courts

The man who has led anti-South Lake Tahoe Police, El Dorado County Sheriff, District Attorney and Judge campaigns was found guilty on Monday in Sacramento Superior Court on eight felony charges.

Every two years a new business plan is presented to the South Lake Tahoe City Council, outlining goals, the vision and strategic priorities. This is done after each election.

In February, City staff, Council and community members got together for a two-day strategic planning session, and the results that came out of that were put into the 2017/18 South Lake Tahoe Business Plan.

El Dorado County has closed their South Lake Tahoe offices due to road and weather conditions.

The courts previously announced they would also be closed a second day.

"All non-essential employees should stay home," said Laura Schwartz, the County's Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.

By now, most people have heard: Federal courts upheld the 2012 Regional Plan for Lake Tahoe, affirming the blueprint that maintains development caps and strengthens environmental protections while encouraging community revitalization, redevelopment, and updated infrastructure.

Capturing the most attention these days is the traffic in our small communities from millions of people who drive up to enjoy our lake. And the transportation system is where TRPA is giving more focused attention to benefit Tahoe’s environment, economy, and quality of life.

Measure P, the two percent raise in transient occupancy tax for lodging properties in the City limits, has passed by a fairly large margin. With 100 percent of the precincts counted, a "yes" vote of 3,214 to 1,537 has passed by a 35.30 percent difference in the unofficial results.

The measure will use the funds raised by the extra tax to support recreational improvements in the City. A new recreation center, competitive pool and ball courts are in the plans.

On November 8, voters in South Lake Tahoe are tasked with selecting not only local and national leadership, but they are also faced with raising taxes. Measure P is on the ballot, but it is very different than other taxes, and let me explain why.

The South Tahoe High boy's tennis team continues to dominate Northern Nevada action on the courts and are now preparing to take their 12-0 record to the Nevada state tournament which begins in two weeks. In the meantime, players head to the regional playoffs.

South Tahoe High's varsity football team is now in a three-way tie for second place in Northern Nevada 3A with their 6-1 record. They blanked Dayton during Friday's homecoming game at South Tahoe, 57-0.

Zephyr Cove Resort will remain open for business as soil impacted by a 2011 underground fuel release is removed from an area near the south beach volleyball courts starting Monday, September 12.

Even though those driving by and visiting the resort will see the activity, impact to operations is expected to be minimal. There may be some disruption to parking and the volleyball area but watercraft rentals and sightseeing boats will continue to operate during the excavation.

The Superior Court of El Dorado County will extend their hours by holding Small Claims Night Court starting October 17, 2016 at both South Lake Tahoe and Cameron Park.

Night Court will be held at the Cameron Park Court and the South Lake Tahoe Court.

Night Court for South Lake Tahoe Court will be:
3rd Monday in March, July, and November.

Night Court for Cameron Park Court will be
2nd Monday in January and 1st Monday in February
3rd Monday in April, May, June, August, September, October, and December.

Most people don't like taxes, or having any new ones, but South Lake Tahoe voters will have the choice in November to vote on two ballot measure that would bring about two tax rate hikes, one that only tourists will pay, and another that will be paid for by both locals and tourists.

If passed, the ballot measures will accomplish two things: replace the recreation complex and repair the City's roads and/or replace the aging fleet.

A mother bear and her three cubs visited the campus of South Tahoe High on Monday, causing some excitement. Students said they saw the momma bear sit down while her cubs were playing around.

Nobody was ever in danger and the bears left several minutes after arriving.

The school contacted El Dorado County Animal Control for guidance in handling the situation. The School Resource Officer Andy Eissinger was on campus so they told Animal Control they didn't need to respond as there was no danger.

Long considered a nuisance in South Lake Tahoe, the abandoned cars being stored at Runnels Automotive in South Lake Tahoe must be removed following a ruling by El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Daniel Proud on Thursday.

The Judge issued an order granting the City of South Lake Tahoe’s application for abatement to remove the abandoned vehicles stored at the automotive shop located at 986 Emerald Bay Road, which is the corner of Highway 50 and Lake Tahoe Blvd commonly known as the "Y."

Things are moving forward quickly for the Tahoe Paradise Resort Improvement District. The former maintenance person who lived at the park is gone, there are now special events planned, and a new employee is about to be hired.

There is a special meeting of the district's board of directors on Thursday night that will help form this summer's plans for the community park.

The meeting will be held at the park located at 1011 San Bernardino Avenue in Meyers at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 9.

The agenda includes:

a) Events Committee Update - 50th Anniversary Party and Music in the Park

A late season snow caused the South Tahoe Little League's opening ceremonies to be delayed one week.

The same schedule will be followed on Saturday, May 2 at the South Tahoe Little League Complex located on Rufus Allen Blvd.

Marijuana is still on the list of dangerous drugs after U.S. Federal Court Judge Kimberly Mueller's ruling in Sacramento Wednesday. The move disappoints advocates that saw the case as a chance to get closer to their goal of nationwide legalization.

Mueller denied the motion of the defendants in United States v. Bryan Schweder to dismiss an indictment on that basis that the continued scheduling of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance in federal law was unconstitutional.

The Douglas County Parks and Recreation Commission invites the community to review the phased improvements planned for Johnson Lane Park located on Stephanie Way during its Commission meeting on April 7, 2015, 6:00 pm at Piñon Hills Elementary School.

The Parks & Recreation Commission will be reviewing a conceptual phased improvement plan for the Johnson Lane Park. The estimated construction budget for the improvements is $750,000 and will include the following:
• A new playground system
• A picnic pavilion
• A restroom remodel

Suspected arsonist Wayne Huntsman remains in the county jail in South Lake Tahoe, awaiting his court trial. Huntsman is accused of setting the September, 2014 King Fire which burned almost 100,000 acres near Pollock Pines.

A trial setting conference has been set for March 13 in Department 2 of Superior Court of El Dorado County.

Janet McDougall used the public comment portion of a recent South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting to speak of her concern that people would lose access to Connelly Beach. Council members took interest and the subject is on Tuesday's Council agenda.

McDougall, a resident of South Lake Tahoe since 1963 and a graduate of South Tahoe High in 1975, spent 17 years working in the city attorney's office in town. She said that during that time she saw a growing amount of beaches becoming unavailable to the public.

There are less than two weeks left for Californians to register to vote on the November 4 election day. In order to be eligible to vote, one must be 18, a U.S. citizen, are not in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony, or have not been ruled mentally incompetent to vote by the courts.

A young man was treated and released for minor injuries Monday morning after he was hit by a car as he rode his bike to school on Viking Way.

A parent was leaving South Tahoe High after dropping off her student near the Student Union. As she was exiting the side road coming up from the tennis courts she stopped at the stop sign. It was very congested as it was 7:50 a.m., the start of school. The parent didn't see the bicyclist coming up on her left and entered the road way, striking the boy.

As a precaution he was transported to the hospital with bruises and abrasions.

Due to a ruling by the California Court of Appeals, the City of South Lake Tahoe can no longer enforce their sex offender ordinance which made it a misdemeanor for sex offenders to be within 300 feet of a school, park or recreation areas. During Tuesday's meeting, the City Council had to repeal the ordinance. To be official, the City Council will have a second reading and vote on the item in June.

"This is mind boggling," said City Councilwoman JoAnn Connor. "I am disgusted that the court has decided to ignore children in deference to sexual predators."

El Dorado County Sheriff's Department Captain Randy Pershon has been appointed to the Judicial Council Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee. This committee makes recommendations improving the processing of cases in drug courts, domestic violence courts, peer courts, and other community-based treatment courts. They also propose rules, standards, and forms; reviews and recommends legislation; identifies potential funding sources; oversees the treatment court grant process; and acts on assignments referred to it by the Judicial Council.

From Mark Twain and Frank Sinatra to teamsters and tourism, the history of Lake Tahoe recorded in a new book by Michael J. Makley brings the region’s many dimensions to life. The noted local author is the featured speaker at the February Frances Humphrey lecture series from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, where he will explore the geology and natural history of Lake Tahoe and the people who shaped its history.

While tragic in nature as to what happened at the Globe event ( I can actually relate to what the parents are going through having lost one of my own) the lawsuits will likely begin. Doesn’t matter who, if anyone, is at fault you can bet there'll probably be one.

***