Thinning of trees for fuels reduction and forest health will continue next week on approximately 170 acres on the South Shore.

Beginning July 28, thinning will take place off of North Upper Truckee Road near West San Bernardino Avenue, Pioneer Trail northwest of forest road 12N08 (Powerline), Pioneer Trail southwest of Columbine Trail and on some urban lots in the Tahoe Island Drive area near 15th Street. Thinning operations in these locations may vary over the next several weeks.

The Forest Service will close areas in some locations from 7am-6pm daily through Oct. 15 for public safety due to heavy equipment operation and falling trees. Hazards may be present even when operations have ceased for the day and the closure is not in effect. Individuals disregarding the closure may be cited, with subsequent fines and jail time.

The forest thinning is part of the South Shore Fuels Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration Project, which will treat approximately 10,000 acres between Cascade Lake and Stateline.

A workshop called Vermicomposting: Worms + Kitchen Scraps = Gold will take place July 29 in Tahoe City.

In this workshop people will be taught how to create a simple and inexpensive worm bin, what to put in the bin, what to keep out, and how to keep your worms happy. The talk will also focus on the benefits of composting for the earth, landfills, and your garden.

The free event is from 5:30-6:30pm at the Tahoe City Field Station, 2400 Lake Forest Road.
5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

• The American Century Championship set a one-day attendance record of more than 13,000 on Saturday.
• Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation’s Distinguished Alumni Award winner for 2014 is Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Chief Ben Sharit.
• “Good Morning America” asked viewers to share their favorite places in the U.S.; Lake Tahoe made the top five.
• NDOT will temporarily suspend major construction work on the Mount Rose Highway and other state road projects during Hot August Nights and Reno-Tahoe Open. No construction-related lane closures will take place between the evening of July 25 and the morning  of Aug. 4.
• Mammoth Rocks/Taste of the Sierra is Aug. 22-24 in Mammoth Lakes.

South Lake Tahoe’s streets will vibrate with the sound of muffled rumbles of rebuilt engines when Hot August Nights rolls into town July 25-26.

More than 400 classic cars will be on display at Heavenly Village and Ski Run Boulevard.

There will be celebrity show-n-shines with awards, vendors and free entertainment. Live music is scheduled 10am-7pm on Ski Run Boulevard, and from 10am-4pm and 5-9pm at Heavenly Village. All events are free.

Ski Run Boulevard will be closed to through traffic from about noon today to 9pm July 26.

The classic car cruise will be around Heavenly Village and the casino corridor starting at 6pm July 25 and July 26.

• The gross crop value of agricultural production in El Dorado County for 2013 was up 20 percent from 2012. The $56.8 million yield in gross returns (not net profit) was up from the $47.1 million reported in 2012. Apples are the No. 1 crop.

• The deadline to signup for the 31st annual Tahoe Tennis Classic Tournament is July 28. The Aug. 1-3 doubles event is at Zephyr Cove Tennis Club. Complete information about the event and an entry form are available online.

• Dan Berger is now owner of Mad About Music, which has moved to the Swiss Chalet center in South Lake Tahoe.

• Truckee-based Squeeze In is opening a restaurant in Redwood City.

• The 12th annual Bike Big Blue is Sept. 7. To register or for more info, go online.

Placer County Sheriff’s Office is offering free educational training to businesses that have licenses to sell alcohol.

As part of a grant from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, deputies will offer Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs training on Oct. 2 from 2-5:30pm at the Tahoe City Public Utility District Office, 221 Fairway Drive, Tahoe City.

The LEAD Program is a free, voluntary prevention and education program for retail licensees, their employees, and applicants. The curriculum is designed for licensees, managers, and employees.

To reserve a space, contact Lynn Harrison at 916.652.2419 or lharriso@placer.ca.gov.

Phone scammers are calling Washoe County residents saying they are from the sheriff’s department and that they want money. The scammer tells the person there is a warrant out for their arrest that includes a fine.

The scammer then tells the potential victim that their options are either to surrender themselves to the sheriff’s office for arrest or pay a “reduced” payment. The scammer provides instruction on how the payment should be submitted, usually through an “eGift” cash card or similar payment to a specified account or name given by the caller.

While the sheriff’s department will call people to inform someone about a warrant, no one will ever ask for payment over the phone or offer to negotiate for reduced payment in lieu of arrest. Anyone with questions about a warrant may call the courts or local law enforcement.

Anyone who has been a victim of this scam, or who receives such a call, is encouraged to take down as much information as possible, such as a name and call back number, without giving any information away. Then contact the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office at 775.785.9276.

There is now a permanent drug-disposal bin located in the lobby of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

South Tahoe Drug Free Coalition led the charge to make this a reality.

The bin is in a secure location for anyone in the community to properly dispose of unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs. Liquids and “sharps” (needles, lancets, syringes and IVs) cannot be dropped off. They may be disposed of in a puncture resistant container at South Tahoe Refuse’s hazardous materials drop off.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet, according to the coalition.

And water companies don’t want them flushed, nor do garbage companies want them in the trash. Flushing and tossing pose health and environmental problems.

Unwanted prescription medications may be taken to the drug-disposal bin Monday–Friday, 9am-3pm. For after-hours drop offs there is a buzzer located outside the door. The department is at 1352 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. For more info, call 530.542.6100.

• American Public Works Association-Nevada Chapter has recognized Tahoe Transportation District for the Nevada Stateline to Stateline Bikeway – South Demonstration Project and the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals honored TTD for the Highway 28 Corridor Management Plan.

• Travel and food website Thrillist.com has dubbed Lake Tahoe one of America’s 10 greatest party lakes.

• Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza is July 31-Aug. 3 in Mammoth Lakes.

• The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Incline Village Substation from 11am-1pm July 26. The station is at 625 Mount Rose Highway.

• Q & D has moved the Kings Beach construction activities into the neighboring grid during July and August, with the plan to move back onto Highway 28 in September. The project’s traffic cam is live and streaming on the home page.

The second annual Kiwanis Community Fair is Aug. 29-Sept. 1 at Lake Tahoe Community College.

In addition to the carnival rides, there will be free family events that Saturday and Sunday, with craft booths, food, garden creations silent auction, art silent auction, jam making contest, pie eating contest and more.

All proceeds benefit youth programs in the area.

For more information about the event, or to sign up to have a booth, contact Anna Njoten at 530.541.4594 or anna.njoten@tahoeturningpoint.org.