Writers in the wild: Unloading the U-Haul

by n Carly Heltzel Follown cheltzel@tahoedailytribune.comn | Sep 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

I’ve driven up Highway 50 many times in my life, but this weekend was different. I was voluntarily trailing a nine-foot cargo van with a “$19.95 IN TOWN” sticker plastered across the back, something I can confidently say I’ve never let happen before for longer than a mile. And, perhaps more notably, this time I’m not driving back.

This is my first big move, the only prior ones being actual “in town” moves from college apartment to college house, always a summer at my parents’ in between. Now as my sister and I unloaded the U-Haul, I pictured the next two years of my life. I thought I would feel nervous to start work. I was giddy. 

In the eight years since I joined my high school paper, I carved out time for journalism. I interviewed people during lunch. After my homework, I wrote. I worked for outlets on the side. I spent my Tuesday nights at city council meetings. Starting my undergrad at Cal Poly, I wrote my first story for Mustang News before I had been to a class. I woke up at 6:30 every morning for two and a half years to write a newsletter, even after funding dried up. I interned. I edited.

Now I get to spend every day doing what I love and serving this community while becoming a part of it. I’m very grateful to be here.

I was placed at the Tahoe Daily Tribune to report on housing issues in the Tahoe basin for two years — one of 35 new fellows through UC Berkeley’s California Local News Fellowship. 

I’ve wanted to be a housing reporter since I was 16, watching my neighbors in Silicon Valley slowly get priced out and legislation target homeless residents in my hometown. Reporting on these issues gave me a sense of agency and purpose, which I hope to pass along through in-depth reporting and accessible stories. I minored in City and Regional Planning to be able to decipher the city bureaucracies I would face in doing this work so other people don’t have to. 

In the first few days I’ve lived here it’s become clear to me what a strong community South Lake Tahoe is. Walking through my neighborhood, everyone I passed said hello and let me pet their dogs. Everyone I talk to gives me recommendations for places to eat or get coffee, which I’ve accumulated in my notes app.

While I can’t offer you any recommendations of things to do just yet, I can tell you that I spent my weekend unpacking, meeting my new roommates, taking walks in my neighborhood, lounging on the beach in Meek’s Bay with some of the other fellows in my program and anticipating what my life will look like here in just a short time.

Unloading the U-Haul was the highlight of my weekend, simply because of how excited I am to be the newest member of South Lake Tahoe’s community.

If you see me in the wild, please come up and say hi, I want to meet as many people here as I can. And if you have story ideas or tips, send them my way at cheltzel@tahoedailytribune.com.

Interim LTCC president turns the spotlight to her staff in a well-received State of the College Address

by n Carly Heltzel Follown cheltzel@tahoedailytribune.comn | Sep 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

Conversations about artificial intelligence and the search for a new president of the college are the two newest priorities for Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) this year, Interim Superintendent/President Russi Egan said in her State of the College address Thursday morning.

Public Information Officer Mark Thompson also publicly unveiled the new, highly anticipated LTCC logo in a video shown at the address — the result of a nine-month public engagement process.

LTCC’s Duke Theater was packed as Egan took the stage, her first major public appearance since beginning her term a little over a month ago. Previously, Egan served as LTCC’s vice president of administrative services.

As Egan introduced her core values, she said integrity meant “doing the right thing even when it’s difficult, like right now.” The crowd laughed, someone in the back shouted “You got this Russi!” and a chorus of cheers egged the interim president on.

Throughout the address, Egan touched on major topics such as the on-campus student housing that opened last fall, a new campus dining option with an affordable meal plan for those students and a pilot program with Chico State to offer a psychology bachelor’s degree on LTCC’s campus.

Egan said all 100 beds are full in the new on campus student housing, providing a more affordable option for students who aren’t from the area to attend LTCC.

Her speech also highlighted over $500,000 in scholarships distributed by the college’s foundation, the new transfer center with available grants and the grant-funded employee mentorship program and cultural fluency teaching academy. 

A new Credit for Prior Learning program also gave students over 1,000 college credits for relevant experience including from military service, employment and other learning programs, Egan said. One of the most common applications was the 25 eligible credits for students who completed training at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Mono County. 

Egan also noted the ongoing partnership with Mt. Tallac High School in South Lake that supplements LTCC’s enrollment, even as community colleges across the state have seen massive decline since the pandemic.

After reviewing the progress of the college’s goals, Egan introduced two more that are specific to this year. One focused on beginning meaningful conversations on the opportunities and responsibilities that arise with artificial intelligence. The other is searching for a permanent president who can lead the so-called next chapter of LTCC, punctuated by the college’s new branding.

Egan’s remarks were continuous with the projects and priorities under former Superintendent/President Jeff DeFranco, based on his speech in March during which he announced his departure. DeFranco concluded his nine years at the helm of the college at the end of last school year. 

The LTCC Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Egan to fill the interim role this summer, and she will serve until June 30, 2027 or until the board appoints a permanent replacement.

Even more so than the listed theme of “Open Doors,” the address was a display of the behind the scenes collaboration on LTCC’s biggest projects. Egan repeatedly diverted attention from herself as leader to highlight employees from around campus.

The majority of the event was spent watching prerecorded videos of people around campus giving updates on new programs and services that budded in the past year.

Videos included everyone from the new student senate president, who has not historically been included in the address, to a punny faculty member who spoke of upcoming priorities while walking around Bratislava, Slovakia.

Several audience members afterward said they appreciated the selfless nature of the speech.

“[Egan] really involved a lot of the people that did the work, which was fun to see all our smiling faces up there on the screen, being proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Laura Ryland, a human resource specialist at LTCC, said after the speech.

Ryland was featured in a video about the student success grant that provided meals for non-traditional groups on campus, like the SilverSneakers club that meets in the campus fitness center. 

Board Trustee Kerry David contrasted this inclusive focus with prior State of the College Addresses.

“The theatrical presentations of our former president focused on his participation rather than the participation of all of our staff,” David said. “I thought Russi did a wonderful job in presenting everybody on campus.”

David was featured alongside his longtime mentor and one of the founding members of LTCC Roberta Mason. David read a passage from LTCC’s new history book that featured Mason and her work to establish the college before wishing her a happy early 97th birthday.

After the fact, David said Mason was a good friend to him and reflected on the opportunity to share that moment with her.

“It was,” he paused, looking down. “It was moving.” 

Mason was presented with a bright pink cake donned with sparkly “97” candles as the theater sang happy birthday and gave her a standing ovation. 

As the board begins their nationwide search for a permanent president, David said those with knowledge of California’s law will be most seriously considered. 

When asked if Egan will be considered for the permanent role David said: “If she applies, she’ll certainly be considered. I think she did a great job today.”

Stacy Grajeda, the student senate president, said this was the first time the student senate was included in the address. She added it was “really nerve-wracking” to record the video introducing herself and her priorities that was shown, but that it will help her as she hopes to make the student government more visible to students, faculty and staff alike. 

“I love all these videos,” Grajeda said. “I really like that they’re reaching out and having these people there.”

Grajeda also said she appreciates Egan showing “this little silly side of her” in the address since students mostly see her in her office talking with important-looking people. 

Egan gave the audience a window into her life, sharing about the daily joy she learned from her dog Maggie and the problem solving skills and stress relief she learned from crocheting, displaying photos of her colorful creations on the screen. 

In crocheting, Egan said, “Small stitches become something pretty meaningful,” drawing comparison to the inner workings of the college.

Another highlight for multiple LTCC community members was student Hudson Conners’ video reflecting on his three years at the college shown at the very end of the address.

Vertical videos and Snapchat memories flashed across the screen as River by Leon Bridges crooned in the background. At the end, “HOME” stretched across the screen.

Egan was tearing up as she got back on stage, and her voice broke briefly as she told the crowd that the student belonging shown in Conners’ video is the reason LTCC is such a special place. 

“Everything shared today, every goal, initiative or program ultimately comes back to students, like Hudson, and the difference that you make in their lives,” Egan said at the end of her remarks. “Thank you for welcoming them, thank you for believing in them, thank you for opening doors for them every day. And thank you for everything you do for LTCC.”