Placer County

Spring has arrived in Placer County, an expansive and diverse 1,400-square-mile destination along Interstate 80 in Northern California. The county has been anticipating a safe return to tourism throughout the region and welcomes regional travelers in accordance with the California Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In an effort to promote responsible and safe travel amidst pandemic restrictions, outdoor and leisure activities are a focus.

Fall has arrived in the Sierra Nevada bringing the steady change of turning leaves and a noticeable chill in the air. The fall season also means bears are actively searching for food, even down into the lower valleys.

Placer County, a 1,400-square-mile destination in Northern California, is inviting responsible leisure travelers in accordance with the California Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Travelers are now permitted to safely enjoy the diverse geography encompassing a range of cities from Olympic Valley to Foresthill, and Auburn to Roseville this fall.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – As a reminder, backcountry visitors should practice proper food and garbage storage and behave appropriately when hiking and backpacking in Bear Country.

This summer, wilderness rangers report bears are successfully taking down food-hangs in Desolation Wilderness. Once bears become habituated to human food and garbage they will return and seek it out. Agencies highly recommend using bear resistant canisters when visiting the backcountry.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday ordered all counties in California to close indoor restaurants, bars, movie theaters and wineries as the state combats a surge in coronavirus cases. A list of 30 counties has further restrictions.

Late Spring is in full swing in the Tahoe Basin and Tahoe black bears are searching for food. Intentional or unintentional feeding of bears results in unwanted bear behaviors, increased human-bear conflicts, and public safety issues as well as fines and possible jail time for violators.

A Carson City woman and two others were arrested for suspicion of burglary, conspiracy and other charges after Placer County sheriff's investigators tracked the suspects footprints following a burglary in the Lake Tahoe town of Kings Beach.

UPDATE 4:06PM: Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) held a press conference Thursday afternoon regarding the first reported presumptive positive case of COVID-19, which is this first reported case in Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.

The patient is a woman in her 70s who recently traveled out of the state to San Jose and returned on March 2. She flew on an airplane into Reno-Tahoe International Airport while she was asymptomatic. The plane or airline she traveled with was not disclosed during the conference.

The first patient in Nevada has tested presumptively positive for the novel coronavirus, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

A test performed by the Southern Nevada Health District confirmed the patient is presumptively positive for the virus, and a sample is being sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for official confirmation. The individual was identified through the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System.

A 50-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday for misdemeanor battery after allegedly pushing an Uber driver to the ground causing injury, a sheriff's report states.

A 36-year-old Reno man was booked into Carson City Jail for two felony warrants alleging grand larceny of a motor vehicle out of Carson City and being a fugitive from justice, issued out of Placer County, Calif.

UPDATE 3:42 p.m.: Search and Rescue and PCSO have called off the search and are confirming there are no further victims of the avalanche to be found. Cole Comstock, 34, of Blairsden, CA has been identified as the deceased in the avalanche that occurred at Alpine Meadows.

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According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), there is one confirmed fatality and a second victim with serious injuries following an avalanche at Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division wants to inform the public that the stolen Jeep Cherokee from Dec. 30, 2019 has been located and returned to its owner.

UPDATE 1:14PM: From the Washoe County Sheriff's Office: WCSO deputies just arrested Amador County fugitive Sean Purdy. He was arrested north of Sand Harbor near Incline Village. Sheriff Balaam expressed his deep appreciation to all the deputies and investigators from multiple agencies who have tenaciously worked for the safety of the community during the past 12 hours.
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UPDATE: Law enforcement from Washoe County and throughout the region are searching for a man thought to be in the Incline Village area who is wanted in connection with a homicide.

The Roads are clearing up, but due to freezing temperatures across the region, icy roads are definitely something to be aware of. Temperatures are ranging from 0-22 degrees. Below you’ll find a list of closures and chain requirements for the region:

A 39-year-old Carson City man was arrested in the 500 block of Southwest Court and Silver Sage Drive late Thursday evening for attempting burglary, resisting arrest, battery on a protected person, probation violation, and destruction of property.

Dakotah Orion Bliss-Erb was arrested after deputies were patrolling the area of Silver Sage and Clearview Drive when they observed a taxi parked on the corner with its hazards on.

While it still feels like winter, with a healthy snowpack and ski resorts reporting record monthly snowfall in February, another building season is fast approaching. One of the questions people ask the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency each year is why they have to pay mitigation fees for their development, like new homes and remodeling projects.

Heavy snow fell overnight in the Carson City area, resulting in more chain and traction tire requirements on local roads.

Travel restrictions are currently in place Sunday morning for Interstate 580 from about the Washoe County line through Washoe Valley to mile post 15.0 in Washoe County.

Chains or snow tires also required for Old U.S. Highway 395 Alternate from the Bowers Mansion interchange to the SR 431/341 junction in South Reno, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) said.

Chains or snow tires are required on these other area highways:

A 33 year-old Carson City man was arrested Wednesday evening at 5:59 p.m. in the 700 block of Hillcrest Road for felony burglary, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy reported.

Highway 395 from Walker to Bridgeport and State Route 108 over Sonora Pass remain closed Thursday due to the Boot Fire, which remains out of control and burning along the Walker River northwest of Bridgeport in Mono County, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Firefighters battling the North Fire that started late Monday afternoon in the Tahoe National Forest 40 miles west of Lake Tahoe are gearing up for a full attack Tuesday morning with more strike teams, hand crews, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, including a large tanker.

A 36 year-old Anadarko, Oklahoma, woman was arrested early Friday morning at 1:15 a.m. in the 3200 block of Market Street on two counts of misdemeanor battery and one count of felony interfering with witness reporting a crime, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy reported.

Mary Rose “Mosey” Vargas Covington passed away on April 2, 2018. Born in Auburn, California in November of 1942, Mosey grew up on a Sierra foothills ranch in Placer County and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1960. She came to the eastern Sierra Nevada in 1965 where she taught two generations of children and raised her own family.

Wayne Pershing McAnally, a native Roseville resident, went to be with the Lord on December 29, 2017 after a long battle with Alzheimers.

Born to Dr. James F. and Marie (Gold) McAnally on September 28,1938. Graduated from Roseville High School, Class of 1957. He graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, receiving the Mu Sigma Alpha outstanding Academic Proficiency Award. He was very active in his community and to name a few, he was a member of Masonic Lodge #222, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Roseville Cemetery Board of Directors.

A 31-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday in the 1800 block of North Edmonds for a felony fugitive from justice warrant issued in California.

A 45-year-old Carson City man was booked into jail Tuesday for a felony warrant alleging embezzlement, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

The world’s longest inland paddleboard race is on tap as part of the second annual “Tahoe Vista Paddlefest” September 8–10, 2017. It’s the finale of the Tahoe Cup Paddle Racing Series wrapped with family-focused events, music, and many more health and wellness activities at Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort in Tahoe Vista, Calif.

A 28-year-old inmate at Carson City Jail was booked on a felony evading charge issued out of California, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Here is the Carson City and Lake Tahoe area road report for the week of May 22-28, 2017. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work. Please follow detours.

Here is the Carson City and Lake Tahoe area road report for the week of May 15-21, 2017. Road closures expected at the following locations due to road and utility work. Please use caution.