By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee

Eldorado National Forest officials are gearing up for a busy Independence Day holiday and report that all facilities in the forest will be open, including the newly renovated Gerle Creek and South Fork Group campgrounds.

The Gerle Creek campground renovation was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as the federal stimulus program. The South Fork Group Campground project was selected by the El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee from more than 100 projects to be funded with Title 2 Secure Rural School Act monies and was accomplished with the help of volunteers, according to a Forest Service news release.

Although the Fourth of July is typically celebrated with fireworks, officials remind visitors that all types of fireworks are illegal in the National Forest, due to the risk of wildfire.

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Two Tahoe area athletes are up for ESPY awards.

South Lake Tahoe’s Jaime Anderson has been nominated for Best Female Action Sports Athlete.

A slopestyle pioneer, Anderson produced eight podiums last winter, including gold in the Aspen and European X Games. The Sierra-at-Tahoe rider also posted a clean sweep of the Burton Open series with wins in the U.S., Europe and Canada.

Slopestyle snowboarding will make its debut at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, where Anderson is looking to secure gold.

Shaun White, who had a halfpipe built to train at Northstar, is nominated for Best Male Action Sports Athlete.

Last winter, he became the first snowboarder to receive a perfect score of 100 to secure a halfpipe gold medal at the Aspen X Games. White also won gold in the European X Games slopestyle event.

The ESPYS are determined entirely by popular vote. Polling is open until July 9. The awards will air live on July 11 at 6p on ESPN.

Lindsey Vonn and Kelly Clark are also up for Best Action Sports Athlete category.

By Barbara Barte Osborn, Sacramento Bee

NEVADA CITY — Fire restrictions will go into effect Sunday in the Tahoe National Forest due to dry conditions.

“I’d also like to remind folks that all fireworks are illegal in the national forests,” Forest Supervisor Tom Quinn said in a news release.

Because illegal and abandoned campfires are the main cause of human-caused fires in the forest, campfires will be permitted only in developed campgrounds and other designated sites, in the metal rings and grills provided.

In the backcountry, portable stoves — but not charcoal barbecues — will be permitted with a valid campfire permit. Permits are free and are available at all U.S. Forest Service offices.

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Carson City is hosting the 2012 American Motorcycle Association’s International Women & Motorcycling Conference July 26-29.

Women riders will spend the weekend in the capital city with a slew of activities planned including inspirational speakers, demonstrations, product showcases and plenty of opportunities to ride.

Since 1924, the organization has promoted the motorcycle lifestyle.

The AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference allows attendees to connect with and learn from other women riders.

Event information is online.

The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe has relaunched its Heroes Now & Forever campaign to raise the final $1 million needed to build an animal shelter that will serve the region.

HSTT has raised $2.4 million to fund the shelter’s construction. While the nonprofit organization is well on its way and almost there, it has encountered a shortfall. The Humane Society has just announced that they have an urgent, pressing need to raise an additional $1 million to cover higher than anticipated construction costs.

The Heroes campaign seeks 850 individuals, groups or businesses to make a commitment to contribute $1,000 each. Larger contributions are, of course, welcome. Payment plan options are available as donations can be split into two or four payments.

The new shelter will provide much needed expanded space and will replace a dilapidated, inadequate facility. Built to house eight dogs and 30 cats, the current shelter has as many as 30 dogs and 60 to 80 cats at any given time. The existing shelter is open to the public only two hours per week; the new shelter will be open to the public 40 hours per week.

Those who commit to becoming a hero will receive recognition on a permanent donor wall in the lobby of the new shelter and an invitation to a private grand opening celebration. Super Heroes (those contributing $5,000) will be also be recognized prominently on the donor recognition wall. Naming opportunities of the new facility’s various wings, hallways, rooms or outdoor areas are also available to honor donors, families, businesses or beloved pets for gifts larger than $5,000.

The new HSTT animal shelter will be located on land donated by Truckee just above downtown off Donner Pass Road on Stockrest Springs Road.

Call (530) 587.5948 for more info about donating.

By Hugo Martin, Los Angeles Times

June Mountain, the Eastern Sierra resort that has failed to make a profit in 26 years, is closing for the summer and won’t reopen for the upcoming ski season, the resort operator has announced.

The closure will give the resort operator time to evaluate how to make the mountain popular and profitable again, said Rusty Gregory, chairman and chief executive of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, which operates June Mountain and the more popular Mammoth Mountain.

Mammoth Mountain, the most popular ski resort for Southern Californians, has 3,500 acres of skiable area and a summit of 11,053 feet. June Mountain, about 20 miles north of Mammoth, is known as a less-crowded, family-friendly resort, with about 500 acres of skiable area and a summit of 10,090 feet.

In a recent radio interview, Gregory said June Mountain has been operating at a deficit of $1.5 million a year.

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South Lake Tahoe’s newest park is slated to open July 14.

On June 28 workers were putting up the fence behind the basketball court.

The play structure is in, sod is laid and plants are in the ground.

Bonanza Park is the result of Edgewood Companies buying a dilapidated hotel on Bonanza Avenue and turning the property into a park.

Bonanza Park has seating, play area, grass and basketball. Photos/LTN

–– Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Kevin Yamamura, Sacramento Bee

Nearly all of the 70 California state parks originally slated for closure Sunday will remain open for now, despite a line-item veto of parks funding by Gov. Jerry Brown, state parks officials said today.

The Department of Parks and Recreation has already struck deals with private donors, foundations and non-profit groups to continue operating 40 that were on the endangered list, including the Governor’s Mansion in Sacramento. At the direction of Brown and lawmakers last year, the parks department had targeted the parks for closure based on attendance and how much revenue they generated.

Because the state has found outside partners interested in sparing an additional 25 parks, it will keep them open using a sliver of special funds that Brown retained in the budget he signed Wednesday night, parks officials said. Democratic lawmakers added $41 million back into their budget to keep parks open, but Brown line-item vetoed $31 million of it.

That leaves five parks for which the state has struggled to find donors or other agencies willing to chip in: Benicia State Recreation Area; the California Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa; Gray Whale Cove State Beach near Montara; Zmudowski State Beach near Moss Landing; and Providence Mountains State Recreation Area in San Bernardino County.

It remains to be seen what will happen to those parks come Sunday, but at least one – the Mining and Mineral Museum – is planning to shut its doors and pack up more than 13,000 objects in its collection, according to curator Darci Moore.

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The Fields Advisory Committee of the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Facilities Joint Powers Authority is going on a field trip July 2 at 4pm.

The field trip will convene at the Babe Ruth (lighted) field at South Tahoe Middle School. The committee will also visit, inspect, and discuss the softball field at STMS, the Al Tahoe fields, the field at Sierra House School, the field at the Meyers Magnet School, and the South Tahoe High School softball field.

The committee will then return to its starting point at STMS and adjourn. The committee meeting is open to the public, and public comment is appreciated.

This field trip meeting is being conducted in preparation for making recommendations to the JPA at its regular meeting at Lake Tahoe Airport at 9am July 27.

North Lake Tahoe celebrates the Independence Day holiday with multiple fireworks displays.

Kings Beach hosts its annual fireworks display July 3 with a free show just off its sandy shores at 9:30pm, as well as a deck party celebration at the North Tahoe Event Center beginning at 6pm. The deck party, which runs $15/person at the door, includes live music, food vendors and a no host bar.

Tahoe City celebrates 66 years of fireworks at Commons Beach at 9:30pm July 4. This event is free and is also well attended by families, many of whom bring picnic baskets and lawn chairs to make an evening of the festivities. Tahoe City’s lakeside restaurants are also popular with those watching the fireworks, with many offering special menus for the night, but book out early. Reservations are recommended.

Incline Village takes things to the next level with their traditional Red, White & Tahoe Blue festivities scheduled for June 30 through July 7, which includes patriotic chalk drawing contest, opening ceremonies with a tribute to veterans, Tahoe Firecracker Trail Trek, flag raising, USAF California Air National Guard Static Display and fireworks July 4 at 9:30pm off Incline Beach.

In Truckee, the free Truckee 4th of July Parade, a kid-friendly hometown event, takes place July 4, 10am, along Donner Pass Road and ending in historic downtown. Before the festivities, visitors can take part in the Truckee Firecracker Mile, perfect for all ages and starting at Tahoe Forest Hospital. The 4th of July Fireworks is scheduled at West End Beach at Donner Lake at dusk.