A bill signed by Gov. Brian Sandoval on May 15 is designed to protect Nevada Department of Transportation workers.

It takes effect July 1.

Motorists must move into the far lane when passing NDOT workers. Look for the agency vehicles’ flashing amber lights as a warning. California has a similar law.

This law already pertains to law enforcement. It is a misdemeanor to violate the law.

There have been 24 NDOT employees who have been killed in the line of duty since 1948. The most recent NDOT employee to die was Ron Raiche Jr., who was struck and killed by an inattentive driver on March 30, 2015, while repairing roadway cracking on Interstate 80 near Battle Mountain.

UC Davis plans to train docents to work at its education centers in Incline Village and Tahoe City.

The four-part training program is designed to develop participants’ local Lake Tahoe presentation skills. Training includes general Lake Tahoe information, environmental issues, geology, history of research, state of the lake, ecology and food web.

Training includes all Docent Training program materials, guest speakers from UC Davis, UNR, research vessel time on the lake, and a social happy hour. Training will be June 15, 19, 20 and 24.

More information about the docent program or to register, go online. To receive the Docent Training agenda, contact Heather Segale at hmsegale@ucdavis.edu or call 775.881.7562.

·      Register online for the second annual OMG Fun Run that will be June 4, 10 am-noon at the Old Meyers Grade.

·      South Lake Tahoe is looking for three people to be on the Building & Housing Board of Appeals. Applicants must reside within the Tahoe basin portion of EI Dorado County. For more info, call 530.542.6004.

·      Zephyr Cove Library is having a book sale May 24-27 from 11am-5pm.

·      Robie Wilson Litchfield, principal and owner of Litchfield Design + Consulting, is credentialed as a SITES professional by Green Building Certification Inc. for environmentally friendly landscape design.

·      Truckee is having a solid waste workshop on May 19 from 2:30-4pm at the airport.

Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce is hosting a workshop about employee motivation and morale.

Attendees will be taught the importance of micro-recognition and how to implement this in the workplace.

The lecture will be June 1 from noon-1:30pm at the chamber’s office in Stateline.

Cost is $10 for members and $20 for others.

Gardening is theme this month for Friends of the Library in South Lake Tahoe.

On May 20 at 10am there will be an asparagus growing workshop.  This hardy perennial vegetable can become part of an edible landscape, and a mainstay even in a Tahoe garden.

Tomatoes will be the topic on May 30 at 6pm.

UCCE master gardeners of Lake Tahoe will be spearheading both free workshops.

The library is located at 1000 Rufus Allen Boulevard.

·      On May 20 from 8-11am there will be a pancake breakfast and rummage sale at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center. For more information, call 530.545.1277.

·      Between Horses and Humans is having a garden party benefit at the former Wild Rose Inn in Genoa on June 4 at 4pm. Tickets are available online.

·      The Tahoe Brewfest will be in the Swiss Chalet center in South Lake Tahoe on June 10 from noon-5pm. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 that day. Proceeds benefit the Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club. For more info, go online.

·      Louie Anderson will be at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe on June 10.

·      Great video about Lake Tahoe’s water level and the release of water into the Truckee River:

Explained-High water on the Truckee River from Placer County Video Portal on Vimeo.

The Nevada Department of Transportation is hosting an open house May 31 to share ideas about enhancing safety on Highway 50 from Stateline to Highway 28.

Proposed future safety improvements within the corridor include:

• Roadway resurfacing/restriping
• Lane reconfiguration, including bicycle lanes
• Roundabouts
• Bicycle and pedestrian enhancements along the roadway
• Designated turn lanes, acceleration/deceleration Lanes, and designated turn out locations for slow moving vehicles/

The meeting will be at Zephyr Cove Elementary School’s multipurpose room from 4-7pm, with a formal presentation beginning at 5:30pm.

For more information, contact Kent Steele at 775.888.7010 or ksteele@dot.nv.gov

·       While Barton Health has not been affected by the global cybersecurity breach, it is taking precautions to protect its systems. Anyone who needs to call a Barton Health patient office or department, must call the direct hospital line at 530.541.3420. Other direct lines may be available, but calls will not be transferred from other lines.  This precaution will be implemented at least through the weekend.

·      Jack Wagner is returning to the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe in July.

·      Want information about health insurance in Nevada? Check out this story.

·      Truckee is having a workshop in the next fiscal budget on May 15 from 2-8pm at the airport.

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

The Nevada Highway Patrol is teaming up with local law enforcement agencies to educate motorists on seat belt usage. The click it or ticket campaign runs through May 31. 

Anyone who is driving and all passengers 6 or older and weighing more than 60 pounds must wear a seat belt. Any child younger than 6 years and who weighs less than 60 pounds must ride in a federally approved child restraint system. Also, it is always safest for children under 13 years old to sit in the back seat, even for short trips from home.

Seat belt citations carry a $75 fine after court and administration fees. A citation for an unrestrained child is significantly higher. 

Get ready to clean out your yard, attic or garage. Clean Tahoe’s annual Community Cleanup Day (aka $5 Dump Day) will be June 3 from 8am-4pm.

It’s the one day of the year El Dorado County residents may bring unwanted items to the South Tahoe Refuse transfer station at huge discounts.

Pricing details:

• $5/vehicle load for California residents ($10/truck + trailer)
• $10/load for Nevada residents
• U-Hauls and oversized trucks priced by size
• $15 for refrigerators (normally $42)
• Free disposal of e-waste
• Free document shredding provided by Iron Mountain
• No dirt, concrete, or construction material. 

The event is for residential loads only. 

As part of the event, Clean Tahoe will provide curbside pick up service of unwanted items for senior citizens and disabled residents in need. Call 530.544.4210 to schedule a pick up.