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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) is planning and preparing for what the 2020-21 school year will look like, whether it is held virtually, in person, or is a hybrid of different options.

The July 21 LTUSD School Board meeting will continue the conversation of reopening at their last meeting and address options and concerns with a final decision by then end of the month.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Today, July 17, Gov. Gavin Newsom released enhanced school health guidance developed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that includes more prescriptive considerations for opening and operating schools. From the onset of this pandemic, the El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE), and the 15 school districts we serve, have emphasized the need to utilize state and local health guidance available in order to prioritize student and staff health and safety.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Community College's Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy just graduated its 14th class of firefighters. There were added challenges due to the coronavirus and restrictions on classroom instruction, but with the flexibility of instructors, the state, and the college, the Fire Academy was one of the lucky programs that was able to complete training this year.

Almost all of the following graduating cadets are already employed:

Adam C. Alessi
Melanie O. Andersen
Cody L. Beggs

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Council approved unanimously at their meeting Tuesday to send what is being called the "South Lake Tahoe Fire Protection, Emergency Response, City Services Measure" to the ballot in November.

If voters approve the measure, a one-percent sales tax increase will be added in the City of South Lake Tahoe to all taxable purchases to meet funding shortfalls, according to the City.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El DOrado County health officials are reporting another 13 positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, July 14. Of those new cases, six are in the Lake Tahoe Region, three in each El Dorado Hills and Placerville, and one in North County. Ten females and three males make up this group with one under the age of 18, five aged 18-49, five aged 50-64 and two aged 65 and older.

305 new tests were conducted with eight recovers and currently 156 active cases.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to the week of June 28 - July 4, 2020. Location Checks are when officers search an area at a certain address. Transient/Homeless arrests/citations and calls are those normally categorized in other columns (Drunk in Public, Trespassing, etc) but stats are collected separately. COVID calls are related to state and county guidelines.

6/28

ARRESTS (5)
1:24 a.m. - DUI Herbert Av & Warr Rd
1:51 a.m. - Unlicensed Driver 2300 Block of Lake Tahoe Bl

Springboarding off a course-record 63 during day two on Saturday, former American professional tennis star Mardy Fish captured victory in the 31st American Century Championship tournament victory Sunday afternoon at Edgewood Tahoe South Golf Course.

This year’s event is being played without fans at the Edgewood Course due to the coronavirus pandemic, creating a unique experience for players in the popular celebrity tournament that typically attracts large galleries.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - Roadside parking along SR28 south of Incline Village has been problematic for years. Several "no parking" areas have been created over several miles to keep cars off the road to improve safety.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) announced Monday they will add "no parking" signs to enhance traffic safety on a section of State Route 28 in southeastern Incline Village.

Beginning July 13, NDOT will add six new “no parking” signs on the west, lakeside of State Route 28, extending from southern Lakeshore Boulevard to approximately 300 feet south.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A South Lake Tahoe man who was found guilty on four counts of felony child molestation has been sentenced to 26 years in state prison.

A jury found John Robert Garcia, 45, guilty back in December 2019 and he was scheduled to be sentenced in April. Due to social distancing requirements and COVID-19, that was held off until June 26. Judge Dylan Sullivan conducted the sentencing utilizing remote video conferencing.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Mardy Fish won the 31st American Century Championship (ACC) at Edgewood Tahoe on Sunday with a three-round total of 76 in the Stableford scoring system used at the popular celebrity golf tournament.

Fish followed up his record round on Saturday with a rather ordinary 21-point effort Sunday, but it was enough to claim his first title at Tahoe. He's had five top-five finishes at Edgewood in six previous appearances in the ACC.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Tyler Pevenage, a recent graduate of South Tahoe High School, was awarded the “Michael Hoffman Memorial Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000.

This award is sponsored by the California State Firefighters’ Association Northern Division and open to family members of firefighters.

Tyler’s outstanding academic achievement, involvement in high school sports, leadership, and volunteer work in the community earned her this scholarship that is renewable yearly up to $4,000.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The next meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council will be on Tuesday, July 14 starting at 9:00 a.m. It will be a virtual meeting and log on/comment instructions are at the end of the story.

On the agenda:

Council will vote on a measure, that if approved by voters on November 3, will add a local one-cent sales tax for general city purposes. There has been outreach done with local residents and finding out what their highest priorities are, and this proposed tax increase would meet those requests:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials have announced 12 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. Five are in the Lake Tahoe region, two in El Dorado Hills, two in Placerville, two in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, one in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz. Of those new cases, three are male, nine are female, seven are aged 18-49, three aged 50-64, two aged 65+.

Three are 7 new recoveries and 134 active cases.

One more person has been hospitalized in the ICU, bringing that total to three. There are no additional suspected cases in the hospital.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and a significant increase in visitation to the Lake Tahoe Basin over the last few weeks, the City of South Lake Tahoe has made the decision to close its boat ramp at El Dorado Beach to re-assess their operations there.

“The priority of the safety of our residents, visitors, and staff always comes first,” said South Lake Tahoe City Manager Joe Irvin, “While we’d like to keep them open, this move is being taken out of an abundance of caution.”

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - There is a multi-agency investigation into the cause of the Numbers Fire burning ten miles southeast of Gardnerville. Anyone who happened to be traveling on Highway 395 between Ridgeview and Holbrook Junction on July 6 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. is being asked to help.

If you can assist in the investigation, please email 2020firetips@gmail.com. All information will be kept confidential.

UPDATE 7:335 p.m.: Douglas County officials say the Numbers Fire has now reached 18,000 acres and is 0% contained. The recommended evacuations for the Bodie Flats and Pineview areas have been lifted. Only residents are allowed to these areas. Please drive safely, watch for emergency vehicles, and be ready for possible future instructions in an ever-changing situation.

Multiple local, state, and federal agencies continue to work on containing the fire using dozers, hand crews, and aircraft.

Three wildfires on Echo Summit kept firefighters busy Sunday morning.

Named the Echo, Upper, and Lake Fires by the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), all were kept from spreading due to a quick response by local, state and federal resources along with air support. They were all in the Echo Lakes area.

The cause of these fires is under investigation according to LTBMU. Scanner reports during the day stated all three could possibly be intentionally set but that has yet to be confirmed. No other information is available at this time.

Independence Day has a long tradition of bringing family and friends together from near and far to enjoy many of the things that make us uniquely American. Along with all of the freedoms we enjoy we share a strong national conscience. Part of that conscience is accepting responsibility for fulfilling, as individuals,
our civic duties. In these times of pandemic, perhaps our most important civic duty is to ensure the health and safety and wellbeing of ourselves, our families and our community.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With months of people being under "Stay at Home" orders, and if the past few days are any indication, this holiday weekend will be busy at Lake Tahoe as people get out in the fresh air, hike, bike, go to the beach and get on the water.

The July Fourth holiday at Lake Tahoe will look a bit different this year with firework shows canceled, social distancing, the requirement of face coverings in public places and growing concerns about responsible recreation.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Tahoe Public Utility District invites private well owners to take a 5-10 minute survey about their well, water usage, and any concerns they may have concerning their well. For participation in the survey the District is offering guidance on well maintenance, a free site check to help prevent contamination from entering the well, and free water testing to understand the well’s water quality.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Starting in July public access will be limited or restricted in portions of the Upper Truckee Marsh to protect the public during construction of the new river and marsh restoration project.

The California Tahoe Conservancy is restoring more than 250 acres of the marsh ecosystem to enhance wildlife habitat, improve water quality entering Lake Tahoe, and create an accessible-to-all trail to Lake Tahoe. Restoration activities will continue into fall 2022.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There will be some very big shoes to fill when finding a replacement for retiring El Dorado County Undersheriff Randy Peshon. On Tuesday, June 30, Peshon will be putting his badge on for the very last time. For 43 years he's been in some level of law enforcement, the last 33 years in El Dorado County.

During his career in El Dorado County, Peshon has been at the forefront of change from implementing a change in culture at the jail in South Lake Tahoe to getting the new Public Safety Facility built under budget and ahead of schedule.

In an all-new vehicle in what can be considered a new size class for SUVs, Lia’s new Telluride has hit a Grand Slam (Salami, if you are Italian or a Yankee Fan), but not an ordinary Grand Slam, but this one landed on River Avenue or Waveland Avenue if you’re a Cubby. I used those exact words about Kia’s sibling, the Hyundai Palisade. It is flat out one of the two best SUVs I have ever driven with performance, ride, handling, quiet, comfort and economy levels that put it immediately at the top of its class and almost every other class. Telluride is also simply a Class act.

With its decision last week, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a real sense of relief and a bit of a reprieve to approximately 800,000 DREAMers in America, including 200,000 in California alone. When the justices sided with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, ruling that the way the Trump administration rescinded the program in 2017 was unlawful, it was a big victory for immigrant communities and their many allies.