Craig Bestrom, Golf Digest

After many months of research, we’ve discovered that a huge number of active and retired athletes spend time on the golf course. Our ranking of the top 150 athlete-golfers is merely a sampling of those who play this great game. We also included a golfer or two from sports other than the big four of baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Rick Rhoden was our No. 1 when we ranked athlete-golfers in 2007, and there’s no doubt he’d beat everyone on this list. But the former major-league pitcher is really a professional on the celebrity and senior circuit who belongs on another ranking. Unless there are some nassaus that have gotten out of hand, no one among this 150 earns a living playing golf.

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By Rick Stouffer, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

First Commonwealth Financial Corp. today reported a $3 million third-quarter loss, resulting from losses on problems loans.

For the three months ended Sept. 30, the Indiana, Pa.-based financial institution’s loss equaled 4 cents a share. A year ago, the bank reported a profit of $10.2 million, or 14-cents-a-share, in the July-September time period.

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CalSTAR – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary — opened a base in Amador County this summer.

El Dorado County named Olivia Kasirye health officer.

Sherry Miller has been hired as director of Lake Tahoe Airport.

Rhonda McFarland returned to the South Shore to be TRPA’s director of finance.

Tom Davis, who is on the board of Christmas Cheer, told the South Lake Tahoe City Council on Tuesday that the shelves are bare and hours of operation have been cut to two days a week.

The reduced hours isn’t because the demand is down, but because there is nothing to hand out.

The nonprofit provides food and other goods to those in need.

Christmas Cheer is open Tuesdays and Thursday from 10am-2pm at 2085 Eloise Ave., South Lake Tahoe. For more information on donating to Christmas Cheer, call (530) 542­.4934.

By Sallie Ross-Filgo

I would like to encourage everyone buying costumes for Halloween to check the labels and make sure they are made of flame retardant materials.

Materials made of 100 percent polyester are best suited for Halloween costumes. These costume materials may be purchased at most local fabric stores.

The use of commercial flame retardant sprays is not recommended.

Avoid Halloween costumes that are loose or baggy to prevent fabric from coming in contact with any open flames.

Children should carry flashlights or use battery operated lights. Jack-O-Lanterns that have an open flame device should be placed up off the ground so that long or full cos-tumes and young Trick-or-Treaters hands cannot come in contact with the flames. The use of masks that obstruct vision should be avoided. Costumes should incorpo-rate reflective tape in their design so children can be easily seen at night.

Trick or Treat while it’s still light outside, and stay in your neighborhood, visiting only the homes you know.

Finally, always check your children’s candy before allowing them to eat any of it.

Have a fun and safe Halloween.

Sallie Ross-Filgo works at the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department.

Crews transform the landscape at South Tahoe High. Photo/Kathryn Reed

By Kathryn Reed

Local carpenters are likely to be at Tuesday’s Lake Tahoe Unified School District when an update is given on the construction at South Tahoe High School.

Three members of the local carpenters union spoke before the board at the Oct. 13 meeting requesting future contracts involving the $64.5 million Measure G bond include language guaranteeing a certain percentage of locals be hired as well as an apprentice program be added.

Joe Stewart with SMC Contractors and LTUSD Facilities Director Steve Morales will give a status report to the board at the 6pm Oct. 27 meeting at the district office in South Lake Tahoe. The facility master plan and Measure G’s schedule are on the agenda.

Even though SMC, the general contractor, has said it would hire as many locals as possible, out of area subcontractors often use the guys they are used to.

Morales believes much of the problem has to do with there not being enough construction work to go around, so those in the construction trades are sitting idle.

“We are here to ask the district and the board to add unequivocal language to guarantee a percentage or certain number of locals in future contracts,” Paul Moniot said. “This is not a new idea. Other districts do it.”

Joe Imbach, a 1978 local graduate, talked about being in an apprentice program 25 years ago and how it helped him get into the industry.

“Our community is really falling downhill. Everybody is leaving because they can’t make a living here,” carpenter and 1980 STHS grad Craig Johnson told the board earlier this month.

The agenda for next week does not specifically say their concerns will be addressed.

Morales gave a brief update in his report on Oct. 13, stating the underground work for the STHS buildings is complete. Roofs are expected to be on by mid-November. The buildings will be shrink wrapped so work continues on the inside through the winter.

Any day the state is expected to release the $6 million matching grant dollars for buildings at the high school.

A bit of excitement occurred at the Douglas County Jail in Stateline early Thursday night.

A fire broke out in the laundry room and was contained to that area. It caused smoke to filter throughout most of the jail. However, no inmates had to be transported away from the facility. Nor were there any injuries.

Tahoe-Douglas firefighters are investigating the cause. The amount of damage had not immediately been assessed.

“It was a fairly minor incident,” acting fire Capt. Bill Romanowitz told Lake Tahoe News. “They had a small fire in a dryer.”

Embassy Suites Hotels has honored David Hansen, chief engineer of the Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe Hotel & Ski Resort with the company’s Spirit of Embassy Award. This award designates Hansen as a top performer within Embassy Suites Hotels.

Nominated by their peers because of exemplary loyalty, attitude and service, the chosen team members continually exceed expectations of both customers and fellow team members. Less than 1 percent of all Embassy Suites team members nationwide receive this honor each year.

Hansen was nominated for the award by his peers after proving to be an exceptional role model.

350.org International Day of Climate Action at Mono Lake is Oct. 24 from 9am to noon.

Concerned about the effects of climate change in California’s Eastern Sierra? This is your chance to participate in the 350.org International Day of Climate Action.

Meet at the Mono Lake Committee located on Highway 395 in Lee Vining. Bring your family, your friends, and any canoes or kayaks you might have. From there, it will be carpooling to Navy Beach and, weather permitting, get out on the water to take a picture of our boats spelling out the number 350 on Mono Lake in front of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The picture of this message from the Eastern Sierra in support of a strong international climate treaty will join the call from over 4,500 similar actions happening Saturday around the world in at least 172 countries.

Signup up on 350.org or contact the Mono Lake Committee at (760) 647.6595 or info@monolake.org if attending.

For more information, visit www.monolake.org.

The Mental Health Commission of El Dorado County will host a public meeting on Oct. 26 at noon.

The meeting will include a special training on MHSA Innovation and a public hearing for the Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention Prudent Reserve. The meeting will be simultaneously at:

El Dorado County Mental Health,1900 South Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe; and El Dorado County Mental Health 670 Placerville Drive, Suite 1B, 2nd floor, Lake Tahoe Conference Room, Placerville.

Information about the PEI Prudent Reserve has been posted on the county’s website for a 30-day public review and comment period through Oct. 25.