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Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon. This report is through Feb. 21.

I was busy some other place when "Star Wars, The Phantom Menace" opened in 1999. Lucky me. Not so lucky now when I went to see the reworked original decked out in 3D. The film is now playing at the Horizon Stadium Cinema at Stateline, Lake Tahoe. And for all those Star Wars fans, and they know who they are, you won't want to miss it; though you can see the release without 3D and you won't be missing much.

Come listen to local Lake Tahoe musicians play it like it is in Ireland at Murphys Irish Pub! Hosted by eighth generation professional bagpiper Sean Cummings, this rollicking music session happens every Thursday night until about 10 pm (or until they throw us out). Anne Roos and her Celtic harp joins them and you’ll hear her jump in with the others to perform toe-tapping jigs, lilting waltzes, and poignant airs. No cover charge, just relax in front of the fireplace or cozy up to the authentic wooden bar, surrounded by antique Irish memorabilia, and enjoy a pint with your favorite pub food.

With hundreds of weekend skiers on the slopes, a glider crash landed on a ski run at Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe on Sunday, with the pilot and passenger having walked away unhurt. No one else was injured.
El Dorado County authorities report the incident happened at 1:26 p.m. near the front of the First Run area of the California Lodge of the Lake Tahoe resort, which straddles the California and Nevada border.
A spokesman for Minden-Tahoe Airport based Soaring NV, said the pilot was flying a Duo Discus aircraft and lost altitude and was forced to land. The pilot is experienced and was doing a flight review, the spokesman said. The pilot and passenger were unhurt, he said.
Heavenly Mountain Resort spokesman Russ Pecoraro called the incident "irresponsible."
"We're outraged that something like this could happen. We're glad that everyone came out of this okay, but there's no excuse for this kind of irresponsible behavior," Pecoraro said in an email. "We'll do everything in our power to make sure this doesn't happen again. We're extremely lucky no one was hurt today."

Chairs 2, 3 and 4 will open at Kirkwood Mountain Resort on Saturday thus making the mountain 100 percent opened. (Chair 10 the Wall opened on Thursday.) Backside lifts open at 9 a.m.; front side opens at 8:30 a.m.

View Washoe Drive Fire (1/19/2012) in a larger map

UPDATE 10PM: Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said tonight the Washoe Drive Fire has consumed and estimated 3,700 acres, burned at least 20 structures and has resulted in one fatality.
Hernandez would not go into details of how the person died. He said the 250+ firefighters on the scene have stopped the forward progress of the fire. He said the fire started in the East Lake area, and then followed the Highway 395 corridor north, where it was stopped just south of Galena High School.
Highway 395 will be closed until further notice due to damage to debris and damage to guard rails, power poles and other item near the roadway. Gov. Brian Sandoval told state workers who commute by this route to stay home Friday. Evacuations have been lifted for the Galena area. About 2,000 people are still unable to go back to their homes tonight.
Hernandez said firefighters saved more than 800 homes that were in the path of this destructive fire.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
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UPDATE 9PM: Reno Fire officials report forward progress on Washoe Drive fire has stopped. Fire behavior is moderating due to diminishing winds, lowering termperatures and increasing humidity/moisture moving over the Sierra Nevada/Carson Range. Fire burns more than 3,000 acres with zero containment; 10,000 evacuated; no count on home and structure losses.

U.S. Highway-395 remains closed between 1.8 miles north of Carson City to the Junction of SR 341/431 (Mt. Rose Junction) in south Reno. U.S. Highway 395 could remained closed on Friday (1/20) through the morning commute - make alternate plans.
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At 4:40 pm Thursday, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, under his constitutional and statutory authority, made a state declaration of emergency which qualifies local governments for federal assistance associated with this event. The National Guard is on standby at the request of Sandoval and Washoe County. California has also provided fire assistance as part of a Governor to Governor agreement with Jerry Brown.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been and are being affected by this fire,” Sandoval said. “Declaring a state of emergency ensures that every resource from the local, state and federal level is available to assist. The Nevada Division of Forestry and the Department of Public Safety have also engaged with local responders.”
Additionally, Nevada has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). As a result, Nevada is eligible for up to 75 percent funding assistance for eligible costs. The request was made by the Nevada Division of Forestry on behalf of Washoe County at the onset of the fire.

More below the fold.

A major pattern change next week should finally bring snow to Lake Tahoe, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.
In the photo illustration above, the first three images show the jet stream and large scale (synoptic) pattern changes forecast to take place over the Eastern Pacific Ocean next week. The persistent high pressure ridge that had kept most of the West Coast abnormally dry this winter is forecast to amplify and retrograde allowing the Sub-Tropical Jetstream to bring strong winter storms back to the Sierra. The fourth image shows a significant amount of moisture that should prompt the storms at the end of next week.

Here is the fishing report through Jan. 17 for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon.

The 21-year-old Walnut Creek, Calif. man who was struck and killed by a California Highway Patrol vehicle and a shuttle bus early Sunday morning on Highway 50 near Stateline at Lake Tahoe has been identified as Alex M. Moore, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.
The accident happened between Lake Village and Elks Point Road and was reported around 12:44 a.m. Sunday morning. Here is the latest news release from NHP Trooper Chuck Allen:

UPDATED 1:30PM: A 21-year-old Walnut Creek, Calif. man was struck and killed by a California Highway Patrol vehicle early Sunday morning, New Year's Day, on Highway 50 near Stateline at Lake Tahoe, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.
The accident happened between Lake Village and Elks Point Road and was reported around 12:40 a.m. Sunday morning, said NHP Troopers Mike Edgell and Chuck Allen. The pedestrian, whose identity has not been released pending notification of family, died at the scene of the accident.

By Don Quilici
As I look forward to the year of 2012 with high expectations, hopes and dreams, this is a good time to reflect back on some selected personal memories from the rapidly ending year of 2011. Here are my top memories:

Beginning today the Reno-Tahoe International Airport will be undergoing $40 million in renovations, including a Lake Tahoe-themed ticket lobby. The Gateway Project, which will bring about 275 jobs now through April 2013, features an upgrade to the baggage claim area, creating a first floor single security checkpoint, plus new retail and places to eat.

With a cold front moving through the Lake Tahoe Basin, it means resorts will be firing up their snowmaking guns to help Mother Nature. Wind could be a factor ...www.laketahoenews.net/.../ski-report-dr...

By Josh Swallow
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev.- As we begin to prepare for this upcoming winter, it is no surprise to any Sierra Nevada College student that the ski and snowboard season is right around the corner. With this time of the year brings the beginning of incredible ski films that keep everyone entertained once off the slopes.

By Kristi Boosman
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency employee Gary Weigel was honored as the recipient of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Blue Ribbon Award in the Public Agency Service category for his exemplary customer service as a Senior Planner at TRPA.

“I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when I found out I had been selected for a Blue Ribbon Award by the community,” Weigel said, “but also very excited. It’s a tremendous honor.”

TRPA’s Executive Director, Joanne Marchetta, agreed.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Highway Patrol South Lake Tahoe Area will collect turkeys from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in front of the Bijou Safeway Store at 1020 Johnson Boulevard, ac...

Please join us at Chase International Realty from 7:00pm - 8:00pm to practice your communication and speaking skills in front of a very supportive group!Practice conducting meetings, giving impromptu speeches, presenting prepared speeches, and offering constructive evaluation.
To contact the Tahoe Toastmasters, call President Jim Wire at (530)314-9008 or email tahoefitguy@aol.com.

"Theresa Souers and her husband, Dana Souers, received a ticket for parking in a handicap space - a $455 fine- in front of their business Pinnacle Realty, so Dana Souers could run in quickly." Real...

If you hear "Handguns" at Crystal Bay Casino Saturday at 9 p.m., there's no need to hit the floor or run for the exits. Instead, fight your way to the front of the crowd in the Crown Room and ge...

It’s your opportunity to buy our delicious Holiday Cheese Balls for $7.50.
They will be available in the Front Lobby of Carson Valley Medical Center, Thursday, November 17 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
For over a decade the Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has made their secret recipe for hostess gifts and holiday treats to make your holiday brighter. These cheese balls have been talked about for years and many await the Holidays just to partake. Come on down and show your support.

Here is this week's fishing report through Nov. 9 for Nevada, the Sierra, Northern California and Southern Oregon.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - A fast-moving cold front hit the Truckee/Tahoe region Monday night, beginning a period of colder weather and likely bringing more snow, according to the National Weather Service ...

File this under better late than never. Lahontan representatives recently made a presentation to the city of South Lake Tahoe about the need to formally allow pesticides to be used in Lake Tahoe for vector control and invasive species. They indicated their board needed another tool in their tool kit. Really? Where have they been?

On Wednesday morning Oct. 19, Elaine and I went fishing at Lake Tahoe for Mackinaw lake trout with our longtime good friend and sport fishing guide, Gene St. Denis of Blue Ribbon Charters outfitted South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
“Gino” has fished Tahoe for some thirty years (the last 13 years as a fishing guide) and is one of the top, if not the top, guides at that lake.