By Kathryn Reed

It’s possible the multi-million dollar animal shelter that has been in the works for a number of years on the West Slope will break ground this fall.

The 17,700-square-foot facility would consolidate the multiple locations El Dorado County Animal Services Authority currently occupies. It would also mean no longer needing to pay $145,000 to lease space for large animals.

The shelter has been a bit controversial — with the latest attack coming from the grand jury. The 2010 report that came out this summer questions the Board of Supervisors’ logic in 2006 to purchase the 10 acres between Shingle Springs and El Dorado when only 7.5 acres are useable; why the seller wasn’t asked to help with improvements – like the $1.5 million needed to put in a road to the location, drainage and other basics that will ultimately help the neighbors at no cost to them; and how the purchase got approved when the seller was a friend of a supervisor.

Despite the grand jury’s findings, the county in July went forward with asking staff to come up with bid documents. The board could be asked to approve the bid package in September. The infrastructure improvements would be the first phase, with the building likely being under construction next summer, with a move-in date of 2012.

“I think the county itself has done everything in its power to find the right location for the shelter,” said Henry Brzezinski, who runs Animal Services Authority. He oversees the Meyers location, too. What happens on the West Slope won’t affect operations in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

This is Brzezinski’s second stint with the agency. When he worked for the county from 2003-08 he spent about 1.5 years helping to find a spot for the shelter.

“We have an excellent architect who has designed numerous shelters around the country so he knows what is needed,” Brzezinski said.

Right now adoptable cats are in cages in the front lobby. A facility in Latrobe houses livestock. The administration office is about a half mile from the main shelter. A special use permit is required because it is not zoned for an animal shelter.

The new facility will have everything in one spot. It will be designed to accommodate adoptions, the nearly 100 volunteers associated with the facility, housing for animals that are quarantined, animals that may be involved in a lawsuit or criminal case.

“Sheltering in general is almost like having a medical hospital. You have to have proper control. You have to have separate zonew for upper respiratory issues like kennel cough,” Brzezinski said. “Even though you have to have secure closures, they have to be comfortable for animals for the long term.”

Supervisors in May 2009 put $6 million into the capital improvement budget for the facility.

At a time when the county continues to reduce services and eliminate jobs, some question why it is spending the money now on something like this.

“Technically, yes, they could spend all that money for ongoing operations, but that is not something our office would advise they do because if you use it to fill an ongoing budget hole, it helps fill the hole in the budget year, but then the hole re-emerges the next rear. And then you don’t have anything to build anything with,” said Mike Applegarth, senior administrative analyst for El Dorado County.

Another reason to start this year is contractors are scrambling for work – making bids on projects lower than years past, plus it provides jobs.

By Liz Benston, Las Vegas Sun

Several months ago, the Internal Revenue Service agents who investigate financial crimes in Las Vegas began calling big casinos to set up meetings with their employees.

The calls were friendly.

Stateline casinos work with the feds when asked. Photo/Kathryn Reed

In fact, the IRS — battling a bumper crop of white-collar crime — needed the casinos’ help.

The feds were asking floor workers to drop a dime and report suspicious people gambling with lots of money.

Since the 1980s, Nevada casinos have filed thousands of reports containing the names, Social Security numbers and other identifying characteristics of customers suspected of laundering money or simply gambling with ill-gotten funds. Those figures are rising in the recession and appear to coincide with increased financial crimes across the country.

Read the whole story

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE — Eagerly giving up their diamond rings, three women and a roomful of people saw a guy put them in tissue. But they weren’t in the tissue as he tore it up. They ended up in a box with a bow.

While this might seem ordinary, it wasn’t. No one saw the guy put them in the box and we were sitting right in front of him.

Tony Clark, center, has Sarrah and Jeff tie him up at MontBleu on Aug. 6. Photos/Kathryn Reed

“I don’t understand.” That was the feeling I had the whole time watching Masters of Magic at MontBleu. And for the entertainers on the casino’s stage that’s just how they like it.

Magician Tony Clark joked, “The more you drink, the more magic you see.” The sober truth is the sleight of hand and illusion displayed brought forth remarks of “That was cool.” and “How did he do that?” from the children and parents in the audience.

Sitting up close means a good chance of becoming part of the entertainment. Clark brought Jeff and Sarah on stage to help tie his wrists. A little adult humor was thrown in that likely went over the heads of the kids in the crowd.

Clark had put his watch in his back pocket. The couple made sure the rope was secure, solid – nothing funny about it. Before anyone could say abracadabra, Clark was no longer tied up in knots and his watch was back on.

Illusionist Danny Cole completely changed outfits before our eyes. From red suit to black; ties came and went. But no one ever saw him get undressed. His wardrobe just changed right before our eyes without us knowing how.

Much of the time the audience was silent. They must have been like me – too busy trying to figure out what was going on, scratching their heads and unable to put their hands together.

Bryson Lane juggles sickles.

I know my lack of applause had nothing to do with not being appreciative of what was going on before me – instead, it had everything to do with wanting them to go a little slower, maybe, just maybe then I would figure out how they did it.

Bryson Lane takes juggling to a new level with sickles being tossed in the air as he chomps on a stick that has a spinning ball on it.

Joel Ward makes Stacey disappear into a box that he seems to slice in half. Somehow she reappears in the audience.

This is one of the shows that leaves you entertained as well as frustrated because you keep wondering how they do what they do.

Joel Ward seems to cut Stacey (in the box) in half.

The hour-plus show features Tony Clark, Joel Ward, Bryson Lang, Danny Cole and assistant Stacey. It runs through Sept. 5, Wednesday-Sunday at 8pm at MontBleu casino in Stateline. Cost is $19.95 for adults, $12.95 for ages 17 and younger. For more information, call (775) 588.3515.

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE — Cancer. It’s one of the deadliest words in the English language. But with events like Relay for Life, a cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence.

The fifth annual Relay on the South Shore is going on now at Kahle Community Park in Stateline.

Cancer survivors start the South Shore Relay for Life on Aug. 7. Photos/Kathryn Reed

It all began with survivors of cancer making the first lap. Then caregivers followed. Many wore sashes saying which group they belong to. Most were smiling. They clearly had something to celebrate.

It’s all about raising money for the American Cancer Society. Going into Saturday’s festivities that started shortly after 4pm more than $40,000 had been collected.

Fundraising by the various teams, individuals paying $10 to walk and money still to be tallied from Taste of Tahoe could bring this year’s event to about $60,000 – which would be double what was raised in 2009.

Jenn Boyd, who coordinated this year’s Relay for Life, said the plan is to expand Taste of Tahoe next year because of how successful it was. This year 10 restaurants donated a portion of a week’s worth of proceeds to Relay.

People can show up any time between now and 6am Sunday. Relay will be going on all night – signifying how cancer doesn’t sleep. Or listen on KRLT-93.9FM or KTHO-96.1FM – both radio stations plan to broadcast live for part of the event.

Cancer survivor Esther Carlen gets a hug from comic Howie Nave.

The dog walk is from 7-8pm – then all four-legged walkers must leave the park.

Michael Clark and Band will play from 8-10pm.

The luminaria ceremony is from 9-10pm. People write on or decorate paper bags that are then illuminated with a candle. It’s hard to not cry reading about friends and family who have died and about just as many who have survived.

Deep Fried Mojo will entertain the group from 10pm-midnight.

Event organizer Jenn Boyd at work.

A massive Twister game will go on for about an hour starting at midnight.

Coffee and a light breakfast will be available at 5am. Closing ceremonies and awards are at 6m.

To get involved with Relay for Life 2011 or find out more information about it, call Jenn Boyd at (702) 278.1932 or email boydjenn@gmail.com.

By Kathryn Reed

“It’s a dog’s life” is being taken to a whole new level at Tahoe Best Friends.

Reaching down to pet one of her four legged customers, Paige Rice calls him by name. She knows all of their names. So do the other workers at this canine hotel in South Lake Tahoe.

This is no ordinary place to board a dog.

Harley sees no reason to greet a visitor at Tahoe Best Friends. Photos/Kathryn Reed

“He had to have a couch to lay on and they have a couch to lay on,” says Edith Mankiewiez of Mr. Dutch, her shepherd-husky mix. “They let dogs do the normal things they do at home.”

The Stateline resident uses Tahoe Best Friends as doggie daycare three to four days a week. If she’s late coming back from her job in Carson City, she calls the boarding facility to say Mr. Dutch will be having a sleepover.

About a year ago, Rice started the business out of her home. The desire by a growing number of dog owners to have a facility without kennels or cages led her to expand the business a little more than a month ago. Now she occupies about 2,000-square-feet of indoor space across from South Tahoe Refuse’s recycling center, with about another 1,000-square-feet of outdoor play area.

Maureen Stuhlman is second in charge of the center.

One thing Stuhlman said dog owners like is being able to bring their own food so no intestinal issues arise with changing brands.

Windows to the outdoors and between the three indoor dog areas create airiness. One room is devoted to little dogs, another for big, the other for training. Doors can be opened so it’s one big romper room.

Dogs of all sizes, breeds and ages tromp in and out. A wrestling match of sorts is going on in one corner. It looks like a pool party out back. Others are loafing on comfy couches and chairs by the fireplace or near the television.

A log cabin feel is what Rice is creating.

Shy dogs or ones lacking in social skills are introduced to the rest of the brood gradually. At most there are 25 dogs on any given day.

Zeke is Susan Frailey’s first dog. The 11-month-old black Lab first visited Tahoe Best Friends at about 12 weeks old. Socialization was a big reason she picked this place.

“I feel like I’m taking my son to a really great day care,” the Meyers resident said. “He is super excited every time we go there. We get to day care and he is so happy and ready to go play.”

Zeke it at the center a couple days a week and spends the night when Frailey is out of town.

Lori MacDonald also liked the socialization aspect of Tahoe Best Friends when it came to finding a place for Miso. The teacup Yorkie was 5 months when she first stayed over.

The MacDonalds were in Tahoe earlier this summer staying at their timeshare that doesn’t allow dogs. They had Miso spend the night, but picked her up during the day to play with them.

“The way she was introduced to the other dogs, they did is slow and one at a time,” the Bay Area woman said. “She had not been around a lot of dogs before.”

She said Miso didn’t do any of that shaking or backing up that dogs are prone to do when they go to the vet or groomer. In fact, she made friends with a Great Dane and was eager to return to the center for the night.

“The hardest thing was explaining to my boys (ages 8, 11 and 13) that they could not spend the night. They could have spent hours there,” MacDonald said.

Someone does spend the night – one of the 10 employees. A bed folds into the wall, but when it’s down one ore more dogs are often sharing space with the human.

With the center backing up to a residential area, the rules are owners can get their dogs between 7am and 7pm. Not much barking goes on. Mostly it’s playful snarling that can be heard or a little dog ready to come out of the room.

For more information about Tahoe Best Friends, call (530) 542.2336 or click here.

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By Kathryn Reed

A letter from the landlord listed what needed to be done – or else.

Unable to do the work herself or pay for someone to do it, June Echeverri was worried. The 76-year-old’s health doesn’t allow her to maintain her yard like she once did. Her daughter who lives with her is on disability.

June Echeverri looks at how her yard is being re-done. Photos/Kathryn Reed

Every spring Tahoe Verde has a spring checkup list for people living in the mobile home park. Echeverri didn’t think she would be able to check anything off the list.

“I really didn’t know what I was going to do,” Echeverri told Lake Tahoe News. The answer came via an invitation from Habitat for Humanity to apply to be part of A Brush with Kindness, a program the El Dorado County chapter offers.

This is the first project on the South Shore the group has done. They started Monday and wrapped up in a few days.

“This program is only exterior. We do minor repairs. It can’t be for cosmetic reasons,” Carolyn Meiers explained.

Meiers has been on the Habitat board in El Dorado County for four years. The next project is in the Bijou neighborhood. That house is scheduled to be painted in September.

“The caveat is the people have to do all the prep work. They are young,” Meiers said. “It has to be scraped and brushed and ready for paint.”

About a dozen volunteers worked from 8am to 4pm at Echeverri’s home. Weeds were eliminated, fern-like plants split apart and replanted, sod eliminated, weed cloth put down, wood chips laid on top of it, a back yard water feature reconfigured a bit and more.

Landscaper Jim Doherty volunteered his efforts to remove the sod. This means no more mowing for the women.

The skirt was painted with donations from Dick Fuller Paints and Valspar Paints.

The hot water heater door was fixed and other repairs were made.

“This is a great example that there are people who care and will offer their time and energy,” Echeverri said as the crew went about their work.

For the men and women working up a sweat she provided a bite to eat each morning, snacks, water and soft drinks.

Unity Church in South Lake Tahoe raised $234 for the project – and supplied much of the labor. Meiers, along with Arlene Wolfe and Bonnie Driscoll make up Hope Lutheran’s committee that is part of all of this.

JJ Stafford decided to spend part of his Tahoe vacation volunteering his time with this Habitat project. The 21-year-old from New York has been doing this type of thing since he was 13.

Seeing the gratitude in the homeowners and hearing them say “thank you” is how he is paid.

For more information about the local Habitat for Humanity chapter or volunteering, contact Carolyn Meiers at (530) 541.4654 or email sltahoehabitat@gmail.com. The process to qualify is a bit rigorous, with distinct income requirements, proof of homeownership, tax forms and about a four-page application to fill out.

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By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE — Caltrans is one step closer to having all the hurdles cleared so it can close Echo Summit in both directions next spring in order to replace the dilapidated rock wall.

It was a brief hearing Aug. 5 before Jim Baetge at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency office in Stateline. With that behind them, Caltrans hopes to have the permits from TRPA on Monday. Then the internal environmental certificate can be obtained.

Sandbags will be replaced next year on Echo Summit. Photos/Kathryn Reed

The plan calls for replacing the wall that dates to 1939 with a sturdier, higher barrier that will be 32 inches off the ground. It’s all in the name of public safety.

“We don’t believe it will impact the scenic quality,” Steven Gaytan, Caltrans transportation engineers, said after Thursday’s hearing. “It will look better than the sandbags.”

Some of the areas that have crumbled or been plowed into by vehicles have sandbags as a makeshift barrier.

With TRPA rules mandating no dirt be moved before May 1, Caltrans hopes to secure a waiver so construction can begin in April. This is all dependent on the weather.

No matter the exact start date, Highway 50 in to South Lake Tahoe from the west will be closed for two weeks – 24 hours a day. The next 36 days it will be reduced to one-way controlled traffic.

Highway 50 from Johnson Pass -- a not-so-well maintained county road.

If it’s a less than ideal snow year, work could be done by Memorial Day. If it’s like this past winter, a traffic nightmare could snarl summer travel.

Sue Barton with the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and Steve Teshara representing South Shore Transportation Management Association both said this is the best alternative so the work is expedited.

The thinking is May is one of the slowest months on the South Shore, so ideally businesses will not be severely impacted.

Plus, there are plenty of ways to get to South Tahoe without crossing Echo Summit. Johnson Pass is a route locals know about. The back way by Kirkwood on Highway 88 is a scenic alternative. Coming down via the West Shore on Highway 89 is another option.

By Kathryn Reed

A civil rights lawsuit has been filed in federal court against South Lake Tahoe, the city police department and Officer Russell Liles.

John Andoh, former transit administrator for South Tahoe Area Transportation Agency, in documents filed Aug. 2 in U.S. District Court in Sacramento alleges he has been racially discriminated against.

John Andoh

According to the city’s website, in 2008 there were 164 black people in town accounting for 0.7 percent of the population.

Andoh at that time would have been one of those black people.

The defendants in the case had not been served as of Aug. 4. City Attorney Pat Enright told Lake Tahoe News on Wednesday night he was not aware of the lawsuit.

A series of events, mostly in 2009, led to Andoh seeking legal counsel and the lawsuit being filed.

It was fairly well known Andoh had a brief relationship with Allyson Ritchie, a subordinate. Ritchie was hired to do clerical work. She is white.

The suit says, “During the relationship, Ms. Ritchie advised plaintiff that she had a brother (Andrew Eissinger) who was a police officer of the city of South Lake Tahoe and that this individual would become enraged should he discover that Ms. Ritchie was involved in an interracial relationship.”

According to the document, the relationship ended in May 2009. When Ritchie’s position was eliminated two months later, the reason given was budget cuts. The document says she disputed that and alleged it had to do with breaking up with Andoh.

Less than a week after Ritchie was let go, Andoh was involved in a vehicle accident with a cyclist. Officer Liles, who was hired as a rookie in summer 2008, took the report.

Soon thereafter an arrest warrant was issued for Andoh for allegedly giving false information to an officer. That charge was eventually dropped, but not before Andoh’s name was muddied in headlines and with his bosses at STATA.

“We are not limited to the theory about the girlfriend and brother. The arrest itself was unfounded,” Jeffrey D. Fulton, Andoh’s attorney, said.

The lawsuit questions why Andoh’s job was eliminated earlier this year.

The four claims in the lawsuit in large part deal with the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments and subsequent Civil Rights legislation.

No specific dollar amount is being asked for in the damages. Fulton said his client is willing to let a jury come up with a figure.

A status conference has been scheduled for Oct. 25 in Sacramento.

By Kathryn Reed

Sixty percent of the South Lake Tahoe City Council will be new after voters cast their ballots Nov. 2.

Jerry Birdwell joins Kathay Lovell and Bill Crawford in deciding not to seek another term.

Jerry Birdwell

“I’m going to take a breather. I’m going to enjoy running the (Black Bear) Inn, sitting on the farm (in Sutter Creek), and doing more traveling with my partner,” Birdwell told Lake Tahoe News on Tuesday night.

At 68, Birdwell is ready to turn his attention to things besides city government. But he isn’t turning his back on the city. Before running four years ago, Birdwell was active with the Ski Run Boulevard BID. This is something he anticipates doing again.

He wishes he could have brought more transparency to city government. He said it would only come with honesty and openness about what is going on.

“I think the first time it came to my attention was when I asked (former City Attorney) Cathy DiCamillo what the city was paying in outside counsel. She looked at me across the desk and said, ‘I have no idea.’,” Birdwell said. “I said, ‘Why not?’ She said, ‘It doesn’t go through me.’ That to me was my first knowledge that transparency was lacking in city government and it was bothering me.”

Birdwell said that interaction got him thinking about his days on the Ski Run BID board and not being able to get a straight answer out of the city about the money paid in by BID members and how much had been spent.

He thinks the city needs to figure out where it wants to be and what it wants to look like in five, even 10 years. He also thinks the city better have a realistic understanding about revenues, realize property taxes aren’t going to be what they were a few years ago and that the bleeding has not stopped.

“We need to adjust our budget accordingly. I think future councils will have a major problem dealing with that,” Birdwell said.

While he continues to serve the rest of his term for the next few months, one thing he will work on is securing a permanent city hall for the town. He and Councilman Bruce Grego were appointed Aug. 3 to an ad hoc committee to investigate whether the Tahoe Daily Tribune building on Harrison Avenue would be viable.

(The paper is not selling or going out of business, just the structure is for sale.)

With presses having been there years ago, soil studies would need to be done to make sure no ink leached into the ground.

An appealing aspect to officials is other city entities are directly across Highway 50.

With no incumbent running for City Council, the deadline to file paperwork is Aug. 11. Here are the people who have taken out papers.

By Kathryn Reed

HOPE VALLEY – It’s like a convention of wildflower enthusiasts along the trail to Winnemucca Lake. Everyone seems to have a camera. People bending over to inhale what scent these wonders of nature are casting off. A certain excitement fills the air.

Maybe the long winter has everyone giddy about spring arriving – even though on this particular Saturday the calendar says July 24. Even the weather and flowers seem to operate on Tahoe time.

Oliver Wong hikes through wildflowers near Winnemucca Lake. Photos/Kathryn Reed

Parking at the Carson ranger station in the Eldorado National Forest on Highway 88 is an indication the trail is going to be crowded. I end up on the street and not paying the $5 fee because no slots are available.

Normally a congested trail is exasperating. But with my nephew in town for the weekend, the day of the hike was predetermined. The abundance of natural beauty is so intoxicating the other trail users can’t bother me.

Splashes of rich purple lupine are everywhere, along with the bright yellow mule’s ear.

This 1.8-mile trek to Winnemucca Lake in the Mokelumne Wilderness seems to take forever. I can’t stop taking pictures.

People are circling Frog’s Lake, some lingering long enough to swim – though it’s predominately small children who don’t know they can say no to cold water.

“It’s a great area to look at stuff,” says Janel Johnson, a botanist with the Nevada Native Plant Society, who is leading a wildflower hike that day. She is telling her followers about flowers I’ve never heard of – like penstemon, potentilla and green gentian.

“The rock outcroppings by Frog’s Lake have a whole different set of flowers,” Johnson says. She also remarked how the wildflowers are blooming about two weeks later than they did in 2009.

To this non-flower knowing hiker she explains the spindly pink flowers are actually wild onions.

Meandering on this trail that is full of adults, children and leashed dogs, are fields of Indian paintbrush and lupine. Wild irises poke above some of the other lush flowers. It’s as though every color of the rainbow is represented in the various fields of flora.

A guy is walking up the trail with a snowboard in search of terrain to ride. A group of Cub Scouts is on a quest for outdoor related badges.

A dad points out miners’ lettuce to his son and talks about a time when mule’s ear would be boiled and consumed.

Finally at Winnemucca Lake we stop for a bite to eat — what we brought with us, not what we found along the trail.

Patches of snow dot Round Top, the mountain at the base of the lake. A few people are wading into the water. We don’t stay long – a thunderhead is almost directly over us.

Luckily, we were out of the wilderness area before the clouds open up and only get pelted by rain and hail a bit in Meyers – such are the hazards of a topless Jeep.

To get to Lake Winnemucca: From South Lake Tahoe go over Luther Pass (Highway 89), in Hope Valley turn right onto Highway 88, go to the top of Carson Pass — parking area on your left. Pay $5 to park. Trail is to the right of the visitor center. It’s an easy 1.8 miles one-way to Lake Winnemucca. You get to Frog’s Lake first. Going farther you will hit Round Top Lake, Fourth of July Lake and Woods Lake. Part of the route is the Pacific Crest Trail.

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