department

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.

Single lane closures will take place on a section of the Mt. Rose Highway summit (State Route 431) Nov. 12-15 as part of continuing Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) roadway improvements.

Between 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Nov. 12 through Nov. 15, single lane closures with traffic flaggers alternating directions of travel will be in place on Mt. Rose Highway just below the Mt. Rose ski area. Motorists should anticipate minor travel delays.

Roadway signage is being enhanced to further focus driver attention on navigating the mountainous roadway turns.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - If weather and conditions permit, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, along with California State Parks are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations over the next several weeks in the Tahoe Basin.

The planned burn areas:

As soon as word spread that El Dorado County Deputy Brian Ishmael was shot and killed in the line of duty on October 23, multiple federal agencies were mobilized and went to work to not only find out who was directly responsible for the death, but also to uncover those in charge of the illegal marijuana grows at the forefront of the case.

This fall, Rabbi Mordey Richler of Chabad at Lake Tahoe will offer Worrier to Warrior, a new six-session course, to help people deal with life challenges by accepting themselves and finding meaning in adversity.

Beginning Thursday, Nov. 14 at 10:00am, participants in the course will take on life’s challenges by examining factors that prevent us from achieving a more positive outlook—guilt, shame, and fear of inauthenticity—in light of the notion that a purposeful life provides the key to well-being.

PLACERVILLE, Calif. - Funeral services for El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brian Ishmael will be held on Tuesday, November 5, at 10:00 a.m. at Bayside Church Adventure, located at 6401 Stanford Ranch Road in Roseville, CA.

Funerals for law enforcement who died in the line of duty are very large, with people coming from across the country and the world. The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) expects thousands of people to attend.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to October 17 - 29, 2019.

10/17

ARRESTS (5):
25-year-old male arrested for public intoxication, shoplifting, and violation of probation.
34-year-old male arrested on warrants out of Placer County: 1 violation of probation, and 2 failure to appear bench warrants.
26-year-old male arrested for violation of probation and trespassing.

The Lake Tahoe Unified School District Performing Arts Department Presents: A Veteran’s Musical Tribute on Wednesday, November 6 in the South Tahoe Middle School Multi-Purpose room.

The free concert starts at 6:30 p.m.

This concert is a wonderful tribute to the men and women who have served or are currently serving our country in the various branches of the military. The Music Department invites all veterans and their families to attend the concert to honor and thank them for their brave and selfless duty.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) will be working on the Lake Tahoe side of Kingsbury Grade on October 29 and 30. Expect single-lane closures as crews fill roadway cracking.

Small sections of Kingsbury Grade will be reduced to one lane from approximately 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday from Meadow Drive to Tramway Drive. Motorists are advised to give extra travel time and to anticipate moderate travel delays as traffic flaggers and pilot cars alternate directions of travel. The road work schedule is subject to change.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Ken Harrison has been hired to take the helm of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue. The former battalion chief with the Orange County Fire Authority is bringing years of experience to the lake.

The City hasn't had anyone in the permanent fire chief position since the departure of Jeff Meston retired in February of this year. Battalion Chief Jim Drennan and retired Chief Bruce Martin have shared the duties over the past eight months.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An active shooting training at South Tahoe High School last week gave local, state and federal agencies the opportunity to use their collaborative skills in responding to an emergency at the school.

In the simulated event after school, a call went over the radios on a secure channel to alert all first responders of a shooting at the high school and with the shooter still on the loose. At the first call, there were seven "victims" (volunteers acting for the training).

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District and California State Parks may continue prescribed fire operations over the next several weeks in the Tahoe Basin, if weather and conditions permit.

- West side of Third Creek drainage, above Jennifer Dr. by the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District. 38 acres of understory 10/21 - 10/27/19. Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 1-2 days of ignition and 2 days of burn down time
Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: North/Northeast/East. Smoke may be visible throughout the Tahoe Basin and surrounding communities

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Chief Brian Uhler presented the idea of a take-home vehicle policy for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) to the City Council Tuesday, something that many other departments across the world have found to be successful in both recruiting and retention. Not only for these reasons, but take-home vehicles have also resulted in cleaner cars with fewer mechanical problems, longer life-spans and reduced costs.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Several different agencies will come together in South Lake Tahoe to train for a mass casualty incident on Wednesday, October 16, from 3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The public may see and hear things around South Tahoe High School and Barton Memorial Hospital during this training exercise that may appear serious due to the responding South Lake Tahoe Police Department, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, Cal Tahoe JPA, Barton Health, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Lake Tahoe Unified School District.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Whole Foods Market will be opening its doors in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, November 6. The new 28,500 square foot store will have an Opening Day celebration starting at 9:00 a.m. with complimentary refreshments, bites and music before the store opens. The first 300 customers will receive a Whole Foods Market South Lake Tahoe reusable tote bag, as well as a savings card with a mystery value ranging between $5 and $100 and a miniature loaf of bread to honor the Whole Foods Market tradition of breaking bread with the community.

Due to PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shut off, the following is the current status of
County buildings operations on the West Slope:

Closed to the public
Agriculture
1. Building A (Board of Supervisors, Chief Administrative Office, Human Resources, County Counsel)
2. Child Support Services (Shingle Springs)
3. Health and Human Services Agency - Briw Road
4. Health and Human Services Agency - Spring Street Complex
5. Placerville Jail
6. Libraries – Placerville, Georgetown
7. Union Mine

Open to the public
1. Animal Shelter
2. AQMD

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.

9/25

11:15 a.m. - Burglary - Nadowa St - SUSPECTS ENTERED RESIDENCE AND STOLE PROPERTY.

10/7 update: A 20-year-old college student went to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department at 12:30 a.m. this morning, telling them he believed he was involved in the fatal hit-and-run. Marlon Cruz, a member of the Lake Tahoe Community College men's soccer team, was arrested after an investigation by SLTPD and interview with Cruz. The vehicle used in the hit-and-run has been located. For more updates and a statement from LTCC, visit http://southtahoenow.com/story/10/07/2019/man-arrested-fatal-hit-and-run-collision-south-lake-tahoe.

Beginning Oct. 6, exit numbers on the Interstate 580 Carson City Freeway will change as part of a Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) project to resurface and enhance the interstate.

The current exit numbers range from 38 to 42, and through the coming week will be replaced with new, lower exit numbers corresponding with roadway mileage as follows:

Fairview Drive - Exit 3
U.S. 50/Willian Street - Exit 5
College Parkway - Exit 6
Arrowhead Drive - Exit 7

October 1, 2019 marks the first day of the 2020 Water Year and reservoirs in the state are still full from the epic snow year of 2018-19. California began a new water year today with significantly more water in storage than the previous year thanks to above-average snow and precipitation.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The "Angel of Tahoe" Lisa Maloff and her loyal friend and caretaker Ricky Reich have once again helped out the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) by donating $10,000 to cover the purchase of two new K9 ballistic vests.

Over the past several years, Ms. Maloff has bestowed millions of dollars to the community, including funds to cover purchases of the department's police dogs, vests, vehicle, and training.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to fight alcohol-related crime.

The grant is awarded to local law enforcement agencies in California through ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership Program. The grants strengthen SLTPD’s efforts by combining the efforts of their officers and ABC agents. ABC agents have expertise in alcoholic beverage laws and can help communities reduce alcohol-related problems.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office added a third location for this year’s Coffee with a Cop Day in order to provide the public a greater opportunity for a one-on-one conversation with Sheriff’s Office executive staff and supervisors.

The new location is I.V. Coffee Lab, 907 Tahoe Boulevard in Incline Village. Chief Deputy Greg Herrera and Patrol Captain Don Gil will be available to answer questions, address concerns, or just casual conversation from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2019.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe has been awarded $1,462,702.50 in SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In an announcement of Round 4 awardees, South Lake Tahoe was named a recipient.

Funds will go to hire seven new firefighters in preparation for opening Fire Station 2 in the Al Tahoe neighborhood.