safety

Dear Tahoe community, we are all mourning the horrible, heart-breaking massacre of young children and educators in Connecticut yesterday. These were the children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews of people who loved those precious little ones as much as we do our own. This is the second mass shooting just this week and gun safety experts report that there have been 31 school shootings in the US since Columbine in 1999.

With the December holiday season upon us and the upcoming New Year just around the corner, numerous holiday parties and other work and family-related get-togethers will be celebrated and they often involve the consumption of alcohol. In an effort to identify those impaired drivers who may get behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol, additional NHP Troopers, as well as a multi-agency DUI checkpoint, are being scheduled this month.

South Lake Tahoe City Manager Nancy Kerry announced the appointment of Bruce Martin as South Lake Tahoe Fire Departments Interim Fire Chief at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

“I am very excited to welcome Chief Martin to lead, encourage and support our dedicated team of fire fighters,” said Kerry. “Chief Martin’s long and exemplary career in fire service provides him with a platform to be an excellent leader as the Interim Fire Chief.”

RENO, Nev. - The National Transportation Safety Board prepared to determine on Tuesday who or what was to blame for last year's fatal crash between a truck and an Amtrak passenger train that kil...

As I end my role as Mayor, I am jazzed. While the tendency is to focus on what's wrong with the City, the truth is the City has had a very successful year. In April, Council set five strategic goals:

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department has teamed up with The California Office of Traffic Safety, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the California Highway Patrol, and 36 other law enforcement agencies across the greater Sacramento region to eliminate motorists’ hand-held cell phone use and texting. The effort is a special federally funded pilot program using the region to test tactics that may be employed nationally in the future.

UPDATE 411PM: Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort will open for the 2012-13 season on Thursday, November 22, 2012, offering Easy Rider Express lift, Rock Garden lift, and three surface lifts, giving guests access to four trails including, Broadway, Easy Street, Echo, and Lower Sleighride. Building on the reputation as one of the nation’s top terrain park resorts, Sierra Resort™ will offer a small to medium jib park on Broadway consisting of multiple features including new boxes and rails, giving eager guests a chance to get their park legs back underneath them.

The City of South Lake Tahoe’s Public Works Snow Removal Operation visited Sierra House Elementary Schools kindergarten and first grade classes to promote snow safety today. Street Supervisor Azril Kalik shared important safety reminders to Ms. Wilson and Ms. Tabor’s first graders.

“When you see the snow removal machines in your neighborhood, it’s important to go inside and play to remain safe. Remember to keep toys, sleds, shovels and your pets out of the road so they do not get damaged,” said Kalik.

"I hope one-day that I'll be able to use the da Vinci again," said one fourth-grader from Grace Christian Academy in Minden, Nev. One-day he just may. 

Parents and teachers of the 18 little visitors who drove from Minden on Thursday managed to keep third and fourth graders in-line during a two-hour tour at Barton Memorial Hospital. With wide open eyes, the questions soared and the excitement was building just before they made their first stop to the operating room.

The Tahoe Transportation District will host its second public workshop to discuss the US 50, Lake Tahoe South Shore Community Revitalization project, Wednesday, November 7, at Embassy Suites from 1-3 p.m.

The Lake Tahoe workshop will provide background on the project, outline goals and solicit input from individuals throughout the community. The open house format allows for members of the community to participant in the workshop anytime between workshop hours.

It has been a very busy week for the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit. Numerous backcountry visitors were caught off guard with the arrival of this weekend’s inclement weather.
Approximately 60 SAR volunteers along with four Sheriff’s deputies responded to 11 different deployments between Friday and Wednesday. Nine of the SAR events were within the borders of El Dorado County while two were in Alpine County.

WASHINGTON - Cars that drive themselves may hold the potential to save thousands of lives, an Obama administration safety official said Tuesday, as the government prepares to launch a research init...

In a symbolic gesture to Lake Tahoe's first roundabout, Beach Boy Mike Love and local dignitaries celebrated how locals and visitors can "Get Around" North Shore's intersection of Mount Rose Highway and State Route 28 at the dedication, Oct. 17.

“For these past 50 years you could say that I ‘Get Around,’ laughed Mike Love, lead singer and co-owner of the Beach Boys. “With the music I created along with the other Beach Boys it has taken me all over the world. If you ask me it’s pretty cool that thanks to the efforts of a whole lot of good people I get a Roundabout – it’s beautiful.”

California Gov. Jerry Brown ordered the state's Air Resources Board on Sunday to take emergency steps to boost the state's gasoline supply and bring down fuel prices. Brown called on the the board to immediately allow oil refineries to make an early transition to winter-blend gasoline. Winter-blend gasoline typically isn't sold until after Oct 31.

CARSON CITY – It took all of about ten minutes for Sen. Dean Heller and Rep Shelley Berkley to mix it up in their first debate in the U.S. Senate race Thursday, criticizing each other on campaign issues ranging from ethics to Medicare to big oil subsidies.
The hour-long debate on KNPB-TV in Reno was the first chance for many voters to see the two candidates spar on the issues, most of which have already been the focus of campaign attacks in the race to date.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed Thursday a district court ruling upholding Lake Tahoe area environmental analysis for the Angora fire area fuels reduction project.
The Angora Restoration Project was designed to protect wildlife habitat as well as reduce long-term wildfire risk to Lake Tahoe area communities. Two environmental groups, Earth Island Institute and Center for Biological Diversity, tried to stop arguing it would harm the black-backed woodpecker.

At Lake Tahoe, football is underway, the colors are starting to change, the days are getting shorter, and the smell of fireplaces are starting to fill the evening air.

The Lake Tahoe Lifestyle Festival, formerly the "Bijou Bash" will be held on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bijou Community Park.
Barton Health and the City of South Lake Tahoe have made a collaborative effort to combine Barton's Family Health Day and the Bijou Bash - two annual events created for our community and visitors alike. Emphasizing health, recreation and fun.

A South Shore tradition, the Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe presents Lake Tahoe Basin FireFest 2012 is set for Saturday Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lake Tahoe Airport.
This family event features demonstrations, firefighter competitions, home safety and energy conservation tips, games, prizes and more.

UPDATE 3:27PM: KOLO Reno Channel 8 reports the brother of the registered owner of the Piper that crashed in South Lake Tahoe Saturday night says all five people aboard died. Javier de la Mora says his brother, Francisco de la Mora, of Fresno was in the airplane when it crashed. Francisco's wife and daughter and two other people were on board as well. Go here for the full story.

UPDATE 2:56PM: The City of South Lake Tahoe issued the following news release and photos this afternoon:

A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Saturday, August 25th at 9:48 pm from Lake Tahoe Airport. The crash ignited a fire in the meadow just past the airport off of Winnemucca Avenue. The fire burned approximately one acre and took an hour and a half to extinguish.
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department reports that the plane had been heard by witnesses to have apparent engine problems, and was seen to dip downward into the ground while attempting a turn.
According to Federal Aviation Administration, there were multiple victims and no survivors of the crash. The names of victims are not being released until notification of families is confirmed.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those that perished in this tragic accident. Thanks to the quick and cooperative efforts by multiple agencies; the fire caused by this crash was put out quickly,” said Mayor Claire Fortier.
Earlier in the day, the 23rd Annual Lake in the Sky Air Show was held at Lake Tahoe Airport. This plane was not affiliated with the air show in any way.
The location of the plane crash is within El Dorado County limits and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency of this investigation. FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials arrived on site today to perform an investigation and to identify the cause of the crash.

UPDATE 1:46PM: There are multiple victims to Saturday night's plane crash in South Lake Tahoe, confirmed El Dorado Sheriff's Office Lt. Pete Van Arnum. Investigators were processing the wreckage to confirm how many victims and their identities. Investigators do not believe the victims to be locals from the South Lake Tahoe area, he said. No information concerning the identity of the victims, or the plane will be released until positive confirmation has been made, he said. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are assisting with the investigation.
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10:36AM: Lake Tahoe News is reporting that it has exclusively learned from federal authorities that up to five people died in the plane crash on Saturday. Go here for the story. Meanwhile KOLO TV Channel 8 in Reno reports that an FAA official confirmed the plane was a Piper PA32.

UPDATE 6:55AM: A small airplane crashed in the Barton Meadows area in South Lake Tahoe sparking a wildland fire on Saturday night. Presumably there are no survivors. The crash was reported at 9:48 p.m. after the plane took off from Lake Tahoe Airport, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Pete Van Arnum early Sunday morning. Witnesses reported the plane was experiencing engine trouble and was seen moving downward before it crashed into flames, he said.

A series of drills simulating emergencies such as extreme weather, power outages, aircraft mishaps, lost climbers and transportation issues will be performed this weekend as part of operation Green Light organized by the Nevada Division of Emergency Management and the the Department of Homeland Security.
Operation Green Light will further develop and strengthen regional partnerships and enhance emergency preparedness, response, and prevention capabilities, according to Nevada Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Gail Powell.