el dorado

A flea from a Yellow pine chipmunk in the Tahoe area has tested positive for plague according to El Dorado County health officials. The flea was sampled from one of three rodents trapped in the Fallen Leaf Campground area during routine plague surveillance May 18, 2016.

Headlines, both regionally and nationally are full of the message: Opioid addiction is sweeping the country and its out of control. With the death of musical artist Prince of an opioid overdose, the stigma of the addiction to strong prescription pain pills has been erased. It isn't a poor person's problem, it isn't an unemployed person's problem, it isn't a metropolitan problem. It is a problem in South Lake Tahoe, Reno, the west and the whole country.

On September 12, 2001, advertising luminary Allen Kay coined the phrase, “If you see something, say something.”[1] In the wake of horrific events the day before, Kay recognized that no matter how well trained, equipped and staffed, law enforcement can’t do it alone. Within a relatively short period of time, the slogan was plastered on New York City transit vehicles. Over time, the Law Enforcement and Homeland Security slogan has become so well known it has been described as the equivalent of Nike’s “Just do it” advertisement.[2]

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 3 is developing a safety project that proposes to construct a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and State Highway 89 in Meyers beginning in 2018. The department has looked at several options at this location and has identified a roundabout as the preferred alternative to address safety concerns and improve traffic flow.

Micah Flaherty, 33, from Reno was arrested on Monday evening after word got out about a theft at the South Lake Tahoe K-Mart by a man seen dropping a gun in the store's parking lot.

On May 30, 2016, at 5:10 p.m., the Douglas County Sheriff's Office received information about the theft, and that a male suspect was reportedly running toward his vehicle when he dropped, and retrieved, what appeared to be a handgun. The suspect fled in a silver Volkswagen.

With only an interruption during World War II, the El Dorado County Fair has been going strong since 1859. The 2016 fair will be held June 16-19, 2016 at the fairgrounds in Placerville.

South Lake Tahoe City Councilmember Tom Davis, a long time board member of the fair, is this year's Board President.

There will be a carnival, livestock competition, wine competition, exhibits, food, music and more. For a Fair Shuttle Guide, click here.

A Cameron Park teenager is still missing in the Bucks Bar area, near the North Fork of the Cosumnes River. On Saturday, May 29 at 12:08 p.m., the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office received a call of the missing 15-year-old who was hiking in the area with family and became separated from the group and was last seen near the river.

It is time for farmer's markets to return to South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, the first two set to start Friday, June 3.

On Friday, the popular Ski Run Blvd market opens for their seventh season at 3:00 p.m. Food, crafts, fruit and vegetables will be featured in the middle of the block in front of Blue Angel Cafe. This market will be on all Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. through September 30. For more information, visit their website www.skirunfarmersmarket.com.

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 press time and the story will be updated when provided.

5/22
7:13 p.m. - Grand Theft - Tionontati St - HEAVENLY AVALANCHE RESCUE DOG POSSIBLY STOLEN FROM UNSECURED BACKYARD.

5/23
3:12 p.m. - Missing Person - Elks Club Rd - R/P REPORTED A MISSING PERSON.

5/24

Don Ashton, the El Dorado County Director of Health & Human Services, was appointed Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) during the Board of Supervisor's meeting in Placerville Tuesday.

When Sue Novasel, the South Shore representative on the Board of Supervisors was asked why Ashton was chosen, she said his 23 years of experience in the public sector is extensive, and he'll know how to take the county to the next level.

"Hello, my name is Walter. I am around 7 months old and I am a good dog. I am house trained and would love to go to training classes to learn good manners. I walk nicely on my leash. I am a little shy to start with but warm up fast if you have a cookie. If you have another dog we should meet first to make sure we get along."

The Tahoe Bike Challenge runs from June 1 to June 14 in South Lake Tahoe. This is a time the community celebrates getting out of their cars and using a bike to get to work, play and school.

Thousands of miles were logged during the last Tahoe Bike Challenge by school kids, city and county workers, employees at local agencies and your neighbors as they ran errands, got to work, and enjoyed free time.

A man from Rocklin, Calif., and his dog have been found safe after missing in the Sierra near Donner Pass since Monday.

Cody Michael, 23, and his German Shepherd, Bauer, were spotted about 10 a.m. Thursday by a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the Cherry Point area. Michael had gone out for an overnight hiking and camping trip on Sunday and didn't return on Monday as planned. A video sent from his phone Sunday showed him cooking a meal and drying out his shoes on rocks surrounded by snow.

Drought conditions and resulting bark beetle infestations have caused pervasive tree mortality across the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is estimated that there are over 29 million dead trees and this number continues to grow on a daily basis. El Dorado County is not immune to this epidemic as there are thousands of dead and dying trees threatening public safety and infrastructure.

In the next "Tahoe Talks" on Wednesday, May 18, learn about the number one threat to Lake Tahoe’s legendary clarity: stormwater pollution. Local experts will talk about projects around Lake Tahoe that are helping to keep pollution from entering the Lake and steps you can take every day to prevent things like trash, oil, fine sediment and nutrients from making their way to Lake Tahoe.

Speakers:

Moderator: Zack Bradford, Natural Resources Manager, League to Save Lake Tahoe
Russ Wigart, Stormwater Coordinator, El Dorado County

There were two motorcycle accidents over the weekend on the same stretch of Highway 50 near Twin Bridges, resulting in fatality and another person being injured.

On Saturday, May 14 at approximately 5:47 p.m., a 49-year-old Martin Gastanaga of Reno was riding his motorcycle eastbound when he, for unknown reasons, lost control of the bike on a curve, and was ejected.

The California Highway Patrol says the driver was traveling 50 mph just east of Twin Bridges.

Gastanaga died at the scene.

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 press time and the story will be updated when provided.

5/8
6:19 p.m. - Domestic Dispute - Wintoon Drive

5/9
11:35 a.m. - Burglary - Johnson Pass Rd - REPORTING PARTY REPORTED A BURGLARY

5/10

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

State Route 89 (Placer County): Work continues on a $70.1 million project from Tahoma to just north of Granlibakken Road in Tahoe City that is upgrading storm water drainage and treatment systems, adding curb and gutter, resurfacing and realigning the road, adding new left-turn pockets and widening shoulders on an 8-mile stretch of the highway. Completion is expected by summer 2017.

This week's Lake Tahoe Humane Society Pet of the Week is Troy. He is about three-years-old. Troy prefers to be an only cat, and has been living as an indoor-outdoor cat (though cats in Lake Tahoe being kept indoors is much safer for them). He ended up at Animal Services because he got out, and his owners never looked for him.

Go visit Troy out at The El Dorado County Animal Services, 530-573-7925. For Spay-Neuter services and other support, call the Lake Tahoe Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at 530-542-2857.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS
State Route 89 (Placer County): Work has resumed on a $70.1 million project from Tahoma to just north of Granlibakken Road in Tahoe City that is upgrading storm water drainage and treatment systems, adding curb and gutter, resurfacing and realigning the road, adding new left-turn pockets and widening shoulders on an 8-mile stretch of the highway. Completion is expected by spring 2017.

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 press time and the story will be updated when provided.

5/1
12:55 p.m. - Vandalism - Cold Creek Trail - 25-YEAR-OLD MALE SUBJECT ARRESTED AFTER HE DESTROYED A BEDROOM

7:30 p.m. - Dumping on Government Property - Bridge Rd - UNKNOWN SUBJECT(S) DUMPED TRASH IN A STATE PARK

5/2

The Tahoe Bike Challenge runs from June 1 to June 14 in South Lake Tahoe. This is a time the community celebrates getting out of their cars and using a bike to get to work, play and school.

Thousands of miles were logged during the last Tahoe Bike Challenge by school kids, city and county workers, employees at local agencies and your neighbors as they ran errands, got to work, and enjoyed free time.

It's time again for the Upper Truckee Marsh to be closed to dogs in order to protect the critical breeding habitat for special, threatened and endangered species such as the Willow Flycatcher.

The marsh area will be closed through July 31, 2016. Leashed dogs may once again travel through the the Upper Truckee Marsh starting August 1.

The California Tahoe Conservancy-owned Cove East property, west of the river and marsh, remains open for year-round, leashed dog access.

The El Dorado County Sheriff enforces county and city ordinances and Conservancy staff monitors for compliance.

El Dorado County Central Dispatch received a call about gunshots heard in the Meyers area on Monday, May 2 at 9:53 p.m. The caller, a passerby in the area of South Upper Truckee and the Old Meyers Grade said they heard 12-15 gunshots.

A Sheriff deputy responded at 10:08 p.m. and didn't hear or see any suspicious activity in the area.

A check of the area did not reveal anything of concern. No further shots were reported but the deputy remained in the area for an extended period of time just to make sure.