Lake Tahoe Historical Society will have its Winter Program at Camp Richardson’s rustic lodge on Highway 89 on Jan. 18 at 7pm.

Frank Tortorich, Amador County educator, Emigrant Trail researcher and guide, author, and longtime member of Oregon California Trails Association, will portray a young man who joined the Mormon Battalion in the 1840s. The drama will describe the trail from Sacramento Valley through Sly Park area, up Carson Pass into Hope Valley and beyond, and the experiences he and the Battalion had along the way.

Members, friends, and guests are invited; light refreshments will be served.

For further information, call (530) 577.7415.

By Jane Braxton Little, Sacramento Bee

Three environmental groups opposed to a four-season resort on Dyer Mountain lost a legal bid seeking to force Lassen County to redo an environmental review of the development.

Lassen County Judge F. Donald Sokol ruled the county acted properly in its 2007 assessment of the project proposed for nearly 7,000 forested acres near Westwood.

In his five-page decision, Sokol specifically found that the Lassen County Board of Supervisors adequately analyzed the environmental effects related to population growth, air quality, traffic and cumulative impacts. He also ruled that the county had properly mitigated the impacts of climate change “to the extent feasible.”

Lassen County Counsel Richard Crabtree said he was pleased with Sokol’s Dec. 30 decision, which he received Thursday.

The plaintiffs plan to appeal the decision, said Tom Mooers, executive director of Sierra Watch, which filed the lawsuit with Mountain Meadows Conservancy and the Sierra Club.

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By Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Sun

Southwest Airlines is converting its popular Rapid Rewards loyalty program to a points-based system with accrual based on how much money a customer spends for a ticket.

The Dallas-based airline, the busiest at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, is unveiling the new system today with the conversion scheduled to occur March 1.

Customers won’t lose credits they’ve accrued when the conversion takes place because Southwest will automatically convert credits to points.

Information on the new system is available at newrapidrewards.com.

“We’re looking at this as an extension of currency,” said Southwest CEO Gary Kelley in an embargoed media briefing Wednesday morning.

Under the new system, customers will accrue points whenever they buy a ticket on the airline’s website with higher multiples for higher levels of Southwest’s three-tiered pricing. For the airline’s “Wanna Get Away” fares — the least expensive tickets Southwest sells — customers will earn six points for every dollar spent.

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Dragonfly’s first Beer & Food Festival is slated for an. 27 from 6 to 9pm at the Truckee restaurant.

Attendees may stop in anytime during the evening and roam the food and beer stations, tasting menu items paired with six Mammoth Brewing Company specialty beers.

Advanced tickets are on sale now for $28 per person, which provides access to this interactive beer and food tasting event.

While tasting the malts, smelling the hops and sampling the Dragonfly eats, Beer & Food Fest participants can also meet Mammoth Brewing Company brew master Sean Turner, enjoy live music and enter a raffle to win free growlers.

Tickets are available at Dragonfly; advanced ticket purchase is recommended as these types of events often sell out. For tickets or more info, call (530) 587.0557.

Dragonfly is located upstairs at 10118 Donner Pass Road, right in the heart of downtown Truckee.

Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce mixer is Jan. 13 5:30-7:30pm at the Riva Grill in South Lake Tahoe.

For more information, call (775) 588.1728.

By Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times

Critically wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is able to respond to simple commands, doctors said Sunday. Meanwhile, the nation tried to come to grips with the Arizona shooting rampage, which killed six and spurred a troubled country to reexamine its political culture.

At a televised news conference in Tucson, Dr. Michael Lemole, a surgeon at the University Medical Center, said Giffords had responded to doctors’ commands. In great detail, he described how the gunshot went through the left side of the congresswoman’s head and how doctors worked to remove bone fragments to help reduce the swelling and possible damage to the brain.

Though the news was a positive, Giffords remained in critical condition, doctors said.

Even as doctors continued to be upbeat about Giffords, the toll from deadly shootings continued to climb. In addition to the six dead, at least 14, including Giffords, were injured when a gunman opened fire in the Tucson supermarket where Giffords was meeting constituents. One suspect is in custody, and police announced earlier Sunday they were seeking a “person of interest” for questioning.

Among the dead was a 9-year-old girl, the granddaughter of noted former baseball manager Dallas Green and the daughter of Dodgers baseball scout John Green. In emotional appearances on several networks, Roxanna Green described her daughter, Christina Taylor Green, as an angel, born Sept. 11, 2001, the day of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

Noting that her daughter’s life began and ended in tragedy, Green called for an end to violence.

“I just want her memory to live on that she’s a face of hope, face of change, face of … us coming together as a country to stop the violence and hatred and the evil wars,” Green said on MSNBC. “We have to protect our government officials and our innocent young children.”

Even as politicians on both sides of the aisle called the shootings horrific and unacceptable, investigators were stepping up their search for what they described as a person of interest who was wanted in connection with Saturday’s shooting. The unknown person was photographed by a surveillance camera near the shooting suspect, Jared Lee Loughner, 22.

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Father-Daughter Sweetheart Dance sponsored by Harrah’s-Harvey is Feb. 11 from 7-9:30pm at Harveys.

Be the coolest dad in town and dance the night away with your daughter. Refreshments will be served and a photo keepsake is available for an additional fee.

Tickets are $20, and $8 per additional daughter.

The event often sells out. Call (775) 586.7271 for tickets.

Fundraiser for Whittell High School grad Jerel Dutton at MontBleu casino in Stateline on Jan. 15 from 6-10:30pm.

Dutton sustained head injuries in a backcountry ski accident earlier this winter.

Tickets are $10. They may be purchased at Kahle Community Center, Chase International at Round Hill, Tahoe Sports Ltd., Forever Dance Studio at Round Hill, or at the door.

The South Tahoe Amateur Hockey Association’s 6th Annual Lake Tahoe Invitational Hockey Tournament is Jan. 14-17.

This youth hockey tournament features 18 teams from California playing in three age divisions at the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena.

The action starts Jan. 14 at 9am, with the last game of the day at 8pm. Games run all day Saturday and Sunday from 6am to 10:30pm.

The division championship game is Jan. 17 for the Mites, Squirts and PeeWees.

For more information about the free tournament, call (530) 542.6056.

The basin-wide Tahoe Expo put on by Sustainable Tahoe will showcase possibilities in sustainability for the Lake Tahoe region, with focus on Mobility, Green Commerce, Health and Fitness, and Conservation – spanning three fun and educational days Sept. 9-11.

The weekend will be packed with a diverse activities for individuals and families. Friday includes panel discussions and workshops for business and community leaders, as well as students. Saturday begins basinwide activities (Art & Culture, Water, Meadow, Urban), Water & Rim trail “hikes,” and green building tours. Sunday will spotlight the Tour de Tahoe, various electric vehicle and boat demonstrations, and additional activities around the basin (Forest, Maritime, History, River).

Although activities will take place around the entire Tahoe basin, two main stages are planned at the north and south ends of the lake with space to see what’s possible, learn how everything works, and experience it for yourself. A number of topics will be discussed by a variety of industry thought leaders, and demonstration tables will be used to help bring these topics to life.

In an effort to reduce the impact on the environment, we commit to making this a zero-waste event. All materials used will be made from recycled and compostable resources, and recycling will be plentiful. In addition, we’ll work with local ski resorts to encourage parking outside of the basin, with full alternative transit support to get you where you want to go.

Go to the website’s contact page, to get involved and for more information.