues for travelers as it starts to depart the state.

US-50 from Ice House Road to Meyers was closed for much of the day on Saturday, only to shut down again after briefly reopening due to poor conditions (as of 1 a.m. Sunday it is open with chain controls). Caltrans crews spent the evening pulling out cars that were ill-equipped for the heavy snow.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to deteriorating driving conditions, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has closed sections of the Mt. Rose Highway, Kingsbury Grade, and other mountain highways.

U.S. 50 from Meyers to Ice House Road remains closed due to high water levels of the American River flooding onto the highway.

Caltrans has closed parts of I-80 due to adverse conditions.

Stay off the roads tonight if at all possible. If a road shows open when you leave it may close before arriving so be tuned into up-to-the-minute reports.

With an atmospheric river winter storm hitting northern Nevada, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is urging motorists to avoid driving during inclement weather. There have already been road closures and flooding roadways.

The snow and slush that have fallen on roadways throughout the day are leading to reduced traction. As temperatures continue to drop, ice has the potential to form under a light layer of snow on the roadway. Adding to the dangerous driving conditions is the potential increase of impaired drivers following New Year’s Eve celebrations.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Things changed quickly from heavy rain warnings to flood and winter storm warnings. The forecasted 1-2 inches of rain for Saturday at Lake Tahoe is now up to 20 inches of snow around the lake.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Winter Storm Warning until Sunday, January 1 at 4 a.m. Expect heavy snow with additional snow accumulations of 10 to 20 inches, except 2 to 3 feet above 7000 feet.

Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. – The Douglas County Office of Elections is hosting an official swearing-in ceremony on January 3, 2023, in Gardnerville from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The ceremony is open to the public and offers the community an opportunity to congratulate local officials as they prepare to take office. The ceremony is in the dining hall of the Douglas County Community & Senior Center, located at 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, Nev.

As a result of the 2022 election cycle, the following officials* will be sworn-in:

Amy Burgans, Douglas County Clerk-Treasurer

It is with bitter-sweet emotions I write this letter to everyone in our wonderful county.

We have been through much together these past twelve years. We have experienced tragedies and blessings. We have celebrated successes and mourned losses.

And, while I have accomplished much these past twelve years, I have all of you and all the superb staff at your Sheriff’s Office to thank for making it possible. Without their hard work and your support, we wouldn't be where we are as an agency and able to serve you at the level we do.

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.

December 22 - December 28, 2022

12/22

00:33 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES REPORT - Occurred on Copper Way in South Lake Tahoe. Disposition: UNABLE TO LOCATE.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lakeview Social of South Lake Tahoe planned a two-day end-of-the-year outdoor event, SnowTown Throw Down. Due to the forecasted wet weather for both days, organizers have had to cancel.

At this time, everything is still planned for Heavenly Village but wind and weather could impact their events. If they are able to safely operate, organizers said it's still "a go."

The big snowstorm that hit Lake Tahoe than began with rain on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, turned into classic Sierra Cement by nightfall. Local Bob Buehler took this photo and created a video that can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/784691631.

The storm didn't snow there and another few feet continued to fall on top. Then the temperatures dropped into the teens for several days causing everything to freeze up and turn into ice.

These images were taken along the east shore of Tahoe in Snug Harbor with Mt. Tallac in full view to the west-southwest.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - This is the second of a two-part story on the current fentanyl epidemic, and what is being done in the area to combat fentanyl and illegal opioids and prevent deaths.

Fentanyl is being sold throughout the county in record amounts.

Free Barton Wellness Outing on Monday, January 9 at Pope / Baldwin Bike Path from West End, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Research shows time in nature can improve your mental and physical health. Enjoy the benefits of nature with a stroll led by a Barton Wellness Advocate. For more information, visit BartonHealth.org/WellnessOutings. Weather dependent.