Latest Stories

Bobby the Boxer Benefit Breakfast/Silent Auction

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – State senator Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, has had enough of percentages.
Just the numbers, please, was his basic request at a Senate Finance committee meeting this past week as various state agencies delivered their budget reports.

The traffic signal at the intersection of N. Saliman Road and E. William Street will be modified on February 22. A signal will be added for vehicles traveling northbound on N. Saliman Road and turning left onto westbound E. William Street. No interruptions to traffic are expected, but please use caution in this area.

Utility work will occur on Russell Way between Northridge Drive and Long Street on February 22-23. Two-way traffic will be maintained with flaggers.

Shoulder work will occur at Stanton Drive and Monte Rosa Drive due to sidewalk improvements.

CARSON CITY – A Nevada group has beat out 71 national competitors to mentor small businesses under a federal program.
The federal Small Business Administration picked the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization earlier this week to be a pilot for an entrepreneurial mentoring program.
NIREC joins just three other companies nationwide in the program designed to pair mentors with participating companies to assess needs, opportunities and strategies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uLECuGK07U

Several people at yesterday's Board of Supervisors meeting mentioned the generosity of Mae Adams for donating land to Carson City for the proposed Knowledge and Discovery Center and public plaza, the centerpiece of the City Center/Nugget Project.

I've heard some critics complain about this donation, which does little to bolster their case. Despite the unorthodox lease deal, it really is a donation we should be thankful to have the option of using for a new library.

But this donation does come with one very large and expensive string attached.

We have heard from multiple inside sources about the abrupt departure Wednesday of Editor Peggy Santoro from the Nevada Appeal newsroom. We don't know the details, and understanding how these things work inside that company, we may not know for a while, if ever.

After a marathon meeting today, the Carson City Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to allow staff to begin negotiations on agreements to develop the City Center/Nugget Project.

But the project may face hurdles getting final approval, as two of those voting yes expressed concerns about the project.

Western Nevada College campuses in Carson City and Douglas County will be closed Friday because of the winter storm. Click here for more information.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A state Senate resolution telling Congress to respect Nevada’s right to govern itself under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is expected to get a hearing, the chief sponsor said today.

Catch this show at Brewery Arts Center:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_59bZOQnng

By Andrew Doughman/ Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – In certain circles, nothing raises the collective blood pressure like talk of ARRA and the federal stimulus bill.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Barack Obama signed into law two years ago has channeled $800 billion to the states in an attempt to jolt the economy to life.

A fresh round of snow for the Carson City and Carson Valley regions is expected with a new storm approaching today.

A cold low pressure system will continue to develop along the West Coast and bring periods of heavy snow to the region through Friday night, according to the National Weather Service in Reno and Carsonweather.com.

It happened almost too fast. Mayor Bob Crowell made a quick motion, and asked if anyone on the board had any appetite for raising property taxes. No one did.

The finance director spoke up to suggest a small adjustment for one area. Supervisor Karen Abowd made a different motion to keep taxes the same except for this small adjustment. That motion passed unanimously.

This may be the biggest agenda for a Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting in a very long time. The three big items will be a proposed 14 percent property tax rate increase, the $4.5 million first phase of the Multi-Purpose Athletic Complex (MAC), then followed up by the Carson City Center/Nugget Project after lunch. (The full agenda is here)

If you don't have the free time to spend the entire day in the Sierra Room at the Community Center (and limited seating may be an issue), you can keep track of the fun with our live video feed right here. We'll also be liveblogging the meeting via Twitter, as there is sure to be a lot to comment on, so we invite people to join in.

As a warm-up for the Nugget Project discussion, here is a story from the Appeal about that issue, that lists a lot of commentary from locals about the project.

Update: The meeting is in recess until 2, when they take up the Nugget Project.

Gee, and you thought the big issue at Thursday's meeting of the Carson City Board of Supervisors was going to the redevelopment project that has been the object of heated discussions for the past year.

But the revelation that a 14 percent hike in the property tax rate was also on the agenda seems to be causing people to put the Nugget Project on the back burner.

I received a call from the Builders Association of Western Nevada this afternoon about a big property tax increase the Carson City Board of Supervisors is going to vote on tomorrow.

The funny thing is, I read through the agenda last week and didn't see it. But it was easy to miss. It is number 15 on the agenda, and the language used gives very little clue as to what it is (the document is attached below).

CARSON CITY – It took less than a day before Sen. Elizabeth Halseth had the attention she was looking for.
Tim Crowley, a lobbyist for the mining industry, said he called her this morning to schedule a meeting after she asked in a Tuesday night blog post, “did mining just hit a brick wall?”

CARSON CITY – State Sen. Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, told a Senate panel today the Legislature should move forward with repealing the state’s minimum wage law.

With falling and blowing snow throughout Northern Nevada earlier today, troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol were kept busy by responding to several calls for service this morning, Trooper Chuck Allen reports.

In a six-hour timeframe between 4 am to 10 am, 19 motor vehicle accidents were investigated, 17 slides-offs or spin-outs were reported and the Department of Public Safety-Communications Center fielded 298 phone calls.

With the snow clearing up, the Carson City Chamber of Commerce says it is even more of a reason to join them at their weekly mixer, today at Lodge Assisted Living & Memory Care, 2200 E. Long Street.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A bill from Sens. James Settelmeyer and John Lee would ease regulations for carrying a concealed semi-automatic weapon.

Monica Ricketts, 19, has written a book of poetry and recently land a job with Disney Cruise Lines playing Cinderella & Snow White:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MtesJLNYwY

Winter roared back in Carson City and the Sierra this morning, with heavy snow and accumulations of a few inches on the valley floor already.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for the Carson City and Carson Valley regions, with a winter storm warning underway for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra, according Carsonweather.com.

A Reno man who had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest on an assault charge was found at a Carson City casino with methamphetamine in his possession, authorities said.

Seven fun-loving people from this area spent last Saturday and Sunday, February 12-13, traveling on the Amtrak passenger train between Reno and Sacramento, Calif.

--See Don Q's Outdoor report

Those seven were: Mary Bottoms, Bob “Slick” and Lynda McCulloch, Elaine and I, all of Carson City; and Sal and Catali Quilici of Dayton.

Here is the Fishing Report for the week of Feb. 16-23:

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 www.shastacascade.com reported:
Current water surface temperatures are at 35.5 degrees with water clarity at 7.5 feet. It has been sunny all week as forecasted. With the afternoon highs moving into mid to low 50s, and more sunshine is on the way, with the next possibility of some rain near mid week.

By the California Department of Fish and Game
The public is invited to testify at an upcoming public meeting about salmon populations and the 2011 ocean and river salmon fisheries.

The 2011 Salmon Information Meeting, sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), will be held March 1 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Sonoma County Water Agency Building located at 404 Aviation Boulevard in Santa Rosa.

By GrandViewOutdoors.com
The battle to rid Alexander Creek of salmon-munching northern pike may escalate into a war next summer. More pike will be targeted by state biologists after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was awarded $635,000 from the Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund for a four-year program to kill pike.

That supplements $127,000 in state money devoted to the project.

By GrandViewOutdoors.com
A federal agency has announced $23 million to protect grasslands in Wyoming, Colorado and Montana for sage grouse, a chicken-sized bird whose males are known for flashy mating displays.

It would be offered as matching funds, with state, local and tribal governments or non-government agencies providing the other $23 million.

By GrandViewOutdoors.com

Some Idaho hunters who prefer to mount all-terrain vehicles to pursue their big-game quarry are chafing at Department of Fish and Game restrictions on where they can ride.

Under current hunting regulations, the state requires armed hunters who head out onto public land in about a third of Idaho's 99 hunting units to stick to established roads, while keeping away from off-road vehicle or jeep trails and areas that are otherwise open to unarmed recreational ATV riders.

By The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is bringing the world elk calling championships, along with the annual convention and expo called “Elk Camp,” back to the Reno/Sparks Convention Center, March 3-6, 2011.


This year marks the 27th annual RMEF Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo—the organization’s largest annual fundraiser for its conservation programs.


By The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Amateur and professional elk callers from across the United States will converge on Reno for the RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, March 4-5, 2011.


Preliminary rounds begin March 4 at 9:00 a.m., and championship rounds begin March 5 at 9:00 a.m., at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center.
The championships are a centerpiece of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s annual Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo.

Here is the Northern Nevada and Sierra area sports and outdoor calendar for the remainder of February:

Feb. 16 – Regular monthly meeting of the High Sierra Fly Casters Club in Douglas County at 7:00 p.m. at the Carson Valley Methodist Church, 1375 Centerville Lane in Gardnerville.
Call Bob Taormina at (775) 265-9159.

Feb. 28 – Closing day of the 2010-2011 Nevada Falconry hunting season.
Call the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) in Reno at 688-1500 or go to www.ndow.org.

By Nevada News Bureau staff
Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley declined again today to commit to a race for the U.S. Senate in 2012 after poll results show Rep. Dean Heller with a commanding lead over incumbent John Ensign in a GOP primary.

Carson Lanes Presents.. "Little Sister". This talented band plays Blues, Country, and Rockabilly. No Cover and Smoke-FREE. Must be 21. See our entire events calendar on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/hjUVPo

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A coffee shop across the street from the Legislature announces “let the games begin.”
With the Legislature in session for less than two weeks, Democratic legislators seem to be playing the game well.

Here's a follow-up to the Silver City mining story, this time by political reporter Anjeanette Damon of the Las Vegas Sun as to what happened Monday among lawmakers taking up the eminent domain mining issue. According to one mining lobbyist, if you support private property rights over mining in Nevada, you're an eco-terrorist. Here's the story.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A bill that would impose fines of $1,000 to $10,000 on businesses that failed to obtain a state business license after being notified by the secretary of state’s office has been pulled from a scheduled committee hearing.

The Young Business Professionals along with Steele & Associates will be providing an educational mixer where attendees will get professional tax, financial planning advice and much more.

Membership in the Chamber's YBP is free.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Business leaders from several large technology companies said today that Nevada lacks the skilled workforce necessary for them to locate in Nevada over the long-term.

CARSON CITY – About 50 state employees gathered in front of the Legislative Building today to call on Gov. Brian Sandoval to participate in a discussion about potential tax increases to help fund the state budget.
With the wind blowing at a steady clip, Vishnu Subramaniam, AFSCME Local 4041, chief of staff, said: “This is a great analogy of what’s going on in the state. They’re trying to blow us away while we’re providing services.
“We need a broad-based corporate tax,” he said. “We need to be having a talk about revenues. The talk of cuts is a red herring.”

The Carson City and Sierra regions remain under a high wind warning and a winter storm watch tonight as a strong Pacific storm is expected to move into the area. The storm may bring up to 4 inches of snow in the valleys, 1 to 2 feet at the shores of Lake Tahoe and up to 5 feet above 7,000 feet.

Thirteen applications for the position of Carson City Justice of the Peace were submitted to the city by the Feb. 11 deadline.

Applications for the position of Carson City Justice of the Peace / Municipal Court Judge were sought by the Board of Supervisors. The position is to fill the vacancy created by retiring judge Robey Willis whose last day is March 12.

The applicants and their current or last employer are:

A woman who had a contempt of court warrant for her arrest faces a felony charge of providing false identification to Carson City authorities.

Nelletta Darlene Harris, 47, was arrested Friday in the 2500 block of Lorraine Street. She is being held on $25,000 bail. The arrest came after officers responded to a home where a fight had happened between two men.

Monday is Family Day at Carson Lanes. Bowling is just $1.50 per game, and Shoe Rental is $1.00. Alley's Diner also has $1.00 menu items. Arcade and Billiards also available. It's 80's night in the lounge with 80's music and videos. Also, new this week were trying out Beer Pong in the lounge (must be 21). Carson Lanes Retail Center is 100% Smoke FREE. Bring the whole family!! See us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/f1mejp

A number of Silver City residents will go before lawmakers today to show their support of a proposed amendment to Nevada's eminent domain law that would remove the ability of a private person or business to exercise the law for the purposes of mining.

The current law on eminent domain (Chapter 37 of the Nevada Revised Statues) allows private individuals to take private land from property owners without their consent, for the purposes of mining. Testimony on this bill will be heard by the Judiciary Committee of the Nevada State Legislature today at 9 a.m. in room 2149.

Nevada State Senate and Nevada Assembly will open with ancient Hindu prayers in Sanskrit on Monday and Tuesday in Carson City.

Hindu leader Rajan Zed will recite from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures, in Sanskrit and then provide translation in English.

I’ve been reading the BurnCards site for a while. It’s one of a thriving community of blogs that have sprung up around Reno. I don’t write about Reno much on this site, because there’s plenty of people doing that, but this article by Ken Manz really caught my eye.

There are two exercise terms; weight bearing and impact that can be confusing to the new exercise student.

Syndicate content