The El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is working to improve winter air quality by continuing to offer incentive rebates toward the purchase of clean burning stoves and fireplaces.

Currently the AQMD has approximately $38,000 available to help residents offset the cost of the removal and replacement of older, wood stoves or fireplaces with more efficient devices. Originally approved by the AQMD Board of Directors in July 2007, the purpose of the Chimney Smoke Reduction Incentive Program is to reduce particulate matter emissions caused by inefficient residential wood combustion.

Funding is intended for primary residences in El Dorado County and is available on a first come, first served basis. Applications and additional information about the Chimney Smoke Reduction Incentive Program are available at: http://www.edcgov.us/emd/apcd/grants.html, or at (530) 621.6662.

El Dorado County’s Air Quality Management District is a Division of the Environmental Management Department. The AQMD administers the California and Federal Clean Air Acts via guidelines set forth by State and Federal Agencies.

By Kathryn Reed

South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Johnny Poland is returning to the streets.

The judge issued his ruling late Wednesday afternoon in Poland’s favor.

After Poland was fired in June 2007, the 10-year veteran fought the dismissal. A three-person arbitration panel ruled in his favor in January 2009. The city fought that ruling. Both sides went before El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Steve Bailey this fall.

Johnny Poland

The nine-page document agrees with what Poland and his attorney presented in court.

When reached about 3:30pm Wednesday, Poland told Lake Tahoe News he feels vindicated and is ready to go back to work. He expects he’ll have to go to some classes to get ready for being on the streets because it has been nearly 2.5 years since he has been a sworn officer.

Poland, who was trying to hold back tears, said the last couple weeks have been the hardest of the whole ordeal. The waiting, the not knowing what the future would hold.

Police Chief Terry Daniels could not be reached for comment.

City Manager Dave Jinkens learned of the decision from Lake Tahoe News.

“The matter was decided in a place where it should be. We will make everything for the transition back be successful,” Jinkens said.

The city has 60 days to accept the decision or appeal it to the state Supreme Court.

The trouble began in November 2006 when Poland was accused of mishandling a lockdown situation at South Tahoe High School.

Poland will remain on paid leave until the city makes its decision. It’s unknown if the council will take this matter up at its next meeting on Nov. 3.

Councilman Bill Crawford said the decision is something to celebrate. He and Mayor Jerry Birdwell wanted to accept the arbitration panel’s 3-0 vote to put Poland back to work.

“Based on everything in front of us it felt like it would be right for a judge to decide. It boiled down to whether a judge should decide,” Mayor Pro Tem Kathay Lovell said of that vote. “We didn’t decide his guilt or innocence. It was a decision if a judge should decide to uphold the arbitration.”

Councilmembers Lovell, Hal Cole and Bruce Grego voted to discard the arbitrators’ decision and take it to court.

Lovell is ready to move on.

“We follow the judge’s decision — that’s an easy call. That’s how it works, how the system is supposed to work,” Lovell said Wednesday. “He comes back to work and that’s how it is. He has to be accepted back and go to work.”

KTHO, the local talk-classic rock radio station based in South Lake Tahoe, is now on FM-96.1. If the other dial is more to your liking, it’s still at AM-590, too.

No radio? No worries. Listen in at www.kthoradio.com while you’re reading Lake Tahoe News.

El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office is warning the community of telephone fraud scams targeting the elderly.

The scam operates as follows: An unknown male suspect telephone’s an elderly victim and states, “Gramps or Grandma, I need help. I got into some trouble (or an auto accident) in Canada. I need bail money.” The victims usually reply, “Is this (name of grandchild the caller’s voice resembles).” The caller responds, “Yes, this is (name victim provided).”

The suspect caller then requests the elderly victim wire transfer him money so he can get bailed out of jail. The suspect caller asks the elderly victim to keep this a “secret” because he is so embarrassed. The suspect caller is usually very emotional when speaking with the elderly victims. The victims are told to wire the “bail money” via MoneyGram to Canada (Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal). Typical dollar amounts wired to Canada by the victims are usually in $5,000 increments.

On some occasions, the suspect will re-contact the elderly victim advising him/her that he received the “bail money” but now needs additional monies wired for release of his passport.

In some instances, the victim’s caller ID feature has captured the suspect caller’s telephone number. Investigators are trying to follow up on these phone numbers but many appear to be originating from pre-paid wireless telephones. Investigations are continuing. The purpose of this notice is to alert the elderly citizenry of this particular devious scam.

Heavenly Mountain Resort fired up its snowmaking guns on Tuesday — a sure sign ski season for most Lake Tahoe area resorts will be here soon. Boreal and Mammoth are already open on a limited basis.

Snow flurries have been coming down off and on at the lake today. The mountaintops are socked in with clouds, with natural white stuff coming down lightly.

Snowmaking begins Oct. 27 at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Photo/Heavenly

The high at the lake is supposed to be 39 in the basin today. The Weather Channel says with the wind chill, it feels like 8 degrees at South Lake Tahoe just before noon on Wednesday.

The mercury is expected to rise to the 50s on Thursday and be back to the mid-60s for the weekend.

However, overnight lows will be in the 20s for the next week. Those temps are good for the resorts that make snow.

Halloween is expected to be dry — something that seems to be rare in Tahoe.

Not sure what to do this Halloween? Check out the Events page on Lake Tahoe News. A slew of activities are listed — for the young and the young at heart.

If you have an event you want listed — for Halloween or otherwise — send it through the Contribute page at the top of the Home page.

Learn how to eliminate emotional blocks that get in the way of your good health. Learn how to reduce chronic pain and illness.

Nov. 12 from 6-9pm.

No pre-registration, come 15 minutes early to register; Tahoe Wellness Community Center (next to Hot Gossip in the Bijou CVS/Pharmacy Shopping Center in South Lake Tahoe.

Donation only, includes workbook.

No prior experience with EFT necessary.

Want more information? Contact EFT instructor, Rosemary Manning at: (530) 541.6565 or rosemary52@sbcglobal.net.

To the Publisher:

As Election Day draws near, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for your interest and support for Lake Tahoe Community College. It has been a great privilege to serve on the Board of Trustees for the past four years. In the process of my re-election campaign, meeting and talking with many members of our community, I am reminded again of the precious resource we have in the college. I am very proud of the prominent role we play and the service we provide.

There are some challenges facing the college today including the impact of state budget cuts, maintaining our quality programs and enrollment, meeting community needs and strengthening the identity of LTCC. I see these challenges as opportunities to be creative and work together for new solutions. New sources of revenue through the college foundation and community partnerships are areas of particular interest to me.

What I bring to the Board is my community connection and understanding of local business. My background and education is business and marketing and it includes a long term history of local involvement and leadership positions. I am also a parent whose children were born and raised here giving me a firsthand understanding of the current challenges and costs facing today’s students.

During my first term I have been able to offer valuable input from a community and business perspective. I am organized, hard working and have a common sense approach. My experience, leadership skills and broad background will help me as we guide our college through challenging times and beyond. If re-elected, I will work hard to be a part of its continued growth and sustainability.

I respectfully request your vote. Thank you very much.

Molly Blann, incumbent candidate

Lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustees

Lake Tahoe Historical Society’s annual fall meeting is Nov. 10, 7pm at Camp Richardson. Dave Borges will speak on the Lincoln Highway … a marvelous story of 1913 achievement.

A blaze last week that gutted popular Pisano’s Pizza in Homewood was the result of an electrical fire.

Extension cords overloaded the system, according to fire officials.

North Tahoe Fire Protection District and Placer County sheriff’s officials did the investigation into the Oct. 19 blaze.

It’s unknown if the owners will re-open.