Hello, North Lake Tahoe!

In case we haven’t met, I’m Captain Michelle Baxter, your Placer County Sheriff's Office East Placer Station Commander out of North Lake Tahoe. I’ve proudly served with the Sheriff’s Office in North Lake Tahoe since 2004. It’s hard to believe the changing of the season is already upon us, but that means now is the time to get ready for winter.

I often have people ask, “What’s this winter going to be like?” The best answer I can give is, “I’ll let you know in April.” That rings true this year, even with El Niño conditions in the forecast. We can’t predict exactly what the season will bring, but we can take steps now to be prepared for whatever comes our way.

Our North Lake Tahoe patrol area brings unique challenges during the winter months. Heavy snowfall, icy roads, fallen trees and power outages can affect daily routines and, in some cases, create emergencies. Our deputies are here to help keep our community safe, but preparation at home can make a big difference, too.

Plan ahead for travel. Check road and weather conditions before heading out, allow extra travel time and carry tire chains when required. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle with warm clothing, blankets, water, snacks, a flashlight and basic first-aid supplies. When conditions are severe, consider postponing nonessential travel.

Stay informed and look out for one another. Sign up for Placer Alert to receive important emergency notifications, including evacuation warnings and orders. Bookmark the county’s Ready Placer Dashboard for current incident information, road closures, weather conditions and power outage resources. Check on neighbors who may need extra assistance, especially older adults and those with medical needs.

You can also find information about local snow removal and road conditions, sandbag locations and other seasonal resources through Placer County’s ReadyPlacer website.

Or find specific El Niño resources and information here.

Winter in the Tahoe region is part of what makes this community special, but it also asks us to be prepared and look out for one another. A little planning now can make a big difference when the weather turns.

From all of us at the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, stay safe, stay warm and have a great winter season. We look forward to continuing to serve you!

-- Cpt. Michelle Baxter

Join the next Board of Supervisors meeting today, Oct. 20, at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach to hear about several initiatives in North Lake Tahoe, including:

• A potential single-use plastics ban ordinance
• A memorandum of agreement with UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center for potential expansion into Tahoe City on county properties
• Consideration of the SNOW Museum and Community Cultural Center project
• Consideration of Cabin Creek Biomass Facility partnership agreements
• North Lake Tahoe Tourism Business Improvement District 2026 annual report and the Olympic Valley TBID annual report
• Update on the Economic Health and Catalyst Initiatives Roadmap
• Consideration of Tahoe Fund’s commemorative bear plaques agreement to support improvements at Commons Beach

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and all are welcome to attend. VIEW AGENDA

Forgot to renew your library books?

Placer County Library now has you covered. The library has launched a new automatic renewal program that gives patrons two additional  renewal periods with no action required. Patrons will receive an email or text notification with their new due date, making it easier to keep track of borrowed materials and avoid overdue items. READ MORE

Parking, traffic and pedestrian improvements will soon be taking shape in downtown Tahoe City following a $700,000 Surface Transportation Block Grant awarded to Placer County by the California Department of Transportation. 

The Tahoe City Downtown Access Improvements Project is now fully funded thanks to both the Caltrans grant and local investment from TOT-TBID Dollars at Work, which will advance improvements identified in the Tahoe City Mobility Plan. A total of $1.5 million has been invested in the project through transient occupancy tax funds. The project is designed to improve access, circulation and multimodal connections throughout downtown Tahoe City for residents, visitors and businesses. READ MORE