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EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - With concern over the increase in COVID-19 cases in El Dorado County, the Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting on Thursday, July 9 at 2:00 p.m. to meet with Public Health Director Dr. Nancy Williams and discuss options to keep the communities and residents safe.

The board will receive an update on the status of COVID cases in El Dorado County and provide direction to staff regarding enforcement against businesses and individuals who fail to comply with state and local health requirements.

The Tahoe Tax-Aide Team has determined that it will not re-open for this tax season. The health and safety of our site staff, volunteers and taxpayers is our top priority, and the decision not to re-open was made with everyone's protection in mind.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offering online options to assist taxpayers affected by the suspension of in-person services:

• A self-prep option, providing free access to software so you can prepare taxes on your own, is available at aarpfoundation.org/taxaide Click on the "Get Help With Tax Prep" link.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With months of people being under "Stay at Home" orders, and if the past few days are any indication, this holiday weekend will be busy at Lake Tahoe as people get out in the fresh air, hike, bike, go to the beach and get on the water.

The July Fourth holiday at Lake Tahoe will look a bit different this year with firework shows canceled, social distancing, the requirement of face coverings in public places and growing concerns about responsible recreation.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There will be some very big shoes to fill when finding a replacement for retiring El Dorado County Undersheriff Randy Peshon. On Tuesday, June 30, Peshon will be putting his badge on for the very last time. For 43 years he's been in some level of law enforcement, the last 33 years in El Dorado County.

During his career in El Dorado County, Peshon has been at the forefront of change from implementing a change in culture at the jail in South Lake Tahoe to getting the new Public Safety Facility built under budget and ahead of schedule.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy has awarded a $425,000 grant to the City of South Lake Tahoe to help plan the future of the 56-Acre site, a south shore hub of civic and recreation activity across Highway 50 from Lakeview Commons.

“The 56-Acre site is already a vibrant gathering place for community members and visitors alike, and it has the potential to be so much more,” said South Lake Tahoe City Councilmember and Conservancy Board member Tamara Wallace.

The California Tahoe Conservancy Board will meet online on Thursday, June 25 at 9:30 a.m. to consider authorization for awarding grants related to public access improvements, climate change adaptation, and forest restoration. The Board will consider approving a combined $1.3 million in recreation and public access improvement grants and $676,000 in forest health grants

Some of those grants:

STATELINE, Nev. - Harveys Lake Tahoe announced Monday that they will be resume their operations as a hotel and casino on Tuesday, June 30 at 10:00 a.m.

Upon reopening, the property will comply with directives from Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and public health authorities. Subject to and in accordance with such directives, other amenities on-property, including ticketed live events, will reopen as appropriate based on customer demand.

Across the street, Harrah's Tahoe opened along with the other Stateline casinos on June 4.

STATELINE, Nev. - In a continued effort to maintain essential transit services and prioritize the safety of transit operators and passengers, the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) is notifying the public that it anticipates periodic frequency reductions for fixed-route services due to COVID-19 staffing challenges. TTD will also limit the number of passengers on paratransit buses to comply with social distancing measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - The Class of 2020 at George Whittell High School will hold its graduation on Friday, June 19. Since only immediate family members can attend the socially distancing graduation ceremony there will be a parade starting at Kahle Park on Kingsbury Grade at 10:00 a.m. The procession of cars will go along Highway 50 and end up at the Warrior Way high school in Zephyr Cove. Those wanting to cheer the graduates on may do so from along the four-mile route.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The race for the Douglas County Commissioner for District 1 has been a tight one. As of Tuesday, June 16, challenger Danny Tarkanian is ahead of incumbent Dave Nelson by 12 votes. Ever since voting ended on June 9, the count between these two candidates has been a close one. Nelson had been leading during the first week of tabulated results but Tarkanian has now moved ahead.

As of Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., ballots from 57.18 percent of the county's 20,818 eligible voters have been counted. Results from those ballots:

County Commissioner District 1

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Barton Foundation began accepting applications on June 15 from local nonprofit organizations for this year’s $100,000 Community Health Grant program. Area service groups and organizations that share Barton Health’s commitment to improving community health and well-being are encouraged to apply online at bartonhealth.org/foundation.

Applications will be accepted through June 30, 2020.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are two community-wide events in South Lake Tahoe Friday, June 12 to join voices around the world to eradicate racism, educate and peacefully protest.

Lakeview Commons - 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In a graduation season marked by COVID-19 social distancing regulations, high school students across the globe knew the ceremonies marking the end of K-12 school careers would be different than in years past. With daily school work moved online, graduations were moved to a virtual format.

At both South Tahoe High and Mt. Tallac High schools, graduation has been made special by social media acknowledgments, yard signs, and special bags full of gifts.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be a special board meeting for the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) on Thursday, June 11 starting at 9:00 a.m. to discuss who will fill the remainder of Jim Jones's term.

Jones, a longtime member of the board, passed away on May 7.

Nine residents filled out an application and expressed a desire to be the temporary board member until December 2020. Jones's seat would have been up for election in November.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If California Governor Newsom gives guidelines on the next industries that can open in the state, El Dorado County will be able to move quickly and reopen more businesses and activities.

Friday evening brought thunderclaps and patchy showers to Lake Tahoe, adding to the flow of streams and rivers the following day as 40 participants collected water quality samples across Tahoe’s South Shore as part of Snapshot Day. This citizen science water quality monitoring event takes place every May and provides a moment-in-time look at the water quality and environmental health of the Tahoe-Truckee watershed.

On Friday May 29, 2019, El Dorado Chief Administrative Officer Don Ashton
released his Fiscal Year 2020-21 Recommended Budget to the Board of Supervisors. The total recommended budget is approximately $647.7 million, which is $87.3 million less than the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget, a copy of which can be accessed here.

STATELINE, Nev. - Casinos in Nevada are now allowed to open once their new protocol and guidance plans are approved by the state's Gaming Control Board. Since Governor Sisolak's reopening announcement, casino properties have been putting the social distancing and safety measures in place to once again welcome guests.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On Wednesday, May 27, El Dorado County rescinded its nonessential travel ban into the Lake Tahoe Basin, just as it did when letting the County-specific Stay At Home order expire in April.

The messaging is confusing as local orders are lifted, and state orders are still in place.

The action by the County does not mean that travel into Lake Tahoe Basin is all of a sudden okay though.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Council will hold a special meeting on Thursday, May 28 beginning at 9:00 a.m. to discuss and vote on Emergency Order Number 1, send $100,000 to the Sierra Business Council’s “Resilience Fund Tahoe," the City's reopening plans and an urgency ordinance for relaxation of certain City regulations that may assist local businesses with a successful reopening.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District will be holding a regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m., followed by closed session.

The meeting can be viewed on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHZeyuZYC9ZXKyTO2k-sJ5Q, and public comment can be made in three ways (see at the end of the story).

A provisional board member will be selected Tuesday night. Three people have applied to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Barbara Bannar. Vying to fill out her term are Chris Proctor, David Wise, and Lauri Kemper.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners will be conducting special meetings on May 26 and 27, 2020 to discuss the possible adoption of the FY 2020-21 Final Budgets for Douglas County; Douglas County Redevelopment Agency; the Towns of Gardnerville, Genoa, and Minden; and the Tahoe-Douglas Transportation District.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and anticipated $3M shortfall in revenue, the County will discuss reductions in personnel, service, and supplies across all departments.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved on May 12 an amendment to their ordinance for the retail sale, commercial distribution, and commercial indoor cultivation of recreational adult-use cannabis as it pertains to the Meyers community.

Originally, no zoning in Meyers qualified for these activities as their Area Plan zoning didn't match up with the approved areas for El Dorado County's legal activities could fit.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On May 7, 2020, South Lake Tahoe lost a steadfast advocate for safe, clean drinking water and reliable wastewater services. James R. Jones, 77, a local engineer and avid sailor, served on South Tahoe Public Utility District’s Board of Directors for 39 years (1977-1989, 1993-2020). During his tenure on the Board, Director Jones focused on building for the future, instead of 'kicking the can down the road.’