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The 7th Annual Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony was the biggest yet, with 300 people at Thursday's banquet and 175 nominations of local businesses, employees and experiences.

Here is the list of winners:

Experience Award – Sponsored by Marriott Grand Residence & Vacation Club

South Tahoe High Graduate Francisco Figueroa-Yanez, known as "Frankie" to his friends, has his new career as a school teacher in San Francisco highlighted in a recent SFGate article titled "Bay Area schools scramble for qualified teachers amid shortage." Frankie graduated from STHS in 2007, went to Santa Clara University where he majored in Biology and Spanish and is now at the University of San Francisco working on his masters degree. He visits South Lake Tahoe when time allows to see his parents and friends.

Douglas County Commissioners may decide to raise the water rates for the County's Lake Tahoe customers by 25% during their meeting at the lake on Thursday.

The October 16th agenda is full of items pertaining to the South Shore, including a possible decision to merge the Zephyr Cove Water Utility District, the Cave Rock/Uppaway Water Systems, and Skyland Water System and establish the Lake Tahoe Water Utility Fund effective November 1.

9/28/14 10:00 p.m. update: 4,420 firefighters and support staff are still on the scene of the 97.099 acre King Fire which is now 89% contained.

After 4 days of precipitation with accumulations of 1-3 inches, fire spread has been halted, however heat remains in the heavier fuels and in the heavy duff sheltered from the rain under the dense timber canopy. As the weather turns warm and dry over the next several days, expect to see an increase in fire activity and smoke production; however spread potential is extremely low, doe to the successful suppression efforts.

Backers of California Proposition 46 claim it will protect the patient and reduce patient harm. While the initiative argues patient safeguards and seems well-intended, the proposition is flawed and costly. If passed as written, Proposition 46 would discourage doctors from working in California, jeopardize patient privacy, and increase patient and government healthcare costs.

The Lake Tahoe Unified School District is renewing their focus on raising the attendance rates of students in the district's seven schools. Not only is being at school essential to a good education, it's also essential to the District's budget.

On Tuesday, the LTUSD Board will vote on a proclamation to declare September as "Attendance Awareness Month." They want parents, students, teachers, staff, administrators and the community to focus on "Every School Day Matters" and help keep kids in school.

During the 2013/14 school year, the attendance rates were:

Bijou - 92.3%

Guidance and Planning for Success, or as it's known on campus, GPS, is a new state mandated program that requires all students at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) to complete a new student orientation, take Math and English assessment tests so they are placed in courses that match their needs, and to work one-on-one with an LTCC counselor on a personalized Educational Plan prior to enrollment.

GPS is required for both new and returning students.

Does your business have a mobile strategy? Do you understand how to integrate technology programs into your existing marketing plan? Or know how to best measure your social media programs?

Location

Parking rates for Heavenly Village retailers wishing to validate customer's tickets were lowered from $1.50 per hour to $1 per hour in Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting. The movie theater validations were lowered from four hours to three hours as well.

South Tahoe Now sent a questionnaire out to all of the candidates for El Dorado County Supervisor and Douglas County Sheriff. This is the last of the submitted responses. Candidates Sue Novasel, Kenny Curtzwiler and Angela Swanson were the only County Supervisor candidates to respond, and Douglas County Sheriff candidates Ron Pierini and Dave Brady were the only Sheriff candidates to respond. We thank those that took the time to reply.

1) What do you see as the Number 1 issue facing residents of District 5?

April 20 to 26 marks the 17th annual Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. In 2014, 55,000 Americans will develop cancer of the head and neck. Though 13,000 people will die from this disease, most cases are preventable.

Causes of Oral, Head, & Neck Cancer
Tobacco use is the most common and preventable cause of head and neck cancer. Tobacco products include cigarettes, snuff and chewing tobacco. Switching from smoking to smokeless products only changes the risk of lung cancer to a risk of oral cancer.

Lake Tahoe is one of California’s greatest natural treasures. It is a beauty to behold, with forested mountains surrounding the deep blue shimmering surface. It is famous for many recreational activities- snowboarding, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, and sunbathing. But the clear blue waters of Tahoe are in trouble. Invasive species, climate change, and sedimentation all threaten the unique ecosystems of the lake.

Rates for South Tahoe Public Utility customers need to be raised "in order to be prepared for fire, prevent sewer or recycled water spills into the lake and meet law requirements on new meter installation," according to South Tahoe Public Utility District G.M. Richard Solbrig. He provided explanation of the three challenges to the district in a presentation to Tahoe Douglas Rotarians on Friday, January 31.

‘Tis the season to Empower Tahoe: the Tahoe Regional Young Professionals’ (www.tahoetryp.org) Annual Winter White FUNdraiser returns on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 6:30 - 10 p.m. at the Riva Grill in South Lake Tahoe. The themed holiday party supports TRYP’s professional development programs like workshops and scholarships, while also raising funds for the Boys & Girls Club of South Lake Tahoe. The theme is the color white so all attendees are encouraged to wear white!

Take part in a special evening of historic trains, spirits (beer, wine), music, and special treats for adults 21 years of age and older to help local cancer patients and their caregivers.

The non-profit foundation, Empowered Lives through the Cancer Journey, housed at the Sierra Nevada Cancer Center, is hosting this adults-only fundraising event – an evening of Halloween fun and gaiety. The event is scheduled for October 19, 2013 at 6 p.m., at the V&T Railroad, F Street Station in Virginia City.

Lake Tahoe — Big Blue, as it is referred to by many — is North America’s Largest Alpine Lake and the Jewel of the High Sierra … and the Reno Tahoe Territory of the Nevada Commission on Tourism and Bike the West invites you to experience the adventure of riding your bicycle around her 72-mile shoreline by participating in the Annual Tour de Tahoe – Bike Big Blue.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Aug. 1-6.

Rat poison used on illegal marijuana grows is killing fishers in the southern Sierra Nevada, according to a recent study conducted by a team of scientists from the University of California, Davis, the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Research Station, UC Berkeley, and the Integral Ecology Research Center in Humboldt County, Calif.

A new marketing campaign “Improve the State of Your Business,” developed by the Northern Nevada Development Authority has received national media attention for its recent launch of marketing materials and a website targeting the relocation of business to Douglas County. The campaign includes material specific to Douglas County and has been successful in bringing new jobs to the local area.

More than $1.6 million in course improvements highlight the 45th season of Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, set to open at Stateline, Lake Tahoe May 9.

A 10-year environmental plan meant to reduce impact and save water has been put in place with upgrades to the irrigation system as well as drought and stress tolerant grass. Other improvements include GPS devices on carts that feature yardage and video tips from pros.

Here is a press release from Edgewood Tahoe that outlines important dates and rates for the 2013 season.

Now is a great time to invest in Lake Tahoe, whether it's a vacation rental, long term rental, multi-units/apartments or retail buildings. With the continued low interest rates and property prices still considered low, now is the time to pull the trigger before it's too late. I advise my clients that waiting will not help their situation. The biggest challenge is the lack of homes for sale. The key to to watch for new listings as they get posted to the MLS system.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its sixth opportunity in three years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your medications for disposal to Safeway at 1020 Johnson, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

You’ve stopped smoking and are watching your alcohol intake. You are eating right and exercising. Congratulations, there is mounting evidence your lifestyle will not only make you healthier but might also help you prevent cancer. But if you are between the ages of 50 to 75, there is something more that you can do; get a colorectal cancer screening.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have, for the first time, developed a system that can determine which types of air particles that pollute the atmosphere are the most prevalent and most toxic.

Previous research has shown that air pollution containing fine and ultrafine particles is associated with asthma, heart disease and premature death. This new study, released today by the California Air Resources Board and the Electric Power Research Institute, marks the first time that researchers have conducted source-oriented sampling of these particles in the atmosphere.