High

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a perfect day, at a perfect location, at a perfect celebration to wrap up what wasn't such a perfect senior year of high school.

On Friday afternoon, one by one, the South Tahoe and Mt. Tallac High School seniors stepped out of their decorated cars amidst cheering from teachers and staff. They sent the students onto the red carpet, down the stairs to more cheering, and dancing, and more red carpet, as they made their way onto a ski lift at Sierra-at-Tahoe.

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - The Class of 2020 at George Whittell High School will hold its graduation on Friday, June 19. Since only immediate family members can attend the socially distancing graduation ceremony there will be a parade starting at Kahle Park on Kingsbury Grade at 10:00 a.m. The procession of cars will go along Highway 50 and end up at the Warrior Way high school in Zephyr Cove. Those wanting to cheer the graduates on may do so from along the four-mile route.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - In response to Governor Sisolak’s announcement of the State entering Phase 2 of COVID-19 recovery, Douglas County Community Services has announced the reopening of child care programming, Lake Day Camp, at Kahle Community Center starting on Tuesday June 23, 2020.

Procedures will be implemented at the Kahle Community Center as outlined below based on Directive 21 – Roadmap to Recovery for Nevada for Phase 2.

Safety Guidelines for entering the Kahle Community Center building include:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a long, hard-fought effort to get it done, but the determination of Kathy Haven and a group of dedicated parents in 2006 has brought the two-way immersion (TWI) program at Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) its first group of 13-year students and graduates.

Starting in 2007, 20 students enrolled in the very first kindergarten TWI class at Bijou Elementary and that group of students will be graduating from South Tahoe High School at the end of the week. They have had 13 years of school taught in both Spanish and English.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Barton Foundation began accepting applications on June 15 from local nonprofit organizations for this year’s $100,000 Community Health Grant program. Area service groups and organizations that share Barton Health’s commitment to improving community health and well-being are encouraged to apply online at bartonhealth.org/foundation.

Applications will be accepted through June 30, 2020.

Accelerated heart rate and breathing, possible upset stomach, worry and dread, all sensations that a person may have when experiencing some anxiety. Whether you are presenting in front of a group of people or interviewing for a job, our immune system kickstarts our fight-or-flight response by flooding our nervous system with hormones and chemicals that help us deal with high stress or intense situations. However, imagine experiencing these symptoms on a constant basis, not permitting your body to return to a normal level of functioning.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Lake Wind Advisory for Greater Lake Tahoe Area and Tahoe, Donner, Fallen Leaf, Prosser, and Boca for Friday, June 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Winds will be from the southwest 15-25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Waves 2-4 feet on Lake Tahoe can be expected.

Small boats, kayaks, and paddleboards will be prone to capsizing and should remain off lake waters until conditions improve.

The three-day forecast:

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Scientists and researchers have been watching the clarity of Lake Tahoe for decades, rejoicing when one can see almost 100 feet down into the iconic body of water, sadness when clarity drops to record levels.

The clarity of the lake is an important indicator of the changing conditions of Lake Tahoe.

In 2019, Lake Tahoe's clarity decreased nearly eight feet from the previous year's dramatic 10-foot improvement. The average clarity in 2019 was 62.7 feet, the second-lowest on record. In 2017, the recorded clarity was 60 feet. In 1968, it was 102 feet.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In a graduation season marked by COVID-19 social distancing regulations, high school students across the globe knew the ceremonies marking the end of K-12 school careers would be different than in years past. With daily school work moved online, graduations were moved to a virtual format.

At both South Tahoe High and Mt. Tallac High schools, graduation has been made special by social media acknowledgments, yard signs, and special bags full of gifts.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The forecast low-pressure system with winds and a chance of snow brought widely scattered snow over the mountains around Lake Tahoe after a very windy Saturday. The showers will be diminishing this evening with a cold night Sunday. There will be widespread freezing temperatures with South Lake Tahoe seeing mid-20s. Things will start warming up closer to average by the middle of the week with lighter winds. Another low is possible Friday and Saturday with breezy winds, showers, and cooler temperatures.

The National Weather Service in Reno forecast for the week:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Lake Wind Advisory for Lake Tahoe remains in effect from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 6. Also under the warnings are Donner, Fallen Leaf, Prosser, and Boca.

The National Weather Service is forecasting southwest winds 20-25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Waves on Lake Tahoe could be 2-4 feet. Small boats, kayaks and paddleboards will be prone to capsizing and should remain off lake waters until conditions improve.

And if the wind wasn't enough, there is a chance of snow for Lake Tahoe Saturday night.

The weekend forecast:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Clean Tahoe program recently teamed up with Olympic gold medalist, and South Lake Tahoe native, Jamie Anderson to hold an essay contest for local youth.

Anderson was joined by a local teacher and writer to be the judges and read through all of the 30 entries. They said it was a tough choice but they were able to narrow them down to three winners and five honorable mention awards.

The contest winners:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Temperatures will return to around average by Monday then trend much warmer through Thursday and there will be chances for showers and
thunderstorms each afternoon and evening. A stronger storm system for early June reaches the Pacific Northwest coast next weekend for increased winds, much cooler
temperatures, and chances for showers in the Lake Tahoe Basin, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

The NWS Reno forecast for the week:

No, this can’t be. It’s too interesting to be a Rav4. Over the waning ‘teens, Toyota has sought to seemingly reinvent itself as a carmaker of interest. Now, that begs an important question, though: did they have to? Even as the cars became more and more relentlessly boring, people still bought them to make for the single biggest car brand in the world.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Valley Fire Protection District didn't have to search far for its new chief to replace the retiring Tim Alameda. Brad Zlendick, who has been in the interim chief role since March 18, is now officially the LVFPD fire chief.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In a 3-1 vote the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Board of Trustees voted to bring retired engineer Lauri Kemper on board to fill Barbara Bannar's term.

Bannar resigned in March and her term ends December 2022.

Originally there were three candidates but one dropped out of the running, Chris Proctor, leaving Kemper and David Wise. Interviews took place during the Tuesday LTUSD Board meeting on ZOOM, each candidate having two minutes to answer each of the board's ten questions.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District will be holding a regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m., followed by closed session.

The meeting can be viewed on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHZeyuZYC9ZXKyTO2k-sJ5Q, and public comment can be made in three ways (see at the end of the story).

A provisional board member will be selected Tuesday night. Three people have applied to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Barbara Bannar. Vying to fill out her term are Chris Proctor, David Wise, and Lauri Kemper.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners will be conducting special meetings on May 26 and 27, 2020 to discuss the possible adoption of the FY 2020-21 Final Budgets for Douglas County; Douglas County Redevelopment Agency; the Towns of Gardnerville, Genoa, and Minden; and the Tahoe-Douglas Transportation District.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and anticipated $3M shortfall in revenue, the County will discuss reductions in personnel, service, and supplies across all departments.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a Lake Wind Advisory in effect for the Lake Tahoe Basin from noon to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21.

Winds from the west 15-20 mph are expected on the lake with gusts to 35 mph. Waves will be 1-3 feet with the highest waves on eastern shores.

Small boats, kayaks and paddleboards will be prone to capsizing and should remain off lake waters until conditions improve.

Temperatures will be rising at the lake, with a dip into the 80s anticipated by Tuesday!

The four-day forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Although Western Nevada College has delayed its commencement ceremony to honor its 2020 graduation class because of COVID-19, the college is proud to announce and congratulate its list of graduates.

Following the spring semester 2020, 650 students have graduated with 692 degrees and certificates. Eighteen of those were given to residents around Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the Class of 2020 having a graduation experience unlike any in history, parents and faculty are trying to still create a remembrance now that traditional graduation ceremonies are canceled.

For South Tahoe High School (STHS), all 226 graduates received yard/window signs over the past few days. Principal Carline Sinkler, teachers, staff, and other volunteers visited each home in South Lake Tahoe with the signs provided by the Barton Foundation.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What appears to have been a cooking fire that got away in the forest near Van Sickle Bi-State Park on Saturday brought out a full response from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue with assistance from Tahoe Douglas Fire, Lake Valley Fire, Cal Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Jay Manning was driving on Lake Tahoe Boulevard near Stateline when he noticed smoke from the park just after 12:30 p.m. on May 16. At that same time, a ranger from the park called into 911 to report a fire.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif - The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Wind Advisory for the Lake Tahoe area as well as the Reno, Carson City and Minden area for Sunday, May 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Winds are expected from the southwest at 20-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

After the winds, the real fun starts with snow and rain in the four-day forecast for South Lake Tahoe.

From NWS Reno:

Today - Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Light southwest wind increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A planned full closure of US50 over Echo Summit for the Sidehill Viaduct Replacement Project has been postponed to after Labor Day, 2020.

Caltrans made the announcement on Thursday that construction has not progressed enough to where the bridgework requiring a full closure could not be completed by June 15.

A full closure of Highway 50 is not permitted between June 15 and Labor Day due to high traffic volumes expected during the peak summer season in South Lake Tahoe.