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South Tahoe Now sent a questionnaire out to all of the candidates for El Dorado County Supervisor and Douglas County Sheriff. This is the last of the submitted responses. Candidates Sue Novasel, Kenny Curtzwiler and Angela Swanson were the only County Supervisor candidates to respond, and Douglas County Sheriff candidates Ron Pierini and Dave Brady were the only Sheriff candidates to respond. We thank those that took the time to reply.

1) What do you see as the Number 1 issue facing residents of District 5?

We all know that kids can't wait to get out of school, but by July they may be getting a bit bored. Or, perhaps you're wondering where your kids can going and be safe while having fun during your work day.

In response to requests from staff and the public that the City budget be easier to find and understand, a new tool that presents the revenues and expenses for each department and over the course of several years is now on the City of South Lake Tahoe's website.

The new service is provided by OpenGov.com.

Lake Vista Apartments is a 4.6 acre, 64-unit deed restricted affordable housing project on lower Kingsbury Grade in Stateline, Nevada. It was built in 2000 under a special agreement with the TRPA to replenish the Nevada side's affordable housing stock after the number of units at the complex on Kahle Drive was dramatically reduced in order to restore the meadow. The complex was built on a USDA affordable housing tax credit program which specified a minimum of 15 years of affordable housing use.

Construction has begun on the 2014 State Streets Waterline Replacement Project.

This project will improve water quality, quantity, pressures and, most importantly, will enhance firefighting capability in the State Streets neighborhood. The project will consist of installation of a 12” main on Tahoe Keys Blvd. and 6” mains on Idaho Ave., Wyoming Ave., Montana Ave., Utah Ave., Colorado Ave., Arizona Ave., Texas Ave., and Jeffery St. In addition to the water mains, fire hydrants will be installed at approximately 500 foot intervals to provide better fire protection.

During April's South Lake Tahoe Drug Take Back Day, over 50 pounds of prescription drugs were dropped off anonymously in the bins location in the Safeway parking lot. This is about a 27% increase over last year's efforts.

Getting unused prescription drugs out of the home is a major step in accomplishing two major goals of Drug Take Back Day: Keeping drugs out of the landfills and water systems and keep drugs out of the hands of people who they weren't prescribed for.

The recent standoff at the last remaining ranch in Clark County, NV has been widely attributed to environmental protection around the endangered desert tortoise; with the right wing trying to pin the blame on Nevada Senator Harry Reid for his support of the recent Ivanpah solar plant which, generates 392 MW which powers Google servers (See Dana Loesch Radio for an example of the kind of coverage it gets http://danaloeschradio.com/the-real-story-of-the-bundy-ranch/ and http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/04/11/the-nevada-tortoise-war-is-a-right-wing-false-f/198860 for a Media Matters article deb

The temperatures are rising in South Lake Tahoe and residents and visitors are spending more time outdoors.

The U.S. Forest Service announced Monday that they will be opening recreation areas early. Last year's warm temperatures in April and May brought out people who wanted to enjoy the parks and beaches, only to find them still closed.

Here is a list of opening dates:

Inspiration Point, Logan Shoals, Chimney Beach, and Secret Harbor are opening on April 21.

Sawmill Pond and the Sandpit OHV areas open May 1.

Baldwin Beach and Nevada Beach and Campground open May 9.

After months of building, remodeling, planning and prepping, Sonney Bruning has opened "Sonney's BBQ Shack" in South Lake Tahoe.

"We've redone everything from the plumbing to the beer chiller, from the furniture to the floors," Bruning said while taking an unusual break right before the restaurant's soft opening March 22.

El Dorado County Animal Services in South Lake Tahoe has temporarily suspended dog adoptions at its shelter as a precaution after identifying at least two cases of parvovirus this week. The dog kennel area at the shelter will be closed until March 11, while shelter staff investigate, perform additional deep cleaning and disinfecting of all kennels and monitor the current dogs on site.

Prescribed burn operations will take place in several locations around the Lake Tahoe basin beginning on Tuesday, February 18.

The U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will be in the Luther Pass Campground off of Highway 89 S near South Lake Tahoe, on the west side of Highway 89 N near Tahoma, and in Slaughterhouse Canyon on Lake Tahoe’s East Shore. Prescribed fire crews may continue operations through the weekend, weather, staffing, and conditions permitting. Locations may vary due to changing conditions.

A Wednesday night house fire in South Lake Tahoe has turned into a criminal investigation.

South Lake Tahoe Police officers and fire fighters responded to a residential fire in the 1100 block of Long Valley Avenue at 6:10 pm. They found the home fully engulfed in flames with fire starting to spread to nearby trees, though they were able to contain the fire to the area of the burning home. It appears the house is likely to be a total loss.

The house has received the attention of the police and fire department prior to Wednesday night's fire.

With Tahoe South’s two annual fireworks celebrations meeting all state and federal standards throughout their 30-year history, area tourism officials strongly denounced a lawsuit that could threaten the annual July Fourth and Labor Day events as totally unnecessary.

In November, Joseph and Joan Truxler, of Zephyr Cove, Nev., filed a federal lawsuit against the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and Pyro Spectaculars North alleging the twice-annual fireworks shows violated the Clean Water Act.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will begin prescribed fire operations off of Highway 89 South near Luther Pass tomorrow, December 10, 2013. Crews will begin burning a 29 acre unit across the highway from the Luther Pass overflow campground and will burn as much as weather and conditions allow. Operations may continue through the week. In addition, crews will begin prescribed fire operations on a small unit off of Highway 28 on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe. Crews will burn approximately two acres on the east side of the highway between Secret and Skunk harbors near Bliss Pond.

Voters chose Lake Tahoe as "America's Best Lake" in 2012 and the local area is now up for another top honor as "America's Best Ski Destination."

The Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority is seeking votes from the local community through the month until the contest's end on December 30 at 8:50 pm PST. Online votes can be made daily on the voting site. North Lake Tahoe is also in the running along with Sun Valley, Idaho and other big resorts.

Bob and Tammy Hassett, current operators of Camp Richardson and Meeks Bay Resort have been selected to run the concession at Round Hill Pines Resort according to Cheva Heck of the U.S. Forest Service. The current lease is held by the Forvilly family and is set to expire on December 31, 2013. Frank Forvilly has operated Round Hill Pines since 1971 and just found out yesterday that they weren't awarded the new contract.

Dubbed the "All Star Panel," a group of long time local residents shared stories of a South Lake Tahoe most of us never experienced. The seven panelists have lived in Lake Tahoe a combined 600 plus years and shared some great stories with the overflowing crowd at Camp Richardson Lodge on Tuesday evening. In fact, the number of long time locals in the audience was very evident since their combined years of living in Lake Tahoe was over 1880!

Dave Wakeman, South Lake Tahoe resident since 1947

Everything from Yoga to plastic surgery to food and fitness will be covered during the Annual Lake Tahoe Women's Wellness Weekend at Granlibakken Lodge & Conference Center November 9-10. Speakers, women's health professionals, authors and others will present on a myriad of topics concerning women and their health.

Due to a lack of approved burn days by the California Air Resource Board, the US Forest Service has moves their planned burn operations from the Al Tahoe/Pioneer Trail side in South Lake Tahoe over to an area north of Zephyr Cove. Smoke will be visible from Highway 50.

Crews may begin prescribed fire operations this weekend, October 26 and 27, 2013 across U.S. Highway 50 from the Skyland subdivision. Weather and conditions permitting, crews will burn approximately one to five acres per day and expect to continue operations through the weekend and into next week.

The Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe has 800 members who visit the club over 43,000 times a year for a very low cost to the families. The need for a strong and vibrant club is very important to the community of South Lake Tahoe. Since many families are unable to pay for services, the Boys and Girls Club is holding a unique fundraiser to keep the club running.

Nearly 2,500 athletes are headed to the North Lake Tahoe area this week for IRONMAN, a full triathlon which will have them running 26.2 miles, biking 112 miles and swimming for 2.4 miles. The sold out event will have the events spread from Lake Tahoe to Squaw Valley and Truckee.

There are 13 age divisions from age 18 to 80 as well as professional and physically challenged divisions. Fifty winners from the event will qualify for the Championship IRONMAN in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in October, 2014.

From September 5 – 15th the Ruffwear pack will be on the road visiting fans and retailers in California and Nevada as well as stopping at the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in Del Mar Beach to benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

If you see the Ruffwear van, swing by and say hi or better yet, snap a shot of you or your dog photo bombing the van, share and tag #DogGoneRoadTrip on Instagram and we’ll reward our favorites with some nice schwag.

LOCAL RETAILER EVENTS

The second Free Fishing Day in 2013 in California will be Saturday, Sept. 7. The first was way back on Saturday, July 6.

On Sept. 7 you will be able to fish wherever you like without the need for a fishing license. However remember that you will need to abide by the rules and regulations that govern whatever water(s) you will be fishing.

Be sure to obey those rules and regulations, and don’t do something illegal. If you do, and if you get caught, it could be a very expensive experience.

CAL FIRE PIO Berlant, @CALFIRE_PIO - California Statewide Fire Summary: Nearly 8,000 firefighters remain on the frontlines as nearly a dozen major wildfires continue to burn. Yesterday, CAL FIRE crews contained the Swedes Fire that burned in Butte County, just as a new fire ignited on the Fort Hunter Liggett Military Installation.