Hot-air balloons celebrate the new year by going for an early-morning flight over Carson City.

UPDATED 11:30AM: A 21-year-old Walnut Creek, Calif. man was struck and killed by a California Highway Patrol vehicle early Sunday morning, New Year's Day, on Highway 50 near Stateline at Lake Tahoe, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.
The accident happened between Lake Village and Elks Point Road and was reported around 12:40 a.m. Sunday morning, said NHP Troopers Mike Edgell and Chuck Allen. The pedestrian, whose identity has not been released pending notification of family, died at the scene of the accident.

Two pedestrians were killed Friday night when they were struck by a pickup, shortly before 8 p.m. in Incline Village on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, the Nevada Highway Patrol reports. The driver of the pickup, Christopher Torii Smith, 25, of Grass Valley, was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence causing death. Names of the deceased have not been released.

Betty Kruspe, 86, of Carson City and Reno, Nevada, passed away on December 28, 2011. Walton's Chapel of the Valley. 775-882-4965Lovena Ora Skidmore, 91, of Carson City, passed away peacefully on De...

Another photo from the fire in Carson City today

UPDATE 6:30PM: Fire officials have reduced the amount of acres having burned on the east side of Carson City. Tonight officials report 300 acres have been consumed so far in the Laurel Fire burning on BLM land off of Deer Run Road. While no structures are threatened at this time, there is no estimate of containment.

There's plenty to celebrate as the clock is set to ring in the New Year this weekend. The celebration begins tonight at Carson Lanes with an inaugural pre New Year's Eve Rock and Roll show. Check out the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau blog for parties, deals and happenings around town.

For those of you who must text while driving, be prepared to pony up a fine starting New Years Day.

Since Oct. 1, Nevada Highway Patrol troopers have been giving out warning for texting while driving, writing up more than 600 warnings in the Reno-Carson City area. But the warnings come to an end on Sunday. This also applies to those who use a cell phone without a hands-free device.

Join the BAC to Broadway Kids for a fun-filled evening full of music and dance. All your favorite family-friendly Broadway shows from the past 10 years all together in a magical evening of song and dance. Featuring show-stoppers from “Wicked, Shrek, The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Hairspray, Mary Poppins” and much more!
Performances are January 20th and 21st at 7pm and January 22nd at 2pm.
Tickets are $10.00 General Admission, $8.00 Students/Seniors, $6.00 BAC Members.

Carson City Sheriff's deputies arrested Clyde Renville Hawkins Jr., 52, a mechanic from Reno, at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Hawkins was arrested near the Koontz water tower for a felony burglary warrant out of Reno. He was discovered near the water tower in a parked vehicle, and told officers that he had been working out of Gardnerville and was "chilling out" after work.

Bail was set at $7,500.

Diamond Peak Ski Resort on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe is the home mountain for a January 7-8, 2012, ski camp hosted by legendary skier Wayne Wong.

The camp begins with an evening “meet and greet” at Village Ski Loft in Incline Village on January 6 and then continues with two full days of on snow instruction at Diamond Peak.

Carson City is pleased to once again offer Christmas Tree Recycling in cooperation with Capital Sanitation/Waste Management Inc. As in previous years, Christmas trees can be placed curbside on your regular collection day or taken to one of the drop-off locations. Trees will be chipped in the sprintime and given to local residents to use for mulch in their yards. No flocked trees! This program continues to be a huge success. Carson City would like to thank everyone for their participation. Last year we were able to redirect 28.48 tons of wood waste from our Landfill.

Diane Lee Lange, 54, of Carson City, passed away December 21, 2011. FitzHenry's Funeral Home is caring for arrangements. 775-882-2644Della A. Samaniego, 84, of Carson City, passed away December 27,...

Health inspection reports for Carson City restaurants:

This is the seventh and last in a series of photos of oddities that were seen on a six week vacation trip to Italy in September and October, 2011.
That trip was taken by Bob and Lorraine Scholes of Dayton and Don and Elaine Quilici of Carson City, as they traveled the length and width of Italy, plus being on the Island of Sicily and in Switzerland.
These photos are of some of the vehicle traffic encountered on that trip.

Here is the fishing report for the week of Dec. 28, 2011 through Jan. 3, 2012. The report covers rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and southern Oregon.

The Nevada 2011 rifle hunting season for buck mule deer is currently open in Big Game Management Area Nos. 194-196 (The area is west of U.S. 395, between U.S. 50 to Lake Tahoe and I-80 to California), and it will remain open through January 1, 2012.
One of the safest places at this time of the year in Area Nos. 194-196 for a buck mule deer and especially so for a trophy buck is in the residential area of Carson City’s west side.
On Monday, December 26, a trophy buck was photographed enjoying the peace and quiet of a backyard, while in the company of some does.

This is a reminder that if you are planning to fish in the State of California in 2012, you will need a new license as of January 1.

Licenses:
The 2012 non-resident annual fishing license is $120.14, and it is good through December 31, 2012.
A one-day resident or non-resident license is $14.30.
A two-day resident or non-resident license is $22.42.
A ten-day non-resident license is $44.85.

Second-Rod Stamp:
A Second-Rod Stamp is $13.78.

Robert Lee Fritz, 85, a 25 year resident of Gardnerville, Nevada, passed away December 19, 2011. He was born June 3, 1926 to Clarence Fritz and Lavona Sweeny in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. Robert was ...

Dolores J. Hildebrand Age 95 of Gardnerville, Nevada passed away on Dec. 25, 2011 Fitzhenry's Funeral Home is caring for the Arrangements.--Death Notice: Dolores J. HildebrandDecember, 27 2011 12:2...

Carson City Sheriff's deputies arrested David Scott Illig, 25, an unemployed Carson City man, at around 11:30 p.m. Monday. Illig was arrested for a felony probation violation and a felony posession with intent to sell warrant, near the intersection of Goni Lane and College Parkway. No bail has been set.

At around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, officers arrested Jacob Allen Jarrard, 23, a Carson City resident, near the intersection of Sherman Lane and Airport Road. Jarrard was arrested for a felony warrant on file and a misdemeanor contempt of court. No bail has been set on the felony.

On Monday afternoon, shortly after 3:00 pm, troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol were dispatched to a head-on collision on US 95 in Esmeralda County, approximately 10 miles north of Tonopah. The details of the crash so far indicate that a black 2002 Ford F-350 Super Duty crew cab pickup was traveling southbound on the two-lane highway driven by its sole occupant, a 55-year-old man from Manning, North Dakota.

Catherine Kay Hoover was born 1923 in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. Kay graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in Michigan. Kay served as an Airwoman in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Canada and...

Wishing everyone an merry Christmas. Here's some Christmas humor from Larry the Cable Guy: