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The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Radon Education Program is offering free radon test kits and an educational presentation about radon on Thursday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) offices.

Free radon test kits will be available for Nevada residents and test kits can be purchased at low-cost for out-of-state residents.

It's another snowy weekend, and another weekend of drivers trying to head home over Echo Summit via Lake Tahoe Blvd and North Upper Truckee Road. With a backup at the chain control stop in Meyers, many are trying to circumvent not only the traffic, but the controls and causing issues on snow covered side roads.

During the last meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Trustees, discussion about neighborhood schools and theme schools surrounded the proposed STEAM Academy at Al Tahoe Elementary when it reopens. STEAM - science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics - would be the focus of all students at the school, much as the themes surround all other local elementary schools.

At the request of the board, LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Jim Tarwater will present the demographic data from each school in relation to where they reside.

Roadwork to clear mud and rocks from Highway 50 continues on both sides of the state line of Lake Tahoe with no estimated reopening time released by either transportation agency.

Last week, five boulders fell onto the highway near Logan Creek on the east side of the lake, prompting Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to close the road due to an unstable hillside. Progress is being made on the stretch of road that connects South Lake Tahoe to Carson City according to Meg Ragonese of NDOT. She said the "monolithic-size boulders" are being removed.

7:00 p.m. update - Caltrans is advising motorists that U.S. Highway 50 in the Kyburz area will remain closed at least through Monday night and potentially longer due to multiple mud slides.

Caltrans and an emergency contractor are working on three slides in a 12-mile area, and several smaller slides are also active near the highway.

Caltrans is still working on clearing the mud slide at Ice House Road which has kept Highway 50 closed since Friday afternoon.

As of 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, Highway 50 is closed but SR88 is open with chain controls, I80 is open to eastbound traffic and some detours off the highway are available for westbound travelers.

No estimated time of opening but Caltrans is providing updates at noon Saturday.

11:45 a.m. update: A large boulder has rolled onto Highway 50 near Bridal Veil Falls in the eastbound lane. Be prepared for diverted traffic.

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There are several flooded areas in the South Lake Tahoe and Meyers areas, resulting in some road closures.

As of 9:00 a.m. Thursday, the following roads are experiencing flooding:

Tahoe Keys - State Streets and Tahoe Keys Blvd
Bijou Area - Bill Avenue, Shirley Avenue, Betty Rae Ct, Vanda Lee, Woodbine Avenue
Portions of Glenwood Way
Portions of Pioneer Trail
Portions of lake Tahoe Blvd between the Y and High School

Lake Tahoe Community College stands with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and its Board of Governors in strongly supporting the values and benefits of diversity and inclusion; not just on college campuses, but in towns and cities large and small across the country. The current White House administration’s recent executive orders regarding immigration, the building of a border wall, and its rhetoric regarding Dream Act students has caused widespread concern among California’s community college students.

Carolyn Clark Goodenough (Callie) passed away peacefully from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on January 9, 2017 with her husband Ray by her side. Callie was born on August 27, 1938 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to John and Nell Graham. She was the oldest of three children, and, according to her sister, the most mischievous. This caused her poor father much consternation in the conservative ‘50’s.

The family moved around a bit, finally settling in Newport Beach, Calif. Callie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from San Diego State University.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. - With the collapse today of the roof at a local liquor store and the evacuation of another commercial area, the City of South Lake Tahoe is reaching out to the community with information on potential hazards with snow loads on roofs.

But what is the snow load for your roof?

After an outpouring of support from the community, Lake Tahoe Community College's Theater Arts program will continue as its vitality is evaluated and its future determined with the help of a community based task force.

Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) would like to thank the City of South Lake Tahoe for their preparedness in the face of severe weather last week. As one volunteer commented, “Everyone at the City of South Lake Tahoe was very nice, helpful, and willing.”

The vacation home rental (VHR) businesses in South Lake Tahoe have joined together in an effort to address, not only issues residents have with their homes, but to address their relationship with those who control and vote on their regulations.

"Our biggest fear is that the City has changed the intent of the ordinance without the council approval," said Josh Priou, Director of Product Development at Lake Tahoe Accommodations and a member of SLTVRA, South Lake Tahoe Vacation Rental Alliance.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue has had a very busy week, from battling flooded streets, homes, businesses, downed power lines, fallen trees, stuck cars, collisions and even a house fire.

South Lake Tahoe has just two fire engine companies, so 35 calls in one day would keep a department three times as big very busy.

Weather conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend and increased power outages are anticipated. Liberty Utilities is doing all possible for preventative measures, however they are urging their customers to be prepared.

The utility company has added additional line crews for the weekend in preparation and will address the most serious and potential safety situations in priority.

They are asking customers to only call in case of an emergency 1-844-245-6868.

2:15 p.m. update - All power has been restored to Liberty Utility customers in Lake Tahoe.

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9:30 a.m. update - About 394 Liberty Utility customers are still affected by the power outage on Grizzly Mtn Drive, Arapahoe Street, Kickapoo, Snowflake, South Upper Truckee Drive, Reindeer Way, Woodchuck Court, St. Nick Way, Santa Claus in Christmas Valley. They expect to have all back on line by 11:30 a.m. today.

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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.

12/25

1:16 a.m. - Death Investigation - No other info available
8:05 a.m. - Death Investigation of 87-year-old female
2:12 p.m. - Search & Rescue - Luther Pass Rd - SEARCH AND RESCUE INITIATED FOR A LOST 15-YEAR-OLD FEMALE SKIER AT WATERHOUSE PEAK OFF LUTHER PASS.

12/26

Barton Health's Chris Proctor, MPT will fill in the public on how the Robert Maloff Center of Excellence is changing the face of healthcare in the South Lake Tahoe community at the next Wellness Lecture on January 25 at 6:00 p.m. Proctor will discuss how they're moving from a reactive healthcare model based on treating illness/ injury, to a proactive model using prevention and education.

Late Friday night, the U.S. House of Representatives joined the U.S. Senate in passing the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016, which will bring $415 million in future funding to Lake Tahoe over the next seven years. The decision brought cheers from many local agencies, including the League to Save lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a grant agreement at their meeting this week, paving the way for $1 million from Sutter Health to come into the community to help house the chronically homeless.

The county will use the money to purchase housing units for participants in Placer County’s Whole Person Care Pilot program which coordinates physical health, behavioral health and social services for the homeless and others with poor health outcomes. Those in the program will receive rental subsidies and supportive services through the grant funding.

What takes 1236 cups of molasses, 2158 cups sugar, 3800 fresh eggs, 729 cups whole milk, 2736 tablespoons ground ginger, 790 tablespoons baking soda, 729 cups all purpose shortening, 30 cups of lemon juice, a really big bowl, lots of oven space, a whole lotta love and a jolly guy in the kitchen complete with his apron and baker's hat?

1,900 gingerbread houses, of course!

Major impacts to communities in El Dorado County were made possible through $264,905 in grants for 2016/2017 from the El Dorado Community Foundation.

Funding for the came from community members who invested in the foundation through Donor Assisted Funds. Those donating to the fund were able to engage in a new process this year by reading the grant proposals (55 were received) and the year-end reports of the non-profits applying for them.

Vail Resorts has called on the United States Congress to approve the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015. This Act provides $415 million in funding and reauthorizes important Lake Tahoe restoration activities that began in 1997 and refocuses federal, state and local efforts toward reducing wildfire threats, improving water quality and clarity, and combating invasive species. All of these are important to the local economy at one of the most visited lakes in the world.

What many knew as Passaretti's for over 30 years in South Lake Tahoe has been transformed into "The Lake House," not only a fine dining restaurant in a beautiful, extensively remodeled place, but also home to Lake Tahoe Catering.

Aiming for a goal of understated perfection, new owners Jeff and Misty Sparrow created an ambiance of concrete and chandeliers, wood and art, all in an attempt to bridge the gap between fancy and casual.