By Ben Botkin and Sandra Chereb, Las Vegas Review-Journal

CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval said Friday there will be no special session of the Nevada Legislature but didn’t comment further on a partisan blowup over education savings accounts that disrupted the session’s final days.

“Here’s news for you,” Sandoval told a handful of reporters who gathered in his office to get a list of bills he signed late Thursday. “No special session. The session will end Monday midnight.”

The two-term Republican took no questions and did not comment further before heading into his office with Chief of Staff Mike Willden.

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By Ryan Canaday, KTVN-TV

A record-breaking winter has damaged many trails in Lake Tahoe. As a result, experts are working to repair the beaten path.

Chris Binder, director with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, says there’s no hiding the fact that Tahoe’s hiking paths need some care.

“We’re seeing some evidence of erosion on the trails particularly steep sections where the rapid snow melt has put more water on the trail than we’re used to seeing,” says Binder. “Some tripping hazards and some other things that aren’t conducive to hiking, biking and riding on the trails, so that’s something that we’re going to have to address and fix this year.”

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By Associated Press
 
A wet winter has produced a bumper crop of cheatgrass that fire officials in Northern Nevada expect will dry out and become prime fuel for the smallest of sparks during a hot, dry wildfire season ahead.

Battalion Chief Larry Goss of the East Fork Fire District said that the potential exists this summer for large, low-elevation wind-driven grass fires.

“It depends on how fast and when we see heat,” Goss said. “We’re anticipating that it will dry out the end of June or July. If there’s not a break after this week’s heat spell, it could dry out faster.”

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·      South Lake Tahoe Recreation Department is offering an American Red Cross certified lifeguard training course and a lifeguard recertification course in June. Go online to register.

·      The Wild and Scenic Film Festival will be in Truckee on June 17. Doors open at 6:30pm, live music at 7pm, films from 9-10:30pm; at CA 89 Boutique, 10156 Donner Pass Road. For tickets and more info, go online.

·      The Douglas County Public Library will be hosting a Lego Build on Tuesdays from June 6-July 25 at the Minden Library. Listen to a story and recreate it using Lego bricks from 3-4pm. Lego bricks and building materials will be provided by the library. This is for children ages 4 and up.

·      The League to Save Lake Tahoe’s summer kickoff is June 23 from 5-8pm at the nonprofit’s office, 2608 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. Free for all to attend.

·      Tahoe Citizens Committee is hosting a town hall meeting to discuss legislative issues affecting Douglas County at the lake. It will be June 13, 6pm at the visitors’ center building in Stateline. For more info, email tahoecitizenscommittee@gmail.com.

So much snow remains at Squaw Valley that the ski season may never end. Photo/Kathryn Reed

By Kathryn Reed

OLYMPIC VALLEY – Warmth and skiing are seldom two words that go together. But these are not ordinary times.

The abundance of available terrain at Squaw Valley is astounding. There is so much snow that resort officials hope the 2016-17 ski season blends into the 2017-18 season without interruption. If this happens, it could be the first time anywhere for a resort to never close.

With a high of 69 degrees last Monday, one might think it would be more slush than snow. Not true. It was spring skiing, for sure. Soft, with patches that grab and a few slick spots. No corn snow, though.

From two wheels to a mono ski. Photo/Kathryn Reed

What was most impressive about the runs off Siberia, Shirley Lake, and Gold Coast was the coverage. No rocks, no obstacles of any kind.

It was shocking on May 29 to be able to ski from the top of Siberia Ridge to the village. With the mountain run open, no need to down lift – at least for now. There are spots on the lower part where dirt is visible, and even a section where it’s about 8 feet wide. But, still, the coverage is better than it was at times at other resorts in the middle of winter during the drought.

“Through the strategic movement of snow using grooming machines, Squaw Valley mountain operations team members will transport snow from areas with ample snow to areas with lower amounts of snow, effectively maximizing the snowpack long into summer,” Liesl Kenney of Squaw Valley told Lake Tahoe News. “The Shirley zone also benefits from a northwest aspect, limiting sun exposure and snow loss due to melting.”

Squaw is redefining spring skiing – especially with summer just days away.

And people are dressed for the weather – with varying degrees of undress.

The terrain crew at Squaw is ready to keep the features in pristine condition. Photo/Kathryn Reed

On Memorial Day the base was about 192 inches. This is what’s left after the resort received a record 724 inches of snow. Depending on what Mother Nature does, those numbers could increase and there might even be a summer powder day.

There is so much snow that the resort has a half pipe and terrain park open. The park crew is busy even during the day keeping the features up to par. One guy is known as the salt monkey. He has what resembles a leaf blower on his back. It’s really a salt blower, which helps keep things slick. Rakes and other tools are employed by the rest of the gang.

Skiers and snowboarders are appreciative of their efforts as they fly over the ramps, doing tricks in the air.

For Tim DeGraff of San Francisco he is more interested in the moguls off Siberia Express.

“I skied here last year on July 3. It was nothing like this,” DeGraff told Lake Tahoe News. That’s because there is so much more snow and the conditions dramatically better.

Adjacent to what DeGraff is on is a mogul course constructed for the junior ski team. Their agility looks like they could be ready for PyeongChang, South Korea, in 2018.

Top to bottom skiing is made possible by the grooming team. Photo/Kathryn Reed

This will be the fourth time Squaw has been open on July 4, but it will be the first time it has been open beyond that date. Mother Nature will help dictate if and when the resort closes.

“It will all depend on how the snow pack holds up. It’s typically a week to week decision,” Kenney said of deciding if and when to close.

While the upper mountain is awash in the white stuff, it really does seem like spring-summer at the base.

Through June, Squaw will be open on weekends. The resort will be open July 1-4. After that it, it’s all unchartered terrain and snow-weather dependent. What will be open remains to be seen. The plan is for the Shirley Lake area to be open, even if it means having to walk there from High Camp.

It is possible to create a Tahoe-Squaw triathlon of sorts by skiing/snowboarding, then adding on swimming, hiking, roller skating, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing.

The pool at High Camp opens this month, with the hot tub having opened in May.

“We are planning to renovate High Camp this summer. Snow is not impacting those plans yet,” Kenney said.

Check the resort’s website for up-to-date info, as well as special events like the Freedom Festival from July 1-4.

By Clint Purvance

This week, June 4-10, is Community Health Improvement Week. It is a national celebration to recognize the work and efforts of health professionals to improve their community’s health.

One thing you will hear from Barton Health professionals is that improving the health and wellness in our community takes collaboration and commitment. This can be seen in the actions taken in the last two years to address South Lake Tahoe’s most pressing health concerns.

Clint Purvance

The top three concerns identified in the 2012 and 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment were mental health, substance abuse, and access to care issues. This assessment, one of the requirements from the Affordable Care Act, is not only a comprehensive report, but also an action plan to help our community members who need it most.

Here are some of the highlights of progress:

Access to Care — Two-Year Highlights

• Expanded the Barton physician directory to include community health resources.
• Increased the number of Mommy & Me classes and Daddy Bootcamp classes offered to new parents.
• Expanded Barton Community Health Center hours to include same day appointments and Saturday availability.
• Through the UC Davis Cancer Care Network and in collaboration with the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, patients have access to state-of-the-art oncology care coordinated through Barton oncology.
• Barton Foundation funded the Barton Cancer Wellness Program for community members undergoing cancer offering guided exercise, yoga, and nutrition services.
• Developed an innovative partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to serve patients through guided walks with medical providers on public lands. Increased our commitment to women’s health by hiring three female OB/Gyns and starting construction on Barton Medical Imaging’s Women’s Suite adding advanced technology, including a 3D Tomography mammography system improving accuracies in diagnostics.
• Barton Foundation provided $8,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations to improve processes and access to care.

Mental Health — Two-Year Highlights

• Hired a full time adult and child psychiatrist providing services at Barton Psychiatry and Barton Community Health Center.
• Barton Foundation provided $47,000 in grants for local nonprofit organizations serving people with mental health needs.
• Conducted two mental health presentations with psychiatrists.
• Hosted two community forums on mental health needs in our community with an attendance of over 75 community members at each forum.
• Developed the Community Mental & Behavioral Health Cooperative in an effort to increase awareness, reduce stigma and improve access to mental health services.
• In cooperation with the city of South Lake Tahoe proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness Month in 2016 and 2017.
• Created an annual 31 day Mental Health Challenge during the month of May increasing awareness and reducing stigma.
• Introduced five mental health kiosks to the community providing mental health information and resources through the Community Mental & Behavioral Health Cooperative.
• Implemented a Survivors of Suicide support group through the Suicide Prevention Network meant to help those who have lost a loved one to suicide.
• Educated 7th-, 8th- and 9th-grade students in spring 2017 on “signs of suicide.”

Substance Abuse — Two-Year Highlights

•  Participated in the annual Drug Store Project impacting 6th-grade students.
• Attended South Tahoe Drug-Free Coalition meetings and Pain Management meetings.
• Implemented education and monitoring programs of Barton providers on drug-prescribing practices.
• Barton Foundation donated $23,000 to nonprofits with the goal of reducing substance abuse in our community.
• Hosted two community lectures on opioid use and abuse.
• Provided medical expertise for the Tahoe Regional Young Professional’s Tahoe Hall Talk on cannabis.
• Presentation to STHS freshmen class on the effects of cannabis.
• Hosted a Drug Take Back Day through the Drug Free Coalition.
• Presented medical point of view on cannabis risks to the South Lake Tahoe City Council.
• Engaged local community pharmacies in collaboration efforts for prescription drug monitoring.

While as a community we are making progress, significant collaboration and work need to continue. Barton is committed to lead the charge in many of these efforts, but cannot achieve these goals alone. We have immense gratitude for the commitment of the partners involved in this effort, and look forward to together creating a healthier community.

Community Health Improvement Week is put on by the American Hospital Association’s Association for Community Health Improvement. For a complete report of Barton Health’s 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment, go online. 

Clint Purvance is the CEO and president of Barton Health in South Lake Tahoe.

·      South Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Arts Alliance are partnering for an art gallery reception June 12 from 6-8pm at City Hall located at 1901 Airport Road.

·      Become a Lake Tahoe expert at the UC Davis docent training June 15, 19, 20 and 24. Training includes general Lake Tahoe information, environmental issues, geology, history of research, state of the lake, ecology and food web, and prepares volunteer docents to volunteer at the UC Davis science education centers in Incline Village and Tahoe City. More information about the docent program is available online.

·      Chipper Lowell will be returning to Lake Tahoe to headline Magic Fusion nightly from June 8-20 at The Loft in South Lake Tahoe.

·      SmartAsset analyzed Social Security income, cost of living data, and taxes across all counties to determine where people are getting the most mileage out of Social Security. Placer County was fifth best in the state, El Dorado County seventh, and Amador County ninth.

·      At the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center on June 17 from 8-11am pancake breakfast, with a rummage sale from 8am-noon. On June 30 from 7:30-10pm there will be a dance.

Thieves made off with a spool of copper wire from the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care construction site on Al Tahoe Boulevard.

Last week work was going forward to connect the sewer line to South Tahoe Public Utility District’s connection at Pioneer Village nearly 900 feet away.

“The new way to locate water, electrical, sewer lines, etc. is to bury a copper wire just above the line – which makes it easier to locate in the future, should that need occur,” Tom Millham, co-founder of LTWC, said in a statement. “After the initial 200 feet had been placed with the copper line, the remainder of the coil was left above ground for work the next day, as the contractor does about 200 feet per day. That night, someone cut the line and took the remainder of the spool.” 

The value of the wire at a scrap yard is much less than what it will cost the nonprofit to replace it.

To complete the framing, security fence and asphalt work, donations are still being sought. For more info about LTWC, go online.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Mike Higdon, Reno Gazette-Journal

Nevada’s craft brewpubs will be able to make more than twice as much beer starting in July if Gov. Brian Sandoval signs an omnibus liquor bill.

Nevada is one of the top beer consuming states but one of the most restrictive on production, according to 24/7 Wall Street. Most of that consumption comes from Las Vegas tourism and most of that beer is large-scale domestic beers with no limits to the amount they can import and sell in the state, according to Nevada Department of Taxation numbers.

The local craft brewers would like to change that in their favor so that tourists seek out local beer on tap at the casinos instead. This new bill might give them that opportunity.

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By Benjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette-Journal

The use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to extract fossil fuels could be banned in Nevada if a state assemblyman gets his way.

But that’s only if the Legislature approves Assembly Bill 159 before the end of the legislative session on June 5 and Gov. Brian Sandoval signs it into law.

“It endangers our air, our water, our earth,” Assemblyman Justin Watkins, D-Las Vegas, told the Senate Committee on Natural Resources on Tuesday.

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