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South Lake Tahoe may not be known as the home of the $2,000 parking ticket after action taken by the City Council Tuesday.

National media attention spotlighted the fines ($1,000 to the renter and $1,000 to the homeowner) associated with violations of the vacation home rental (VHR) ordinance approved at the end of 2017 by the South Lake Tahoe City Council. This negative publicity has prompted some cancellations of tourist visits, or other changes to vacation plans, according to those in the industry.

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.

In an attempt to keep trash contained and not easy for wildlife to access, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors approved a new ordinance Tuesday that has rules for single family residents, multi-unit complexes, businesses and vacation home rentals (VHRs).

The ordinance affects those living in the unincorporated area of the Lake Tahoe Basin, including Meyers and Tahoma.

There will be progressive enforcement by the El Dorado County Environmental Management Department:

Over the years I was employed by the City of South Lake Tahoe, I had the privilege to work with many fine City employees, far too many to mention in one letter. I found that most employees cared a lot about their community and wanted to be given the chance to do the best job possible for all residents of South Lake Tahoe. They take their public employment seriously, and they just need the support and help from management and elected City officials. They are committed to the public service.

On Tuesday, April 3, 2018, the City of South Lake Tahoe will consider the permit requirements for the 2018 SnowGlobe Event. As of this writing there are no contractual changes to sound levels which were arbitrarily created the 2nd year of SnowGlobe.

A Gardnerville man made his first appearance in federal court Thursday on charges stemming from a honey oil lab explosion on January 14, 2018 at his apartment.

Adam Fitzgerald-Wermes, 22, is charged with one count of endangering human life while manufacturing a controlled substance. United States District Magistrate Judge Valerie P. Cooke scheduled a jury trial to begin on May 8, 2018.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - Douglas County, El Dorado County and Washoe County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) teams, paramedics and Blackhawk rescue helicopters all assisted in the location and retrieval of two skiers who went missing at Heavenly Mountain Resort Thursday evening.

Douglas County 911 operators received a call on February 22 at 5:00 p.m. from two male adults who said they were lost at the resort. They said they had some water, but were wet and cold, their cell phone batteries were diminished, and one of the skiers suffered from a medical condition.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) went to 27 local businesses on February 1 to conduct an operation to make sure they were being compliant with state law with reference to alcohol sales to minors.

The following 25 businesses were checked and they successfully passed the alcohol compliance check and did not sell alcohol to a minor.

Damage to natural resources was recently discovered in South Lake Tahoe after an unknown person, or persons, was found to have driven on a meadow near Heavenly Creek off Pioneer Trail.

USFS is reminding everyone that it is against the law to cause resource damage, punishable by a fine of $5,000 or more, and/or six month in jail. They are also reminding drivers that they must stay on designated roads only.

The Forest Service employees will continue to monitor areas throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin for compliance in order to protect all natural resources.

The community is warmly invited to a trio of free artist receptions and exhibit openings at Lake Tahoe Community College on Thursday, Jan. 18 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.. Come and enjoy the art along with free refreshments with your fellow art lovers.

With the new year just around the corner, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is reminding the public of several new laws or changes to existing law that, unless otherwise noted, take effect January 1, 2018.

The City of South Lake Tahoe put the finishing touches to the new Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance Tuesday, paving the way for what community members have asked for: More enforcement, better monitoring and rules to bring reasonable calm to their neighborhoods.

"This is a code with real teeth," said SLT Police Chief Brian Uhler. "It's a clear and simple message that we're not fooling around. There are strong laws for staff to carry out."

"We need the community to get together and collaborate," said SLT Councilman Jason Collin during Tuesday's Council meeting. "Its polarized the community."

Collin was discussing the South Lake Tahoe Vacation Home Rental Ordinance after another full day of a City Council meeting focused on the subject of vacation homes in the community.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Local artist Malcolm Tibbetts will be giving a lecture to members of the public as part of the Lake Tahoe Community College Art Club's Visiting Artist Series on Friday, November 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the school's room F101.

Tibbetts primarily works with wood and has been featured during the Tahoe Art League's annual Studio Tour. He has donated several large sculptures to LTCC that can be found around campus.

Help Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care raise funds to help them care for injured and orphaned wild birds and animals at their "Wild & Free: A Culinary Event" on Thursday, October 19, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Not only will attendees be helping a worthwhile cause, they will also be treated to a wonderful selection of fine wines, craft beers and culinary creations from The Lake House chef Jeff Sparrow.

Working the serving line at Bread & Broth’s Monday Meal on September 25th were members of the Tahoe Douglas Elk Lodge #2670. J.J. Clause, Steve Kurek, Jim Plamenig and Gary Wendt came prepared to represent their fellow Elk Lodge members at the organization’s Adopt of Day of Nourishment and this enthusiastic group did a fine job hosting the 94 dinner guests who arrived at St. Theresa Grace Hall for the evening’s meal.

“So gratifying to see the hungry being fed,” said Steve. “We feel lucky to be able to help.”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Three local employees were cited by a recent decoy operation to catch people selling alcohol to minors.

On September 28, 2017, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, through a grant form the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), conducted the minor decoy operation where minors under their supervision attempted to purchase alcohol from 19 different establishments.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The community is warmly invited to Lake Tahoe Community College on Thursday, September 28 to enjoy three new art exhibit openings that evening. Free artist receptions will be held simultaneously from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. around LTCC’s campus, providing an opportunity to meet the artists whose work will be on display and to enjoy light refreshments with other local supporters of the arts.

A Reno man has been indicted on several charges after allegedly engaging in a $3.5 million fraud scheme using over 8,000 fraudulent PayPal credit accounts, bank accounts, and prepaid credit and debit cards he created with stolen identities.

Kenneth Gilbert Gibson, 46, made his initial appearance in federal court on September 14. He was indicted on 10 counts of wire fraud; three counts of mail fraud; 10 counts of bank fraud; six counts of access device fraud; and six counts of aggravated identity theft.

Almost five years after a 15-year-old El Dorado High School student died after ingesting a designer drug, a Camino man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for his death.

Elijah Lee Richter, 26, is charged with knowingly and intentionally distributing 25i-nBOME, the drug that killed Alejandro Nunez Avila in a Pollock Pines home on on September 8, 2012.

Richter had been arrested at the time with Jesse Howard Roberts, then 21. Roberts has already convicted in the case and sentenced to six years. He currently is listed as being an inmate at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, Calif.

The 2017 pine nut harvest season kicks off on lands managed by the Nevada Bureau of Land Management and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Both agencies are working together to ensure the public is safely harvesting pine nuts and aware of the regulations.

The length of the pine nut harvest season varies depending on crop quality and seasonal weather conditions. It is generally September to late October when pine nuts are available for harvest.

Many South Lake Tahoe residents love their dogs. Most Police Officers love dogs too. I’ve heard it said by someone not so long ago…. “The more people I meet, the more I love dogs!” We at the police department understand and share in this fondness; however, we receive weekly complaints from community members regarding dogs in public parks, and most frequently dogs at the Live-at-Lakeview events. The South Lake Tahoe City Code (SLTCC), does not allow dogs, even on a leash, to be in our public parks (SLTCC §8.05.130).

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Sample the Sierra, Lake Tahoe's largest farm-to-fork festival, is back to celebrate all that the Sierra Nevada region has to offer on Saturday, September 16 from noon to 5:00 p.m. at Bijou Community Park.

Patrick Slavin, 55, formerly of Truckee, has been accused of being behind an investment scheme that allegedly used at least $1.7 million of investor's money.

Slavin was arraigned in federal court Tuesday on a 21-count indictment charging him with mail and wire fraud for the scheme that he ran from 2008 through 2016, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.