Shane Jones improves the sidewalk this week in front of the Star Building. Photo/Kathryn Reed

It’s a whole lot easier to access the Star Building on Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Lodi Avenue in South Tahoe since Gary Jones Paving improved the sidewalk this week.

Now people in wheelchairs can get out at the bus stop and have easy access to the building. The walkway was widened by about a foot.

Hear Lake Tahoe News Publisher Kathryn Reed moderate the Ask the TRPA show this morning at 10:15am on KTHO AM-590 or www.kthoradio.com.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit lifted fire restrictions for Forest Service lands Tuesday.

Additionally, Forest Service Fire Chief Kit Bailey, in conjunction with local fire chiefs, opened residential burning the same day. Residential burning must be conducted between 8am and 6pm with a valid burn permit.

Although the Forest Service is lifting the additional fire restrictions imposed in the summer, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit adopted a set of fire regulations in 2004 that restricts where campfires are allowed year-round. Most of the Lake Tahoe backcountry is essentially stove only and a valid campfire permit is required. This same regulation applies within the Desolation Wilderness, where a “stove only” regulation has been in place for more than 10 years. Developed campgrounds usually allow for campfires year-round in the facilities provided.

To obtain more information about backcountry fire regulations and and how to obtain a campfire permit, call the Forest Supervisor’s office in South Lake Tahoe at (530) 543.2694. To learn more about camping and fire regulations on-line, visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/regulations/rules.shtml. To learn more about residential burning, local restrictions and permits, contact your local fire department or fire protection district.

Even when fire restrictions end, the Forest Service asks residents and visitors to continue to use caution with campfires, camp stoves, barbecue grills and cigarette smoking.

KTHO AM-590 (www.kthoradio.com) will be simulcast on FM-96.1 beginning this fall.

Caught in the banking meltdown is Colonial Bank’s Kingsbury Grade branch – which has new owners.

El Dorado County’s Red Hawk Casino is a sponsor of SF Giants.

Coffee & Confectionary Shop is open at Camp Richardson.

Look for Tahoe Youth & Family Services’ to soon open a thrift store.

Tree House has moved to Ski Run Marina in SLT.

Abundant Hydroponics is open at 1611 Shop St. in SLT.

Brooks Bar at Edgewood Tahoe in Stateline is one of the top 50 19th holes, according to Golf Digest.

South Lake Tahoe’s Sustainability Commission will host a guest speaker on Oct. 7 at 4pm  in the City Council Chambers (aka Lake Tahoe Airport).

Leon Churchill, Tracy city manager, will share with commissioners information regarding methods to improve opportunities for financial collaboration to achieve sustainability goals, just as he recently shared with the League of California Cities. Tracy is the second city to receive the Emerald City designation from the Department of Conservation.

In addition to the special presentation, the commission will discuss plastic bags and Styrofoam and whether they should recommend a survey of local businesses to assess the impact should a fee or ban be considered.

Other items on the agenda include their first quarterly report and whether to request the city to adopt an internal energy efficiency policy which would include establishing a city Green Team.

Snow at lake level topped 1 inch before 8am today.

Snow started falling in South Lake Tahoe about 10pm Saturday.

More than an inch had accumulated by Sunday morning, with more coming down.

“Snow in the morning…then numerous snow showers in the afternoon. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch,” is what www.wunderground.com had to say. Apparently they need to revise those totals because at lake level it was more than an inch before 8am Sunday. “Snow  of 2 to 4 inches southeast of Lake Tahoe…with 4 to 6 inches southeast of Lake Tahoe above 7000 feet. Highs 31 to 41. West winds 10 to 15 mph.”

Chains or snow tires on 4-wheel drive vehicles were still required this morning. Check with Caltrans and NDOT or click on their icons at the top right corner of LakeTahoeNews.net to get current road conditions.

The sun is expected to return Monday — and maybe fall, too.

The Fifth Annual Mutt Strut Poker Run is Oct. 11. With a 1.2 mile walk, building your poker hand along the way, you and your pooch will get a little exercise and maybe make a new friend.

At the party at Timber Cove Marina, enjoy music,raffle drawings, games, and of course the grand prize announcements for the best poker hands. Prizes have been donated by local businesses including restaurants, pet supply stores, spas, and tanning salons. Proceeds benefit ACT’s spay-neuter program and the El Dorado County Animal Shelter.

Registration is 11-11:30 am at Top It! Frozen Yogurt, 3600 Lake Tahoe Blvd., at the Super 8 Motel, near Ski Run Boulevard in South Tahoe.

To keep the event affordable for all, we have lowered our requested donation for the first poker hand to $10, $25 for three hands. This includes snacks, giveaways and one raffle ticket per hand. Call (530) 400-4766 or email info@tahoeanimals.org for more info.

Animal Coalition of Tahoe is an all-volunteer, nonprofit corporation that sponsors several fundraisers each year to support a spay-neuter program for south Tahoe residents, plus 10 percent of all funds raised are donated to the El Dorado County Animal Shelter.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) and Waste Management, reminds residents that dumping trash, appliances, cars or any other item in the desert is illegal and those responsible are risking legal action if caught.

Working in partnership with the entire community, the sheriff’s office has dedicated a phone line, (775) 329-DUMP, for residents to report illegal dump sites in Washoe County. This number is a direct line to the Sheriff’s Office where information is gathered and tracked to identify the most common dump sites in order to patrol those locations.

There are serious consequences if caught illegally dumping waste in Washoe County.

A business convicted of illegal dumping risks revocation of its business license (NRS 444.630) and any person found illegal dumping (first offense) will pay a minimum civil penalty of $500 to $5000 fine (NRS 444.635). These consequences are far greater than the cost of a trip to the landfill.

The sheriff’s office encourages residents to utilize the free dump days for unwanted household appliances and furniture, Oct. 3-4 at the transfer station on Commercial Row in Reno.

For more information regarding illegal dumping, contact KTMB: www.KTMB.org.

For more information on the free dump days, contact Waste Management: www.wm.com.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is hosting the 2nd Annual Northern Nevada SWAT Challenge Oct. 2 at various locations in the community. The event is geared to building camaraderie and familiarizing our local SWAT team operators with each other and with their team capabilities.

SWAT Operator and Organizer Marc Bello explained in a statement, “Special Weapons and Tactics teams are called in to handle the most serious, high stress and often life threatening situations. It is important for our team operators to build rapport and confidence in each other before they are called out to a serious incident.”

The events begin with SWAT training at the Regional Public Safety Training Center from 7:45 to 9:25am where the teams will suit up in the appropriate gear and go through numerous scenarios.

The second phase is fun team building opportunity where the team operators are put through an adventure type race with various mental and physical events such as “the mud crawl”, “the card shoot”, “rope agility course”, “tire flip”, “Yahtzee”, and even a “Mystery Challenge.”

These events take place from 11am to 3:30pm at various locations

Listen to Julie Threewit, CEO of Meyers-based The Appointment Biz, talk about the good and bad of being a small business owner in this economy. She will be on KTHO AM-590 (www.kthoradio.com) on Saturday at 10am and Monday at 6pm.