department

In the mix you have El Dorado County, the City of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Valley Fire Protection and the Cal Tahoe JPA. More importantly, and most likely the reason for the passionate responses from all involved, the mix also contains the safety of the public.

On March 15, 2016, the City of South Lake Tahoe sent a letter to the JPA, stating their intent to pull out of the agency that was created in 2001 to supply ambulance service to the City and the County and a portion of Alpine County.

The latest storms to hit the Sierra and Lake Tahoe kept wter content in the snowpack close to average, with some areas of California going above average in the precipitation they've received.

Officials from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) will be making their last monthly snowpack measurement near Sierra-at-Tahoe next week, but electronic readings taken March 22, 2016 show the snowpack is at 92 percent of average.

Most of the ski resorts around the lake, while still below average snowpack, are experiencing the best measured snow in a few years.

The community is invited to a special Good Friday performance of “The Living Last Words,” a dramatic musical experience commemorating the Seven Last Words of Christ, written by Ruth Elaine Schram, with music direction by Maureen Leonard, and stage direction by Susan Boulanger. This free performance will be presented on Friday, March 25 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1041 Lyons Avenue.

New "Welcome to Nevada" signs designed by high school students will start appearing on the state's roads this summer.

In a contest presented by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Governor Brian Sandoval’s office, the Department of Education and the Department of Transportation, high school student designers have been called upon to create the new signs.

Time is running out and all entries need to be submitted by March 25, 2016.

All veterans and families are invited to attend the El Dorado County BOS meeting on March 22, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. for the presentation of a proclamation from the US Department of Veteran Affairs. The proclamation is titled "Vietnam Veterans Day".

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from March 11 to March 16, 2016.

3/11 - 10 calls: 6 EMS, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 no incident found, 1 gasoline or other flammable spill, 1 psych transfer

3/12 - 14 calls: 9 EMS, 1 chimney fire, 1 psych transfer, 2 interfacility transfers, 1 canceled en route

3/13 - 8 calls: 4 EMS, 1 person in distress, 1 no incident found, 1 canceled en route, 1 vehicle vs. pedestrian call

3/14 - 8 calls: 6 EMS, 2 interfacility transfer

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Code has changed, much to the appreciation of both homeowners and contractors who had to deal with different codes, depending on the location of the home, City or in the County.

The council voted to remove restrictions on the fire sprinkler code (Chapter 5.20) to be more in line with Lake Valley Fire District. The City's stricter code confused contractors who build houses in the city, and in the county, and it was also found to be cost prohibitive for homeowners wishing to remodel.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 170 calls between March 8 and March 14, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

3/8
Unlicensed driver at Spruce and Glenwood Rd.

3/9
Drunk in Public in the 2800 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 2900 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Resisting in the 1000 block of Heavenly Village Way
Vandalism in the 2300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

3/10
Unlicensed driver in the 3700 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is concerned about a growing trend with the use of social media by youth, and has shared a warning from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Human Trafficking Bureau on dangers of “sexting” and the potential of pedophiles coercing children into unsafe acts.

10 Things Parents Can Do About the Dangers of “Sexting”

1. Talk with your child about the potential dangers of Internet activities. Tell them you have a responsibility to monitor their Internet use and will check their accounts periodically.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department will be giving Heavenly Village business owners training on a brand new parking garage system that will allow them to validate customer's parking as well as purchase parking passes from the ease of their computer.

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from February 19 to March 10, 2015.

2/19 - 13 Calls: 8 EMS, 1 EMS canceled en route, 1 person in distress, 1 water or steam leak, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 public service assistance

2/20 - 8 calls: 6 EMS, 1 canceled en route, 1 interfacility transfer

2/21 - 11 calls: 8 EMS, 1 canceled en route, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 carbon monoxide detector malfunction

2/22 - 8 calls: 4 EMS, 2 canceled en route, 1 false alarm, 1 interfacility transfer

With St. Patrick's Day being one of the biggest holidays centered around partying, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department is having a DUI Checkpoint as well as extra patrols on the roads to help lower deaths and injuries.

The checkpoint will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day, March 17. The location has not been disclosed.

John "Tony" Broadfoot, a deputy with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on March 4 on charges of driving under the influence after an accident in the Shingle Springs area. This was Broadfoot's third DUI arrest in as many months.

On December 8, 2015, Broadfoot was placed on administrative leave after being arrested on DUI charges by the CHP in South Lake Tahoe. Then on February 25, 2016, he was arrested, again by CHP officers, when found to be under the influence after rolling his vehicle near Ice House Road and Highway 50.

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.

This is part two in a series of a look into Human Trafficking in South Lake Tahoe.

Human trafficking. Its not just a Third World problem, its not just a big city problem, and its not a poor or rich problem. There are millions around the world who are victims to human trafficking, a business that is estimated to be a $32 billion industry.

And its happening in our backyard.

The facts are sobering.

Great news! Compared to last year, our violent crime rate is down 41% (from 112 occurrences in 2014 to 66 in 2015). The news is not all good. Our property crime rate is up 6% (from 516 in 2014 to 548 in 2015). This was not unexpected as we reported on a significant upward trend in property crime 6 months ago. Total crime is down 2.2% over last year.

It was a very short South Lake Tahoe City Council agenda Tuesday, but one that brought out passionate comments on the dais, and what one witness called "bickering."

The lone new business item was for the creation of a City policy where local parades are concerned, an item requested to be placed on the agenda by Councilmember JoAnn Conner.

South Lake Tahoe citizens who graduated from the most recent South Tahoe Action Team (STAT) training sessions were honored during Tuesday's city council meeting.

The STAT program is designed to incorporate trained citizens in the field with the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department and other first responders during times of crisis. This is the first program of its kind in the Tahoe Basin.

"Our disaster preparedness capability is much better because of this class," said Fire Chief Jeff Meston.

2:45 p.m. 2/28/16 update:

Two different high speed chases through the Carson Valley and up Kingsbury Grade resulted in the arrest of two men and two women on Saturday, February 27, 2017.

At 3:10 p.m., a trooper from the Nevada Highway Patrol spotted a silver Mercedes-Benz with California plates going down U.S. 50 (Spooner Summit) at 85 mph. The driver failed to pull over for the trooper, instead turning South on Highway 395 towards Minden, Nev., at speeds in excess of 100 mph.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. They responded to 210 calls over the one-week period between February 9 and February 22, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

2/9
Vandalism in the 2400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

2/10
No Arrests

2/11
No Arrests

2/12
Drunk in Public in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd
Warrant on "Emerald Bay Rd North"
Resisting in the 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

2/13

And the Oscar goes to......It's that time of year again folks, the Super Bowl of the motion picture industry known as the Academy Awards. This year promises to be what I think will be an exciting one in part because of its host: comedian Chris Rock. Talk about perfect timing, huh? First the old farts who decide who gets nominated virtually overlooked every African-American contender which sparked not only outcries from those in the acting community but also wanted Chris Rock to boycott the Academy as well (for those who don't know him Chris Rock is black).

A statewide drive, "Stand Up for Keith – Team Meter Marrow Drive," is being organized by California Highway Patrol Headquarters and the CHP Santa Ana Area office to try to find a marrow donor for Officer Keith Meter, an 18-year veteran of the Department and a familiar face among the stand-up paddle community in South Lake Tahoe.

On Tuesday, February 23, 2016, Nevada Department of Transportation crews started the dismantling process of the large boulder that fell onto Highway 50 northeast of the Cave Rock tunnel Saturday night.

The large boulder rolled onto the roadway, causing damage to the road and guardrail, but no injuries or vehicle damage, at approximately 6:30 p.m. February 20. The size of the boulder is estimated at nine feet wide by six feet high.

All community members are invited to become an American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard through their training at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation and Swim Complex in March.

The South Lake Tahoe Recreation Department the class with instructor Liz Terzian who 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.