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STATELINE, Nev. - Weidinger Public Relations recently captured three awards at the Public Relations Society of America, Sierra Nevada Chapter annual awards including “Best of Show,” signifying Northern Nevada’s top PR campaign for the year.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.

Today, current Councilman Austin Sass shares his thoughts in his quest for another term on the South Lake Tahoe City Council:

A cub hit and killed by a car on Keller Road Monday night makes three bears who have died in the same manner in just 10 days on the South Shore. In the last three weeks, there have been a total of five hit by cars between Tahoma, South Lake Tahoe and Meyers according to Toogee Sielsch, South Lake Tahoe bear advocate.

In Monday's incident, a vehicle hit one of the three cubs born to Hazel, a neighborhood bear that residents have named and watched over. The speed limit in the area is 25 mph.

The story has been updated.

After the death of a South Tahoe High School junior, the school has set up grief counseling for students as the school comes to grips with losing one of their own.

On Thursday, school officials notified students and their parents of the death of Thomas Varner.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Thomas and will continued to provide care and support to our staff and students," said Principal Carline Sinkler in a letter to parents.

Over 60 student were seen by counselors through student walk-ins or staff and/or parent referral.

The transition to summer brings new opportunities and once again South Lake Tahoe will be front and center a national stage in more ways than one.

A couple of social media posts with accusations of bullying in a South Lake Tahoe school this week have led to outrage, several concerned parents, backlash and sign carrying parents in front of the school Friday morning.

While bullying is still prevalent across the country, what happened at South Tahoe Middle School (STMS) this week has been determined by all involved, including school officials, parents and law enforcement, to not be bullying but more of a wrong choice while playing with a friend.

One student threw rocks at their friend during a school break, hitting them.

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.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

3/14

12:35 p.m. - Theft: Use of Credit Card - 3rd Ave, Tahoma - R/P REPORTED FRAUDULENT CHARGES MADE ON A CREDIT CARD

Many head to the cooler at their local beverage purveyor, perhaps never thinking of the process involved in getting that beer from the brewery to their lips.

This week, South Lake Brewing Company canned 4,800 cans of three types of beer, their already famous Fog Nozzle and Angora IPA, along with their Pillow Line Pale Ale. This was their second canning since opening in May, 2017, and it was also their biggest.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - Since January 1, 2018 there have been 18 school shootings in the United States, 25 fatal school shootings since 1999's Columbine High School tragedy. With the deadly shooting February 14, 2018 at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, many communities are looking at their own schools and their safety procedures to help prevent a repeat of a tragic event.

What is commonplace at schools across the country are drills for "shelter in place" and for students to understand what to do, and not do, in case of an emergency.

Wanderlust, producer of the largest yoga lifestyle events in the world, reveals its epic talent lineup for the 2018 summer season. Bringing together thousands of people from myriad backgrounds, Wanderlust provides the opportunity to enjoy the spirit of adventure and the freedom of live music in a spectacular mountain setting. They will be in Squaw Valley from July 19-22.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

1/17

2:56 p.m. - Death Investigation - South Lake Tahoe - 87-YEAR-OLD MAN DECEASED.

Here’s a look at the athletes from California who will compete for the United States in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, which run Feb. 9-25

SKIING

Maddie Bowman
Hometown: South Lake Tahoe

Comment: The 24-year-old won a gold medal in halfpipe four years ago in Sochi. This will be the second Olympics for Bowman, who won gold in superpipe in four consecutive Aspen X Games (2013-16).

Social media: On Instagram, maddie_bowman; Twitter, @maddiebowman

Bryce Bennett
Hometown: Tahoe City

The question I get asked the most when sharing that I’m a member of PATH (Partners Against the Trafficking of Humans) is: Is human trafficking happening here in South Lake Tahoe? The answer is yes, although solid numbers are hard to come by. Recently, it was reported in local media that 14 people were arrested and one 17 year old girl rescued from a trafficking ring in El Dorado County that included South Lake Tahoe, Placerville, and El Dorado Hills.

As the tents are taken down, the stage removed and all other components of SnowGlobe disappear for another year, an evaluation of the Community Play Field and other aspects of the seventh annual event in South Lake Tahoe are being made. There may be negatives to the popular event that draws in 20,000 people a day, there are also many positives to be celebrated.

There is more to the three-day festival, SnowGlobe, than music and crowds, a side of the event many aren't aware of.

More than a dozen reports from the public about a phone scam prompted the Washoe County Sheriff's Office to issue an alert.

The callers claim to be a person's grandchild and they are in need of financial assistance because they're in jail, or have been involved in an accident. It is not unusual for scammers to use personal information about a potential victim’s family members in order to sound credible. This type of information is often easily obtained via the Internet or social media.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department has received multiple reports regarding a phone scam to local residents. Callers are identifying themselves to potential victims as an employee of the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). These phony IRS Agents inform the victim they have a warrant for their arrest or owe taxes. This is a scam. Callers claiming to be from the IRS tell intended victims they must pay using a pre-paid debit card, credit cards or wire transfer. The scammers threaten those who refuse to pay with arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver’s license.

11/6/17 5:15 p.m. UPDATE - The Placer County Sheriff's Office has determined that this homicide was a murder-suicide. Their preliminary investigation has determined that 64-year-old Scott A. Kotter, manager of the Northwood Pines Motel in Kings Beach, shot and killed Isabelle C. Gallo, 34, a female tenant, before turning the gun on himself.

For more on the update -http://southtahoenow.com/story/11/06/2017/murder-suicide-ruled-weekends-homicide-kings-beach

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Two people have died in Kings Beach after a reported neighbor dispute, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Office.

NAMI El Dorado County is hosting an information gathering hour on Thursday, November 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Lake Tahoe Community College's Aspen Room.

They would like the public's perspective as El Dorado County Behavioral Health is seeking public input for their FY18/19 Mental Health Services Plan Update.

The county will be providing public meetings, using social media, and promoting in news media to get the word out about the plan, so attendance and input at this meeting will help them plan.

As the world changes around South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) is evolving to meet the new demands of education and the student body. As there is a decline in community college enrollment across the country, LTCC is being creative in recruitment of students to the campus and investing in not only the environment, but in removing barriers many have in getting a secondary education.

That was the message during Lake Tahoe Community College President Jeff DeFranco's first State of the College Address on Thursday.

This past week is one for the record books in South Lake Tahoe. I know, you’re thinking record temperatures, attendance at one of our special events or our filled-to-capacity lake. All wrong -- I’m referring to ABC’s Emmy Award-winning hit TV comedy series Modern Family and the filming of the show’s season premiere here at South Shore.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Halloween is a fun time for children in our community to get out of the house, dress-up, and collect a bag full of yummy candy. Once again, the Beach Retreat and Lodge in South Lake Tahoe has partnered with The Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe and Dreu Murin Productions to provide a safe place for children and families to spend Halloween on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.

South Lake Tahoe’s first ever Brewfest last month was such a huge success that it ran out of beer and raised over $20,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe.

A 27-year-old man from Tracy, California was arrested in South Lake Tahoe Sunday after a warrant had been issued for his arrest on a slew of charges stemming with his relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

Since his arrest, Omar Oceguera has been transferred from the El Dorado County Jail to the San Joaquin County Jail where his sits on a $1.515 million bail hold.