By Hattie Xu, Sacramento Bee

While the state of Arkansas made news earlier this year when it executed four inmates in eight days, California has not seen an execution since 2006, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Of the 123 deaths of inmates who were on California’s death row since 1978, just 15 were from execution, according to data from CDCR. A majority – 60 percent – died of natural causes, while another 20 percent committed suicide.

On average, inmates who were sentenced in the Sacramento region — which includes El Dorado and Placer counties — have waited on death row for 21 years, according to data from CDCR. Sixty-six percent of them have waited for more than 20 years. While two inmates were condemned to death just three years ago, one – Joe Johnson – has been waiting for 36 years.

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The USDA Rural Development has about $2.8 million for rural low-income home buyers.

The Direct 502 Home Loan Program is available in all areas of Nevada except Carson City and metropolitan Clark and Washoe counties.

Applicants must fill out a two-page form to determine eligibility.

For more info, call Brad Gallimore at 775.748.8468, ext. 104.

By Adam Candee, Las Vegas Sun

The arrival of the Vegas Golden Knights this year and the Raiders in three years will excite local sports fans, but the players might feel equally giddy about the prospect of calling Nevada home.

As one of seven states that does not tax personal income, Nevada offers an attractive bonus for the hockey and football players.

The Raiders in particular will see a major change in tax liability — California imposes a 13.3 percent income tax on earnings over $1 million, and 24 players on the team’s roster will make at least that much this season. Even rookies making the NFL minimum of $465,000 face a state tax rate of at least 10.3 percent.

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South Lake Tahoe received more than 3 inches of rain Sunday afternoon when a thunderstorm rolled through town.

While streets were covered in debris, no serious damage was reported.

Pea-size hail pummeled some areas.

No fires were started from the lightning. However, lightning struck a tree on Oglala Street in Meyers.

The National Weather Service in Reno is calling for isolated thunderstorms through Wednesday for the Lake Tahoe area.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

·      Are you prepared for the next Douglas County emergency? Sign up online for 911 reverse and receive alerts.

·      Gregory Lovato is now administrator of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

·      Roger Gabriel, master educator at the Chopra Center, will be the featured speaker at the Wellness Weekend at Granlibakken in Tahoe City. The retreat is Nov. 11-12.

·      The $4.4 million Jacks Valley Road overhaul in the Carson Valley is done ahead of schedule.

·      Douglas County is hosting a meeting Aug. 9 to gather input about the Johnson Lane Area Drainage Master Plan. It will be from 5-7pm at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

There used to be a ski resort at Echo Summit. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society

By Lisa M. Krieger, Bay Area News Group

The rope tow is long gone. The parking lot is empty. Instead of the bustling chatter of a happy crowd of skiers, there’s just silence.

But the landscape of the abandoned Powder Bowl ski area still bears witness to its past, more than two decades after its closing.

Throughout the Sierra there are dozens of abandoned resorts that hark back to a different era, when snow was plentiful and skiing a favorite pastime. With increased competition from bigger resorts and a decline in skiers, many have closed and the scars they have left behind may have dramatic impact on our watershed.

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The Stephen J. Wampler Foundation has moved Camp Wamp into a new home in Tahoe National Forest near Soda Springs.

The campsite was previously home to the Girl Scouts of Northern California. The sale of the 129 acres was completed in late July.

The foundation plans to retrofit and upgrade the property to make it suitable to serve campers with physical disabilities beginning next summer.

Founded in 2000, the Wampler Foundation provides outdoor recreation programs for children with physical disabilities, such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and spina bifida, at no cost to their families.

The Nevada Department of Transportation wants the public to comment on future transportation projects.

The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program is a fiscally constrained, four-year planning document containing federal and state-funded transportation projects, as well as regionally significant transportation improvements funded through local and/or state dollars in accordance with the Federal Aid Highway Act and the Federal Transit Act.  These projects include increasing the number of lanes, constructing new roads and intersection improvements along with certain road maintenance projects. It also includes transit, rail, pedestrian walkway and bicycle facility projects.

Public meetings will also give the public an opportunity to provide feedback.

The public can comment on the draft list of projects by going online. Comments are due Aug. 31 by emailing jspencer@dot.nv.gov.

Purple is the dominant color on the way to Round Top. Photo/Kathryn Reed

By Kathryn Reed

A kaleidoscope of colors dances across the landscape in the gentle breeze.

The record-setting snowfall from winter 2016-17 is still being felt – or at last seen. The flowers are late, but they were worth waiting for. If you think you’ve seen vibrant, healthy lupine, you haven’t seen anything until you go to Winnemucca Lake.

Flowers of all colors are spread across the trail. Photo/Kathryn Reed

An explosion of wildflowers is erupting in the High Sierra – about one month later than normal. And they appear to be at their peak.

The splash of deep purple, mixed with the lavender of the wild iris, interspersed with the vibrant red Indian paintbrush, the dainty yellow daisy-like flowers, and the white Queen Anne’s lace are like a bouquet ready to be picked. Instead, the hikers are capturing memories with photographs.

Some are close to the ground; others a few feet high. Some are in isolated patches; others appear to be a field of flowers.

Wild iris

While locals know better than to do this hike on a weekend day, there appeared to be more Tahoe-ites on the trail Aug. 6 than out-of-towners. Yes, it was a bit of a freeway, but the joy this wondrous outing brought all of us made it more of a celebration of sorts. We were all happy to be sharing in the party Mother Nature was throwing.

Reflections of Round Top at Winnemucca Lake. Photo/Kathryn Reed

At about 5 miles round trip, this is a relatively easy hike. The only thing that might set someone back is that it starts at 8,500 feet. Elevation gain is about 500 feet.

A couple patches of snow still cross the trail. The only remarkable thing about it is how late in the season this is. Water on the trail is not an issue.

Beauty is everywhere on this hike out of Carson Pass. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Sitting at Winnemucca Lake looking up at Round Top (10,381 feet) plenty of snow dots the rocky landscape.

Thundering water can be heard rushing on the far side of the lake. Waterfalls not normally seen this time of year are tumbling down the rock into the lake. Some appear to be roaring beneath the snow.

Wildflowers are at their peak. Photo/Kathryn Reed

An ice shelf looks like something out of a winter landscape that doesn’t belong in the Carson Pass – especially in August.

This raw, ruggedness is a reminder of the many personalities of Ma Nature. This flashback to winter makes me wonder if the next one is closer than I want to admit.

Lupine with Caples Lake in the distance. Photo/Kathryn Reed

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Getting there:

From South Lake Tahoe, take Highway 50 west. Just past the bug station in Meyers, go left onto Highway 89. At the T-intersection, go right onto Highway 88. At the top of Carson Pass is parking to the left. Cost is $5.

By Carline Sinkler

It is a privilege to serve as principal of South Tahoe High School and I look forward to a highly productive year of forming lasting relationships, building teams and meeting challenges together that enable us to prepare our students for college, career and life.

Carline Sinkler

I have already met many people and I appreciate the welcoming spirit and enthusiasm of the South Lake Tahoe community. I am excited to build relationships through authentic listening, dialogue and working side by side on behalf of our students. I will be scheduling group discussion sessions and working groups with students, staff, families and community members throughout the year to understand perspectives, gain clarity around a shared vision of success and build teams that work together toward common goals. Meeting times and topics will be posted in August.

Together, we will focus on learning experiences that build 21st century skills like critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication with the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards as a foundation. We will continue to celebrate our athletes, sports teams, talented artists and musicians, college bound AVID students, and our array of innovative career technical education programs. I look forward to attending events and watching our students shine.

In 2017-18 we will focus much of our efforts on ensuring that we meet and exceed WASC requirements
and aim to grow in several areas:
● Vision and Goals: Refresh and clarify our vision for student success and enhance our Viking Goals to create a graduate profile that describes qualities of STHS graduates.
● College and Career Readiness: Continue to implement Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards with a focus on 21st century learning skills that prepare students for college and career choices.
● School Climate and Culture: Promote a positive school climate and culture through student leadership, collaborative problem solving and clear expectations.
● STEAM: Build opportunities for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) careers.
● English Learners: Increase academic achievement, English proficiency and family engagement of students learning English.
● Communication: Provide multiple ways for the entire community to access information and participate in school activities.
● School and Community Environment: Cultivate stewards of our beautiful campus and
advocates for the natural resources within and surrounding the Lake Tahoe region.I look forward to working closely with the 2018 graduating class to gain insight into improving our students’ learning experiences and readiness for their future.

Let’s make 2017-18 a fantastic year!

Carline Sinkler is in her first year as principal of South Tahoe High School.