placerville

With a forecast for the Sierra of a significant snowfall over both Donner Summit and Echo Summit, Caltrans issued a statement for motorists to take caution and to alert drivers of tools at their disposal to help them on their trip.

High winds are predicted with heavy snow, creating the potential for white-outs and even blizzard conditions on summit passes between Wednesday night and Friday morning.

A consumer alert has been issued regarding scams targeting seniors who served in the military and their survivors.

“California’s veterans have made extraordinary sacrifices to keep our nation safe and uphold our most sacred values and freedoms,” said Attorney General Kamala Harris. “Sadly, many of our senior veterans are being targeted by scam artists seeking to take advantage of them for a quick profit. My office will continue to protect our veterans and ensure that predators who seek to profit from their service are held accountable.”

"South Lake Tahoe, you should be proud of yourself."

Those words, said by South Lake Tahoe Police Sgt. Brian Williams, were echoed throughout the evening as the City of South Lake Tahoe celebrated its first 50 years with a golden anniversary gala Saturday night.

Almost 300 people were at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel to share memories of the past, review of the present, and a look towards the future of a city that was formed because many of the residents were tired of being represented by a government in Placerville.

El Dorado County Connections - One Stop has free services to help people who need a job.

"We can help anyone who is having trouble finding a job," said Jenny Wilson, Program Supervisor with Connections - One Stop. "We want to help people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. This includes dislocated workers, such as people who have been affected by a lay-off or business downsizing. Displaced homemakers and self-employed individuals may also qualify for services."

Smoke from prescribed burns moved into the Lake Tahoe basin on Monday, worrying many that there was a nearby out of control fire. Two huge plumes of smoke over the Sierras could be seen from Placerville during the afternoon.

Approximately 5,100 acres of National Forest land are slated to be burned this fall, winter and spring according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

10 p.m. update 9/29/15:

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office has arrested a 23-year-old Orangevale, CA man in connection with threats made at several El Dorado County preschools and day care centers over the past few days. Many of the schools closed temporarily in response to the threats to staff and children.

Michael McDermort was booked into El Dorado County Jail for charges related to terrorizing threats. As of Tuesday night he was still in jail on a bail hold of $51,500.

The South Lake Tahoe community is doing what they do best, helping out others when needed.

With the Butte Fire forcing hundreds out of their homes while destroying over a hundred of them, and burning tens of thousands of acres, people in that community are in need of assistance.

Enter into the picture Monica Nichols and dozens of other locals as they spearheaded a donation drive and are now taking them into the burn area.

The heavy holiday traffic in South Lake Tahoe is showing up on the newly installed CalTrans message boards. As of 11 a.m., it was a 14 minute drive from the intersection of Highway 50 and Pioneer Trail near Stateline to the "Y." It is a 70 minute trip from that same location to Meyers and 160 minutes to Placerville.

Three new message signs were unveiled in South Lake Tahoe just before the 4th of July holiday weekend.

With an early 12-0 lead, the South Tahoe Vikings under first year head coach Louis Franklin were commanding before a home town crowd on Friday night.

That lead fell away in the 4th quarter and a late comeback fell short. The Vikings lost 35-32.

South Tahoe hosted the El Dorado Cougars in a non-conference game in their annual match-up before the season gets started.

The El Dorado County Senior Nutrition Program is currently looking for dedicated, caring volunteers to help in a variety of capacities. "Volunteers are a vital asset to the Senior Nutrition Program," said Ruth Green, Program Coordinator for the Senior Nutrition Program. "Without this valuable community support, many of the County's senior services would simply not be possible." Current volunteer needs include:

Imagine taking part in a race that you don't know when it starts, you don't know where to go or what you'll be doing at what time.

But, you need to be prepared for everything and pack accordingly.

It was an emotional scene on Thursday morning in South Lake Tahoe as the local community came together with members of multiple fire agencies, the Forest Service and law enforcement to say goodbye to Michael "Mikey" Hallenbeck, the firefighter who lost his life on August 8 while fighting his first fire.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors’ thoughts and prayers are with the Hallenbeck family for the loss of their son and brother, U.S. Forest Service Firefighter Michael “Mikey” Hallenbeck.

“Our hearts are saddened by the loss of Michael," said The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. "We are indebted to Michael for his service in keeping the citizens of El Dorado County safe. Thank you for your dedication to our community.”

The Kyburz Fire is burning about 25 miles west of South Lake Tahoe. It has burned both sides of Highway 50 near and around the American River. It started on Highway 50 near Whitehall.

10 a.m. update 7/27/15:

The Sand Flat Campground has reopened as firefighters can almost total control of the fire lines. They now have 98% of the fire contained.

An updated infrared look at the scene has again reduced the amount burned to 75 acres.

They will not be updating the fire command website after Tuesday as they transfer o a forest Type 4 organization.

Looking for a career as a professional truck driver, but don't have money for school? El Dorado County Connections - One Stop has announced that funds are now available through the Federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) to pay for truck driving school tuition. Any unemployed resident of El Dorado County over the age of 23 with a clean driving record is eligible. There is no income restriction.

Prescription Drugs are potentially dangerous when they fall into the wrong hands. The abuse of certain prescription drugs— opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants—can lead to a variety of adverse health effects, including addiction.

To get unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs off the street, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department will be holding a Drug Tahoe Back Day in the county on Sunday, July 12, 2015 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at several locations.

Last year, the El Dorado County Grand Jury found that the workplace environment of the South Lake Tahoe Probation Department was "toxic." That report also said, "Officers were being micromanaged, a clique system of disparate groups had formed
wherein out of favor clique members were unfairly disciplined at times. Those things lead to poor morale and perhaps reduced productiveness at the South Lake Tahoe Probation Office."

The 2014-15 Grand Jury followed up with the department to see if things had changed.

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.

A glimpse of times gone by will be moving along roads Sunday morning as the 66th Annual Wagon Train ride begins their week long trek from Zephyr Cove, NV to Placerville, CA.

In the early 1850's, pioneers crossed the Sierra Nevada into California, traversing what we now know as Echo Summit and the Highway 50 corridor. This route became known as the "Roaring Road" where travel was so heavy, oftentimes wagon trains were forced to wait for days to have their turn on the road.

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.

A rabid skunk was found in the Pleasant Valley area of El Dorado County, bringing the total number of the rabid animals found to three so far in 2015.

The county's Animal Services reported the skunk was found on Pleasant Valley Road near Grindstone Road and White Rose Lane.

One of their officers was called to the scene around noon on April 24, 2015, after a member of the public observed the skunk showing signs of rabies. The officer retrieved the skunk and sent it to the El Dorado County Public Health Laboratory for testing. Test results came back positive for rabies on April 27.

The remains of a homicide victim, killed more than nine years ago and unearthed last week in rural El Dorado County, have been identified.

The El Dorado County Cold Case Homicide Task Force announced Thursday that it located and identified the human remains of Tobias Kaiser who was last seen at his home in Somerset, CA on November 30, 2006.

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.

Suspected arsonist Wayne Huntsman remains in the county jail in South Lake Tahoe, awaiting his court trial. Huntsman is accused of setting the September, 2014 King Fire which burned almost 100,000 acres near Pollock Pines.

A trial setting conference has been set for March 13 in Department 2 of Superior Court of El Dorado County.