tribal

ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. - The least populated county in California is just to the south of Lake Tahoe. Alpine County, population about 1,200, includes the towns of Markleeville, Woodfords, Kirkwood and Bear Valley. While not big, Alpine County is experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases just like the rest of the country.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The State of California issued guidelines on Friday for 12 business sectors that can open in some counties on June 12, 2020. Counites that have approved attestations like El Dorado County can open those sectors once they have developed and implemented their safety plans on June 12.

Celebrations have taken on many new forms since the start of social distancing. Birthday parties have become processions of cars parading past a celebrant’s home—people honking and waving, tossing candy and small gifts (for later disinfecting, then enjoying). And huge international celebrations like the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this week have moved online, giving room for individuals to celebrate and explore the conservation movement in new ways.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Due to the current public health crisis, the El Dorado County Superior Court will be limited access to courthouses, effective immediately. They currently plan to resume normal operations on April 17, 2020, though with the rapidly unfolding coronavirus situation, this could change.

Courtrooms will be practice social distancing, including at least two seats between people in the gallery. Members of the public are strongly discouraged from attending court proceedings unless they are statutory support persons or those who have been subpoenaed.

Last week our collective memories returned to that terrible November morning as a raging wildfire swept through Paradise, California. We woke that morning to images of wholesale devastation as fearsome winds drove racing flames from one town and one home to the next. We were horrified to watch videos of citizens running for their lives, desperately trying to escape the smoke and flames that were engulfing everything in their path. Eighty-five people lost their lives—the deadliest fire in California history— in what we now call the Camp Fire.

STATELINE, Nev. - Douglas County Redevelopment Area No. 2 (RDA2) at Stateline is moving forward despite a move to have it dissolved by Douglas County Commissioner Dave Nelson.

There was an overflow crowd at the commissioner's June 20 meeting at Lake Tahoe. Many of those who could not fit in the meeting room were accommodated with audio feed in the judges' chambers and the bottom floor of the parking garage.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Chief Jeff Meston is now the president of the California Fire Chief's Association (CalChiefs). The 925 voting members of the association voted in Meston and he just completed one year as president-elect. On Friday, September 28, he was sworn into the position with some from South Lake Tahoe making the trip to Sacramento to be there for the big day.

This is not only the first time a chief from South Lake Tahoe has been elected to the state's top spot for fire chiefs, but also the first time anyone has from cities along the Sierra Nevada.

An American Indian tribe with deep roots in the Lake Tahoe basin is seeking to reclaim land that’s part of a Nevada resort area.

The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California wants to ask Congress for nearly 375 acres of federal land in Incline Village.

The property includes land that’s part of Diamond Peak Ski Resort and along fairways at Incline Village Championship Golf Course.

Tribal chairman Neil Mortimer made the request as part of an effort by Washoe County to shift thousands of acres from federal to private or local government ownership.

Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions ended an Obama-era federal policy that provided legal shelter for marijuana sales in California, Nevada and four other states (Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Maine) that have allowed recreational pot, placing at risk thousands of marijuana businesses operating legally under state laws.

The Justice Department move on Thursday plunged California’s fledgling recreational pot market into further uncertainty, and was met with a bipartisan backlash from lawmakers in states where marijuana is now sold legally to any adult who wants to buy it.

UPDATE 10:59PM: Suspect Kyle Steele turned himself in late Monday night at the sheriff's office administration building, said Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong. Both suspects are now in custody.
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UPDATE 5:54PM: One of the two suspects in an Oregon homicide late Saturday, Tevin Lafond of Carson City, is in Lyon County custody, according to Sheriff Ken Furlong. Suspect Kyle Steele remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $197,250 to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to assess and restore wetlands in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Today’s announcement coincided with the 21st annual Lake Tahoe Summit in South Lake Tahoe.

TRPA will use the grant to develop a regional plan for monitoring changes in wetlands over time, prioritizing wetland restoration efforts and establishing goals for successful wetland projects.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Chief Jeff Meston has been elected as president-elect of the California Fire Chief's Association (CalChiefs). The 925 voting members of the association voted for Meston during their recent election period that concluded August 4.

This is not only the first time a chief from South Lake Tahoe has been elected to the state's top spot, but also the first time anyone has from cities along the Sierra Nevada.

"I am rally humbled and very much thrilled," Chief Meston said of his appointment.

9:00 p.m. update: The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) has initiated evacuations for areas east of Pine Nut Road to include Fred's Street, Sandoval, Taildragger, Bluebird, and Bar-J Roads as well as in the Sierra Spirit Ranch area including, Blue Sage Road, Badger Lane, Robinson Road and Lena Lane. In addition, Washoe Tribal Police are evacuating the Bodie Flats area in the vicinity of Courtland Avenue.

The lightning-sparked Preacher Fire burning in the Pine Nut Mountains southeast of Gardnerville has swelled to 3,130 acres according to DCSO with winds moving north.

The drivers of two Chevy Tahoe SUVs were involved in a crash at 10:55 a.m. on March 3 in Markleville, Calif.

A maroon 1999 Tahoe, driven by a 19-year-old female Markleville resident was traveling north on Diamond Valley Road just south of Chambers Lane. Behind her was a white Washoe Tribal Police 2014 Tahoe, driven by a 25-year-old male police officer.

Thank you Jeff Munson and CarsonNow.org for the continuous coverage and updates of the fire.

UPDATE 11AM 8/15: The Shooting Fire is now 80 percent contained and remains non-threatening to structures with a total of 252 acres burned, SFIDC spokeswoman Shannon Brophy said.

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UPDATE 8PM: The Shooting Fire is 40 percent contained with eyes on all fire lines from multiple fire agencies, said Carson City Fire Department spokeswoman Stacey Belt. Mapping has the fire size to be between 200 to 300 acres, she said. Several fire crews will remain on scene to close the containment gap.
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Jen Kline, a 15-year-employee with Live Violence Free, passed away suddenly on March 18, 2016 at the age of 46. The unexpected death caught everyone by surprise from family and friends to those she served in Alpine County through her position as the non-profit agency's coordinator.

"We were totally shocked," LVF Executive Director Jane Flavin said of Kline's passing.

During Kline's memorial this spring her daughters passed out seeds

Darrell Hinz was the trusted construction manager hired by the United Auburn Indian Community to complete its Indian Hills Road office project.

Instead, Hinz became enmeshed in a fraud scheme that federal investigators determined would ultimately suck $17 million out of the project in fraudulently inflated invoices.

The money ended up paying for luxuries that included a $70,000 BMW, a condo in South Lake Tahoe and a new swimming pool.

Change.

It’s happening fast in Reno-Tahoe tourism, from millennials’ growing influence in the marketplace to changing preferences among visitors, according to a new industry analysis.

And the quicker the region embraces it, the better.

“Reno-Lake Tahoe Tourism Industry – Navigating Change,” is a white paper written by South Lake Tahoe-based SMG Consulting and its president, Carl Ribaudo.

A proposed 29 lane outdoor gun range in El Dorado County has created a lot of concern from the Shingle Springs community as well as others in the county.

On February 24, the County Supervisors heard a presentation from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, owners of the Red Hawk Casino and operators of the proposed gun range. At that meeting there was a lot of concern voiced about safety and noise.

The tribe doesn't need approval due to their sovereign nation status, but they say they will address all concerns prior to moving forward.

As the keynote speaker at last month’s National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation in Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell emphasized the central role collaboration must play for America to protect its natural resources, balance economic needs, and address emerging environmental challenges such as climate change.

“We are moving into an era of epic collaboration,” Jewell said, explaining that regional partnerships across jurisdictional boundaries are more important than ever for the federal department that manages 20 percent of our nation’s land.

MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa’s Summer Concert Series second annual Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival returns on Saturday, June 29. Tahoe's taste of island irie at the 4,000-seat outdoor amphitheater will feature breezy Jamaica rhythms and reggae ska beats from headliners SOJA and Alpha Blondy, along with special guests Passafire, Stickfigure, Tomorrow's Bad Seed and Island of Black & White.

Gregory J. Chmielewski, 43, formerly of El Dorado Hills, is scheduled to be arraigned today for 24-counts of mail fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. The indictment, from February 17, 2011, was sealed until Chmielewski’s arrest in Arizona on October 24, 2012.

Landing to the shores of Lake Tahoe this summer will be a cultural watershed of skilled Native American and indigenous carvers from around the world who are set out to build a 70-foot boat that will be taken across the globe.