northern california

Public memorial for Judge Terrence Finney in South Lake Tahoe Friday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A public memorial for the first superior court judge in the community, the Honorable Terrence M. Finney, will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Department 3 of the South Lake Tahoe courthouse.

Finney passed away on November 7, 2018 at the age of 84.

Undefeated LTCC Women's Soccer one win away from state championship

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) Women's Soccer Team has dominated throughout their 2018 season and the playoffs have been no different. On Friday afternoon they shut out San Bernardino Valley College (SBCV) by a score of 2-0 in the semifinal round of the Northern California Regionals of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) in Ventura.

Blood Drive in South Lake Tahoe Friday

Event Date: 
November 30, 2018 - 9:00am

If you missed donating blood at the fire station on Monday there is another chance on Friday, November 30. There will be a South Lake Tahoe Community Blood Drive from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the recreation center gym.

There is a need for blood after 500 blood drives were canceled in Northern California due to smoke from the recent Camp Fire.

Prior registration is not required.

The South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center is located at 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd.

Ritz-Carlton at Northstar sold

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The 170-room Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe and an adjacent 3.4 acre parcel are being purchased by Braemar Hotels & Resorts, Inc for $120 million. The plot of vacant land will be used for a luxury residential townhome development.

The acquisition is expected to close between December 12, 2018 and January 15, 2019.

Trey Stone Benefit Concert

Event Date: 
November 14, 2018 - 6:30pm

The South Shore community is coming together on November 14 at Hard Rock Lake Tahoe's Vinyl for musician Trey Stone who is now in end stage kidney failure. Stone's friends in the musical word are donating their talent for a one night event to support his efforts to heal, get on dialysis and eventually get a kidney transplant.

Tickets are $20 and there will be raffles and a silent auction.

All proceeds will go to healing Trey and helping him continue gracing the world with his talent.

New deputy forest supervisor selected for Lake Tahoe Basin

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is pleased to announce that Danelle D. Harrison was selected as the new Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Lake Tahoe Basin. Harrison arrived at the LTBMU a few weeks ago and comes to us from the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona, where she served as the District Ranger for both the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts since 2014.

Annual Lake Tahoe salmon run celebrated at Fall Fish Fest

Event Date: 
Repeats every day until Sun Oct 07 2018 .
October 6, 2018 - 10:00am
October 7, 2018 - 10:00am

Celebrate the annual fall migration of the Kokanee salmon of Lake Tahoe at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center during the two-day Fish Fest October 6/7 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.

Join the fun and participate in this free family event which has become one of the most fascinating educational and wildlife viewing events in Northern California.

Fire dangers prompt ban on target shooting in National Forest

Due to extremely dry vegetation and very high fire danger, recreational target shooting is prohibited in the Eldorado National Forest until at least October 9, 2018. In the Lake Tahoe Basin, it is not prohibited but they suggest those wishing to target shoot go to one of the legal ranges in Carson City or Gardnerville for safety reasons.

Windy around Lake Tahoe Sunday, mild week ahead

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In the coming week, Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada will see temperatures near average with a few degrees of cooling possible for the early part of next week. Dry conditions and typical breezes are expected through Saturday evening with breezy winds and critical fire weather concerns increasing for Sunday as a dry trough approaches the region. No precipitation is expected for the next week.

Expect widespread haze from Northern California fires.

The forecast from the National Weather Service:

NHP and CHP participate in "I-80 Challenge" to target reckless and distracted drivers

The California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Valley Division and Golden Gate Divisions, having jurisdiction over the Sacramento regions and San Francisco Bay Area, are partnering with the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) to participate in an “I-80 Challenge.”

This effort aims to reduce distracted and reckless driving along the 615 miles of Interstate 80 from San Francisco, Calif. to the Nevada/Utah Stateline from Monday, August 27 – Labor Day, September 3, 2018, by enhancing traffic safety, enforcement, and education along this section of the National Highway System.

Fight continues to bring KCRA back to South Lake Tahoe Charter lineup

South Lake Tahoe Charter Communications customers have been unable to watch Sacramento NBC affiliate KCRA since June 8, 2018, but area residents along with City and County government are continuing the fight to get them back on the local line-up.

Charter pulled the station because they already carry a local NBC channel, KRNV out of Reno and are not required to carry two. They are only required to carry stations based on a region's Designated Market Area (DMA). South Lake Tahoe is in the Reno DMA, not the Sacramento.

Northern California fire update

Smoke hasn't been as present in the Lake Tahoe Basin over the last few days as it has been, but fires are still burning in Northern California.

Fire updates for Northern California fires, Yosemite reopens Tuesday

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the Sierra, including the Donnell Fire area where 23,824 acres since starting on August 1. Northwest winds and low relative humidity may increase activity along the southern and eastern areas of the fire, keeping smoke away from Lake Tahoe. Concern areas include Long Valley, Haypass, Sardine, and Red Rock Meadows. The fire may also travel in a Southeast direction towards Kennedy Meadows within the Middle Fork Stanislaus River corridor. A Forest Order Closure has been issued for the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness and Spicer Lake.

Current status of fires burning in Northern California and Nevada

Smoke from fires west of Lake Tahoe is expected to come into the basin again today, but Sunday morning is clear. Here is an update on most fires in Northern California and Western Nevada.

Smoke in Lake Tahoe Basin coming from Northern California fires

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Friday morning started off clear and sunny, but by mid-morning smoke from from several California fires filled the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The smoke Friday has been a combination of the Carr Fire, the Mendocino Complex fires (Ranch Fire and River Fire) and the two western El Dorado County fires according to the USFS office in South Lake Tahoe. The Whaleback Fire and Ferguson Fire are also burning north and south of the lake.

Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada getting smoke from two California fires

Two large California fires are sending smoke into Lake Tahoe, Reno and the Carson Valley. For several days, smoke from the Ferguson Fire has filled the area skies, but today most of the smoke came from the one-day old Carr Fire.

The Ferguson Fire burning west of Yosemite continues to burn through rugged, hard to access terrain. Officials reported a 764-acre growth in the fire today for a total of 46,675 acres as of 6:00 p.m. Friday. Containment is at 29 percent.

NHP to hold Tip-a-Cop fundraiser at Hard Rock to raise funds for Special Olympics

Event Date: 
June 14, 2018 - 11:00am

Troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol, as well as other employees for the Department of Public Safety will be volunteering their time to raise money for Special Olympics of Nevada and California on Thursday June 14, 2018. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, located in South Lake Tahoe, is where all of the fun will be taking place during the lunch and dinner hours. Patrons will enjoy the NHP and other public safety employees serving as volunteer waiters and waitresses as they assist the restaurant staff that day while they work for “special tips.”

Save a bear - be smart about food storage/trash disposal in the outdoors

Several Lake Tahoe agencies have joined together to remind residents and visitors to practice proper food storage and trash disposal at all times while in bear country. Intentional or unintentional feeding of bears can result in the bear being killed, fines and/or jail time for violators. Every year law enforcement and state wildlife officers respond to hundreds of calls in which bears may pose a public safety threat and/or are damaging property. In some cases, the animals are euthanized.

Become part of the solution and help save our Tahoe bears!

SLTPD honors and promotes during National Police Week

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) held the annual awards ceremony Thursday, honoring the retirement of K9 Tara, the promotion of Jeff Roberson to Sergeant, awards for bravery and for service.

The celebration was started with the National Anthem sung by South Tahoe High School senior Caroline Krolicki and a presentation of the colors by the department's Honor Guard.

Four vying for El Dorado County Supervisor, District 5

There are four people running for El Dorado County Supervisor for the 5th District on June 5: Incumbent Sue Novasel and challengers Kenny Curtzwiler, Norma Santiago and Jeffrey Spencer. The 5th District covers Pollock Pines to South Lake Tahoe and Tahoma.

South Tahoe Now asked each candidate the same questions, and here are all of their answers, exactly as they were presented to us.

Sue Novasel
Occupation: El Dorado County Supervisor – District V
Past political history:
2015 – Present: County Supervisor, District V

Top cycling teams heading to South Lake Tahoe for Amgen TOC

All eyes will be on South Lake Tahoe this May as top women and men cyclists from around the world race through the mountains during the annual Amgen Tour of California (TOC).

The top cycling teams from the U.S., Switzerland, Germany and Belgium are now confirmed to race the 645 miles of Amgen for men, including BMC Racing Team ,Team Sky, Bora–Hansgrohe and Team Katusha–Alpecin.

Column: Funds needed to make fire response proactive instead of reactive

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Last October, California experienced a series of devastating wildfires that destroyed property and took lives. In a four month period the State endured fires and floods from San Diego to Mendocino that destroyed over 11,000 homes and commercial structures and killed 64 Californians. Local Government fire and rescue personnel and equipment comprised up to 80 percent available resources for mutual aid throughout the State. The City of South Lake Tahoe Fire Department along with other fire agencies around the basin engaged in these critical fire fights.

Epic Lake Tahoe blue: Week's forecast shows mild and sunny days

How can one ever tire of these beautiful views?

Mother Nature brought snow and rain last week, but this week it has been nothing but blue skies and sunshine! How long will this weather be around?

High pressure in control with warm and dry spring weather the next few days. Afternoon highs in 50s and almost 60, nightly lows in the low 30s.

Parent company of Holiday Market purchases Lira's Market in Meyers

North State Grocery, Inc., a 100 percent employee-owned company out of Cottonwood, Calif., has announced it is purchasing Lira's Market in Meyers, just outside of South Lake Tahoe.

Their new store will open as a Holiday Market as soon as April 9, 2018. according to the company's CFO Michel LeClerc.

“Lira’s Market has a great reputation and a strong team of employees,” says Brad
Askeland, Vice‐President of Holiday Market.  “In order to build on its success, we have met with Lira’s employees and have invited them to join our team of employee‐
owners.”

Icy Lake Tahoe greats all jumping in for the Polar Plunge

LAKE TAHOE - It was March Madness on the South Shore today as about 200 people braved the frigid waters of Lake Tahoe, all in the spirit of raising money for Special Olympics.

The annual Polar Plunge was at Zephyr Cove Resort and the water was about 48 degrees when the crowds jumped in.

"Today's turnout was great!" said Harry Mong, Senior Director of Programs and Partnership for Special Olympics Northern Nevada. "$186,000 was raised and it goes to support our sports programs. There are 300 competitions in 11 different sports, and it is all free for the competitors."

Lake Tahoe Tip-a-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics at Hard Rock Café

Event Date: 
March 16, 2018 - 5:00pm

Troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol, as well as other employees for the Department of Public Safety will be volunteering their time to raise money for Special Olympics of Nevada and California on Friday March 16, 2018. The Hard Rock Café, located in Harvey’s Casino, is where all of the fun will be taking place during the dinner hours from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Patrons will enjoy their staff serving as volunteer waiters and waitresses as they assist the restaurant staff that day while they work for “special tips.”

South Lake Tahoe teen up for Youth of the Year

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If the name Mya Rossi rings a bell, you would be correct. South Tahoe Now has carried two stories on the 14-year-old, one when she became the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe Youth of the Year, and the second when she was awarded the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Scholarship to attend Science Camp of America: Air and Space in Hawaii.

Now Mya has made it to the Northern California Regional Finals for the Boys and Girls Club of America Youth of the Year Competition.

Aging and Caregiving educational series in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
April 16, 2018 - 1:00pm

The Family Caregiver Support Program of the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency is pleased to present a free “Aging and Caregiving” educational series in South Lake Tahoe. This series will be held weekly on Mondays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. beginning April 16, 2018, and ending May 21, 2018, at Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel located at 4130 Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe.

The educational series will give instruction and support for people who provide care for a family member or friend aged 60 years or greater.

The series will feature a different topic each week:

AlertWildfire mountaintop camera network tracked 240 western wildfires in 2017

Mountaintop cameras from the University of Nevada, Reno spotted or tracked 240 fires in Nevada and California in 2017. This helped to keep firefighters more situationally aware and able to mount appropriate responses more rapidly over tens of thousands of square miles of forests and rangelands, including rural communities.

This is a new and expanding tool for fire managers who oversee the wildland and wildland/urban interface.

Round two to start dropping snow Wednesday night in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is enjoying a sunny and clear day Tuesday as the next storm starts to brew in the northwest. Up to 20 inches of snow fell at Lake Tahoe area ski resorts, but with what is expected latter in the week that will be nothing.

Very heavy snowfall accumulations are forecast for the foothills and mountains of Northern California, the heaviest snow expected to begin Wednesday night with major travel delays possible by Thursday. This system will be the strongest storm this winter, with snow to be measured in feet, not inches.

Dog flu spreading through California and Northern Nevada

Yes, dogs can get the flu.

With dozens of reported cases of dogs with influenza throughout Northern California over the last few weeks, it appears two strains of the nasty bug may be getting closer to Lake Tahoe.

One Reno veterinarian says even though they've had just 10 confirmed cases of dog flu in Washoe County, he believes there has likely been 100 cases. Some dog owners don't get their dogs tested for flu due to costs, but Dr. Rick Furman said many of the sick dogs seen in his office have they symptoms.

Opinion: USDA Forest Service doesn’t leave when the fire is out

Natural disasters can occur at any given time and in any given area. The size, duration and damages are usually unpredictable. The devastation, destruction and cost of California wildfires are increasing annually.

Man extricated from crashed truck on Pioneer Trail in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - A man from Northern California is recovering after suffering from a medical condition that caused him to crash his Chevy Silverado pickup into a tree Sunday morning in South Lake Tahoe.

At 9:12 a.m. January 7, emergency crews responded to the crash site on Pioneer Trail near Needle Peak Road. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue had to extricate the unidentified man from the truck.

The man, who is in his mid-40s, was alone in the truck when he had a seizure. Witnesses reported seeing the driver attempt to pull his truck off the roadway prior to the crash.

Wet weather could return to South Lake Tahoe first week of new year

Could the strong high pressure system that's been over Northern California and Northern Nevada finally show signs of weakening and could snow return to the Sierra?

Temperatures will remain above average after a weekend that saw record high temperatures. Saturday's 61, Sunday's 58 both broke records, and Monday's forecast of a high of 53 is close to the record 54 from 2012.

Railway and logging companies pay $3.03 million in fines for NorCal fires

$3.03 million was paid in settlements from a logging company and a railway company for their part in Northern California fires, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

LRY, LLC dba Lake Railway, has paid $1.08 million to settle allegations by the United States relating to a pair of wildfires that burned 840 acres of national forest land. Lake Railway is a rail line that operates in Northern California.

The settlement represents a 100 percent recovery of the United States’ suppression costs, plus interest and penalties.

Opinion: Working together on traffic and parking at Lake Tahoe

The rural mountain lifestyle we all enjoy at Lake Tahoe is not isolated from the major urban areas nearby. On a typical holiday weekend, the Tahoe Basin turns into a recreation thoroughfare as tens of thousands of day and overnight visitors who sustain our local economy drive up from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and Reno.

California's ski towns won't have pot for sale on New Year's Day

California ski towns are going to have to wait a little longer for recreational marijuana.

On Jan. 1, adults 21 and over will be allowed to possess up to 1 ounce of recreational marijuana in California, but most ski towns in Northern California won't allow sales of retail product yet.

Some of the most popular ski towns in Northern California — South Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Mammoth Lakes included — have moratoriums on recreational marijuana businesses, which means that product won’t be available until late spring, at the earliest.

Kudos: Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless thankful for $15K gift

Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless is grateful to the Sierra Health Foundation for awarding a grant of $15,000 for the operation of the South Lake Tahoe Warm Room in 2017-2018. The Sierra Health Foundation is an independent foundation committed to supporting health-related activities in Northern California. The South Lake Tahoe Warm Room is an overnight emergency shelter that operates only during the winter months in our community.

Egon A. Klementi - 4/11/34 ~ 10/24/17

A Lake Tahoe resident for many years, Egon was a native of Austria.

Lake Tahoe restaurants to raise funds for Puerto Rico and Wine Country

Event Date: 
November 13, 2017 (All day)

The Tahoe Restaurant Group, operators of BaseCamp Pizza and Azul Latin Kitchen in South Lake Tahoe, Fireside Pizza Company in Olympic Valley, Rubicon Pizza Company in Truckee will be fundraising for victims of the fires in Northern California and hurricanes in Puerto Rico on November 13, 2017.

All proceeds from dinners purchased at of those four establishments that day will be donated directly to the victims.

Both South Lake Tahoe restaurants are located in the Heavenly Village, Rubicon Pizza is at 6001 Northstar Drive, and Fireside is located at 1985 Squaw Valley Road.

Winter storm possible for Lake Tahoe by end of week

A Winter Storm is forecast to move into northern California and northern Nevada by Friday with snow impacting travel over the Sierra Saturday and Sunday. Windy conditions and periods of rain and snow are possible for western Nevada.

* What can we expect in the Sierra? Gusty winds, rain and snow
starting Friday afternoon with heavy snow possible Saturday and
Sunday. Travel could be difficult at times.

* How about western Nevada? Gusty winds Friday into Saturday with
some light rain possible. Best chance for rain is Saturday into

Column: Tahoe taking action on forest health

The heartbreaking fires in Northern California’s wine country this month have upended hundreds of thousands of people’s lives. In just over one week, the fires across Northern California burned more than 220,000 acres, destroyed 6,000 buildings, and killed more than 40 people. Our hearts go out to our neighbors in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties.

Can a mega fire happen in Lake Tahoe?

Before that question can be answered, we need to understand what a mega fire is. To be a mega fire it needs to meet these five points:

1. Starts near or in a high fire danger area during approaching or actual red flag conditions,
2. Escapes the initial attack,
3. Develops into a campaign fire covering a large area,
4. Requires thousand of firefighters and extensive additional resources to bring final containment,
5. Often cause huge property and other cultural losses in addition to vegetation destroyed.

El Dorado County fugitive found on East African island

For nearly five years the El Dorado County District Attorney's office has been searching for Javed Noori, a man who had been placed on the federal government's Northern California Most Wanted List.

That search is now over after Noori was returned to the county on October 9, 2017 where he faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon including two special allegations for inflicting great bodily injury and for a prior strike for very similar conduct.

Air quality in El Dorado County affected by Northern California fires

Air quality in El Dorado County is currently being impacted by smoke from wildfires burning in the State. County health officials are reminding residents to take precautions should wildfire smoke impact the areas in which they live, work and recreate. According to Air Pollution Control Officer Dave Johnston, wildfires can produce smoke that causes health problems, particularly for children, older people and those with heart disease or respiratory issues.

Johnston advises residents to limit outdoor activity if they see or smell smoke.

Specific precautions include the following:

Estimated 3,500 homes and businesses destroyed in NorCal fires; Red Flag Warning in place

Overnight fire conditions were very active on several fronts forcing additional
evacuations across Northern California. Firefighters are battling 22 large
wildfires that have burned nearly 170,000 acres. Firefighters are bracing for
the winds to shift this evening and increase in speed. 17 people are confirmed
to have died in the wildfires this week. 11 people alone died in the Tubbs Fire,
making it the 6th deadliest fire in our state’s history.
While damage assessment continues on all the fires, it is estimated that at

Evacuation orders still in place as over 115,000 acres burn in California

17 large wildfires that started in the past 24 hours continue to burn across California and have burned over 115,000 acres. The winds that fanned these fires Sunday night and Monday morning have decreased significantly, but local winds and dry conditions continue to pose a challenge. With the decrease in the winds combined with cooler weather, firefighters made good progress overnight. Sheriff officials have confirmed that 11 people have died as a result of the wildfires in Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa and Yuba counties.

73,000 acres burn in California in 12 hours- 1,500 structures burn, 20,000 people evacuated

Overnight significant winds fanned over a dozen fires across Northern California. 15 new wind whipped wildfires in nine counties have already burned over 73,000 acres in the past 12 hours. Firefighters have been challenged with winds gusting in excess of 50 mph causing extreme rates of spread and volatile burning conditions.

Speaker series, Faces of Homelessness, coming to South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
October 26, 2017 - 5:30pm

Faces of Homelessness, an event hosted by the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless, will take plan on Thursday, October 26 at the historic Valhalla Tahoe at 5:30 p.m.

Around the country, formerly homeless individuals are sharing their stories through a series of Faces of Homelessness panel discussions. The South Lake Tahoe version will feature speakers from Northern California, including Lake Tahoe.

LTCC opens three new art exhibits, meet the artists at community reception

Event Date: 
September 28, 2017 - 5:00pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The community is warmly invited to Lake Tahoe Community College on Thursday, September 28 to enjoy three new art exhibit openings that evening. Free artist receptions will be held simultaneously from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. around LTCC’s campus, providing an opportunity to meet the artists whose work will be on display and to enjoy light refreshments with other local supporters of the arts.

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