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The facts are startling. El Dorado County has twice the number of suicides than the state average. El Dorado County has 2.5 times the state average of maternity mental issues. The domestic violence rate in El Dorado County is 1.5 times higher than the state average. More people are living in the county with mental issues than ever before.

A day long forum of mental health care providers, agencies, medical professionals and other community members was held in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday in order to find what needs are being met, and unmet, in the area.

Dan Rix, affectionately known as “Papa Dan” to his family, passed away peacefully at his home in South Lake Tahoe on February 11, 2015 at the age of 73 after a brave and courageous battle with a long illness. Dan was born December 30, 1941 in Pueblo, CO to Dorothy Mae and George Robert Rix and spent his childhood growing up in Daly City (CA). He eventually moved to Tulare (CA) with his family where he graduated from Tulare Union HS in 1959.

There are new building codes within South Lake Tahoe's city limits, so, with the new building season coming up, the City has scheduled a contractor's meeting to cover the changes.

The following are just some of the changes that every contractor, designer and homeowner should know:

• Radon requirements will be mandatory.
• Sprinklers for additions could be required.
• Take into account in updating all plumbing fixtures when you improve anything in your house.
• Smoke detectors older than 10 years will need to be replaced whenever you pull a permit.

Transitional Kindergarten / Kindergarten parent visitation day at Tahoe Valley Elementary School, 943 Tahoe Island Drive will be on Tuesday, February 24 from 10:30. a.m. -11:30 a.m.

This will be an “Open House” for prospective TK and Kinder parents to see the classes in action. Contact Christina Grubbs at 541-2350 for more info.

A Little League team that captured the attention of the nation and the hearts of its hometown was stripped of its national title Wednesday after an investigation revealed that team officials had falsified boundaries so they could add ineligible players to the roster.

Only last summer, the all-black Jackie Robinson West team was the toast of Chicago and was honored with trips to San Francisco and to the White House.

When Sue Novasel won November's El Dorado County Supervisorial race it left a vacant seat on the Lake Tahoe Untiifed School Board (LTUSD). A Notice of Vacancy was filed, encouraging locals to apply to fill the trustee position for the remaining 22 months of Novasel's term. At Tuesday's LTUSD School Board meeting, the opening was filled.

It's been almost three months since Measure F passed and now is the time for the $55 million bond approved by the voters to start being put to use.

The South Lake Tahoe community is invited to a LTCC Open House on Thursday, February 5 at 5 p.m. to learn more information about the bond and to hear about what projects and new construction will be coming to the campus.

It's a sunny afternoon at Kelly's Collective, a medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, and Nikki Esquibel is getting stoned. But you wouldn't know it.

The 19-year-old, who has a medical prescription for marijuana, is "smoking" pot with a handheld vaporizer, or a vape pen. It's sleek, black, and virtually indistinguishable from a high-end e-cigarette.

That's the point, says Esquibel. "I use it mostly around my neighborhood. It's easy to hide." The vapor coming from the device doesn't even have much of an odor.

Kealoha and Diane Ferlatte will be in South Lake Tahoe this week as part of the Tahoe Arts Project's goal of bringing the arts to town.

Diane Ferlatte, world famous storyteller, and Kealoha, Poet Laurette of Hawaii, come together for an exciting night of slam poetry, storytelling and prose. Don't miss your chance to see these two industry legends together in a unique performance to be enjoyed by all ages.

It was another packed house meeting on Thursday night for the Tahoe Paradise Resort Improvement District.

The last few meetings have been full of anger, dysfunction, arguing and mis-information. Many came to this board meeting hoping to have answers and a clear understanding of what the future holds for the Tahoe Paradise Park, which the board oversees.

It was clear early on that this meeting was going to be more of the same.

The City of South Lake Tahoe is planning a party like no other as the city celebrates their 50th anniversary in 2015. While the official date of the anniversary is November 30, there will year long activities planned throughout the community.

Volunteers are needed to do this right. Committees are needed for the following areas:

1) Open House committee
2) Time capsule and treasure hunt event committee
3) Float/Homecoming committee
4) Dinner event committee
5) Invitation committee
6) Book committee

Employees from the El Dorado County Probation Department were recently honored for the public safety services they provide to the community.

The award categories and recipients were as follows:

Bob Bensen Memorial Award for Deputy Probation Officer of the Year: Deputy Probation Officer II Brian Dolcini (Shingle Springs Field Office)
Employee of the Year: Administrative Technician Jackie Walker (Shingle Springs Field Office)
Special Award Presentation: Deputy Probation Officer - Institutions: Matt Flager (Posthumously)

Need help with your taxes because of all the new tax code this year? Worried you won't remember to take all the deductions you need? South Lake Tahoe's H & R Block can help, and to show you how they are holding an Open House on Tuesday, January 20 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new season and new office will be held with the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber) at 4 pm.

After several years of declining enrollment, Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) has seen more students sitting the seats of local schools over the past two years.

The lowest enrollment figures were for the school year 2012-2013. When school ended in June of 2013 there were 3,793 students in South Lake Tahoe's eight schools.

When school started back up in the Fall of 2013 there were 3,855 students enrolled. An additional 26 students started off this school year.

Free education "for those willing to work for it."

That's what President Obama said he would like to see in an announcement the White House posted to Facebook and Vine on Thursday.

He's proposing to make the first two years of community college free.

Experience some of the best South Lake Tahoe restaurants during the 2015 TahoeSouth Restaurant Week beginning on Friday.

Twenty-four restaurants will have special menus available from January 9 through January 16, giving diners the chance to enjoy meals at local favorites for a discounted price.

A home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at a fire in the 3600 block of Shawnee Drive in Northern Douglas County on Saturday night.

Sixteen units from the East Fork Fire and Paramedic District were on scene with additional units from the Carson City Fire Department.

When they arrived at approximately 6:45 p.m., 80% of the structure was already involved in fire according to Sgt. Pat Brooks of the Douglas County Sheriff's Deparment.

Nobody was home when the fire broke out. Tbe Red Cross is helping the family.

Jamie Anderson and Maddie Bowman are asked this question in this USA team interview:

Which skier considers his skills on the snow the best gift he’s ever been given? How about the snowboarder who said her favorite was the gift of life? Find out what Team USA skiers and snowboarders remember as their favorite gift of all time. Happy gift-giving!

Maddie Bowman of South Lake Tahoe, 2014 Olympic halfpipe skiing gold medalist: Onesie Cookie Monster pajamas from my best friend a couple years ago.

Starting Friday, January 9, 2015, the Haus Party Winter Music Series will offer live music from all over California, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest every other Friday night.

This 21 and over music series will be held every other Friday night, January 9 – April 17, 2015 at Himmel Haus in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Doors will open at 9:00 pm with live music starting at 9:30 pm. There will be a $10 admission (FREE admission on your birthday) with affordable drink options to suit a ski bum budget including $4 Red Bull and Shochu and $4 premium ½ liter beers.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department hosted their first annual open house on October 11th in recognition of National Fire Prevention week. Visitors toured all three fire stations and learned about the importance of having and checking smoke detectors, hands only CPR, using a fire extinguisher and also completed a passport card for entry into a grand prize drawing for of a dinner for four prepared by the firefighters. The Gower family of Eric, Jamie, Rowen, and Abby were the winners of the Open House dinner.

If you haven't made it to the annual Festival of the Trees yet, you have through Sunday to take in all of the holiday fun. Trees and wreaths line the convention center at Harrahs and people can try and win everyone on display with a high bid.

Designer Trees
Best of Show and Most Elegant:
Noir et Blanc, Designers: Katie Long, Thran's Flowers
Best Interpretation of Theme:
Moulin Rouge, Designers: The Merry Widows and The Gallant Widowers
Most "Outside the Box" or Creative:
Sew Wonderful, Designer: Caryn Hughes

Local School Trees

A home search in South Lake Tahoe will be the subject of an upcoming episode of HGTV's House Hunters.

Travis and Morgan Fields of Oakland, CA were working with Chase International Realtor Angie Clark when the couple contacted the television show about their home search being part of the popular show.

All three of them had to fill out questionnaires and send in audition tapes.

“The audition tape was a little daunting,” Angie said. “My husband filmed it for me and it took a few tries. We submitted the video and just thought that would be the end of that.”

Area fire departments respond to fires every year that are caused by people leaving their fireplace or wood stove ashes in a paper bag on their home's deck. These accidents can easily be prevented with correct handling of ashes.

"Can Your Ashes" is a campaign that informs the public of these inherent dangers.

Embers, often concealed in what appears to be cold ashes, can remain hot enough to kindle a fire for several days.

To safely dispose of ashes, fire officials offer these tips:

• Never store ashes in bags or boxes.

During last week's Loop Road open house, residents and businesspeople gave their input on what they felt the US Highway 50/South Shore Community Revitalization project should offer.

Results show that 82% of the people participating believe the most important goal is to beautify the corridor and create gathering spaces for locals and visitors.

Another 67% of the respondents believe there should be efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve mobility options, 60% said the project should revitalize the area and boost economic development.