A summer dog assisted reading reward program for kids ages 6 to 11 years will take place at two locations: the South Lake Tahoe Library and Bona Fide Books in Meyers (next to Angie’s Signs on Magua off Hopi).

One of six trained canine listeners, animal related books, plus a tutor are provided free. There will be furry, fuzzy prizes for repeat readers. Children can participate from 3-4pm on these Wednesdays:

Bona Fide Books: July 13, July 27; Aug. 10, Aug. 24.

South Lake Tahoe Library: July 6, July 20; Aug. 3, Aug. 17, Aug. 31.

Call for details: (530) 542-2857.

For the two weeks starting June 23, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department deployed officers into the Bijou neighborhood in support of the Residential Neighborhood Traffic Enforcement Program

During that time, 73 traffic related traffic stops were made. Officers wrote 30 citations and 58 written warnings were issued. Two vehicles were impounded — one because the driver had a suspended license. Another driver who had a suspended license because of a prior DUI arrest was stopped and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02, which was a violation of his DMV probation.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department will continue its Residential Neighborhood Traffic Enforcement Program this week in the Sierra Tract neighborhood.

If you would like your street or neighborhood put on the list, call or email Sgt. Shannon Laney at (530) 542.6104 or slaney@cityofslt.us. Provide your name, phone number and a description of the problem in as much detail as possible, and include times of day the problem is most prevalent.

July 16-17 is Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run. The race is 30, 50 and 100 miles.

For more information, go online.

Five people were arrested on driving under the influence charges during the July 4 checkpoint in Incline Village, with South Tahoe officers making a DUI arrest as well that night.

On Monday from 1:15-8pm several law enforcement agencies, including the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Sparks Police Department, Washoe County School Police Department and the Nevada Highway Patrol, conducted a sobriety checkpoint on Highway 28 near Ponderosa Ranch Road in Incline Village.

A total of 1,911 vehicles were screened, resulting in 25 motorists directed to a secondary screening area. Of those 25, five were arrested for driving under the influence; four for alcohol and one for drugs.

Several traffic violations were also observed during the roadblock, with 48 motorists cited for not wearing a seat belt, 11 citations issued for child restraint violations, two for having a suspended driver’s license, five for vehicle registration discrepancies, two for not having proof of insurance and 13 other misdemeanor citations. Additionally, 22 verbal warnings were given.

The checkpoint was funded by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In addition to the DUI checkpoint statistics, 20 additional arrests were made over the three-day weekend in the greater Reno-Sparks area. Fourteen were for DUI, four for misdemeanor traffic warrants, one for domestic battery and one additional misdemeanor arrest.

Twenty-two accidents were reported throughout the Northern Nevada area. Eleven of those incidents had some type of injury reported while the other eleven were property damage only.

Sgt. Shannon Laney with the South Lake Tahoe police described the Fourth as “largely an uneventful night.”

Brandi Orr, 35, of South Lake Tahoe was taken into custody on DUI charges near Harrison Avenue in the city limits. Officers said there had been reports she was threatening people with a screwdriver at Tahoe Bowl.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

Meet the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce ambassadors during the Aug. 4 Business After Hours Mixer at Steamers Bar & Grill in South Lake Tahoe.

The event is from 5:30-7:30pm. Tickets are $10 for members or $20 for non-members.

For more information, email emily@tahoechamber.org or call (775) 588.1728, ext. 303.

Brian Williams, who has been an officer with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department since 1986, will be promoted to lieutenant July 9.

Williams, 46, spent nearly a decade in detectives. He earned certification through California’s Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigations in the specialties of homicide and sexual assault investigations.

He has been a sergeant for the last 10 years. His brother, Brad, is also a sergeant in the department. He did not take the test to become a lieutenant. To avoid nepotism issues, the lieutenant will not supervise his brother.

Brian Williams

Williams has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice management, and in 2012 will complete his master’s in managerial science.

For more than a decade he has been an adjunct faculty member at Lake Tahoe Community College.

Williams fills the vacancy left when Marty Hale retired.

More changes are coming to SLTPD starting this fall when Police Chief Brian Uhler also takes over the responsibility of the fire department.

In February, after Martin Hewlett retires, the captain’s position will no longer exist.

Lt. David Stevenson is the other lieutenant in the department. The department will reduce the number sergeants from seven to five. Patrol officers will remain staffed at the current level.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

Boyo is a sweet long-haired cat who loves to be held. He is a playful boy who just laps up attention.

He is an indoor cat who has not been around dogs, but he has lived with small children and other cats.

His owner couldn’t look after him any more.

Boyo is neutered, microchipped, 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.

Call (530) 573.7925 for directions to the shelter, hours, and other information on adopting a pet.

For spay-neuter assistance for South Tahoe residents, go online.

— Karen Kuentz

The 2011 Quiksilver Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand-Up Paddle Classic is Aug. 13-14 in Kings Beach.

Lake Tahoe is the largest stand up flat-water paddleboard venue in the country, and the sport continues to gain in popularity with a recent increase in Tahoe rental shops and outfitters, as well as festivals taking center stage during the summer and fall months.

New to the Ta-Hoe Nalu this summer is the Ta-Hoe Nalu Stand Up Paddleboard Experience, which invites beginners to learn how to paddle from an elite athlete and then go on a guided tour with them. A $30 fee per person includes demo board, paddle instruction, guided tour, event T-shirt and lunch ticket.

For more information about the event, go online.

Join Jason Collin, Barton Health physical therapist, certified strength and conditioning specialist and professional bike fitter, as he helps cyclists decrease common injuries and reduce or eliminate back, neck, and knee pain.

A precise bike fit is a crucial factor in every rider’s comfort, performance and safety, as they take to the roads and trails for commuting, leisure or even racing.

Collin will be speaking about these issued July 27 from 6:30-7:30pm at Lake Tahoe Community College, Aspen Room, South Lake Tahoe. The event is free.

For more information on the 2011 Wellness Lecture Series, go online or call (530) 543.5656.

By Ted Gaines

As Californians celebrated our nation’s independence and the freedom that we all cherish, we also celebrated another gift of freedom over the holiday weekend – taxes went down. Gov. Jerry Brown at least temporarily abandoned his crusade for increased taxes and agreed to a budget that, while far from perfect, respects the hard-working families of our state.

Two years ago, despite my loud objections, the Legislature crafted a budget deal that attacked taxpayers from every side, raising the sales and personal income taxes, nearly doubling the state’s already high vehicle license fee, and lowering the dependent credit allowed on state income taxes. These increases were to expire after two years unless the voters agreed to extend them in a special election.

Ted Gaines

In May 2009, when voters had the opportunity to weigh in with their opinion, every single county – even the vastly left-leaning Bay Area counties – said “no,” sending what should have been a clear signal to every California politician and pundit.

With that overwhelming electoral loss still close in the rearview mirror and unemployment running close to 12 percent, it’s unfathomable that anyone would think that extending the higher taxes is an acceptable answer to the state’s budget crisis. Unfortunately, the governor and legislative Democrats offered the same unimaginative solution they offer to every challenge faced by the state – more taxes. In this case, $58 billion more in taxes over five years.

I did not support the initial tax increase and I did not support any budget proposal that depended on tax extensions. With the remaining tax extensions that expired July 1, we will start to undo some of the damage done to families and employers over the past two years.

The dependent tax credit returned to $309 per child, up from the punitive $99 of the past two years. The state sales tax went down 1 percentage point. The vehicle license fee dropped from 1.15 percent of a car’s value to 0.65 percent. The personal income tax increase had already temporarily expired after two tax cycles.

All told, this reduction in tax rates will save California taxpayers almost $6 billion a year or approximately $1,000 per family.

Lower taxes are expected to stimulate consumer demand for big-ticket items such as automobiles, which in turn, will help businesses profit and expand in our state.

If California is ever to escape the budget crisis cycle, we will not do it through higher taxes. We will not do it by making it harder to raise a family in our state or by making it more difficult to start and run a business. We will only grow our way out of our problems. And as Winston Churchill once said, trying to tax your way to prosperity is like standing in a bucket and trying to lift yourself up by the handle. It is self-defeating.

We should celebrate this victory, but it’s not a time to rest. California’s tax picture began to improve a little on July 1, but we are improving on what is still the 49th worst tax climate in the country. We still have work to do if we are going to provide the incentives for entrepreneurs to start their businesses here and create private sector jobs. I am going to continue to push for lower taxes and simpler, less burdensome regulations to let employers know that California is open for business.

I hope you were able to enjoy the Independence Day weekend, and enjoy the fact that for once, California taxes are heading in the right direction.

Ted Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento and Sierra counties.