Multimillionaire George C. Whittell Jr. built the Thunderbird Lodge in the 1930s. It stands 1.5 miles down the Nevada shoreline south of Sand Harbor State Park.

More beach area is visible because of the drought.  Photo/Bill Kingman

Lake Tahoe water level is 3 feet below its natural rim of 6,223 feet, or about 6 feet below typical average. The water normally would be lapping at the deck chairs on that sandy alcove.

The original 1950 scale model of the boat. Photo/Bill Kingman

In 1940, Whittell took delivery of a 55-foot mahogany speedboat which he had commissioned. The Thunderbird had twin 550-hp Kermath engines and was designed by John L. Hacker. There are tow models on display at the Thunderbird Lodge.

The 1960s scale model of Harrah’s remodeled Thunderbird. Photo/Bill Kingman

After purchasing the Thunderbird from Whittell in 1962, Nevada gambler Bill Harrah had the open rear deck enlarged, added a flying bridge, and replaced the engines with bigger twin Allison aircraft engines.

Upon its 75th anniversary, plus one month since its original delivery to Whittell, the Thunderbird was taken out of the water in August 2015 for its engines to be replaced and the bottom refinished. To do this, the yacht was taken southward by water to the Tahoe Keys Marina which has a hoist large enough to lift it. It then was trucked back to Incline Village for the refurbishing work.

A Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society postcard. Photo/Eric Jarvis

The Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society now owns the lodge and the yacht. History, information and many photos are on the website.

— Bill Kingman

The Apple Maps vehicle has been on the South Shore this summer recording area streets. Photo/LTN

·       Carl Ribaudo, president of Strategic Marketing Group in South Lake Tahoe, will speak at the 2015 eTourism Summit in San Francisco on using data analytics to make the case for tourism funding.

·       The permanent 35-foot rock climbing wall at Heavenly Mountain Resort is now open south of Tamarack Lodge. It has 15 defined climbing routes varying in difficulty, with an automatic belay system on each route. Resort officials have not decided if it will be open during the ski season.

·       The Sun and Sand motel in Kings Beach is slated for demolition. Developers want to build 10 condos on the site.

·       Parishioners of Incline Village churches are offering an additional $6,500 reward for the arrest and successful prosecution of a suspect or suspects in the ongoing vandalism of churches in Incline Village. The reward will be added to the $5,000 offered by the FBI and $1,000 offered by Secret Witness bringing the new total to $12,500.

El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and South Lake Tahoe Police Department will be hosting prescription drug disposal event on Sept. 26.

Expired or unused prescription drugs (excluding sharps) may be dropped off for safe disposal at no charge and anonymously.

Times and locations:

• Meyers: 11am-5pm, Lira’s Market
• Cameron Park: 11am-5pm, Safeway at 3380 Coach Lane
• Cool: 11am-5pm, Holiday Market, 5030 Ellinghouse Drive
• El Dorado Hills: 11am-5pm, sheriff’s substation, 4354 Town Center Drive
• Georgetown: 8-11am, Fire Station 61, 6281 Main St.
• Grizzly Flat: 8-11am, post office, 4991 Sciaroni Road
• Placerville: 11am-5pm, sheriff’s office, 300 Fair Lane
• Pollock Pines: 11am-5pm, Safeway, 6498 Pollock Pines
• Somerset: 11am-5pm, Holiday Market, 4653 Mt. Aukum Road.

Black out patient name or remove label prior to drop off.

For more info, call 530.621.5300.

The Labor Day holiday culminates the end of summer, a period known by enforcement officials as the “100 deadliest days,” as fatalities tend to increase during the summer, beginning with Memorial Day.

With impaired driving and riding as a top traffic problem for Nevada, Nevada Highway Patrol is working with other agencies to boost enforcement efforts now through Sept. 7.

Impaired driving fatalities have consistently been the most common cause of motor vehicle accidents resulting in injuries and death in Nevada, according to the NHP. In 2014, four people were killed on Nevada’s roadways over the Labor Day weekend.

To achieve the zero fatalities goal, drivers and riders are encouraged to know the law for blood alcohol levels and to abide by the following guidelines:

·         designate a sober driver before drinking;

·         use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member or use public transportation if impaired;

·         take advantage of local sober ride programs;

·         call 911 if a drunk driver is spotted on the road;

·         take the keys or assist in making other arrangements for someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Explorer POST 457 has been awarded a grant from the NRA Foundation Grant Program — Teach Freedom.

The grants are designed to invest in the next generation of America’s leaders and support youth firearm related programs.

The money will be used to purchase supplies, equipment, and firearms, as well as provide explorers monthly gun training.

El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Explorer POST 457 completed its first range training day in August. They were taught gun safety, basic gun handling and familiarization, and how to maintain and clean a weapon.

Jacob Callanan

Jacob Callanan was recognized at the Sept. 1 South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting for his actions in assisting a person who nearly drowned.

On July 25, Callanan was working at Ski Run Boat Company when he heard the sounds of a woman in distress in the water in Lake Tahoe. He swam to the person and brought her to shore. He started first aid measures before paramedics arrived.

“His quick actions definitely saved this person’s life,” Al Martinez, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department firefighter-paramedic, said.

·      Tahoe Regional Young Professionals is having a mixer Sept. 9 from 6-9pm at Blue Dog Pizza at the corner of Sierra Boulevard and Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe. It is free for members, $10 for others.

·      The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department will be hosting a blood drive Sept. 10 from 9am-1pm at Fire Station No. 3, 2101 Lake Tahoe Blvd.  To schedule an appointment, contact Kim George at 530.307.9596.

·       Paul Marlowe is retiring this month from Barton Urgent Care at Stateline Medical Center. Marlowe has practiced medicine in Stateline for 32 years.

·       Worldwide Photo Walk is Oct. 3. Click here to find a walk near you.

·       El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 100 years.

The American Legion Post 795 of South Lake Tahoe is hosting a ceremony to honor the victims and first responders of Sept. 11, 2001.

The ceremony will be at 11am Sept. 11 at the American Legion Hall, 2748 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

The commemorative ceremony honors the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, airline flight takeovers and the American military service personnel who have died in the war against terrorism and other service members who continue the fight.

The ceremony will also recognize emergency service personnel, including firefighters and law enforcement.

South lake Tahoe Fire Department’s first responder training class —  STAT (South Tahoe Action Teams) — starts Sept. 3.

STAT is designed to incorporate trained citizens in the field with the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department and other first responders during times of crisis.

Classes will run approximately two hours per class for four weeks. The next session is Sept. 3-24, 6-8pm in the training center at 1100 Al Tahoe Blvd.

Curriculum will include eight hours of instruction taught by members of the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department. Graduates will be called upon in times of natural disaster, large scale emergencies and times of need in the South Lake Tahoe area.

The application is available online at or at any fire station. Complete the application and arrive at the training center at 5:45pm for the this week’s session and at 6pm the following weeks.

Expect delays and detours in the Black Bart, Martin, Barbara avenues area of the South Shore later this month and into October.

Barbara Avenue is scheduled to be closed to all traffic on Sept. 23 and Sept. 28. Motorists will be detoured to Fountain Avenue.

Directional closures of Black Bart Avenue and Martin Avenue are scheduled for between 7am-7pm Sept. 21-25 and Sept. 29-Oct. 7.

This is so El Dorado County can fix the roads with an asphalt concrete overlay.

For more info, call 530.573.7914 or email dan.kikkert@edcgov.us.