In a ceremony last week, Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini presented special recognition and achievement awards to several members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team.

In the past 12 months, DCSAR has responded to numerous public service emergencies, including searching for lost or stranded skiers, hikers, mountain bikers, ATV and motorcycle riders, horseback riders, four-wheel drivers, river rafters and assisted with downed aircraft incidents.

Notably, DCSAR has responded to 23 call-outs for missing skiers/snowboarders since New Year’s Eve.

DCSAR members are prepared to respond at a moments notice, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

Citizens or groups wishing interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to call (775) 782.9930, (775) 588.0940; or by going online.

• The bankruptcy hearing for South Tahoe Area Transportation Authority has been moved to March 14.

• A veteran of Truckee’s now-defunct Joe Coffee, Chris McCormick, is back at it lending his savvy barista expertise to Elijah Bleu’s House of Coffee & Good Eats in Truckee.

• According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, Richard Femenella, the Palmer Group’s senior VP of operations, has been scouting locations for a possible Palmer property – as in Charlie Palmer Steak — at Lake Tahoe.

• The third annual Mardi Gras Magic Dinner & Dance to benefit Austin’s House is March 4 at 6pm in the Valley Ballroom at the Carson Valley Inn. Austin’s House is the only emergency children’s shelter in rural Northern Nevada. For info, call (775) 267.6711.

• Cutthroat’s Saloon Beer Dinner on March 4 features Mammoth Brewing Company. Call the Incline Village restaurant at (775) 832.1234, ext. 6730 for a reservation or more information.

Attorney Jacqueline Mittelstadt is offering two seminars on estate planning.

Both start at 5:30pm. One is March 10, the other March 11. Both are on the South Shore.

Reasons to attend and learn about living trusts:

1) To avoid giving your money to the government;

2) Ensure loved ones are provided for;

3) Avoid wasting money and time on unnecessary court fees;

4) Retain control over your assets.

Wine and cheese will be served. Space is limited. Call to reserve a seat, (530) 307.9412 or email jm@mittelstadtlaw.com.

Discounts apply for all who attend.

• College Week at Sierra-at-Tahoe is March 14–21. College students can purchase $56 lift ticket (regularly $71) for a full day of skiing or riding with a valid student ID card.

• As Borders bookstore goes through bankruptcy and closes stores, it is keeping the Carson Valley location open.

• Placerville based El Dorado Savings Bank had earnings in 2010 of $10.9 million, a 2 percent increase from a year ago.

• Jonathan and Penny Bourne of Mono County paid the federal government $1 million this month for damages caused by a September 2006 wildfire that spread from their fire pit.

• The 2011 Amgen Tour of California has volunteer opportunities posted on its website.

• South Tahoe Refuse if offering free tire disposal twice a month. Click on schedule to find out details about the program in South Lake Tahoe.

All you can eat chili for just $1 on March 3 from 5-10pm at Coyote Grill in Round Hill.

Proceeds benefit Choices for Children.

Any questions, call Kathy at (530) 541.5848.

Updated: Feb. 25 4:03pm.

The South Lake Tahoe Recreation & Swim Pool Complex will be closed by 6:30 tonight. Evening lap and water exercise are canceled for tonight, so the pool will close at 4:30pm.

Parents Night Out is also canceled for tonight.

Traffic on Highway 50 in South Tahoe the afternoon of Feb. 25 is light, but some need help. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Call the front desk at (530) 542.6056 if you have any questions. The complex is expected to open Saturday at 9am.

Aramark has canceled boat cruises and snowmobile operations for Friday.

Interstate 80 reopened about4pm. First it was closed because of a small avalanche that did not trap vehicles; then because of whiteouts.

This from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 3pm, “The closure of Highway 395 near Muller Lane in Minden will continue until approximately 6pm. This time frame is based on an estimate from NV Energy on time required for repair crews to switch transmission lines to reroute power and to remove disabled power cables from the roadway.”

This in from Curtis Fong, Lake Tahoe News’ ski reporter, “Most all resorts are closed due to high winds and snow. Call ahead.” He also reports as of 12:40pm highways 431, 80 and 88 are closed.

Squaw Valley at 3pm was reporting 3 feet of snow in the last 24 hours. Alpine Meadows’ total snow accumulation is 130 percent of the 40-year average with 17-feet having fallen this season.

Bank of the West in South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado Savings throughout the Tahoe region will be closing at 3pm Friday.

Lake Tahoe Community College is closing at 1pm.

El Dorado County sent its non-essential employees home home early Friday afternoon.

This from the Nevada governor’s office, “Due to the significant snowfall and the potential for hazardous traveling conditions, non-essential state employees have been sent home early and state offices will be closing this afternoon. This release affects Carson City, Douglas, Storey, Lyon and Washoe counties. Affected employees will be granted administrative leave.

“Because the governor is in Washington, D.C., he consulted with Acting Governor Brian Krolicki who directed this action be taken.”

AAA in Carson City and Damonte-Reno offices close at 4pm.

Friday night’s Tahoe Derby Dames’ scrimmage is canceled.

According to the Sacramento Bee at 3:20pm, “In El Dorado County, 24 outages affecting more than 500 people were reported, and in Placer County more than 5,000 people were without power.”

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

Hillary Santana, a 2008 salutatorian at South Tahoe High School, is in New Zealand at the center of the turmoil of the deadly earthquake.

Her dad, David, has been sending updates about her experience.

Keep up with the posts on Lake Tahoe News.

• Do you have a child who will be 5 on or before Sept. 30? Kindergarten registration for Douglas County School District is March 14-24. At the lake, call Zephyr Cove Elementary School, (775) 588.4574.

• Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board is taking comments on the amendment to the Tahoe Maximum Daily Load document until March 18.

• Tahoma Meadows B&B Cottages is mentioned in March-April issue of Via magazine as a great place to travel with pets.

• Check this video out to see what people in South Lake Tahoe do with a whole lot of snow.

• The ex-owner The Block hotel in South Lake Tahoe, which remains shuttered, has started an airline service in Southern Nevada, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

Howie Nave, Lake Tahoe News’ movie reviewer, has seen all the films up for best picture. He’s busy compiling his article that will reveal who he believes the winners will be Sunday night. No sneak preview here.

Who will Nave pick to win the Oscar on Feb. 27 for best picture? Remember, there are 10 films to choose from this year. They are:

* Black Swan

* The Fighter

* Inception

* The Kids Are All Right

* The King’s Speech

* 127 Hours

* The Social Network

* Toy Story 3

* True Grit

* Winter’s Bone.

Can you pick who Nave will pick? The first three people who post the correct comment, will be sent a Lake Tahoe News T-shirt. You must post your full name and use your true email address. The latter won’t be made public, but LTN will need to reach you to get an address to send the shirt to and find out what size to send.

Winners will be revealed the same day Nave’s predictions are published.

The San Francisco Giants World Series trophy will be in Lake Tahoe in March.

While the men in orange and black workout in Scottsdale in preparation for a repeat of last season, the trophy will be on display at the Alpine Meadows Lodge, 2600 Alpine Meadows Road, Tahoe City, on March 9 from 12:30-2:30pm.