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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County is reporting 42 more residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday. The County's health officer announced 1 is from Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, 16 in El Dorado Hills, 3 in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, 1 in North County, 2 in Greater Placerville, 10 in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, 1 in South County, 15 in Lake Tahoe region. Awaiting address confirmation from today's count: -7. Total now awaiting address confirmation: 109.

4:15PM Update: One person died in this morning's fire at a South Lake Tahoe apartment building.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) responded to an emergency fire call at 11:17 a.m. Monday. Upon arrival they found six residents hanging out of windows on the 2nd floor and they were all rescued by SLTFR. One resident was able to get out of the 1st floor unit.

A second resident on the first floor was pulled out and CPR was immediately started. Sadly, they succumbed to their injuries.

The South Lake Tahoe City Clerk will be holding a practice session for the public wanting assistance on participating in meetings via ZOOM. On Monday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m., Sue Blankenship will help those interested in the process.

Perhaps it is intimidation with the technology via phones or computers, or just getting questions answered, the City Clerk will help. At every City Council meeting there is a specific time for Public Comment, either addressing an agenda item or general comment.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to the weeks of February 1 - 7, 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. COVID calls are related to state and county guidelines.

Last report: http://southtahoenow.com/story/02/14/2021/south-lake-tahoe-police-blotter

The new report:

2/1

Arrests

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission was presented Phase II of the Pioneer Trail Pedestrian Improvement Project, a continuation of the first phase when covered the road from US50 to Larch Avenue in 2013/14. This next phase is about one-half mile long and goes from Larch Avenue to Ski Run Boulevard. Pioneer Trail is used by many pedestrians and bicyclists and the dark stretch that will be addressed in this new phase will create sidewalks, eliminate an intersection, add a bike lane and lighting.

STATELINE, Nev. - Even with a storm an a few inches of snow overnight, the clouds parted just in time for the unique lakeside hockey event at Edgewood Tahoe. But the sun that appeared turned out to be too much for the ice and the Bridgestone NHL Outdoors Saturday between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche will resume at 9:00 p.m. local time.

The third quarter sales tax reports were released this week by the City of South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County. Both entities collected more sales tax than during the same period in 2019 but most of that was a result of taxes collected from online sales.

Restaurants and hotels in the city limits operated in limited ways due to the pandemic, thus declines materialized in casual dining; hotels/resorts fell 46 percent. Less visitors equated to smaller quantities of fuel being sold; service stations sales dropped 16 percent.

Placer workers struggling to afford a home will soon have a new option to make their housing dreams come true.

The county’s Workforce Housing Preservation Program will pay homeowners to deed restrict their properties so that only local workers can purchase or rent them. The program would provide qualifying home buyers a funding source that could be used for a down payment or renovations. The program would also be eligible for recently constructed housing that is deed restricted for local worker occupancy.

Registered nurses from Barton Memorial Hospital will be conducting a virtual town hall to update the community on the current status with their contract negotiations with Barton.

The nurses and the hospital have been in contract negotiations for almost three years but things are currently at a standstill ad the contract remains unresolved.

STATELINE, Nev. - It has been nonstop activity at Edgewood Tahoe for the past two weeks in preparation for this weekend's NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe. The scene on Wednesday looked like the major event it will be - televised coverage of a unique major sporting event.

Truckloads of equipment and the refrigerated ice truck are parked next to the 18th fairway at Edgewood. The ice is done. Towering lights are in place, and banners and signage ready for television and a snow machine is even set up.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The number of COVID-19 tests being taken by El Dorado County has dropped considerably. From the 41 tests, the County's health officer announced 2 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, 0 are in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, -2 in El Dorado Hills, 1 in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, 2 in North County, -3 in Greater Placerville, 1 in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, -1 in South County, 4 in Lake Tahoe region. Awaiting address confirmation from today's count: 0. Total now awaiting address confirmation: 117.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It has been over a year since the last time the South Lke Tahoe City Council and El Dorado County Supervisors held a joint meeting, something that was once a more frequent occurrence. In September 2019 the two entities met with Placerville City Council to receive a presentation on El Dorado Opportunity Knocks Continuum of Care, a countywide strategic plan on homelessness that was just being developed at the time.

On Monday, February 22, the Board and Council will hold a virtual joint meeting starting at 9:00 a.m. There are two items on the agenda:

Film crews will be in the area of Cave Rock on Thursday and drivers can expect intermittent road closures. The Nevada Highway Patrol will close US50 in both directions at times during the day from Logan Creek Drive to Cave Rock Drive until 2:00 p.m.

The crews will be filming a car commercial.

All delays should be minor.

For current updates, visit https://nvroads.com/.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Snow avalanches kill more people in National Forests than any other natural hazard. Each winter, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches in the United States, and nearly all of these deaths involve recreation on National Forest land.

The high number of avalanche deaths in a seven-day period was just recorded with 14 people dying in an avalanche. This was the deadliest people since the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) National Avalanche Center started tracking deaths, according to Karl Birkeland, the center's director.

Every February, Live Violence Free joins organizations and schools across the country to raise awareness of teen dating violence. Dating abuse is a pattern of destructive behaviors used to exert power and control over a dating partner. Dating violence usually involves a series of abusive behaviors, and it can happen to anyone, regardless of their age, financial status, ethnicity, gender, or background.

Benko Art Gallery is closing its physical gallery doors and is holding a Closing Party on February 20 starting at 4:00 p.m. Come celebrate and thank owner-directors John Benko, Brigid O'Connor, Benko Art Gallery Artists, and all who worked, frolicked, found their inspiration, and shared their passion at what is arguably the most important art gallery of the last five years. Benko Art Gallery has consistently brought the community together in ways like no other space in South Tahoe. Even though closing they will continue to offer art through its expanded website at BenkoArtGallery.com.

The South Tahoe National Little League is trying to put together a 2021 season, and since Spring is less than two months away, it's time to sign up to play.

Children eligible to play must be born between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2016.

Registration
Is now open online - https://www.southtahoell.com. Visit this site to register. All returning league players: Please register online.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officers announced 118 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday. Of those, 2 are in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, 21 in El Dorado Hills, 3 in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, 3 in North County, 21 in Greater Placerville, 22 in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, 3 in South County, 38 in Lake Tahoe region. Awaiting address confirmation from today's count: 5. Total now awaiting address confirmation: 117.

Each year, the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition (LTBC) honors those that have made significant advancements to promoting safer bicycling and walking opportunities for the Lake Tahoe area. LTBC is seeking nominations from the public for individuals, public agencies, organizations, and businesses who made the Tahoe - Truckee region more bike friendly in 2020.

Brands like Toyota are usually not known for taking risks. Simply put, they don't have to, not when they're the biggest automaker in the world. But Toyota has been on a design renaissance that would see 2005 Toyota boardroom time travelers call out heresy and threaten to burn at the stake. Today, most all Toyotas have edgy designs that show some excitement is harboring inside that corporate façade.

Despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, Black Ice Theatre Co. of South Lake Tahoe has continued to find creative ways to bring entertainment to the community. Now they are bringing you “Super Happy Awesome News,” the virtual musical that will be kicking off their Black Ice Cubes Children’s Theatre program.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For over 100 years, some boat owners were known to scuttle their boats in Lake Tahoe instead of paying for dismantling or removal. In the case of the SS Tahoe, it was meant to be an underwater museum near the shore of Glenbrook in 1940 after spending years docked and rusting in Tahoe City, but a miscalculation of the slope caused the boat to sink to almost 400 feet under water.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin's House has had to reimagine their annual fundraiser. For this year's event they are hosting an online auction, the Spring Forward Fundraiser, the week of March 22-27, 2021. This new event will allow the community to purchase a virtual pass for $20, and bid on items from the comfort of their homes. Raffle tickets for additional prizes are also available.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to the weeks of January 18 - January 31, 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. COVID calls are related to state and county guidelines.

Last report: http://southtahoenow.com/story/02/06/2021/south-lake-tahoe-police-blotter

This week's report: