Christmas

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team will continue widespread prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin, if conditions and weather allow. Smoke may be visible.

1. Twin Peaks 49 - USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit - West River Park Drive and South Upper Truckee Road, Meyers, CA. Burn Type: Hand Piles.

Teresa Diane Golden, known as Teri, passed away peacefully in her home on December 29, 2020. She was 76. Teri loved living in South Lake Tahoe. She was active in the Democratic Party, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless, Christmas Cheer, the Drugstore Project, helping hikers on the Pacific Rim Trail, the AARP tax preparation, and many other endeavors. Teri was also a member of the Community Presbyterian Church and The Women of the Moose. Her neighbors described her as a loving and generous person.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After a few days of being above the benchmark of 15 percent, hospitals in the Sacramento Region have fallen below that number of available ICU beds. South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County are part of the Sacramento Region which fell under Governor Newsom's Stay-at-Home Order on December 10, 2020.

As of December 31, the Sacramento Region ICU availability was 14.4 percent.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A late Christmas Day weather system dropped several inches of snow around Lake Tahoe. A second colder system will be on its heels Sunday night into Monday and will provide chances for another round of snow. Additional fast moving storms are possible going into 2021.

Ski resorts are reporting the following 24-four snowfall reports at the beginning of operations Saturday:

Heavenly - 3"
Sierra-at-Tahoe - 7"
Kirkwood - 8"
Homewood - 7"
Squaw/Alpine - 12"
Northstar - 5"
Mt. Rose - 10"
Diamond Peak - 4"

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The incoming storm on Christmas Day has been upgraded by the National Weather Service (NWS) to a Winter Weathet Advisory. It starts on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and is in effect until 10:00 a.m. Saturday.

Heavy snow is possible. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 8 inches, except 1 foot or more above 7000 feet possible. Exposed Sierra ridge winds could gust to 100 mph or higher.

Travel could be very difficult. Peak snowfall rates expected Friday evening into Saturday morning. Hazardous and slow travel across the Sierra expected during this time.

The inaugural Light Up the South Shore Holiday Contest lit up the community with some much-needed Christmas cheer. Over 50 businesses and residents competed with their festive displays for the five coveted awards. The contest was held by the Tahoe Chamber.

Congratulations to the winners:

Best in Show Award Winner: The Cork and More
Honorable Mention: South of North Brewing Company

The Clark Griswold Award Winner: Cold Water Brewery and Grill
Honorable Mention: Revive Coffee & Wine

Best Window Display Winner: Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe
Honorable Mention: Eagle Protect PBC

The Tahoe Chamber has launched the GO Local Tahoe Digital Gift Card program to boost immediate local spending that will support South Shore restaurants, retailers and service providers throughout the recent Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. The GO Local Tahoe Card is a community based, e-gift card that allows you to give the gift of supporting LOCAL and allows your recipient to spend with local businesses of their choice. The ease of this gift card makes it the perfect last-minute holiday gift and stocking stuffer for a Tahoe lover.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Bank of the West's South Lake Tahoe branch has had to close temporarily due to a staffing shortage. A representative at the bank's branch in Carson City said it is a COVID-related closure and some staff has been in quarantine as they await test results. This has been a problem at many area banks since the pandemic started.

Once staff can be assembled to reopen safely, expect the doors to the branch at 2161 Lake Tahoe Boulevard to open once again.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A cold front will bring a chance of snow showers and winds to the Lake Tahoe Basin Monday night into Tuesday, with another chance on Christmas Day and next weekend. While there are no major storms on the horizon, any precipitation is welcome at this time.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With most of the Heavenly Holidays events canceled at the Heavenly Village this year, one event was still able to be held - the annual Breakfast with Santa.

The breakfast, moved outside this year due to COVID-19, was held each Saturday in December with the guest stars, Santa and Mrs. Claus. A limited number of tickets were available and each breakfast sold out.

As you deck the halls this holiday season, be fire smart. A small fire that spreads to a Christmas tree can grow large very quickly. Many of the Christmas Trees in homes have now been there for a week or two, and precautions can be taken to prevent a fire that would ruin the holidays.

Christmas Cheer, the South Lake Tahoe-based food pantry, is in need of food to give to the local community. The Tahoe Chamber has teamed up with a chamber member who is matching donations of food and cash given to Christmas Cheer this season up to $1,500.

All donating with locally purchased items and donated funds are eligible for the Chamber's Go Local Passport program. Spending locally gives the donator entries into the passport's $500 grand prize.

What is needed most this week at Christmas Cheer are hams and turkeys.

The Elves did it again!! They visited the South Lake Tahoe Children's Memorial Tree in the park at Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Wildwood Avenue for the tenth straight year, leaving behind signs of Christmas with stockings and decorations.

There is a stocking at the tree for the over 240 children who are memorialized there.

The memorial was created 29 years ago when tragedy struct the local community when South Tahoe High students Rory Hrbacek, Sandy Haynes, and Casey Wells died in an vehicle accident on Pioneer Trail.

The Soroptimist International Club of South Lake Tahoe (SISLT) has helped make the holidays a bit brighter for the men and women served by Live Violence Free, the nonprofit committed to promoting a violence-free community.

Each year the SISLT club president chooses a "President's Project" to complete during their year of service. This year, Club President Louisa Boone decided her project would be to make Christmas Stockings for the 50 women and 10 men the agency serves. Stockings were filled with beanies, socks, teas, gift cards for the men, beauty supplies and jewelry for the ladies.

Local businesses and residents are lighting up the town for the Light Up the South Shore Holiday Contest and bringing much-needed cheer with their festive light displays. The community is invited to travel the Holiday Light Trail Map for a fun and safe activity to enjoy some holiday spirit!

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.

Last Week's Log: http://southtahoenow.com/story/11/29/2020/el-dorado-county-sheriffs-report

This Week's Log:

11/29

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) is celebrating kindness and paying it forward this holiday season by visiting locals deserving of a special treat purchased from local small businesses.

Staff members are not shaving this December for 'Decembeard', and taking the funds collected to buy a gift at a local small business and then deliver to the chosen person....each day for the 12 Days of Christmas. They did the same beard fundraising last month along with City staff for 'Novembeard' which raised money for a cancer charity.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. = After consultation with the Douglas County officials, the towns, public safety agencies, and Douglas County Emergency Management it was determined in-person public holiday events in the towns of Gardnerville, Genoa, and Minden have been canceled. This includes the 25th annual Parade of Lights hosted by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce. County officials said the action was deemed necessary for the safety of the community, due to the most recent State directive limiting public gatherings to no more than 50 people.

South Lake Tahoe has a wide variety of small businesses from jewelry to experiences on the lake. With the impact of the pandemic on their business this is a perfect season to think of them while doing your shopping.

Small Business Saturday is November 28, the annual day after Black Friday to highlight shopping at the places who are a part of the community. They are the businesses we go to when seeking donations for silent auctions or to provide food for fundraisers. They are invested in the well-being of the South Shore community and to keep them here we need to support them now.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif - It was a true community effort to get the Christmas Tree delivered to the Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe last week. For the third consecutive year, a tree was selected from the South Shore to be on display for the holiday season.

On Monday, November 16, 2020 the 64-foot tree was cut down by Kenny Curtzwiler of K & K Services at 6:30 a.m., lifted by a crane and placed onto a flatbed truck, escorted by South Lake Tahoe Police and CHP, driven to its destination, lifted off the truck and placed into a stand to be decorated.

The time-honored tradition of Lake Valley Fire Protection District touring streets in their jurisdiction with a decorated fire engine returns starting December 11.

Due to COVID-19, the Holiday engine will not be handing out candy canes this year but all are welcome to wave and say hello from a safe social distance. Each night they start their trek between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

December 11 – Echo View Estates, Tahoe Mountain Road, Mule Deer Circle

December 12 – Lake Tahoe Blvd from Boulder Mountain Drive to Grizzly Mountain Drive

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to the Veterans Day holiday, Bread & Broth 4 Kids food bags will not be distributed by school buses Wednesday. Since there is no school, the following schedule for South Lake Tahoe area students will be followed:

Kids food bags can be picked up at St. Theresa Grace Hall, 1041 Lyons Avenue, on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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.

Last Week's Log: http://southtahoenow.com/story/10/25/2020/el-dorado-county-sheriffs-report

Reports added to that report for 10/24:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce Board recently asked the nine City Council candidates ten questions they felt were of most importance to its members. The questions focused mainly on topics relating to things that will or may affect both the local small businesses and the community in general.

Their board made the decision to not endorse a specific candidate this election, but instead rank them based on how much they align with the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce goals based on their answers to the questions below.