On July 10 at approximately 5:30pm a bicyclist collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Donner Pass Road at Northwoods Drive in Truckee.

The driver of the vehicle initially got out of the vehicle, but then fled eastbound on Donner Pass. While enroute to the accident, the Truckee Fire ambulance crew saw the suspect vehicle at a high rate of speed as it passed the fire station and was able to provide a description.

The bicyclist,a 31 year old man from Truckee, was transported to Tahoe Forest Hospital for treatment of facial and head injuries.

Investigation showed that the bicyclist failed to stop for the red signal light and ran into the vehicle.

Nearly an hour after the accident officers located the possible vehicle involved inside the Donner Creek Mobile Home Park. The ambulance crew identified the vehicle and driver.

Miguel Martinez-Lopez, 43 of Truckee, was arrested on charges of being an unlicensed driver, no proof of insurance and felony hit and run. His bail was set at $10,000.

By Roman Stubbs, Reno Gazette-Journal

The homemade plywood start gate sits in his front yard in Truckee, not far from the garage, where several sets of skis are carefully stacked against the back wall.

They were essential pieces of Errol Kerr’s ninth-place finish in skicross at the 2010 Winter Olympics where he competed for Jamaica, but they sit unnoticed in the mid-summer heat.

The real tools of Kerr’s trade are the welder and plasma cutter hanging from cords in the cluttered garage. They help the 24-year-old do what he has been doing all his life — they help him take risks.

His latest project involves attaching steel brackets to a Canon HD camera. The camera soon will be mounted to a remote control helicopter and flown over the New York Jets training camp by Kerr, as part of an aerial photography deal with HBO’s NFL series “Hard Knocks.”

But if he could, Kerr would be somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere right now, searching for the formula that ultimately could lead to gold in 2014.

The truth is, the 2010 Olympics still haunt him.

All the romanticism that came with being Jamaica’s one-man ski team and of continuing the tradition of the bobsled team that inspired the movie “Cool Runnings,” is muted in his mind. He was part of the inaugural skicross competition at the Olympics, and though Kerr smiles with one mention of memories created in Vancouver, the skiing left him feeling like he failed to finish the job.

“Ninth place, nobody remembers who got ninth. By me not winning wasn’t a complete fail, but it wasn’t a complete success,” Kerr said. “If I went and got a gold medal right now, (Jamaica) would be on the map. So I think, you know, by not doing that, it’s a much slower and painstaking process.”

Read the whole story

By ABC 4 NEWS

CEDAR CITY, Utah — A small plane crashed into a Cedar City resident’s backyard Sunday afternoon.

About 3:30pm a 56-year-old man was flying a small plane from Carson City to Georgia when he lost power.

Officials say he was trying to glide into the airport in Southern Utah, but he didn’t have enough altitude to make it, and the plane went down.

The plane crashed into the backyard of a Cedar City home. The pilot received minor head injuries. He was transported by ambulance to Valley View Medical Center.

By Brian Nordli, Reno Gazette-Journal

MARKLEEVILLE — It’s 5:30 a.m. and the day is just beginning at Turtle Rock Park.

As the sun begins its daily ritual, hundreds of cyclists wearing jerseys and windbreakers that are so bright they could hurt the eyes are unloading their bikes. They are preparing for a journey that hundreds more have already started.

Every cyclist brings the same attitude to the start of the Death Ride. With 129 miles to go and 15,000 feet of climbing over five peaks in the California Alps, they are optimistic.

There were more than 3,000 participants in Saturday’s daylong ride, which stretched well into evening for some. They were hoping to hit each of the five checkpoints, receive the colored sticker that serves as confirmation for each summit and at the end the elusive pin that comes with a finished ride.

But in a ride this difficult, motivation is more personal. Some want to cross it off their bucket list, others are riding to complete unfinished business and others still do it to honor the wish of a family they’ve never met.

Read the whole story

South Lake Tahoe’s public pool is closed today until at least 1:30pm for maintenance.

For more information, call (530) 542.6056.

Trails and Vistas’ annual nature art hike is Sept. 17-18 at Spooner Lake at the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

Volunteers make Trails and Vistas possible. This year is no exception, as more than 50 volunteers are needed to ensure a successful event.

This month Trails and Vistas will offer a volunteer workshop titled “Finding Your Voice” on July 24 from 9-11:30am for volunteer trail leader development. This workshop will focus on storytelling skills, teaching how to create small group trust and support, and build confidence for public speaking.

No experience is needed to become a trail leader.

RSVP to Nancy Lopez at nancy@trailsandvistas.org no later than July 20.

Go online to learn more about Trails and Vistas art hike volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.

TAMBA trail work day is July 16.

The mountain bike group has a Volunteer Service Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service and this will be our first official trail building day.

Help build armored berms, strengthen the sandy loose areas of trail, and identify where to build additional features on the top portions of Armstrong connector. Depending on the number of volunteers we have showing up, a crew may also be sent up Armstrong trail to fix what winter destroyed.

Show up at the main bottom parking lot of Corral (just past Saxon Creek bridge) at 9am and then be shuttled to the top to start the trail work.

This trail day is the first of our monthly build days under the VSA with the Forest Service. Even a few hours of volunteer time will go a long way.

Email questions to info@mountainbiketahoe.org. RSVP to the event on TAMBA’s Facebook page.

Remember to bring long sleeves, pants, sturdy shoes, gloves and drinking water.

Sprouts is donating 25 lunches to the trail work. Make sure to RSVP early to get a lunch.

• Every Saturday in July and August from 9-10:30am there are natural history hikes of Sugar Pine Point State Park. The free tours start and end at the Nature Center on the day use side of the park. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water.

• Community Air Service Initiative is a group trying to bring commercial air service to the South Shore.

• Thunder Valley Casino Resort’s hotel has earned the Four Diamond rating from AAA.

• Former Lake Tahoe Unified School District Superintendent Rich Fischer speaks out about journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who recently revealed he is an illegal immigrant.

• El Dorado County’s taxable real estate and personal property valued dropped 1.4 percent to $25.3 billion. Placer County figures won’t be available for a few weeks.

Betty is a pointer-Australian shepherd mix who is somewhat confused at the shelter. She was probably in one home her whole life, and now she’s at the shelter.

Despite her change in circumstances, she is very sweet and affectionate, and she gets along well with the other dogs. She seems fine with cats, and would probably be just as happy sitting by your feet as she would be going for a walk.

Betty is spayed, microchipped, and vaccinated. She 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.

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

Navigating your kayak by moonlight is a mystical experience you won’t soon forget. Join California State Park rangers and West Shore Sports at Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point State Park for this unique kayak tour watching for a grand view of the moon rising into the night’s sky while learning about the area’s unique history.

Paddle leisurely while admiring the moon’s silvery light reflecting off the water’s surface.

No previous experience required.

Kayaks, life vests and instructions are provided. Wear synthetic clothing rather than cotton (swimsuit, shirt, shorts, lightweight pants, jacket and warm cap).

Bring water, retainer strap for glasses and water shoes. Proceeds benefit the Sierra State Parks Foundation.

Dates are July 14 and Aug. 11 starting at 7:30pm.

Cost is $25 per person, with an 18-person limit.

Reservations required: (530) 525.9920.