The time-share portion of David Walley's Hot Springs Resort & Spa south of Genoa may close if time-share owners don't pay a $494-$939 "special assessment" designed to offset a running budget deficit, according to Walley's owner Celebrity Resorts.
In a statement released Thursday, the company said the Walley's Property Owners Association is currently facing an operating deficit of approximately $2.3 million and a reserve deficit of approximately $2.1 million.
"Bad debt for 2009 was 13 percent and is anticipated to rise to 25 percent in 2010," the company said. "The monies collected thus far from the 2010 maintenance and tax assessments, which were due and payable Jan. 1, 2010, have been used to pay the obligations of the association.
"Unfortunately, if the special assessment does not pass, the resort will be forced to close unless another source of funds can be used to sustain ongoing operations. Celebrity Resorts obviously desires to avoid this ou

Two records fell at the Kirkwood 10K/5K races on Saturday at Kirkwood Mountain Resort.
Brett Long smashed the 10K course record set by South Lake Tahoe's Michael Sharp (49:10 in 2008) with a blazing time of 43 minutes, 18 seconds.
The start of the 10K was changed because of the Power House fire last winter, according to race director Carol Nageotte. The 10K backtracked the first mile so the course finished like it started. The paved road and dirt road under the chair lifts gave the runners a chance to get in position before the single-track trail.
Karalee Morris was the first woman and fourth overall in 52:10.
Ross McMahan broke Michael Sharp's masters record by finishing in 45:09. Cory Avery was the female masters winner in 56:19. She set the record last year in 54:15.
Erick Studenicka was first in the 5K in 21:35. He also took home the masters title.
Ellen Lucas of Gardnerville continued her streak of winning the women's 5K, finishing in 23:10. In addition, Lucas was the m

CARDRONA, New Zealand -- Morganne Murphy of Truckee led the USA, finishing fifth in the FIS Junior World Freestyle Championships ski cross on Aug. 28.
Ethan Fortney of Tenino, Wash., was seventh in the men's event. Kyle Smaine of South Lake Tahoe just missed the top 10, placing 11th,
"There were a lot of really good competitors here -- high level," Smaine said of the competition, which attracted 10 nations. "It was great to see how well ski cross is developing in the other countries."
It was the second time ski cross has been on the program for the Junior World Championships.
Norway's Didrik Bastian Juell won the men's title, while Fanny Smith of Switzerland took the women's gold.
A day later, Smaine took 12th place in the ski halfpipe event.
Meanwhile, the U.S. women swept the top four spots, with Brita Sigourney of Carmel, Calif., leading the way. Hannah Haupt of Sun Valley, Idaho, took silver, Devin Logan of W. Dover, Vt. earned bronze and Blake Peterson of Park City finished

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - See photos of Labor Day fireworks at www.tahoedailytribune.com/labordayfireworks.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Dozens of jobs could be at risk under two of the five scenarios being considered for an environmental restoration project at Lake Tahoe Golf Course, according to a recently released economic study.
The feasibility study, which is included in the draft environmental document for the Upper Truckee River Restoration and Golf Course Reconfiguration Project, finds the only economically-viable alternatives are those that retain a full-length, 18-hole golf course.
The environmental document for the project analyzes five alternatives, ranging from leaving the golf course the same to completely removing it.
Alternatives that would shorten the layout of the course to nine holes or an shorter "executive" 18-hole course, move several holes from next to the Upper Truckee River into Washoe Meadows State Park or add additional erosion control measures to the river while keeping the course layout the same are also detailed in the document.
State park of

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Monday, Sept. 6, 2010:

Happy Birthday! This year, you greet many situations with confidence and greater insight than in the past. You develop a strong inner voice and knowledge. Some of you will opt to do personal work; others will decide to do volunteer work. If you are single, check out new people with care. They might want to portray themselves as something other than who they really are. Make sure you are not wearing rose-colored glasses. If you are attached, your relationship benefits from plenty of downtime away as couple. Curb a tendency to overindulge or spend too much. LEO proves to understand you better than many people.

The Stars Show the Kind of Week You'll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult

Aries
★★★★
(March 21-April 19) Others try to get a reaction out of you. Do you want to accept this type of manipulation? Don't become confused when, really, a situation with a friend, child or lo

In the late 1960's the average depth of clarity at Lake Tahoe was measured at over 100 feet. Lake clarity, like a person's temperature, is a sign of the health of the lake. A change in a person's temperature signals a health problem, but it does not tell you what is causing the problem. Similarly, a decline in lake clarity is a sign of a problem, but does not tell us what is causing the problem.
Since that time in the late '60s, lake clarity has declined about 30 feet. Also, over the last decade the amount of algae along the lake's shoreline appears to have increased significantly another sign of a problem.
During the previous few decades, scientists believed that the primary cause of clarity loss was increasing algae growth in the lake. This algae growth was due to increased nitrogen and phosphorus entering the lake from stormwater runoff and atmospheric deposits into the lake. Phosphorus was primarily associated with soil particles. So, restoration and water quality improvement pro

So what is the skunk smell? Is it really from someone either growing or smoking pot?
We have been fortunate to be able to spend our summers in Tahoe for many years. To enjoy the fresh outdoors, the pine scents. This year has been quite different. When outside there is frequently a very obnoxious odor that comes whiffing through. We, too, thought it was coming from a dead animal or skunk. Are we now forced to endure this?
Our guests now comment on this "skunk smell" when they used to praise the clean, fresh pine air. Are there any options to this problem?
Elevina Popp,
South Lake Tahoe

LOS ANGELES - Juan Uribe keeps coming up with some of the biggest hits for the San Francisco Giants.

Uribe hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Jonathan Broxton in the ninth inning and Brian Wilson escaped a jam in the bottom half to preserve San Francisco's wild 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night.

Uribe was hitless in three at-bats before sending a 1-0 pitch into the left-field pavilion with one out. Ten of his 18 homers this season have either tied or given the Giants the lead, and he's been one of their major run producers, driving in 73 in 123 games.

"He's come up with some big homers," outfielder Cody Ross said. "This one couldn't have come at a better time. It's a huge win."

Buster Posey, Edgar Renteria and Pat Burrell also connected for San Francisco, which erased a 4-0 deficit and moved within two games of NL West-leading San Diego.

"It wasn't looking good, but we just chipped away," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's hard to get a

OAKLAND - Becoming Oakland's first 15-game winner since 2007 doesn't mean as much to Trevor Cahill as learning to pitch without his best stuff.

The Athletics' right-hander did both Saturday, a significant step in Cahill's maturation and evolution as Oakland's top pitcher.

He overcame a career-high six walks to throw six scoreless innings and got just enough offensive support in the A's 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

"Last year when I didn't have my best stuff I was still trying to hit the corners," Cahill said. "Today I was just trying to throw it down the middle. The goal is not to walk anybody and I think I set the new standard of walking everybody."

Cahill (15-6) gave up just four hits, all singles. The right-hander, who has won six of his last eight starts, allowed only one runner past second.

Coming off his worst outing of the season when he gave up eight runs and nine hits over four innings in an 11-1 loss at the New York Yankees, Cahill repeatedly had

STANFORD - Andrew Luck stood up for his running backs. He also stood up and found his wide receivers - a lot.

Luck threw a career-high four touchdown passes in helping Stanford win its first game without Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart, beating Sacramento State 52-17 Saturday in the season opener for both teams.

Jeremy Stewart, Tyler Gaffney and Anthony Wilkerson each scored a touchdown for the Cardinal. They were among several running backs used by Stanford, which gained 213 yards, 82 in the first half, on the ground.

"The running backs played a heck of a game," Luck said. "We have been through a spring, a summer and a training camp with them, and as much as we love Toby, these are the guys now."

Luck completed 17 of 23 passes for 316 yards, including an 81-yard scoring toss to Doug Baldwin and a 59-yard touchdown to Stepfan Taylor. Luck also threw TD passes of 15 yards to Baldwin and 5 yards to Zach Ertz.

"We were running the 'fresh legs program,'" Lu

BERKELEY - Freshman Keenan Allen celebrated his second touchdown by slapping a high-five with someone in the stands. That earned California a celebration penalty.

He quickly apologized to coach Jeff Tedford for the mistake. Aside from that tiny hiccup, Allen was otherwise brilliant in his collegiate debut.

Allen ran 18 yards for a second-quarter touchdown, then caught a 48-yard TD pass from Kevin Riley to start Cal's second-half scoring in a 52-3 rout of UC Davis on Saturday. Allen made four receptions for 120 yards.

"I just came out here and played my game, and all things went well. I was real nervous, but I tried to get the guys to keep me calm," he said. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time. I got caught up in the moment (on the penalty). I didn't know we couldn't do that until after the play."

Riley threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns in just more than a half of work, helping Tedford become California's winningest coach in the modern era as the Gol

Just making it to its first game of the 2010 season has been a feat for the Whittell High School football team.
When preseason practice opened three weeks ago with less than a dozen players present, it looked as if the Warriors were facing the distinct possibility of canceling their season for the second time in eight years.
The poor turnout cost the Warriors their season opener against Sierra Ridge in San Andreas, Calif.; they are now set to open their season Friday against ROP.
"We had a couple of scrimmages, so that kind of made up for it," said senior Kenny Boulet.
Once school resumed, players started to trickle out to the practice field. Ski camps and vacations cut into players' two-a-day workouts, but the roster has slowly risen to roughly 19 players.
That's better news for first-year coach Jeff Jones, who is trying to continue the success that David Atherton enjoyed the past two seasons when the Warriors qualified for the state playoffs. Atherton resigned aft

Lake Tahoe-based McCall Realty is offering its customers complimentary office administrative perks including Wi-Fi, scanning, conference meeting space, notary services, copying and faxing.
The "Our Office Is Your Office" program is designed for locals and second-home owners who don't have home offices and occasionally need to fax, scan, copy or check e-mail. In addition, the program offers other services that are available by appointment including reserving a conference room or notary services.
"We understand that in our current economy many people do not want to bear the expense associated with maintaining a home office," said Thane McCall, founder. "We're here to make it easier for our friends and clients to get some work done without having to spend a bunch of money."
Customers can take advantage of the offer through the end of the year. Those interested must register at the front desk at either the South Lake Tahoe office at 2247 L

After 35 years of business, the Tahoe Flea Market in Meyers is being threatened with closure. The California Tahoe Conservancy purchased the land it is held upon from the Elks Club several years ago. Their intention is to return the land to its natural status. The flea market is held two days a week from May through September and draws an average of 600 people each day from all over the world. Many locals visit every week not only to see the unusual treasures for sale at bargain prices, but to socialize with the various vendors who come from both Nevada and California to sell their wares.
It is hoped that a compromise can be reached with the Conservancy to continue the use of their land for at least one more year. As a vendor selling every weekend, it is my hope that we can reach a mutual agreement for the continued use of this land on a year-by-year basis.
In the meantime, I would like to extend an invitation to all county officials and locals to visit us before we close for the sea

Oh, no! It looks like we are about to lose our wonderful flea market here. Isn't there some way for the flea market and the river rafting to coexist on this property?
Evidently, the Tahoe Conservancy is going to use the land they bought for "recreational" purposes. That's great; however, as someone who has worked for recreation companies here for years, I must say, that the flea market is my only recreation. There are few places that provide such an experience for locals here.
Recreation is defined as a pastime, diversion, exercise, affording relaxation, and enjoyment.
I need this place! Does anyone have an idea how to keep it?
Jan Adams,
South Lake Tahoe

The League to Save Lake Tahoe seeks a regional plan that balances four main principles - restoration, renovation, redevelopment, and regulation - to achieve environmental goals. These principles would serve as the four pillars of environmental protection at Tahoe. Maintenance of the social and economic health of the region depends upon a strong foundation of environmental protection.
Currently, there are four regional plan alternatives that propose varying levels of urbanization, regulation, and development incentives, but all fall short of assuring achievement of Tahoe's unique environmental goals.
In fact, the preferred approach appears to focus on economic development. TRPA's Executive Director Joanne Marchetta recently wrote that the Tahoe Basin needs an economic makeover. The agency's solution is to create more commercial space, hotel rooms, and housing. This is a confusing solution. If the economy is suffering with an oversupply of hotel rooms, should more be constr

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A water quality restoration plan that will change how Lake Tahoe Basin agencies manage clarity-reducing runoff, and has been in development since 2001, could be approved in two months.
The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board will meet in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday to give staff direction on how to incorporate the Lake Tahoe Total Maximum Daily Load into the Water Board's Basin Plan.
The goal of the TMDL is to return Lake Tahoe to the clarity levels recorded in the late 1960s - when the lake averaged about 100 feet of clarity - by reducing fine sediment and nutrient input into the lake. Fine sediment scatters light and obscures Lake Tahoe's depths, while the nutrients fuel algae growth.
The recommended changes include modifying the timeline for water quality compliance and formalizing researchers' findings that fine sediment is a significant factor affecting clarity.
Water Board staff plan to bring the TMDL before the Water B

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After 35 years, the Tahoe Flea Market in Meyers is closing.
The closure at the end of September will allow the California Tahoe Conservancy to proceed with the taxpayer-funded Upper Truckee Marsh Restoration, which aims to restore the natural river channel and ultimately improve the clarity of Lake Tahoe. The flea market site, in particular, will serve as a staging area for the heavy equipment needed to complete the project.
But those who spend every weekend rolling out their wares in Meyers say a big part of their lives will disappear along with the market.
"The best thing about it is it's such a community-oriented place," said Randy Mundt, who has operated the flea market since the 1970s. "It's one of the few places in town, along with the farmers market, where you can bring the whole family out there and talk about who's had a baby and who's died and just basically connect. It provides a really good social outlet for social inte