Certification

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the support of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR), the Al Tahoe neighborhood has begun the process of becoming a certified Firewise USA ® recognized neighborhood.

As part of the application process, SLTFR and Al Tahoe community volunteers will be walking in the Al Tahoe neighborhood October 27-30 and performing random wildfire risk assessment/evaluations on 20 percent of the 1520 properties from the street.

The volunteers will have bright yellow vests on so they can be easily identified

After more than 15 years of service, Hilary Roverud has been named Development Services Director after filling the position on a temporary basis since the resignation of Kevin Fabino on July 6.

“Hilary is incredibly skilled and loved by the staff she has worked with for so long,” said City Manager Joe Irvin, “As a community, we are lucky to have her in this leadership role and know she will continue moving that department in the right direction.”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Barton Memorial Hospital has been designated as a Blue Distinction® Center for Knee & Hip Replacement. Solidifying a legacy of orthopedic care in the Lake Tahoe region, this national certification marks Barton’s expertise in delivering high-quality medical services and better patient outcomes with knee and hip replacement surgeries.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Involuntary manslaughter charges will be filed by the El Dorado County District Attorney against three former Guiding Hands School employees and the school for their alleged part in the death of a special-needs student at the school on November 28, 2018.

Cindy Ann Keller, 59, Starranne Meyers, 60, and Kimberly Dan Wohlwend, 37, were all arrested and booked on charges of felony involuntary manslaughter charges on Sunday, November 10. All three were released the same day.

PLACERVILLE, Calif. - The public is invited to attend a meeting of the El Dorado County ad hoc cannabis committee on Monday, June 3 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors Chambers in Placerville.

They will discuss the rough draft ordinances for commercial cannabis manufacturing, nurseries, and test laboratories. A presentation by County Staff will also be made. The El Dorado County ad hoc cannabis committee members are District V Supervisor Sue Novasel, and District I Supervisor John Hidahl.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Classes will begin soon for those interested in becoming a lifeguard or swim instructor in South Lake Tahoe. Offered by the American Red Cross, both classes are open to community members and will be taught at the Recreation and Swim Complex.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. The City of South Lake Tahoe has launched its new
newsletter - "At Lake Level." The monthly newsletter is written by City Manager Frank Rush and prepared by Communications Manager Chris Fiore in an effort to keep the community well informed about City issues and initiatives.

New Leadership

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What should be the final count of ballots for the November 6 election in El Dorado County was released today, giving clarity to a hotly contested ballot measure in South Lake Tahoe. The citizen generated Measure T calls for a ban of all vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe except for those in what is called the "tourist core."

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) has announced the promotion of Engineer Nathan Johnson to the position of captain.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be no legal sales of adult-use marijuana in South Lake Tahoe until at least 2019 after the referendum against the City's Cannabis Ordinance passed. Assistant City Clerk Sue Blankenship certified the results of the sample signature count by the El Dorado County Elections Department and now it's the City Council's turn.

Philip Ritger has been selected as the Public Works Director effective October 8, 2018. Philip has served as the Genoa Town Manager for the past five years and brings a wealth of management and leadership experience to Douglas County.

As the Genoa Town Manager, Philip was responsible for the financial health of the town. He managed all public works, facility maintenance, professional contracts and related activities necessary to provide the residents with a high level of service in a fiscally responsible manner.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Lake Tahoe Golf Course has retained its designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program.

Bobby Jaeger, Golf Course Superintendent, led the effort to maintain sanctuary status on this course. Lake Tahoe Golf Course was designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 2003 and is one of 904 courses in the world to currently be designated as such.

The first of two groups trying to get vacation home rental ballot measures to the voters in November has submitted signatures to the South Lake Tahoe City Clerk. On Monday, April 30, the Tahoe Neighborhoods Group turned in 1,651 signatures on petitions they circulated through South Lake Tahoe. Those signatures will now be sent to the elections department of El Dorado County for certification.

Five students from the area were awarded scholarships by the Minden Soaring Club (MSC) to help finance flight and ground instruction in preparation for obtaining a private or other glider rating.

Five scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each were awarded to youths who demonstrated they are interested in learning to fly gliders and/or who have already begun their training and need additional monetary assistance. The scholarships were announced by the MSC Board of Trustees at the club’s annual general meeting on March 18, 2018.

Scholarship winners are all from northern Nevada:

Carson City’s Deputy Director of Emergency Management, Stacey Belt, has a couple of very special Spinoni Italiano dogs. One of them, as Stacey puts it — a bearded Italian girl with bushy eyebrows named Adele, will be competing in the famous Westminster dog show in February.

We spoke with Stacey to learn more about these fascinating dogs as well as the world of competitive dog shows and the time both pooches got lost in the woods for an entire week in 2016.

How did you get into the Spinoni Italiano breed of dogs?

It was a ceremonial send off today of a former four-legged protector of the South Lake Tahoe community.

Retired South Lake Tahoe K9 Duke has passed away according to the South Lake Tahoe Police Canine Association. During his years of service he was responsible for the seizure of almost half a million dollars cash and countless narcotics detection arrests. He had numerous street suspect apprehensions, none of which were ever challenged in criminal or civil court according to his handler, Tony Broadfoot.

Duke had been trained by the Dutch Police in Belgium prior to coming to South Lake Tahoe in December of 2005.

Tony Broadfoot wrote this about Duke on the association's Facebook page:

Many South Lake Tahoe residents love their dogs. Most Police Officers love dogs too. I’ve heard it said by someone not so long ago…. “The more people I meet, the more I love dogs!” We at the police department understand and share in this fondness; however, we receive weekly complaints from community members regarding dogs in public parks, and most frequently dogs at the Live-at-Lakeview events. The South Lake Tahoe City Code (SLTCC), does not allow dogs, even on a leash, to be in our public parks (SLTCC §8.05.130).

Whole Foods Market’s 45 stores in northern California and Reno will donate five percent of its sales on Wednesday, July 26, to fund entrepreneurship grants for a select group of small businesses in the region. Tahoe Trail Bar, vegan snack bars cherished by outdoor enthusiasts, is one of the organizations chosen to receive the coveted grant.

Douglas County 911 Emergency Services was approved as an approved as an Emergency Fire Dispatch Center of Excellence on March 17, 2017 by the Board of Accreditation of the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED), the first in the state of the Nevada and the 36th such center in the world.

They are also the first dual accredited Fire and Medical accredited center in Nevada.

The South Lake Tahoe Recreation Department is offering two American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard Training courses. The courses are being taught by City employee, Liz Terzian and will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies. Participants will be trained and certified to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illness until EMS (emergency services) take over.

“Last night’s vote by the Placer County Planning Commission to reject the proposed development at Martis Valley West is great news for all who love Lake Tahoe," said Darcie Goodman Collins, PhD, executive director of the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

The Placer County Planning Commission has voted to recommend denial of the Martis Valley West Parcel Specific Plan and the certification of the project environmental impact report.

Catherine "Cat" Fuller has been selected for the Community Health Nurse/Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) position at the Douglas County Community Health Clinic.

After a nationwide recruitment, Carson City Health and Human Services along with Douglas County selected Fuller which included an interview process which began in February, 2016 and included a panel of nursing, social services, and administrative leadership from the Carson City and Douglas County Community Health and Social Services agencies.

The South Lake Tahoe Recreation Department is offering American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard Training. Participants must register for this class by March 14th at www.cslt.sportssignup.com. The class is conducted by American Red Cross Certified Instructor Liz Terzian and will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies. Participants will be trained and certified to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illness until EMS (emergency services) take over.