The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners will meet in early February to update the strategic plan.
The commission is seeking input now via an online survey. The survey will be open until Feb. 2.
Douglas County’s strategic plan is the framework for which the commission prioritizes fiscal needs and public services in Douglas County.
Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association wants to use herbicides in 2018 to kill invasive weeds that are choking the canals of this South Lake Tahoe development.
TKPOA has applied for a permit for a small-scale demonstration that would take place next year. Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board would be the one to issue the permit. While that board has OK’d the use of herbicides in theory, each application must be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Curly leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil have taken over more than 90 percent of the 172-acre Tahoe Keys lagoon system. They have spread into other parts of Lake Tahoe.
If permitted, the plan is to apply low levels of Endothall, Triclopyr and Penoxsulam at nine test sites that would cover 13 acres, or 8 percent of the Keys.
The process would include an impermeable barrier between the lagoons and lake, monitoring, and numerous safety measures to ensure that these substances would not reach the lake. The demonstration would also include using non-herbicide control methods in the years following the herbicides to keep the plants under control.
The herbicides are nontoxic to humans, fish and wildlife, and would be diluted to between 0.02 and 2 parts per million, or about half the maximum concentrations allowed by the EPA.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
A Bay Area man was arrested Jan. 21 on burglary charges in Truckee.
Officers responded to a burglary alarm at Mountain Hardware early Saturday morning. They found the front glass doors had been smashed in. Officers watched the suspect walk out through the broken doors carrying an ax and a chain saw, along with several other stolen items from inside of the business.
Joel Robert Shelton, 18, of Point Reyes, was immediately arrested.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
If you are looking for bus service in South Lake Tahoe, you might want to call Uber or a taxi.
Tahoe Transportation District has limited operations on Jan. 23. TTD claims the roads are bad even though the buses operate almost strictly on main roads that the city prioritizes for snow removal.
Routes 50, 53 and 23 are operating and routes 19x and 20x are operating with delays. TTD will add back routes gradually, with full service expected on Tuesday.
On Sunday buses stopped running midday. This also forced Heavenly to close early because the resort needed a way to get its guests back to where they came from via the ski shuttles.
The North Shore is also having issues.
There is still no Highway 89 service between Squaw Valley and Tahoe City because of earlier avalanches. All other main line TART routes are operating, but have delays.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
To the community,
Although it’s been a busy season safeguarding Heavenly Mountain Resort skiers, on Jan. 16 the Heavenly ski patrol also wanted to help the community off the mountain.
By sponsoring a Bread & Broth Adopt A Day of Nourishment, the ski patrol funded a B&B’s Monday meal, which not only provided a hot, tasty meal, but also a chance to enjoy a warm and safe place to spend time with others.
Representing the ski patrol and volunteering their personal time were Evan Bozarth, Patrick Chu, Gray Grandy, Dave Helllod and Nick Kushner. As always, the ski patrol sends a fun group of volunteers and they did a great job helping to dish out over 100 servings of filling and much enjoyed chili dogs.
On his break from serving, Chu shared his thoughts about the evening’s experience. “We were warmly welcomed by the B&B staff into a rewarding and unforgettable experience. The setup and serving was well organized and the food was delicious. Heavenly ski patrol is proud to take part in and support B&B in their efforts to serve the local community.”
B&B is very fortunate to have the on-going support of the Heavenly Ski Patrol and its dedicated and hardworking members who routinely do good works and kind deeds for others.
For more B&B program information, go online.
Carol Gerard, Bread & Broth
By USSA
SOLITUDE, Utah– American snowboardcross athletes continued their successful run on home soil Sunday at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Solitude Mountain Resort. In Sunday’s team event, Rosie Mancari (Anchorage) and Lindsey Jacobellis (Stowe, Vt.) took the win for the ladies, while Alex Deibold (Boulder, Colo.) and Nate Holland (Squaw Valley) combined to take third place for the men.
The snowy conditions that plagued Saturday’s event moved out of the area and the course stayed relatively clear of snow overnight, which made conditions much faster for Sunday’s team event.
Jacobellis and Mancari combined fast speeds and strategies to take the win for the U.S. “Last run was fighting the whole way down,” Jacobellis said after the race. “We were all really close and I was just trying to take away lines and options and slow down the girls so that Rosie did not have to fight through the pack.”
All the U.S. athletes were happy to be in the States, competing in a World Cup on home soil. “I can’t even really put words to (how it feels to win on home soil),” Mancari noted. “My mom is here watching for her first race ever so it’s really awesome. This is my first race in the U.S. that’s a World Cup, so the whole atmosphere and community is amazing. I see 100 people and they all want to give me hugs – it’s amazing.”
Mancari fought hard to hold off France’s Nelly Moenne Loccoz, who took second with teammate Chloe Trespeuch. Italy 1 team Raffaella Brutto and Michela Moioli rounded out the podium in third.
For the men, Deibold took the lead early on, but had a bobble down the course that left Holland fighting from behind. “I think our finish today could be pretty squarely put on my shoulders,” Deibold said of their third-place result. “Nate was definitely the fastest guy out there. I had the lead, I was trying to protect my line and I just unfortunately made a small bobble and it cost us.”
Holland did make a great effort to get the American team on the podium. “All the gates dropped, I was off the back, I just pinned it as hard as I could,” he said. “I know I’m pretty fast on this course and in these conditions I think I’m the fastest. I made a strong push, made up a lot of ground, but it wasn’t enough for the win today.”
Reigning world champion Luca Matteotti and his teammate Emanuel Perathoner of Italy took the win for the men, while Austrian team of Julian Lueftner and Lukas Pachner were second.
Also making the final brackets for the U.S. in team snowboardcross at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix: Colleen Healey (Incline Village) and Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City) were seventh; Hagan Kearney (Telluride, Colo.) and Robert Minghini (Snowshoe, W.Va.) were seventh; Katie Wilson (Mequon, Mich.) and Danielle Steinhoff (Colfax) were eighth.
Mail may not be coming on Jan. 23. Photo/LTN
Not everyone is going to get mail on Monday.
There will be no home deliver in the unincorporated area of El Dorado County in the basin.
Carriers will try to reach people in the city limits, but there are no guarantee. Safety is the priority.
Residents are being asked to clear their boxes and the snow piled around them so carriers can get there without needing to get out of their vehicles.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
· Valhalla Tahoe invites artists to submit a proposal for consideration for the 2017 season. Submissions are due Feb. 6. For more info, go online.
· Hard Rock Lake Tahoe is celebrating its second anniversary on Jan. 28 starting at 3pm with cake and Champagne on the casino floor.
· Miriam Gomberg (Art by Mimi G) will have her first solo exhibition and sale of her paintings with the theme of women and burlesque on Feb. 25 from noon-6pm at Natasha’s World Jewelry, 5136 Meadowood Mall Circle, Reno.
· The Douglas County Public Library is showing “Pete’s Dragon” (rated PG) on Feb. 4 at 2pm in the Minden Library meeting room. The movie and popcorn are free.
The liquor store at Harrison Avenue sustained substantial damage when the roof caved in Jan. 23 because of the snow load. Photo/Provided
By Kathryn Reed
The roof at the liquor store on Harrison Avenue collapsed early this morning from the weight of all the snow.
Another foot of snow fell overnight in South Lake Tahoe, with Meyers reporting 2 feet.
Fire and police officials have been at the commercial complex since the call came in at 2:45am Jan. 23.
“When we arrived there was water coming out of the rear of the liquor store,” Fire Chief Jeff Meston told Lake Tahoe News. “We determined the roof had collapsed and broke the sprinkler pipe. There is a ton of water on the street. STPUD had to come out to dig through the snow to find the main shut-off valve.”
Cracks in the façade and near the windows are visible from the outside.
People are being asked to avoid that area of South Lake Tahoe.
Building officials will assess the amount of damage to the neighboring businesses. Until they get inside the extent of damage remains unknown. Meston, though, said, “It could be significant.”
Animals at the veterinary clinic that is adjacent to the liquor store have been evacuated.
The liquor store could be a total loss after the roof collapsed Jan. 23. Photo/Provided
Water was also coming out of the massage business. Rojo’s restaurant, which is a bit west of the liquor store, may have been spared.
So far this is the only known roof to have collapsed in town.
Officials are urging people to clear snow off roofs if possible. With the rain, freeze and now snow, the weight just keeps getting heavier. Flat roofs, like the liquor store’s, are most problematic.
Any house built after 1970 had more substantive codes to follow. Current loads are supposed to be able to handle 100 pounds. With the assumption 1 foot of snow has 1 gallon of water, some roofs could technically handle 12 feet of snow. But with the weather Tahoe has had and the wet snow and rain earlier this month, the actual load on roofs could be heavier than that calculation.
The good news is this last storm brought light snow.
It is the flat roofs that concerns officials the most.
“They hold the snow. It becomes like a swimming pool; if the drain clogs, it holds all that wet snow,” Dave Walker, South Lake Tahoe building inspector, told Lake Tahoe News. “People with flat roofs, please get up there and clear drains and see if it’s holding a bunch of water.”
Fire and building officials will be going to some commercial buildings and inspecting city offices later today.
People are also encouraged to get rid of icicles because they are heavy and can contribute to bringing down a roof.
In other weather news, Lake Tahoe Unified, Douglas County, Tahoe Truckee Unified, Lake Tahoe Community College, Incline Village, and Sierra Nevada College are closed Jan. 23. Non-essential South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County employees don’t have to report to work. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the U.S. Forest Service office in South Lake Tahoe are closed.
El Dorado County Superior Court in South Lake Tahoe is closed on Monday. All matters in Department 3 will be continued until Tuesday. Cases in Department 4 will be rescheduled. More info is online.
South Tahoe Refuse will only service commercial customers today. Residents with Monday service may take trash to STR’s facilities for free or wait a week.
Incline Village and Crystal Bay remain under a shelter in place order because of the threat of avalanche.
Not all ski resorts will be open because of avalanche danger and needing to dig out. Call before you go.
Sierra Avalanche Center says conditions are “considerable” for Monday. That translates to no one should be in the backcountry.
Snow is expected to linger today in the basin and beyond. There should be a partial clearing on Tuesday, with more sun as the week progresses.
Roads on Monday will be difficult to navigate because most are not plowed. For current highway conditions, click on the state icons on the home page of Lake Tahoe News.
Highway 89 from Tahoe City to Squaw Valley Road is closed because of an avalanche. The California Highway Patrol is reporting two cars were struck buy the snow, but no one was injured.
Louie
Louie is a 6-year-old Labrador mix who will do well in just about any household.
He is a low- to medium-energy dog who loves to go for walks and car rides, and snuggle on the sofa. He is calm, gentle, quiet, affectionate, and playful. He didn’t seem to know any commands when he first arrived at the shelter, but he is very food-motivated and has learned sit and down, although stay will take a little more time. He walks very nicely on a short leash, and gets along well with dogs he has met.
Louie is neutered, microchipped, tested for heart worm, and vaccinated. He is at the El Dorado County Animal Services shelter in Meyers, along with many other dogs and cats who are waiting for their new homes. Go to the Tahoe animal shelter’s Facebook page to see photos and descriptions of all pets at the shelter. (Probably due to the weather, very few animals at the shelter have found new homes in the past week — please consider adopting your new best friend this week when the weather has cleared.)
Call 530.573.7925 for directions, hours, and other information on adopting a pet. For spay-neuter assistance for South Tahoe residents, go online.
— Karen Kuentz