Flames shoot up from the Tahoe Queen on Aug. 16. Photo/LTN

Updated 8:20pm

By Kathryn Reed

ZEPHYR COVE — The Tahoe Queen on Tuesday morning sustained substantial damage when a fire ripped through the paddle-wheeler.

“It is probably not salvageable, but the owners and insurance have to decide,” Tahoe Douglas Fire Marshal Eric Guevin told Lake Tahoe News. “It will be a very close call either way.”

Aramark, which owns the tourist boat, is self-insured.

Earlier on Aug. 16, Karen Cutler with Aramark public relations in Arizona told Lake Tahoe News, “We are still determining the damage so we cannot address future plans at this time.”

Aramark officials at the resort shut a door on Lake Tahoe News.

Two people were injured Aug. 16, but both refused to be transported to a hospital. One person sustained a sprained back and the other smoke inhalation.

Painters and welders were working on the renovation when the fire broke out after 8am.

Potentially toxic smoke spews from the Tahoe Queen. Photo/Jaymi Hardy

“When we arrived there was a large body of fire in the Tahoe Queen. It spread to the outside of the vessel,” Guevin said.

Booms were placed in the water at Zephyr Cove Marina to catch any chemicals if they spilled from the boat as well as the foam from the firefighting efforts. A sheen of what looked like oil was floating on the surface of Lake Tahoe in the morning.

The front of the boat clearly has fire damage. Flames could be seen from Highway 50, smoke from much farther away.

Normally the Tahoe Queen is docked at Ski Run Marina, but it has been moored at the Nevada marina because the lake is too low at the California site for it to reach the dock. The other reason the Queen has been at Zephyr Cove is that it is undergoing another remodel.

Firefighters on land and water work to suppress the flames on the Tahoe Queen. Photo/Kathryn Reed

The Dixie, the other paddle-wheeler operated by Aramark, had to cancel its cruises on Tuesday.

“We are awaiting additional information to determine when service can resume,” Cutler said.

Aramark operates the resort on U.S. Forest Service land.

The Forest Service also wasn’t available for comment, though their crews helped with the fire and a management team had arrived.

The Tahoe Queen is engulfed in flames the morning of Aug. 16. Photo/Joe Besson

Where the fire started is not known and the cause is under investigation.

The U.S. Coast Guard will lead the investigation. A team from the Bay Area has arrived and will work with Tahoe Douglas fire officials more in the morning.

By Benjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette-Journal

STATELINE — Crumbling pavement and some unoccupied mobile homes are among the reminders of what used to occupy the site of the future Tahoe Beach Club.

But the developers, politicians and local business leaders on the beach in Stateline Monday afternoon weren’t there to pick through remnants of what used to be. The dignitaries, including Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, were looking out toward Lake Tahoe and what they envisioned for the future of the 20-acre, lakefront property.

The club, according to developers and planning agency staff, would be the first new, full-ownership lakefront homes on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe in about 30 years, although there have been time-share developments in that time.

Read the whole story

By Kathryn Reed

Dogs and porcupines are not a good combination. Seldom does the dog win.

There have been several reports of dogs with muzzles full of quills in the Truckee marsh area of South Lake Tahoe.

However, area veterinarians say this is normal every summer, even though some residents in the area believe it’s more rampant this year.

“It is a technique to get them out. Some people pull them out and that is very painful for the dog,” Brenda Daly, veterinarian assistant at Carson Tahoe Veterinary Hospital in Carson City, said of the quills. She said it’s best if the dog is sedated for removal of the quills.

Her facility gets emergency cases from the South Shore, Incline Village and other areas around the lake.

“It can be really painful for them,” Daly told Lake Tahoe News. “It is annoying for them; they paw at the face.”

When dogs interact with porcupines it can be painful for the canine. Photo/Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care

Teresa Sullivan, a nurse at Sierra Veterinary Hospital in South Lake Tahoe, said the number of dogs coming in with quills is about the same as most summers, and she’s been here for 30 years.

At least a few dogs a month are seen at each of the various vet offices in the region. Early morning and dusk seem to be when most of the encounters occur.

The offices said it can be an expensive procedure to remove the quills. The time involved depends on how many there are and how deep.

“Often dogs that get quilled by porcupines are dogs that it’s happened to repeatedly. Either they are not enclosed properly or they are let out early,” Sullivan told Lake Tahoe News.

El Dorado County Animal Control only gets involved if the dog is a stray.

Cheryl Millham, founder of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, said if people would abide by the leash laws or have command of their dogs, there wouldn’t be canine-porcupine interactions.

“Their tail is one of their major defense mechanisms. They can swish fast and drive quills real deep,” Millham told Lake Tahoe News.

She said porcupines are slow and don’t attack, but they will defend themselves. Millham added that when people see one, to just give it space and walk by.

Most of the porcupines her animal rehab center has cared for have come from the Tahoe Mountain and Fallen Leaf Lake areas.

To the community,

The annual Tahoe Tennis Classic isn’t just about the play on the courts. The 33-year-old tournament is also the major fundraiser for the Zephyr Cove Tennis Club Foundation.

The nonprofit, all-volunteer organization has the responsibility of running the six courts at the Douglas County facility. With the support of Lake Tahoe and regional businesses, we were able to raise funds to offer free junior instruction and to resurface the entire facility.

We would like to thank everyone who made the July tournament a success. We set a record for the number of teams – 124. The 184 players from nine states ranged in age from 12-81.

A special thank you to Harveys for the delicious dinner enjoyed by 200 people.

We would like to thank the following businesses and people for their generosity in support of the Classic:

Businesses:

A Massage at Tahoe, tennis instructor Adam Robin, Agave Azul Mexican Grill Restaurant, All Sports Fitness & Personal Training, Angel Touch Salon & Spa, Anytime Fitness (Zephyr Cove), Bona Fide Books, Café at Adele’s, CalStar, Capisce Restaurant, Carson Valley Inn, Casey’s Restaurant, Casino Fandango, City of South Lake Tahoe, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, Elements Day Spa, Elevation Spa Ridge Tahoe, Ernie’s Coffee Shop, Genasci & Steigers DDS, Getaway Café, Hair by Dawn, Happy-Healthy Body Products, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Village Cinema, Homewood Mountain Resort, Imagine Salon, Improv at Harveys, J. Boutique, Jimmy Johns – Reno, Kalani’s Restaurant, Lakeside Inn and Casino, Lake Tahoe Yoga, Marcus Ashley Gallery, Mind/Body Fitness, Mirabelle at Lake Tahoe, MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, Mt. Rose Ski Resort, NorCal Fishing Charters, Oakley Shop-Heavenly Village, Payne Massage Therapy, Pine Cone Lodge c/o Tahoe Management Services, The Loft, The Ridge Tahoe, Reel-Lentless Fishing Charters, Reno Aces Baseball Club, Sierra-at Tahoe, Splatter Studioz, Sprouts Natural Foods Café, Still Water Yoga, Tahoe Adventure Film Festival, Tahoe Best Friends, Tahoe Bodyworks, Tahoe Cakes by Grace, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters, Justin Clark/Tahoe Tennis Academy, Tep’s Villa Roma, Toast Tahoe, UPS Store (Stateline), Weidinger Public Relations, Dennis Zansler-Morgan Stanley, Zephyr Cove Adventures, Zephyr Cove Resort/Lake Tahoe Cruises, and Zephyr Cove Tennis Club Foundation.

Individuals:

Doreen and Tom Andriacchi, Frank Bauer, Norm Beres, Carol and Carl Bergren, Kari and David Beronio, Robert Beutenmiller, Ceci Chourre’, Sheila Cockerell, Hal Cole, Barbara Cooper, Kylie and Kari Coziahr, Tony Cupaiuolo,Mike and Cindy Dalton, Kevin Diamond, Dennis Dufau, Jay and Sharla Freeman, Dorothy Fugitt, Ray Fugitt, Bob Green, Sheryl and Hersh Herschmann, Denise and Jeff Higgins, Carel James, Melissa and Jess Jester, Becky Lebuhn, David Long, Kent C. McCarthy, Judy McLennan, Janet Nelson, Holly and Greg Painter, Dennis Perry, Susie and Tom Petrizzio, Louise and Paul Proffer, Eddi Quiggle, Colleen Rafforty, Kae Reed, Holly and Ross Rittiman, Diane Baker and Terry Roberts, Rhoda Shaponik, Michael D. Schmitz, Kim Silver, Becky and Wes Smotherman, Judy and Mark Spellman, Grant Thompson, Bryce and Zach Unger, Vicki Veris, Tricia Ward, Joyce Youngs, and Liz Zapalac.

Thank you again,

Carolyn Wright, ZCTCF president

By Deena Shanker, Bloomberg

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently ordered up new nutrition labels for cereal boxes, candy bars, and every other packaged food item in the supermarket. Soon, they will list not just how much sugar is inside, but whether that sugar was naturally occurring, as in raisins, or added later, as on the flakes that come with them.

Though this additional information won’t be required until next year, health advocates predicted that such legally mandated disclosure would deliver less-sugary foods in its wake. They were right.

Four Twizzler strawberry twists have the same sugar content as an apple, but clearly the fruit is a better choice—in no small part because it comes with fiber and Vitamin C. The FDA decision recognized that the source of sugar matters, and that listing “Sugars” alone doesn’t reflect that. The agency decision attempts to outsmart food manufacturers that commonly call added sugar ingredients by other names, such as high fructose corn syrup, agave, and fruit juice. Current-ingredients lists and nutrition-facts panels, the FDA was saying, can be surprisingly deceptive.

Read the whole story

Louise Feller, standing front right, with other volunteers in Rio. Photos/Louise Feller

One of the advantages to being a volunteer at the Olympics is getting an inside view of the country.

Louise Feller of Stateline is in Rio helping out. Besides being featured on Lake Tahoe News before she left, she is also reporting back from the Games.

Louise Feller with Jarrion Lawson of the U.S. who placed fourth in the long jump.

From Feller:

“Very busy at the sport center, but still had time for track and field and some time for touring. Our guide took us to Ipanema to a hippy market (flea market), had fun shopping.

“Then he took us to the favella, the Candagalo communities where mostly the poor people live. They have most services, but the sanitation goes directly into the ocean or streets. In some areas the garbage is high and smells really bad.

Beaches are a big deal in Brazil.

“In Ipanema the government is working with them to improve their conditions. They now have an elevator to take them to the top, which was really cool. We took it with our guide.

Poverty runs rampant in Rio.

“Had our first real dinner because we had no events; which was delicious. The stadium food is so bad we don’t eat anything except have a beer. I found a cafe that makes us sandwiches everyday which are great.

“Going to track and field tonight. Day off tomorrow; going to beach volleyball semifinals.”

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

To the community,

Obviously, history has been made since the beginning of time but wasn’t recorded until relatively recent times. One thing certain is that the travelers, teachers, and troubadours of old told and sang stories that informed and entertained. Circles around campfires and huddles around hearths created communities.

The means of the telling have changed dramatically but the personal stories with the important element of humanity provide the power. We can read and enjoy stories.  Story’s power comes from seeing the face and hearing the voice of the person with feeling, gestures, smiles, and tears. It is so evident as we watch and listen to those who have spoken at the Republican and Democratic conventions. Political platitudes, promises, and programs are a part of the communication but don’t have the impact of those who bring personal stories to the podiums and the public. This is the case for the stories of cancer survivors and of those who have overcome addiction to drugs.

There are many quotes about storytelling. JK Rowling says, “There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place.” Tahir Shah said, “Stories are a communal currency of humanity.” There is an understanding that storytelling has always been the best tool to communicate ideas, persuade others, and get what you want. In other words—tell, don’t sell.

There is always cynicism and skepticism about the truth of what we hear, but with the available fact checking, there is risk in playing with the truth. It is important to note the words of Herbert Spencer, a British sociologist, who said, “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.” Mark Twain said, “The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain’t so.”  The public will have some due diligence to perform through this election process.

Merlyn Karst, Denver

The coaster at Heavenly is an added reason to visit the South Shore resort. Photo Copyright 2016 Carolyn E. Wright

By Dennis Schaal, Skift 

There is a broad shift under way in U.S. consumer spending that could have very positive implications for the travel industry if the trend persists.

Analyzing the federal government’s July 2016 numbers on retail sales, the Wall Street Journal pointed Saturday to a “seismic shift in consumer spending.”

“Americans are still splashing out, but they are splurging less on goods such as apparel and electronics and more on entertainment, travel and health care,” the Wall Street Journal states.

First Data Corp. reported that travel sales in July increased 8.6 percent compared with July 2015.

Read the whole story

·       Tahoe Arts Project is having a fundraiser Aug. 25 from 7-9pm at Lakeshore Lodge in South Lake Tahoe. Music on the Beach will feature Trey Stone, Niall McGuinness and John Shipley. Bring food, beverages, blankets and low back chairs. Cost is $10.

·       Tahoe City Fine Arts and Crafts Festival is the last two weekends of August at the Boatworks Marina Green from 10am-5pm each day. It is free.

·       The Bicycle Advisory Committee of the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Facilities Joint Powers Authority meets Sept. 7 from 9-11am in the downstairs conference room at Lake Tahoe Airport.

·       Lake Tahoe Humane Society is putting on a poker run on Aug. 20. Registration starts at 10am and the event starts at noon at California Burger at Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe. Poker hands will be collected at five stops, which include beaches and bars. The hands will be entered into the contest, with the worst and best winning bicycles.

Expect traffic controls on Black Bart, Martin, and Barbara avenues while El Dorado County puts slurry seal on the roads.

The reverse traffic controls are scheduled for Aug. 23-24. Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

The dates could change due to weather or other reasons.