Publisher’s note: This is an editorial from the Reno Gazette-Journal first published on Dec. 15, 2009.

(Today’s) opening of the newest megaresort in Las Vegas, the first in quite a few years, could tell us a lot about the future of casino gaming in Nevada.

For its owners, MGM Mirage and Dubai World, the debut of Aria, one of four hotels in the massive CityCenter project, couldn’t have come at a more difficult time.

Casino revenues have been on a steady decline in Nevada for about two years, thanks to the spread of casinos around the country and the worst recession to hit the nation, and much of the rest of the world, since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Read the whole story

Letter to the community,

The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Gala was Dec. 10 at the Riva Grill. It was a resounding success with over 300 people in attendance. The evening brought generous support to local charities and demonstrated our community’s dedication to South Lake Tahoe.

A special thanks to Scott Craig and his staff at the Riva Grill for hosting the wonderful event for more than a decade! The food and drinks were as fabulous as ever, gorgeous decorations set the celebratory holiday spirit, and many in attendance won Riva-themed prizes.

The local charities benefiting from the Holiday Gala included Christmas Cheer, the South Lake Tahoe Women’s Center, and Tahoe Youth and Family Services. Nearly $2,300 in cash donations was collected and divided between the three charities. Christmas Cheer also received four 30-gallon trash cans filled with food donations. The LTSSCC delivered over 100 toys to the South Lake Tahoe Women’s Center and donated additional gifts and wrapping supplies to Tahoe Youth & Family Services.

Thank you to Steve Hunt from Lakeland Village for driving “Santa’s Sleigh” (the decorated van from Lakeland Village for the collection of food and toy donations), as well as Meeks Lumber & Hardware, Truckee River Tile, The Knitting Nest, Tahoe Bookkeeping Services, Sessions Salon, Sizzle Creations, Clear Blue Construction, Yellow Pager, Bistro Danielle, Beach Hut Deli, California Highway Patrol, Sierra Athletic Club, Lake Tahoe Historical Society and Tahoe Ridge Winery for their donations to the event.

Thank you again to all those in attendance, without whose generosity the community needs would be greater this season.

Isabella Mill, event coordinator Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce

Lake Tahoe News readers,

In the December issue of the Tahoe Mountain News, Kenny Curtzwiler wrote, “I am here to tell you that the first vote on (John Poland) whether or not to appeal the arbitration decision was 5-0 not to appeal.”

That’s news to me. I was elected in November 2006 and during my term there has not been a 5-0 vote on the Poland case for or against an appeal.

The Ski Bum should disclose when the 5-0 vote happened and who told him that the vote was taken. Until he does so his claim is poppy-cock.

And if the Ski Bum is going to toot his own horn, he needs to get it in tune.

Bill Crawford, South Lake Tahoe city councilmen

Hello Everyone,

It is with great excitement that I announce that our annual audit report was delivered to our Board of Trustees last night by Tom Perry Smith of our financial auditors, Perry-Smith LLP. Our district received a “clean” unqualified opinion with no disclaimers or adverse language in the report (which is the type of opinion an organization strives for). All five reportable conditions and adverse comments included in last year’s audit report were fixed as of this year and did not appear in this year’s report.

I would like to thank my staff in Fiscal Services for working so hard during the fiscal year to obtain such a great opinion. I am quite proud of all of them and the progress they made this past year in gaining an understanding of all the aspects of what goes into a financial audit and then demonstrating that understanding during the audit process. I would also like to thank the personnel in all of the other departments that helped during the audit process too.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Marc Sabella, CPA, director of Fiscal Services Lake Tahoe Community College

Publisher’s note: The following was given to Lake Tahoe News by someone other than the city manager. The information, though, was disseminated by the city manager to people beyond the South Lake Tahoe City Council. LTN first broke this story. Click here for that story.

Wednesday 12:41 a.m.

Mayor and Council:

I am writing to alert you that Chief of Police Terry Daniels communicated with me his intention to retire by the end of the year. Chief Daniels told me that with the City’s early retirement offer and his evaluation of finances, the best strategy for him is to retire before the end of this calendar year. He said that he will be available to assist the City and the Department in whatever way possible should his assistance be needed. He mentions that the “continued success of the Police department is very important to me professionally and as a citizen of the Community.” I will leave to Chief Daniels to announce his plans to the Department and the Community.

Chief Daniels has served the City and the Department for many years with commitment and conviction. Being in a position of leadership is not always an easy task. The Department continues to perform, and we are fortunate to have quality men and women working there.

I am initiating immediately a process for recruitment of a new Chief of Police that will involve at a minimum the following steps:

1. Advertisement of the opening in State and national police professional publications.

2. Consultation with recognized association leadership of sworn and non-sworn personnel to characterize what they would like to see in a new Chief of Police.

3. Input from members of the City Council via the City Manager to assess what characteristics they would like to see in a new Chief of Police.

4. Convening an outside panel of law enforcement experts (Chiefs of Police or other law enforcement professionals) to assess the skills of top technical skills of top candidates, namely, do they have the right law enforcement skills to be a chief of police?

5. Convening a City Department Director panel to assess interdepartmental skills and abilities to work with others

6. Convening a panel from the POA to offer non-binding advice on the top candidates for the position

7. Thorough and complete background review, including medical and psychological test of the top candidates for the position.

8. Appointment

After Chief Daniels retires at the end of this month, Captain [Martin] Hewlett, the ranking officer in the Department, will be named Acting Chief of Police until the recruitment is completed, and the position of Captain will not be refilled during the recruitment process.

David Jinkens, MPA City Manager

Letter to the community,

Our talented local and guest communities of ‘yarn folk’ have out done themselves once again. Over 750 warm and wonderful handmade items were donated to the ‘Caps for Kids’ program. Christmas Cheer distributes of all the goodies: hats, scarves, socks, booties, wrist warmers, slippers, headbands, blankets, & mittens.

Kendra and Rachel -- the official knitting testers. Photo/Provided

Thank you – Marilyn, Bea, Carolyn, Diana, Mary Ann, Michelle, Virginia, Heidi, Susan, Cheryl, Toni, Anne, Jan, Jacque, Edda, Trish, Julie, Anne, Caroline, Paula, Judi, Lorraine, Sally, Lois, Karen, Lauren, Mary, Jan, Senior Plaza Knitters, Sierra Pine Needles Knitting Group, Hope Lutheran Church Knitters, South Lake Tahoe Branch Library Patrons Knitting Group and, the numerous anonymous elves who dash in and out without leaving their names.

Sharing ‘Good Cheer’ wishes year-round, your generosity and wonderful talents are truly gifts from the heart.

Cindy Beberg, aquatics coordinator South Lake Tahoe Parks & Recreation Department

Thank you South Lake Tahoe!

The Community Holiday Tree & Menorah lighting, hosted by the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority last Friday, was a big success (despite the fact that more than half of the tree lights did not turn on). The event was attended by over 400 locals and visitors and was enjoyed by all.

The LTVA would like to thank Mayor Jerry Birdwell for his heartfelt welcome, and the following for their contribution and support: Sierra Pacific Power, Lake DJ/Derek Tarpey, Temple Bat Yam, Tahoe Schools Choir, Borges Sleigh Rides, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Aramark/Lake Tahoe Cruises, Riva Grill, Safeway Bijou & Round Hill, Raleys, Grocery Outlet, Lakeside Inn, MontBleu, Sierra Tahoe Wood Products, Leadership Lake Tahoe and the City of SLT Parks & Recreation Department.

Very special thanks to Santa Claus and all his elves and helpers. We look forward to seeing you on the first Friday of December next year for this annual community event.

Sue Barton, deputy director Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority

Greetings Lake Tahoe News readers,

I want to let you know about advertising opportunities on Lake Tahoe News. Anyone who advertises on Lake Tahoe News in 2009 receives 20 percent off the 2010 rates.

What are you waiting for?

Today marks three months since Lake Tahoe News started bringing news to you seven days a week. It’s the only source for daily news about Lake Tahoe — daily meaning seven days a week.

Between Oct. 30-Nov. 30 this news source received more than 11,000 hits, with more than 3,000 being unique visitors. Remember, that is in less than three months.

Lake Tahoe News isn’t just for those who live in the basin. Readers are coming from across the world. More important for advertisers, a good number of readers are from the drive-up market in the Bay Area and Sacramento region. I can provide you with stats if you email me.

We have four sizes of display ads — the banner on the Home page, the square ads, and the inside small and large banner ads. Other options include enhanced listings and webpages. Details about the ads and pricing may be accessed via the Home page by hitting Advertise. The 2009 and 2010 rates are on separate PDFs.

We look forward to hearing from you soon,

Kathryn Reed, Lake Tahoe News publisher (info@LakeTahoeNews.net)

ps … If you aren’t a subscriber, please consider becoming one by hitting the Subscribe button on the bottom right of the Home page. This will give you a morning email with everything that has been posted in the last 24 hours. The headline links to the story and a few paragraphs are provided to tell you what it’s about. It’s free and your email address will not be sold.

Letter to the Publisher,

In our community there is a legitimate concern that city government withholds information that citizens have a right to know, which has created a perception of secrecy.

I believe the perception is justified when considering the blowup in the Poland case and the closed meetings on the subject of the city attorney. In the air there’s a feeling of a Star Chamber operation.

I believe that the city manager and certain members of the City Council have an attitude that is authoritarian. Such an attitude is accompanied by the thought that those who hold power are infallible, that public opinion should be discounted. Hence, government doesn’t have to disclose information because the public can’t be trusted with the information.

The authoritarian mind rejects the idea that citizens share a spirited and political equality. I believe, as the poet said, that if we do not meet people as equals, then we do not meet them at all.

Much of the secrecy behind closed doors is justified under the label of “personnel matters” that is often a cover up of mismanagement. Example: The city manager, city attorney [now gone] and a majority of the council did not want to report out a split council vote on the Poland appeal. Why not?

The fact is that behind closed doors, I learn who my colleagues really are.

Bill Crawford, South Lake Tahoe city councilman

By Sallie Ross-Filgo

Select a fresh tree with good color and firm, flexible needles that do not easily pull from the branches.

Place the tree in plain water immediately after re-cutting the trunk at least one-half inch above the old cut. The container you use for your tree should hold 2 to 4 quarts of water. The longer you wait to place your tree in water, the greater the chances are that it will lose the required moisture content to keep it fresh through the holiday season. Never place your tree on a wooden stand.

Locate the tree away from sources of heat. Avoid placing the tree near heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, large appliances, such as TVs, and direct sunlight. Be careful not to block a door or other exitway with the tree or rearranged furniture.

Use mini-lights on your tree and never place candles on or near your tree. Remove your Christmas tree as soon as possible after the holiday.

Never burn your Christmas tree or wrapping paper in the fireplace. The rapid burning and excessive heat can damage the firebox and chimney creating a serious fire hazard.

The SLTFD wants to wish everyone a fun and safe holiday season.

Sallie Ross-Filgo works for the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department.