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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - When Sandra Santane set out to build a "feel good" place where family moments could be created as well as a place where time could be spent for "me time," Cuppa Tahoe evolved.

"I wanted to create magic and had this idea for a long time," explained Sandra. She grew up in Holland where there were places where people would meet, talk and enjoy, and wanted that in South Lake Tahoe. She also grew up with a love of books that has stayed with her as she lived in Tunisia and now the United States. Books were both her inspiration and her escape.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The planned two-week closure of U.S. Highway 50 along a 1.2 mile stretch of Echo Summit will begin Friday, September 18 at 3:00 a.m. One-lane controlled traffic has been happening all week, and now both lanes will be closed as crews replace the 1939 bridge with brand new girders to meet seismic and safety standards.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The local grass roots activist organization, IRunWithMaud - South Lake Tahoe, is holding a peaceful protest/neighborhood rally at Lakeview Commons on Sunday, September 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The rally is to celebrate free speech and will include local speakers. The South Lake Tahoe City Council recently read a proclamation that all of South Lake Tahoe including Lakeview Commons are "free speech" areas to be used for traditional public forums allowed under the First Amendment.

The Fork Fire west of Lake Tahoe remains at 1,752 acres and is now 34 percent contained. Low pressure off the coast will advance toward the region, bringing an increase in afternoon southwest winds across ridge tops and aligned drainages. Dry conditions will persist with slight cooling.

The front will pass over the area on Friday, driving gusty southwest and west winds with cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Little to no precipitation is expected.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and a good time check in with yourself and loved ones. So many of us are struggling to keep our mental health in check right now. It’s normal to feel anxious about the impacts of COVID-19. Preventing our worries from consuming us can reduce stress and uncertainty—and even more severe behavioral health issues like suicide.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) was able to refinance $15.15 million in general obligation bonds in September, saving property owners in the district $3,335,698 in property taxes.

With low interest rates brought about by the pandemic and economic uncertainty, LTUSD refinanced two series of their Election of 2008 General Obligation Bonds.

“With interest rates near historic lows, we wanted to take this opportunity to save our community money, particularly in light of the downturn in the economy,” said LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Todd Cutler.

The 26th annual Lake Tahoe Marathon scheduled for October 9-11 has been canceled for 2020.

Due to the volume of participants and required bus transportation to starting points, the popular three-day event was canceled since gathering and social distancing protocols couldn't be met. The date for the event will be October 8-10, 2021.

Organizer Les Wright of South Lake Tahoe sent out the following letter to participants this week:

The odds of being able to have the 25th Lake Tahoe Marathon this year on Oct 9-11th have dropped to about 1%.

The Fork Fire west of Lake Tahoe and about 15 miles from Pollock Pines has not gained in size for that last few days and it still measures at 1,752 acres. Firefighters were able to gain more containment Tuesday and there is now a line around 24 percent of the fire. There are 316 personnel assigned to the Fork Fire.

Dense smoke from fires burning to the south of El Dorado County covered the Fork Fire, as well as Lake Tahoe, on Tuesday with more of the same expected on Wednesday.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Another El Dorado County resident has died from COVID-19. An El Dorado Hill woman in the 65 or over age group died after being hospitalized in another county.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A summer-long project at Tahoe Valley Elementary School is now open to the public and the tree at the center of the love-filled efforts is in memory of student Marianna Zepeda.

The quiet, reflective garden area includes seating, a lending library and a tree dedicated to Marianna, a 4th grade student who passed away June 19.

"She was always happy and sunny," says Principal Christina Grubbs of the young student. "That is why we chose a sunny, yellow tree."

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A South Lake Tahoe area man has become the third person to die from COVID-19 in the county. El Dorado County officials say the deceased was in the 50-64 age group and had been hospitalized in another county.

Officials say another 14 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday. Of those, seven are in South Lake Tahoe, five in El Dorado Hills, one in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, and one in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz.

Another 467 people were tested for the coronavirus and 453 negative tests results were received.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Just before 9:00 p.m. on September 12, deputies from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) were called to a residence on Rainbow Ridge in Placerville. El Dorado County Fire paramedics were reportedly having difficulty getting a combative patient to a hospital.

When deputies arrived on scene they contacted the medics and 49-year-old Odie Prettyman. The man was in obvious medical and mental distress but refused to be transported by medics, according to EDSO Sgt. Anthony Prencipe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 24-year-old South Lake Tahoe man was arrested on multiple charges Sunday after police officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at 12:33 a.m.

According to Lt. Travis Cabral of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD), they got a call that Alan Isaias Martinez-Perez was holding a woman hostage at gunpoint in her home.

The female victim said Martinez attempted to escape out a window and threw his pistol and rifle ammunition outside prior to arrival of SLTPD, but he never made it out. Police surrounded the residence and Martinez surrendered.

Today I stood outside the front entry to South Lake Tahoe's Grocery Outlet to meet and greet our citizens. I happen to enjoy meeting and wishing all a GOOD DAY! Most persons are at Grocery Outlet to shop for food and did not come primarily to discuss politics. I don't push or obstruct a person's comings and goings. I can read from the body language, like when they turn their face to look in the opposite direction or go to the other side of the entry to obviously avoid

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The forecast southwest winds didn't materialize Sunday, not changing the behavior of the Fork Fire as expected. The fire, burning in western El Dorado County, has consumed 1,752 acres and containment remained at seven percent. Personnel working at the fire, which started on Tuesday, number 266.

The large plume of smoke about 200 miles wide that came into the Lake Tahoe Basin Sunday afternoon also covered the area of the Fork Fire, allowing the fuel temperatures at the fire to remain low and keeping the spread contained.

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 and West Shore, including Meyers, South Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay, Tahoma, and the Echo Summit area. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at the time of the story.

Last Week's Log - http://southtahoenow.com/story/09/06/2020/el-dorado-county-sheriffs-report

This Week's Log

9/6

10:13 a.m. - Vacation Home Rental - Susquehanna Dr - VHR COMPLAINT

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The local community has been showing their love and support for Chris Hogbin and his family. Chris has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma in his neck, lungs, liver, lymph nodes and bones.

He and his wife Sonnet, and their three children "are doing the best they can under the circumstance but things are tough for them right now," said a story on GoFundMe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy has temporarily closed multiple high-use Conservancy properties for public safety. The Conservancy intends these closures to complement similar temporary closures of National Forest Lands to protect the public and firefighters during this time of unprecedented and historic fire conditions.

Temporarily closed sites include:

- Van Sickle Bi-State Park (includes both California and Nevada sides of the park)
- Upper Truckee Marsh (except for Cove East area, accessed by Venice Drive)
- Eagle Rock

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. -El Dorado County health officials say another seven residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, four are in El Dorado Hills, two in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, one in Greater Placerville and one in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz.

Please note the total case count is increasing by seven but a previously reported case has also been transferred out of County from the Lake Tahoe area.

In this group of new cases are five are aged 18-49 and three aged 50-64. .

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Former Recreation Superintendent Judy Crawford has passed away. She worked for the City from 1974 until 2003 and was the first woman to hold that position. Crawford was also the President of Great Ideas for Tahoe, or GIFT, during her time in the community.

Born in New Orleans, LA, in 1948, she lived around the country until she settled in South Lake Tahoe.

She started work for the City as a Recreation Supervisor and was eventually promoted to Recreation Superintendent. What she loved the most, teaching young kids how to swim.

There will be a South Lake Tahoe Community Blood Drive on Friday, September 25 from 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center located at 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd.

To comply with social distancing practices appointments are encouraged and Vitalent is asking all of donors to please schedule an appointment – Click here to make an appointment. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space allows so please schedule an appointment.

The Fork Fire continues to burn west of Lake Tahoe in the Rubicon River drainage and near the King Fire burn scar.

An infrared (IR) flight was not available again last night and the estimated 2,200 burned acreage is National Guard data from a drone and firefighter observations on the ground. The fire is seven percent contained.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After one day of blue skies above Lake Tahoe, smoke once again has filled the Basin. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno, the smoke is from multiple fires including the Fork Fire west of Lake Tahoe which sent some smoke into Emerald Bay on Wednesday.

NWS Reno has just issued a Dense Smoke Advisory which is in effect now through Friday at 5:00 p.m. due to the smoke moving into the area faster than previously forecast.

There are over 40 major fires currently burning in California, filling skies with heavy smoke from the ocean to the Sierra up and down the state. While there are no fires in the Lake Tahoe Basin, there are a few close enough to be responsible for sending smoke into the region. The closest is the Fork Fire east of Lake Tahoe about 13 miles northeast of Pollock Pines. To the south is the Slink Fire and northwest is the large North Complex.

Fork Fire

Statistics on the Fork Fire have not been updated all day. As of 11:00 a.m. Wednesday the estimated size was 2,500 acres.