The Truckee River flow is not going to stop the 12th annual Truckee Duckee Derbee.

This fundraiser for the Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe is June 7 from 1-4pm at the River Ranch Lodge.

It is billed as the “most unpredictable two minutes in Tahoe.”

The afternoon’s festivities will include live music by the Serina Dawn Duo, an outdoor barbecue, drink specials, a raffle and a silent auction, Dogz in Dudz canine costume contest, and a Cool Catz in Hatz contest in which human contestants don crazy animal themed head gear. A new event, Chuck a Duck, will pit participants against each other to hit a target with a rubber duck for a cash prize.

Registration and pre-race party festivities begin at 1pm.

To buy a duck or for more information, go online or call 530.587.5948.

On June 19, the League to Save Lake Tahoe is hosting a summer kickoff party, featuring the reopening of the Fritzi & David Huntington Environmental Education Center in South Lake Tahoe.

The center’s overhaul is designed to provide better educate and engage the public about how to protect Lake Tahoe. New exhibits will include an audio station sharing the stories of how League staff and volunteers collect water quality samples during storm events as part of the Pipe Keepers program, as well as visual displays that portray the fragility of Tahoe’s beauty.

As part of the kickoff festivities, the League will celebrate its volunteers, and its partner agencies and organizations.

The 5-8pm event is free. RSVP to events@keeptahoeblue.org or call at 530.541.5388.

·  South Lake Tahoe Police Department will be hosting an open house at the police department (1352 Johnson Blvd.) on June 11 from 3-7pm in honor of the city’s 50th anniversary.

·  The League to Save Lake Tahoe is looking for volunteers to help clean up Tahoe beaches on July 5 from 9am-noon. To RSVP or ask questions, email events@keeptahoeblue.org.

·  TRYP will host its next South Shore Networking Mixer on June 10 from 6-9pm at 968 Park Hotel in South Lake Tahoe. It is free for members and $10 for non-members.

·  On the first Friday of each month, starting June 5, FNCTN will bring in regional disc jockey’s spinning fresh beats at Xhale Lounge in Stateline. Admission is $10, with doors opening at 8:30pm.

· Unmask is the theme of the 2015 Teen Summer Reading Program at the Douglas County Public Library. The library’s Teen Advisory Board movie night on June 13 at 5:30pm is “The Dark Knight Rises” in the Minden Library meeting room. Pizza, popcorn, and soda will be served. This free event is open to all teens.

The South Lake Tahoe Yacht Club is hosting its annual membership drive by inviting the community to be lunch guests June 6 at the Cantina in South Lake Tahoe.

The club’s motto is “let’s have fun”. The gathering is an opportunity to meet members and learn about the club and its various activities. Boat ownership is not a requirement for membership.

Lunch is from noon-3pm.

For more info, go online southlaketahoeyachtclub.com or contact Carol Gerard at 530.542.2876 for more information.

·  Raley’s, Bel-Air and Nob Hill stores are offering discounted tickets to the 26th annual American Century Championship, the July 14-19 celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline.

·  Here are the El Dorado-Tahoe and Sierra roadwork schedules from Caltrans for this week.

·  Racing Tahoe is the next exhibit at the Tahoe Maritime Museum in Homewood. It opens June 5.

·  The financial state of Douglas County will be presented June 11 at 6pm at the Carson Valley Inn.

·  South Lake Tahoe and Lake Valley fire departments are having a meeting about South Lake Tahoe’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan on June 11 at 11am at the Fire Training Center, 1100 Lyons Ave., No. A-4.

Between now and June 21, Nevada’s Joining Forces law enforcement team will be cracking down on speeding drivers throughout the state.

In an effort to save lives, Nevada Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to slow down. Law enforcement agencies throughout Nevada will be working overtime through June 21 enforcing speed limit laws.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed was a factor in almost a third of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2013. In addition, most of these crashes occurred during nighttime hours.

Aaccording to NHTSA, the consequences of driving too fast include:

·         Greater potential for loss of vehicle control

·         Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment

·         Increased stopping distance when the driver perceives a danger

·         Increased degree of crash severity leading to more debilitating injuries

·         Unexpected economic and psychological implications of a speed-related crash.

A bill honoring an El Dorado County resident who died in 2012 fighting in Afghanistan passed the House and now moves to the Senate.

HR 979, a bill to honor Marine Staff Sgt. Sky Mote of El Dorado was introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Granite Bay. It designates a mountain peak in the John Muir Wilderness, under which the Mote family gathered to camp every year, a Sky Point.  Every member of the California congressional delegation is a co-sponsor of the bill.

Mote was awarded the Navy Cross, Purple Heart, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, a Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons and three Good Conduct Medals.

His nine-year service included a deployment to Iraq and two deployments to Afghanistan.

There will be a Wildfire Safety Expo on June 20 from noon to 3pm in South Lake Tahoe.

People will learn about how to be prepared for a fire, making an evacuation plan, and creating defensible space.

Smokey Bear will be part of the festivities.

The free event will be in the parking lot at TJ Maxx.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval standing in what should be three feet of water, now dry Washoe Lake. Photo/Anne Knowles

May of 2015 and May of 1983 compare as total opposites.

In 2015, we’re experiencing a record drought, Washoe Lake has dried up, and thousands of wells in California have gone dry.

By contrast, in 1983 we had four rain-prompted slides including massive mud hitting Washoe Lake and Squaw Valley. There was much flooding in the Carson Valley, with closed roads and submerged houses. Highway 395 was closed by pavement being completely washed out along the Walker River, Highway 50 was closed near Glenbrook, and South Lake Tahoe was almost totally isolated.

I videotaped Tad Dunbar’s evening news then. KOLO-TV 8 has graciously posted my 1983 recording here.

— Bill Kingman

A nearly seven-mile stretch of Highway 267 in Placer County will be repaved this summer, with work set to start June 1.

The project is from just north of Schaffer Mill Road to Brockway Summit. The work involves grinding down the existing roadway and filling it with hot mix asphalt.

There will be shoulder closures during the day and reversing one-way traffic control during nighttime hours, with lane closures allowed from 6pm-6am Sunday through Friday.

The $3.3 million project is expected to be complete by the end of September.