1

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Customers of the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) may be looking at an annual increase on their water and sewer bills of 5.0 to 8.5 percent to cover costs of replacing aging infrastructure and enhancing local fire protection.

During last week's budget workshop, STPUD staff showed the Board what a rate increase could provide to their customers:

- Replacement or rehabilitation of 725,354 feet of steel pipe, water mains, wells and tanks
- Extension of the life of assets
- Replacement of 100,000 feet of pipe used for fire protection

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Dozens of school teachers in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) filled the board room in South Lake Tahoe last Tuesday to show trustees they want a cost of living increase to their pay.

Jodi Dayberry, President of the South Tahoe Educators Association, led the teachers in their presentation to the LTUSD Board of Trustees, telling the five elected members teachers are struggling due to the high cost of living and many have second jobs and summer jobs to fill their financial void.

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.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

3/7

It’s hard to believe that it has been only 25 years since Kia came to the U.S. with the 88 hp Sephia. The first TV ad showed a Kia Sephia following a Honda Civic through the streets of Los Angeles (in fast motion) demonstrating it could do anything the Honda Civic could do.

Douglas County has made it clear to the State of Nevada they won't stand for any legislation that exceeds federal firearm transfer requirements. Their reaction came after Governor Steve Sisolak signed SB 143, a bill that would require background checks on gun sales, on February 15, 2019.

South Tahoe High School endured the beginning of Spring weather as the snow stopped falling and temperatures rose to 45F, giving students hope of warmer weather for the next following weeks. This week at STHS students prepared for upcoming school events, Julia Russell discussed Challenge Day, and Sofia Hedqvist signed to a college to continue her volleyball career in North Dakota.

In School

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Amgen Tour of California 2019 is returning to South Lake Tahoe and the list of cyclists to participate has been released. Men’s Stage 2 race from Rancho Cordova to South Lake Tahoe will take place on May 13.

Amgen will feature the current top-three WorldTour teams and a world-class peloton featuring World and National Champions, Olympic and Tour de France veterans including:

This story has been updated:

Registration for kindergarten students in Lake Tahoe Unified School District for the 2019/20 school year will be held April 29-May 10, 2019 for Tahoe Valley and Sierra House elementary schools. For those enrolling in the Two-Way Immersion program at Bijou and wanting to enter the lottery for enrollment at Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School, the deadline is March 22.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The public is invited to join El Dorado County Sheriff John D'Agostini as he presents "Criminal Activity: Awareness, Reporting & Prevention" on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Library.

He will discuss topics the South Shore community is interested in including homelessness, crime trends and the most common financial scams targeting our communities and ways to avoid falling victim to scammers.

In addition, the Sheriff encourages questions from the audience on any other subjects that are of concern.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was another successful night of Dancing with the Tahoe Stars as contestants tapped, salsa'd, ballroomed and funked their way across the MontBleu stage, all to raise money for the Tahoe Arts Project (TAP).

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.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

2/28

Going into its fourth model year of this fourth generation RX, the Lexus RX450hL enters its second year with little revision. But since this is the first time around for this new expanded RX model for the Road Beat, it needs to be discussed as an entirely new model.

Good Morning Lake Tahoe Skiers & Riders!

Beautiful Mountain with Mostly Clear to Partly Cloudy Skies… Increasing Clouds expected through-out the day and chance of snow showers… Get After it today with plenty of Powder Stashes yet to be had… Machine Groomed Snow Corduroy and Skier-Rider Tracked and Packed Snow… North Lake Tahoe SnowFest continues today with Parade in Kings Beach and More… Ski & Ride with Care & Be Safe!

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With a 400 acre plume of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in some of the South Lake Tahoe groundwater, agencies tasked with protecting the local drinking supply updated the community on cleanup efforts and the status of the plume Wednesday evening.

Authorities originally identified the chemical entered the groundwater at the site of the old Lake Tahoe Laundry Works which was located at the South Y Center that is now home to Raley's and KMart.

Good Morning Lake Tahoe Skiers & Riders!
Winter Weather Advisory will expire around noon… At least a Foot of Fresh Snow in the upper elevations… Upper Mtn. Lifts will operate Wind & Weather Permitting… Wear your Gore-Tex jacket today… Take your yellow, rose or bronze lens goggles… Ski/Ride with a Buddy if you go off-piste… Powder & Machine Groomed Snow… North Lake Tahoe SnowFest continues today thru March 10… Road Controls posted on all Highways…Ski & Ride with Care & Be Safe!

The following is a recap of activity for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department from February 20 - March 3. They responded to 405 calls during this period. Last week's report for February 8- February 19, 2019.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

2/20
Embezzlement in the 1300 block of Ski Run Blvd
Resisting in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd
Battery in the 2100 block of South Ave
Warrant in the 1200 block of Emerald Bay Rd

2/21
No Arrests

Good Morning Lake Tahoe Skiers & Riders!

Winter Weather Advisory in effect thru tomorrow afternoon… Fresh Snow & Windy Conditions… Upper Mtn. Lifts will operate Wind & Weather Permitting… Wear your Gore-Tex jacket today… Take your yellow, rose or bronze lens goggles… Ski/Ride with a Buddy if you go off-piste… Powder & Machine Groomed Snow… North Lake Tahoe SnowFest continues today thru March 10… Ski & Ride with Care & Be Safe!

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – With a critical increase in active shooter events across the country, the Tahoe Chamber is holding a Level UP Workshop on the subject Wednesday, March 20 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in their Stateline office.

Workplace violence affects about 2 million workers in the U. S. each year. With this violence continuing to pose a looming threat, active shooter training is essential for all businesses. Active shooter events most commonly occur in businesses - 45 percent, schools - 25 percent, and government facilities - 10 percent.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After Richard Solbrig told the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) Board of Directors he was retiring in January 2019 after 29 years with the agency the hunt was on for a new general manager.

It turned out they didn't have to look far.

John Thiel had been hired by Solbrig in 1992 as a staff engineer and he worked his way up through the ranks over the last 27 years until the Board chose him as the new general manager.

More Fresh Snow has fallen in the upper elevations… Get Out on the Mountain today! Winter Storm Watch posted for Tuesday thru Wednesday… 1-3 Feet possible… Wear your Gore-Tex jacket today… Ski/Ride with a Buddy if you go off-piste… Powder & Machine Groomed Pack Powder… North Lake Tahoe SnowFest continues today thru March 10… Ski & Ride with Care & Be Safe!

TODAY’S WEATHER: Expect Partly Cloudy Skies with a slight chance of snow showers in the morning. Patchy Fog in the Morning. Highs: 37F-47F. (27F-37F on the slopes). Southwest Winds 10-15 mph.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The forecast for the Lake Tahoe Basin is beginning to sound like a broken record: rain, snow, repeat. Next week won't be much different as it will start off fairly quiet before the next storm heads into the region Tuesday night through Friday with periods of valley rain, mountain snow, and gusty winds.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno says the slushy snow we've been seeing at lake level could change and to expect colder conditions returning at the end of the week with snow possible at all elevations.

The Truckee Fire Protection District sold their airboat used for in-the-water rescues to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Hasty Team for just one dollar. This important piece of equipment can be used for missions on shallow bodies of water such as Swan Lake and could also potentially be used to speed response time for ice rescues, particularly in areas where thin ice is an issue.

When the Truckee department acquired a new boat for their uses they transferred ownership to Washoe County who had borrowed the boat in the past for help at the Reno Air Races.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Community College held a 90th birthday celebration this week for their first president, Dr. James Duke.

Dozens of past and current leaders, staff, students and community members enjoyed the party for Dr. Duke who started with the college on September, 1974 when a key to a post office box was all there was.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Interested in volunteering for Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care? Now is your chance as the spring volunteer training session sign-ups start at 9:00 a.m. on March 1.

This year there will be training and education offered over two different weekends with a class on Saturday, May 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. covering general wildlife care information, and a separate hands-on training with their animal care team in early June for those who are interested in regularly volunteering at their South Lake Tahoe facility.