Family of hit-and-run victim still seeks justice

By Matt Vaughan, KOLO-TV

WASHOE VALLEY — One year after a hit and run near Stateline, the family of a former Washoe Valley man is still seeking justice.

A big man with an even bigger heart, that’s how family and friends remember Cody Dobson. His mom Daralyn says after her son’s death a lot of people came forward to tell her what a generous nature Cody had.

Always willing to lend a helping hand, Cody felt it was his duty to help those in need, whether it was offering kind words or just giving someone a big hug. Cody loved snowboarding, but the one thing he loved even more was spending time with his son Seth.

Unfortunately, Seth will have to grow up without his father. On Aug. 10, 2013, about eight months after moving to South Lake Tahoe, Cody was walking east along the sidewalk on Highway 50 near Lake Parkway just a few blocks from where he lived. Witnesses saw him lying in the road. It’s unclear how he got there, but it appears he may have stumbled from the sidewalk. Before anyone could get to him, Dobson was run over by a dark colored pickup truck which fled the scene. He was later rushed to the hospital with fractured ribs and a fractured skull, where he died almost two weeks later. Alcohol did appear to be a factor the night of the accident. Cody’s mom says he had received some troubling news that day and decided to go out drinking.

Cody’s family says Seth took the loss of his father hard, but they continue to honor his memory by laying flowers at the scene of the accident and reminding Seth of the kind of man his dad was.

NHP is still asking for help in tracking down the driver that hit Cody. The truck is described as a dark colored Dodge pickup, possibly green or blue with an extended cab, matching camper shell and grey molding. Anyone with information or who may have seen something that night is asked to call NHP or secret witness.

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Popularity of golf on the decline

By Alanna Petroff, CNNMoney

Golf’s popularity is waning and the industry is getting whacked.

Adidas, which owns the popular TaylorMade brand, is the latest company to warn about the decline of the sport. Sales at its golf division dropped by nearly 20 percent in the second quarter, leading the sportswear company to slash earnings forecasts for the year.

Callaway Golf reported a 7 percent decline in sales for the second quarter and predicted market conditions would remain “challenging” throughout the year. Even Nike’s golf division is underperforming. Sales stagnated over the last year as nearly every other division reported growth.

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Expo to focus on veterans’ health issues

Global Transformation Network is trying to bring awareness to the high number of suicides among veterans.

The goal of a daylong expo on the South Shore on Sept. 6 is to bring awareness to Lake Tahoe-Reno-Carson City and the surrounding areas about healing brain injuries with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

A free wellness expo will be offered to show the advanced treatments and products for support of brain injury, PTS/PTSD, and depression that lead to mental illness and suicide. Frank Irwin, a hyperbaric oxygen technician expert from North Lake Tahoe, will give a talk at 3pm.

That evening there will be a stage production. “Forever Dreams for Veterans” is described as a live production with a circus feel and a touch of Broadway.

For more info or to buy tickets, go online.




Nev. has weakest rise in consumer spending in U.S.

RENO — Consumer spending in Nevada rose to its highest level in five years in 2012 but continued to lag far behind the national average, according to a report released Thursday showing a wide discrepancy in economic recovery from the recession across the country.

Personal consumption expenditures jumped 28 percent in North Dakota, the largest gain nationwide, from 2010 through 2012. It surged nearly 16 percent in Oklahoma, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report said.

By contrast, spending rose a scant 3.5 percent in Nevada, the weakest for any state and far below the 10.7 percent national average during that two-year stretch.

The study shows consumer spending in Nevada went on a wild ride for nearly a decade, doubling from $39.5 billion in 1999 to $80.5 billion in 2007, but had fallen off to $76.6 billion by 2009 before slowing climbing again the next three years to a peak of $81.4 billion in 2012.

For the whole period from 1997-2012, Nevada’s 6.4 percent growth was second only to Hawaii’s 6.8 percent — half again as much as the national average of 4.1 percent.

But it truly was a roller coaster like few other states experienced — doubling the national average with 12.9 percent growth in 2004 at the peak of Nevada’s housing boom, and five years later suffering a 4.6 percent decline that was three times worse than the U.S. average in 2009 when the state led the nation in bankruptcies, foreclosures and unemployment.

And while Nevada’s growth from 2010 to 2012 was the nation’s worst, it was one of only four places that posted a gain in 2012 compared with 2011 — 3.8 percent compared to 2 percent. The others were Arizona, North Carolina, Utah and the District of Columbia.




Truckee organizing Citizen Police Academy

Truckee Police Department is putting on a Citizen Police Academy in September.

Participants will learn ways to protect themselves and their property against crimes such as identity theft and burglary, as well as being prepared for emergencies.

This eight-week academy is designed to provide our citizens with an overview of the police department’s functions and operational procedures.

The first class begins Sept. 11, 6-8pm. It is free. People must be 16 and have no prior felony or serious misdemeanor convictions, and live in Truckee.

If you are interested in applying, call 530.550.2323.




Complaints follow North Shore concert

North Shore residents were not happy with the noise, fire concerns, curfew, parking and trash problems in neighborhoods because of concerts in July.

North Tahoe Public Utility District, and concert promoter PR Entertainment, are taking steps now to reduce the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods during the August concert. Rebelution, Iration, The Green, and Stick Man will be at North Tahoe Regional Park on Aug. 13.

“This was the first time that the current staff has put on an event of this magnitude and while we acknowledge there are adjustments that need to be made, all things considered, we are pleased with the way things went,” Tracey Towner,  with North Tahoe Public Utility District, said in a statement. “We are implementing changes to lessen the impacts on our neighbors, the residents that live in the surrounding neighborhoods.”

The stage will be relocated to change the direction of the sound, the speakers will be turned more inward, and the natural surrounding will be used to help damp down the sound in the neighborhoods.

The district will be posting notices at the entrance to the neighborhoods surrounding the park the weekend prior to the concert alerting residents of the time/date of the event and who they can call for additional information. Days prior to the event the neighborhoods will be signed with “No Park Access” signs and “No Parking Signs”.

VIP parking prices will be reduced and the shuttle service will run from Northstar.

There will be a designated smoking area during the concerts and signs around the park indicating “No Smoking in the Forest Due to High Fire Danger.”




Brown pitches $6 billion water bond

By Melanie Mason, Los Angeles Times

Seeking to balance the state’s water needs with his reputation for fiscal caution, Gov. Jerry Brown called for a “no-frills, no pork” $6-billion water bond in an email to campaign supporters Tuesday afternoon.

Brown kicked off the letter by noting that “drought conditions in California grow more serious by the day,” and acknowledging more must be done for the state’s water infrastructure.

But, he says, the $11.1-billion bond currently set to go before voters in November has “a price tag beyond what’s reasonable or affordable.” He describes the measure, originally written in 2009, as “pork-laden.”

Instead, Brown pitches a $6-billion plan similar to the framework his office circulated in June. The proposal, he says, “invests in the most critical projects without breaking the bank.”

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Sample the Sierra adds Labor Day events

There will be a pop-up dinner and farm-to-fork bus tour to extend Sample the Sierra on Labor Day weekend in South Lake Tahoe.

The dinner is Aug 29 from 6-8pm at Lake Tahoe Community College. The dinner and documentary under the stars at the Demonstration Garden will feature Chef Stephen Moise of The Ridge Tahoe. He will prepare a three-course dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Cost is $75. For more info and tickets, email Michelle@tahoechamber.org.

The bus tour of Apple Valley is Aug. 30 from 9am-3pm. This tour will feature El Dorado County producers and wineries.

The cost is $65. For more info, email Michelle@tahoechamber.org.




Dog obedience class at Kahle

There will be a six-week dog obedience class at Kahle Community Center in Stateline from July 31- Sept.

The Thursday classes will be from 7-8pm.

The cost is $80.

Instructor is Guy Yeaman uses a light handed approach to help dogs obey commands like heel, sit, stand, stay and recall.

Each dog needs a training collar and a fabric leather lead. Dogs must be at least 4 months old. Bring a copy of the dogs shot records to the first class.

To register or for more info, call 775.586.7271.




Truckee resident found dead in Stampede Reservoir

A missing Truckee resident was found dead Aug. 8 at Stampede Reservoir.

Nathen Johnson, 32, was last seen alive Aug. 2. Police said cell phone records led them to the reservoir.

Officers found Johnson’s body in the water near his private boat. An autopsy will be conducted. Police do not suspect foul play.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report