local

5/22 update 11:00 a.m. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) has released a few more details about Thursday's death of a local man.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - NBC Sports and American Century Investments are still trying to pull off their 31st annual celebrity-filled golf tournament at the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. In a statement, they said they are "continuing extensive due diligence in efforts to conduct the 2020 American Century Championship as scheduled, July 8-12."

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Is your local business reopening after being shut down for several weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic? Let us help get the word out with one free week of advertising!

The first ten businesses to respond will get on the immediate advertising loop and more will be accommodated if space allows. There are Facebook sidebar ads, across-the-top banners and sidebar banner spaces available.

The business needs to provide the artwork and South Tahoe Now will share the good news that you are open!

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Tahoe High students have started a GoFundMe account to raise funds to pay the food tab at Sprouts Cafe in South Lake Tahoe.

The "pay-it-forward” fundraising efforts began with sophomores Kaya Roberts, Claire Gurner, Sophia Aronoff, and Soleil Weed. They were working on a history project about "the change we want to see in the world" and decided to do research on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Saint Joseph Community Land Trust (SJCLT) has announced a new program that seeks to preserve existing housing stock for permanently affordable, full-time homes for Tahoe Basin employees and residents. It is called the TAHOE (Tahoe Affordable Home Ownership Enabling) program.

TAHOE has been created to do three things:

1. Provide assistance to income-qualified households searching for a home in the Tahoe Basin;
2. Enable SJCLT to purchase available homes to be made available to income-qualified Tahoe Basin employees or full-time residents;

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If you've been on SR89 near Tahoe City lately you've noticed the new roundabout that was installed south of the Fanny Bridge near the transit station. A new bridge over the Truckee River was also created during the first stage of the SR89/Fanny Bridge Revitalization Project which included another roundabout on the west end of Tahoe City on SR89.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. The annual Made in Tahoe festival held during the Memorial Day Weekend at Squaw Valley has moved their event to October, but, to highlight local craftspeople who would normally be there, a virtual weekend event has been created.

Times are hard, especially for the artisan and small business community so organizers have brought together 50 local artisans, businesses, chefs, organizations, and entertainers featuring a wide array of offerings that are made in or inspired by the Lake Tahoe Basin and Truckee areas.

All passengers on Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) buses will be required to wear a face covering while on transit buses and in transit facilities starting Monday, May 18.

This new requirement is to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain and in line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On May 7, 2020, South Lake Tahoe lost a steadfast advocate for safe, clean drinking water and reliable wastewater services. James R. Jones, 77, a local engineer and avid sailor, served on South Tahoe Public Utility District’s Board of Directors for 39 years (1977-1989, 1993-2020). During his tenure on the Board, Director Jones focused on building for the future, instead of 'kicking the can down the road.’

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A planned full closure of US50 over Echo Summit for the Sidehill Viaduct Replacement Project has been postponed to after Labor Day, 2020.

Caltrans made the announcement on Thursday that construction has not progressed enough to where the bridgework requiring a full closure could not be completed by June 15.

A full closure of Highway 50 is not permitted between June 15 and Labor Day due to high traffic volumes expected during the peak summer season in South Lake Tahoe.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - In the past 72 hours, three people have had near-fatal overdoses in Douglas County due to fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills being ingested. Deputies were able to quickly administer Naloxone to save the victims.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) warned the public two months ago regarding the counterfeit Percocet pills with fentanyl being sold in the area.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City Council voted Tuesday to amend their Emergency Order No. 1 from April that authorized administrative citations and fines of $1,000 for violations of the Governor's Stay at Home Order.

The City will not be fining second homeowners who visit their home in South Lake Tahoe but they will continue to fine those found renting out vacation homes until the Governor's ban on non-essential travel is amended.

The Tahoe Chamber has canceled its 2020 GO Local Business EXPO. They had rescheduled their spring event and moved to May 29 but with current closures and COVID-19 related restrictions, it won't be held.

The popular event will return in the spring of 2021.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions placed on our community by California Governor Newsom and Nevada Governor Sisolak, the Chamber believes that this cancellation is a precautionary decision that will protect the health of our community, businesses, and staff members," the Chamber said in a statement.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is working on several projects in the Lake Tahoe area as well as El Dorado County and the Sierra.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County): Work continues on a $5.2 million project to upgrade metal beam guardrail and construct concrete barriers at 89 locations from the Red Hawk Undercrossing to 1.9 miles west of the junction with State Route 89 in Meyers. Completion is expected in late spring 2020. No traffic-interfering work is scheduled.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It still isn't too late to prevent pesky yellow jacket interruptions of July and August picnics and outside dinners in Lake Tahoe. Now is the time to prepare by placing traps for the queens as they start to emerge from their winter hibernation.

The queens are the only bee colony member to hibernate in the winter. She emerges in spring and begins to look for a suitable place to build a nest and begin her new colony. By the end of summer one colony can have 4,000 to 5,000 yellow jackets.

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - The USFS Forest Service closed all of their recreation sites in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to keep in alignment with federal, state, and local guidance for social distancing, and to ensure the health and safety of its employees, visitors, and volunteers.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev./Calif. - Local boats will soon be able to get into Lake Tahoe, but boaters from out of the area will have to wait until COVID-19 reopening phases allow them.

On Friday the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) announced a phased approach to boating that discourages out-of-area visitation as part of state and local coordination on recreation guidelines for Lake Tahoe this season.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - Casinos in Nevada will not be opening during the Phase 1 reopening plan unveiled by Governor Steve Sisolak Thursday. All Nevada casinos will be required to create and implement an infectious disease prevention plan before they will be allowed to open once Sisolak gives them the green light. He said Thursday Phase 1 expires May 30 and the next phase can start then, or even earlier if all goes as planned. It is unknown at this time if casinos will be included in the next reopening phase.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Rotary Interact Club at South Tahoe High recently donated $800 to the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

Co-Presidents Dean Kallas and Serena Palaroan sent the check and a letter to the nonprofit tasked with providing temporary care for wildlife, with an explanation of the student-run club and the funds.

The following is a letter sent to El Dorado County and City of South Lake Tahoe. It is published here in its entirety at the request of the author.

The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce would like to offer encouragement and support of a revival of the local economy, while continuing to keep the health and safety of our residents in mind. Cases of COVID-19 have remained low in our region when compared to other more populated areas around the State and Nation. We applaud the quick action taken by the County and City that has helped us keep the case count low.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Council will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00 a.m. with a single agenda item: Authorization of a letter signed by Mayor Jason Collin to California Governor Gavin Newsom to request approval for the City of South Lake Tahoe for its transition to Phase 2 of re-opening the County of El Dorado and City of South Lake Tahoe for individuals and businesses.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With a growing need in the community, Tahoe Magic is hosting its second live-streamed concert to raise funds that will go directly back into the community.

On Wednesday, May 6, Lake Tahoe musicians are coming together again to raise money for Tahoe families in crisis because of the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown.

In the second live stream concert hosted by Tahoe Supports Tahoe, more than a half-dozen musicians will perform from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Performers include:

Jesse Dunn and Jenni Charles of Dead Winter Carpenters

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has resumed work on area highways. The following is their current project list at Lake Tahoe and in the Sierra.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County): Work continues on a $5.2 million project to upgrade metal beam guardrail and construct concrete barriers at 89 locations from the Red Hawk Undercrossing to 1.9 miles west of the junction with State Route 89 in Meyers. Completion is expected in late spring 2020. No traffic-interfering work is scheduled.

Lake Tahoe is one lake, one regional economy and we always come together during a crisis. Community members are already supporting each other in numerous ways. The Tahoe region’s three Community Foundations along with the Tahoe Prosperity Center are launching #TahoeTogether, a new campaign focused on continued coordination of efforts to support community members in need during this crisis.