Taxable goods are going to be more expensive in Truckee starting Oct. 1.

Voters in June approved Measure R, which increases the sales tax from 8.125 percent to 8.375 percent. The additional tax is designed to raise $10 million in 10 years that will be used for trails in the area. The bulk would go for new trails, with some money being held onto for maintenance.

Truckee’s master plan calls for 29 miles of paved trails and 39 miles of dirt trails. To date the town has 15 miles of paved and 14 miles of dirt trails.

Consumers will pay 25 cents more for every $100 they spend.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

To the community,

In the past two weeks I have had 10 campaigns stolen from various locations around town. The latest was last (Sunday) between 6 and 11:30pm.

Austin Sass

Some were located on individuals front yards and six of the 10 off of locations on Highway 50. At some of these locations, there were signs from other candidates that were not disturbed.

Four on Highway 50 were large signs (3 feet by 3 feet) and were zip tied to metal stakes. It took considerable effort to cut these signs off and whomever did it was very bold to be doing such right on the main thoroughfare in town. I believe this is a targeted effort.

I have filed police reports.

I am providing a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever did this. Any reports can come to me or the police department.

Thank you,

Austin Sass, South Lake Tahoe City Council candidate

By Amy B Wang, Arizona Republic

The command that blared from the radio was one Gary Dahlen had never heard before, not in all his years piloting helicopters over wildfires.

All available helicopters prepare for an emergency launch.

He hardly knew what to make of it. “I was thinking maybe structures were threatened,” Dahlen said later.

He was waiting at a helicopter base in Placerville.

Just uphill, where the American River’s south fork cuts a knife-sharp slash through the forest, the King Fire had been exploding up the canyon walls and beyond since Sept. 13. Now, two days later, the airborne and ground attack on the fire was under way.

Dahlen had been out doing “bucket work” all morning, picking up water in the bucket that dangled from his yellow Bell 205, dropping it onto the flames in the forest below. At midday, he returned to the base to refuel and await orders. Then he heard the unusual radio call.

He quickly climbed into his flight suit, then into his seat.

As the helicopter’s turbo engine whined to life,someone from the fire command staff came sprinting toward the aircraft, reached in and punched latitude-and-longitude coordinates into Dahlen’s GPS.

That was when he learned the emergency: It was a shelter deployment.

A crew on the ground, somewhere in the steep wilderness beyond the base, was stuck in front of the fire. Deployment meant the crew had unpacked their fire shelters, blankets of reflective foil and insulation, and prepared to climb inside them.

For a firefighter, deployment is a last resort. Some firefighters inside shelters survive, as the flames roll past them. Some do not. In 2013, the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona overtook 19 firefighters, members of the Prescott-based Granite Mountain Hotshots. Realizing they were trapped, the firefighters deployed their shelters. None survived.

In the cockpit of his helicopter, Dahlen looked at the coordinates on his GPS. The long line for his water bucket was still shackled to the airframe. But the trapped crew was 10 miles away. He lifted the Bell into smoke-dulled afternoon light and headed toward the flames.

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• Douglas County has redesigned its website.

• The Placer County Master Gardeners are selling a 2015 gardening calendar with the theme is California Dreaming … Beautiful Gardens with Less Water.” More info is available online.

• Lake Tahoe Community College on Oct. 8 at 7pm will host novelist Josh Weil and poet Travis Mossotti. The writers will read selections from their works, answer audience questions, and sign copies of their books, which will be available for sale. The free event is in the Aspen Room.

• Shield Security Solutions is open on Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe.

• South Lake Tahoe Ducks Unlimited’s annual fundraising dinner is Oct. 3 on the Tahoe Queen. The event starts at 6pm. Tickets are $70. RSVP to Diane at 530.544.8618 or dianearlin@aol.com, or Frank at 916.984.3073 or fleonardi@ducks.org.

There will be two meetings in October about the Meyers Area Plan.

Both are informational in nature.

The first is Oct. 16 starting at 9am. The El Dorado County Planning Commission is having a workshop to receive an update, get feedback and offer direction about the plan.

The second meeting is Oct. 28 starting at 9am. This is the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors’ annual lone meeting in Tahoe.

Both meetings are at Lake Tahoe Airport.

Even though the King Fire continues to burn, much of the focus is now on repairing roads, mop up and making sure the forest is safe so people will be able to recreate in it again.

The fire that started Sept. 13 is still at 97,099 acres, but is 92 percent contained. Full containment is expected by Oct. 4.

Crews are removing hazardous trees, chipping brush and getting roads safe for public travel. First priority for roads are: Wentworth Spring, White Meadows Road, Ice House Road, Eleven Pines Road and Mosquito Road.

The fire continues to burn within the containment lines. About 3,400 people are still on the scene, though personnel are being sent home on a daily basis.

An arsonist is accused of starting the blaze that has charred a large swath of the Eldorado National Forest and part of the Tahoe National Forest. The fire took out 12 houses and 68 other structures.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

Publisher’s note: Lake Tahoe News asked the two El Dorado County District 5 supervisor candidates a series of questions. All are the same except for one that is specific to each candidate. The responses are being run in the order LTN received them.

Name: Sue Novasel

Profession/work experience: Business owner/school board member

Age: 58

What organizations, committees or groups are you or have you been involved with?: Presently, I am serving a third term in office (12 years) as a school board member (and past president) of Lake Tahoe Unified School District’s board of education; president of the board of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care; secretary of the board of Lake Tahoe Wedding & Honeymoon Association; board member of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce; and member of Barton Hospital’s Community Advisory Committee. I have served on the original Meyers Community Plan team from 1990 to 1993; chair for over 10 years of the Meyers Community Roundtable Committee; immediate past president of Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe; member of the 56 Acre/Lakeview Commons Advisory Committee; and a member of TRPA’s Pathway 2007 Committee.

Why are you running for supervisor?: I have served our community for over 30 years as a member of over 20 boards. I am deeply rooted in our community. My varied background has given me the breadth and depth of experience necessary to understand the dynamics and complexities of the Tahoe basin and this district. I know how to make a fair and balanced decision while being respectful to others. I seek to be your county supervisor because I want to increase the service I can give to our community, and pledge to be your full time supervisor.

Why should people vote for you over the other candidate?: This is not a job for first-timers. I have a demonstrated ability to work in a governing body with professional administrative staff. My 12 years of experience as a public servant has also given me a broad-ranging set of connections with community residents as well as the skills required to deal with the demands and requirements of the job of county supervisor. Experience has taught me that good decisions result from reaching out to get information from all those affected and that listening carefully is generally more important than talking. I will work full time to achieve the greatest good for those I represent, which is critical for our community.

What do you think is the most pressing issue facing El Dorado County and how will you deal with it?: Economic vitality is the most important issue throughout our district. TRPA’s new Regional Plan update includes incentives and processes that can spur businesses to redevelop run-down properties or add new businesses to our communities while improving our environment.

In addition, a huge issue in all of District V is the fire risk resulting from poor forest health and dry conditions. We must be sure we are organized for rapid response by CalFire, the U.S. Forest Service, and local fire agencies so that effective coordinated action by all can occur the instant a fire starts.

Another important duty of the District V supervisor is to assure fair representation. Joint meetings between the county and City Council, school and utility districts, Tahoe Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, and Lake Valley Fire District should be sought where major issues, challenges and opportunities for joint action can be discussed and planned.

The 56-acre project, which includes Lakeview Commons and the campground on the other side of Highway 50, is owned by the county and maintained by the city. The county has not invested a dime and does not contribute to the maintenance and operations. Would you ask the county to help with paying some of the bills or would you advocate for deeding the land to the city? Why or why not?: The county has invested money within the 56-acre project area. El Dorado County built the South Lake Tahoe library and fully funds its operations, including snow removal. County staff maintains the building and grounds. As a member of the 56-acre Advisory Committee, our group studied the possibility of transferring property to the city. The property is currently under a 50-year lease between the city and the county. With the joint City-County Recreation Master Plan and the 56-acre Master Plan having most of its elements still to be done, there may be some capital improvement opportunities that the existing city/county arrangement may offer – which might go away if the city wholly owns the property. In the mid-90s, a transfer nearly occurred but the effort was terminated due to West Slope concerns about the city’s commitment to retain the campground and the library. Those issues would all need to be addressed prior to pursuing a transfer. That being said, Lakeview Commons is a study on how our community can plan and create a masterpiece of recreation and community events for all residents (city and county) and tourists alike.

The city and county are putting together a recreation master plan, but the Board of Supervisors has never voted on whether it would fund the implementation of the plan. Would you dedicate funds to promote the investment of recreation?: Absolutely. Lake Tahoe is a world-class destination resort town. As our area has struggled to re-invent ourselves in the area of recreation and tourism, it is vital that we understand how our locals and tourists alike need better recreational opportunities for improving our quality of life. Specific projects need to be identified so that priorities can be planned and implemented. The county will be considering funding when it [had] budget hearings in September. There is a joint City Council/Board of Supervisors meeting scheduled in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 28, at which time it is expected that the Recreation Master Plan will be adopted.

Being on the board requires working with four others. Give readers an example of how you work well others in difficult situations with differing opinions: The key is to listen to what other are saying, seeking and noting areas of agreement and disagreement. I always consider possible compromises that might achieve agreement (or at least, seek first steps toward resolution and action). To be an effective, successful leader you must listen to all sides then initiate action by incorporating items that everyone can agree upon and which ends with a positive solution.

What is working in the county and what isn’t; and how would you go about changing what isn’t working?: County employees are doing their jobs, serving the public in an excellent manner. What is not working is the board and some department heads who are not working together and with the CAO. The board is not giving consistent policy direction or setting a level of civility in public meetings that the public expects and deserves. There will be three new personalities on the board in this coming year. The board needs to work better together to become a strong advocate for public policy and leadership for our county. I will insist upon civility, respect and action plans to create a clearer direction for our county government.

Would you consider replacing the current CAO? Why or why not?: It is the duty of the board to give clear direction to the CAO. With three new Board members, providing a stable atmosphere and consistent direction needs to be the first course of action. We need to work with the current CAO at that level in order to understand and assess the CAO’s job performance.

The grand jury labeled the county dysfunctional. What is your opinion of that assessment?: I agree with the grand jury’s assessment that dysfunction within the board needs to be addressed. As to the recommendation to change several elected department head positions to appointed, the public reaction to that proposal has been extremely negative and I disagree with the grand jury on this point. There are benefits to the elected department heads having the independence to serve the voters, as opposed to being controlled by the board and/or administration. Most elected department heads are not seriously challenged (if challenged at all) when they run for re-election, giving them little need to posture for political reasons. I believe it is important to communicate well with department heads and I will work hard to build positive working relationships with both those who are appointed and elected.

Agriculture is a huge economic driver for the county. What are your ideas in regards to the drought to ensure farmers and ranchers have enough water?: With regard to the agriculture, issues of urbanization, conservation, management and utilization of lands within the county are fundamental elements that need to be considered as pressures from increases in population within our county threaten the rural character of our lands as well as the water supply in our county. It is especially important during these drought years and vital that agricultural water supplies be kept from being diverted to urban uses. The county needs to be proactive in the development of long-term water sources for irrigation and we need to be constantly searching for ways to expand sources. We need to prioritize water needs and actively pursue long-term solutions for the agriculture industry. I will take steps to assure that plans for future water use are properly drawn, reviewed and executed throughout the county. We need to get information about opportunities and costs, then evaluate feasibility and determine how extended supply facilities can be financed.

The Sand Fire this summer proved El Dorado County was lacking in emergency response coordination efforts. What improvements would you propose?: The Sand Fire, similar to the Angora Fire in Tahoe, was a “perfect storm”, as characterized by first responders. A huge issue in all of District V is the fire risk resulting from poor forest health and dry conditions. We must be sure we are organized for rapid response by CalFire, the U.S. Forest Service, and local fire agencies so that effective coordinated action by all can occur the instant a fire starts. I will work to ensure that reserve funding is strengthen to provide critical response time to emergency events while still providing general funding sources that are equipped to handle essential services and public safety to our communities.

How would you improve relations with the city of South Lake Tahoe?: To improve staff relationships, I would have the principal counterpart positions – county chief administrative officer and city manager, county counsel and city attorney – meet after facilitating and developing a discussion agenda, then have them meet on a regular basis thereafter. To improve the elected officials relationship, I would meet periodically with the mayor and, with the mayor’s knowledge and approval, meet with other members of the City Council. These meetings would be in addition to being sure that my office did a very good job of setting up the annual county board/city of South Lake Tahoe meeting, such as the one being held in October. To improve communications, this would include setting joint meetings between City Council and county supervisors, taking tours of city and county projects with emphasis on major project areas, and meeting with representatives of other Tahoe basin agencies such as the TRPA, Tahoe Conservancy, Tahoe chambers, U.S. Forest Service and Lake Valley Fire District.

You are involved in many things, how can people trust you will devote the necessary time it takes to be supervisor?: I recognize that the job of supervisor is at least 70 hours per week, with over 500 meetings per year. This obligation would be of upmost importance to me and would necessitate the need to resign from other positions I hold within our community. I pledge to devote my complete attention and energies to being a full time supervisor for District V.

Tell the voters something about yourself that they may not know: Many people didn’t know (until I mentioned it during the primaries) that I was an Olympic torch runner when the torch came through Tahoe in 1984 (on its way to the Summer Games in Los Angeles). I was the student representative for Lake Tahoe Community College’s board of trustees at the time and they asked me to represent the college by running the torch for the school. It was such a great honor that I decided to donate the torch back to the college and it still resides in their gym today.

To the community,

The race for Douglas County sheriff is a clear choice. I have been a Douglas County resident since 1998 and Sheriff Ron Pierini has done a great job for all 16 years. Prior to living in Douglas County, I lived in large cities with high crime rates. It is so refreshing to live in an area that has one of the lowest crime rates in Nevada. You simply cannot put a value on what it means to feel safe in your home and neighborhood.

If the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department is not broken, there is no need to fix it. Dave Brady’s campaign states that he has the education, training, and law enforcement experience to do a better job than Ron Pierini. There is something wrong with their math. How does eight years in the Redondo Police Department, two years with the Nevada Gaming Control Board and 15 years as a Douglas County reserve surpass Sheriff Pierini’s 41 continuous years of law enforcement experience? Nevada Gov. Sandoval appointed Sheriff Pierini as the chairman of the Peace Officers Standards and Trainings Commission (POST). Mr. Brady is not even POST certified and would need to complete 16 weeks of training in order to serve as sheriff. The law enforcement experience of the candidates is not even close.

Mr. Brady continually states that the sheriff’s department has the same six patrol cars as 1986 when the truth is there are nine patrol cars each on day and swing shifts and eight deputies patrolling graveyard shift. Since only 20 percent of the deputies’ time is used to respond to calls, additional patrol cars are simply not needed. Earlier this year, my girlfriend called the sheriff’s department and the deputy arrived in less than 15 minutes. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department has always provided excellent service and quick response times under the leadership of Ron Pierini.

Sheriff Pierini’s steady management style earned him the endorsement from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Protection Association that represents all DCSO Deputies, Investigators and Sergeants. His friendly nature inspires over 200 volunteers to assist the department every year.

Ron Pierini is also a great citizen and leader for our community. He has volunteered for many worthy causes in Douglas County. He is a long time member of the Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club. Ron also served on the original Board of Directors for Austin’s House and helped bring the project to completion.

I will be casting my vote on Nov. 4 for Sheriff Ron Pierini to provide his excellent leadership for another four years.

Conrad Buedel, Minden

A book has been written about one of the puppies.

By Van Tieu, KRNV-TV

INCLINE VILLAGE — It’s a celebration of life and love that almost never was. Fifteen months later, six Doberman-mix puppies that were left for dead in a dumpster are now healthy, happy, and hungry for birthday cake.

Each individual cake was homemade with TLC and topped with peanut butter.

“I don’t know if you can put into words what it’s like to have six 80-90 pound dogs come galloping through the door,” says Becky Goodman, executive director at Pet Network. “When they first came in, you could literally hold three of them in the palm of your hand.”

It’s the first time the puppies, their foster families, and Pet Network staff could come together since the puppies’ cruel introduction into the world. Last July, a traveler passing through Lake Tahoe discovered them in a dumpster at a convenience store.

“They were maybe 2-3 hours old,” says Goodman. “They still had their umbilical cords attached. They had never been allowed to be near their mother. They had never eaten.”

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By David Siders and Alexei Koseff, Sacramento Bee

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Saturday giving the proponents of California ballot initiatives more time to collect signatures and allowing them to withdraw their initiatives or add amendments.

The signing was among dozens of bill actions the Democratic governor announced Saturday as he works to meet a Tuesday deadline to act on legislation lawmakers sent him this year. He also approved bills limiting school officials’ ability to suspend students and authorizing a diversion program for military personnel or veterans who are accused of misdemeanors while suffering from service-related trauma, substance abuse or mental health problems.

Brown vetoed part of a budget bill that would have awarded an additional $50 million each to the University of California and California State University systems for deferred maintenance the systems deem critical.

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