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Icy and wet conditions on Highway 89 over Luther Pass on Thursday, June 4 may have been the reason for a single car accident that resulted in the death of a 23-year old Markleville man.

Nathan Hansen, a South Tahoe High graduate, was driving over the summit just north of the Alpine County/El Dorado County line at approximately 1:49 p.m. when he left the roadway and crashed into a large tree.

As the drought begins to impact wildlife, there is concern that California black bears are breaking into Tahoe homes because the lack of rain is contributing to a lack of food.

Now some wildlife activists want to lure those bears away from neighborhoods by feeding them where they live -- in the woods -- even though that practice is illegal.

The activists argue that the drastic action will help the bears survive.

Heavenly Mountain Resort has received the final approval needed for its major expansion of on-mountain summer activities. After Vail Resorts gained approval from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) on March 27, they needed the blessing of the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board, which they received today.

Closed since last fall's fire which burned over 97,000 acres near Pollock Pines, the King Fire area opens to the public on Saturday, April 25.

"I've decided to reopen the national forest lands in the King Fire area to the public beginning Saturday, April 25, in conjunction with the general opening of fishing season," said Forest Supervisor Laurence Crabtree. "Parts of the fire area are still hazardous, but that will continue to be true for years."

Permits for fuelwood are going on sale early this year due to anticipated fire restrictions which would prohibit cutting days this summer.

The permits go on sale Wednesday, April 15 at the U.S. Forest Service Supervisor's office located at 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe.

Heavenly's Epic Discovery project passed their biggest hurdle Thursday as the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's (TRPA) Governing Board unanimously approved the newest year-round recreational experience in South Lake Tahoe. With it, comes a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. Epic Discovery will include new zip lines, sky cycle tree canopy tours, a mountain bike park and trails, ropes courses, and interpretive and educational tours to teach visitors about the Lake Tahoe Region’s cultural and environmental resources.

Illegal tree cutting at a South Lake Tahoe hotel and approval of the Heavenly Mountain Resort Epic Discovery Project are just two of the agenda items for the next Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board meeting.

The TRPA board meeting will be held on March 25 at the Chateau in Incine Village and on March 26 at the agency's office in Stateline.

Wind gusts that reached up to 150 mph last weekend knocked over power poles and toppled trees onto live electrical wires throught the Liberty Energy territory in Northern California.

“Basically, crews have been working non-stop since the first storm arrived on Friday,” according to Mike Smart, Liberty Utilities-CA President. “For the past four days, we’ve reset poles, restrung wire and even made repairs to another utility’s infrastructure because it affected our ability to serve our customers.”

One person was killed and another seriously injured Friday evening when they drove their snowmobile off a road near Strawberry in El Dorado County, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The two riders were going roughly 50 MPH around a curve on Pack Saddle Pass Road at 6 p.m. when they lost control of the snowmobile and hit a tree, said CHP Sgt. Chris Sahagun. The driver was killed. The passenger suffered a severe leg injury and was was flown to a hospital in Reno.

Alcohol is suspected as a factor in the crash, Sahagun said.

The Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort just west of South Lake Tahoe received 21" of snow during Friday's storm, setting up some good snow for their Solstice Celebration. The official first day of winter starts on Sunday, December 21 but Sierra-at-Tahoe got a head start with live music and a tree lighting ceremony.

For the rest of the week skiers and boarder can enjoy in special events at the resort:

Sunday, December 21, 2014
12:00-12:45 p.m. and 3:00-4:15 p.m. Live Music with the Sierra Saxmas Big Band on the Solstice Plaza

Memories were shared all day Thursday in South Lake Tahoe, from white ribbons and thoughts shared on banners to an evening candlelight vigil.

It marks one week since 14-year old Dejon Smith went missing after spending time with friends during a storm with high winds and rain. His body was found under a fallen tree two days later.

Time to get your Santa on and run in the annual South Lake Tahoe Santa Run! Grab your Santa suits and hats and enjoy a 1.3 mile run up Ski Run Blvd from Blue Angel Cafe to Himmel Haus.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation (HSSF) is holding their annual Santa Run on Sunday, December 21 at 4:00 p.m., rain or snow. They will be raising funds for the HSSF Scholarship Fund wil the help of Himmel Haus, Blue Angel Cafe and Rainbow Mountain.

South Lake Tahoe Police found the body of a missing 14 year old South Tahoe High freshman on Saturday afternoon.

Dejon Smith had been missing since Thursday afternoon when he never returned home after heading out to play after school. Police responded to the 1100 block of Wildwood Avenue to follow up on a report of a missing juvenile. They followed leads with no results at that time.

Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe will be closed on Saturday, December 13. The ski area is still experiencing problems from Thursday's high winds and power outages.

A tree fell on Dipper Express overnight and the mountain had still been experiencing power outages during the day on Friday.

For up to date news, follow their twitter page, facebook or website. They are planning on being up and running on Sunday.

Join us for an exciting and educational story time. Come and support local non-profit, The Sugar Pine Foundation and hear the story of "The Happiest Tree in the Forest", a new children’s book about the sugar pine trees of Lake Tahoe.

With colorful and playful illustrations the book tells the story of Lambe, a lonely little sugar pine seedling who grows up to be a very happy tree. Follow Lambe as he grows from ‘a little seed in a big pinecone’ into the biggest sugar pine in all the forest. Meet all of his animal friends along the way.

Location

December 02 Eklektik / TYMK / IJV @ Whisky Dick's
Open Mic Night w/ Lucas Arizu @ Fat Cat Cafe
Jeremy Jones w/ clips from "Higher", "Further", and "Deeper" @ Tahoe Aty Haus
Cinema
December 03-07 Tom Rhodes / Ahmed Baroocha @ Improv at Harveys
December 03 Steve Wozniak @ Hard Rock Cafe
Light up a life @ Barton festival of trees and lights
Brennan Lagasse on skiing greenland @ Tahoe Art Haus Cinema
Lambchop, Gurbtron, Clutch, Bassment-ality @ The Grid
December 3-7 Barton Festival of Trees and Lights @ Harrah's
December 04 Inner Rythims @ Northstar

We all have our own traditional touches we put on our Christmas Trees, from Grandma's special ornament to strung popcorn and cranberries. There is nothing ordinary or traditional about the trees on display at Harrah's Tahoe this week during Barton's Festival of Trees.

Tree designer Tara Dobyns, a 37-year South Lake Tahoe local, was selected to design two trees this year. When asked if she was an artist or decorator, Dobyns answered "no, I'm a landlord!"

Sallie from the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department has these tips to make your Christmas fire safe:

Select a fresh tree with good color and firm, flexible needles that do not easily pull from the branches.

Place the tree in plain water immediately after re-cutting the trunk at least ½” above the old cut. The container you use for your tree should hold 2 to 4 quarts of water. The longer you wait to place your tree in water, the greater the chances are that it will lose the required moisture content to keep it fresh through the holiday season. NEVER place your tree on a wooden stand.

Traveling off the hill to enjoy some Black Friday deals in Carson City? There are some unique small businesses that are inviting you to stop by while in the capital city.

“Everybody deserves to have an original, one-of-a-kind hanging in their home,” said Jeffery Pace, owner of the Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery, 220 W Telegraph St. “With artwork starting off at $40 to $50, there’s really no reason to go to another store and buy something made in another country.”

A domestic argument in South Lake Tahoe Monday night lead to a woman getting into her car, driving over large boulders, through a building and coming to rest against a tree.

South Lake Tahoe Police, Fire, Paramedics and El Dorado County Sheriffs responded to a 911 call reporting that a car went through the local Jack in the Box. When responders arrived they found a car partially inside a building on the corner of Sussex and Brockway Avenues, across the street from the restaurant.

Ready to grab the saw and head out into the forest to cut down your Christmas tree? It's almost that time of year again, but make sure you have a permit before that first cut.

Stroll through a holiday wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights on decorated Christmas trees and holiday decor! Vote for your favorite tree in the Festival's "People's Choice Award" contest. Settle down to watch the entertainment, bid in the silent auction, enter the raffle, get a family photo with Santa, and take the kids to Teddy Bear Hospital. Kids can stop by the Gingerbread Junction, where they can write a letter to Santa and drop it in the giant mailbox for express delivery to the North Pole.

Location

Kenny Curtzwiler – www.voteforkenny.com

I have lived, worked and enjoyed South Lake Tahoe as a resident since 1977 when I came here for a vacation and stayed on as so many have. What makes me qualified for this position?

Commitment. I have been married for 33 years, raised three children, owned a Tree Service and Roofing Company for 33 years and served for 20 years in the Nevada Army National Guard, retiring as an officer with the rank of Major. I will not go along with the status quo of cronyism and favoritism that has stifled our local economy in El Dorado County District 5.

The Nevada Highway Patrol has released the names of the people involved in a single car accident in Stateline on Friday morning.

NHP Troopers responded to the 8 a.m. rollover accident near Kahle Drive. Crash investigations show that 71-year-old Larry Dean Wells was driving a blue Hyundai eastbound on U.S. Highway 50 when the car left the roadway, struck a tree and rolled over.