By Sam Cohen, Fox 40
SACRAMENTO — CalFire’s tanker fleet can fly again, following a deadly crash last week while fighting a fire near Yosemite National Park.
The National Transportation Safety Board released their initial findings, saying they found “no structural failures or aging aircraft issues involved in the crash”.
CalFire then decided to resume normal flight activities.
South Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Tri Club are partnering to provide a series of three fun runs this fall.
The first one is Oct. 25 — Tahoe’s Freakin’ Fun Run.
It will be at the Community Playfields located at 1300 Al Tahoe Blvd. It begin at 10am. Participants are encouraged to dress in Halloween attire.
Prizes will be given for best costume and most ridiculous costume being awarded.
For more information and to register, go online.
There will also be a Turkey Trot and Jingle Jog.
Updated Oct. 12 12:13pm:
The man killed in Friday’s car crash in Stateline has been identified as Larry Dean Wells, 71, of Oregon.
His passenger, Roxane Jean Freeman, 68, of Oregon was taken to Renown Medical Center in Reno with non-life threatening injuries.
“He went off the right shoulder for unknown reasons, up a tree and rolled over,” Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Dan Lopez told Lake Tahoe News.
Lopez said he does not believe speed or alcohol were factors in the 7:40am Oct. 10 accident. It occurred on Highway 50 east of Kahle Drive. The man was headed east. There were no skid marks leading from the road to the tree.
Anyone who saw the crash is asked to call 775.687.0400.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
By Neela Banerjee, Los Angeles Times
Fewer than half of American states are working to protect themselves from climate change, despite more detailed warnings from scientists that communities are already being damaged, according to a new online clearinghouse of states’ efforts compiled by the Georgetown Climate Center.
Fourteen states have plans to prepare for the effects of climate change. California, New York and Maryland are among those that have made the greatest progress toward the dozens of goals their plans set forth, such as cutting statewide greenhouse gas emissions, improving infrastructure, securing water supplies, battling wildfires or coping with rising sea levels. Even those states have much work ahead of them, though.
Another eight states and the District of Columbia are devising similar plans, and some counties and towns have plans in place, too. But more than half of American states have not taken any steps to address the threats posed by climate change, leaving them vulnerable to predicted flooding, drought and wildfire, and leaving taxpayers on the hook for the cleanup.
The online tool is meant to give communities a way to track what their state is doing to adapt to climate change. Lawmakers and regulators could also use the tool to glean ideas from states that are further along.
• Two South Tahoe High students were winners in last spring’s national Nikon professional photography contest. Judges selected three of Aidan D’Angelo photos to be published and one of Brianna Rettig’s.
• Wells Fargo Bank donated $10,000 to the Food Bank of El Dorado County.
• Lake Tahoe Hard Rock has hired Dede Aspero as vice president of human resources; Siobhan Fajayan, director of marketing; and Mark Conrad, director of facilities. All three attended Whittell High School.
• The annual Veterans Concert is Nov. 12 at 7pm in the multipurpose room at South Tahoe Middle School.
• The 31th annual Rock & Gem Show is Oct. 18-19 at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville.
Sierra Nevada Ballet in collaboration with the Reno Jazz Orchestra is performing in an original production, “Duke’s Place”, based on Nevada history in celebration of Nevada’s 150th anniversary.
Performances are 7:30pm on Oct. 24 at the Bob Boldrick Theater in the Carson City Community Center in Carson City and 7:30pm on Nov.1 at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno.
“Duke’s Place” gives insight into Nevada history and also tells the story of a magical reunion between a father and long lost daughter.
It was written and choreographed by Rosine Bena and features music by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and Count Basie.
The production also features international tap super star, Sam Weber, (known as the “fastest feet in Tap”), former Joffrey Ballet principal, Mauro Villaneuva and Sierra Nevada Ballet’s popular principal, Ananda Bena-Weber, (former solo dancer with the Jazz Tap Ensemble) and special cameo appearances by community celebrities from “Hello Hollywood, Hello”,with a cast of 40 dancers and 16-piece orchestra with music arranged and conducted by Chuck Reider of the Reno Jazz Orchestra.
Tickets start at $22 with reduced tickets available for students and seniors. For complete ticket information contact gina704@msn.com or call 775.386.5456 for the Carson City event or call 866.553.6605 for the Reno performance.
Bucket of Blood in 1951. Photos/Bill Kingman
Bucket of Blood 2001
Bucket of Blood 2014
Virginia City was barely 90 years old when I snapped these black and white photos in 1951.
Today, more 60 years later, many of those landmarks remain. The classic Bucket of Blood saloon has moved its wall sign up to the second story, and the horse-drawn “Dead Wagon” glass-windowed local hearse is no longer parked just to the right of the picket fence.
Virginia City 2014
Virginia City 1951
According to Wikipedia, at the peak of its silver mining activity in the 1860s, Virginia City had an estimated 25,000 residents. One hundred fifty years later, the 2010 Census reported 855 residents.
— Bill Kingman
Publisher’s note: Lake Tahoe News convened an editorial panel of seven community members to come up with this endorsement.
Most people don’t think about their water or sewer provider until the flow in either direction isn’t working. But South Tahoe Public Utility District has been in the news of late because of rate and salary increases.
When considering which of the four candidates to vote for on Nov. 4 we believe it is important to consider where our money is going. While we believe infrastructure and paying people a decent wage are important, the ratepayers should not be fleeced to do either or both.
We need people on the South Tahoe PUD board who can vote no. We need people who are not myopic in their vision. We need people who understand how to compromise for the greater good.
This is why Lake Tahoe News is endorsing Shane Romsos and Duane Wallace.
Romsos is new to the political arena, but not to the workings of Lake Tahoe. He is taking on Jim Jones, who was on the STPUD board for 12 years beginning in 1977, was off for four years and has been on since 1993.
We know Romsos is passionate about whatever he takes on, and hope this approach will carry forward to the STPUD board. In his work life he has come prepared to meetings, been professional and asked the appropriate questions – traits needed to be a successful board member.
His time working as a research scientist for Spatial Informatics Group – an environmental think tank specializing in landscape analysis to inform good natural resource policy and management, along with employment at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will make him a better informed board member.
Romsos has also demonstrated that he can be forward thinking. We expect he will bring new ideas to the board and not be an automatic yes for more, more, more.
While we commend Jones for his tenure on the board, it has been disappointing to watch him vote time after time for raises for employees. We question why he was an advocate for rate increases last spring for infrastructure and at no time broached the subject of employee raises. And while improved water lines for fire capacity, storage and pump stations are necessary, so is a balanced approach to get these things. Jones has had an all-or-nothing mentality that is not good for the district or ratepayers.
He needs to be replaced with someone who is much more conscious of the district’s ratepayers.
When it comes to the other STPUD race between Duane Wallace and Andy Chapman, the choice is easy – Wallace by a landslide.
Wallace, while he has been on the board before and has baggage, also has experience. He would be replacing Eric Schafer, a longtime board member who is stepping down.
Wallace can listen; he can take direction. What he needs to do more of is be a team player and not take all the credit for accomplishments as he has done in the past.
He needs to listen to ratepayers, not just staff and employees.
We hope he will utilize his vast STPUD experience with independent thinking to make astute decisions that keep the district’s rates down, yet provide the same great service.
Wallace also has the desire to be involved beyond attending monthly meetings, which is more than can be said of some of the continuing board members. He has been to Washington, D.C., to lobby on behalf of the district, he knows the players inside and outside the basin. In this age of diminishing dollars and escalating needs, the ability to hit the floor running is critical.
Chapman is a recent transplant to California from Nevada. He doesn’t attend STPUD meetings. He works on the North Shore in marketing for the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. Nothing in his background points to being a viable member of any water and/or sewer board. And how can ratepayers take him seriously when he snubbed them by refusing to answer questions submitted to him by Lake Tahoe News?
Romsos and Wallace will complement the existing board, bring varied backgrounds to the table, and keep an eye on the needs of the district infrastructure while being mindful of the ratepayers’ wallets.
Fiscal responsibility needs to become a mantra of the district. We don’t need another Taj Mahal, as the administrative building is often referred to. We don’t need the district giving out sweetheart deals involving bulk rate water and expensive pump station upgrades at the ratepayers’ expense as was done for Heavenly Mountain Resort for enhanced snow making. Nor do we need more public figures benefitting from special favors at the ratepayers’ expense.
None of this should ever happen again.
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit could begin the fall/winter prescribed fire program next week.
The first operation may take place near South Tahoe High School on Oct. 14 or Oct. 15. Approximately 100 acres may be burned depending on weather and fuel conditions.
In the event that conditions are not suitable for burning near the high school, operations may take place on 15 acres in Christmas Valley.
Fall and winter bring cooler temperatures and precipitation, which favor prescribed burning.
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size.
Before prescribed fire operations are conducted, Forest Service staff post road signs around areas affected by prescribed fire, send email notifications and update the local fire information line at 530.543.2600, ext. 6. To receive prescribed fire notifications, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us.
• Bill Rock, the current chief operating officer of Northstar, will be the chief operating officer of Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort. Beth Howard, vice president of mountain dining and clubs, will be promoted to general manager of Northstar. Both changes are effective Nov. 1.
• Here is the El Dorado-Tahoe roadwork schedule from Caltrans.
• Truckee River Winery is celebrating being 25 and this being the fifth anniversary of the tasting room on Oct. 12 from 4-8pm at the winery.
• Steamers in South Lake Tahoe will host a fundraiser Oct. 15 from 6-10pm for 3-year-old Mackenzie Bogart who has been diagnosed with leukemia.
• South Lake Tahoe Mayor Hal Cole on Oct. 10 read a proclamation declaring the first Tuesday of each October Public Employee Appreciation Day. Then the council voted to grant all employees eight hours off from work to be used in the coming year in appreciation for their service.