By Cate Neal

Summer around Tahoe is the perfect time for outdoor activities with family and friends. For some, drinking alcoholic beverages is part of the fun-in-the-sun experience. But excessive alcohol consumption and summer activities don’t mix.

Cate Neal

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma reports alcohol plays a role in half of all trauma-related injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control, alcohol relates to 70 percent of water recreation deaths and 48 percent of pedestrian fatalities.

Here are a few scenarios for how alcohol can lead to tragic consequences on the water, on the road, and in the outdoors – and how you can avoid a tragedy.

The sensational swimmer

Alcohol decreases inhibition and impairs mental and physical capabilities, a risky combination for swimmers. In the frigid Lake Tahoe waters, a seasoned swimmer who’s had a few drinks may foolishly venture out too far. A leg cramp makes it difficult to return to shore and even a chill can develop into hypothermia. Avoid going far from shore and stay within a beach’s designated swimming zone.

The boastful boater

Boating and drinking are not a healthy cocktail. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, and vision. It decreases reaction time and increases fatigue. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports 60 percent of boating fatalities involved alcohol and a boat operator with blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.1 percent is 16 times more likely to die in a boating accident than a sober operator. Drinking passengers are also more likely to slip on the deck or fall overboard.

The distracted driver

Summer vacation drivers are out in force. Many are unfamiliar with the roads and have other distractions, such as hauling a boat or camper, or dealing with children and pets in the backseat. Adding alcohol puts the driver and passengers as well as other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in harm’s way. Thirty-one percent of vehicle crash fatalities, the CDC states, were connected to alcohol consumption in 2013.

The inebriated trail user

On the trail, heat exposure and alcohol can create trouble. Hot summer days increases sweat and alcohol causes additional fluid loss from increased urination. Together, excessive water loss can quickly lead to dehydration or heat stroke. Stay hydrated. Drink ample cold, non-alcoholic drinks when hiking or biking.

The sober survivor

The easiest safety tip is to avoid drinking, particularly in the risky situations suggested above. Or, if you do drink, find a sober driver, drink plenty of water, and avoid operating any motorized vehicle.

Barton Health is committed to keeping our community and visitors safe. One example in place is the Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) program. Patients admitted with a trauma-related injury, such as a concussion or broken limb, complete a brief questionnaire on their drinking habits. Depending on the score, patients receive a counseling session regarding drinking behavior and how it may be related to the injury.

“Teachable moments” like this following a trauma incident greatly reduce hazardous drinking habits. Alcohol SBI program participants experience fewer DUI arrests, healthcare costs, and hospital visits related to drinking. In the long run, less trauma incidents also make Tahoe safer for all to enjoy.

Registered nurse Cate Neal is the trauma program coordinator at Barton Memorial Hospital.

By Colton Lochhead, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Recreational marijuana sales appear likely to happen on time after all.

A legal challenge over who could transport recreational marijuana between cultivation facilities and dispensaries looked as though it might delay the state’s goal of rolling out marijuana sales on July 1.

Marijuana dispensaries that have received a retail license from the state will be able to sell their existing inventory — which does not have to be designated before sale as medical or recreational — according to Tax Department spokeswoman Stephanie Klapstein.

Read the whole story

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE – Heavenly Mountain Resort is nothing like it was seven years ago when Pete Sonntag came to town. And that’s a good thing.

“I did come in knowing there were challenges,” Sonntag told Lake Tahoe News in 2010.

As he packs his bags to head north to take over the management of Whistler Blackcomb, Sonntag will leave behind a different mountain than what he inherited.

The local resort is a bigger player in the community. In part this has to do with Sonntag and his family living here and not off the hill like his predecessor. His kids (they were 6, 8 and 10 when he and his wife moved here from Vail) helped get the family enmeshed into the fabric of the South Shore.

The community mattered to him and soon it mattered to his employer. He is on the boards of the Tahoe Fund and Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. Through his children he has been incredibly active in the hockey community.

Charitable contributions are now common from Vail Resorts; employees give back with time and money, as well.

Pete Sonntag is leaving Tahoe this summer to run Whistler ski resort. Photo/Kathryn Reed

On the mountain, well more than $100 million has been invested during Sonntag’s tenure. Summer activities keep growing; something that didn’t exist when he started. Though, they pale in comparison to what Whistler has to offer – that will be a substantive change to get used to.

Sonntag has literally weathered multiple years of drought and record snowfall. This will be good experience because Whistler can have its challenges with snow and weather in general.

When Sonntag came to Tahoe, Heavenly was still struggling in the guest services arena. Not so much anymore.

It’s not that he really wanted to leave Tahoe; it’s just that a unique opportunity presented itself. Dave Brownlie, after 30 years as chief operating officer at Whistler, gave notice. Three weeks later Vail Resorts announced Sonntag’s ascension to run North America’s largest ski resort, at 8,171 acres, with 16 bowls, three glaciers and an Olympic history.

The Broomfield, Colo.-based ski behemoth bought the Canadian resort in 2016 for $1.1 billion. (This will be the first season the epic pass will be valid at the Vancouver mountain.)

Sonntag actually oversees Northstar and Kirkwood resorts, too. He had the title of senior vice president of the Tahoe region. Mike Goar, current vice president and chief operating officer of Keystone Resort in Colorado, will be replacing Sonntag.

The three Tahoe area mountains combined are about the size of Whistler.

“It’s arguably one of the greatest ski resorts in the world,” Sonntag said of his new mountain. And he considers it the flagship of the parent company. He calls this opportunity “a once in a lifetime chance.”

Taking over a resort that hasn’t had a top leadership change in three decades is a bit daunting. Sonntag has been up there meeting the team, getting familiarized with the operation. He doesn’t plan to make major changes at the get-go because he said, “Nothing is broken that needs to be fixed.”

He knows it will take time to build trust and respect.

Sonntag built a strong team in Tahoe. That is why what he will miss most is the people, along with those vistas.

“I will miss being on top of the mountain and the views – that never gets old,” Sonntag said. “This has been the best seven years of my career. I’m lucky to have spent it in Tahoe.”

To the community,

Warrior way, pictured in your article about proposed changes to Highway 50, is a typical T intersection. Every such intersection has crosswalks associated, even those without marked crosswalks. To corroborate this, see NRS 484A.065 “Crosswalk” defined and NRS 484A.240 “Sidewalk” defined.

The diagram proposed for the Warrior Way intersection shows parking on the right side, in complete conflict with NRS 484B.450 Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places. Since there are inferred crosswalks for pedestrians, and since parking is not allowed within 20 feet of a crosswalk, the parking places shown are illegal. Furthermore, the parking places are truly dangerous. As diagrammed, pedestrians would legally emerge from between parked vehicles into the lawfully existing crosswalks creating a danger to both pedestrian and traffic, due to the lack of visibility between parked cars.

Some law enforcement officers do not understand this. I was told by an NHP officer “we can issue jaywalking tickets for people crossing here.” Wrong. Yes, without a doubt they can issue jaywalking tickets, but they are not lawful nor justified.

I am not sure we can trust reconfiguration of our roadways to persons who can make such obvious errors.
Clearly, the person(s) preparing the diagram for Warrior Way also do not understand the law, nor do they understand the principles of traffic safety.

The solution to Highway 50 traffic accidents and deaths seems straightforward, simple, and inexpensive. Simply reduce the speed limits by 10 mph, and enforce the current law of 25 mph when chains are required. If vigorously enforce, the Douglas County and Nevada coffers will be fattened and we will have a more peaceful community.

Robert Dickerson, Zephyr Cove resident and longtime Corvette driver

Truckee’s next town manager won’t need much of a learning curve.

Jeff Loux, the current Community Development director, takes over the top job starting Aug. 4.

He was one of 56 candidates for the job.

Tony Lashbrook will retire July 15.

Loux’s will be spending July teaching a class on sustainable urban design, a final obligation for UC Davis that he committed to applying for his current Community Development director position. He will be on leave from Truckee during that time.

Dan Wilkins, public works director/town engineer, will serve as acting town manager in the interim.

Alexander Paul Childs

Sex offender Alexander Paul Childs, who reportedly took off his ankle bracelet, is back behind bars.

He was booked into the Sacramento County Jail the afternoon of June 27 on two felony charges — parole violation and failing to register as a sex offender after moving. He was being held without bail.

Childs, 25, had been living in Meyers for a while. It was in May that it was discovered his bracelet was not active.

In 2012 he was convicted of a lewd or lascivious act on a child 14 or younger.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Brad Plumer and Nadja Popovich, New York Times

Extremely hot days, when temperatures soar to 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, can be miserable. Crops wilt in the fields. Electric grids strain to keep pace with demand. People are at greater risk of dying. And those hot temperatures are expected to be much more frequent in the coming decades.

Based on analysis from the Climate Impact Lab, 95-degree days are expected to multiply this century if countries take moderate climate action. In this scenario, countries would take some measures, but not drastic ones, to curb emissions — roughly the trajectory of the current pledges under the Paris climate agreement.

The resulting global warming would still cause significant shifts for many cities. In Washington, from 1986 to 2005, an average of seven days each year had temperatures of at least 95 degrees. By the end of the century, the city can expect 29 of these extremely hot days per year, on average. (The likely range is 14 to 46 hot days per year.)

Read the whole story

By Daniel Rothberg, Las Vegas Sun

What would the “Moneyball” casino look like?

As a doctoral candidate studying big data at UNLV, Ray Cho has given some thought to this question. Cho, who has 20 years of experience in the hotel industry, works as an analyst manager at American Casino & Entertainment Properties.

With advancements in computing and machine learning, businesses across different industries are exploring how to better use data to increase performance, revenue and customer satisfaction. Oftentimes, the issues are less technical and more political. It’s one thing to crunch the numbers. It’s another to get management to act on them. This is especially true when data contradict operating procedures entrenched as industry standards.

“If a team of analysts was building a casino on its own, it would look a lot different,” Cho said.

Read the whole story

Deanna Brothers will be the recipient of Lake Tahoe Community College’s distinguished alumni award at this year’s commencement ceremony on June 30.

Each year, LTCC Foundation recognizes one alumnus for her exemplary achievements in her particular endeavors in life.

Deanna Brothers

Brothers has been a resident of South Lake Tahoe since 1969. She is a South Tahoe High School graduate who went on to receive her associate degree in social science from LTCC in 1980. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at California State University Sacramento, then pursued a doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco, graduating in 1988. Her general dentistry practice has been in business in South Lake Tahoe for 29 years.

Brothers has served on the LTCC Foundation since 2010. She’s been an active member of the South Shore community, participating in everything from the St. Baldrick’s Foundation head shaving fundraiser to serving as president of the St. Theresa Catholic Church board. She’s also donated hundreds of hours of her time to provide free dental care for adults and children in the community.

The graduation is Friday at 6pm on the soccer field. Special guest speaker will be local Olympic gold medalist Jamie Anderson. LTCC student speakers are William Twumasi and Victor Reynosa.

Possession and or discharge of fireworks in Douglas County is unlawful – any time of year. Those who violate the laws could be fined $1,000 and spend six months in county jail.

The possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages on Nevada Beach on the July 4 is illegal. This ordinance came about to reduce the many acts of drunkenness and violence associated with alcohol consumption that were experienced on the beach in previous years. Any violation of this ordinance is an infraction, punishable by a fine up to $1,000. 

Signs pertaining to the ordinance will be posted at the entrance to Nevada Beach on July 4. The entrance to the beach, as well as the beach itself, will have a heavy presence of law enforcement. Any cooler, backpack, bag, purse or other container is subject to inspection and or seizure anywhere inside Nevada Beach Park.  

Elks Point Road will be closed at the intersection of Highway 50 no later than 4:3 pm. At that time, no vehicles will be allowed to enter lower Elks Point Road unless proof of residency or proof of campsite occupancy is established. Elks Point Road will remain closed until the completion of the fireworks display.

Heavy congestion in the areas of Nevada Beach, Round Hill, Zephyr Cove, lower Kingsbury Grade and the Stateline casino core are expected. Lower Lake Parkway may be closed if  traffic dictates.  Motorists are cautioned to anticipate delays while traveling in these areas.

The U.S. Forest Service will be enforcing a no alcohol policy in the Zephyr Cove Beach Resort and Campground on the July 4 between 10am and midnight. Anyone found in possession of or consuming alcoholic beverages outside of these established areas on federal lands shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $5,000.