News

Man facing multiple life sentences after South Lake Tahoe jury finds him guilty

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An El Dorado County man is facing multiple life sentences after being found guilty of 10 felonies in a South Lake Tahoe courtroom on March 6.

On July 17 and 18, 2021, Joshua Thomas Lee Gardner went to the Sunray Motel in South Lake Tahoe to collect a drug debt from a woman who lived there. Once inside her room, Gardner robbed the victim at gunpoint and threatened to kill her.

Possible changes in transportation services coming to South Lake Tahoe and Meyers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Transportation services on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe have changed over the years, going from free casino shuttles to the fun, Nifty Fifty trollies, and many other steps along the way. There have been many challenges, but a new proposition is in the works to help fix it.

Currently, the South Shore is serviced by two fixed bus routes along US50 provided by the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD). There is a large area that is not serviced by a bus, including Meyers (except for paratransit services).

Conservancy announces acquisition of Motel 6 property and surrounding sensitive land

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After months of negotiations, Motel 6 in South Lake Tahoe and the 31 surrounding acres are being sold, and escrow should close in the coming weeks. The motel, the adjacent vacant restaurant, and the parking lot will be removed and the environmentally sensitive land along the Upper Truckee River will be restored and preserved.

The land was owned by the Knox Johnson family.

Contract signed as ExplorUS expands operations at Camp RIchardson to include marina

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Even though the U.S. Forest Service gave the 20-year concessionaire permit for Camp Richardson to ExplorUS, the marina was still owned and operated by Bob Hassett and Camp Richardson Resort Incorporated (CRRI). Hassett was the former concessionaire of the government-owned resort.

A one-year contract was signed this month to have ExplorUS take over operations of the marina.

College Bound Lake Tahoe hosts guided workshop for parents

Event Date: 
March 20, 2024 - 8:30am

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - College Bound Lake Tahoe (CBLT) will host a free workshop for parents on Wednesday, March 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Family Resource Center (FRC) in South Lake Tahoe. The workshop is meant to prepare parents to ensure their children meet the high school graduation requirements needed to attend college.

CBLT is a collaboration between the Lake Tahoe Community College Dual Enrollment program, the FRC, and the Lake Tahoe Unified School District.

"Bear Aware" more than a snappy slogan - it shows how human behavior must change at Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The black bears who call Lake Tahoe home need the humans that live and visit there to know proper bear behavior. And it isn't the behavior of the bears, but of the humans, that will keep the bears healthy and alive.

Bears have started to emerge from their winter lodging, and they need humans to properly secure their food and property to ensure their survival. The sooner in a bear's life we do this, the better the chance they have to safely coexist with humans.

Small-scale prescribed fire operations continue at Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Members of the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team (TFFT) will continue prescribed fire operations this week at Lake Tahoe, conditions and weather permitting. Smoke may be present throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding areas. View smoke management tips and the current air quality index at AirNow and the U.S.

Enjoy the dry and quiet weather at Lake Tahoe while it lasts - snow and rain expected at end of week

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif - The dry and quiet weather pattern with a warming trend continues in the region through midweek. The only exception will be the slight chance for some isolated showers and thunderstorms along the Sierra crest on Tuesday afternoon. Enjoy it while it lasts because we`re in for a bit of a rude awakening by the time the weekend comes around. More winter-like conditions will be resurging Friday into the weekend with a trend to wetter, colder conditions, and snow.

Fix a Leak Week March 18-22 - Help prevent 1 trillion gallons of water wasted annually through leaks

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Did you know that nearly 1 trillion gallons of water is wasted from household leaks yearly across the country? Join the nation and South Tahoe Public Utility District (District) during Fix a Leak Week, March 18 to 24, to save water and money.

Sponsored by EPA's WaterSense® program, Fix a Leak Week is an annual event that promotes water conservation by supporting utility customers as they chase down and repair leaks in their homes.

Team Tahoe on Capitol Hill in support of extending the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - It was the late California Senator Diane Feinstein who dubbed those who protect our beautiful lake "Team Tahoe." Since she and the late Nevada Senator Harry Reed hosted the first Lake Tahoe Summit, over $1B has been allocated through the bi-partisan Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA) in 2000 and 2016 for projects around Lake Tahoe to keep sediments from entering the lake, keep forests healthy, remove invasive species, along with other projects.

California Dream for All first-time homebuyer program opens again in April

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California program to help first-time, first-generational home buyers with a down payment will be starting again in April, and for those interested in being part of it the time is now to start preparing.

The California Dream for All program exhausted approximately $300 million of funding within 11 days last year. It was a first-come-first-served loan program in 2023, and for 2024 it will award funds on a lottery system.

The down payment assistance program opens again to California residents on April 3.

El Dorado County Sheriff's calls in the Lake Tahoe area

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following calls 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.

Mar. 7 - Mar. 13, 2024

3/7

14:31 SNOW TOW - Occurred on Wintoon Dr, in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Disposition: GONE ON ARRIVAL.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day responsibly: Designate a sober driver, your lucky charm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations here, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD_ will be on alert for suspected impaired drivers. The community is reminded to celebrate responsibly by designating a sober driver, your lucky charm, for a safe and enjoyable celebration. Additional officers will be on patrol on March 17 looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Second special LTUSD meeting of the week: Budget cuts could still eliminate teachers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Tuesday's special meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) did not meet the requirements of the Brown Act as public comment was not allowed until after the board voted on the agenda item.

Douglas County 2024-25 budget hearings planned

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County is holding a budget kickoff session, followed by a series of budget hearings for the fiscal year 2024-25 tentative budget planning. At these meetings, the Board of County Commissioners will discuss the development of the upcoming fiscal year operating budgets. County departments will provide presentations and members of the public are encouraged to attend.

With Love, From Tahoe: A Stewardship Journey for Lake Tahoe's Future - Author Kristen Schwartz shares Tahoe tales with a call to action

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Lake Tahoe is the focus of a new all-ages book by local author/illustrator Kristen Schwartz. “With Love, From Tahoe—Stories About Simple Things We Can Do to Protect Lake Tahoe” delves into the heart of Tahoe's environmental challenges and offers practical solutions for preservation.

South Lake Tahoe City Council votes to update ADU codes that hope to ease housing crunch

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As regulations change around Lake Tahoe and start to allow more accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to help ease the housing crunch, the South Lake Tahoe City Council updated its ADU codes. During their Tuesday meeting, the Council unanimously voted to amend its current code.

In 2021, the City of South Lake Tahoe adopted an ADU ordinance, and changes at the state level on January 1 required the City to follow with amendments to its code,

South Lake Tahoe City Council gives rental assistance and abandoned structures items a yes, rental registry a no

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe City Council heard several items during its meeting on Tuesday, including the passing of items meant to alleviate housing issues in the community.

Rental Assistance

City of South Lake Tahoe to spend over $4.8 million on road projects in 2024

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe will be spending over $4.8M on its road rehabilitation projects this year.

There are 257 lanes miles of roads in the city limits. To fix them all it would cost $225M, but that is far above the budget so the Public Works department will start on these areas in 2024:

The main project will be a 4" mill and overlay on Keller and Saddle roads - 4.85 lane miles for $2.6M. The road there is currently low-rated and in need of attention.

Highway audit of US50 and SR89 in South Lake Tahoe completed

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In 2023, Caltrans unveiled its plan to raise speed limits along three segments of US50 and SR89 after their tests showed drivers consistently went over the speed limit in those areas. The public and the City of South Lake Tahoe disagreed and objected to the plan due to safety and other concerns in these areas. At the time, Caltrans agreed to keep the existing speed limits in place with a plan to hold a workshop to go over the results with the City and come up with solutions.

Second special LTUSD board meeting for discussion of reduction in workforce

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to concerns brought forward regarding a procedural process at the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) special board meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, along with the Board’s interest in providing an additional opportunity for public comment regarding the reduction in force, the Board will hold a special meeting on Friday, March 15, at noon at the District Office.

Tree fell on powerlines over US50 west of Sierra at Tahoe, road closed

UPDATE: The road has reopened.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Traffic is being held between Sierra at Tahoe and Twin Bridges as a tree and powerlines are cleared from US50. There is no estimated time for the road to be cleared.

At 10:58 a.m., a call was received by the California Highway Patrol, stating a tree fell onto a powerline. PG&E is on the way to take care of the situation.

No other information is available at this time.

Gardnerville teen dies in single vehicle crash on Jacks Valley Road

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A 19-year-old Gardnerville man died at the scene after an early morning crash on Thursday.

The Nevada State Police responded to a crash at 12:39 a.m. on March 14 on Jacks Valley Road near Bavarian Drive in Douglas County near the curve in the road north of Genoa Lakes.

Wind an issue at Lake Tahoe until warming trend settles in

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a High Wind Warning that will be in place until 5 p.m. Thursday. It will be followed by a Lake Wind Advisory from 5 p.m. Thursday to 5 p.m. Friday.

For the High Wind Warning, expect northeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts 40 to 50 mph for the Lake Tahoe Basin. Ridge wind gusts could be over 100 mph. Wave heights up to 5 feet on Lake Tahoe. For the Lake Wind Advisory, winds will be from the northeast 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph and wave heights of 1 to 3 feet.

Douglas County School Board missteps in offer to interim superintendent, special meeting planned

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - In a move that wasn't on the agenda, the Douglas County School Board voted to offer Jeanne Dwyer the job she has been filling on an interim basis.

With RIF deadline Thursday, Lake Tahoe Unified School District to advise ten people of possible layoffs

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a tough meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) on Tuesday, with a reduction in force (RIF) being the sole topic. With a RIF March 15 deadline looming, the trustees had to pass a resolution to inform certified staff members that could be laid off if more funding could not be found.

"This is not a time or place we'd like to be here right now," said LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Todd Cutler.

El Dorado County Board of Education seeks Area 5 trustee to fill Richard Fischer's spot

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The El Dorado County Board of Education is seeking a member of the public to represent Area 5 which covers South Lake Tahoe and Meyers. Current member Richard Fischer will be stepping down from his role, after representing Area 5 for more than a decade.

The EDCOE board is now accepting applications to fill this vacancy by appointment. The term of the provisional appointment runs through December 13, 2024. The appointed incumbent would be eligible to run for election in the November 2024 Election.

Boulders in road on US50 near Cave Rock

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Boulders have fallen onto the road on US50 at Cave Rock. One eastbound lane is currently closed west of the tunnel.

A call was made at 2:37 p.m. to alert authorities of the boulders.

No other details are available at this time but use caution when in the area. The Nevada Highway Patrol is on the scene, and the Nevada Department of Transportation is on the way to clear the rocks.

There are no injuries being reported.

Special LTUSD board meeting to discuss elimination of staff

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a special meeting on Tuesday, March 12 of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Board of Trustees to discuss the elimination of some personnel for the next school year.

The Board has determined that it may be necessary to decrease programs and services no later than the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year and they may find it necessary to terminate some employees at the end of the current school year. School districts must supply this data in March each year so staff is not surprised.

Sierra Club presents talk on urbanization of black bears in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
March 22, 2024 - 5:00pm

The Tahoe Area Sierra Club is holding an educational presentation on the urbanization of black bears and their population on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. Toogee Sielsch, a 41-year-long South Lake Tahoe resident and local black bear expert is the speaker. It will be held in the Aspen/Board Room at Lake Tahoe Community College on Friday, March 22 at 5 p.m.

This presentation will be 40 minutes, diving into the topic of bears. There will be an ASL interpreter present during the presentation.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office calls in Lake Tahoe area

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following calls 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.

Feb. 29 - Mar. 6, 2024

2/29

12:40 CIVIL INCIDENT - Officer initiated activity at Patricia Ln, South Lake Tahoe, CA. Disposition: ASSISTED.

Prescribed burn operations around Lake Tahoe this week

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Members of the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team (TFFT) will continue prescribed fire operations this week at Lake Tahoe, conditions and weather permitting. Smoke may be present throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding areas. View smoke management tips and the current air quality index at AirNow and the U.S.

Tahoe Grizzlies Spring Hockey registration open

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Registration is now open for Tahoe Grizzlies Spring Hockey. The season in on Sundays from April 7 - May 26 for levels 8U through high school.

The cost is $150 for 8U and new-to-hockey players, $300 for 10U through high school. Jerseys and socks are included.

If new to hockey, or with little experience, learn the foundational skills - skating, stick handling, passing, and other basics.

The Memorial Day Tournament is included at the Tahoe Blue Center for 10U / 12U and High School age groups.

5 Rs of early childhood development

As parents, we all want what's best for our children. We understand the importance of providing them with the tools they need to succeed in life. That's why it's crucial to lay a strong foundation for their development from the very beginning. Just like planting seeds in a garden, the care and attention we give to our children during their early years can make all the difference in their growth and future success.

Here are five simple yet powerful strategies, outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), to help you support your child's development:

Girls help rescue two people who fell through ice at Sawmill Pond

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two people and their dogs are safe after being rescued after falling through the ice at Sawmill Pond on Sunday.

Chris Bloch, his two daughters Coral Dawn-Bloch and Sequoia Dawn-Bloch, and their friend Kaiya Catalan were driving by Sawmill when Coral noticed people on the ice. She commented how unsafe the ice was, and in under a minute the people fell through. They had gone onto the ice to rescue their dogs.

Whittell High School remodel on Douglas County School District agenda

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The next meeting of the Douglas County School Board will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at 4 p.m.

El Dorado County VHR ordinance evaluations to be presented at Lake Tahoe open house

Event Date: 
March 20, 2024 - 5:30pm

The public is invited to an open house to get updates on the El Dorado County vacation home rental (VHR) ordinance on Wednesday, March 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Beach Retreat and Lodge Event Center.

Supervisor Brooke Laine assembled a VHR Advisory Committee to discuss the current ordinance, looking at what works, and what doesn't. They will share their evaluation during the meeting on Wednesday. The committee is recommending changes to:

• Effective Complaint Management & Enforcement
• Increase Fines and Penalties
• Stronger Compliance & Standards

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, time to spring forward!

One sure sign of spring is the annual changing of the clock as Daylight Saving Time begins. On Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 2 a.m., most states will move their clocks forward one hour.

1784 - The idea of daylight saving is first conceived by Benjamin Franklin.

1914-1918 - Britain goes on DLS during World War I.

March 19, 1918 - The Standard Time Act establishes time zones and daylight saving. Daylight saving is repealed in 1919, but continues to be recognized in certain areas of the United States.

1945-1966 - There is no federal law regarding Daylight Saving Time.

Weak weather systems could bring some snow to Lake Tahoe through Tuesday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The weekend forecast is much different than last week's blizzard, and once we get through a series of small weather systems next weekend looks fabulous!

The series of quick-hitting systems bring chances of showers and breezes over the weekend into early next week. A travel period to watch will be from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday when intermittent Sierra impacts will be possible.

The National Weather Service in Reno forecast for South Lake Tahoe:

Saturday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Frustration over snow removal issues in the county portion of Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Storms come, and storms go at Lake Tahoe. Snow is nothing new, but what happened in the El Dorado County part of Lake Tahoe caught many but surprise, and left them angry.

After feet of snow fell last weekend, snowplows were deployed to get to the roads and remove snow. The problem with this storm for county residents was the lack of plows that came to clear the roads. Some zones got one sweep by a plow each day, while residents along Upper Truckee Road and its sidestreets did not see a plow for a few days, leaving deep snow for vehicles to navigate.

Man arrested after high speed chase from Minden to South Lake Tahoe

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A man has been arrested after allegedly leading deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) on a high-speed chase from Gardnerville to South Lake Tahoe.

South Lake Tahoe City Council agenda: renter's assistance program. roads and road audit, budget and more

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The next South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers at the airport. The public can participate in person or online (instructions and viewing options here).

The agenda includes the mid-year budget review, an update on the 2024 Road Rehabilitation Program, and:

A presentation on a basin entry fee.

South Lake Tahoe Police Blotter

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to during the week of Feb. 19 - Feb. 25, 2024. Location Checks are when officers search an area at a certain address. Transient/Homeless arrests/citations and calls are those normally categorized in other columns (Drunk in Public, Trespassing, etc.) but stats are collected separately.

Log for February 19 - February 25, 2024

2/19

Arrests
None

Other Calls
01:10 Emergency Hang-up - Occurred on Spruce Ave. Disposition: CLEAR NO FURTHER.

Second credit card skimmer found on South Lake Tahoe 7-11 POS system

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A second credit/debit card skimming device has been found on a 7-11 point-of-sale (POS) system in South Lake Tahoe. On Wednesday, a customer at the 7-11 on Emerald Bay Road found the device and pulled it off the machine.

El Dorado County Civil Grand Jury seeks new members - informational meeting in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
March 27, 2024 - 6:00pm

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - A very important part of the government process, the Civil Grand Jury, is looking for new members. In June 2023, the El Dorado County Civil Grand Jury completed its investigative report of the county's building and planning department. The jury's actions are a result of complaints, concerns, and annual reviews, and the results are compiled in a report that is presented to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.

Bureau of Indian Affairs to hold public meeting on Painted Rock Mine

Event Date: 
March 20, 2024 - 4:30pm

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is scheduled to hold a public meeting to allow members of the public to learn about the Painted Rock Mine Draft Environmental Assessment. The in-person public comment meeting is scheduled to occur on March 20, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center (1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, Nevada). The public meeting will include a short presentation, time to converse with subject-matter experts, and time to make a verbal public comment on the content of the revised Environmental Assessment.

South Lake Tahoe business sells liquor to minor, has ABC license temporarily suspended

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A South Lake Tahoe business, Mi Pueblo Market on Pioneer Trail, had its California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license temporarily suspended after selling to a minor decoy. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department, along with agents of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), conducted a minor decoy operation in November 2023. During that operation, a clerk at the business sold alcohol to a minor decoy.

South Lake Tahoe teen hit by vehicle on icy road in Meyers

This story has been updated with new details:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 15-year-old South Lake Tahoe teen was hospitalized on Saturday after getting pinned between a snowbank and a Jeep Wrangler.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) of South Lake Tahoe is still investigating, but the initial report shows they received a call at approximately 4:26 p.m. on March 2, about multiple vehicles in a collision and an injury on an extremely icy road.

South Tahoe Refuse issues service alert

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Tahoe Refuse (STR) is making efforts to reach those scheduled for collection this week, however, due to hazardous road conditions and challenges navigating narrow roadways, there may be delays or missed garbage/recycling pick-ups in certain service areas for the week of March 4, 2024.

No big storms on the horizon for Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As many are in the middle of the "Big Dig" after the recent blizzard, there are some thoughts about the upcoming forecast. Luckily for Lake Tahoe residents, the next system due Tuesday is heading north of I80, with concerns for those in Lassen county, and a chance of snow to the south in Mono County. As we escape this one, it looks like things will be totally cleared out on Friday as a small ridge develops. But, sorry, don't get too comfortable with those sunny skies and no wind yet.

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