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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For the past few weeks, officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) have been dealing with reports of a group of juveniles who have been causing problems in the Heavenly Village and Raley's area near Stateline.

Keep Memory Alive hosted its annual Summer Social and Rodeo at Shakespeare Ranch, a private Lake Tahoe estate, this past weekend to raise money to support the work of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and its fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, ALS and more.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The scam is old, but if you want to help those in need it may pull at your heart strings....for a moment.

I got a text today from someone claiming to be Father Mauricio Hurtado of St. Theresa Catholic Church. While I am not a member of the church I am co-chair of their Bread & Broth 4 Kids program and it isn't that abnormal for him to contact me, though it is normally through email.

So at 8:25 a.m. Friday when the text says, "Hi Paula, I need a favor from you, text me back as soon as you get my message - Fr. Mauricio Hurtado," I hit reply right away.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Another telephone scam is being reported to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and they want to make sure residents, especially the senior population, are informed.

This latest scam is much like others in the past. Unidentified callers are telling the person answering the phone they have a warrant issued from the FBI. The scammer is seeking large sums of money, generally $2,000 to $,5000, be sent via the mail in the form of pre-paid gift cards.

Fifteen celebrities competing in the 30th annual American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe this week headed over to the 17th hole after the first round of play Friday to participate in the Korbel Closest-to-the-Pin Challenge.

If any of them got a hole-in-one, the Tahoe Prosperity Center (TPC) would split the $250,000 prize money with the celebrity. While nobody got that elusive ace, there were a lot of close shots. Missing the cup by just 21.5", former MLB pitcher Derek Lowe won $25,000 to split with TPC.

The 30th annual American Century Championship is just one week away, July 9 – 14, 2019. Celebrities from the world of sports, television, comedy and more are headed to Edgewood Tahoe once again. Here are 30+ fun facts about the popular celebrity golf tournament.

1. CLEAR BAG POLICY

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South and West Shore, including Meyers, South Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay, Tahoma, and the Echo Summit area. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at the time of the story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

6/19

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Superintendent Dr. James Tarwater of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) has announced he'll retire in one year.

Dr. Tarwater has been with LTUSD since 2005.

During their last meeting on June 11, the Board concluded its annual evaluation of Dr. Tarwater's performance. Though details of that evaluation are not available, they extended his contract one extra year until 2022 until they were notified of his notice of retirement.

At their June 25 meeting, the Board is scheduled to accept his retirement.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two businesses that were not selected to go further in the process of vying for one of three cannabis retail store licenses have filed appeals with the City of South Lake Tahoe. They are questioning the fairness of the selection process, and one is stating that all three applicants who had the top scores evaluation scores should be disqualified. A third applicant said he is in the process of filing an appeal.

Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe Foundation held their annual Rewards for Excellance Scholarship program on May 22 at Harvey's Convention Center, awarding local high school and Lake Tahoe Community College students with scholarships.

Student honorees and their guests enjoyed lunch while 20 scholarships totaling $18,500 were presented by members Julie Gudaitis, Velma Schnoll, Louisa Boone and Carolyn MacRae.

The awardees:

South Tahoe High School
Kaitlyn Friederici
Hannah Heidel
Jose Leon
Forrest McCann
Rita McCann
Sydney McCarthy

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Join community members help raise money to get South Lake Tahoe kids on bikes this summer.

The Tahoe Fund is partnering with members of the South Lake Tahoe Community to bring 40 new Specialized mountain bikes, helmets and mountain bike coaching to youth at the Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club, SOS Outreach, and the South Lake Tahoe Middle School. The bikes will provide kids greater access to trails in Tahoe and the nearby Bijou Bike Park.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS) awarded $12,700 in awards and scholarships on Thursday to students from South Tahoe High, Whittell High, Mt. Tallac High, and South Tahoe Middle School. The students and their families were treated to breakfast as the awards were given to the deserving students.

George Whittell High School Most Improved Eighth Grade Students
Faith Alvarez, James Johnson

South Tahoe Middle School Most Improved Eighth Grade Students
Victoria Capilla, Anthomy Navarro Rodriguiez

Dear Community, The sold-out 30th annual Elegant Evening 2019 at Harrah’s Tahoe was a huge success and that was due to the generosity of businesses and friends near and far. We are beyond thrilled that our special appeal for Challenge Day was met and exceeded!

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During Tuesday's City Council meeting, one vacation home rental (VHR) owner lost their permit to operate in South Lake Tahoe after the Tahoe Neighborhoods Group appealed a decision by the Planning Commission.

On March 14, the commission decided to overturn City staff's revocation of VHR permit ##005258 located at 797 San Jose Avenue, Unit B. Staff had revoked the permit in January when the owner of the home, Susan Porter of San Ramon, didn't meet the deadline for renewing her permit or paying the required transient occupancy tax (TOT).

Father John Grace, former pastor of Saint Theresa Catholic Church in South Lake Tahoe, passed away on May 4, 2019, at the age of 98. Father Grace had injured himself in a fall while on a walk near his Al Tahoe residence a few days before his death.

He was born September 18, 1920, to John and Cecilia Grace in the small coal-mining village of The Commons, County Tipperary, Ireland. He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Catherine (“Rena”) and Maureen. At the time of his death, Father Grace was the oldest priest in the Diocese of Sacramento.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Starting May 25, 2019, there will be no more youth staying in the Placerville Juvenile Detention Facility. After a decision by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors in February, South Lake Tahoe's Juvenile Treatment Center (JTC) will be the only youth facility in the county to serve those in the justice system 18-years-old and younger, for now.

There are several reasons for the changes including an aging facility, increasing costs and the fact that fewer youth are working their way through the juvenile justice system.

MEYERS, Calif. - Fourth graders in Alissa Behrendt's class at Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School (LTESMS) just became one of the three top classes in the nation after participating in the Buddy Bison Carbon Reduction Contest.

For their efforts, the class was given $1,500!

“We love every time we get to come to a Bread & Broth Monday Meal,” commented Zack Koneffko, one of Heavenly Mountain Resort’s Adopt A Day of Nourishment volunteer crew members. “It’s such a great part of our community and we feel honored that we are able to take part in it.” Thanks to Vail’s EpicPromise Grant, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort alternate hosting a Monday Meal every month.

During Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 7 – 13, we celebrate those who give their time and energy to improve the lives of others. The benefits of volunteering go beyond lending a helping hand. Studies show volunteers have significant health benefits such as lower blood pressure, decreased likelihood of depression, and an increased sense of purpose and life satisfaction.

Volunteers are the bedrock of Barton Health. More than 55 years ago, our hospital was founded by volunteers, and the spirit of helping to support our community’s health thrives within our organization to this day.

Tahoe is a glorious place. Most of us come here to live in its beauty, but it’s the “community” that keeps so many of us here. It’s that sense of doing good for one another that keeps many of us hopeful about the future. I’m happily involved in different aspects of our community and that part of my life is why I feel so grateful and blessed. Tuesday’s Drug Store Project for our sixth-grade youth was a testament to the compassion and dedication of our agencies, businesses, service clubs, and community members for the good of its people.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On Tuesday, April 2, 325 6th graders from South Tahoe Middle School, Zephyr Cove Elementary School and home-schooled youth, will spend the day at Lake Tahoe Community College going through the 16th annual Drug Store Project.

Since 2004, middle school students in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) have gone through the Drug Store Project (DSP), a day-long comprehensive drug prevention program designed to educate youth about the dangers of substance use and abuse.

We all must come together as one if we would like to end domestic abuse and human trafficking. I applaud the brave women who have been coming forward, discussing their past and the traumas they have endured. One of the reasons that we read history books is so we can learn from others mistakes. If we would like to make an impacting change in this world, we must acknowledge the whole issue.

A Washoe County detective says alleged murderer Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman told police he robbed and killed his elderly victims during a 10-day rampage in January because he needed money to buy methamphetamine to support his drug addiction, according to the Associated Press.

Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman was arrested on Jan. 19 in connection with the four murders of Gardnerville woman Connie Koontz, 56, Gardnerville woman Sophia Renken, 74, and South Reno Couple Jerry and Sherry David, 81 and 80.

While it still feels like winter, with a healthy snowpack and ski resorts reporting record monthly snowfall in February, another building season is fast approaching. One of the questions people ask the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency each year is why they have to pay mitigation fees for their development, like new homes and remodeling projects.