safety

Is it possible to be thrilled and relaxed at the same time?

I learned the answer to this question hanging beneath the canopy of a paraglider as it soared several hundred feet over the forested ridge that runs along the border between California and Nevada on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.

The excitement of flying through the air under an oversized parachute was matched only by the peaceful beauty of the blue lake below. It's a vantage point that might have left the great Mark Twain speechless.

Kahle Community Center will host an AARP driver safety class for senior drivers from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Those who complete the class should receive an auto insurance discount for three...

CARSON CITY — A pair of Nevada small business owners on Thursday said the federal government needs to ease off on its excessive regulatory efforts under the Obama administration if it wants to encourage job growth here and around the country.

LAS VEGAS – The University of Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack football team has been picked second in its inaugural season in the Mountain West and four Wolf Pack players were named to the 2012 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team. The polls and teams were announced Tuesday at the Mountain West's media event this week at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

UPDATED: As Lake Tahoe continues to earn the respectable distinction of having bicycle-friendly communities, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency will host experts from two well-established cities to discuss ways the basin can improve its trails and paths.
The TRPA has invited bicycle community planners from Portland, Oregon and Park City, Utah for a community speaker panel today, Thursday, July 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lake Tahoe Community College in the Board Room. A similar speaker panel was held on Wednesday at Kings Beach.

This July, Squaw Valley saddles up again for Wild West Weekend with a host of western-themed events high in the Sierra. Wild West Weekend offers adults and kids the opportunity to channel their inner-cowboys at the High Camp Corral for western-style fun. Pony rides, a petting zoo, western shoot-outs, and two days of live music are all part of the western weekend on July 21 and July 22.

Fire restrictions will go into effect in the Lake Tahoe Basin on Monday July 9. A Forest Order has been issued to provide for public safety through the end of the official 2012 fire season. (see PDF below.)
Campfires, including charcoal barbecues, are prohibited except in exempted recreation sites. Smoking on National Forest land is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or within an exempted recreation site. Fire restrictions are intended to reduce the possibility of human-caused wildfires over the summer season.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Concussions have been the focal point of athletic safety for the past several years.And the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association is no different when it comes to protecti...

The worst possible outcome for Mammoth Lakes has come true. The town filed decided to declare municipal bankruptcy Monday morning, July 2. The Town Council took the action unanimously.
"It's wish this hadn't happened," said Mayor Matthew Lehman, "but it's not the way the cards fell for us."
The town immediately issued a press release regarding the Town council decision.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, on a typical Fourth of July, fireworks cause more fires in the U.S. than all other causes combined. We have now reached the 5th anniversary of the devastating Angora Fire which ravaged our community. The large scale wildfires in Colorado and New Mexico should serve as warnings to us all. After experiencing a very mild winter, our area faces a dangerous wild land fire season. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department has increased its vigilance in enforcing state and city fireworks laws to protect public health and safety.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit's upcoming field season has begun. On Monday, June 25, 2012, the Forest Service began constructing the staging area for the Upper Truckee River Reach 5 restoration project that will begin in 2013, at the former Sunset Stables site.

The work, which will continue for approximately two weeks, includes the installation of an approximately two acre aggregate base pad, which is designed to prevent the spread of noxious weeds into the project area.

Wildfire safety has improved at Lake Tahoe in the five years since the Angora fire, but there is still work to be done, according to a report card released this week by California Sen. Ted Gaine...

Residents and visitors are urged to help protect public safety and the environment during the Fourth of July holiday by keeping wildfire prevention in mind.
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management unit reminds folks that having fireworks of any kind — and sparklers are considered fireworks — is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Campfires are not permitted on Forest Service beaches or in the general forest. For Wednesday, July 4, 2012, only, personal barbecues are allowed at Nevada, Pope and Baldwin beaches but are not permitted on any other Forest Service beaches or in the general forest.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is marking the fifth anniversary of the Angora Wildfire by reminding the public of the importance of creating defensible space around their homes and reflecting on the community’s progress since the fire.

The following is a press release from Sgt. Brad Williams of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department regarding Tuesday's evening response to a suspicious package found near Safeway on Highway 50:

Transportation projects are not always about new capacity for automobiles and trucks. Transportation projects may include improvements for, airports, railroads, mass transit, bike lanes and walking paths. These projects are often constructed to help environmental impact, provide for better safety and more economical ways for people to do there business or pleasure.

CARSON CITY — It probably comes as no surprise to many Nevada motorists that the state is ranked in the Top 10 as one of the most dangerous in which to drive.
Nevada rounded out the top 10 states for dangerous driving with 1.56 fatalities for every 100 million miles driven, according to the report by carinsurancecomparison.com.

Join California State Sen. Ted Gaines on Monday, June 25, 6 to 8 p.m. for an update on the Blue Ribbon Commission’s recommendations following the Angora Fire. Learn what has been done and what still needs work to ensure future fire safety. Ask questions and let your voice be heard on efforts to protect the region from destructive wildfires.
The meeting will be at the South Tahoe High School theater. To RSVP or for more information, call (916) 783-8232.

Heavenly Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe has named James Grant as its director of Mountain Operations. Grant was promoted from his role as director of Lift Operations. Meanwhile, Heavenly’s director of Snow Surfaces, Jim Larmore, has been named the new director of Mountain Operations at Northstar California Resort.

Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness Week runs through June 3. A Webinar Series on developing fire adapted communities at Lake Tahoe has been launched. Communities located in fire-prone area are fire adapted when they require little assistance from firefighters during a wildfire. Residents accept responsibility for living in a high fire-hazard area. They possess the knowledge and skills to prepare their homes and property to survive wildfire and they know how to evacuate early, safely and effectively.

This Memorial Day weekend Lake Tahoe's waters are sure to be rippling with boat wakes and the happy cries of those sailing along with the vessels. But with so many boaters out, safety is always ...