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An El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy, thinking he heard the sound of fireworks, responded to the area of El Dorado Hills Library on July 4 at about 11:00 p.m. Checking the area of Tilden Drive and Avellano Drive, he found the fireworks sounding like they were coming from a residential backyard. With the assistance of witnesses and Serrano Security, the deputy located several persons lighting and shooting off illegal fireworks from the back of a house in the 3800 block of Tilden Drive.

Three new message signs were unveiled in South Lake Tahoe this week, just in time for the holiday weekend. Since the fourth of July is a big tourist draw, it is the perfect time to test out all the message signs can provide to those on the road.

Who wouldn't want to enjoy the lake a little bit longer, hike or bike a little bit longer, or linger over a big meal instead of sitting in traffic over Echo Summit on Highway 50?

The long-range forecast doesn’t bode well for the interior West as it chokes on a fourth year of drought and smoke from wildfires.

With the fire season ramping up and temperatures starting to soar, drought and fire dominated the discussion at the Western Governors’ Association annual meeting being held this week at Incline Village on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, who has chaired the group for the past year, made drought his signature initiative, bringing together water experts and managers to develop best practices for water management and drought preparation.

Aquatic invasive plants are threatening Lake Tahoe! The League to Save Lake Tahoe needs everyone's help to prevent the spread of these pesky invaders.

'Eyes on the Lake' is the League's volunteer program to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive plants in Tahoe’s waters. If you are a water lover in Tahoe (SCUBA diver, paddler, swimmer, beach goer, or boater) and want to help ensure Lake Tahoe’s waters stay clear and pristine, then 'Eyes on the Lake' is for you.

Volunteers will learn how to identify plants in the classroom and in the field. Help protect the Lake while you play.

A trip to South Lake Tahoe for the 4th of July fireworks turned deadly in 2014 for a couple from Dixon, CA when the motorcycle they were riding was struck by a drunk driver in the Twin Bridges area.

Megan Hickel, 28, was sentenced on Monday to 12 years in state prison for killing the couple, 48-year-old Richard Schwab and his wife Kelly, age 49.

El Dorado County Superior Court Presiding Judge Suzanne Kingsbury handed down the sentence after Hickel pled guilty to two counts gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Search warrants were served on Monday at five locations related to Tahoe Wellness Cooperative (TWC) and its owner Cody Bass. Staff from eight agencies spent hours at the South Lake Tahoe medical marijuana dispensary, pulling out boxes and containers of cannabis and records.

A large team made up of members from multiple agencies served a search warrant on both the Tahoe Wellness Cooperative and owner Cody Bass's South Lake Tahoe home early Monday morning.

Agents from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), Board of Equalization, Department of Insurance, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, and El Dorado County Sheriff's Department (EDCSO) were on scene at the co-op according to Tami Grimes, Information Officer with the FTB in Sacramento.

"The contents of the search warrant are sealed," said Grimes.

Several counterfeit bills have been used for transactions on the west slope of El Dorado County, even days after the arrest of one suspect. On May 8, the Sheriff Deputies were called to the Round Table Restaurant in Pollock Pines after a man tried to buy food with a counterfeit $100 bill. He and a woman left before deputies arrived but a description of the pair and their vehicle was provided to EDCSO.

Jeff Marsolais, the new forest supervisor of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, will be speaking at the next meeting of the Tahoe Area Sierra.

Formerly LTBMU’s deputy supervisor, Marsolais, who now oversees the 154,000 acres around the Lake Tahoe Basin, will be speaking on a variety of issues including Recreation Sustainability and Landscape Collaboration.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions and comment in an open forum after the talk. This meeting is free of charge and open to the public.

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More than a hundred trained volunteers will continue a 15 year tradition with a one-day hands-on effort to capture a snapshot of the health of Lake Tahoe’s watershed on May 16 at Lake Tahoe Community College.

“Snapshot Day creates the opportunity for people of all ages and experience levels to take part in protecting our watershed,” said Jesse Patterson, deputy director for the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

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.

A 24-year-old Carson City man was arrested Friday on multiple felony charges after allegedly agreeing to wear a wire for a drug deal and then fleeing with $850 given to him by law officers in order for him to make the transaction, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

The man’s 29-year-old sister, also faces felony charges after allegedly aiding and assisting in his escape.

A 36-year old El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy was arrested Thursday on charges of domestic violennce.

According to the department's daily log, at 10 p.m. on March 19 EDSO arrived at the home of Deputy Shane Donavin Humbrid on the report of a domestic disturbance in progress in the 400 block of Oak Leaf Circle in Placerville.

Upon arrival they found that Humbird and his wife had been engaged in a verbal argument that led to the deputy stiking his wife on the nose with his head. She had a visible injury and complained of pain.

A Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch Series recently launched offers a monthly forum for people to discuss and learn more about ways to strengthen communities, make towns safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, and help protect Lake Tahoe’s amazing natural resources.

Lunches are held monthly at Lake Tahoe Community College. They cover topics ranging from transportation to the economy and the environment, and offer a comfortable, low-key setting for people to discuss and learn about those issues. The events are free to the public.

Tahoe Douglas Rotary has been a part of the South Shore community since 1962, and, as are the other 1.2 million Rotarians in the world, are bound by a commong purpose, Service Above Self. The club felt it was an ideal fit to recognize police and fire professionals in the community who make sacrifies every day to serve and protect.

This week, South Tahoe Now has been highlighting each of this year's winners of the inagural First Responder Community Hero Award.

The El Dorado County District Attorney's office announced the felony DUI conviction of six time offender Michael Ramirez. The 44-year old was convicted of two counts of felony driving under the influence and three counts of driving on a suspended license on February 26 in Placerville.

Ramirez had four prior DUI convictions, one of which was a felony, as well as two prior prison terms within the past 10 years.

He is currently in the EL Dorado County Jail in Placerville awaiting his April 6 sentencing.

With the retirement of Nancy Gibson, the U.S Forest Service started the search for her replacement. It was announced Tuesday Jeff Marsolais has been selected as the new forest supervisor for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

Employees from the El Dorado County Probation Department were recently honored for the public safety services they provide to the community.

The award categories and recipients were as follows:

Bob Bensen Memorial Award for Deputy Probation Officer of the Year: Deputy Probation Officer II Brian Dolcini (Shingle Springs Field Office)
Employee of the Year: Administrative Technician Jackie Walker (Shingle Springs Field Office)
Special Award Presentation: Deputy Probation Officer - Institutions: Matt Flager (Posthumously)

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 press time and the story will be updated when provided.

12/27

Recently the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, in conjunction with South Tahoe Refuse & Recycling, conducted a “drive and drop” at the LTVA’s California Visitors Center, and curbside collection on regular pick-up days. Once again we were overwhelmed by the generous response from our South Lake Tahoe community. Together we collected over 1,500 pounds of food and toys to benefit Christmas Cheer all Year, plus over $1,200 in cash, $1,000 of which was donated by the Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe.

The public will have a chance to learn about agency efforts to address stormwater pollution and get involved at a stormwater symposium on December 10 at Lake Tahoe Community College.

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Environmental groups concerned that the 2004 Sierra Nevada Framework Forest Plan failed to protect old growth forests and associated wildlife species, was not consistent with national environmental laws so they filed suit.

A coalition of conservation organizations led by Sierra Forest Legacy and including the Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society have signed a settlement agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, ending the decade long battle.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe invites volunteers to come stabilize stream banks, pull invasive plants and restore trails for the 17th annual Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day on September 27 at Tahoe Paradise Park in Meyers.

The park lies along the Upper Truckee River, Lake Tahoe’s largest tributary. Volunteer efforts will have a tangible effect on reducing sediment flow into the river, and help Keep Tahoe Blue. This is the League’s third year hosting the event at this location.

Earlier this year the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) purchased three properties in order to provide open space, improve water quality and remove blight.

The first of these properties, the Alta Mira Building, was demolished this week.

"We hope these acquisitions will be just the first wave of our renewed
efforts to partner with the City in helping to revitalize South Lake Tahoe," Tom Davis said in May when the Conservancy Board voted to purchase the building for $2.5 million. He sits on both the Conservancy Board and South Lake Tahoe City Council.