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Liberty Utilities announced significant progress was made today in getting power restored to several areas that remained without power since a powerful storm hit the Sierra Nevada this week.

With the use of helicopters and additional crews coming in from outside areas, lines are being repaired.

Although access to the power line that feeds the Floriston/Portola area presented a significant challenge, Liberty was able to restore power about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Most of the Tahoma area has been restored with the rest of the West Shore expected to be back online in 24 hours or so.

The Storm of 2017 is preparing to make its way out of the Lake Tahoe basin, but not before it deposits more snow on the ground as residents work on digging out their homes and cars from feet of snow.

The National Weather Service says the storm is the biggest to hit the region in six years.

Rising water concerns and flood in Douglas County has prompted officers to evacuate 15 homes Kingslane Mobile Home Park and 49 homes form the older section of the Aspen Mobile Home Park on 1380 Centerville Lane in Gardnerville, Nev.

Evacuees may go to the Douglas County Community Center located at 1329 Waterloo Ln. Small pets in crates are accepted.

Transportation is available for those in need, contact the Flood hotline at 782-9099 or 783-6404.

This story will be updated if more evacuations occur.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. - El Dorado County has closed Lake Tahoe Blvd at Sawmill Pond due to flooding just before 11:00 a.m. It is closed in both directions according to the California Highway Patrol with over two feet of water on the roadway. They are expecting the flooding to spread in the area.

South Lake Tahoe Police Department is assisting with signage going up to warn travelers.

12:52 p.m. Sunday update - Highway 50 at Sierra at Tahoe Blvd is experiencing flooding. Reports of high water at Apache Drive in Meyers by the Post Office, and Lake Tahoe Blvd around Angora Creek.

With the heavy rain and high snow levels associated with an atmospheric river hitting the Sierra and Lake Tahoe this weekend, the City of South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County are reminding citizens that sand bags are available, free of charge.

During wet storms, residents may find themselves with flooding issues around their homes and garages.

Sand bags are available year-round at the City’s Streets and Snow Removal Yard located at 1160 Rufus Allen Blvd. Their operating hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The forecast for South Lake Tahoe over the next seven days calls for cold temperatures, winds and several inches of snow, a recipe for an increased risk of broken pipes in homes and businesses in the area.

Last week, both a private home on Saddle Road and the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe suffered through broken pipes, a scene that the SLT Fire Rescue Department sees about two dozen times a year. Over the last seven years, SLTFR has responded to 168 calls for broken water pipes. Local plumbers have responded to hundreds of others as well.

Four visitors to the South Shore were arrested by El Dorado County Sheriff's deputies on Friday night after they were caught shooting firearms on U.S. Forest Service land behind Tahoe Paradise Golf Course in Meyers.

On December 16, deputies responded to a call of shooting about 100 yards from the end of Lost Lane. Upon arrival they found four men, Alexander, Keoseng, Johlany and Yao Saechao with guns. Alexander and Keoseng are convicted felons from Stockton, Calif., and are prohibited from possessing firearms. All four were arrested and booked into the El Dorado County Jail.

The El Dorado County Commission on Aging is actively recruiting to fill a vacancy.
The Commission plays a very important advisory role to the Area Agency on Aging, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and the Cities of South Lake Tahoe and Placerville on matters of interest to senior residents. All volunteer positions are by appointment.

You're a group of teachers from San Francisco, visiting South Lake Tahoe for the weekend before heading back to wrap up the semester. You've come to Tahoe to ski for opening weekend. You're a group of friends from San Diego, looking for a mini-reunion.

It doesn’t take a wildland fire professional to see how fuel reduction can protect forests and communities.

It just takes a field trip to the site of the Emerald fire near the southwestern shores of Lake Tahoe.

Despite burning at the same time and under similar conditions to the disastrous Little Valley fire, the Emerald fire was much less destructive.

Roman Kreminski lives in South Lake Tahoe and, like many others, makes his living in building "Spec Homes," the process of building and selling homes for sale without any particular buyer in mind. It used to be a good business for Kreminski based on speculation of a strong real estate market and buyers waiting to invest in paradise.

He kept about five local families working full time to build the homes.

After Thursday's South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission meeting Kreminski said, "I'm done."

Noel Farmer, a South Lake Tahoe resident, has been a vocal opponent to Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) in his Heavenly Valley neighborhood. Farmer is present at City Council and Planning Commission meetings, as well as Zoning Administrator meetings when the topic is VHRs.

During this Tuesday's meeting at the airport, the City Council members will discuss Farmer's petition to ban street parking on the dead-end street where he lives, Regina Road, in the 3600 and 3700 blocks.

All candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council were given the same questions. With just one day to go to the elections, we will be featuring their answers and a video of their interview with Tahoe Regional Young Professionals through the day.

Tamara Wallace, 46, Retired Businesswoman/Chamber Exec

Discuss your interest in serving on City Council. What is your prior experience in working with civic, community or governmental organizations?

In an effort to clear up misinformation about the proposed US50 Community
Revitalization/Loop Road Project, the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (TahoeChamber) hosted a public meeting Thursday evening at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel. With the amount of negative public comments and voiced skepticism during past meetings, Measure T, and in social media, a larger group was expected than the 35 people who attended (and many of those were Tahoe Transportation and Tahoe Chamber staff).

As voters in California prepare to vote either for or against Proposition 64, the legalization of marijuana, the District Attorney of Denver has written a letter warning against "yes" votes, and shares what they learned as a state since legalizing the recreational use of the drug.

Mitchell R. Morrissey said the promises made in the proposition are "lies."

For the Halloween season, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is reminding parents and children of some lifesaving hints when planning costumes and a special day of trick-or-treating.

When buying costumes for Halloween:

Check the labels and make sure they are made of flame retardant materials.

Materials made of 100% Polyester are best suited for a Halloween costume.

The use of commercial flame retardant sprays is not recommended.

Avoid Halloween costumes that are loose or baggy to prevent fabric from coming in contact with any open flames.

On Halloween:

The South Lake Tahoe chapter of the Citizen's Climate Lobby recently asked all ten of the candidates their views on climate change, green buildings and our carbon footprint and how they can make a change if elected.

The Citizen's Climate Lobby is an organization focused on national policies to address climate change, and the South Lake Tahoe chapter is one of 354 in the United States and abroad.

Patricia Sussman of the local chapter said just five of the candidates responded to their questions.

There is a flash flood warning on Saturday for the Little Valley and Emerald Fire burn scars.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued the warning for Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night.

Another band of heavy rain is expected Saturday afternoon with rainfall rates over over 1" in three hours in the areas of the burns. The rain could trigger debris flows and rock falls, which have already been reported across Highway 89 near the Emerald Fire.

These rocks and debris may affect area homes and highways, the NWS said.

8:00AM update 10/15: Highway 89 remains closed in both directions from Fallen Leaf Lake Road to Emerald Bay due to the Emerald Fire which remains 80 percent contained this morning. Acreage burned is 210 acres.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

There are 3 engines and 12 firefighters still on the scene.

Opening time for Hwy 89 is still unclear. CHP estimates Saturday afternoon and Caltrans estimates the road will be closed until Monday. This is to allow crews to clean up the fallen trees and other debris on, and near, the roadway.

With heavy rain expected over the weekend and into next week, the City of South Lake Tahoe is reminding citizens that sand bags are available, free of charge.

During wet storms, residents may find themselves with flooding issues around their homes and garages.

Sand bags are available year-round at the City’s Streets and Snow Removal Yard located at 1160 Rufus Allen Blvd. Their operating hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This week's Pet of the Week is Hunter, a very sweet 5-year-old Cat. He is having a hard time of it at the shelter and is very scared.

Hunter would love to go home with someone who is loving and can give him the time he needs to love back.

Visit Hunter 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.

Good news, the most recent Pets of the Week have found their forever homes! Both Jasmine the kitty and Thor the pup now have loving homes.

For a 90-day trial period, the City of South Lake Tahoe will hire an outside security firm to assist with enforcement of the Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance.

Many complaints have been voiced at City Council meetings about the lack of enforcement and the fact that part of the justification of the increase in fees for the vacation home permits was to go to staffing that department.

A number of runners and staff with Epic Tahoe Adventures were involved in Friday's collision between one of their rented motor homes and a SUV on Kingsbury Grade.

The South Lake Tahoe company was involved in the beta testing of a new running event which sent runners in teams of 12, running three legs each, in a 81 mile race from South Lake Tahoe to Mammoth Mountain.

9:00 a.m. update 9/18: The Owens River Fire burning east of Highway 395 and north of Owens River Road in Mono County has exploded to an estimated 4,500 acres. Even with the growth, firefighter were able to get it 10% contained.

Named the Owens River Fire, it is burning in sagebrush and Jeffrey pine.