By Steve Sebelius, Las Vegas Review-Journal

As far back as 2006, we all knew the year of real reform would be 2015.

In 2006, Republican Rep. Jim Gibbons survived campaign-trail scandal to stumble his way into a one-term governorship characterized by texting, divorce, vetoes and periods of time where staffers weren’t entirely sure of the governor’s physical location. It was clear 2010 would see a change at the top.

Many of us thought that change would come at the hands of a Democrat: Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid geared up for a run against the politically mortally wounded Gibbons. But we seriously underestimated Republican establishment players, who refused to let Democrats post an easy victory.

Two of their most prominent consultants — Pete Ernaut of R&R Advertising, and Greg Ferraro of the Ferraro Group — visited their childhood friend Brian Sandoval, then serving a lifetime appointment as a U.S. District Court judge in Reno. They coaxed him to leave that job and run for governor against Gibbons in a Republican primary.

This, by the way, is one of the events that make “consultant” an epithet among the tea party/libertarian base of the Republican Party; Gibbons was many things, but he was a conservative. He kept his promise to veto all tax increases. (In fact, he had a party on the front porch of his office, proudly waving copies of rejected bills scarred by his custom-made “veto” stamp.)

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By Powder

Tahoe City resident Dave Rosenbarger, 38, died in an avalanche Jan. 23 while skiing off the Helbronner on the Italian side of Mont Blanc.

An avalanche swept him down the mountain. Details are scarce, but sources say he was skiing with three partners. They were able to dig him out of the debris and he was alive, but after being airlifted to a local hospital, Rosenbarger succumbed to his injuries.

Having spent consecutive winters in Chamonix since 2003, Rosenbarger, an Oregon native who splits time living in Tahoe City and Chamonix, picked up the nickname “American Dave” for his dedicated pursuit of fresh powder on the Mont Blanc massif.

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El Dorado County’s former assistant chief administrative officer is back – at least on Tuesday’s agenda.

The Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 is being asked to approve a contract with Alliant Insurance Services to provide employee benefit consulting for the Risk Division of the Human Resources Department.

While there is already a contract in place, this would extend it to Jan. 31, 2016, and increase the not to exceed amount from $100,000 to $610,000.

Kim Kerr, the No. 2 for the county, left in December not long after her boss was told to leave by the Board of Supes.

The connection to Tuesday’s agenda item is that Kerr now works for Alliant. And while she was with the county she was the one who handled the contract with Alliant.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

A jury last week sided with a South Lake Tahoe police officer who was accused of acting improperly when he arrested a suspect in 2011.

The two-day trial in federal court in Sacramento concluded with Officer Jake Herminghaus being exonerated.

Herminghaus arrested Patrick Solomon of South Lake Tahoe on Jan. 21, 2011, at the Raley’s at the Y in South Lake Tahoe after he allegedly shoved El Dorado County sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Pena. Solomon received minor lacerations to his head and was transported by ambulance to Barton Memorial Hospital for treatment after Herminghaus wrestled him to the ground.

“We are definitely delighted with the outcome and it vindicates the city’s position of cases being tried on their merits. This also clearly shows our police department is operating within the law and gratifying that a federal jury recognized that,” City Attorney Tom Watson was in a statement.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Sandra Chereb, Las Vegas Review-Journal

CARSON CITY — Four years ago, the focus of Nevada economic development was creating jobs. With tens of thousands of people out of work, almost any job was welcome as the state tried to claw its way out of the Great Recession.

But with the economy rebounding, officials are looking beyond just job creation to laying the groundwork for a whole new economy based on high tech — from drones and advanced manufacturing to health care and renewable energy.

That shift could bring a change in priorities for tax abatements.

A bill being proposed by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development would reduce the amount of abatements available to companies that pay below the state’s average wage, depending on the county location and unemployment rate.

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Tahoe-Douglas Rotary will be honoring local police and firefighters at its annual St Patrick’s Day fundraiser on March 31.

The First Responder Community Hero Awards will honor one person from each of the following agencies: Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, and El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department. A significant donation will made to a
local nonprofit for the first responder’s service.

The 47th annual St Patrick’s Celebration will be from 6-10pm at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. It will include a traditional Irish buffet and wine bar. A limited number of tickets are available for $75 each (reserved tables of 10 may be purchased for $600 until
Feb. 14) from Tahoe-Douglas Rotarians or online.

String Cheese Incident is returning to the High Sierra Music Festival this summer where the band will headline two shows.

The 25th annual event is July 2-5 at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy. The festival’s silver anniversary will celebrate the festival’s history and those who has helped create and sustain the legendary family-friendly, laid-back, Northern California vibe High Sierra is known for.

It has been 16 years since String Cheese Incident played this festival.

This year’s lineup honors many of the artists who have been a part of the fabric of the festival over the years. The initial artist lineup includes Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Galactic, Shovels and Rope, The Wood Brothers, ALO, Nahko & Medicine for the People, The California Honeydrops, Barr Brothers, Pimps of Joytime, Surpise Me Mr. Davis, March Fourth Marching Band, The Slip, Omaha Diner featuring Charlie Hunter, Skerik, Bobby Previte & Steven Bernstein, Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real, Rising Appalachia, Turkuaz, Steve Poltz, Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds, Living Daylights, Dan Bern, the Brothers Comatose, and Midnight North.

Ticket info and questions, go online.

By Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Review-Journal

To Uber, the ride-sharing transportation network company, and its legion of fans, it’s an easy fix.

Copy and paste legislation that’s been enacted somewhere else, run it before the Nevada Legislature for a vote, get Gov. Brian Sandoval to sign the bill and Uber on.

More than 26,000 people have signed a petition asking Sandoval and Attorney General Adam Laxalt to lead the way toward allowing the company to operate in the state.

There already are 22 jurisdictions that have laws in place that enable Uber and similar companies to do what they do — accept requests from customers through a smartphone app to provide transportation in their personal vehicles.

There’s only one problem: Under Nevada transportation laws, the service is illegal.

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Three men allegedly connected to a strong-arm robbery in Roseville were arrested Jan. 25 on the South Shore.

Dee Gunther with the Roseville Police Department told Lake Tahoe News the robbery happened Jan. 24 about 8:30pm in a public parking lot. The victim told authorities he thought he was meeting people to buy a vehicle he had found on Craigslist.

The suspects reportedly stole $30,000. Cash was recovered by Tahoe law enforcement, but it’s not known if the full $30,000 was found or where it was located.

Jeremy Wood, 25, of Stateline is a security guard at Lakeside Inn Casino and was arrested at work. Dylan Sapsford, 25, of Stateline  was arrested after a traffic stop on Lake Tahoe Boulevard while he was headed toward the casinos. He was allegedly driving the vehicle used at the site of the robbery.

Eric Anderson, 34, of South Lake Tahoe was arrested at his residence and booked into the South Lake Tahoe jail.

All three face robbery charges. Anderson also was arrested on a charge of cultivation of marijuana.

Gunther said it would be up to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office to file formal charges against the three when they are transferred to that jurisdiction.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

A fence and gate prevent access to the beach at Tahoe Keys. Photo/LTN

After nearly 50 years of allowing the public to access the beach at Tahoe Keys, the homeowners’ board voted to stop that practice.

South Lake Tahoe officials issued a permit for the fence Oct. 30 and made the final inspection earlier this month.

An employee of the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association told Lake Tahoe News a lot of people who are not owners of this South Lake Tahoe neighborhood were using the beach so the decision was made to make it an exclusive area.

The fence is on TKPOA’s property. A card key is necessary to get to the beach – which is perfectly legal. The public does not have the right to cross private property to get to the beach or lake.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report