Tim Cohee inked a deal Tuesday to become part owner of Sierra Summit ski resort outside of Fresno.
The Kirkwood Mountain Resort executive may retain his duties at the Tahoe area resort even after escrow closes April 30.
Snow Summit Ski Corp. will receive nearly $4 million for the ski area.
When the deal closes, the original name will be used — China Peak.
By Walt Cook, Union Democrat
Timber harvested this year in the Stanislaus National Forest is scheduled to exceed last year’s amount by several million board feet — or hundreds of extra logging truck loads.
Last year, around 23 million board feet were sold from the national forest. This year, U.S. Forest Service officials expect to sell 32 million board feet.
One board foot of wood is one foot long, one foot wide and one inch thick.
By Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee
SACRAMENTO — Amid dense scrub oak and manzanita high above the Coloma Valley in El Dorado County, the marijuana growers were stocked to subsist in the steep, unforgiving terrain.
They had seedlings, fertilizer and drip irrigation for thousands of high-grade plants. They had solar power, cookware and months of food. And they had a tiny, protective figurine: Jesús Malverde, the patron saint of Mexican drug traffickers.
With a month to go in the growing season, California is shattering records for pot seizures stemming from raids on illicit marijuana gardens. And authorities blame intricate Mexican drug networks that seek remote growing sites, supply and arm workers, and harvest and traffic the product.
By Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee
More than a year after it opened, Red Hawk Casino remains an underperformer.
The company that manages Red Hawk said Friday the Shingle Springs casino is still operating below expectations. It added, however, that it is starting to see better results from a revamped marketing program and new management.
By Scott Thomas Anderson and Bill Lavallie, Ledger Dispatch
The impact of gangs operating in Amador County took a sudden and shocking turn at 5am (Sunday) morning, when a confrontation at the Jackson Rancheria Casino led to one teenager getting shot in the neck and another getting shot in the face.
The Amador County Sheriff’s Office learned of the gun play almost immediately after it happened. Deputies rushed to the scene and discovered two young, Hispanic men bleeding amidst the shot machines and lights. Each had been hit with pistol fire at close range.
By Kathryn Reed
Two people were fighting for their lives at Renown Medical Center in Reno on Sunday night after the vehicle they were in was broadsided by a full-size pickup at the intersection of highways 50 and 28.
The Sunday afternoon accident briefly closed Highway 50 at the top of Spooner Summit.
The names and hometowns of the people involved in the accident are not being released by the Nevada Highway Patrol.
The green Subaru Wagon was making a left onto Highway 50 from Highway 28 about 3pm. It was struck on the driver’s side by a blue Ford pickup.
The two occupants of the Subaru were airlifted to Reno.
“I would say they are life-threatening,†Sgt. Tom Lawson said of their injuries.
The driver of the pickup was taken to Carson Tahoe Hospital with minor injuries.
The cause of the accident is under investigation. The roads were dry at the time. As is normal, drivers will be tested for alcohol and drugs.
Although it’s not the NHP’s job to rule a vehicle totaled, Lawson said, “I don’t think either insurance will want to fix them.â€
By Kathryn Reed
Start-up mode is stressful in any business, but especially when you don’t want your boss to know about it. That’s the situation one South Lake Tahoe couple finds themselves in as they are about to branch out on their own.
To get ready for a spring roll out the couple used the city’s TIES program. TIES, or Tahoe Inventors Entrepreneur Services, has several components — coaching, relocation, business loans, website design, business plans and more.
“(They) are still in the process of starting their company. They’ve come a long way since they started with us. They still have a long way to go. For our part, we’ve helped map out a reasonable road to success, but it’s their sweat and persistence that will make it happen. It’s a daunting task to start a company, and I daresay they are a little bit stressed out right in the middle of it,”Jim Mikles of Golden Capital Network said of the couple.
Golden Capital Network is one of the consultants the city contracts with to provide the services.
All of the money in the program is from grants. None is from the general fund. The city tries to use local businesses to provide the services.
The first $300,000 grant for coaching came three years ago. About 30 people are in the program today.
It’s not just about people starting a business. These programs are for people in all phases. For some of the assistance income eligibility guidelines need to be met, but most people in town qualify.
“Before you go under, before you go into default we can be that bridge. We can make a difference,” Nancy Kerry, a TIES adviser for the city, said. She also said to let the city determine eligibility and to not assume you don’t qualify.
Karen Estes, who owns Simple Tahoe Weddings, participated in the program a couple years ago.
“We realized my website was outdated. I wanted it to be hip, simple and easy to navigate,” Estes said.
Grants the city secured paid for her website. She said the site is making her business even more successful.
Kerry said it’s not the city’s job to solve people’s problems, but it can give them direction
“We want people to succeed. It’s advice and information. It’s linking you to the right sources,” Kerry said.
Through TIES workshops are offered on how to keep costs low, becoming green, being an effective leader, making sure employees represent your business appropriately, networking, cross-promotional ideas, and social media.
Information discussed in the one-on-one sessions is confidential.
Business loans are what are called micro-loans because they are small, the business must have five or fewer employees, and the business is considered low income or is creating jobs for low-income people. Average loans are $25,000.
The money comes from the state. As people repay their loans, then more money is available for the next person in need.
This is a small component of the TIES program because fewer people qualify. Ten open loans exist today.
“The bottom line is the city is a business. We need business in the community to be successful for us to be successful,” said Gene Palazzo, one of the city’s TIES advisers.
For more information, call (530) 542.6044 or (530) 542.6043.
A winter weather advisory is in effect in Lake Tahoe from 1pm today through 4am Saturday.
Three to 6 inches of snow is being called for at the lake, with 8-14 inches above 7,000 feet. Winds will be from the southwest from 20-30mph, gusting to 50mph. Along the ridges, the gusts could hit 100mph.
Lake Tahoe Community College students don't let snow stop them from going to school. Photo/Kathryn Reed
A wind advisory has also been issued by the National Weather Service for the Reno, Carson City and Carson Valley areas.
Don’t be surprised when the chain and 4-wheel drive requirement on the mountain highways are put up. Blowing snow could impact visibility.
The low tonight is slated to be 21 degrees, 18 on Saturday, 21 again on Sunday and a balmy 30 on Monday night.
The high today may hit 45, with 39 on Saturday, 49 and plenty of sun on Sunday, and 57 on Monday. Those are all for Lake Tahoe.
By Kathryn Reed
“On the run” is about to steamroll through the South Shore as those involved with promoting Ski Run Boulevard use that tagline on all future marketing material.
Events will use it as a marketing tool. The whole area will be branding itself that way. Another way to brand the street is create a logo via a contest.
Consultant Lani Lott records Don Huggins' comments. Photo/Kathryn Reed
In a two-hour workshop on Wednesday at the Blue Angel Cafe Loft, more than 40 people broke into four groups to solidify plans how to ensure the street that runs from Lake Tahoe to the mountains becomes the focus of South Lake Tahoe.
The four board members of the Ski Run Business Improvement District led a group. Barbara Tenney handled marketing, Shannon O’Brien the events, Don Huggins beautification and Brian DesRochers business development.
Before the groups were formed, consultant Lani Lott reminded everyone, “This is for the long term, not something you do for two years and you’re done. This is not a city committee. This is a private organization that will work in partnership with the city.”
That partnership was evident with having a city staff person at each table.
The marketing team talked about being a multi-generational destination, needing to have a good energy, and be the heart of South Lake Tahoe.
The events gang is ready to start farmers markets every Thursday night in the summer, with the first one possibly leading into Memorial Day. Alex Mellon who started the Meyers market last summer plans to run this one from 4-8pm.
Creating new events isn’t the only focus, but tying into existing ones is also a goal. With the Great Lake Tahoe Sternwheeler Race on June 13, it’s logical to be part of that since the Tahoe Queen is docked at Ski Run Marina and is one of the two participating boats.
Though specific events were not mentioned, it was acknowledged that having things to do in the shoulder seasons is imperative.
In the winter, Santa could be at various businesses ‘on the run’ and on New Year’s Eve a family event with a snowflake drop instead of a glittery ball could be staged.
When it comes to sprucing up the street, committee members want to enlist the help of property owners who have let their buildings become blighted and others that allow 3-foot tall weeds to grow.
Consulting with owners of vacant lots was also mentioned so they could be turned into a better use — parks, green areas or developed.
Hanging baskets like the ones Black Bear Inn puts out seasonally were praised and others were encouraged to follow suit.
Having signs on Highway 50 and Pioneer Trail alerting people the boulevard is not just another streetlight was talked about.
Parking and land use issues are big concerns for the business development team. So is having a mix of uses.
“We want it so on every lot there is something to do and it’s eye-catching,” DesRochers said.
The entire group plans to meeting again on April 7, with the committees meeting more often.
By Kathryn Reed
It took about one hour Thursday for a jury to find Joseph and Georgia Silva guilty of a federal hate crime that took place in South Lake Tahoe in July 2007.
The Silvas split their time between the South Shore and Fairfield when the incident occurred at El Dorado Beach. The couple, both in their 50s, were found guilty of the racially motivated assault on Vishal Wadhwa of San Francisco. They were found not guilty of the same charge on his then-fiance Ayesha Wadhwa.
The extent of her injuries did not meet the criteria of the charge, the jury found.
The victims are Indian American. They were visiting Lake Tahoe when the crime occurred.
“When one of the victims attempted to call the police, Georgia Silva assaulted the victim, knocking him to the ground. Joseph Silva then struck the victim and kicked the victim in the head. As a result of this attack, the victim suffered fractures to his facial bones and other bodily injury and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital,” a press release says.
U.S. District Court Judge John Mendez heard the four-day trial in Sacramento where a slew of witnesses took the stand. One of the witnesses was Gary Moore, director of Parks and Recreation for South Lake Tahoe. He was there to explain the beach is public and added that he was a lifeguard there 30 years ago.
Prosecutors found a number of neighbors in Tahoe and Fairfield who had run-ins with the Silvas. One from Fairfield was allowed to testify about the fight involving Joseph Silva wielding a baseball bat and uttering racial slurs at the Hispanic woman and her biracial daughter.
Sentencing will be June 1. They face multiple years in jail and fines.