Join the Lake Tahoe Democratic Club on Feb. 10. Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm in the loft above the Blue Angel Café, 1132 Ski Run Blvd. South Lake Tahoe.
Everyone welcome.
www.laketahoedems.org
Norma Santiago will give the Lake Tahoe Democratic Club a state of the county report and members will talk about what’s coming up in 2010 for the club.
Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm in the loft above the Blue Angel Café, 1132 Ski Run Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.
Everyone welcome.
www.laketahoedems.org
Caregiving is a difficult and often challenging role that one can undertake, and taking the opportunity to share information and feel connected to others who are providing care is a vital step to perform this task to the best of your ability.
Take the opportunity on Feb. 11 from 5:30-7:30pm at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe to become connected and rejuvenated in this support group.
Refreshments will be served.
Free respite care is available to qualified caregivers. Pre-authorization is required for respite services.
For more information, contact Penny with the Alzheimer’s Association at (530) 541.2304 or the Family Caregiver Support Program at (530) 621.6251 or (530) 621.6151.
Updated 3:04pm Dec. 29.
By Kathryn Reed
A winter weather advisory has been issued for Lake Tahoe from 7pm Tuesday to 10am Wednesday.
Four to 8 inches could fall at the lake, while elevations about 7,000 feet could receive a foot of snow overnight.
The wind will be picking up as the storm moves in. Ridge tops could have gusts of 100mph.
About an inch of dry, fluffy snow greeted people on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe this morning.
Interstate 80 reopened early this morning after a wrong-way driver caused a double fatal accident near the Newcastle exit, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Expect chain controls on most Sierra roads for the next few days. Photo/Kathryn Reed
All roads into and out of the Lake Tahoe Basin are open. Chain restrictions are in affect on some roads. Check the Home page of Lake Tahoe News for road condition information for California and Nevada.
The avalanche warning for the back country is moderate.
Ski resorts in and around the basin are reporting several inches of fresh snow. Sierra-at-Tahoe has opened Gate 1 into Huckleberry Canyon.
If flying out of Reno-Tahoe International Airport, call to make sure your flight in on time. For those using Sacramento International, the Sac Valley is supposed to be socked in with dense fog this morning so flights may be delayed.
In Lake Tahoe, snow could still be coming down on New Year’s Eve — which may make outdoor festivities to ring in the New Year even more exciting. It may mean the blue moon will be obscured. A blue moon occurs when there are two full moons in the same month.
Zephyr Cove is offering a full moon snowmobile tonight. Call for reservations — 800-23-Tahoe.
Expect the temps to be in the high 30s-low 40s around the lake for the next few days, with overnight lows in the 20s — though probably colder on a snowmobile.
Two men robbed the CVS drug store pharmacy on Emerald Bay Road in South Lake Tahoe on Dec. 27 at about 5pm.
Police officers are not releasing the type of drugs the suspects stole, their value, or the quantity.
The suspect passed a note to a pharmacy worker requesting specific prescription medications. It is not known if a weapon was used. The pharmacy is located in the back of the store, but still the two were able to escape.
South Lake Tahoe CVS robbery suspects.
Both suspects are described as white males in their mid-20s. One is about 5-foot-11, heavy set with brown hair, light facial hair. A description of the second suspect was not given.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jeff Roberson at the South Lake Tahoe Police Department at (530) 542.6100.
By Lindsey Sine, USSA
BORMIO, Italy — The U.S. Ski Team’s Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) led the way for his teammates Tuesday, finishing 16h during a World Cup downhill in Bormio. Slovenia’s Andrej Jerman won the race to mark the second World Cup victory of his career.
Despite a shortened prep period due to having both knees scoped in late spring, Nyman showed he can be up there with the fastest guys again, marking his career best at one of the most challenging downhill tracks on the World Cup tour.
Marco Sullivan
“It’s a confidence builder for me because I haven’t had the prep period,” Nyman said. “There’s nothing like skiing the World Cup courses. You just can’t train that stuff and every race has been getting better for me. Stuff is ramping up and I am feeling good. Hopefully I can keep the ball rolling.”
“Steven hasn’t had a whole lot of training and he did a really good job. He skied fantastically on the bottom. He was up, and forward over his boots and he did a great job today,” Men’s Alpine Head Coach Sasha Rearick added. “He came out, executed, and that’s a step in the right direction. He’s been building stronger in every race and it’s a move towards where he wants to be.”
While not the longest downhill on the World Cup, Bormio is known to be one of the most grueling with over two minutes of turns and transitions. For Nyman, being able to race it well is considered a success.
Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) followed Nyman for U.S. results, finishing 28th. According to Rearick, Sullivan was skiing well but ran into a bad transition.
“Marco skied much better up top. It was aggressive skiing and it was much better than we’ve been seeing him ski lately,” Rearick said. “Unfortunately, he got kicked going out of a transition into the flats and lost all of his speed in the long flat section.”
The men’s speed group returns to the U.S. for a short break before returning to Europe for Wengen and Kitzbuehel.
Bormio, Italy – Dec. 29, Men’s Downhill
1. Andrej Jerman, Slovenia, 2:00.32
2. Didier Defago, Switzerland, 2:00.85
3. Michael Walchhofer, Austria, 2:01.35
4. David Poisson, France, 2:01.55
5. Didier Cuche, Switzerland, 2:01.60
–
16. Steven Nyman, Sundance, UT, 2:02.46
28. Marco Sullivan, Squaw Valley, CA, 2:03.20
35. Andrew Weibrecht, Lake Placid, NY, 2:03.78
–
DNS: Scott Macartney, Crystal Mountain, WA
DNF: Erik Fisher, Middleton, ID
It’s a powder day on the slopes of Lake Tahoe. Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.
Erin Kelly, Gannett
WASHINGTON – When it comes to luring convention- and conference-goers this winter, sun-drenched resort towns may be too much fun for their own good.
Tourist officials say business groups have been avoiding popular tourist destinations in Arizona, southern California, Florida, Hawaii and Nevada out of fear it will look like they’re having too good a time in the midst of a recession.
As a result, they’re making the recession worse for the already-battered travel industry in cities such as Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson in Arizona, Palm Springs, Calif., Reno and Las Vegas in Nevada, and Orlando, Fla.
By Kathryn Reed
HOPE VALLEY — Walking into the yurt, Joyce Coker greets a family of four by name. They are regulars at Hope Valley Outdoors, even though they visit just once a year.
“We are not downhill skiers. We like the nice family time,” Nancy Vernon said of being able to cross country ski together.
Joyce Coker finds equipment for Isaac and Annabel Vernon. Photos/Kathryn Reed
Joyce Coker
She and her husband, Walt, have been making the trek from the Bay Area to this outdoor playground at the junction of highways 88 and 89 since before their twins were born 12 years ago. They stay at Sorensen’s Resort down the road and then ski on Coker’s trails with her equipment.
“We come back every year at Christmas,” Vernon said. “We love to cross country ski.”
Cocker has been in the business for about 25 years, with this being her third year in the yurt. This season started the weekend before Christmas. Usually she is open until about Easter. Snow dictates actual opening and closing dates.
The yurt -- home to Hope Valley Outdoors.
More than 25 miles are groomed — including Secret and Hope Valley meadows. What’s incredible is that she doesn’t charge to use all this acreage. She takes donations, though.
In the round contraption that takes several people multiple days to erect each year are a slew of snowshoes and cross country skis. They are for rent and for sale.
The lousy economy has helped Coker’s business.
“People come up for a week and can’t afford to downhill ski for the whole time,” Coker said. “My prices are so cheap they can afford it.”
She even posts what it costs to ski/snowshoe at other locations in the basin so people know the deal they are getting at Hope Valley Outdoors.
Inside the yurt is a propone-fueled stove that gives off a little heat. A skylight keeps the place bright — at least on sunny days.
Phone service is nonexistent at the yurt, so Coker returns calls at night when she gets home.
A multitude of activities are planned throughout the season. For more information, go to www.hopevalleyoutdoors.com.
Events:
Dec. 30, 10am-3pm; Learn the history of Nordic skiing and the differences of skiing groomed and ungroomed snow. Meet at the yurt.
Dec 31, 10am-1pm; Snowshoe Day. Learn about different snowshoe styles, technique and safety measures with winter terrain, and Leave-No-Trace principles. Meet at the yurt.
Dec. 31, 5-7pm, Blue Moon Tour. Meet at the yurt. After the tour, return to Starlight lodge to bring in the New Year, listen to music, or hot tub or sit out and enjoy the moonlight.
Jan. 1, 10:30am-3pm, Backcountry Lesson Ski Tour. Let those skis show how they are capable of performing with the terrain that surrounds the center. Meet at the yurt.
Reservations required — call (530) 694.2266.
Directions: From South Lake Tahoe, take Highway 50 toward the Bay Area, turn left onto Highway 89 toward Kirkwood, after crossing Luther Pass you descend into Hope Valley; at the stop sign go straight; the yurt will be in front of you on Burnside Lake Road.
By Jim Halsey
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is readying itself for the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebration at Lake Tahoe. Each year, upward of 65,000 celebrants ring in the New Year in the casino core area of Stateline.
Due to the ordinarily high volume of pedestrians within the Stateline casino core area during the New Year’s Eve celebration, Highway 50 may be closed to vehicle traffic through the area if necessary for the general safety of the public. If that occurs, vehicle traffic will be detoured around the Stateline casino core using upper and lower Lake Parkway.
Drivers anticipating traveling through the Stateline casino core area on New Year’s Eve should allow an additional 30 minutes.
Additionally, due to past poor road conditions caused by weather, anyone traveling in the area should have snow tires or carry tire chains.
Officers of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will be present in the casino-core area throughout the evening, along with officers and representatives of numerous other agencies to support them. Participating agencies include the Nevada Highway Patrol, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Nevada Department of Prisons, Placer County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini has directed all officers to adopt a non-confrontational approach in their contacts with the celebrants. This method of enforcement has been extremely effective in years past.
There are, however, behaviors that will not be tolerated by law enforcement.
Acts that will most likely result in an arrest include any act that places celebrants or law enforcement in jeopardy; including acts of vandalism, theft, narcotic violations, rowdy behavior or fighting, throwing projectiles, possession or setting off of fireworks, drunkenness, minors consuming or possessing alcohol or any other act that disrupts the goal of achieving a peaceful and safe environment for all in attendance.
Open containers of alcohol are prohibited within the Stateline casino core area. Glass or metal containers, regardless of contents, are also prohibited in the Stateline casino core area on New Year’s Eve, and will be confiscated by law enforcement. This does not apply to persons inside an operating casino or hotel.
Parents must be mindful of their children’s whereabouts and activities, especially during New Years. The crowd that gathers in the casino core for the New Year celebration is neither conducive nor intended for participation by juveniles.
Each year during New Year’s Eve, a large percentage of the arrests and law enforcement contacts made are of persons under the age of 21. The curfew in Douglas County is midnight on Dec. 31. Persons under the age of 18 are subject to arrest and or citation for being in violation of this ordinance.
All persons under the age of 21 who are in possession of alcohol or who have consumed or are under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be subject to arrest.
In addition to the augmented law enforcement staffing in the Stateline casino core area during New Years Eve, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will have a full complement of patrol personnel on duty in both the Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe areas, to handle calls for service and conduct traffic enforcement, particularly targeting intoxicated drivers. All persons who consume alcohol during their New Year’s Eve celebration are encouraged to catch a ride with a sober driver, or utilize a local taxi service.
Jim Halsey is a sergeant with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.