2016

Starting in Fall 2016, Tahoe Youth & Family Services will begin contracting with Suicide Prevention Network of Douglas County to bring suicide prevention education and resources to residents of South Lake Tahoe.

The combined effort will provide community-wide awareness programs and mental health stigma reduction outreach. Suicide survivor grief support groups will also begin at the Tahoe Youth & Family Services’ counseling office at 1021 Fremont Avenue in South Lake Tahoe. Funding for the new program comes from an El Dorado County Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) grant.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 491 calls between August 16 and August 29, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

8/16
No arrests

8/17
Unlicensed Driver in the 2600 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 1000 block of Lakeview Ave
Unlicensed Driver in the 2300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Felony "Other" in the 800 block of Emerald Bay Rd
Driving on a suspended/revoked license at Wildwood and Aspen Aves

8/18

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from August 26 to August 31, 2016.

8/26/16- 13 Calls: 7 EMS, 2 interfacility transfers, 1 good intent call, 1 alarm sounded - no fire, 1 vehicle accident with injuries, 1 medical assist

8/27/16- 14 Calls: 9 EMS, 1 detector activation-no fire, 1 smoke detector malfunction, 1 heat detector malfunction, 1 no incident found, 1 interfacility transfer

8/28/16- 7 Calls: 4 EMS, 1 canceled en route, 1 passenger vehicle fire, 1 interfacility transfer

Anita Watson will portray Mary Pickford, at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, September 7, at 6:30 pm.

Mary Pickford was America’s Sweetheart. Pickford was an actress on the stage and in film, a writer, a producer, a director, and co-founder of a movie studio. She socialized with Hollywood’s most famous stars and married a swashbuckling film hero, Douglas Fairbanks. In 1955, Mary Pickford published her autobiography, Sunshine and Shadows. In this presentation, Pickford will discuss her book and her life.

Location

"I've never been here," President Obama told the crowd at the 20th annual Lake Tahoe Summit on Wednesday. "Its not that I didn't want to come, but nobody invited me."

The President said he'd be sure to be back. "I'll be coming here more often through my transportation won't be as nice," the President said to a crowd appreciative of his humor.

"I'll be back not because its beautiful, not just because Godfather II happens to be my favorite movie, but because this place is spectacular because its one of the highest, deepest, purest lakes in the world," said the President.

Income for casinos on the South Shore rose in July, 2016, recording a 20.03 percent gain in gaming win when compared to income from a year ago. The $27,985,039 was the highest percentage gain in Nevada.

The gaming win represents the computed income of casinos before business expenses and taxes.

This is the first month of the fiscal year, so off on a good foot.

As a state, Nevada was up 9.96 percent over last July, with $1,015,014,676 extra left behind at the table and slots. Boulder Strip casinos saw the biggest loss for the month, with their take of gaming down 8.19 percent.

El Dorado County health officials have received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that a dead bird found in the Placerville area has tested positive for West Nile virus, the first for 2016. The bird, a Western Scrub Jay, was found on August 23, 2016. There have been no reported cases of human infection with West Nile virus this year in El Dorado County.

Douglas County is hosting a series of public outreach meetings to discuss stormwater issues specific to geographic areas in Douglas County and to explain how a stormwater management program and utility fee might work. A presentation will be given at each meeting and will include recommendations from the Citizen’s Flood Task Force, examples of how a stormwater management program could work, and staff will be collecting public input.

Woodcutting permits on the Eldorado National Forest have been changed to allow larger standing dead conifer trees to be cut for firewood. A minimum of tTwo cords of wood can be cut for $15 per cord.

"This change in our woodcutting permits will encourage removal of potentially dangerous roadside hazard trees," said forest supervisor Laurence Crabtree. "Fire and bark beetles have left a lot of dead trees which could fall across forest roads, particularly the less traveled roads in the back country."

Justin Bonderer, who would have recently celebrated his 36th birthday, hasn't been seen since the Camino home he was living in burned on April 7, 2016.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office continues to search for the long time resident of Georgetown, Calif.

Justin moved to Camino with his then girlfriend. Detectives were able to track Justin up through April 7, 2015, where he was last seen in Placerville, possibly on his way to Camino.

Donald Trump and the almost 900 attendees at Friday night's fundraising dinner at Harrah's Tahoe most likely didn't see or hear the protesters outside, but passing cars and pedestrians sure did.

A small group of protesters started standing on the corner of Stateline Avenue and Lake Tahoe Blvd at 5:00 p.m., waiving signs and chanting anti-Trump sentiments. Honks and clapping greeted the group outside, while those inside paid $200 to $500 a person to attend the 2016 Battle Ground Dinner, sponsored by the Nevada Republican Party.

Briant Benson, 59, of El Dorado Hills, pleaded guilty today to tax evasion after failing to file tax returns or pay any personal income tax to the IRS, despite receiving at least $2 million dollars in income.

Re/Max Realty of Gardnerville delivered over 125 bags of treats to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office as a sign of appreciation to local law enforcement.

Sheriff Pierini expressed his great appreciation at the efforts of the real estate agents of Re\MAX who worked together to create the treats and show their support to all of the employees who work tirelessly at the various their duties in Administration, Patrol, Jail, and Investigations, along with support personnel.

Jeanne Koerner from Re\MAX brought the baskets to the sheriff’s office.

It's been months of lawsuits, open arguments, censure of a councilperson, a community taking sides and a mounting legal tab. City Councilwoman JoAnn Conner, the City of South Lake Tahoe and City Manager Nancy Kerry have come to a compromise and have signed a settlement agreement.

In October of 2015, the City Council voted to censure Conner over what they said was "abusive, bullying and intolerant behavior."

As do all good ideas that want to become lasting projects, many years and lots of planning have gone into creating what will become the Robert Maloff Center of Excellence at Barton Health.

It's been 55 years since the Barton family donated the land where the first hospital in South Lake Tahoe was built, and it was in that same footprint of land that the ground was broken for the new center 26,000 square foot center on Tuesday.

FireFest is back! This year's event will be held on Saturday, September 24 at the Hard Rock Hotel parking lot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fire Fest is a free annual event that highlights fire and life safety for children and families.

Sit in a fire truck, escape from the Smoke House, wear firefighting equipment, squirt fire hoses, play in a bounce house, meet Smokey Bear and Sparky, watch fire departments compete, learn about fire resistant construction and enjoy a Kiwanis BBQ!

Ladder trucks, helicopters and a lot of other fire equipment will be there for people to enjoy.

Through grants from the FAA and Caltrans, the Lake Tahoe Airport is currently undergoing the third of five phases of ramp modifications due to accommodate changing aircraft lengths and weights.

The apron that is currently being revamped hasn't been upgraded since 1984.

More business jets and other large business aircraft are landing at the Lake Tahoe Airport, many of what are scene during the annual American Century Golf Championship.

The Douglas County Search and Rescue (DCSAR) is looking for physically fit and energetic individuals to participate in its fall academy and join it’s highly qualified team. DCSAR is comprised of approximately 50 trained volunteer members within the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and responds to emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Daniel Allen Coats, 34, of Turlock, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $8,938 in restitution for his role in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing false claims for federal tax refunds while in prison.

My name is Tamara Wallace and I am a candidate for South Lake Tahoe City Council. To begin with, I have vowed to not accept the pay that comes from holding office.

In a letter to City Clerk Susie Alessi, it was officially stated that if elected I would not accept the recently doubled Council salary of almost $1,000 per month. Being a fiscal conservative, I feel being careful with taxpayer dollars should start with me.

Tamara Wallace’s campaign slogan is “it’s Time.”

I believes that the voters feel as I do.

Here is what I am not:

Do the people you love and trust the most have the proper authority to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself?

Do they know how you’d want to be cared for? Not sure?

Come to the free Advance Healthcare Directive workshop and learn how to ensure you are cared for in the way you want if you are unable to communicate those wishes yourself. (And check it off your list of things you must do this year!)

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has appointed Patricia Charles-Heathers as the new director of the Health and Human Services Agency.

During their meeting on August 16, 2016, they approved her appointment to take over the agency once headed by the County's current Chief Administrative Officer, Donald Ashton. They had been without a person in the top spot since his promotion in May.

Charles-Heathers has worked for the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency for over four years during which time she served as their assistant director.

Don Baldwin will portray John Muir, at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, August 24, at 6:30 pm.

Known as "John of the Mountains", Muir was a Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada of California, have been read by millions. Muir’s activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas.

Location

Donald Trump is headed to the South Shore for a fundraising event, the 2016 Battle Ground Dinner, sponsored by the Nevada Republican Party.

The presidential hopeful will be in the Sand Harbor Ballroom at Harrah's Tahoe on Friday, August 26.

Cocktails are set for 6:00 PM with dinner at 7:00 PM.

Seating is limited. Tickets are available online with VIP tables at $5,000, general admission at $200.