fall

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a High Wind Warning in place from 10:00 p.m. Monday to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday. The winds begin to increase Monday out of the northeast as a mostly dry low pressure system drops into the region according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno. Expect northeasterly flow to ramp up Monday night with damaging winds possible for the Sierra. Temperatures will cool back toward seasonal averages early this week with better potential for precipitation heading into the final week of January.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A driver heading westbound on US50 over Echo Summit got a little more than they bargained for Wednesday afternoon.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) received a call at 1:30 p.m. January 13 from a person traveling on the highway that a rock "the size of a Yeti Cooler" was on the roadway, according to Officer Ruth Loehr. CHP responded and found not only the 2ft x 3ft boulder in the roadway, they also found the vehicle that it hit.

Despite the changes in learning platforms brought on by the coronavirus, Western Nevada College is proud to announce that more than a third of its full-time students were still able to make the fall semester dean’s list.

The WNC Fall 2020 Dean’s List includes 408 students, accounting for 34.7 percent of the college’s full-time students.

To earn the distinction of making WNC’s Dean’s List, students must complete at least 12 units during the semester and accumulate a grade point average of 3.50 or higher.

Honorees include:

Carson City

Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) is one of a handful of California community colleges that has significantly closed equity gaps and increased success rates for Latinx students, according to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California.

Even with the current pandemic, New Year's revelers could still flock to the Stateline casino corridor and South Lake Tahoe on Thursday so law enforcement will be prepared. With no SnowGlobe this year due to the pandemic, and Heavenly Village New Year's Eve activities canceled, it is unknown as to what will take place in an area that at one time saw 50,000 people in the streets to bring in the new year. Last year it was estimated 7,000 to 8,000 people took to the streets at midnight at Stateline and 6,500 at Heavenly Village for its 9:00 p.m. fireworks.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School (LTESMS) has started taking names for the Fall '21 roster of kindergarteners. If you have a child that will be turning five on or before Sept 1, 2021 and want to fill an open seat at LTESMS, please email the "Kindergarten Enrollment Request Form" found on the school's website to mtruszewski@ltusd.org between Jan 4 and March 26, 2021.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Winter Weather Advisory for the Lake Tahoe Basin expires at 4:00 a.m. Monday with most of the precipitation winding down by then other than a few lingering showers through 10:00 a.m. It`s unlikely to be snowing for the Monday morning commute, however, roads may still have snow and ice present.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With a minimum three-week long Stay-at-Home order going into effect on December 10 at 11:59 p.m. there are new rules that affect South Lake Tahoe visitors and residents.

The Sacramento Region, of which South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County are part of, has dropped below 15 percent availability in the ICUs across the region, prompting the new order. More than thirty million people in California now fall under the order after a deadly surge of the coronavirus has crossed the state.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. – Caltrans has recognized the successful completion of the U.S. Highway 50 Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct Replacement Project with a virtual ribbon-cutting video.

Because in-person events have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the department chose this virtual ribbon-cutting event to acknowledge the efforts of its staff, contractor Q&D Construction and the collaboration with local partner agencies in making this challenging project a successful one.

Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) members will continue prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin, weather and conditions permitting. California State Parks and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District are scheduled to burn hand piles on the east and west shores. Smoke may be visible.

Project Name: Sugar Pine Point State Park
Responsible Agency: California State Parks
West of Hwy 89, along S Fire Rd and Campground Rd
Burn Type: Hand Piles. Total Acreage: 20.00
Planned Ignition: 11/30/2020 - 12/18/2020
Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 3 weeks

California State Park and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District crews are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations this week, weather permitting. Smoke may be visible.

Project Name: Secret
Responsible Agency: Tahoe Douglas Fire District
North of Glenbrook
Burn Type: Hand Piles
Total Acreage: 10.00
Planned Ignition: 11/23/2020
Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 2-4 days of ignition and 2 days of burn down time
Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: North/Northeast

Project Name: Sugar Pine Point State Park

South Tahoe Now, the US Forest Service and the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team communicate to the public whenever there is a prescribed burn operation planned for the Lake Tahoe Basin. Spotting smoke can always be a concern so its helpful to stay informed when prescribed fire operations are underway.

The Mountain View Fire near Walker, California has burned 20,879 acres according to the Mono County Sheriff's Office. There has been one fatality due to the fire which started Tuesday when a fallen powerline ignited dry brush. Winds drove the flames rapidly, finally stopping progress when rain started to fall overnight.

Fire operations report that damage assessments are underway and it could be days before its safe for residents to return. Evacuation orders are still in effect for Walker, Coleville and Topaz.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It will be mild and quiet through Monday. The next storm moves in Tuesday for another round of strong winds, especially in eastern
California and far western Nevada. Rain and higher elevation snow are likely later Tuesday and Wednesday with travel in the Sierra affected. Temperatures will fall closer to average for the middle to the latter portion of the week, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

There is a High Wind Watch and a Winter Weather Watch in place for the Lake Tahoe Basin, though lake level should not see much snow.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The US Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has lifted its closure order at Taylor Creek so people are once again allowed into the area around the creek. This is a popular area each fall due to the Kokanee Salmon run and heightened wildlife sightings and was closed to both protect bears and discourage large gatherings. The Visitor Center has seasonally closed.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) will begin conducting prescribed fire operations in the Lake Tahoe Basin this week, weather and conditions permitting.

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District is scheduled to being operations Monday at Diamond Peak Ski Resort (50 acres) and later near War Bonnet Way/Peace Pipe Lane in Incline Village (20 acres).

California State Parks is scheduled to begin operations at Burton Creek (17 acres) and Sugar Pine Point (20 acres) state parks beginning as early as Tuesday.

Daylight-saving time comes to an end for 2020 on Sunday, November 1 at 2:00 a.m. in much of the United States. Clocks will move back one hour as standard time starts its run.

The practice of having the time change started in the early 1900s as a way to make better use of daylight during the spring and summer months, so there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening instead of the morning.

The unique and valuable habitat of the Upper Truckee in Meyers has been preserved through another California Tahoe Conservancy project at the site of the old Tahoe Pines Campground. They have finished building a new accessible-to-all trail and other public access features at the 8.1-acre site in Meyers. Visitors can enjoy easy access to the Upper Truckee River and experience the newly restored wetlands and wildlife habitat along Lake Tahoe’s largest tributary.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are three open seats on the South Tahoe Public Utility Board of Directors this election season, two for a four-year term and one for a two-year term.

South Tahoe Now reached out to the candidates and below are their answers to a set of questions. For the two four-year terms, incumbent Kelly Sheehan is running for reelection, Duane Wallace is running after being appointed to fill Jim Jones's spot on the board until this election, and they are joined by David Peterson.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

As fall approaches, and we think about spending more time inside, devote just a little more time outside to get your yard cleaned up and prepared for winter.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) is reminding residents to make preparations now to be ready for fall wildfires and to save time and energy next spring.

Christmas tree permits for National Forest lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin will be available for purchase online through Recreation.gov beginning November 16, 2020. Details about designated cutting areas, dates and types of trees that may be cut can be found at https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits/ltbmu.

Former Climate Crew Co-president, Anthony Pedigo, introduced Resolution No. 2020/21-07 in Support of School District Climate Literacy to the LTUSD School Board on September 22, 2020. It was the culmination of a year of passionate student organizing, writing and mobilizing. The resolution passed unanimously.