News Briefs

Man to Appear in Court for Alleged Assault with Deadly Weapon, Hit and Run

TAHOE CITY

On May 22, Placer County Sheriff’s Office arrested Daniel William Breck under suspicion of hit and run and assault with a deadly weapon that occurred near the intersection of Cathedral Road and Chapel Lane in Tahoe City. 

A sheriff’s report indicated that on March 9 at approximately 7:45 p.m., the driver of a truck began intentionally ramming another car while on the road, causing the car to collide with a tree. The driver of the truck, determined to be Daniel William Breck, then left the scene. No one inside the car was seriously injured. The sheriff’s office declined to release the names of the victims.

The Placer County District Attorney’s Office has since filed a felony complaint against Breck, who is charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon in violation of Penal Code Section 245(a)(1). Each count alleges that Breck used his vehicle as a deadly weapon to assault the individuals identified in the complaint as CW, NT, and WJ. The charges are classified as serious felonies under Penal Code Section 1192.7(c)(31).

Additionally, Breck faces a misdemeanor charge of hit-and-run driving in violation of Vehicle Code Section 20002(a). The complaint alleges that Breck fled the scene of the accident without notifying the owner of the damaged property.

Beck appeared in Placer County Superior Court on July 25, when protective orders were served for the victims. He is scheduled to appear again on Aug. 29. Breck is co-owner of Alpine Power Equipment in Tahoe City.

~ TC

Joint Efforts Key in Quick Response to Wildfire 

TRUCKEE

A coordinated response from multiple agencies successfully contained the recent Pass Fire in Truckee. According to a Watch Duty staff report, on the afternoon of Aug. 11, the blaze, which ignited behind the Safeway shopping center, was reported as a vegetation fire with smoke visible on an ALERTwest camera in Tahoe Donner. (Learn more about these cameras at moonshineink.com/tahoe-news/fighting-fire-with-innovation.) The fire grew from 1/2 acre to 3.3 acres in a matter of a couple of hours. 

Evacuation warnings were issued for several zones near the fire, however, they never escalated to mandatory evacuations. The fire was quickly brought under control thanks to the collaborative efforts of local fire departments, state agencies, and federal resources. According to Battalion Chief Ryan Ochoa of the Truckee Fire Protection District, the rapid containment of the fire is the result of extensive training and cooperation among the involved agencies. “We train a lot and work all together. All season long. All year long. And I think this was a really good example of how that training and collaboration and cooperation and pre-planning of responses comes together at the right time,” Ochoa told Moonshine Ink. 

The agencies that contributed to the firefighting efforts included Truckee Fire Protection District, Cal Fire, Nevada Yuba Placer Unit, the U.S. Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, and several neighboring local government fire agencies: Northstar Fire Department, Olympic Valley Fire Department, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, and North Tahoe Fire Protection District. “We had additional aircraft and air tankers from the Grass Valley area. And then we also had Cal Fire engines come up from the Amador El Dorado unit as well,” Ochoa said. 

Shortly after the arrival of TFPD resources, a unified command with Cal Fire, Truckee Police, and the Town of Truckee was implemented. “This allows for a common set of incident objectives and strategies that everyone agrees on and improves incident management and lets us achieve goals in a timely and cost-effective manner. As an example, because law enforcement is responsible for evacuations, by including them in our incident command structure, both fire and law are able to remain apprised of the current situations and work together to develop a plan for an expanding incident,” Ochoa said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and firefighters continue to monitor the area for hotspots and potential flare-ups.

~ TC

Boat Ramp Closed Midweek Due to Staffing Shortages

INCLINE VILLAGE

Sand Harbor State Park boat ramp and boat ramp parking will be closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays due to ongoing staffing shortages. These closures are expected to last through the end of September 2024.

This temporary measure is necessary to ensure the safety and proper maintenance of park facilities during a period of limited resources. The park remains committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors, and efforts are being made to address staffing needs.

During the closure days, visitors will not be able to launch watercraft at Sand Harbor State Park or utilize the parking lot at the boat ramp area. Visitors are encouraged to explore other boat launches around Lake Tahoe like Cave Rock State Park located on Hwy 50 in Glenbrook, just south of Cave Rock.

The Sand Harbor boat ramp and parking will remain open as usual Thursday through Monday.

~ Nevada Division of State Parks press release

Prepare for Prolonged Power Outages

TRUCKEE

Following the Pass Fire in Truckee, as well the wildfire safety power outage caused by the Gold Ranch Fire in Verdi, Truckee Donner Public Utility District urges customers to prepare for the possibility of prolonged power outages during wildfire season. NV Energy, TDPUD’s primary energy transmission supplier, and TDPUD both take actions during wildfire season to help mitigate wildfire risk to the community which can result in electric power outages for up to several days without much notice. 

In a Public Safety Outage Management event, NV Energy will de-energize transmission lines that deliver power to Truckee (and likely the entire Truckee-North Tahoe region) during extreme weather conditions and elevated fire risk levels. TDPUD plans to alert the public with a 48- to 24-hour notice, followed by a 12- to 4-hour notice.  

In an emergency de-energization event, NV Energy will shut off power when an active wildfire gets too close to its equipment. NV Energy may provide little notice of the safety outage. These outages will likely impact TDPUD’s entire customer base for periods ranging from 1 to a few days.

Details on these programs can be found at nvenergy.com/safety/wildfire, and information on its impacts on TDPUD customers can be found at tdpud.org/psom and tdpud.org/wildfire. 

During an extended wildfire safety power outage, an outage center at the Community Arts Center at 10046 Church St. will offer device charging and information updates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Visit tdpud.org/outage for instructions on how to receive text alerts. For assistance, call (530) 587-3896. Non-account holders can text TDPUD to 333111 to enroll in Nixle emergency alerts.

~ Truckee Donner Public Utility District press release

Nevada Legislative Committee to Meet in Carson City

STATELINE

The sixth and final regular meeting of the Nevada State Legislative Committee for the Review and Oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Marlette Lake Water System will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, in room 3138 of the Nevada State Legislative Building, 401 S. Carson St., Carson City.

This committee of the Nevada Legislature meets every other year during the interim session to discuss the work of TRPA and Nevada state agencies in the Lake Tahoe Basin and to provide oversight on issues important to Nevada citizens. The committee will reconvene in the 2026 interim session with a new schedule of meetings.

Through the five meetings to date, the committee has heard testimony from 20 different agencies working at Tahoe on topics ranging from water quality protection, affordable and workforce housing, transportation and sustainable recreation, economic development, science, microplastics, and more.

At the final meeting, the committee will discuss bill draft request proposals that were submitted to the committee this year. There will be no presentations by agencies. If the committee moves forward with any of the requests, they will become draft bills that could be introduced for a vote during the 2025 session of the Nevada Legislature.

~ Tahoe Regional Planning Agency press release

Access to Defensible Space Funds Expanded

AUBURN

The Placer County Board of Supervisors expanded eligibility for the Eastern Placer Defensible Space Fuels Reduction Program, making it easier for residents to access critical wildfire prevention funds.

The $175,000 grant, provided by the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, offers up to $5,000 per property owner to hire a contractor for defensible space work. The program helps property owners comply with the county’s Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance and reduce wildfire risk.

To qualify, residents in Eastern Placer County must now meet income eligibility at or below the median income, be aged 65 or older, or be disabled. Previously, the program was limited to low-income residents who were also aged 65 or older or disabled.

To be eligible to apply, a resident must first complete a defensible space inspection and be considered out of compliance with the county’s Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance requirements.

If their property has already been inspected by a Placer County code compliance officer or an inspector from their local fire district, residents should contact Placer County code compliance officer Estelle Maxwell at (530) 745-3062 or emaxwell@placer.ca.gov to receive an application.

For more information or questions about the Defensible Space Fuels Reduction Program, contact Placer County Office of Emergency Services staff services analyst Zachary Alesci at (530) 886-3473 or fireready@placer.ca.gov. 

~ Placer County press release

Prevention Strategies Help Keep Lake Tahoe Clear 

LAKE TAHOE

A bi-state effort to reduce pollution and restore Lake Tahoe’s water clarity kept significant amounts of stormwater and fine-grained sediment out of the lake in 2023, despite challenges from a winter of record snowfall and runoff, according to an annual lake performance report released Aug. 14 

While a prolonged snowmelt period in spring 2023 swept sediment into the lake and reduced clarity, partners in the Lake Tahoe Total Maximum Daily Load Program helped keep the lake’s annual average clarity at around 68 feet, which is in line with what has been observed over the past two decades, the bi-state report shows.

The report by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board found that 553,000 pounds of fine sediment and more than 4,300 pounds of nitrogen were prevented from reaching the lake in 2023. 

Key prevention strategies include controlling stormwater runoff from paved roads, parking lots, and construction sites, targeted application and quick recovery of winter traction sand from roadways, and restoring riverbeds and creek channels.

To learn more about ongoing efforts and to view the detailed 2024 performance report, visit the Lake Clarity Tracker – Program Management page at laketahoeinfo.org.

~ Department of Conservation and Natural Resources press release

Fire Mitigation Projects Underway

TRUCKEE

A number of fire mitigation projects funded by Truckee Tahoe Airport District are currently underway. This past spring the airport board announced a contribution of almost $2 million dollars to fund forest thinning projects in the region. Working closely with five regional fire agencies, eight projects were identified that lie within the airport district boundaries and were ready to go.

The projects funded by the airport total 739 acres of forest treatment work which has already begun. The goal is to have it completed before winter arrives. The projects entail thinning out the unhealthy forests surrounding area neighborhoods, removing debris from the forest floor, cutting down ladder fuels, extending or building fire break buffers, and removing diseased or dead trees. 

Learn more about the airport’s Wildfire Mitigation Program at truckeetahoeairport.com/giving-back/wildfire-mitigation.  

~ Truckee Tahoe Airport District press release

New Health Coaches, Technology Enhance Hospital Care

TAHOE/TRUCKEE

Tahoe Forest Health System announced two additions to its healthcare offerings: the integration of board-certified health coaches into its healthcare team and the installation of CIARTIC Move technology.

New board-certified health coaches work closely with healthcare providers to deliver tailored support in three key areas: creating and sticking to nutrition and fitness goals, managing chronic conditions, and navigating life transitions, like menopause, welcoming a new baby, starting a new job, or transitioning into retirement. For more information about health coaching services, contact centerforhealth@tfhd.com or call (530) 587-3769.

In addition, the hospital recently acquired CIARTIC Move technology. The new tech speeds up and standardizes 2D and 3D imaging during surgery, making the process faster and more consistent for surgeons and operating room teams. According to a TFHS press release, its the first hospital in the country to install the technology. Learn more about the CIARTIC Move at siemens-healthineers.com.

~ Tahoe Forest Health System press releases

Virtual Community Workshop for Tahoe El Dorado Area Plan

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

El Dorado County will host a virtual workshop for the Tahoe El Dorado Area Plan (TED Area Plan) to review progress made-to-date, summarize community input from the previous online survey and community workshops held in June 2024, and provide a preview of next steps in the process. The workshop will be held Sept. 12 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

TED Area Plan – Virtual Community Workshop

• Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024
• 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• Register here: bit.ly/TEDVirtualWorkshop2 

The TED Area Plan is a long-term planning document that will update and incorporate the Meyers Area Plan and other communities in the Tahoe Basin area of the County. The goal of the TED Area Plan is to create a single document to simplify permitting and streamline environmental review, allow the county to control land use policies and decisions based on each community’s needs, and incorporate Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Code and State law updates — ultimately, establishing a better framework to advance affordable housing and economic development while attaining environmental thresholds set by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Please visit tedareaplan.com for more information on the project and to sign up to receive email updates on the TED Area Plan.

~ El Dorado County press release

Assessor Reminds Homeowners of the Impact of Proposition 19 

NEVADA COUNTY

In November 2020, California voters passed Proposition 19, which made changes to property tax benefits for families, seniors, severely disabled persons, and victims of natural disasters. These changes were effective February and April of 2021. For those who qualify, Proposition 19 allows homeowners to transfer their existing Proposition 13 value to keep their property taxes lower on replacement residences. Assessor Rolf Kleinhans provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions at nevadacountyca.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=7745. 

~ Nevada County Assessor’s Office press release

High School Seniors Receive Scholarships, Fundraiser Planned

INCLINE VILLAGE

The American Association of University Women, Tahoe-Nevada Branch awarded three scholarships to deserving Incline Village High School senior women. The following are recipients of this year’s awards: 

• Mia Ponce Estrada, who will attend University of Nevada, Reno
• Abby Duckworth, who will attend University of California, Berkeley
• Lainey Lowden, who will attend University of California, San Diego 

Currently, AAUW Tahoe-NV is supporting 11 qualified college students, for a total of $28,000 during the 2024/25 academic year. 

To benefit  scholarships like these and the branch’s new Community Grant Program, AAUW Tahoe-NV will be holding an online silent auction from Sept. 1 through 18. In association with its upcoming garden party fundraiser on Sept. 15, the silent auction features vacation packages, experiential offerings, baskets of goodies, sports packages, demonstrations and instruction, and more. 

Visit the silent auction at 32auctions.com/AAUWTahoeNV2024. Purchase tickets for the garden party fundraiser at tahoe-nv.aauw.net/events.

~ American Association of University Women, Tahoe-Nevada Branch press releases

Artist Submissions Open for 2025 Wild & Scenic Film Festival 

NEVADA COUNTY

The South Yuba River Citizens League Wild & Scenic Film Festival and Nevada County Arts Council invite artists to submit their work for consideration in the 23rd annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival Art Exhibition, taking place Feb. 13 to 28, 2025.

The film festival uses environmental and adventure films to inspire activism, and WSFF and NC Arts are seeking art submissions that do the same. Artists are encouraged to submit pieces that address a broad interpretation of the concept of “the environment.” While all artwork will be considered, WSFF and NC Arts are especially interested in pieces that examine the theme of the 2025 film festival, Wild at Heart. This theme speaks to the power of wild places to spark inspiration, compassion, and understanding of the world around us.

Juried art will be showcased at the Granucci Gallery, located at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. 

Art submissions for the exhibition are accepted in three categories: 3-dimensional, 2-dimensional, and photography. Artists can submit up to 3 pieces per entry in a single category.

Submission deadlines and important dates:

• Sept. 30: early bird deadline, $25
• Oct. 28: regular deadline, $35
• Nov. 30: final deadline, $45
• Dec. 23: notification date
• Feb. 13: art exhibition opens and film festival begins

For more information visit wildandscenicfilmfestival.org or reach out to info@wildandscenicfilmfestival.org.

~ South Yuba River Citizens League press release 

Community Invited to Join Christmas Chorus

TRUCKEE/TAHOE

Anyone who loves to sing is invited to join the Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus rehearsals that start on Monday, Aug. 19, at the Sierra College Tahoe-Truckee Campus. Rehearsals continue Monday nights from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. until the Christmas concert. The concert, We Toast the Days, is scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 14 to 15. Contact the chorus at truckeechorus.org/join-us if you would like to join. No formal audition is needed, and you don’t have to be able to read music. 

~ Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus press release

Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up

District Manager Retires

STATELINE

The Tahoe Transportation District announced the retirement of Carl Hasty, who has served as the district manager for over 15 years. Hasty’s tenure has been marked by visionary leadership, securing vital funding, and implementing projects that have significantly enhanced transportation infrastructure while preserving the natural beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

During this time, the district successfully secured various grants through competitive federal, state, and local sources, enabling the completion of key projects that balanced community needs with environmental preservation.

The TTD Board of Directors will begin the process of selecting a successor, with discussions planned for the September board meeting. The district is also actively seeking a senior transportation planner to continue the momentum and advance future projects that build on Hasty’s legacy.

For details on TTD and its current projects, visit tahoetransportation.org or call (775) 589-5500.  

~ Tahoe Transportation District press release 

New Board and Committee Members Round Out Regional Representation

NORTH LAKE TAHOE

Last week, the North Tahoe Community Alliance Board of Directors unanimously approved three position appointments. Derrick Morales (Sunnyside Restaurant and Lodge) has filled the Tahoe City Downtown Association nominated board seat on the NTCA Board of Directors, and Sean Whelan and Katya Christian were named to the Housing Advocate/Expertise and At Large seats respectively on the Transient Occupancy Tax Advisory Committee. Whelan is a North Lake Tahoe resident with extensive housing development experience in the region. Christian is the Sustainability Manager at Sugar Bowl Resort, representing Donner Summit interests in the TOT jurisdiction. 

Learn more at northtahoecommunityalliance.com.

~ North Tahoe Community Alliance press release

Business Briefs

New Technology Puts the Universe in Users’ Hands

LAKE TAHOE

Stargazers interested in viewing the dark skies over Lake Tahoe now have access to the latest telescope technology from Celestron at Tahoe Star Tours events. Leveraging Celestron Origin, which was introduced by the world-leading telescope manufacturer earlier this year, stargazers have the opportunity to capture stunning views of faint, deep-sky celestial objects in stunning color and detail and have them delivered to their phone or tablet in seconds.

1 of 2

In addition to Celestron Origin joining its telescopic fleet, Tahoe Star Tours will host a special presentation at its Aug. 24 event at Northstar California featuring special guest and Celestron ambassador Pranvera Hyseni, founder of Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo and Ph.D. student of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Santa Cruz. Hyseni’s presentation will focus on her efforts supporting the building of the first ever public observatory and planetarium in Kosovo. 

Led by amateur astronomer and poet Tony Berendsen, past president of the Northern Nevada Science Coalition, each tour of the night sky includes a lively science-based talk about the cosmos and telescopic view of the constellations. 

Learn more, view the complete schedule, and reserve tickets at tahoestartours.com.

~ Tahoe Star Tours press release

New Escape Room Themes Include Haunted Hotel, The Crypt, More

TRUCKEE

On Aug. 7, Elevation Escape opened its doors in the West Truckee Center at 12047 Donner Pass Rd. The Schaller family — Kane, Aimee, Addison, and Kenlee, who live in Truckee – are the owners of the business that offers a variety of themed escape rooms.

Each room is a high-adrenaline escape game full of mysteries and adventures, where the players are safely locked inside the room and must complete their mission within 1 hour. Teams work together in search of hidden clues as they solve puzzles and crack codes. There are three rooms to choose from: The Egyptian Tomb of Djoser, The Crypt, and The Haunted Motel.

Aimee said the family enjoys escape rooms and was looking for a side hustle they could do together. “It was really our daughters’ idea after a fun family weekend out of town which included escape rooms,” Aimee wrote in an email to Moonshine Ink. “We saw a huge need for something like this in Truckee so we decided to go for it!” 

While they have three rooms currently, the space allows for two to three additional rooms, which they plan to build out in 2025. Aimee indicated that the standard is to switch rooms out every 5 to 6 years, however, they are looking forward to seeing how things go and will decide at a later date when they’ll swap out rooms with new themes. 

Elevation Escape is open daily, Monday through Thursday from 1 to 9 p.m and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Learn more at elevationescapetahoe.com. 

~ TC