News

If you're having problems logging into Facebook this afternoon, you're not alone. A widespread outage has been reported, stretching well beyond Carson City and Lake Tahoe.

Ironically, Twitter users are tracking the developments.

A deal was struck that allows registered firearm owners to take their guns into Nevada's state parks, reports the Las Vegas Sun. The lawsuit was brought on in July by a Colorado-based Second Amendment foundation.

Here's some great photos from Scott Schrantz at aroundcarson.com.

By Nevada News Bureau staff
CARSON CITY – With less than four weeks to go before early voting begins for the Nov. 2 general election, military and civilian voters located overseas are already taking advantage of a new online system that verifies their marked ballots have been received by local election officials.

With tens of thousands of motorcyclists in Reno, Carson City, Virginia City and Tahoe for Street Vibrations this week, the Nevada Highway Patrol has developed a safety strategy of tips for bikers and motorists.

The idea is to reduce distractions by keeping a sharp focus on all motor vehicles on the road, said NHP Trooper Chuck Allen. Roads throughout Northern Nevada will be filled with motorcyclists and motorists attending the events in Reno, Carson City and Virginia City. Here's a breakdown of what drivers should keep in mind:

For the motorcyclist

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Long-time Nevada resident Art Cooke says he is now officially a disenfranchised voter.
After voting in every primary and general election in Carson City for a decade, Cooke sold his Bodie Drive home and became a full-time recreational vehicle resident upon retirement five years ago. Cooke and his wife Rita spend time out-of-state every year, wintering in Yuma, Ariz. and visiting other states in their luxury recreational vehicle.

The Reno-Gazette Journal, KTVN Channel 2 Reno and even CNN reports Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons was thrown from a horse on Tuesday afternoon north of Pyramid Lake and is hospitalized at Renown Medical Center in Reno. He is said to be resting and was alert when he spoke with staff.

Update 8:40 a.m.: We talked to the governor's office, and they said Gibbons is still at Renown Medical Center, and is listed in stable condition.
Update 1:30 p.m.: According to a press statement released by the governor's staff, Gibbons broke his pelvis in at least two places. He will have surgery today.
His surgeon says this type of injury is very common when someone is thrown from a horse. His doctors say his prognosis is very good and his injuries are non-life threatening and non-life altering.
Update 9:30 p.m.: Gov. Gibbons has undergone surgery and is recuperating in the hospital.  The Governor’s pelvis was broken in several places. The surgery lasted approximately two hours. The doctor who performed the surgery noted he expects the Governor to make a full recovery.

Carson City authorities nabbed a man on Monday suspected of stealing $10,000 worth of jewelry from a woman who hired the 23-year-old to do maintenance work around her home on Friday.

With agreement from the victim, officers hid in a closet when they learned the suspect, Kyle Canyon Curtis, had asked to return to the home, in the 2900 block of Poole Lane, presumably to finish the job.

By Nevada News Bureau staff
CARSON CITY – Nevada state Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson has been selected to serve as vice chairman of the Council of State Governments-West in 2011.
The organization of state legislators from the Western U.S. holds regular meetings on issues and concerns common to western states.

Carson City authorities are at the Nugget Hotel at 651 Stewart Street in Carson City this morning investigating a man found dead in a room. Blood is apparently on the man's face.

The body was discovered by a maid who called the sheriff's office dispatch at about 11 this morning after discovering the man, described as being in his 50s and laying on the bed.

A coroner is on the scene, but there appears to not be a large investigation going on, with a handful of deputies there.

A Yerington man died on Monday after his motorcycle collided with a large truck on Highway 95A near Penrose Lane.

Michael R. Leonard, 46, died on the scene, nine miles north of Yerington, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

The preliminary crash investigation details reflect that a 3-axle 1986 White dump truck was traveling west on Penrose Lane and was approaching the intersection of Highway 95A. The large truck was being driven by 28-year-old Douglas J. Scronce of Fallon. Leonard was traveling northbound on a red 1986 Kawasaki motorcycle, according to NHP.  

Former Republican Senate candidate John Chachas said today he is now residing in Nevada and that he “may run� for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., in 2012.
“I may run,� he said in an interview with Jon Ralston on the Face To Face television program.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera said today he believes the Legislature will have a great opportunity in 2011 to look at ways of broadening the state’s tax base to eliminate the volatility that has created Nevada’s boom and bust funding cycles.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – While Secretary of State Ross Miller has announced he will voluntarily post his campaign contribution and expense report early so voters can review the information prior to casting their ballots in the Nov. 2 general election, other candidates are not ready to follow suit.

The yet-to-be-completed plans for the Carson City Center aka Nugget Project may not be voted on by the Carson City Board of Supervisors until after the beginning of the new year, according to City Manager Larry Werner.

Werner said there will be a status update presented to the citizens committee on Sept. 27. Another committee meeting will be scheduled once the plans are finalized, Werner said. The presentation of the full plans had already been delayed twice before, adding two months to the original timeline.

Prescription drug roundups will be held in Carson City, Dayton, Silver Springs and Fernley this Saturday, Sept. 25.

Bring your unused and expired prescription drugs to the drop-offs for proper disposal by the sheriff's office. Disposal protects the community and its water supply. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Acceptable items include: Unused or expired prescription drugs, over-the-counter pills, prescription liquids, pet medications and syringes. The Lyon County roundup will not be accepting syringes or medical waste.

Candidate for Carson City Assessor, Ian Mindling, talks about how he would manage the job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27T9YlWJEz4

The sacrifices of military families and veterans — past, present and future — are recognized and valued in Lyon County.



That message was delivered in many ways during a “Military Community Covenant” signing ceremony last week during Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey’s September meeting.

Community leaders from throughout Lyon County were on hand to sign a “community covenant” that promises Lyon County communities and State and local groups will work together to increase support to the area’s military families and veterans.

Carson Nugget President Steve Neighbors has penned a guest column for the Appeal talking about his view of the Carson City Center aka Nugget Project. Give it a read.

Here is the Carson City road construction report for Monday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 26. As is our weekly shout-out to our beloved and most-patient motorists, expect delays and give the road crews a brake in the slow zones.

In other words, if your gut knots up because you're running late, relax a bit. As the Robert Earl Keen song refrains, "the road goes on forever and the party never ends."

Besides, you'll make it on time. You always do.

A Carson City father was arrested early Saturday and faces multiple felony and gross misdemeanor charges after authorities found bags of suspected methamphetamine on the floor of his Fifth Street apartment as he was caring for his two small children.

Meanwhile four people, identified by the suspect as friends, face multiple drug charges.

Brett Steven Jones, 31, was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of methamphetamine and prescription drugs for sale, two counts of gross misdemeanor child endangerment and a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charge. Bail was set at $10,000.

The Nevada Highway Patrol has identified the driver of the motorcycle who died at the scene of a three vehicle accident in Carson CIty on Friday night.

James Kevin Montez, 37, of Carson City was pronounced dead at the scene, according to an NHP press statement. The condition of two people, flown by air ambulance to Renown Medical Center, is reportedly that they suffered non-life threatening injuries.

A male motorcyclist died in a three-vehicle accident Friday night in Carson City.

Carson City paramedics and sheriff's deputies have called for at least three ambulance helicopters tonight after a multi-vehicle, head-on accident on South Carson Street/Highway 395.

In a decision that may affect future development plans at Lake Tahoe, a federal district court judge on Thursday overturned a plan to allow the addition of new piers, boat ramps, buoys and other boat facilities along the lake’s shoreline.

Assemblyman John Hambrick this week said he will vie for chairmanship of the Republican Assembly Caucus against sitting chairman Pete Goicoechea if he wins reelection in November. He also expressed concerns about what he characterized as an abuse of power by some in Democratic leadership in Carson City.

Nevada News Bureau staff
CARSON CITY – An effort to change Nevada state law to expand the ability to raise money through charitable lotteries is having a tough time gaining support, the sponsor of the proposal said today.

Four representatives from The Winnemucca Community Garden (WCG) will be the only delegates from the state of Nevada to represent the United States when 5,000 representatives from the worldwide Terra Madre network meet in Turin, Italy this October. This event, in its fourth year, coincides with the international Slow Food Fair.

Here's a pic I took driving by the accident on south Carson Street in front of Local's BBQ. Anyone know what happened?