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Monday morning: Data shows high early voter turnout
As of 10:45 a.m. on Monday, Washoe County voters have returned 28.3% of mail-in ballots, according to a dashboard from the Nevada Secretary of State. That’s 92,646 ballots out of the 327,598 sent out.
Of the returned mail-in ballots, 40.8% are from registered Democrats, 31.7% are from Republicans and 27.5% are labeled as other.
As of Friday, Oct. 30, another 54,581 people have voted in person at polling places.
This year has seen more early votes compared to the 2024 general election, when just 26.9% of registered voters, or 90,382 people, had voted early in Washoe County as of 9 a.m. the day before election day.
By the time results were certified in 2024, data shows 67.6% of voters had voted early, by mail or using absentee ballots.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – For the first time in 14 years, the South Tahoe High School (STHS) Vikings girls volleyball team won the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Class 3A Northern Regional Volleyball Tournament against Tahoe rivals, Truckee. Now, they’re heading to Las Vegas.
The first round of the tournament took place on October 27, with STHS defeating Churchill County High School in a 3-0 victory. Heading into the weekend, the girls played against Fernley 3-1 alongside top-seeded Truckee who beat Dayton 3-1.
STHS volleyball is going to the State Championship in Las Vegas.Provided / Jeff Cowen
“Truckee has always been a team that makes it almost every year,” said Alejandro Dominguez, volleyball head coach at STHS. “They are a very tough team, they have amazing players and great coaching. I have nothing but respect for their staff.”
As they prepared to face off against Truckee on Saturday, October 31, Dominguez said the day started off in high spirits thanks to assistant coach Christy Wilson who made them breakfast that morning.
“From the beginning, you could see that they were in the right mind space,” said Dominguez. “The energy was so static. It was almost like you knew, and they believed that they could do this. The minute they stepped on the court, there was not an ounce of nervousness.”
The last time STHS won regionals was in 2012 under long-time coach Danny McLaughlin. Dominguez began coaching in 2022 and has been leading the team since they were freshmen. He not only praised the girls for their hard work but for how much they care for one another.
“They have worked harder than any team I have ever had the pleasure of coaching, including in Vegas, New York, Connecticut. They’re just such a special team.”
Dominguez also touched on how welcomed he has felt since he took on the role of head coach.
“This community has done an amazing job of making a Cuban-Hispanic male feel right at home,” he said. “They have never treated me like an outsider. They have always given me full range to do what I do best, which is coaching. I am very thankful to be part of this community.”
Now, the girls’ team is gearing up to play in Las Vegas for the state semifinals on Friday, November 6 as the No. 1 seed against The Meadows School, a private school and the #1 Nevada Class 3A rank with an overall record of 27-4. Truckee takes the No. 2 seed and will play against Virgin Valley.
“The interesting thing about our side is that we are all public schools that go against private schools, and the difference is that private schools get to recruit,” Dominguez explained. “We are literally always the underdog going into these things, but that’s what makes it so much more exciting.”
The game starts at 5 p.m. and the winner of each match will play for the title on Saturday at 10 a.m. You can watch the championship’s livestream by visiting www.nfhsnetwork.com.
OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. – Three days. Three distinct musical identities. One stage at 6,200 feet in the Sierra Nevada mountains, steps from the ski lifts at Palisades Tahoe. Tahoe Live is gearing up for its biggest and boldest winter weekend yet, revealing the highly anticipated single-day lineups for December 11–13, 2026, with single-day tickets going on sale Thursday, November 5 at 10 am PT.
Now in its fifth year, Tahoe Live is taking its most ambitious approach to programming yet, with each day thoughtfully curated around some of electronic music’s biggest names. Chris Lake takes house music to new heights on Friday, GRiZ makes his highly anticipated solo headlining return to Northern California on Saturday, and Knock2 closes out the weekend on Sunday with a lineup built around the same artist circle and cultural movement that has defined Niteharts.
While last year’s edition leaned heavily into bass, founder Dustin Esson and the Tahoe Live team have deliberately broadened the musical landscape for 2026, bringing house, bass, melodic electronic and genre-crossing sounds together in a lineup that offers something different each day.
Yet one thing hasn’t changed: one stage and no set conflicts. There’s no schedule to strategize, no artists to sacrifice and no decision fatigue. Fans can experience every performance from start to finish, creating the shared, communal atmosphere that has become central to the Tahoe Live experience.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11: CHRIS LAKE LEADS TAHOE LIVE’S BIGGEST MOVE INTO HOUSE MUSIC
Coming off one of the biggest years of his career, Chris Lake headlines Friday following two sold-out Los Angeles State Historic Park shows that moved approximately 40,000 tickets, his largest headline engagement to date. With his debut artist album Chemistry and a second Grammy nomination adding to his momentum, Lake arrives at Tahoe Live as one of house music’s most commanding figures.
His appearance marks a significant evolution for Tahoe Live. Following a 2025 edition that leaned heavily into bass music, the festival is bringing house to the mountain in a major way, dedicating an entire day to the genre rather than simply adding a house headliner to the weekend.
Joining Lake are Northern California favorites Walker & Royce, alongside Noizu, Devault, Jackie Hollander, NALA and Zaddy B, bringing together artists whose sounds span different corners of house and club music.
It’s a purposeful expansion of Tahoe Live’s musical identity, introducing a new dimension to the festival while giving house fans a full day of music built around the genre.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12: GRiZ RETURNS TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Saturday is anchored by GRiZ, making his first solo headlining return to Northern California since two sold-out shows at the Cow Palace in November 2025.
His only Bay Area appearance in between came at Outside Lands 2026 as GRiZTRONICS, his collaborative project with Subtronics, making Tahoe Live a particularly anticipated opportunity for fans to experience GRiZ in his own headlining setting.
Known for his unmistakable fusion of bass, funk, soul and live saxophone, GRiZ brings a musicality and performance style that has earned him one of electronic music’s most devoted followings. His ability to move between hard-hitting bass, melodic moments and live instrumentation has made his performances an experience all their own.
Joining him is TEDDY PAIN, the electronic music project of Grammy-winning artist T-Pain. Far from a celebrity DJ cameo, the project marks T-Pain’s growing involvement in dubstep and bass music, following his Bass Bootcamp headline debut and collaborations with established electronic producers. His appearance alongside GRiZ brings together two artists whose musical identities extend well beyond traditional genre boundaries.
Rounding out Saturday are YDG, Mary Droppinz, HERSHE, Khoda León and DJ Unni, creating a day rooted in bass music while embracing a wider range of sounds and influences.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13: KNOCK2 BRINGS A TASTE OF NITEHARTS TO THE MOUNTAINS
Tahoe Live closes with Knock2, one of electronic music’s most in-demand artists, leading a Sunday lineup that brings a taste of the Niteharts universe to Northern California.
The San Diego artist, who co-founded the Niteharts festival with fellow producer ISOxo, is joined by Madeon and Control Freak, both of whom appeared at Niteharts 2026, alongside Daniel Allan, WINK x Nikko, Klo and BUNS.
With Knock2’s explosive combination of bass house, trap and high-energy club music at its center, Sunday connects artists whose sounds move between melodic electronic music, experimental production and harder-edged club sounds.
Madeon’s genre-crossing productions and dynamic live performances add another dimension, while Daniel Allan, WINK x Nikko and Control Freak bring their own distinctive approaches to the day’s programming.
It’s a lineup that reflects the creative connections and forward-thinking sounds surrounding Knock2 and the next generation of electronic music, bringing a little of that Niteharts spirit to the snow-covered Sierra Nevada.
THREE DAYS, THREE IDENTITIES — ONE WINTER DESTINATION
Following a 2025 edition that expanded to three sold-out days, with fans traveling from 48 states and lodging in The Village at Palisades Tahoe selling out well ahead of the event, Tahoe Live returns with its biggest lineup and broadest musical range yet.
But what continues to set Tahoe Live apart is where it all happens.
At the base of Palisades Tahoe, the festival grounds sit at 6,200 feet, surrounded by Sierra Nevada peaks rising more than 9,000 feet. The stage is located steps from the ski lifts, with lodging, dining and après-ski throughout The Village within walking distance.
Fans can go from the ski trails to the festival, spending their days skiing or snowboarding before heading down the mountain for the music. After dark, lights, lasers and large-scale production transform the alpine setting, with the surrounding mountains becoming part of the experience.
It’s that combination of world-class electronic music, legendary terrain and the energy of a winter mountain getaway that has helped Tahoe Live grow into a destination in its own right.
“This is probably the most intentional three days we’ve ever put together. Friday, you’ve got one of the biggest and most relevant names in house music owning opening night. Saturday is really special for us, we’ve wanted GRiZ at Tahoe Live from day one, and this year it finally came together. Then you’ve got TEDDY PAIN in that direct-support slot bringing that energy right before GRiZ. TEDDY PAIN is about to have a massive year, and putting those two together creates a pairing fans simply haven’t seen before.
Sunday was literally built w/ Knock2’s camp to give the fans who are part of this cultural movement exactly what they want. That whole crew has created something incredibly relevant right now, and we wanted the day to feel authentic to that world.
They’re three completely different days, but every one of them feels current, relevant and distinctly Tahoe Live. And then you put all of that on one stage, in the snow, at the base of one of the most iconic ski resorts in North America. What else do you need?” said Dustin Esson, Founder, Tahoe Live
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Effective Sunday, November 1, Fire Chief Jim Drennan is lifting the ban on the use of charcoal for BBQs in the City of South Lake Tahoe.
Residents may continue to use propane, pellets, liquid petroleum, and charcoal for BBQ cooking.
Important reminder: Open flame burning with wood is never allowed within the City limits, at any time of the year, except in the designated fire rings at Campground by the Lake.
As winter approaches, the threat of wildfire diminishes but remains present. Residents are encouraged to maintain at least 5 feet of defensible space around their homes, to improve their property’s chance of surviving a wildfire.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Barton Health is expanding access to cancer care in the Lake Tahoe region with the launch of Barton Cancer Care, providing patients with expert, coordinated cancer care closer to home.
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2026. For people living in rural communities, access to cancer care can present additional challenges. The National Cancer Institute notes that these barriers can contribute to disparities in cancer outcomes in rural communities.
Barton Cancer Care is designed to help change that experience for patients in the Lake Tahoe region. The new service line brings together a medical oncologist, chemotherapy treatment, patient and financial navigation, with a dedicated oncology team supporting patients throughout their care journey. Patients receiving chemotherapy can now receive treatment at Barton in an infusion suite created with patient comfort, care, and support in mind. By providing more cancer care locally, Barton can help patients spend more time at home with the people they love.
Barton Cancer Care services will be led by William Schwartzman, MD, a medical oncologist who will work with patients throughout their cancer journey. Dr. Schwartzman will evaluate and diagnose patients, develop individualized treatment plans, and coordinate care with surgeons and other specialists, helping guide patients through each stage of treatment. Dr. Schwartzman brings advanced training in oncology and hematology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
“Cancer treatment often requires frequent appointments, testing, and therapy. Minimizing the burden of travel allows patients to spend more time focusing on healing and less time on the road. That’s the type of cancer care we’re committed to providing here,” said Dr. Schwartzman.
As a Cleveland Clinic Connected member, Barton developed its cancer care program with guidance from Cleveland Clinic experts and its nationally recognized practices. Through that membership, Barton physicians and care teams have access to Cleveland Clinic’s guidance on clinical and operational best practices, quality, safety and patient experience — resources they draw on as they care for patients close to home.
“Our commitment to our community means continually listening to our patients, understanding their changing needs and evolving the care we provide,” said Dr. Clint Purvance, President & CEO of Barton Health. “Barton Cancer Care is a meaningful example of that commitment, bringing more specialized care close to home while drawing on the expertise and nationally recognized practices available through our Cleveland Clinic Connected membership.”
Barton Cancer Care is now accepting patients. For more information or to learn about available cancer care services, visit bartonhealth.orgor call 530.600.1950.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board announced a proposed settlement that would protect drinking water supplies in South Lake Tahoe from a toxic groundwater plume linked to a former dry-cleaning site.
The proposed settlement would require Seven Springs Limited Partnership and Fox Capital Management Corporation, the former and current owners of the property, to provide treatment for municipal drinking water wells and address pollution affecting the Tahoe Valley South Subbasin for a period of 59 years.
The contamination, primarily from tetrachloroethylene (PCE), originated from dry-cleaning activities at the property between 1972 and 1979 that formed a regional groundwater plume. The plume extended from the State Route 89 and U.S. Route 50 junction toward the Tahoe Keys and has contaminated wells used by two local drinking water providers. To ensure residents receive safe drinking water, the providers and the board have worked together to either treat the wells contaminated with PCE or close them.
Under the proposed settlement, the former and current owners of the property will give the drinking water providers $4.1 million for PCE treatment, long-term monitoring and other improvements, ensuring continuous access to safe drinking water for thousands of South Lake Tahoe residents and businesses.
“Protecting water quality and human health is one of the Lahontan Water Board’s top priorities, and this agreement represents a major step forward to address legacy contamination from dry-cleaning activities,” said Ben Letton, Lahontan Water Board executive officer. “The proposed settlement should give South Lake Tahoe residents confidence that their drinking water is safe today — and will remain safe in the decades ahead.”
If approved, the settlement will:
Ensure continued access to safe drinking water by funding groundwater treatment as needed for Lukins Brothers Water Company and Tahoe Keys Water Company.
Providing monetary compensation to the water purveyors for past and ongoing impacts to their drinking water supplies.
Require a 59‑year groundwater monitoring and response program, using a network of monitoring wells to provide early detection of elevated PCE levels before they reach municipal wells.
Continue remediation of the contamination source using technologies such as soil vapor extraction and targeted groundwater treatment.
PCE is commonly used for dry cleaning and textile processing, and scientific evidence shows prolonged exposure to it may cause cancer.
The proposed settlement is subject to approval by the regional board at a future meeting where it can accept or reject the proposed settlement but not modify its terms. The regional board encourages residents to review the proposed settlement and submit public comments by the Nov. 20 deadline.
The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board is responsible for the preservation and enhancement of the quality of California’s water resources in eastern California. For more information about the Lahontan Water Board, visit its website.
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Thanks to local firefighters, an American flag now draws the eye to a once easily passed-over monument on Highway 50 near Spooner Summit. Nevada engraved on its side, the square pillar stands in an eastbound pullout above the now-forested landscape and the Carson Valley beyond.
100 years ago, the view was quite different.
Winds were fueling a fire up and down landscape canyons. The Clear Creek-Kings Canyon Fire had started early the morning of Sept. 28, 1926, at the base of the canyon near Carson City.
One group of firefighters and volunteers moved into position to protect Carson City. Another headed up the hill to keep the blaze from reaching Lake Tahoe near what is now Highway 50.
That afternoon, the fire encircled that upper group of firefighters when a sudden wind shift through the hillside drainages sent it on an abrupt run.
With the fire cutting off the escape route, the firefighters were trapped.
A headline appearing in a Carson City newspaper two days later reads, “Bodies of Fire Victims Close Together.”
Three were killed outright, and two were hospitalized with serious burns and died a few days later.
Erected in 1990, the monument lists George Brown, J.E. Mitchell, Arthur Sunday, and Bryant Whitmore.
“It is important not to forget these men that sacrificed their lives to protect life, property and our natural resources in our area,” Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Matt Fogarty said. “We cannot forget them, or what happened to them.”
Members of the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Zephyr Fire Crew place the hardhats at the memorial each year to signify the lives lost. This summer, they added the hand-painted flag to help draw attention to the stone monument, now partially blocked after the installation of road barriers.
A Zephyr Fire Crew paints the American Flag near the monument. Provided / TDFPD
This marks the 15th year the Zephyr Fire Crew has maintained the memorial.
“There is pride in maintaining it and,” Fogarty said, “honoring those fallen firefighters.”
The fire 100 years ago burned around 8,000 acres west of Carson City, but for the most part spared Carson City.
“A century ago, wildland firefighting looked very different,” Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Fire Inspector Michelle Turner said. “There were no modern engines, protective clothing, radios, helicopters, or escape shelters. Firefighters relied on hand tools, determination and one another.”
Whitmore exemplified this when, according to a statement from the Nevada Governor at the time, he turned back after reaching safety to help Sunday, who was still trapped. They were the two hospitalized.
Although equipment has advanced, looking back at the fire’s behavior on Sept. 28, 100 years ago, Fogarty said, “We are faced with the same situations today.”
Families of the fallen firefighters gathered shortly after the 100-year anniversary for a ceremony honoring them in Carson City at the Nevada Fallen Firefighter Memorial on Oct. 2. The following day, they visited grave sites and the highway memorial, arriving to flags, banners and five silver hardhats.
I grew up in Tahoe, spending time in Truckee and South Lake Tahoe. I moved to Colorado to pursue competitive mogul skiing, and after reaching many of my goals, a serious injury unfortunately ended that chapter of my life and brought me back to the Tahoe Basin. I returned to South Lake Tahoe to begin studying political science and sociology at Lake Tahoe Community College, and found a new way to put my energy into something I care deeply about, helping people get involved in their communities.
I founded the Young Democrats Committee at LTCC and co-founded 50501 Tahoe and the Tahoe Resistance Alliance. I have helped organize the local No Kings rallies, conducted voter registration outreach, food drives over the holidays, and mobilized people in our communities to use their voice to protect our democracy.
The need to protect our democracy for the future feels urgent now. Around the world, young people and their communities are standing up to corruption and unaccountable power by demanding a voice in how they are governed. Their example reminds me that democracy is not something we can take for granted. It lasts because people keep choosing to participate and defend it. The 2026 CIVICUS State of Civil Society Report documents this wave of youth led protest and civic action around the world. We, the youth of Tahoe, need to join this movement.
If young people do not mobilize for democracy, we risk losing one of the largest republics in the world to autocracy. That may sound unthinkable. But a democracy can be weakened when people give up on voting, when leaders ignore the public, and when we become so divided or tired that we stop defending the right of the people to choose their government.
What does this movement look like? It looks like young people bringing their friends into the conversation. It looks like neighbors helping one another understand what is on the ballot, showing up at community events, and making sure their voices are heard. It looks like standing beside immigrant neighbors and defending the rights and dignity of everyone who calls this place home. And it looks like casting a ballot, because democracy depends on people taking part in it.
I truly believe that the United States should be a place where politicians are elected through reason and not treason, through debate and the votes of the people, never through intimidation or force. We have to protect the right of voters to decide who governs and expect our leaders to respect that choice. I want a future where people across the Tahoe Basin can live with dignity and feel safe in their communities. I want peace and prosperity, and a democracy where the public has a real voice in the decisions that shape our lives.
The future is ours to shape, but only if we take part in deciding what it becomes. Young people across the Tahoe Basin need to show up no matter what on November 3 or cast your ballot during early voting. We need to vote for the world we really want.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Rep. Ami Bera and Robb Tucker will face off for California’s remapped 3rd Congressional District in Tuesday’s election.
They are vying to replace Rep. Kevin Kiley after his conservative-leaning district was split up in Proposition 50’s temporary redistricting.
In the June primary, Bera, a Democrat, won the most votes with 34.3% and Tucker came in second with 29.9%. The redrawn 3rd district favors Democrats by 6%, according to a nonpartisan analysis.
Bera has been in Congress since 2013 representing California’s 6th district in Sacramento and is now running to flip the 3rd district seat. He worked as a doctor for 21 years before teaching at UC Davis’ medical school and then turning to politics. He lives in Elk Grove.
Tucker, a Republican, was elected to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors in 2024. Tucker was the President and CEO of a family business until he sold it in 2020. He lives in south Nevada County in the foothills.
Both candidates are well-aligned with their parties’ respective values. Bera’s platform prioritizes protecting the environment, sustaining Medicare and social security, protecting women’s healthcare and helping businesses grow to create local jobs, among other things.
Bera has touted bringing more than $22 million federal dollars to projects in Sacramento and positioned himself as the incumbent candidate, although he represented a different district, with the leadership necessary to thrive in Washington.
Tucker’s campaign emphasizes the need for local control and federal accountability. He has positioned himself as an advocate for rural communities, and he says that working in county government allowed him to see what federal programs actually help people on the ground.
“As a Supervisor, I have stood up for meaningful solutions to protect public safety, support small businesses and create jobs, and protect our quality of life through a responsible balance of growth, development, and agriculture,” Tucker says on his campaign website.
Both said they will prioritize wildfire prevention as well.
Tucker is endorsed by current 3rd district representative Kiley, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton and all the county Republican Party affiliates in the district.
Bera is endorsed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, both senators from California and a long list of Democratic members of Congress from California.
LAKE TAHOE, Nev./Calif. – The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board yesterday approved two violation settlement agreements that uphold permit requirements to protect the lake and sensitive marsh ecosystems.
A manufacturer of motorized surfboards, LIND Art & Technology, Inc., agreed to remove promotional videos and online content depicting one of its electric-powered surfboards being used illegally within regional tributaries, including the Taylor Creek Marsh and Upper Truckee River, and in violation of Lake Tahoe’s no-wake zone ordinance. The company also agreed to pay a $10,000 penalty.
LIND admitted to launching the motorized surfboards without mandatory aquatic invasive species inspections. Hand-launched electric watercraft can transport aquatic invasive species, such as larvae of highly invasive golden mussels and tiny, adult New Zealand mudsnails. Motorized watercraft, such as eFoils and eSurfboards, also present a risk of invasive species spread as they operate in shallow areas and beaches where mud and weed fragments can be picked up. Under the TRPA Code of Ordinances, all motorized watercraft are required to be inspected and decontaminated at one of the agency’s regional watercraft inspection stations.
“TRPA’s enforcement program is about protecting Lake Tahoe and the natural resources that make this region special,” TRPA General Counsel Graham St. Michel said. “Whether that means ensuring development and tree removal follow permit requirements or preventing damaging activity in sensitive tributaries, these settlements reinforce that the rules protecting Tahoe must be taken seriously.”
The board approved another enforcement settlement with a West Shore property owner for unpermitted construction and tree removal. The case involved the construction of a new deck and cutting two trees approximately 20 inches in diameter at a residence on Grand Avenue near Homewood, Calif.
TRPA supports tree removal for forest health and wildfire safety and has worked with partners on the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team to make defensible space simple for homeowners. Most trees under 14 inches diameter can be removed for defensible space without a permit, and larger trees can usually be approved for removal by the local fire protection district or department.
Under the Grand Avenue settlement agreement, the property owner will pay a $15,000 penalty, plant two replacement trees, and either submit a permit application for the illegal construction or, if the application cannot be approved, remove the structure.
The Governing Board also heard informational presentations on TRPA’s work to update the recreation and biodiversity threshold goals, and an end-of-season update on the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Special master E. Alan Tiras has certified election results for the Club Tahoe Resort Owners’ Association.
The former Justice of the Peace in Incline Village–Crystal Bay was appointed to oversee a new board election in April after a Washoe County district judge found the disputes between timeshare owners and the association board members at the time warranted intervention.
Disputes over the 50-year-old Lake Tahoe timeshare involved prior board election challenges, recall attempts and a successor election.
Tiras oversaw a new election on Oct. 17. The election not only established new association board members, but also the board size.
The timeshare owners overwhelmingly voted for a 5-person board of directors, reducing it from seven.
The newly elected board also overwhelmingly includes members of a group called Save Club Tahoe, a cohort of timeshare owners who organized to challenge the former board’s actions.
The newly elected board members are Brian Arnold, Dina Fitch, Gloria DeAlba, Keith Ogden and Robert Payton.
Tiras has set the first meeting of the new board for Nov. 5 to elect officers and address association business. The special master’s role will then conclude.
Litigation regarding former board actions is still active and includes allegations that board members used association-owned weeks to vote themselves in, transferred weeks to a board member without payment, and entered into an unauthorized contract with a management company, as well as allegations of financial mishandling, failure to maintain the property, and other allegations.
LAKE TAHOE, Nev./Calif. – Lake Tahoe boat inspectors intercepted 10 watercraft carrying invasive golden mussels this season as part of 5,200 inspections, reported Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) officials in an end-of-boating-season briefing today.
TRPA and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD) lead the Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program which protects Lake Tahoe from aquatic invasive species (AIS) that can irreversibly harm water quality, clarity, and quality of life in the Tahoe Basin.
For the second year, the program required mandatory decontamination of all visiting motorized watercraft without an intact inspection seal, a critical response to the invasive golden mussel infestation in nearby California waterways. Inspectors intercepted one boat in 2025 with invasive golden mussels.
“Increasing golden mussel interceptions was not unexpected given the species’ rapid expansion in waters from San Diego to Sacramento, but the discoveries underscore the importance of continued vigilance,” Chris Kilian, aquatic invasive species program manager at Tahoe RCD, said. “Thankfully, our team of trained inspectors is dedicated and meticulous.”
This year, nearly 70 percent of all visiting boats arrived Clean, Drained, and Dry, up from 60 percent in previous years, reflecting a new fee incentive for vessels that meet inspection protocols.
“Arriving Clean, Drain, Dry is the most impactful action boaters can take to prevent the spread of invasive species,” Thomas Boos, aquatic invasive species prevention program manager at TRPA, said. “We are excited and grateful to see this continued shift in boater behavior. It will not only protect Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake, and Echo Lake from invasive golden mussels, but also waterways across the U.S.”
The boat inspection program discovered 84 vessels traveling to Tahoe with various aquatic invasive species on board. Of the 84 vessels, inspectors recorded 23 vessels with invasive quagga, zebra, or golden mussels. Invasive mussels can irreversibly harm Lake Tahoe’s recreation, water quality, and ecosystems. They are notorious for encrusting pipes, piers, rocks, and moored boats, and for decimating native and sportfish populations.
Each mussel interception is different, according to inspectors. Some boats carried a single mollusk, while others arrived with hundreds of mussels encrusting the stern. In one case, golden mussels were found hitchhiking on plant matter after a boat took a quick dip in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, reminding everyone that the threat of AIS lurks in mud, water, and plants as well.
2026 Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program resultsProvided / TRPA
Clean, Drain, Dry applies to all watercraft
Any equipment that touches the water poses a risk, as tiny invaders can stow away in standing water or equipment crevices. Partners across Tahoe continued to elevate Clean, Drain, Dry outreach to kayakers, anglers, and beachgoers through trainings, digital marketing, and outreach at popular beaches. The free online Tahoe Keepers training program certified 700 new non-motorized recreators during the 2026 paddle season. The community of beachgoers committed to protecting the waters of Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake, and Echo Lake has grown to 8,900 registrants.
Four new waterless cleaning machines, funded by Keep Tahoe Blue donors, were placed at Fallen Leaf Lake and Baldwin Beach in August 2026. This doubled the fleet of “CD3 Machines” designed to help prevent the spread of invasives already present in Lake Tahoe, like watermilfoil and New Zealand mudsnails, to other waterbodies in the Tahoe Basin.
Additionally, more than 300 paddlers took advantage of free hot water decontamination services at Tahoe boat inspection stations, a three-fold increase in voluntary non-motorized decontaminations, representing the highest level of protection for Tahoe’s pristine waters.
Appointments mandatory for winter decontamination
Decontamination continues to be essential to protect Lake Tahoe, even when temperatures drop. Aquatic invasive species have broad temperature tolerances and can survive even the iciest of Tahoe winters. From October through April, inspection and decontamination will be available by appointment at the Meyers inspection station. Visit tahoeboatinspections.com for more information.
At six years of age old and around 50 pounds, Rue is ready to fetch her way into your heart! This playful, people-loving girl has a big personality and a simple wish list: a good game of fetch, tasty treats, plenty of affection, and a family to call her own.
Rue enjoys spending time with her favorite people and would love a home where she can be part of the everyday fun. She’s an engaging companion who will thrive with a family that offers her plenty of mental and physical activity, along with the structure and guidance she needs to shine.
Rue is this week’s Pet of the Week. Provided / HSTT
Just ask her volunteer friends! Laura D. describes Rue as an easy walking companion who pays attention to her person along the way. Rue loves her liver treats, back scratches, and face kisses. She also enjoys taking her time to explore the world through her nose. As Laura shared, “We spent much of the time just smelling.”
Volunteer Tara S. also found Rue to be a delight. Even when the weather brought rain and thunder, Rue remained calm and easy to walk. Afterward, she happily enjoyed being brushed and spent some quiet time with Tara. She also showed off her skills while practicing sit, down, and shake. It sounds like Rue appreciates both an outdoor adventure and a little pampering!
Rue is looking for a family ready to build a strong bond with her and help her have positive experiences with other dogs. If you have a canine companion at home, thoughtful introductions will be important to ensure everyone is a good match.
Could Rue be the missing piece in your life? If you’re looking for a fun, affectionate companion who enjoys adventures, treats, and quality time with her people, come meet this lovely girl!
Your new best friend might be waiting for you! Rue is spayed, vaccinated, and up to date on her vaccines. To learn more about Rue, please call/email one of HSTT’s Adoption Specialists, 530-587-5948 or adoptions@hstt.org. To view more adoptable pets, visit www.hstt.org.
The oldest fear plaguing mankind is the fear of the unknown.
Harnessing this age-old terror is a tactic commonly used in the horror genre. Writers maintain mystery around the villainous monster for as long as possible.
It’s a powerful technique because the reader’s mind fills in the blanks with a monster far more horrifying (and personal) than anything the writer can offer.
I learned this writing strategy and many others at a workshop this last Saturday by Leo Walsh, called Writing Dread: The Timing of Terror.
Stirred with fascination, and perhaps too many cups of coffee, I talked both ears off my boyfriend about all I had learned.
“It’s called poetic irony when the writer allows the audience to know something the character doesn’t,” I said excitedly. “Like when the house is haunted, but the characters don’t know.”
“Oh, like in Scary Movie 2!” he said.
It was now Sunday, and we were on our way to an opening-weekend game of the Knight Monsters, fittingly on theme.
With terror and dread on my mind, I realized that for a hockey fan, nothing’s more dreadful than overtime.
The unknown outcome is a dark void alight with the flame of a fan’s hopeful wish, which sudden death can instantly douse.
Fans can do nothing to control the outcome. Victims to the nail-biting anticipation, they lock onto every puck pass during OT, even those of us with short attention spans.
We felt that familiar anticipatory dread at the Sunday afternoon game against the New Mexico Goatheads.
The first period was a nil draw, with both teams scoring nothing but penalties. One of those came just minutes from the start for a fight. Gloves hit the ice, and our defenseman Tucker Ness brawled with one of New Mexico’s forwards.
The referee served five-minute penalties. Worth it. We won the fight.
Around the 12th minute of period two, a Goathead sank a puck in the Knight Monster’s net. We didn’t respond with our own goal until the eighth minute of the third period. We were still in it, but with New Mexico outdoing us with shots on goal, I didn’t dare get my hopes up. To my relief, we held onto the tie.
The game entered overtime. Every time the puck neared the home net, Knight Monster fans forgot to breathe. Cheers erupted when the puck neared the Goathead net.
Shots fired from both sides.
Then, at three minutes into OT, it happened.
I didn’t trust my eyes initially. Suddenly, the flashing lights and an airhorn confirmed it.
Ness had put the puck where his punch was and sank one into the net. The Knight Monsters had won the three-game series two to one.
The Knightmare was over for Tahoe. For the Goatheads, who are making their debut this season, the Knightmare had only just begun.
The Vessev VS-9 is a commercial-grade, 10-passenger electric hydrofoil catamaran.Provided / Vessev
TAHOE CITY, Calif. – FlyTahoe is teaming up with New Zealand-based manufacturer Vessev for the upcoming launch of new electric hydrofoil ferries aiming to debut on Lake Tahoe in early 2028.
Ryan Meinzer, Founder and CEO of FlyTahoe, has been recreating in Lake Tahoe for 15 years. Like many locals who enjoy shredding on Tahoe’s surrounding slopes, Meinzer dreamt of more efficient ways to get from North to South Shore.
“I initially had this vision when I was driving the hour, hour and a half, around the lake for countless days every year to snowboard, wondering, ‘Why the heck isn’t there a ferry?'” said Meinzer.
Meinzer knew that due in part to the fact that passenger and cargo ferries are among the worst polluters of any mass transportation entities, strict regulations that aim to maintain Lake Tahoe’s water clarity simply wouldn’t allow it. Financially, ferries also pose as expensive enterprises and without the proper foundation and infrastructure, they become extremely difficult to fund.
After discovering the already existing electric hydrofoil surfboards, Meinzer wondered whether someone was innovative enough to attach that concept to a vessel.
“Sure enough, there’s about four manufacturers in the world that are that crazy, and we’ve partnered with two of them,” Meinzer said as he referred to manufacturers Candela and Vessev.
The Candela P12 launched in Stockholm in November 2024 as the world’s first hydrofoil ferry line. It can seat up to 30 passengers along with their personal gear like skis, snowboards and bicycles. Route goals for Lake Tahoe are designed to connect North and South Lake Tahoe on a fixed corridor in approximately 30 minutes going 25 knots.
FlyTahoe, in addition to their goals to operate Candela’s 30 passenger e-ferry, has just announced a partnership with New Zealand-based manufacturer Vessev to operate their VS-9 models on Lake Tahoe as well.
The Vessev VS-9 is an award-winning, premium commercial electric hydrofoil catamaran seating up to 10 passengers. Featuring panoramic windows, the full standing-height cabin also showcases ergonomic seats with comfortable armrests. The model was first launched in mid-2024 and went into commercial service in 2025.
The Vessev VS-9 received the 2025 Red Dot Award for product design.Provided / Vessev
“There’s a lot of new tech on board, but we have the benefit now of operating these vessels for a couple of years in commercial service, which has given us an awful lot of really valuable insights and a lot of valuable data,” said Fearghal O’Connor, Chief Commercial Officer at Vessev.
FlyTahoe’s vision is to have both hydrofoil vessels run alongside each other in a complimentary way, meeting different transportation needs depending on the experience people are seeking.
Both vessels align with Lake Tahoe’s environmental standards and have been included as a highlight in the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Connections 2050 Regional Transportation Plan.
Notably, the watercrafts’ zero-emission propulsions prevent chemical pollution, and their hydrofoil technology produces an elevated ‘flying’ effect by using underwater wings attached to the mast or hull that generates an upwards lift as speed increases, reducing wake and drag, which in turn, reduces shoreline erosion and sediment resuspension.
The vessels are charged using DC fast charging, capable of charging to 80% of a battery in less than 20 minutes. Currently, there are only two DC fast chargers located at marinas on the lake – Homewood High & Dry Marina and the Tahoe City Marina.
“There’s a saying, ‘ABC: Always Be Charging’. We want to incorporate DC fast charging capabilities into all of our partners around the lake,” Meinzer said.
While FlyTahoe is in talks to partner with multiple lakefront properties, they have not announced who those partners are just yet. It’s no secret that operating these vessels will likely result in attracting even more visitors to our highly sought-after basin, and FlyTahoe is aiming to ensure locals also benefit.
“We can not only get the hiring clients to have this amazing, luxurious experience to get around the lake, to go to their endpoints and spend however much money they spend, but also make this affordable for the locals to be able to rely on this service to get across the lake faster than they would by car,” Meinzer explained.
Resort, restaurant and retail workers, casino employees, park rangers and guides, all the vital roles that make up Lake Tahoe’s workforce may be able to skip the parking fees and hop on one of FlyTahoe’s ferries.
“Ideally, we will find a way for partnerships that allow commuter and worker solutions to be viable for the workers.”
FlyTahoe and Vessev are currently working to adhere to U.S. legislative and certification requirements such as the Jones Act, a Merchant Marine Act that requires all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried on ships that are built, owned, registered and mostly crewed by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
“As we think about developing these vessels and deploying these vessels for FlyTahoe, these vessels will be built in the U.S.,” O’Connor said.
Projections for launch are set for early 2028. For more information about FlyTahoe or to follow along for updates, visit https://www.flytahoe.com/.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Whether through the hawk that greeted her at Freel Peak, or the sunrise on Granite Chief, the Tahoe mountains continue to hold Alison Hardy’s family close.
“They’re in every beautiful moment that is up on those mountains,” she said, “and that’s why I keep coming back.”
Hardy lost her father at the age of 12, her mother at 17 and her brother at 19. “It’s been 25 years since I lost them,” Hardy said, “but it still hurts every day.”
Hardy was born and raised in Carnelian Bay. Her father was a ski patrol member at Palisades Tahoe (then Squaw Valley), and her mother was a local school bus driver. From Christmas mornings to running around the woods as a kid, Tahoe, the mountains and memories of her family are inseparable.
“Tahoe really holds my heart. It’s where I’ve been healing my whole life,” she said. “Grief is a huge driving factor in why I do a lot of what I do in the mountains and why I won’t leave.”
An avid backpacker, hiker and experienced distance runner, Hardy has a long list of activities and accomplishments born in the mountains. She was also a competitive and sponsored snowboarder throughout her twenties, and is now a backcountry ski enthusiast and CrossFit and yoga instructor who has served the Tahoe, Truckee and Carson basins.
On October 4, she became the first female to complete the Tahoe Five Peaks challenge, a test of both physical endurance and the human spirit.
“This is a great challenge to show what you’re made of,” Hardy said, “and to also get to experience Tahoe and its best.”
In the challenge, participants summit five peaks in the Tahoe basin—Mt Rose, Granite Chief, Mt Tallac, Freel Peak, and Genoa Peak—racing against the clock to complete the endeavor in 24 hours.
Hardy after summiting Mt Tallac in the Tahoe 5 Peaks Challenge.Provided
Athletes not only have to overcome one summit after the other (some in the dark), they must also resist the desire to sleep and rest, which deepens with each pounding mile.
It has been called the hardest day hike in America, at 50.94 miles and 14,036 feet of elevation gain.
Hardy attempted it for the first time on September 12, but faced high winds, delays from a traffic accident and other setbacks, falling just short of the 24-hour cutoff.
Exhausted and despairing after the near finish, she recalls saying, “I’m never doing this again.”
“And then within 10 hours, I was like, ‘okay, when are we going to do it again?'”
She contemplated waiting another year before her next attempt, “but that gives another woman 365 days to go and do this,” she had thought.
“There’s a little bit of ego and competitiveness,” she said laughing, “in wanting to be able to be the first at something.”
So, just a few weeks later, Hardy embarked on her second attempt. She carried forward vital lessons from her first attempt, like using poles on certain summits, drinking more water between peaks, and found ways to be quicker.
Although encountering less wind and traffic obstacles, Hardy felt the physical impacts more significantly this second time around. “I was two mountains ahead in soreness on my body,” she recalled.
She doesn’t typically take painkillers, but describes them as her savior on this second attempt: “I could say I was sponsored by ibuprofen.”
Hiking up the hills and running the downhills, Hardy pushed through her angry hips and calves. “Endurance athletes are really, really good at pushing past that mounting need to stop and just keep going,” she said. “I get uncomfortable, and I push harder.”
She digs into her resilience, built from her past to push her forward. “On Freel, the first time, I thought to myself, ‘this isn’t as painful as not having a family,'” she said, adding, “Life is a mountain. You keep going up, and then you go down, and you go up. And then, some days you climb, some days you’re skiing down, some days you’re crawling down.”
Nearly crawling on Genoa Peak, Hardy finished her second attempt in 23 hours and 26 minutes with a hike time of 19 hours and 22 minutes.
One of Hardy’s pacers, Candice Harris, who originally intended to pace the first two peaks with Hardy, continued to the third peak, Tallac. Still feeling well enough, she continued onto Freel and finally Genoa Peak, becoming the second woman to complete the challenge.
The accomplishment brought the two closer. “We kind of knew each other before,” Hardy said, “but now we have this connection.”
Alison Hardy and Candice Harris together became the first women to complete the Tahoe 5 Peaks Challenge.Provided
For Hardy, the T5 challenge was an opportunity to prove her strength to herself and others, reminding her of what she has endured and overcome.
“Grief is not linear, but being in nature serves as a constant reminder to keep moving forward,” she said. “While nothing can bring my family back, I am dedicated to living fully in remembrance of them.”
Through tears, she gave a shout-out to her family, Susan, David, and Carson, and thanked them for being her spirit through it all. “I know my family’s with me when I do these things.”
To learn more or to sign up for the Tahoe 5 Peaks Challenge, visit tahoe5peaks.com.
Marsha Susan Radow, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away at her home in Reno, Nevada, on October 15, 2026.
Born on May 29, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, to Mae and David Hoffman, Marsha grew up in New York where she met and married Jules Radow. Seeking the outdoors, they moved west to Incline Village, Nevada, enjoying 20 wonderful years raising their three sons, Seth, Scott, and Marc, in Lake Tahoe.
Marsha loved skiing, boating, and tennis, and her greatest passion was bringing people together. Renowned by family and friends as an exceptional cook—especially Paella—dinners were the center of family life. Later, Marsha and Jules lived in Aventura, Florida, and sailed the Mediterranean, before returning to Reno to be near their grandkids.
Marsha was preceded in death by her husband, Jules. She is survived by her three sons, Seth, Scott, and Marc; six grandchildren, Adam, Gabriel, Jacob, Rachel, Leah, and Samantha; and her brother, Jeffrey Hoffman.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 29, at 3:30 PM at Chapel of the Sunset (Mountain View Sunset), 437 Stoker Ave, Reno, NV 89503.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Former mayor Tamara Wallace pleaded guilty to one count of felony wire fraud Thursday morning at her change of plea hearing in Sacramento. Wallace faces up to 20 years in prison for embezzling nearly $390,000 from a church in South Lake Tahoe.
She remains out of custody. Her sentencing hearing will be on Jan. 14, 2027 at 9:30 a.m.
At her Oct. 13 arraignment, Wallace initially entered a standard not guilty plea to preserve her rights and allow her lawyers to review evidence collected by the prosecution. As of Thursday morning, she is irrevocably considered guilty by the court.
In court, Wallace sat next to her husband Duane before being called to the podium by Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley. The judge’s first question was whether she intended to plead guilty.
Wallace replied: “That is absolutely correct.”
As a part of the guilty plea, the U.S. Attorney Nicholas Fogg said the prosecution will recommend sentencing Wallace to the lowest amount of prison time in the applicable, and Wallace will pay restitution of roughly $388,000. She will also pay a fine of either $250,000 or twice her monetary gain or loss.
Judge Nunley will determine her sentence based on federal statutes and sentencing guidelines. The maximum amount of prison time for her charge is 20 years, and the court has not yet determined the minimum. Federal crimes do not allow the possibility of parole.
Wallace and her lawyer will be able to review a pre-sentencing report before the hearing in January.
At the sentencing hearing, victims of the crime are able to give testimony about the damage the defendant caused due to the crime. It is unclear who, if anyone, will speak at Wallace’s sentencing.
In response to further questions from the judge, Wallace confirmed her history of mental illness — which she previously detailed in a letter published in The Tribune confessing to the embezzlement. She said she takes prescription medication for it but the prescription doesn’t impact her ability to understand the hearing or plea.
Wallace said she is currently working in the pet grooming industry at a local pet store. She confirmed her name, date of birth and highest level of education as an Associate of Arts degree.
Wallace fidgeted with her hands while waiting for the court to be called in session and, during the initial hearing of the session, she closed her eyes while the judge described that defendant’s distribution of child sexual abuse material.
When asked for comment after the trial, she directed all questions to be sent to her lawyer.
According to her indictment, Wallace wrote herself checks while she was Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church’s bookkeeper which totaled $360,000 and completed unauthorized electronic transfers which totaled $31,000 from April 2019 until September 2025.
In the church’s records, she disguised the checks as reimbursements for charges that she had never paid out of her personal accounts, the indictment says. The U.S. attorney used the example of on Sept. 5, 2025 Wallace wrote herself a check for $7,500 with the only note on the memo being “Reimb.”
The church gave Wallace leeway with the expenses, the indictment says, but she was never authorized to use funds for personal expenses. The indictment says Wallace was a signatory on the church’s accounts and that she was the only person with access to the church’s digital financial records for most of her time as its bookkeeper.
Wallace used the funds for travel and to pay rent on her home, the indictment says.
The church nearly had to close down because of the financial losses resulting from Wallace’s fraud, according to the indictment. It says the church incurred late fees and interest on overdue bills and was forced to take out several loans to stay afloat.
As outlined by the U.S. attorney at her change of plea hearing, the essential elements of Wallace’s case are:
She knowingly and intentionally participated in a scheme to defraud someone of money;
Her scheme included a statement or omission that a capacity to influence people into parting with their money;
She acted with the specific intent to deceive;
She used interstate wire communications in order to carry out the scheme.
TL;DR: South Lake Tahoe has been named Expedia’s #1 Trending Destination for 2027, following a 195% surge in travel searches. Discover why this year-round mountain destination is capturing travelers’ attention worldwide.
The secret is out! South Lake Tahoe is capturing the attention of travelers worldwide, and Expedia’s latest travel trends report confirms it.
According to Expedia’s Unpack ’27 travel trends report, South Lake Tahoe saw a remarkable 195% year-over-year increase in travel searches, earning the top spot among trending destinations worldwide.
And it’s easy to see why. From sparkling blue waters and sandy beaches to breathtaking alpine scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers something unforgettable in every season. Visitors can hit the slopes at world-class ski resorts, explore scenic hiking and biking trails, cruise across the lake, or simply relax and take in the mountain views. Add exciting entertainment, delicious dining, and a wide variety of places to stay, and you’ve got a destination worth discovering again and again.
Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, a romantic mountain escape, or a memorable family vacation, South Lake Tahoe delivers an experience unlike anywhere else.
Who doesn’t love that cozy autumn feeling of walking to your mailbox, or a drop box, or an in-person voting center to cast your vote for local, state, and national leadership?
2026 is a midterm year, meaning no voting for the U.S. president and vice president. With that spotlight off, local races receive more, much-deserved attention. Ideal, since that’s where voters have the most power to effect change. But without presidential candidates on the ballot, there tends to be considerably less participation. In 2022’s midterm election, 36% of California’s voting age population cast a ballot compared to 53% in 2024’s general. In Nevada for those same years, 41% bumped up to 58%.
The irony isn’t difficult to spot: Rules and codes over local development, utility rates, transportation options — these and hundreds more decisions happen in your neck of the woods and are made by the people you vote into office. But it doesn’t have the same drama or them-versus-us vibe, so it might not feel as critical to participate.
We hope reviewing the answers provided by candidates in the following pages adds a reason to your pros and cons list about voting on or before Nov. 3. There are very real issues at hand and critical decisions being made, and who you vote for could turn the tide one way or the other.
For our election coverage in our October edition, we took a methodical approach to the jurisdictions and special districts featured: Those we questioned in person as part of the Truckee Candidate Forum on Oct. 8 — Truckee Town Council, Tahoe Forest Hospital District, and Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District — were not included in print. (You can re-watch those forums, which took place Oct. 6 and 8, at ttm.ompnetwork.org.
A North Shore Election Forum took place Oct. 6, where state candidates participated in a Q&A. Find the recording at firsttuesdaybreakfastclub.com.
Incline Village Crystal Bay Business Association is hosting an IV-CB Community Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. in the Duffield Theater at Incline High School. It will be broadcast live and available afterward at youtube.com/@iv-cbcommunityforum9730.
We also touch on Measure P, which goes before all voters within the TTUSD boundaries.
You’ll find three district-specific questions asked of the candidates, who were allowed no more than 125 words in response per answer. Please sit with their answers and mull over who you believe would best fill an empty seat on a board, then responsibly fill out your ballot and cast your vote by Nov. 3. A healthy democracy depends on participation.
For uncontested races and other information, view our 2026 Election Tracker at tinyurl.com/5f4w5j4c.
Residents must register to vote by Oct. 19. Same-day voter registration is possible, but must be done at a county elections office, polling place, or vote center. Visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov for a list of early voting locations.
Residents must have registered to vote in person or by mail by Oct. 6. Same-day voter registration is possible and must be done in person at a polling location. Visit tinyurl.com/mrfcsc7p for a list of early voting locations.
Two years ago, the Incline Village General Improvement District was in a precarious spot. Fraud allegations, financial issues, failed recalls, and a general manager spot that couldn’t seem to be kept filled — interim GM Bobby Magee, who resigned after three months, followed by Kent Walrack, who lasted a similar length of time before being terminated by a new board. That same month, January 2025, the still-current GM, Bob Harrison, was put in place.
Earlier this summer, Trustee Mick Homan wrote a piece for Moonshine saying that at long last, things are looking up. “With key hires in HR and finance to supplement the existing team, focus shifted to three priorities,” he wrote. “Improving organizational health, restoring financial discipline, and advancing long-term capital planning.”
The shape of that progress looks different to different people. There are three candidates running for two seats on the IVGID Board of Trustees, with only one incumbent running for reelection: David Noble. That means there’ll be at least one newcomer, either Harry Swenson, who ran in 2024, or Ryan “RB” Brooks. The candidates touch on cost discipline, transportation, and utility management.
Candidates were limited to 125-word responses per question, and they have been edited for style and clarity. Order of replies determined by a randomizer.
1. Public transportation has been identified as a critical option to reduce traffic, lower pollution, expand mobility, and more. December 2025’s cancellation of TART (Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit) Connect’s microtransit services and the Aug. 1, 2026, discontinuance of IVGID’s Senior Transportation Program have created a gap in public transportation needs across Incline Village/Crystal Bay. What do you see as the most critical way(s) IVGID can support or encourage expanded public transportation options?
Brooks: The end of these programs left us without on-demand transit for the residents who depend on it most: seniors, workers, and people without a car. As I see it, IVGID’s most critical role is to restore service quickly and on solid legal footing. IVGID’s counsel has advised that [Nevada Revised Statute] 318 doesn’t allow the district to operate transportation directly. Rather, we should let a local 501(c)(3) run the service and receive state and federal funding directly, including [Nevada Department of Transportation’s] [Federal Transit Administration] Section 5310 and Older Americans Act funds and Washoe County senior service contracts. IVGID’s role would be to convene partners and help prepare grant applications. Any direct financial support would be reviewed by legal counsel first, so we don’t trade one lawsuit risk for another.
Editor’s note: Words in brackets were added by editors and do not count against word count.
Noble: IVGID representatives have been in discussions with county representatives since April to strongly encourage restarting/funding TART, which would assist all residents, including seniors. Those discussions have included the use of at least some of the taxes generated from STRs in unincorporated Washoe County (over 90% of those revenues come from STRs in Incline Village and Crystal Bay), which currently go to the county, Travel North Tahoe Nevada (formerly the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau), and the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Unfortunately, IVGID is prohibited from providing public transportation service, unless it is tied to at least one of IVGID’s recreation venues.
Swenson: I would work with the board and amend the long-standing contract with Washoe County to ensure senior transportation services are fully funded by the county and are consistent with services offered in other towns/districts of the county. For instance, the county provides discounted Lyft rides and taxi services for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents. We need to ensure our community is aware of the services available.
IVGID has the responsibility of providing transportation according to the contract with Washoe County; therefore, the elimination of services was wrong. The problem appears to be budgetary and due to the services provided by IVGID going beyond what the county provides in other communities. Services should have been reviewed and refined rather than eliminated.
2. IVGID provides essential utilities while also operating an extensive recreation system. How would you determine which responsibilities should take priority when the district faces competing financial, infrastructure, and community needs?
Swenson: Maintaining and updating our water and sewer infrastructure is critical. Much of it is still original and in state of disrepair. We’ve had too many water main and line breaks. We need to budget and execute on a plan to get it upgraded and properly maintained. At the same time, we need to make the maintenance of our existing facilities, such as the recreation center, a priority. We should budget for these things first and then determine what additional projects can be accomplished. Only projects that can be delivered should be contained in the budget that results in your beach and recreation fees. This would resolve the over-collection of fees from our community while keeping our facilities in good repair.
Brooks: Tier 1 – Public health, safety, and legal obligations. Water, sewer, and effluent systems come first because they protect residents and the lake, and regulations aren’t optional.
Tier 2 – Taking care of what we already have. Before paying for anything new, IVGID should fully fund the repair and replacement of its existing pipes, pumps, facilities, and equipment.
Tier 3 – Core recreation at the heart of our community. Each IVGID facility should be evaluated on cost, usage, and how close it comes to covering its expenses. But keep a holistic approach.
Tier 4 – Wants. New amenities, expansions, and nice-to-haves come last.
Three rules would guide me in how I apply this:
Keep the money where it belongs.
Plan on a five- to 10-year horizon.
Show our work.
Noble: Water and sewer services take priority over all recreation venues because those services are essential to daily life. IVGID recently completed the effluent export pipeline project under Highway 28 — a $62 million-plus project finished a year ahead of schedule and $13 million-plus under budget. Looking forward, I believe reinvestment in IVGID’s water service and ski area should be priority. Wildfire preparedness measures (pipe replacement, backup generators, etc.) need to be accelerated for our water delivery system to be better prepared for future wildfire events. Diamond Peak is the only venue that generates a profit for the community ($1 to $5 million/year), yet no meaningful investments have been made in nearly 20 years — lodge, lift, and snowmaking upgrades are long overdue to address declining skier visits.
3. The past few years have seen ups and downs in the facility fee amounts district property owners pay annually. For example, in the fiscal year ending 2023, residents paid $780. In 2024, that amount dropped to $455. In 2026, due to impacted district finances, the annual fee went up to $1,375. The current IVGID board said the latest increase will help ensure district financial stability and the ability to manage current and future capital facilities. Do you think the board and staff have handled the financial instability well? How would you seek to maintain or improve district financial management moving forward?
Noble: The facility fee was kept flat from 2010 to 2023, while construction, labor, and food prices rose considerably over that period. The fee went up to $1,375 to begin addressing years of deferred maintenance and capital projects that languished due to analysis paralysis. I led the effort in early 2025 to hire IVGID’s new GM, who has rebuilt the finance department. We now have the right personnel in place for IVGID to comply with all applicable fiscal and accounting protocols, resulting in a clean (no exceptions or disclaimers) [Fiscal Year] 2025 audit. IVGID will be removed from the state’s fiscal watch list once the anticipated clean audit for FY 2026 is filed in November, which will enable IVGID to access additional financing tools for future projects.
Swenson: IVGID is collecting money for projects without the ability to complete in the budgeted year for many years; it’s resulted in excessive cash reserves. The excessive cash build-ups have also allowed your money to be used where it wasn’t intended or budgeted. The lower-fee years were during a time when the board linked the fees to the ability to deliver projects and services; they didn’t over-collect but collected for what was achievable. Last year’s capital improvement plan was for $30 million of projects and barely executed on $6 million. Now, with the tripling of fees, they’ve collected another $40 million out of your pockets. The board needs to budget and collect only for projects and services it can deliver, nothing more. Apply proper fiscal management!
Brooks: The current board and staff faced the problem honestly. They built a long-term capital plan, ranked the most critical projects, and stabilized the general fund. The effluent pipeline replacement finished a year early and under budget. That’s real progress.
Going forward, I would:
Instead of raising fees, pursue cost savings and revenue generating opportunities. For example, we have a $400,000 line item for the replacement of golf carts. Let’s solicit sponsors like Titleist or Nike to brand and sponsor the golf carts.
Index the fee to construction costs every year with a published formula.
Autumn Color Reflected in the Twilight
Caples Lake, Calif.
Fall is here, and for photographers, it’s the most exciting time of the year. Grab your gear and head to the mountains. Great images may seem easy, but capturing world-class ones is not as simple as it appears. I have five key elements that I look for in a single image:
1. Color: The sky and landscape should be bursting with color. Brilliant blue skies, glowing sunsets, and vibrant fall foliage make images pop.
2. Water: I prefer a one to three-second exposure to soften the water into a creamy flow of motion. Reflections double the foliage and sky color, creating beautiful, mirrored compositions.
3. Strong Compositions: Find a solid center point, such as an is
olated tree or a splash of color. Your eye should wander around without being led out of the frame. S-curves and diagonals make images more dynamic.
4. Old Things: Ghost towns, dilapidated buildings or barns, and remnants of bygone eras are not only enjoyable to discover, but they are often weathered, rusted, or in disrepair, captivating viewers.
5. Weather: Clouds, snow, and rain can all enhance an image. Cloudy days reduce the contrast of shadows. The first snowfall of the year is a must-see, and a gentle rain to wash away dust is always welcome.
I haven’t yet captured a photo that incorporates all five elements, but I’ll keep trying!
It being a midterms year, Moonshine Ink sought to create a political education column, speaking with academics on the state of politics in the country. In this edition of the Politics Brief, Moonshine spoke with Teaching Assistant Professor Owen Fite, Ph.D., from the University of Nevada, Reno’s political science department. Answers were lightly edited for style and clarity.
You teach a class on political philosophy, so I’m wondering if you can define democracy and tell me about how it has evolved since its creation? Why didn’t the founding fathers go with a direct Athenian democracy?
To give the general synopsis of what Athenian democracy was, it wasn’t monolithic, it wasn’t static. It changed over different years in which it existed. But the most radical take … that I think is worth juxtaposing from today is a democracy in which you had 6,000 citizens who showed up to the Pnyx — the assembly. It’s this hilltop in Athens. And the first 6,000 citizens that showed up there got to be essentially congress members for the day.
Those citizens would be voting yea or nay on the various proposals that were submitted by [a] council of 500. This was still restricted to Athenians, even if there were other city-states and areas that were under Athenian rule. This was still a very exclusive form of citizenship that also did not include women or children or slaves. But these people also were paid.
As a way to make this more accessible even to the poor, you could get paid essentially a day’s wage to show up and do your citizenry duties. And so you had a form of citizenship that allowed for such participation and allowed for real engagement, whether it’s because you were picked by lottery to be one of these more deliberative council members in this smaller body of 500, or you always having this right to show up early to this assembly with 5,999 other folks and vote yea or nay on these various proposals. I don’t think I need to explain to you how different that is from democracy today.
Aristotle gives you a theory as to three noble forms of government — what are pure, virtuous forms of government: benevolent kingship, aristocracy, and polity, or what also might be translated to a constitutional polity of sorts.
The perverted forms, or the forms of government that end up taking shape if the noble ones end up being corrupted, are: tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. Democracy is seen as mob rule, rule of incompetence, rule of those who are subject to material needs. In other words, people are selfishly going into these assemblies looking for what they can get. If they don’t have their needs met, they’re going to be even more desperate and selfish instead of deliberating and thinking of a collective communal good.
And it isn’t until we get to John Locke and what we would call the introduction of liberal democracy that we get kind of this 180, where we get essentially the English Civil Wars, and we get this re-understanding that government is based on consent, individual’s agreement to enter into a social contract and accept legitimate authority.
[The founding fathers] had a lot of liberal ideas to pull from, they draw from Lockean philosophy, and so they have the basis of a liberal democratic government, but one that is still supposed to be based on rationalism, that is still supposed to exclude women, those who are not educated enough, like children, those who are supposed to only be property owning. In other words, still this idea that those who can’t provide for themselves are going to corrupt a public body, seeking their own selfish good if they don’t have their own material sustenance met.
And what one could clearly argue as real skepticism of the everyday citizen, the fact that the Senate was not able to be elected until we get to the 1900s shows that the founding fathers didn’t want everyday people in charge of affairs. The fact that the electoral college existed meant another layer of insulation in which individual people could not express their concerns. By just keeping it in the House of Representatives, it allowed some sort of representation based off citizens, which is still a very exclusive circle.
Not everyone could be a citizen … that would be specifically capped by a Senate. It’d be capped to really make sure that all these warnings made by political philosophers over the last thousand years [about] a tyranny of the masses, a tyranny of the uneducated, would never really take shape.
ZOON POLITIKON: Politics isn’t simply Congress or voting, says Owen Fite, it’s the network of relationships and decisions that shape how we live together. File image
As politics becomes wrapped up in every facet of life, what would you say to somebody who says that they’re not political? How does this tie into Aristotle’s idea of the zoon politikon?
Zoon politikon translates to political animal.
And this is an assumption made by Aristotle that people are political creatures. In other words, politics is not something we should avoid. Politics is the very essence of being human.
The fact that humans have ideas of what is good and bad, what’s better and worse, what is righteous, what is sincere, what is emotion, these are all very human things. And all of this has to do with politics. In order to understand this you have to have a more capacious definition instead of an institutional definition of politics just being Congress or voting.
But politics at its origins is the practice of compromise, of agreeing. Well, that’s what it’s like to be a person. The only way one could avoid politics would be living out on an island by themselves with no interaction with anyone else.
But even that is still the consequence of politics. For example, [if] some different treaties or different governments agreed not to populate this one island,[then] even if someone avoids all politics, the very absence of politics … requires politics elsewhere. And so that’s a different answer, though, to how someone who tells me they’re not political, how I’d respond to them.
I would do a long Socratic kind of back and forth if I had all the time in the world and I was invested in really getting this through. I would ask, ‘What does it mean to not be political?’ I’d throw it on its head. And if someone said, ‘Oh, it’s just I like my job and I like watching my TV.’ I’d ask, ‘Well, how do you have your job? What are the economic forces at play? What are the facts of insurance, the subsidies, the workplace protections, the fact that you have a home, the zoning, the roads that get you from here to there, the fact that you have TV, that you have internet connection here and there, that everything that leads to you being a part of another’s world, that’s political.’
It is interesting because I feel like some of the people I’ve talked to think it’s pointless. They think that they don’t have influence, or maybe they think that there’s no point in voting in the presidential election because they think that the only potential power that they have is within local elections.
What I would call a meaningful distinction of what you brought up is the difference between having agency and influence versus control and masterdom. Yeah, people in the U.S. right now do not have control over their politics.
They do not have a masterdom over politics unless they are one of those few exceptions of a political party elite or Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos-type billionaires. That doesn’t mean someone doesn’t have influence. If I were to have a conversation with individuals, I would probably take it as local, scaled down as possible to think of what influence have you had on friends, on family, on the community, and I would interrogate them or challenge them to say, how is that apolitical? You convincing a friend to watch a certain show over another, going to this event versus another, joining this club, spending their time doing this and that.
Whether they’re subtle or not, they have interconnections with ideas of what is better, what is worse, what are ways that we want to associate, we want to cohabitate, we want to live together, what institutions we want to make, whether they’re formal or informal.
What I problematize about the definition that you cited is that it’s really restricted by an institutionalist type of thinking that, yes, if you only work with institutions and you expect institutions to completely reflect what you want, it’s going to feel like you have no agency, but that’s only one avenue of politics.
The most radical changes over history, the biggest political change happens outside of formal institutions. It creates new institutions over time. You as an individual are not going to do that. You don’t have that control or masterdom, but that’s where you don’t get these big critical junctures until it actually takes up across a large group, a large mass of people.
We go back to the heart of it, which is politics only exists with others. You as an individual are not going to change everything in politics by yourself. It’s all part of a collective action problem, a collective effort.
Three seats of the five seats on the Truckee Fire Protection District board are up for the midterms, but none of them are seeking reelection, which means come Jan. 1, 2027, there’ll be three new faces overseeing the fire district’s budget, policies, and overall services for the community. This is especially notable considering the district’s current legal battle against Placer County over property tax allotment, such impending capital projects as a new headquarters fire station, and the recent union formation.
Candidates were limited to 125-word responses per question, and they have been edited for style and clarity. Order of replies determined by a randomizer.
1. Truckee Fire says a decades-old property-tax allocation problem in Placer County has cost it roughly $40 million since the 1970s. What is your understanding of the district’s claim, and what role should the board play in pursuing a resolution that supports reliable fire and emergency medical services while considering the impact on other taxing agencies? (Read more on this situation at moonshineink.com: Truckee Fire Sues Placer County Over Decades of Unpaid Property Tax.)
McThorn: Unfortunately, there is a confidentiality clause with the legal case, and I do not have all the factual information. Once on the board, I can better understand the issue. From what I know, this should have been addressed many years ago by prior chiefs and boards.
I am not for taking from other special districts within Truckee. This appears to be the threat from Placer County and am not sure that is legal. If the case is won, it should come from the Placer County general fund and not our special districts. Moving forward, the funds should be allocated appropriately to Truckee Fire. If elected, I will share all factual information that is legally allowed so we can move forward responsibly.
Rintala: The district has not been receiving funding from the fire service taxes paid by residents in a portion of Placer County. The district has spent many years trying to resolve this with Placer County. The fire taxes other district residents pay should not have to make up for the funding removed from our region. As a community member, I am not convinced that our local agencies are overfunded by the taxes collected for the TFPD, as the county suggests. The board should seek out and review available information and pursue the case with the entire community we serve in mind. The district should also be ready and willing to engage with other agencies to understand potential impacts.
Witherspoon: Truckee Fire deserves fair, durable funding without destabilizing schools, healthcare, sanitation, or neighboring districts. I reviewed the Zone 7 tax-area records, and the allocation snafu locked into place after Proposition 13 is there for anyone to see. The sanity check is whether Placer County or Northstar [Community Services District] would provide fire protection with those allocations. Quite simply, they wouldn’t. Correcting this historical imbalance will have a financial impact on the county and/or our local special districts. The board should protect the district’s legal position while making settlement the priority. I would require transparent reporting on legal costs, verify the service-cost analysis, and bring Placer County and affected agencies into structured negotiations.
Brown: The lawsuit is active against Placer County by Truckee Fire. This case should be guided by fairness, fiscal responsibility, and what is legitimately owed to our fire district. We have been pursuing a fair resolution with Placer County for decades; with better communication this could have prevented the lawsuit. While retroactive funding may not be recoverable, we should establish a fair path forward. Our emergency services remain unchanged for these areas while local taxpayers bear the costs. I believe there are sufficient resources to reach an equitable solution without negatively impacting other agencies. The court should make a ruling and Truckee Fire will acceptingly move forward. If settlement is needed, I would support collaboration, transparency, and a fair outcome for all involved.
Golden: I completely agree that we cannot take resources away from our schools or healthcare district. A zero-sum fight between local emergency services and education is not the answer.
At the same time, we have to be honest about the problem. Billions of dollars of development have occurred in the Martis Valley, creating more people, more homes and more fire risk, while Truckee Fire remains understaffed. I believe Placer County needs to be part of the solution. We should work toward a long-term agreement that better recognizes the cost of protecting these communities.
My goal would be simple: make sure the tax revenue generated here is helping provide the services needed here, while working with our neighboring agencies rather than taking resources away from them.
2. Significant capital projects are on the horizon for Truckee Fire, including Station 90, a new headquarters fire station, and a regional training facility for Truckee and its partner agencies. What are three specific ways the board of directors might hold the line on fiscal discipline during the planning and implementation of these and other projects?
Golden: Fiscal discipline doesn’t mean saying no to every major project. It means making sure we’re building what our community actually needs and getting the most value for every taxpayer dollar.
I’m particularly supportive of seeing the regional training facility through because I believe it can make Truckee and our neighboring agencies better prepared while sharing cost and resources. I would work directly with partner agencies to make that happen.
Training matters. Firefighters cannot be expected to perform at their best during a structure fire if they can’t regularly practice those skills. Technology, equipment, and fire behavior continue to change, and we have to keep our firefighters current. I would expect strong budgets, accountability, and regular oversight while investing in training that keeps our community safe.
McThorn: The new station 90 is still in the early phase and changes can be made. From what I know, there is not a definitive funding plan. There should be a collaborative effort moving forward with all stakeholders, Transient Occupancy Tax, and community input. Fiscal responsibility is always a priority with public funds. It is a good plan with an attached fire station from what I have seen.
The need for a regional training facility should be a priority. Our goal should be to keep our firefighters within or close to our district when training. Training is a top priority, and Truckee is one of the most uniquely challenged areas in the country. Our firefighters need to be ready at all times.
Rintala: With three new board members, the prospective capital projects should be reviewed starting with a thorough needs and benefits analysis as we look to modernize and grow with our community. The district is healthy and should explore accessible funding options while prioritizing the most important capabilities we can afford to pursue. These are high-impact projects that can improve capability and service quality if well planned. A fire station is a large investment. Community-supported funding must be considered in the context of overall community needs, aging infrastructure, and resource availability. The board needs to honor and protect the existing partnership with voters that brought us wildfire risk reduction through Measure T funding and plan to build forward in concert with other community providers.
Witherspoon: Representing taxpayer interests starts well before construction. Station 90’s 18,000-square-foot concept carries a preliminary estimate of about $24 million. At that scale, the district must validate and prioritize needs, compare smaller and phased alternatives, identify external funding, and show that construction will not weaken reserves or service levels. Any capital plan must address upgrades to aging stations and prioritize the highest needs. For greenlit projects, I would require updated cost estimates and public board approval at design milestones, bid awards, and significant change orders. For a regional training facility, each partner’s capital contribution, operating share, governance rights, maintenance obligation, and exit terms should be documented before Truckee commits. We should fund what crews need, what population growth demands, and what the tax base can sustain.
Brown: I believe a new fire station can be an important investment in our community’s safety, but we need strong safeguards before committing significant taxpayer dollars. I would support a thorough feasibility study, independent cost estimates, realistic construction timelines, and a clearly defined project scope. The board should establish a firm budget with appropriate contingency reserves, require competitive bidding, and have any significant scope or cost changes return to the board for approval.
We should also evaluate long-term operating and maintenance costs, secure outside funding where possible, and regularly review the project against established milestones. Most importantly, the community deserves transparent reporting throughout the process. Good planning means anticipating challenges before they become expensive problems and ensuring we build what Truckee needs while protecting taxpayers.
3. Earlier this year, Truckee firefighters joined the Sierra Nevada Firefighters Local 3800 union. What changes, if any, have you observed in the district’s internal communication, collaboration, or service delivery since then? As a board member, how would you support a constructive working relationship among executive staff, the board, and union members?
Brown: I respect the employees’ choice to go union and encourage good collaboration. The transition and relationship are new and priorities should be open communication to build trust, accountability, and a strong working relationship. We can work together to build a problem-solving partnership and I’m positive the union relations will continue to develop. Since the unionization, the board has approved a change in service for the better with regard to daily minimum staffing levels. The staffing levels are now increased by two personnel, making a mandatory of 10 personnel. This is an important improvement from the previous minimum staffing of eight. There is always room for revision and conversation to increase these levels in the future based on district needs and fiscal availability.
Golden: I believe the most important thing is that everyone remembers we’re on the same team. Our firefighters, executive staff, and board may have different perspectives, but we all have the same responsibility: providing the best possible fire and emergency medical service to our community.
Since firefighters joined Local 3800, I believe the board should embrace that relationship, not treat it as an obstacle. I would make a point of listening to our firefighters and understand what they’re seeing on the ground, while also respecting the responsibilities of the chief and board.
Good organizations communicate openly, address problems directly, and hold each other accountable. I would work to build that relationship: one that’s based on respect, transparency, and a shared commitment to the people we serve.
McThorn: Since unionizing, the internal communication seems to be strained. With my experience in labor and management communications and negotiations, I will bring stability, open lines of communication, and straightforward discussions. I have learned over my career that such communication will always prevail. It will unify and gain trust among labor and management and build a stronger fire district. The firefighters and prevention officers are front line and have the best insight for positive change. As a board member, I would like to see monthly labor and management meetings with set achievable goals, and a monthly report to the board. To be a truly effective union it takes the labor group to be proactive and communicate factually. We must work together to better serve our community.
Rintala: The union relationship is new and all parties still have to learn how to work with each other under a new system. Attending board meetings over the last year and listening to firefighters, I’ve observed difficulty from all sides while individuals remain mission-driven and strive to deliver outstanding service to our evolving rural community. TFPD’s extraordinary firefighters, staff, and leaders work with many response partners for rapid, scalable, and reliable emergency response. The national advocacy from the union promises to bring guidance to our team that helps keep our firefighters, residents, and visitors ever safer in emergencies. The board should actively guide respectful engagement from the boardroom to the front line putting our community and our Truckee Fire team ahead of turf battles.
Witherspoon: I am not inside the organization and will not claim firsthand knowledge of private workplace dynamics. Public statements surrounding the unionization suggest employees wanted a more consistent voice in district decisions. I have seen no evidence that unionization has diminished service, and I support employees finding a constructive way to be heard. I welcome the perspective a regional union can bring from peer fire districts. As a board member, I would support scheduled labor-management meetings, anonymous employee climate surveys and more transparency with staff, e.g., livestreaming board meetings so employees can follow them remotely. The board should respect collective bargaining and the chief’s chain of command while ensuring employees can raise concerns safely. Constructive labor relations are necessary to sustain excellent public service.
