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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - 499 volunteers hit the beaches of Lake Tahoe Thursday as part of the annual July 5 Beach Cleanup crew. Each year, volunteers hit the beaches to pick up trash left over by holiday revelers.

This year they removed 1,458 pounds of litter from five beaches: Commons Beach in Tahoe City, Kings Beach, Kiva Beach, Nevada Beach and Regan Beach in South Lake Tahoe. Not only did they comb the six miles of beach, but they also sorted and counted the items collected.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Most remember the enchanting play and Disney movie about a boy who didn't want to grow up, a gifted storytelling sister, fairies and a dangerous pirate, all told in the story "Peter Pan."

El Dorado County Board of Supervisor’s Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ad hoc Committee
has scheduled a community meeting for Monday, June 25 at the Meeks Bay Fire Protection District from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The meeting will provide residents who live on the West Shore of the Lake Tahoe basin with an overview of the Committee’s work and full Board of Supervisor actions taken over the last several months to change the ordinance that regulates VHRs in the unincorporated portion of the County.

Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) is grateful to Mechanics Bank for a corporate donation of $2500. Founded in 1905, Mechanics Bank provides personal banking, business banking, trust and estate services, brokerage and wealth management services throughout California. Merchants Bank invests in the same communities in which they live and work.

South Tahoe Fire Rescue graduated another session of South Tahoe Action Team (STAT) graduates during yesterday’s city council meeting.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For four months, Fire Chief Jeff Meston worked as the City's acting city manager, and today he was recognized for his extra service.

During Tuesday's City Council meeting, Meston was awarded with a certificate of appreciation from the Council for taking on the duties from February 7, 2018 to June 5, 2018.

“Chief Meston is not only recognized statewide but also nationally for his numerous accomplishments in the fire world. He took on the duty of Acting City Manager 100% and with grace, with intellect, with wisdom and with experience,” said Mayor Wendy David.

Epic Tahoe Adventure's fourth annual Rock Tahoe Half Marathon returns to Lake Tahoe on Saturday, June 16, 2018. Over 1,600 participants will enjoy the beautiful lake while running from the top of Spooner Summit to the Hard Rock Hotel at Stateline.

Lake Valley firefighter Larry Stewart was on his way to a fire at Camp Richardson on Friday July 3, 1964 when the water tender truck he was driving ran into a tree. He died two days later.

On Memorial Day, 2018, Stewart will be dedicated on the Public Safety Wall of Honor during a ceremony at Happy Homestead Cemetery. The ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m.

In 2017, the first ceremony was held and the names of US Forest Service-Tahoe Basin Firefighter Mikey Hallenbeck and Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) irefighter Mitch Underhill were permanently etched on the Wall.

A South Lake Tahoe home suffered minor damage Thursday night after a bird nest on a roof vent caught on fire.

At 6:34 p.m. a call was made to 911 about a fire in the 1100 block of Tata Lane. Two nearby residents spotted a fire on the eaves of the home, broke ,down a back door and were able to get much of the fire out with a fire extinguisher according to Battalion Chief Tim Spencer of the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department.

The El Dorado County Vacation Home Rental Ordinance was first created in 1997 and updated in 2004. At this time there are 900 permitted vacation home rentals (VHRs) in the County, 800 of which are in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

What started out with a “Good Neighbor Policy” has morphed into neighbors versus neighbors in El Dorado County and an ongoing VHR discussion as Supervisors work to create a new ordinance.

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Mark Estee, chef and restaurateur, capped off a 6-month series of Healthy Lifestyles programming and curriculum at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada’s William N. Pennington Teen Center with a full menu of Local Mushroom Risotto, Panzanella Salad and Sabayon with Berries (recipes listed at the end of story).

YOU ARE INVITED!! Join El Dorado County community leaders and hear from Chief Probation Officer on May 16 for a Stepping Up Day of Action Q&A.

Stepping Up is a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. The Day of Action is an opportunity for our community to come together to learn about the county’s efforts to connect people to treatment and services instead of jails.

Event Location: Lake Tahoe Community College (Boardroom) from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m.

South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler has asked the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office to look into allegations made by Councilwoman Brooke Laine in her opinion piece published on South Tahoe Now on April 15.

Uhler was asked by acting city manager, Fire Chief Jeff Meston to look into the content of Laine's disclosures. "I asked for that [the investigation] to occur to ensure transparency under my authority as City Manager," said Meston.

The last few months have been some of the most difficult for our City Council, for our City and for our community. Similar to the national conversation, with immediate access to social media in many forms, controversial opinion pieces go immediately out to the public, even before the accused have an opportunity to hear the allegations. Soon after, public comment and “opinion” on the opinion begins with little interest in whether there is truth.

Tuesday, April 17 will be the next South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting, starting at 9:00 a.m. in the council chambers at the airport.

A cannabis ordinance will once again be discussed during the meeting. Micro-businesses, on-site consumption, permit costs, taxes, and number of licensees will be a few of the points they will discuss as an ordinance is developed.

The Council will also be voting on steps to replace the City Attorney and City Manager.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Jeff Meston has given the city council a 30-day notice for his acting city manager job.

"I am unable to complete my duties as the fire chief while working as the acting city manager," Meston said in a letter to the council. "I respectfully request that we move ahead in the next 30 days to find and hire an interim city manager. I believe the City will be better served with a professional city manager."

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Last October, California experienced a series of devastating wildfires that destroyed property and took lives. In a four month period the State endured fires and floods from San Diego to Mendocino that destroyed over 11,000 homes and commercial structures and killed 64 Californians. Local Government fire and rescue personnel and equipment comprised up to 80 percent available resources for mutual aid throughout the State. The City of South Lake Tahoe Fire Department along with other fire agencies around the basin engaged in these critical fire fights.

The water content in the Sierra snowpack was measured in Phillips April 2, 2018 and it is at 49 percent of the April 1 average.

The California Department of Water Resources snow survey team did their final physical measurement of the year at their normal location in Phillips at the intersection of Highway 50 and Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, west of Lake Tahoe.

Depth of the snow was measured at 32.1 inches and it contained 12.4 inches of water which is 49 percent of long term average for April 1 at the location.

The snowpack measured in at 52 percent of average.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be an ordinance regulating the retail sale of cannabis in South Lake Tahoe, that is certain, but when it will be in place is uncertain.

During a special meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council Tuesday afternoon and evening, several areas were discussed from zoning to processes, and many were narrowed down enough so the acting City Attorney, Sergio Rudin, can bring a draft back at the April 17 council meeting. If there are no major changes that document can be voted on as a "first reading" with an ordinance 30 days later.

With 12 to 18 feet of snow received at Lake Tahoe ski resorts in March, many area ski resorts are announcing a change in their closing dates.

Heavenly Mountain Resort announced today that their ski season will extend through April 22, offering daily skiing and riding. They have a lot of Spring Break planned activities through April 7.

MEYERS and SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The El Dorado County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Don Ashton has been making the rounds to communities throughout the county, explaining the budget through an informative presentation and discussion.

Most of the communities Ashton has visited have had 15-20 citizens in attendance, all asking questions and giving input in the budget process as Ashton and the Supervisors figure out how to save $20M over the next four years to meet CalPers pension liabilities.

The El Dorado County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Don Ashton has been going from community to community, holding round table discussions about the upcoming budget for the county.

All residents from the South Shore are invited to a round table discussion about the budget Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at the California Conservation Corps Tahoe Center at 1949 Apache Avenue in Meyers from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

During this open discussion, find out:

Where the County Gets its money
How much is mandated to be spent & where
How much is discretionary & options about how to spend it

If you drive through Meyers on a Sunday you've most likely come across gridlock traffic through the neighborhoods as vehicles trying to head west after their South Lake Tahoe weekend look for the quickest route, courtesy of smart phone apps.

El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel held a Town Hall meeting on February 28, providing a forum for residents, law enforcement and staff to discuss solutions. One suggestion that came out of that meeting was put into place on Sunday, March 4 and was fairly successful.

Two skiers who went out of bounds at Heavenly Mountain Resort Sunday were found safe and uninjured at approximately 6:50 p.m. March 4, 2018.

The pair were in waist deep snow and had trouble getting out according to El Dorado County Sheriff Sgt. Anthony Prencipe. They called for help and Tahoe Search and Rescue responded at about 5:30 p.m.

Prencipe said they two skiers, whose names and hometowns were not released, were uninjured and able to ski out on their own once help arrived.