Lake Tahoe News likes to reward our subscribers. T-shirts are going to Ken McNutt of South Lake Tahoe, Les Wright of South Lake Tahoe, Ty Robben of Twain Harte, Toogee Sielsch of South Lake Tahoe, and Jeff and Nancy Doak of Las Vegas.

They were the first to respond to a little contest we had this week.

Here is why they subscribe to Lake Tahoe’s only daily news source:

• Ken McNutt: “You are always there – fast – with the local news; always a fresh look.”

• Les Wright: “The best local news in Tahoe. And the comments are entertaining.”

• Ty Robben: “I subscribe to LTN to get the latest original and independent news from the South Lake Tahoe area and I enjoy the reader comments too.”

• Toogee Sielsch: “I am an ardent supporter of and a subscriber to Lake Tahoe News. Lake Tahoe News is the only news publication in the basin that updates its pages multiple times day and night. It not only keeps me up-to-date on what is going on in our community of South Lake Tahoe and the whole Tahoe basin, but provides stories that range from the surrounding regions of California and Nevada to national stories. I also enjoy reading and occasionally contributing to the comment sections on the stories. I’ve even had the opportunity to contribute stories and pictures to Lake Tahoe News. Some may consider me a wee bit OCD, but I check LTN.net at least 15 to 20 times a day. I truly believe that Kae Reed and Lake Tahoe News is an integral part of our community.

• Jeff & Nancy Doak: “We subscribe to Lake Tahoe News so we know what is going on when we are not up there. We are in Tahoe for six months and Las Vegas for six months. It keeps us up to date.”

You, too, may be a subscriber. All you have to do is fill out this paid subscriber form. Subscriptions like this allow LTN to continue to bring news to you on a daily basis. And subscribers are eligible for various contests – like the T-shirt giveaway.

South Lake Tahoe has sand bags available at no cost year-round. The sand lot is located at 1160 Rufus Allen Blvd., next to Campground by the Lake.

To pick up bags, proceed through the gate and drive to the back of the lot. At the back of the lot is a large sand mound, shovels and bags. Residents fill their own bags, with a 10 bag limit.

Access to sand bags is available during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm.

For more information, call 530.542.6030.

• Rumors about Heavenly Mountain Resort stopping snowmaking are false. This is what Sally Gunter with the resort told Lake Tahoe News, “We remain committed to continuing to do whatever it takes to provide the best possible experience for our guests. We’ve been taking advantage of cold temperatures at every opportunity to make snow and hope to open additional terrain very soon, perhaps with the help of this storm that’s forecasted to hit this weekend. After the storm this weekend, we’ll evaluate the mountain conditions, as the overall conditions could change, and see what the needs are to help us finish out the season strong.”

• Old Brockway golf course at Kings Beach is open.

• CaliParks is California’s first park finder application covering every park in the state. This first version is accessible through any browser on a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop at CaliParks.org

• On March 14 at 1pm, Mark Jensen will share the history of the Dangberg Home Ranch, part of Nevada’s beginnings, and how the Dangbergs helped shape Carson Valley’s future. This free event is at the South Lake Tahoe Library, 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.

• Lake Tahoe Bike Coalition has a new website.

• The former Econo Lodge in South Lake Tahoe has new owners and it now called Sunray Tahoe Hotel.

• Tahoe Regional Young Professional’s Feb. 18 professional development workshop is titled TRPA 101. Those in attendance will learn how the TRPA operates, and what takes place during permitting and planning processes. The workshop will be at the TRPA offices, 128 Market St., Stateline from 6-7pm. It is free for members, $5 for others.

• According to Nielsen Scarborough 2014, adults younger than 50 represent nearly 70 percent of the online news audience and they have a higher annual income compared to print readers. Year-over-year the print market is declining, while the online market is increasing. More reasons your business should be advertising with Lake Tahoe News.

• It’s possible to stop having telephone directories delivered to your residence. Go online to fill out a form to do so. It does require setting up an account with Yellow Pages.

Winter is a peak time for radon accumulation in the home. Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that comes from the ground into a home.

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is offering free, easy-to-use kits to test homes and offices for radon.

Nevadans may get free kits through February.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 21,000 Americans die each year from radon-caused lung cancer, killing more people than secondhand smoke, drunken driving, falls in the home, drowning or house fires. Radon-caused lung cancer is preventable. A simple three-day test can determine if a house has a radon problem.

In Nevada, one in four homes tested found radon concentrations at or above the EPA action level, according to officials.

For more information, call 888.723.6610.

Registration for the 2015 Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Training Seminar is open.

The seminar is intended for those interested in working as a wildlife care volunteer with LTWC, caring for injured and orphaned birds and animals.

The seminar will take place May 16-17. The seminar is $75 for the first family member and $55 for each additional family member.

Seats are limited, and the seminar is expected to sell out.

For more info or to register, go online.

The 10th Tahoe Symphony Orchestra Winter Fest begins Feb. 8.

There will be four performances with Elizabeth Pitcairn on the red Mendelssohn Stradivarius.

The symphony will be playing Feb. 8 at 3pm at St. Theresa Church in South Lake Tahoe, Feb. 11 at 7pm at Shepherd of the Sierra in Carson City, Feb. 13 at 7pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Reno, and Feb. 15 at 3pm at Cornerstone Church in Incline Village.

Tickets are $40 for preferred seating, $30 adults, $25 senior, $5 students ages 19-23 and free for those 18 and younger. To buy tickets or for more info, go online.

JumpStart Lake Tahoe is offering an intensive crash course in entrepreneurship March 25-29 at Lake Tahoe Hard Rock.

The program is comprised of a combination of lecture and peer-to-peer and group learning.

The real-world curriculum consists of 60- to 90-minute segments that cover a multitude of topics including understanding the key characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, the viability of a business idea, how to get started, and how to achieve sustainable profitability. Additionally, participants will get hands-on experience using a real or fictitious business as a case study.

The cost of the program, which includes lunches and dinners, is $1,495 or $1,195 if attendees register before midnight March 1. Discounted lodging rates are available.

JumpStart Lake Tahoe is a collaborative partnership between JumpStart Enterprises, a business mentoring collective located in Reno, Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce and Tahoe Mountain Lab.

For more info, go online.

June Denney, a registered dietician as well a fitness instructor at Lake Tahoe Community College, will give a talk Feb. 7 from 10am-noon in the board room of the college.

She will discuss the three things people can all do to achieve ideal body weight, reduce risk factors for disease and increase longevity.

The talk is put on by the American Association of University Women.

The talk is free, but brunch is $3. RSVP to Christy at 530.542.8748.

• Here is theEl Dorado-Tahoe roadwork schedule for this week.

• Nic Abelow of South Lake Tahoe has been named partner at Abelow, Pratt & Associates financial investment firm.

• Tahoe Truckee Unified School District is seeking members for the Citizens’ Oversight Committees that are being formed for Measures E and U. Applications are online and are due Feb. 6.

• Maddie Bowman – Meyers resident, Sierra-at-Tahoe rider – check her out in this video: