To a packed house of observers, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board voted to approve Phase 1 of the Homewood Mountain Resort Ski Area Master Plan at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 14.

The holidays are happier if you are well and healthy to celebrate. Follow these tips to keep your season merry and bright!

1. Wash hands often to keep yourself from spreading germs and getting sick. The holiday season is one of socializing, parties, and spending time with loved ones – and of sharing germs and illness. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer is a good alternative if you can’t get to a sink.

Sheriff's officers, state troopers, National Guardsmen, and a plethora of other volunteers - and their charges - middle and high school students in need of a Christmas - converged at Wal-Mart at 9 p.m. Wednesday morning for the annual Holiday with a Hero event.

With 280 low-income students to help, this year's shopping spree had to be broken up into two groups - one of middle and high school students, and one of elementary school students - spread out over two days.

Several personnel from the Nevada Highway Patrol will each be awarded a Commendation Medal this Friday for their timely, professional and outstanding performance they displayed on the morning of September 6th, in Carson City.

Shortly before 9:00 am that morning, the Nevada Department of Public Safety-Communications Center began receiving information of an active shooter near the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) restaurant on South Carson Street.

As the Toys for Tots Coordinator ....
I have never seen demand so high and donations so low.

We have had a 35% increase on requests from families this year.
Ron Wood Family Resource Center has been the Toys for Tots coordinating agency for 8 years and I have been Coordinator for 5 years.

We have been low on toys before ... but never like this.

Judy L. Lewis, 64, passed away December 7, 2011, in Reno, Nevada. Capitol City Cremation & Burial. 775-882-1766Patrick Sullivan, 95, of Carson City, passed away December 7, 2011. Autumn Funerals & ...

Derek Tyson Koelzer, 32, passed away December 11, 2011. He is survived by his father, Kirk Koelzer; mother, Robin Setter-Mullens; daughter, Azena Koelzer; brother, Dustin Koelzer; grandparents, B...

Russell H. Baker, 90, passed away November 23, 2011, in Carson City, Nevada. Capitol City Cremation. 775-882-1766Copyright 2011 -. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast...

Robert W. McGovern, 90, passed away December 8, 2011 Surrounded by family. Affectionately called "Mr. Mac". He was born August 27, 1921 in San Francisco, California to Robert and Jeanette McGovern....

With Christmas two weeks away, one of the best stocking stuffers for local anglers is a California fishing license. If you're planning to fish in the State of California in 2012, you'll need a new license as of Jan. 1.
You can purchase that license and any applicable stamp at a number of local outlets or on the Internet.
If you need to buy a license and stamps, here is some info:

Here is the fishing report for the week of December 14-21. This report covers rivers, streams and lakes in Northern California, Nevada and Southern Oregon.

Santa Claus will be visiting Buckland Station at Fort Churchill State Historic Park on Dec. 17 and 18.
Everyone is invited to attend and have pictures taken with Santa. Pictures will be taken by local photographer and Fort Churchill Artist in Residence, Richard Massey. Children waiting in line for pictures will be able to make a small Christmas ornament to take home.
WHAT: Christmas photographs with Santa Claus
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A proposal to add a deputy city manager to the staff at Carson City Hall will be pulled from the agenda for Thursday's meeting.

Mayor Bob Crowell said he that after discussions he has had over the past few days since the proposal became public, he will ask that the item be pulled from the agenda.

As we round the corner into the new year, Divine 9 courses in Carson City and Carson Valley have a number of deals and events lined up for the holidays and beyond. Go here to learn what's on tap. Also here's a reminder: Silver Oak Golf and Event Center is holding its holiday food drive. Bring three or more cans of food or non-perishable food items and get a free bucket of driving range golf balls. Bring five or more and get a bucket of balls, a hot dog and a soft drink. All food donations will be sent to Friends in Service Helping Need (FISH).

Zephyrus Brass Quintet, an affiliate of the Carson City Symphony, will perform inside Carson Mall, 1313 S. Carson Street in Carson City, on Sunday, December 18, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The quintet, hosted by Carson Mall, will play a free concert of holiday brass music to lift your spirits.

Mall Manager Kevin Ray said, "It's a wonderful day of music and shopping, with thirty unique vendors, including Hickory Farms and See's Candies, and of course, Santa!"

Some Nevadans are trying to start a new political party called the "DuoFreedomists" which they claim would serve moderates put off by the Republicans and Democrats. The group's policy goals to “freeze, shrink and shift” taxation and spending is very similar to those of the Tea Party.

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Artist Brent Sommerhauser will be showing his work "Brushing the Firmament" at the Nevada Arts Council's OXS Gallery, 716 N. Carson St., through Feb. 10.

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Carson High School teacher Erin Been's passion for fitness has made her a Healthy Schools Program Champion, a recognition awarded by Alliance for a Healthier Generation. She has worked to make CHS students and teachers make fitness more fun with programs like morning yoga classes, incorporating dance into phys-ed classes and offering after-school programs to promote nutrition and healthy cooking.

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Carson High football coach Blair Roman recognized the seniors on his team at the season-ending awards banquet Monday night. The team has won a share of the league title three straight years, including this season's 10-2 record.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit wants to remind residents and visitors the last day to purchase your holiday tree permit is Friday, December 16, 2011.

Sometimes watching a dreck movie and enjoying it can be embarrassing. Such is the case with "New Year's Eve," a multifaceted comedy of sorts playing at the Fandango Galaxy cinema in Carson City. The cast is all-star, from Hilary Swank to Robert De Niro. And while the film is pure twaddle, director Gary Marshall keeps all the balls in the air. And he should be able to; he made the same movie last year on a Valentine's Day theme.

A Carson City Sheriff's Deputy arrested Jeffrey Christopher Haugen, 28, a Carson City resident, at around 4 p.m. in the 800 block of East Musser St. for felony burglary and felony grand larceny valued between $250 and $2,500. Bail is set at $20,000.

Deputies also responded to several other calls this weekend, resulting in several misdemeanor arrests. Among these were two drunk driving arrests and a driving under a suspended license arrest.

"The Sitter," billed as a black comedy and currently flickering at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, is mercifully only 81 minutes long, but that's long enough to spell disaster to any discriminating movie goer.

It stars comic actor Jonah Hill as college failure Noah forced into baby sitting three of the most repellent child actors in living memory. He is also pursuing a blonde who is suggesting intimacy that night.

Ken passed away peacefully in his South Lake Tahoe home surrounded by his wife, Christy, son, Christopher, sister Bev and sister-in-law, Nina. Ken was born in Palo Alto, CA and raised in Mounta...

The Nevada State Railroad Museum, located on 2180 S. Carson Street in Carson City, will offer train rides with Santa from 9am to 4 pm December 10th -11th and 17th- 18th, 2011.

Train rides are available for $6 per seat and will depart approximately every 25 minutes from 9:00am-4:00pm. Santa will be on board and visit all the children. Hot chocolate, food and refreshments will also be available provided by Warren Engine Company #1.

A large group of geese gather on the frost-covered grass in Mills Park.

Reading the newspaper this morning is like deja vu. First, there is the story about Carson City being recognized as a top ranked digital city, which we published last month. Then there is the report about the Gardnerville man who was shot by a Douglas County Sheriff's deputy next to his own grave site, an apparent act of "suicide by cop." There's also the story about the fundraiser at J's Bistro to benefit the Dayton Food Pantry that we had yesterday. It reminds me of that line from the movie "All The President's Men" where they talked about a new feature for the paper, yesterday's weather forecast, "for those who got drunk and slept all day."

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In politics, Judge Todd Russell finalized the state's redistricting case, refusing to add language allowing current office holders from using the words “incumbent” or “re-elect” in their campaigns if their districts had changed. None of the parties in the case objected to the new political boundaries, which closes this chapter of political wrangling.

Secretary of State Ross Miller filed a suit to force conservative advocacy group Citizen Outreach to register with the state and file contribution and expense reports. Miller cited that the group ran ads targeting Assembly Speaker John Oceguera during the 2010 election, which means the group must comply with laws governing political activities.

Although Citizen Outreach has not responded to the suit, its president Chuck Muth has a column today attacking Assembly Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea for not being conservative enough. Goicoechea, a Republican from Eureka, announced that he will run for state senate.

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In other news from behind the wall, Lisa Hoeppner will represent Carson City in the upcoming Mrs. Nevada-America Pageant in Las Vegas, Local's BBQ has closed its doors, and there is a club for table tennis fans in town.

Have a great Friday!