Mark Mulder on July 17 putts on a reconfigured hole 9 at Edgewood Tahoe. Photo Copyright 2015 Carolyn E. Wright

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE — Veterans of the American Century Championship are contending with two new holes. Holes 8 and 9 have been reconfigured to accommodate the Edgewood Lodge that will break ground in August.

A fence is up around part of what was the green for hole 9. It has been moved farther west to be closer to Lake Tahoe.

The fenced area is where the 159-room hotel will be built. It will have views of the lake and golf course.

At one point there was talk of having the tournament be 15 holes this year, but Edgewood Companies, which owns the property, and the contractors were able to keep 18 holes intact for the ACC.

The lodging property is expected to take 20 months to build.

These hotel guests will be able to watch the ACC because on Friday a seven-year contract was signed to keep American Century Investments as the title sponsor of the tournament that is owned by NBC, and to continue playing it at Edgewood Tahoe. Financial terms were not disclosed.

American Century Investments’ Chief Marketing Officer Mark Killen at a press conference said the chemistry of all the parties involved makes this tournament so successful. This is year 17 American Century has been involved in the 26-year-old tournament.

This is the longest running celebrity golf tournament in the United States.

Justin Timberlake has a phalanx of Douglas County deputies at the golf tournament. Photo Copyright 2015 Carolyn E. Wright

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE – The biggest name in this year’s ACC celebrity golf tournament can’t be found in the top 10 after Day 1, but the fans don’t care. Justin Timberlake is No. 1 with the crowd – at least based on gallery size – no matter his score.

The singer-actor is tied at 20 with Ray Allen and Joe Carter. As he approached each hole the throng of autograph seekers and admirers swelled compared to the other groups. Plus, he had five Douglas County sheriff’s deputies walking the course with him to ensure fans didn’t get out of hand.

This is the first year Timberlake has played in the 26-year-old event at Edgewood Tahoe. He didn’t disappoint on Friday.

Actor Jack Wagner is seeking his third ACC title. Photo Copyright 2015 Carolyn E. Wright

“He’s really social and he’s one of the guys. He’s very easy to hang out with. And it’s really a big, big plus for this tournament, I think,” actor Jack Wagner said at a press conference.

While there are other entertainers in the field of 91 athletes, it is dominated by athletes. This duo met at the tournament this week. Both are serious golfers.

Timberlake was showing he could entertain and play golf at the same time. He and Alfonso Ribeiro (“The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and 2014 “Dancing with the Stars” champion) appeared to see who could swivel their hips the best. It brought out rousing whoops and hollers from the crowd.

Kevin Nealon and Charles Barkley are comedic with their play and fan interaction. Photo Copyright 2015 Carolyn E. Wright

For Charles Barkley – ex-NBA star – hip swiveling is about the last thing he can do. While Sir Charles has always been challenged on the golf course, it’s even more apparent this year because he is awaiting a hip replacement. Still, he isn’t in last place. That distinction goes to former model Kim Alexis.

Former soccer star Brandi Chastain has not lost her touch. Photo Copyright 2015 Carolyn E. Wright

Alexis and Brandi Chastain played together July 17. Chastain showed off some footwork that might have made her eligible for this year’s U.S. women’s World Cup championship team. On hole 17 she was bouncing a mini soccer ball like it was a Hacky Sack, then sent a spiraling football into the crowded beach and sunk a basketball with her feet into a mini soccer goal.

Willie Robertson gives the broadcast crew an earful. Photo Copyright 2015 Carolyn E. Wright

Chastain is in 80th place, tied with Larry the Cable Guy. He played with Willie Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” fame, who in his lime green headband with feather still looked like he had walked off the set of the TV show. At one point he sprawled out on the ground and began talking into one of the microphones on the grass.

Some familiar and not so recognizable names are atop the leaderboard after the first day of the three-day tournament. (A modified Stableford scoring system is used.) Past champions Wagner, Billy Joe Tolliver and Rick Rhoden are in the hunt. Wagner is tied with Mark Mulder for first place. Wagner won the event in 2006 and 2011.

Mark Mulder has been prepping for this tournament with the goal of winning it. Photo Copyright 2015 Carolyn E. Wright

Mulder, a former pitcher with the A’s and Cardinals, got his groove on when he moved to the front nine after starting the round on hole 10. By the end of the day he proved pitchers transition well to a sport with a smaller white ball.

“I’m looking to win it. And I’m going to be disappointed if I don’t because I know my game’s good enough and I’ve worked on it enough to try to be prepared to do that,” Mulder said at a press conference.

By Molly Martinez, KRON-TV

In a worrying trend, more California drivers are using their cell phones while driving this year than last, according to a study released by state officials today.

The study, conducted by the state Office of Traffic Safety and the UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, centers on observations of driver behavior.

Researchers this year observed 9.2 percent of drivers using their cell phone. That marks a 39 percent increase from 2014, when 6.6 percent of drivers were seen using their cell phones, but remains lower than the all-time high of 10.8 percent recorded in 2012, officials said.

Read the whole story

By Guy Clifton, Reno Gazette-Journal

Their first lives might have ended in a mining camp or city dump or with an unceremonious drop into the depths of an outhouse, but a century or more later, they tell a history of their own.

Bottles.

Bottles for beer, whisky, perfume, medicine and myriad other uses are a reflection of the time in which they were made and passion for collectors.

The Reno Bottle Club is, at 52 years old, one of the oldest continuously running clubs in the Truckee Meadows.

Read the whole story

By Jon Verive, Los Angeles Times

A new bill signed into law by California Gov. Jerry Brown will let you sample beer before you buy it at your local farmers market.

The bill amends an October law that allowed local breweries to sell beer at farmers markets. When the new law goes into effect in 2016, breweries will be able to host an “instructional tasting event on the subject of beer at a certified farmers’ market.”

After last year’s law passed, many breweries were reluctant to apply for the special permits since they were unable to offer samples of the beer.

Read the whole story

By Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times

More than a third of the largest groundwater basins in the world are being depleted faster than they are getting replenished, and there are little to no accurate data showing just how much water is left in them, according to two studies published Tuesday.

Researchers used data from NASA satellites to examine the 37 largest aquifers in the world. They found that eight were being depleted with almost no natural replenishment and five, including the Central Valley, were “extremely” or “highly stressed,” with not enough water flowing back to offset how much is sucked up. Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan and northern Africa have the most stressed aquifers, according to the research.

The studies spotlight increasing sustainability concerns as regions like California rely more and more on groundwater during times of severe drought.

Read the whole story

The North Lake Tahoe Ironman is in need of 3,500 volunteers to help during a five-day period.

While the race is Sept. 20, volunteers are needed Sept. 16-21.

The triathlon begins with a 2.4-mile swim at Kings Beach, then a  112-mile bike ride over Brockway Summit to Squaw Valley, and ending with a marathon that loops through Lake Tahoe and returns to Squaw Valley.

Go online to volunteer.

By Kathryn Reed

Tahoe Paradise Resort Improvement District may finally have an elected board instead of one appointed by sitting members.

Four of the five seats are supposed to be elected, with the fifth being appointed by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. The District 5 supervisor usually fills that seat.

Four seats will be open on the Nov. 3 ballot. The terms of Judy Clot and Pete Nelligan are expiring. Those are for four-year terms. The other two seats are for terms that expire Dec. 1, 2017. Joe Cardinale and Victor Babbitt are in those seats.

People living within the boundaries of the district are eligible to run. The deadline to file is Aug. 7 at 5pm. To date no one has filed. If the candidates run unopposed, there will be no election and they will be sworn in. And if fewer than three apply, then the board may appointment people.

The county election’s department with last November’s contest started a program designed to help applicants with the process.

“They come in and get a packet, we go over each page they need to complete and do their declaration of candidacy,” Kim Smith with county elections told Lake Tahoe News.

The idea is to make running for office not seem so daunting. People in Tahoe are encouraged to use the local recorder’s office instead of driving to Placerville. While November was the pilot of the new process, the county intends to offer this service to all candidates going forward. It is not mandatory, though.

For more information or for TPRID board candidates to schedule an appointment, contact Smith at 530-621-7490 or kim.smith@edcgov.us.

The Truckee chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association had a Young Eagles rally at the airport on Sunday.

Nine pilots and 19 ground volunteers turned out for the event.

The EAA’s Young Eagles program was started in 1992 with the goal of introducing 1 million kids to aviation by giving them a free airplane ride. They easily surpassed that goal and have kept the program alive, with volunteer pilots having flown more tha 1.9 million Young Eagles.

“Free airplane rides are just part of the Young Eagles experience,” said Tom Meadows, Young Eagles coordinator, said in a press release.  “We hope to kindle a dream that will lead them into the aviation community.”

After the Young Eagles’ flights they receive certificates and logbooks, and their names go into the World’s Largest Logbook in Oshkosh, Wis.

·      The Brews, Jazz and Funk Fest is Aug. 8-9 at Squaw Valley. More than 40 craft beers from local and regional breweries will be available for $5 each (16 ounces). The festival runs from 2-8pm each day. The daily entry fee is $5 per person, with proceeds going to the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. Go online for more info.

·      Incline Middle School teacher Jan Hrindo is one of 108 instructors in the country will be awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

·       The FAA is spending near $1.4 million at the Minden-Tahoe Airport to rehab the taxiway and apron.

·       The Tahoe Science Conference will be at UNR Sept. 21-23. For more info and to register, go online.

·       Kenneth Pogue, 47, of Shingle Springs has been appointed undersecretary of administration and offender services at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where he has served as assistant secretary in the Office of Legislation since 2013.