So it sounds like this weekend is going to be our first big snowstorm of the season. And here I’m going to miss it because I’m out of town for a few days. I’ll be back Tuesday to deal with all the messy aftermath, without any of the fun of the actual storm. Sigh.
Oh well. I’m expecting all of you to have pictures and stories waiting for me when I get back!

Three days after Senator John Ensign announced that he plans to run for re-election in 2012 despite ongoing ethics investigations into his conduct, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has dismissed a watchdog group’s complaint against Ensign re: a $96,000 payment his parents made to the family of his former mistress, Cynthia Hampton.

A Dayton man faces multiple drug charges and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

Ian Miles Lister, 33, was arrested in the 400 block of Saliman Road in Carson City at around 5:30 this morning after an officer spotted his vehicle committing several traffic violations.

Lister provided his license to the officer but was unable to provide proof of insurance or his vehicle registration. Dispatch informed the officer that his license had been revoked, according to the arrest report.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM6uYZmBErA

Tonight's NIAA Northern 4A Region championship football game between the Carson Senators and the McQueen Lancers begins at 7 p.m. at Damonte Ranch High School, 10500 Rio Wrangler Parkway in Reno. Go to CarsonSports.com for updates, including the roster line-up for both teams.

A handful of Lake Tahoe ski resorts prepare to open for the season this weekend thanks to an early snowfall, snowmaking guns and a fairly large storm set to punch the Sierra.

Around a foot or more of natural snow across the Sierra earlier this month certainly helped get things moving. With this weekend's anticipated storm, which may bring anywhere from 2-4 feet of snow to the Sierra, resorts should get a nice healthy boost just in time for the holiday season.

Here's what we know:

U.S. Congressman Dean Heller, R-Carson City, today came out in support of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Continuation Act (H.R. 6419) which would extend unemployment benefits for an additional three months.

Christy McGill likes to use a gardening metaphor when she explains Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey's mission to reduce substance abuse and promote recovery.

“The Coalition is planting the seeds of hope that alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse prevention works, treatment is effective, and people do recover,” said McGill, who serves as director.

One point I think you could get all sides of the debate over the Carson City Center/Nugget Project to agree on is that it's a very complicated deal.

But after spending a good deal of time looking at the newly released feasibility study for this project, it struck me that it's really not that complicated. If you strip away all the extraneous issues about the land leases and who is paying who, it comes down to a simple trade.

It boils down to this: the Carson Nugget is giving the city a piece of land to build a new library and public plaza. In return, the city is building the Nugget a new parking garage for its casino and future hotel/conference center.

New hours for the Carson City Animal Shelter will go into effect on Monday, Dec. 7, health officials said.

The change reflects cost-cutting measures by one day from the current schedule. The shelter is now closed on Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

When it comes to golf, there's nothing like the gift of 18-holes and a challenge for any stocking to stuff.

With this said, Santa has ditched his sleigh for a golf cart, checked his list thrice and has the perfect gift solution for the passionate Northern Nevada golfer.

Try giving your golfer Tickets to Paradise this holiday season. For $265 golfers can enjoy a round at nine different courses throughout the year. The cost amounts to less than $30 a round.

I have been been going over the Nugget Project feasibility report this morning, tying to digest the details.

Overall, it really isn't much different than what was presented to the citizens committee back in September. The one exception is that P3 Development seems to think that building a hotel is more feasible now, following another study showing that it is.

It has been on public radar for a few days now, so whenever this kind of heads-up happens from the National Weather Service, it's usually considered significant.
The latest weather statement this morning from the weather service in Reno calls for heavy snow in the Sierra this weekend with temperatures cold enough for snow to fall along the valley floors through Carson City, Carson Valley and Reno.

The Comma Coffee Lecture Series continues with host David Dummar following the topics of Christianity, psychotherapy, and recovery. This month's free presentation is on Parenting insights. David is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. He currently works as a Therapist with American Comprehensive Counseling Services in Carson City and Pioneer Health Resources in Reno. 

The Carson City Historical Society presents "Christmas with Mark Twain" on Sunday, Dec. 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Bliss Mansion in Carson City. Deadline for reservations is Nov. 30.
The event includes an evening with Mark Twain, played by McAvoy Lane, dinner and a tour of the Bliss Mansion. Guy Rocha, David Bugli and Mark Twain will present a piano-and-narrator version of "Becoming Mark Twain."

Wine tasters and gifters take note: Here's a good way to see Carson City, shop downtown and get a pour among local restaurants and shops that sell wine. The Downtown Wine Walk happens the first Saturday of every month. Purchase a wine glass and map for $10 and enjoy the wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, art galleries, gift shops, casinos and restaurants. Call (775) 883-2211 for more information.

Get into the holiday spirit as Pinkerton Ballet Theater presents its 22nd annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet, to be held at the Carson City Community Center on Thanksgiving weekend. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 26-27 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 28. Tickets available at the Brewery Arts Center Artisan Gift Shop, 449 W. King St. or by calling (775) 883-1976 x117.

Artisans, crafters and vendors will fill the atrium area of the Carson Mall in Carson City from November 17 to December 24. Find unique gifts and ideas for the holidays.

Carson City Manager Larry Werner announced at today's Board of Supervisors meeting that a financial feasibility plan has been completed and will be released to the public sometime today.

Update: Werner emailed and said the plan would be available Wednesday morning at 9.

Werner said that the plan covers the financial feasibility of the project, and that they think they have a feasible project to move forward with. He said that as far as the actual development plans, not much has changed since P3 Development gave the Nugget Project citizens advisory committee an update in September.

CARSON CITY – The long-time military service of all recently-retired Nevada Army Guard Soldiers will be recognized December 5 in Las Vegas during the annual Retiree Appreciation Day. The event includes a retiree ceremony honoring the Nevada Army Guard’s 2010 retirees at 2:30 p.m. at the Las Vegas Readiness Center on Sunday, December 5.
The day’s events begin at 10 a.m. and will include a retiree briefing, identification card and defense enrollment eligibility updates, and the Hall of Fame retiree awards ceremony.

With an unemployment rate of nearly 20 percent in Lyon County, the Dayton Food Pantry has seen a big jump in requests for Thanksgiving food baskets and is asking the community for help.

Food Pantry Director Freida Carbery reports that while many individuals and groups have donated turkeys and trimmings, there are already 100 families in need on the Pantry list, and only 40 turkeys in the freezer. The Pantry's list of those in need doesn’t even include the numbers of families she expects to receive from the local schools this week.

A special Tuesday meeting of the board, with its newest member John McKenna. The live video is here, and the agenda is here.

Julia Peek of the Office of Epidemiology at Nevada State Health will be the featured speaker at the Thursday, Dec. 9 Healthy Communities Coalition's public meeting.

She will give a detailed presentation on The Healthy People 2010/2020 Nevada data, highlighting data now available for rural Nevada, Lyon and Storey regions in particular, as well as giving a brief overview of statewide and nationwide trends and concerns, particularly in areas of health status, mortality and morbidity.

Three juveniles are in custody after Carson City authorities found them breaking into vehicles along East Robinson street early this morning.

Two 14-year-old boys and a 17-year-old admitted to the thefts and told officers after they were caught which vehicles they burglarized, said Deputy Thomas McDonald. About a dozen cars were broken into along Robinson Street.