Recovery

Survey finds 18 Million trees died in California in 2018

While the rate at which trees died in California has slowed, an additional 18 million trees (mostly conifers) have died in the state, bringing a commitment from both the USDA Forest Service and CALFIRE to make forest health their top priority.

The USDA Forest Service announced today over 147 million trees have died across 9.7 million acres of federal, state, local and private lands in California since the drought began in 2010. Since 2016, federal, state, and local partners have felled 1.5 million dead trees, primarily those posing the highest hazards to life and property.

South Lake Tahoe Police report big jump in vehicle thefts

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Followers of South Tahoe Now's police log have long known that the number of local auto thefts has been a concern of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) for the last several years, but they are now seeing a disturbing trend with a large spike in the crime over the past year.

In 2018 SLTPD investigated 70 auto thefts, with 60 of them being crimes committed in the city limits. This reflects as 30 percent increase in the thefts in the last two years, 52 percent since 2008.

Business licenses issued by City of South Lake Tahoe

The following 137 businesses took out a license to operate in South Lake Tahoe during the months of September, October and November of 2018:

September - 52 Licenses

9/04
PEACE LOVE TAHOE
REAGAN SHARED HOME RENTAL
TOM WOHRMAN SPORTS
WINTERS EVE

9/05
RICKS REPAIR

9/6
BOOT CAMP FITNESS ACADEMY, LLC

9/8
J&S ASPHALT

9/10
1032 4TH ST APARTMENTS
737 SAN JOSE APARTMENT BLDG
ARTISTICRAT PAINTING & HOME SERVICE
HELPING HANDS CONSTRUCTION
LAKE TAHOE AUTOMOTIVE
MATTOX CONSTRUCTION
MCCOOL CONSTRUCTION
WYNN NAIL BAR

9/11
CONSCIOUS CUTLERY

Victims in Topaz Lake and ATV incidents identified

UDPATE 1/13/19 - The second drowning victim has been recovered from Topaz Lake. The recovery efforts resumed today on at 9:00 a.m. by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Marine 7 and search and rescue units, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Specialized Vehicle Unit (SUV) and their HASTY Dive Team, and Wardens from the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Marine 7’s ROV located the body of Jesse Gregory, 50, at a depth of 22 feet.

The surviving fisherman, Scott Wise, has recovered and was released from the hospital.

Boat capsizes in Topaz Lake; One dead, one missing

UPDATE 1/13/19 12:30 p.m. - Douglas County Sheriff's Office has released the names of those involved in the boating accident. One boater, Scott Wise, was able to get to shore while a search began for the other two occupants. Rescue teams located the body of Burt Pederson of Sparks, Nevada, a man in his 40s according to DCSO. Jesse Gregory, also of Sparks, is still missing and presumed to have drowned.

Wise was treated at the Carson Valley Medical Center for treatment. He has since been released.

* * *

Lake Tahoe real estate market news

Looking at the economic news is enough to give you pause with rising interest rates, stock market volatility and real estate experiencing declining sales numbers and the reduction of appreciation. Our market (Lake Tahoe) will see a small negative impact from interest rates as they affect affordability but the last item, equity growth, will impact our market the greatest. The public is staying in their homes for a longer period historically and supported through the increase in remodeling, appliance and flooring sales.

Community invited to provide input on Mental Health Services Act annual update

The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, Behavioral Health Division invites the public to provide input on the Fiscal Year 2019-20 Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Annual Update. Community members can provide input by attending an upcoming community meeting or by submitting an online survey or an email.

Community meetings to receive input for the MHSA Annual Update are scheduled as follows:
• Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at the Placerville Library, 345 Fair Lane in Placerville

STPUD board meeting to highligh 2018 water and sewer improvements

Event Date: 
December 20, 2018 - 6:00pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In 2014, the South Tahoe Public Utility District’s Board of Directors approved a series of annual rate increases to fund more than $50 million in critical improvements to South Tahoe’s water, wastewater, and recycled water systems. These upgrades lower long-term costs, improve fire flow, protect the environment and ensure longterm, quality service. On Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 6 p.m. the District will host a public meeting on the upgrades to the water, sewer and recycled water systems, and the ongoing improvements still needed.

Sierra House students could have split schedule at Al Tahoe until mid-February

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The third graders from Sierra House Elementary are now at the Al Tahoe school site, and on Monday, December 17, the rest of the students will join them. At first it was believed that work could possibly be completed by the time students return to school after the holiday break but now that the hired restoration specialists are getting into the walls and ceiling the scope of work has increased.

Belfor cannot commit to the scope of work until the crews get into their job, so the plan is to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. As of today, the

Cinder the Bear found dead in Washington

When Cinder the Bear arrived in South Lake Tahoe on August 4, 2014 the prognosis wasn't a good one. The 18-month old black bear had been severely burned in the Carlton Complex Fire in Washington and weighed in at just 39 pounds, about half of what a cub her age should be.

The story of her determination and recovery won the hearts of many around the globe and now she is dead.

South Lake Tahoe police jump in to assist two dogs who jumped from 5th floor of parking garage

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a normal day of skiing in South Lake Tahoe on Friday, December 7, 2018 for a couple from Oakland, California. They had parked their car on the top floor of the five-story parking garage at Heavenly Village, left their two dogs Titan and Comet inside and hit the slopes for three hours.

Before getting back to it: Precautions to consider when returning to play

With the weather getting colder and the snow falling, it’s time to break out the winter gear, get outside, and start enjoying some frozen nature. However, if you have recently suffered an injury and are looking to get back to outdoor activities, here are a few precautions you may benefit from before charging the backcountry or joining the kids in the terrain park.

Sierra House update: Tests come back negative for asbestos

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The air quality test conducted at Sierra House Elementary on Friday has come back negative for asbestos.

Parents question safety at Sierra House Elementary after school reopens soon after fire

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A fire that destroyed a hallway, reading room and teacher's room on Sunday, November 11 was just seconds away from engulfing all of Sierra House Elementary. Had it not been for the quick response by Lake Valley Fire Protection District the discussion would be about replacing the 44-year-old South Lake Tahoe school rather than the processes involved to get it cleaned up and opened in just two days.

Family Skate Night to help defray costs for local spinal cord injury victim

Event Date: 
October 20, 2018 - 6:00pm

South Lake Tahoe resident Rocky Beaty has embarked on a long road to recovery after suffering a spinal cord injury while going gymnastics on May 28, 2018 in a local gym. Beaty fractured his C6 and C7 and was flown to Renown where he underwent a four-plus hour surgery, removing bulging discs, fusing his vertebrae, and placing two rods on the front and back of his spine.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

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 time of story.

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

9/12

Body of man missing in Lake Tahoe recovered

The body of the 33-year-old man who went missing in Lake Tahoe on September 8, 2018 was located by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) and then recovered on Monday, September 17.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

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 time of story.

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

9/6

Douglas County senior scammed out of $34,000 over 20-month period

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) recently made connections with a senior citizen through their new Caring Neighbors Program. They found the senior had been scammed out of over $34,000 over the past 20 months.

In the program, a deputy and a volunteer visit seniors to obtain needed information such as consent, next of kin and medication information. The information is beneficial in case of a future emergency involving the senior citizen.

Prescription: Nature

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Nature is healing, and a new partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and Barton Health is bringing the benefits of 154,000 acres of wellness around Lake Tahoe to the public.

"Nature is medicine, nutrition is medicine and you don't have to pop pills for health," said Nancy Laurenson of Barton Health during a recent wellness outing on the Rainbow Trail at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center.

South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting moved to Monday night

Due to the 22nd annual Lake Tahoe Summit on Tuesday, the South Lake Tahoe City Council has moved their bi-monthy meeting to Monday, August 6, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.

Council will continue their discussion on cost recovery methods when attempting to collect fines from homeowners, as well as new agenda items covering a tree thinning project on airport property and payment plans on parking violations due to changes in California law.

$1.6M band-aid given to TTD for South Lake Tahoe bus service

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has given Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) $1.6M to help continue bus service from Carson City to the Carson Valley and on to Lake Tahoe, but more is still needed to help TTD continue service both at the lake and in the valley.

Tahoe yellow cress planting at Baldwin Beach during Native Species Festival

Event Date: 
June 23, 2018 - 10:00am

On Saturday, June 23, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Sugar Pine Foundation will co-host a Tahoe yellow cress (TYC) planting with the Tahoe yellow cress Adaptive Management Working Group at Baldwin Beach, which is National Forest System land managed by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU). In addition, the LTBMU will host a TYC information booth at the Native Species Festival on June 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center.

Fundraising account set up for South Lake Tahoe teen who broke neck

On May 28, 2018, 18-year-old Rocky Beaty of South Lake Tahoe suffered a trampoline accident that broke his neck and was transported by medical helicopter to Renown Medical Center in Reno.

Rocky, a student at Lake Tahoe Community College, remains hospitalized in Renown after breaking his C-6 and C-7. A bank account has been set up to cover medical expenses at El Dorado Savings due to mounting costs and unknown future care expenses but they do know it will be extensive.

1,600 runners expected for 4th annual Rock Tahoe Half Marathon in Lake Tahoe

Epic Tahoe Adventure's fourth annual Rock Tahoe Half Marathon returns to Lake Tahoe on Saturday, June 16, 2018. Over 1,600 participants will enjoy the beautiful lake while running from the top of Spooner Summit to the Hard Rock Hotel at Stateline.

Fundraiser for South Lake Tahoe man recovering from major burns

Its been 19 days since Ron Svetlik was seriously burned after an engine he was working on in his shop exploded and caught on fire. The 57-year-old South Lake Tahoe man has been in the U.C.

Young Colombian rider earns Leader Jersey by winning Amgen Stage 2

With just over 2k left to ride to the summit of Gibraltar Road, Team Sky’s 21-year-old Egan Bernal (COL) attacked and swiftly climbed away to a solo victory to close out Stage 2 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. Tao Geoghegan Hart and his Team Sky teammates set an unyielding pace all the way up the steep grade in support of lead rider Bernal to help launch him to his fourth victory of the 2018 season, shoring up the race lead as well as nearly all of the classification wins with today’s epic climb and overall performance.

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

UHC cycling team training in South Lake Tahoe before Amgen TOC

The Amgen Tour of California is just a week away, and since both the women's and men's races come through South Lake Tahoe this year, many cyclists can be seen training on area roads.

On Wednesday, four members of the United Heath Care (UNC) cycling team joined local comedian and radio personality Howie Nave on a bike ride to Round Hill Pines.

Howie participates in the annual America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride around Lake Tahoe, so he can ride, and the ladies of Amgen today treated him kindly on the roads, not leaving him in the dust as he joked about.

Lake Tahoe area roadwork May 6-12

The following are the current California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) road projects in the El Dorado and Placer County areas of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra for the week of May 6 - May 12, 2018.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

New updates to County VHR ordinance could be in place by July

The El Dorado County Vacation Home Rental Ordinance was first created in 1997 and updated in 2004. At this time there are 900 permitted vacation home rentals (VHRs) in the County, 800 of which are in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

What started out with a “Good Neighbor Policy” has morphed into neighbors versus neighbors in El Dorado County and an ongoing VHR discussion as Supervisors work to create a new ordinance.

Local man faces long road to recovery after being burned in engine explosion

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The man burned in Wednesday's engine explosion on Kingsbury Grade has been identified as Ronald Svetlik of Stateline. He is currently in critical condition at the U.C. Davis Burn Center with third degree burns over 30 percent of his body, including his scalp, face, eyes, lips, hands, palms, arms and legs.

FIrst phase of El Dorado County VHR ordinance closer to approval

Weather has not be the best friend of those wanting to get a revised vacation home rental (VHR) ordinance for El Dorado County. Snow and unsafe travel conditions for staff driving to South Lake Tahoe from Placerville for the meetings lead to the cancellation of the March 3 and March 24 meetings, and the original February 1 meeting had to be stopped due to overcrowding. The next Board of Supervisors meeting on VHRs will be in South Lake Tahoe on May 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the South Tahoe Middle School multi-purpose room.

New board members and volunteers sought for Lake Tahoe Humane Society

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's been almost one year since the Lake Tahoe Humane Society (LTHS) fired their former Executive Director Niki Congero amid allegations of embezzlement. For months, South Lake Tahoe Police detectives worked through piles of paperwork and film, completing the case for the El Dorado County District Attorney in December. Since then, the case has been in the hands of the DA's office, but nothing has happened yet.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

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 Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

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

3/4

3:20 p.m. - Vandalism - BLitzen Rd - R/P CLAIMS THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE CAUSED BY THE 41-YEAR-OLD MALE SUSPECT.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

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 Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

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

2/2

9:07 a.m. - Vehicle Theft - Kaska St - DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO THE REPORT OF A BURGLARY WHICH RESULTED IN THE THEFT OF A VEHICLE.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

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 Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

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

1/24

9:58 a.m. - Petty Theft - Heavenly Village Way - R/P REPORTED A THEFT.

1/25

7:32 a.m. - Death Investigation - South Lake Tahoe - 83-YEAR-OLD MALE DECEASED.

South Lake Tahoe meeting on vacation rental ordinance for El Dorado County

Event Date: 
February 1, 2018 - 5:30pm

Vacation rentals in El Dorado County in the Tahoe basin outside the South Lake Tahoe city limits will see new regulations in the future, many of which will be conceptually approved during the Board of Supervisors meeting in South Lake Tahoe February 1.

El Dorado County man dies after going into raw water conduit

The body of a Pollock Pines man was located just after 8:00 a.m. Tuesday after going missing in an El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) untreated raw water conduit on Monday at about 4:00 p.m.

Tory Robert Mayes, a 34-year-old from Pollock Pines, went into the EID’s Camino Conduit pipe that carries raw water from Jenkinson Lake to EID’s water treatment plant 1.5 miles away.

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.

Free recycling of Christmas trees in South Lake Tahoe

Weekly residential customers of South Tahoe Refuse and Recycling in Nevada and California can now get rid of their Christmas trees through their free curbside recycling program.

From December 26, 2017 through January 8, 2018, place the tree out on normal trash pick-up days for pick up.

To have them pick up trees, make sure the following are done:

Cut tree into six-foot lengths.
Remove tinsel, lights, nails and stands from your tree.
Flocked trees are not accepted as they cannot be recycled into compost.

From homeless to housed, EDSO Homeless Outreach Team is making a difference

"Instead of trying to find a way to eliminate the homeless, we now have the ability to change homelessness with a new approach - and it is working," said El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Macras.

Stolen painting recovered in Sacramento

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - Detectives from South Lake Tahoe Department (SLTPD) posing as potential buyers on Craigslist have uncovered a painting stolen from a gallery in the Heavenly Village.

On Saturday December 9, SLTPD received a report of a stolen painting from Pacific Crest Gallery. The painting, Three Bears Playing Golf, valued at $1195, was taken from the stores front sidewalk display by an unknown suspect.

Bay area residents arrested in Stateline on burglary charges

8:00PM Update 12/18/17: After the trio's arrest, detectives from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department served a search warrant on a motel room at Motel 6 on Highway 50, locating a significant amount of stolen property that had recently been reported stolen in Douglas County. They also located numerous items that may have been stolen, but were not previously reported. .

Garbage rates going up in South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County

Residents in South Lake Tahoe will soon be paying more for garbage pick-up after the South Lake Tahoe City Council voted 4-1 to approve South Tahoe Refuse's request to raise rates for residential customers by 8.81 percent, the biggest one-time increase ever added to the service.

The rate increase will go into effect January 1, 2018.

The monthly rate for SLT customers will go from $26.55 to #28.89 for unlimited service, and increase of $2.34. Qualified seniors (65 and over and part of Liberty Utilities Care program) will pay an extra $1.95, taking their monthly rate to $24.15.

South Lake Tahoe Police Blotter

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 416 calls between November 13 - November 27, 2017.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

11/13 - 26 Total Calls

Battery in the 900 block of Ski Run Blvd
Warrant in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

11/14 - 28 Total Calls

Battery in the 2500 block of William Ave
Brandishing in the 2200 block of Lake Tahoe BLvd

11/15 - 26 Total Calls

Auto Theft in the 2300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

Partnership emphasizes nature is the best medicine

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - To show nature is the best medicine, Barton Health and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) have partnered together to give the community Wellness Outings.

Patients will have access to the forest through a guided outing with a USFS ranger and physician or nurse.

In addition to Wellness Outings, the partnership will provide wellness and injury prevention training for USFS rangers and firefighters, as well as accessibility of public lands to promote outdoor recreation.

Bears making comeback to Nevada's Great Basin

Conservation efforts are seeing the return of black bears into the Great Basin of Nevada, an area that hasn't seen the mammal for over 80 years according to a study released this week by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), and the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR).

Prior to this study, most of the state's black bears could be found around Lake Tahoe and the Pine Nut Mountains after being forced from the Great Basin by unregulated hunting and conflicts with domestic livestock.

Update on recovered bodies at Fallen Leaf Lake

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Department has issued a press release after South Tahoe Now broke the story on November 13 concerning the recovery of two bodies in Fallen Leaf Lake.

Here is an updated statement from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office:

Bruce’s Legacy, an underwater search and recovery team from Wisconsin, came to Fallen Leaf Lake to assist The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office with a deep water search for two missing people.

Two bodies retrieved from Fallen Leaf Lake

11-15-17 update can be found here: http://southtahoenow.com/story/11/15/2017/update-recovered-bodies-fallen-leaf-lake

Bruce's Legacy, the underwater search and recovery team from Wisconsin, was at Fallen Leaf Lake recently, searching the water for a missing person. What they found was more than expected when bodies of both a man and woman were recovered.

Syndicate content