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The Fork Fire continues to burn west of Lake Tahoe in the Rubicon drainage area near Loon Lake. The size has been remapped and 1,647 acres have burned and it is seven percent contained.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office has downgraded the mandatory evacuation order to an evacuation warning for the areas of Quintette, Stumpy Meadows and Volcanoville. This does not supersede the temporary closure order that prohibits entering or using National Forest System lands, roads and trails on the Eldorado National Forest.

As ashes fell delicately from a blazing orange sky earlier this week, Lake Tahoe got a jarring glimpse of just one of the threats of the climate crisis. The frequency and intensity of wildfires in the West are breaking records and destroying communities. Scientists are also measuring wilder weather patterns, more severe droughts, and changing ecosystems as the planet’s temperature rises. More drought means more dead trees, and hotter summers mean a longer and more
severe fire season.

ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. - Effective immediately, Alpine County health officer Dr. Johnson has ordered all outdoor fires, including campfires, bonfires, pit fires, charcoal fires, or any other open flame fires prohibited on all private lands throughout Alpine County. This prohibition shall be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors at their next meeting and each meeting thereafter and will continue until terminated by action of the Board.

This goes with the closure announced Thursday of the 400,000-acre Carson Ranger District which includes Alpine County.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. -El Dorado County health officials say another six residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, three are in the Lake Tahoe Region, and three in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue. In this group of new cases are five aged 18-49 and one aged 50-64.

Another 252 people were tested for the coronavirus and 246 negative tests results were received.

There have been another four assumed recoveries. There has been no change in hospitalizations/ICU (0/0) and there are no suspected cases of COVID-19 in the hospital.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. -El Dorado County health officials say another five residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, three are in the Lake Tahoe Region, and two in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue. In this group of new cases are one under the age of 18, three aged 18-49, one aged 50-64.

Another 168 people were tested for the coronavirus and 163 negative tests results were received.

There have been another 13 assumed recoveries. There has been no change in hospitalizations/ICU (0/0) and there are no suspected cases of COVID-19 in the hospital.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. -El Dorado County health officials say another seven residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday. Of those, three are in each the Lake Tahoe Region and Greater Placerville and 1 in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue. In this group of new cases are one under the age of 18, three aged 18-49, one aged 50-64 and two aged 65 or older.

Another 434 people were tested for the coronavirus and 427 negative tests results were received.

The Slink Fire burning in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness area of the Humboldt-Toiyable National Forest and Stanislaus National Forest area. So far, 20,795 acres have burned and the 679 personnel on the fire have it 31 percent contained.

The fire started Saturday, August 29 at approximately 6:00 p.m. and it is lightning caused and burning two miles west of the town of Coleville.

There was increased fire behavior Sunday in timber strands. In the area are Ponderosa Pine, Pinyon-Juniper and mixed conifer.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be two new members of the South Lake Tahoe City Council after the November 3 election. In the coming weeks the pubic will have chances to hear from the candidates both via zoom, in print and possibly in person. Below are eight of the ten candidates responses to questions asked by the local #IRunWithMaud group.

Since 1976, Choices for Children has been serving the South Lake Tahoe community with support for children, families, and childcare providers. They now have a new name, Catalyst Community, a name that emphasizes their dynamic commitment to community and change.

Catalyst Community will continue to offer the same valuable services:
• Child Care Subsidy Program
• Resource & Referral Services
• Child and Adult Care Food Program
• Parent and Provider Education Services
• Healthy Bottom Line Diaper Distribution Program

Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar, all members of the Vail Resorts family, will be operating differently during the winter season 2020/21. Vail plans on opening both Heavenly and Northstar on November 20 and Kirkwood on December 4.

Ticket sales, use of season passes and facility uses will all be handled to promote physical distancing and protect the safety of staff and guests.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Restaurants in South Lake Tahoe and the rest of El Dorado County will be able to provide indoor dining at 25 percent capacity starting Monday, August 31.

California Governor Gavin Newsom today announced a new set of guidelines for counties in the state, all based on a tiered set of metrics.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials report another seven positive cases of COVID-19 today. Two are in the Lake Tahoe area, three in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue and two in El Dorado Hills. Of these, one is under the age of 18, two are aged 18-49, two aged 50-64 and two aged 65 or older.

Another 305 tests were administered. 298 negative test results were returned.

There are an assumed 11 more recoveries, bringing that total to 819.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials report another three positive cases of COVID-19 today. Two are in the Lake Tahoe area and one in the North County. Of these, two are aged 18-49, and one aged 50-64.

Another 20 tests were administered. 17 negative test results were returned.

There are an assumed nine more recoveries, bringing that total to 808.

No change to the hospitalization numbers with one hospitalized in the ICU. There is one suspected case in the hospital. There have been two deaths to date of county residents.

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. - Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows announced Tuesday that it is making a commitment to change the name of the legendary California mountain destination and remove the word "squaw."

What the new name will be is unknown at this time and work to determine what it will be is beginning immediately. They will announce the new name after the winter season concludes in 2021.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif.—Lake Tahoe West partners have released an interactive “story map” to explain ongoing and proposed actions to restore forests and watersheds across 59,000 acres of Lake Tahoe’s west shore. (StoryMap Here)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health offiicals announced another eight positive cases of COVID-19 today, four in the Lake Tahoe region, three in El Dorado Hills and one in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue. Of those, three are aged 18-49, two are 50-64, two aged 65 or older and one result did not have a birthdate on it.

Another 197 tests were given, 189 negative test results were returned and there are 15 new assumed recoveries.

There is no change in hospitalization and one remains in the ICU and there are no suspected cases in the hospital.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev./Calif. - The 24th annual Lake Tahoe Summit has moved to a virtual format this year. U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada will be hosting the event that will feature Olympian David Wise as the keynote speaker.

Since the first Lake Tahoe Summit in 1997, the area’s congressional representatives have pledged to keep working together and with local, state, and private sector partners to restore Tahoe’s environment, improve forest health, and confront climate change.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe is the vacation destination for millions of people annually, but recent behaviors of many of the tourists have the residents on edge. Trash is being left behind on beaches, trails and picnic areas, overflowing trash containers are shown daily on social media pages, stores are packed and roads are crowded, all during a pandemic while travel orders are still in place for the California.

With international travel at a standstill many are keeping their vacationing during the coronavirus to locations near their homes, and Lake Tahoe is one of those spots.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another nine positive cases of COVID-19 were documented on Thursday. Of those, five are in the Lake Tahoe region, two in El Dorado Hills, and one each in Greater Placerville and the North County. The new cases are eight people aged 18-49, and one aged 50-64.

Another 382 tests were administered and 373 negative test results were received.

Currently there are 155 assumed active cases and 11 assumed recoveries.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The mayor of South Lake Tahoe has been a ceremonious position and doesn't carry any special voting privileges. Normally the mayor, and mayor pro tem, are one year terms as guided by City Code, and they will represent the community in those roles.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Every ten years a Census is taken of all people living in the Unitied States. While the state of California currently has a 64.5 percent response rate, South Lake Tahoe once again is lagging far behind.

As of August 6, 28.1 percent of those living in South Lake Tahoe had turned in answers to the Census Bureau. El Dorado County as a whole, 58.6 percent. Nationally, the Census return rate is 63.2 percent.

Why is it so hard to get South Lake Tahoe residents to participate?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - New South Lake Tahoe Police Chief David Stevenson was sworn in during a ceremony on Monday, receiving his official badge from his wife Jennifer in front of his mother and sister. The virtual ceremony had just a few attendees due to COVID-19 restrictions, but many were able to log onto their phones and computers and watch the 25-year veteran of the force, and South Tahoe High graduate, move into the top spot in the police department.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue recently held ceremonies for the hiring of three new firefighter/paramedics and the promotion of three to the rank of captain. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, ceremonies were small and held at the fire station during their shifts.

Captain/Paramedic Mike Taormina

6:50 p.m. Update: Douglas County Library Director Amy Dodson and Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley met Tuesday to discuss the library's proposed Statement of Diversity, a topic that became very controversial after a letter from Coverley to the library was circulated.