Key Moonshine Ink stories in 2015 offer a poignant portrait of Truckee/Tahoe life. From the tragic deaths of beloved community members to uplifting tales of saving fish at Fanny Bridge or Jason “A-Bro” Abraham making a comeback, here are the top stories of each month this year.
January: CEO Bob Schapper to Leave Tahoe Forest Hospital
The Tahoe Forest Hospital Board of Directors decided to not renew Schapper’s contract. Meanwhile, Nevada County District Attorney confirmed ongoing investigation into the district.
February: Tahoe Nordic Community Remembers Kevin Murnane
The community was in shock after the general manager of the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area was found dead on the Nordic trails. Google Analytics says this was the top story in 2015.
March: Tahoe We Have an (Alcohol) Problem
Recent community surveys and statistics show that Truckee/Tahoe has a drinking problem. This in-depth piece showed close to 15,000 reads and was the top 2015 story, according to our CMS.
April: Saving Fish in a Barrel
Local volunteers got the chance to realize their dreams of fishing for the prize Fanny Bridge trout during a relocation effort in Tahoe City on April 21.
May: Imperfection is Perfection
Sage Chador suffered from anorexia for a year. She shares her story in the hopes of helping other girls in one of our most powerful Kids Connect columns ever.
June: Could the Squaw Incorporation Report Be Wrong?
LAFCO directed consultant to research potential errors in report analyzing the fiscal feasibility of incorporating Olympic Valley after IOV claims there were widespread mistakes in report.
July: The Abrahams Return to Tahoe
Three months after suffering a spinal cord injury, local photographer Jason “A-Bro” Abraham, returns to Tahoe, along with his wife Kate and son Ebbett.
July (close second): The Wedding Crasher
At least 10 couples lost their wedding deposits in March to a man they thought owned a wedding venue in Tahoe City. That man was mired in a five-year legal battle.
August: Does the Squaw-Alpine Gondola Run through Wilderness?
The proposed Squaw-Alpine gondola raised questions about whether the project cuts through the Granite Chief Wilderness Area, a question that remains ongoing.
September: Erik Roner Dies During Skydiving Landing in Squaw
Squaw Valley resident and professional skier Erik Roner died Sept. 28 during a sky diving accident.
October: The Great Divide
Union Pacific built a fence on either side of the train tracks in downtown Truckee to prevent illegal pedestrian crossings.
November: Truckee’s Most Controversial Project Moves Forward
Canyon Springs, unquestionably the most controversial development project in the Town of Truckee’s 22-year history, was slated for a two-day planning commission hearing. The vote was postponed and the developer plans to submit a revised plan.
December: IOV Calls it Quits
After three years of a herculean effort to form the Town of Olympic Valley, Incorporate Olympic Valley called it quits on Dec. 1 and officially withdrew its petition for incorporation. IOV cited insurmountable odds and an unsupportive county and local agency formation commission, not to mention growing financial costs, in its decision to end its mission.
