The Carson Valley Inn’s outdoor events center –- previously and temporarily referred to as the Valley Sky Theatre –- has been renamed TJ’s Corral in honor of Theodore James “T.J.” Day.

Day was a prominent and successful Nevada businessman, community philanthropist, ranch operator, and locomotive and aviation enthusiast who passed away in January.

Michael Martin Murphy will be the first artist to play at the renamed venue in Minden.

Tickets start at $29 for Murphy’s May 1 7pm performance.

The Oak Ridge Boys will take the stage next — May 15 at 7pm. Tickets start at $30.

Tickets to both shows are available online.

By Kathryn Reed

A local concrete company is being accused of falsifying paperwork involving work done for the city of South Lake Tahoe.

Each year a professional engineer certifies the mix of concrete. While the ingredients, so to speak, don’t change, there is a concoction created for each year.

City officials contend Sierra Tahoe Ready Mix used the 2011 batch in 2013. In providing the “old” supply the company also allegedly falsified documents to say this was the current mix.

Ray Jarvis, head of the city’s public works department, told Lake Tahoe News, “At this point we don’t think there is a structural issue.”

He says this because at the site samples are taken to test the strength of the concrete.

The “old” concrete was used in at least the Bijou erosion control project. The city is looking at other projects that might be affected.

No one from Sierra Tahoe Ready Mix returned calls.

Officers with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and El Dorado District Attorneys Office searched the business this week and came away with undisclosed items. The DA’s office is leading the fraud investigation.

The Chateau project and all of the recent work done in Lake Tahoe Unified School District exclusively used Sierra Tahoe Ready Mix for concrete.

“What really matters to us in the end is if the concrete meets the specifications and comes up to the strength. It has done that 100 percent of the time. There is no question about the Chateau project,” Joe Stewart with SMC Contracting told Lake Tahoe News. SMC is building the retail out at the Chateau and is also the firm that put in the original foundation at the site.

Stewart added, “There is a significant amount of independent testing when we pour concrete.”

Thousands of yards of concrete from Sierra Tahoe Ready Mix have also been used throughout LTUSD.

“For every 50 yards of concrete delivered to one of our projects we take a series of test cylinders for the concrete. This is done by an independent engineering firm,” Steve Morales, LTUSD director of facilities, told Lake Tahoe News. “We never had any concrete that did not meet the ultimate specifications.”

A winter storm watch for the Lake Tahoe Basin remains in effect for the 24-hour period starting at 5am March 29.

Rain will be the first to arrive today, with snow by the evening of March 29. The National Weather Service in Reno is calling for 1 to 2 feet of white stuff above 7,000 feet and 6 to 10 inches at lake level.

Winds will be out of the southwest at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph.

There is a 20 percent chance of moisture on Sunday and a 70 percent chance Monday. Temperatures will be in the 30s and 40s during the day and dropping 15 to 20 degrees overnight.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Phillip Reese, Sacramento Bee

The four-county Sacramento region added 22,000 residents between July 2012 and July 2013, a slightly faster rate of growth than during several prior years, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released Thursday.

Like much of California, the Sacramento region experienced a slowdown in population growth during the recession. Couples put off having children. Fewer people came here because there were fewer jobs.

As a result, average year-to-year growth from 2009 to 2012 in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties was about 20,500, a far cry from the 50,000 to 60,000 new residents seen each year during the housing boom.

Last year’s numbers represent only a slight uptick, and they are a far cry from the boom years, but several experts said they may herald a return to annual, healthy population growth of 25,000 to 30,000 residents.

Read the whole story

• North Tahoe Public Utility District is reinstating the Recreation and Parks Commission. For more info or to apply for a seat, contact Tracey Towner at 530.546.4212 or ttowner@ntpud.org.

• Dave Fromer Soccer Camp for boys and girls ages 5-12 will be Aug. 18-22 in Tahoe City. Go online for more info.

• Truckee High School’s Drama Club earned a gold medal with the one act play “The Real Problem” at the 58th Annual Lenaea Theater Festival.

• Zephyr Cove’s Guild Mortgage Co. if opening a new satellite branch in Carson City.

• Tahoe Donner’s inaugural Taste of Truckee gourmet food and wine event on March 23 raised $1,000 to be split between Tahoe Food Hub and Far West Nordic Ski Education Association.

Stateline’s drop in gaming revenue in February was not as bad as it was statewide.

Throughout Nevada casinos took in $926 million, a drop of 13.7 percent compared to 2013. On the South Shore the number was $15 million, for a 10 percent decline.

Reno casinos saw a slight uptick at 1 percent or $44 million.

Friday was the first time the Gaming Control Board broke out the figures for online poker. That revenue was $824,000. The first of the state’s three online poker sites started 10 months ago. Since that time online poker has accounted for $8.5 million in gaming revenue.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Carolyn Tyler and Lyanne Melendez, KGO-TV

The fallout continues just one day after state Sen. Leland Yee was arrested on public corruption charges. Both of California’s senators are now weighing in on his arrest.

Leland Yee

On Thursday, Yee addressed his immediate future. He now says he will withdraw his candidacy for California Secretary of State.

Yee is one of 26 people caught up in an alleged scheme that includes — murder for hire and gun trafficking. There is also Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow a former gang member and Keith Jackson a former school board member in San Francisco.

The big fish in the federal case is Yee, but the initial target was Raymond Chow, who is known as “Shrimp Boy.” He is a notorious Chinatown gangster with a criminal history that includes racketeering and drug crimes. Former FBI agent Rick Smith believes the agency’s undercover operation was as tricky as infiltrating the mafia.

Read the whole story

By Kathryn Reed

Will the South Lake Tahoe library be able to continue to provide the resources and programs that it has been?

That is a question a group of concerned residents were discussing this week as they gathered to talk about the role of the library, what it provides and how to get voters to say “yes” in June to Measure L.

Measure L is specific to the South Lake Tahoe library. It asks resident to continue paying the $20 year fee per parcel. This not a new tax, but would be continuing the one already in place. The amount could go up based on the Consumer Price Index of no more than 3 percent per year. It will never exceed $28.50 per year. It would expire in 12 years. It will require two-thirds of the voters’ approval for passage.

Jeanne Amos talks March 25 about the importance of libraries and what they have to offer. Photo/Denise Haerr

Jeanne Amos, El Dorado County library director, on March 25 went over what is going on locally, in the county and beyond.

Amos pointed out how out of the current $513,711 fiscal budget that $420,551 – or 82 percent – is from the local tax. Other revenue sources are fines, Friends of the Library, the county’s general fund, grants, and ending fund balance.

The bulk of the expenses – 74 percent – goes to salaries and benefits, then materials, utilities, and services/supplies.

While the debate of whether print books will one day be obsolete continues, the reality is books in general are still being written and published. Amos said 300,000 new titles were published in 2013.

“All the Internet has done is accelerate book reading, buying and publishing,” Amos said.

The library has traditional books to check out, but e-books may also be checked out. A nice thing about those is there won’t be a late fee because the book just disappears from the user’s device.

A grant has allowed the South Tahoe branch to purchase iPads that are loaned out.

“If people are closed off from the Internet, they are closed off from the world,” Amos said. “I can’t emphasize enough that we are a lifeline for people.”

The second half of the meeting was more of a roundtable format where the nearly 20 people discussed two questions:

• What makes the library a vital community hub and asset?

• How can the library and Friends of the Library better serve the community?

Denise Haerr, who is active in FOL, said she saw people during SnowGlobe using the computers to buy tickets.

It was mentioned more than once that the library caters to people of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds.

Alexis Foley, case manager for CASA, said she has witnessed the library as a refuge for those reaching out for help and as an outlet for those to give help.

This plays into how Amos said the library is a resource for people looking for work. So many jobs now require an application and supporting material be filled out online. Computers are a big part of the library.

Lee Vestal finds the library to be a quiet space to get work done away from distractions.

Bonnie Turnbull, who home schools her daughter, uses the library on a regular basis.

The only thing people wished for were more evening hours. The library is open Tuesdays-Wednesday from 10am-8pm, Thursdays-Fridays-Saturdays from 10am-5pm.

To the community,

Bread & Broth’s dinner serving at St. Theresa Church’s Grace Hall on March 24 was sponsored by the Tahoe/Douglas Elks Lodge No. 2670.

The Elks Lodge Adopt A Day donation of $250 made it possible for B&B to serve a hot, nutritious meal to over 85 guests, provide seconds for those still hungry and give out “take home” servings to be enjoyed by those unable to attend or as a “second” dinner.

Donating their time and great spirit at the dinner were Elks Lodge members Dan Wells, Gary and Toni Wendt, Roger and Jeanne Barragan, Gail Bryan and Jim Plameng. They were a very personable group, speaking with each guest and very genuine in their interactions.

“This is a great way for the Elks Lodge to get hands on and serve the community,” said Roger Barragan. “We love helping those around us.”

Elks organizations invest in communities and meet local need where their members live and work. The Tahoe/Douglas Elks Lodge No. 2670 is a very active and community involved group and Bread & Broth is very fortunate to have them as a sponsor and join our hard working, all volunteer program members in feeding the less fortunate of our community.

For more information about B&B, find us on Facebook.

Carol Gerard, Bread & Broth

Rep. Tom McClintock’s office is providing a forum for veterans’ service providers, American Legion and VFW representatives, and community program sponsors that assist active-duty military, wounded warriors, and military families.

To participate, call the congressman’s Granite Bay office at 916.786.5560.

The forum is designed to provide veterans with the information they need to access the benefits they have earned. Representatives from Nevada County and Placer County veterans service offices will join the congressman’s staff to provide information on filing claims with the Veterans Benefits Administration.

The event is April 17 from 11am-1pm at Truckee Airport, Experimental Aircraft Association Building.