YOUR AD HERE »

Peaks & Valleys: Bright spots and challenges in South Lake Tahoe (commentary)

Staff report

PEAKS

Welcome back, sunshine!

Bluebird skies and sunshine graced South Lake Tahoe all week, with more sun predicted this weekend. Get out and play!



Tahoe snowpack 120-130 percent of average

A manual snow survey Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Phillips Station near Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort showed promising results. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) reported the Sierra Nevada snowpack is 120-130 percent of average! A single season of strong snowfall does not mean the region is free from drought, but it’s certainly a good sign. Residents should continue water-conservation efforts.



Bessie Swift Minor Foundation accepting grant applications

Tahoe Daily Tribune’s parent company, Swift Communications, is still seeking grant applications to its Bessie Swift Minor Foundation. Nonprofits focused on improving literacy should seek more information by visiting http://www.bessieminorswift.org or emailing grants@bessieminorswift.org.

X Game success

Maddie Bowman and Jamie Anderson both delivered strong results at Aspen’s X Games 2016 after coming back from injury. South Lake Tahoe’s Bowman won gold in women’s freeskiing superpipe. Anderson, another South Shore local, took silver in women’s snowboard slopestyle.

Senior center looks to improvements in 2016

County supervisor Sue Novasel and city councilman Hal Cole visited the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center this past week. They met with seniors on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 3-4, to answer questions about the building’s future (it’s on county land, but supported by the city). It sounds like much needed senior center upgrades, including updates to the kitchen, are in the works. It’s good to see the city and county working together for the betterment of locals.

City approves recreation-focused master plan

South Lake Tahoe City Council adopted the South Lake Tahoe Parks, Trails, and Recreation Master Plan and Associated Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration on Tuesday, Feb. 2. The city is committed to improving recreation offerings at the South Shore, and the Tribune couldn’t be happier. Bijou Bike Park’s autumn opening was such a success we’re excited to see what comes down the pipe next. Will it be upgrades to South Lake Tahoe’s recreation and swim complex or at Regan Beach? Either way, it should be exciting.

VALLEYS

Traffic issues in South Lake Tahoe

South Shore traffic last Sunday, Jan. 31 — which was primarily attributed to a mass exodus of weekend visitors — was particularly bad. Traffic last weekend around the basin was congested as well, with reports of accidents up and down Reno/Tahoe roadways.

We get that this stinks. We suggest avoiding the roads during peak travel times (when possible), like late morning through early afternoon Sundays, and timing errands and regional trips to occur during less busy times of the day.

Homicide on South Shore

A 40-year-old Amador County resident was killed Saturday, Jan. 30, after being shot in the chest during a suspected drug deal gone wrong at a South Lake Tahoe hotel. Police released composite sketches of two suspects and a description of a vehicle that may have been involved in the incident. Find the illustrations at http://www.tahoedailytrtibune.com.

Readers, tell us your “peaks” and “valleys” by writing a letter to the editor — crow@tahoedailytribune.com.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.