By Kristi Boosman
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency announced the winners of the Lake Spirit Awards honoring "real people making real progress protecting Lake Tahoe" at their first-ever Community Appreciation Day event held on September 29 at TRPA's office.

Effective Saturday, Oct. 1, NV Energy will decrease its overall electric rates by 2.43 percent for northern Nevada customers including those in Stateline, Zephyr Cove and Incline Village.

By Cheva Heck
U.S. Forest Service fire and fuels management crews plan to begin prescribed fire operations in the Angora fire area this fall, burning piles created during the fuels reduction component of the Angora Ecosystem Restoration Project. Operations could begin as soon as next week.

UPDATE: 9:50AM: We received word this morning that U.S. Army Spc. Garrett Fant, 4th Calvary, died on Sept. 26 in Afghanistan. He was 21-years old and listed as attending South Tahoe High School. The U.S. Army has not sent an official notice of his death but it has been confirmed through the news organization KSAL out of Fort Riley, Kansas. Fant's mother is Julia Towle Farell of South Lake Tahoe.

The U.S. Army announcement to the press came this morning but details have remained vague. News also reached Fant's Facebook page. Word surfaced from family friend and Gold Star Mother Patty Smith, who's son Sgt. Tim Smith, of South Lake Tahoe, died April 7. 2008 in Iraq. According to KSAL, Garrett Fant died due to injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan. He was on patrol in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar Province on Monday of this week when the IED detonated.

Fant, who was listed on KSAL News Radio as being from American Canyon, Calif., was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Fant joined the Army in March 2009 as an indirect fire infantryman. This was his first deployment. Fant's awards include the Combat Infantryman's Badge, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, and the Army Service Ribbon.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The League to Save Lake Tahoe filed an appeal Wednesday to an August court decision that would have allowed a South Shore housing development to move forward.The environm...

By Li Terrell
The South Lake Tahoe City Council met Tuesday to pass an interim budget in an effort to have more time to work out labor negotiation and budget shortfall issues that have the community up in arms. There were no comments offered by council or the public, and the motion passed unanimously. Prior to the meeting there was a closed session for bargaining units to meet, and following was another closed session for council to hear the latest of the negotiations.

NEWS RELEASE — Camp Richardson Historic Resort & Marina, Lake Tahoe’s favorite family resort, is gearing down for an anticipated season of fall colors, crisp mountain air, special events, activities, dining with a view and lakefront lodging value.

Located on Tahoe’s south shore, Camp Richardson is an outdoor enthusiast’s mecca. The fall season offers warm days and sweater-wearing nights that allow guests to take in hiking, biking, live music and beach time without the larger summer crowds.

By Cheva Heck
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement for a project that would implement extensive forest thinning along Lake Tahoe's South Shore to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire and improve forest health. Under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA), the release of the FEIS triggers the 30-day objection period for the project. Only those who have previously submitted written comments on this project may file an objection.

Steady wind has pushed large amounts of smoke from a fire burning since Sept. 12 south of Highway 50 near Strawberry into Christmas Valley, Meyers and South Lake Tahoe this afternoon.

El Dorado Forest Service officials report the lightning-caused Long Fire, which has burned about 275 acres in timber and brush, is about 85 percent contained and poses no risk to life or property. The fire is burning at around 7,000 feet in the Packsaddle Pass area, three miles southwest of Strawberry in El Dorado County.