drugs

Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe recently held their annual awards program that honor women for their volunteer efforts in the community. President Pam Barrett welcomed members, guests and awardees. Mistress of Ceremonies was Ellen Camacho.

South Tahoe High School endured the beginning of Spring weather as the snow stopped falling and temperatures rose to 45F, giving students hope of warmer weather for the next following weeks. This week at STHS students prepared for upcoming school events, Julia Russell discussed Challenge Day, and Sofia Hedqvist signed to a college to continue her volleyball career in North Dakota.

In School

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Understand more about the opioid epidemic at the next Barton Health Wellness Lecture on Thursday, February 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Barton Center for Orthopedics & Wellness, 2170B South Avenue, South Lake Tahoe.

Dr. Matthew Wonnacott will lead the lecture and cover topics including how opioids became an epidemic and what kind of help is available locally for those fighting an addiction to the drug.

After a six-month investigation into drug transactions in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the El Dorado Sheriff's Department Narcotics Task Force executed search warrants at two locations in South Lake Tahoe on August 23, 2017. Large amounts of heroin, methamphetamine and approximately 12 firearms were seized in the search. Lynwood Towle, Shawn German, Melissa Griffis, Paul Ryan, and Krystal Long were all arrested, charged, and eventually pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from those searches.

Two drug traffickers were sentenced today to a total of 16 years in federal prison after a traffic stop in Carson City for speeding led to the discovery of large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in their car.

Danny Lyle Jensen II, 39, and Kimberly Lopes, 37, both of Henderson, Nevada, were sentenced to 130 months and 63 months, respectively, and five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben. They previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.

One baby and two adults died in a two-car collision on Highway 50 Tuesday evening east of Placerville.

On January 15, 2019 at approximately 6:27 p.m., the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to the crash near the Camino Heights Drive intersection. They say a 51-year-old man from Fremont, Calif. was driving a 2005 Volvo 560 westbound at a speed around 60 mph. At the same time, a 39-year-old Pollock Pines, Calif. man was heading eastbound in a 2017 Subaru Impreza at approximately 65 mph.

The holiday season can be a happy and joyous time, bringing family and friends together. But for some, it can be a stressful and lonely time, leading to symptoms of depression. When stress is at its peak, unhealthy behaviors, such as drinking alcohol, using drugs, and overeating, tend to take over. Though people use these behaviors to cope and escape difficult emotions, they tend to make things worse.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless has announced the opening of their Warm Room for the 2018-19 season on Wednesday, December 12. This year they will be located inside the old Emerald Bay Dentistry office at 1201 Emerald Bay Road in South Lake Tahoe.

The Warm Room will operate nightly from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. through April 2019.

For the fourth year, the Warm Room will provide overnight refuge from the elements in a safe and warm environment for approximately twenty-five adult men and women who are experiencing homelessness during winter months.

Many people do not get to see their loved ones as often as they would like. The holidays offer an opportunity to not only reconnect with and visit parents, grandparents and other loved ones, but to ensure that they are staying safe.

“If you are visiting your loved one and become concerned about their wellbeing, particularly if you suspect they may be a victim of neglect, self-neglect or abuse, please reach out for assistance,” said Laura Walny, Manager with the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency.

Removing unused, unwanted and expired medications from homes is a huge step in preventing pill abuse and theft, and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will be holding a Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Safeway parking lot.

This is the local's 16th opportunity in the past eight years to get rid of their potentially dangerous medication on the South Shore.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 65-year-old man died Friday night after being struck by a vehicle near Denny's on Lake Tahoe Boulevard. Just before 7:30 p.m. on September 28, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) received several calls about a pedestrian versus vehicle collision near the intersection of Lake Tahoe and Al Tahoe Boulevards.

Upon arrival they found an unresponsive man lying in the roadway in front of Denny's. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue personnel arrived and pronounced the local man deceased at the scene.

What rattles our communities across our nation to their core? Drug abuse. Approximately 100 people each day die from drug overdoses. Whole industries of products and programs are being developed to combat this problem. Every day more grandparents are now “parenting” their grandchildren so they can be raised in a stable and healthy environment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costing our Nation over $740 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and health care.

A driver sustained minor injuries in a crash north of Zephyr Cove near Skyland Monday afternoon.

Just before 4:00 p.m., an unidentified adult woman traveling in a southwesterly direction drove her car off Highway 50 and into a tree where the car subsequently rolled over.

The woman suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment, according to Trooper Matt McLaughlin of the Nevada Highway Patrol. He said she got a ride home as her car is undriveable.

Highway 50 was backed up with traffic for about an hour as emergency crews worked at the scene.

First responders around the South Lake Tahoe area were kept busy over the weekend with collisions, a jet ski crash and a major incident involving a pedestrian and vehicle.

On Sunday, August 19 at 12:12 a.m., South Lake Tahoe fire and police departments responded to the intersection of Lake Tahoe Boulevard (Hwy 50) and Lakeview Avenue on the call of a pedestrian versus vehicle crash.

4:13 p.m. UPDATE: The driver of the truck involved in Thursday's fatal crash is a 63-year-old male from South Lake Tahoe. As investigators worked at the scene, Lake Tahoe Boulevard was closed to all traffic for about 2.5 hours from Takela Drive to Fairway Avenue.

"South Lake Tahoe Police Department appreciates the public’s patience during the closure/detour," said Lt. David Stevenson. "The Police Department would also like to thank CHP and Cal Trans for assisting with traffic control. We would also like to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased."

A 39-year-old South Lake Tahoe man was arrested by the Butte County Sheriff's Office after being found with a large quantity of illegal drugs.

On July 16, 2018 at approximately 9:00 p.m., law enforcement was called about a suspicious vehicle on the Oro Quincy Highway north of the Berry Creek area. The occupant of the car, Jay Sool White, was contacted by a Butte County Sheriff's deputy who subsequently searched White's car.

It has been a very tough and tragic week, with the passing of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, and because of their suicides and a report released by the CDC, NAMI ((National Alliance on Mental Illness) El Dorado County is seeing an increase in phone calls from the community.

Suicide rates have been rising in nearly every state, according to the latest Vital Signs report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is the 10th leading cause of death and is one of just three leading causes that are on the rise (behind diseases of the heart and Cerebrovascular diseases).

I’ve had this article in my head for months, bouncing around the walls of my brain, trying to decide where to go with it. There is an epidemic continuing to spread in this country. One that is curable without a vaccine, without drugs, without changing one’s diet. It’s called a Lack of Kindness.

Locals and tourists alike can feel it in South Lake Tahoe, as if a cloud of hate has descended over the lake. Pleasantries seem to be a forgotten art, as has simple kindness like holding a door open for another, or letting a car back out of a parking space, or a simple smile to a stranger.

If you had walked onto the LTCC campus on Tuesday, April 3, you would have never guessed that there were 325 6th grade youth and 220 agency and volunteer workers throughout the corridors, all learning information on how and why to keep themselves safe from drugs. “Choices, what are yours?” was the theme of our efforts in keeping our youth drug free. With the country’s attitudes and norms about drug use changing, times are even more difficult for our kids.

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputies successfully arrested two drug trafficking suspects who attempted to flee and fight with deputies and a K9 in two separate incidents over the weekend.

The first incident occurred at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Friday, March 9, 2018 when a Washoe County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit attempted to make a traffic stop on the I-80 eastbound near Nugget Avenue. The deputy called for backup after his K9 made a positive alert for drugs.

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 Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

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2:28 a.m. - Spousal Battery - South Lake Tahoe - 28-YEAR-OLD FEMALE ARRESTED FOR SPOUSAL BATTERY.

Update 6:45 p.m.: The driver of one of the vehicles, a 29-year-old woman from Stateline, Nevada has been arrested on charges of a Felony DUI and is in the El Dorado County Jail on $125,000 bail.

She was driving a Range Rover eastbound when, for reasons unknown at this time, she traveled into the westbound lane, striking a BMW with five occupants, ages 19-31, all from the Bay Area. The Range Rover was traveling about 40 mph at the time of impact according to the CHP. This is the speed limit at that area of Pioneer Trail.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF -A transient man is behind bars this evening after allegedly stabbing a 27-year-old man at the South Y Transit center.

At 5:33 p.m. Saturday, officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) responded to a call of a stabbing at the corner of Lake Tahoe Blvd and Emerald Bay Road.

Upon arrival they found Kiefer Chriss, 57, being held down on the ground by some Good Samaritans and a 27-year-old male stabbing victim.

Influenza (or flu) activity has increased significantly over the recent weeks in the South Lake Tahoe area. The majority of influenza cases this year have been typed as A(H3N2), a particularly nasty strain of the flu that has been associated with more hospitalizations and complications. Do yourself, your family and your community a favor by recognizing flu symptoms and avoid spreading it.