By Reef

Hi, my name is Reef, and I’m one of Howie Nave’s dogs who he adopted last summer from the Pet Network. I was asked to write a commentary from a dog’s perspective.

Maybe you heard me mentioned as he talks about me frequently on his morning radio show and posts way too many pictures of me and his other, older dog Brody on social media.

Before he took the week off Howie asked if I would fill in for him and I said, sure why not? It’s the least I could do considering I get complete run of the place and even have a doggie door for the backyard. He lets me and Brody sleep on the couch and when not around on his bed so why not write from a canine’s point of view? I think this is a good opportunity for you humans out there to get an idea of what it’s like from our perspective.

Oh, and I wanna thank the editor here since it’s not easy being able to type given the limitations having paws.

By the way, why is it before giving us something to eat we have to to sit and shake? Why must we give you our paw? It’s a treat for crying out loud. How would you like it having to jump through hoops just for something to eat? What if, for example I insisted that you roll over for me before getting a piece of pizza? Just tossing it out there. 

Being the latest addition to Howie’s place is a sweet gig I’m finding out. He’ll take us for long walks, sometimes off the beaten trail. And the best part is he’ll stop to let me and Brody sniff a tree or a patch of snow where another dog peed for as long as we want. For those of you who don’t do that just walking with no pause (not paws) please let your dog set the pace and let him or her stop more frequently to sniff things out. Why? Well, think of our walk as reading a book and sometimes we need to take a little longer with some of the chapters so we can better know the characters in the story. It’s the same with sniffing. This way we better understand the story by sniffing to find out who the characters are that came here before us and then we in turn leave a coda of sorts to let future dogs know that we too live in this neighborhood. I know, it’s kind of complicated.

It’s no surprise that this Lake Tahoe area that I call home is one of the dog friendliest places to live and not just because of all the trees either (although that is a big bonus for sure). As canines we’re very practical to have given the environment where we both live. Since residing at Howie’s place I have chased two bears away, one up a tree. I bet you didn’t know we can be a good deterrent if a bear wants to check your place out, huh? That’s not fake news either.

I was listening in when Howie had Ann Bryant (AKA the Bear Lady), executive director of the BEAR League based in Homewood on as his guest on his morning radio show. He’ll sometimes leave the radio on at his place in Meyers (gateway to South Lake Tahoe) so we know where he is. He will sometimes play songs that have animal themes to them (“Werewolves of London” is a favorite). 

This writing is kinda fun since I can’t talk, so maybe I’ll write more in the future so your species can get a different take from the viewpoint of a dog. It’s a good life being a canine (given the right home) and would like to take this opportunity for those who don’t have a dog to please consider adopting one. It’s a proven fact that we’re good for your health and relieve stress that this place tends to have at times. And, hey, maybe you’re not a dog person and that’s OK. I would then encourage you to adopt a cat if that makes you happier. I don’t know why that would, but any pet in your life is a good thing. We’re just good for your soul. Thank you for your time and opportunity to communicate from a dog’s perspective. 

Reef is Howie’s second dog who was adopted at The Pet Network in Incline and shares his home with Brody, Howie’s other dog who’s a senior citizen pushing 84 years of age.

By Jonah Ogles, Outside

On Thursday morning, Colorado College released its Conservation in the West poll, which it has conducted since 2011. The survey asks voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho (added this year), Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah for their opinions on everything from energy development to national monuments, water usage to recreation.

It also asks about political affiliation, a question that, not surprisingly, tends to matter a lot.

In 2016, 63 percent of respondents said they’d call themselves one. This year, it was 76 percent.

Read the whole story

Manzanar is a reminder of one of the darkest times in U.S. history. Photo Copyright 2018 Carolyn E. Wright

Lake Tahoe News Publisher Kathryn Reed on Feb. 7 received third place from the North American Travel Journalists Association in the “historical travel” category for her article on Manzanar.

The January 2017 story is about the Japanese internment camp on Highway 395 in the Eastern Sierra.

Photos accompanying the story are from Carolyn Wright, a regular contributor to LTN.

“I share this award with Carolyn because her ability to capture the starkness of this encampment brought the story to life in a way my words couldn’t,” Reed said.

This is the 26th year for the NATJA awards, with more than 1,000 entries. All online entries are judged together, with all publication sizes lumped together.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Jim Krajewski, Reno Gazette-Journal

She’s gone from being the wide-eyed newcomer to the wily veteran on the U.S. Ski Team.

But now, Stacey Cook knows her competitive ski racing career is nearing the end and she is cherishing each moment.

Cook, who was born in Truckee and lives in Reno part-time, will compete in her fourth Winter Olympics this month in PyeongChang, South Korea, as part of the U.S. Alpine ski team.

Read the whole story

Donner Memorial State Park will explore the history of Donner Summit through two videos being shown at the visitor center.

“Chinese Story, Artifacts from the Camps” focuses on the artifacts uncovered and left behind by the Chinese community during the construction of the transcontinental railroad. The second video – “On the Road with the Green Book Guide, African-American Travel” — highlights the challenges African-Americans faced while traveling on the road.

Both videos are the product of collaboration between California State Parks and Recreation and CSU Sacramento, Creative Services Department. They join the previously released video of the “Washoe Cooking Hearth.”

Donner Memorial State Park is within the town of Truckee.

For more information, go online.

By Eric Rucker, Fox 40

What was supposed to be a simple day trip along the Rubicon Trail in Placer County turned into a frigid overnight stay and a rescue situation. 

“According to one of the persons that were lost the temperature reading was 15 degrees,” said Placer County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Hunt.

Monday morning seven people from Sacramento were rescued by the Placer County Sheriff’s Department along with other officials and searchers after the truck the seven were in got stuck along the trail close to Miller Lake.

Read the whole story

By Dan Elliott, AP

From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Bureau of Land Management oversees some of the nation’s most prized natural resources: vast expanses of public lands rich in oil, gas, coal, grazing for livestock, habitat for wildlife, hunting ranges, fishing streams and hiking trails.

But more than 99 percent of that land is in 12 Western states, hundreds of miles from the nation’s capital. Some Western politicians — both Republicans and Democrats — are asking why the bureau’s headquarters isn’t in the West as well.

“You’re dealing with an agency that basically has no business in Washington, D.C.,” said Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, who introduced a bill to move the headquarters to any of those dozen states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington or Wyoming. The Bureau of Land Management manages a combined 385,000 square miles in those states.

Read the whole story

By Benjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette-Journal

Lisa Holan was 42 years old the first time she picked up a rifle.

Four years later, Holan, a Nordic skier and Truckee resident, is a competitive biathlon athlete.

The ancient and grueling sport that combines cross-country skiing with target shooting is largely ignored by American sports fans and adventure athletes.

But for people like Holan, who tried biathlon after seeing a flier advertising an introductory clinic, it can become a near-obsession.

Read the whole story

El Dorado County is looking for nominations for senior of the year awards.

Nominees must be 60 or older, reside in the county, with active community volunteer service within the last two years.

Applications are online. Submissions must be received by April 20. For more information, call 530.621.4833 or email to yasmin.hichborn@edcgov.us. 

The award will be presented by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on May 22 in Placerville.

Tahoe Arts Project’s 6th annual Dancing with the Tahoe Stars will be March 3 at 6:30 pm at MontBleu in Stateline.

The dances will be cha cha, tango, salsa, merengue, swing, disco, fox trot, bachata, hip hop and Musical Theater.

Locals will be paired with professionals. The pairings are as follows, with the Tahoe person listed first: Melinda Choy and Gerzon Chaves, Michelle Feeney and Adrian Escobedo, Lauren Lindley and Spencer Spanton, Stacy Noyes and Dino Elias, Paula Peterson and Alex Kaskie, Shawn Butler and Catherine Arens, Bob Grant and Robyn Lindner, Dusty LaChapelle and Becca Lincoln, Leon Malmed and Alejandra Quirarte, and Neil Powell and Jodi Patton.

Judges will be Marcia Sarosik, Don Bosson and Paul Middlebrook.

There will also be performances by the South Tahoe High School Dance Team, Marcia Sarosik Dance Studio, Forever Dance, and previous stars.

The audience will have the opportunity to vote by text for their favorite couple and by donating to that couple. This can be done anytime through TAP’s website.

Tickets range from $10-$60 and are available online or by calling 530.541.0353.