Carson City planners today will consider a special use permit to install a series of solar panels at Eagle Valley Middle School.
Planners will also hear a special use permit request for improvements at the Brewery Arts Center and Performance Hall. The meeting is on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1:30 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center Sierra Room, 851 East William. Click here to read the full agenda and here to watch it live.
The following Carson City road information applies to the period of Dec. 13-19, 2010:
The Nevada Department of Transportation will continue working on a freeway landscaping project at the Fifth Street overpass over the freeway and at the Fairview Drive Interchange. Single lane closures are expected on the northbound on ramp from Fairview Drive to the Freeway. No delays are expected. Single lane closures with flaggers are also expected on Fairview Drive and on 5th Street in the vicinity of the Freeway, with minor delays expected.
The Healthy Communities Coalition is collecting new toys and used or new books for teens and children in our area for those who may otherwise go without gifts at Christmas.
New unwrapped gifts and gently used books can be dropped off at the Dayton Community Center at 170 Pike Street, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Well worth the wait and tremendous cost savings to taxpayers, the Roop Street road construction project in Carson City will be celebrated on Thursday, Dec. 16 with a ribbon-cutting dedication ceremony.
After nearly a year's worth of "road closed" signs accompanied by a few already-late-for-work-motorists with finger-gesture and other anger management-related issues, the $4.1 million reconstruction and widening project will permanently reopen following the public ceremony at the corner of William and Corbett streets.
Thursday Dec. 9th to Friday Dec. 24th (until supplies last) at 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, the Dayton Valley Lions Club will be selling See's Candy in Smith's grocery store. The profits will be used to benefit the Dayton community and people who are in need of eye treatment. The Lions Club is hoping to sell enough See's Candy to assist everyone in having a happy holiday. If you would like to help, please donate now or purchase See's Candy from the Lions Club. A little goes a long way.
U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley yesterday spoke out in opposition to her fellow House Democrats and supported President Obama’s tax deal to extend tax relief to all income brackets.
Her position was stated incorrectly in last night’s political segment on KTNV-TV Channel 13.
I regret the error.
By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – When it comes to the budget problems looming for many states over the next two years, a report released this week by the National Conference of State Legislatures makes one point very clear: Nevada is No. 1, and not in a good way.
CARSON CITY – A federal appeals court today lifted a stay on cases challenging the U.S. Department of Energy’s authority to withdraw its licensing application for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.
The University of Nevada Reno's highly acclaimed Early Childhood Autism Program is getting some help from the Sierra Kids Foundation next week, Dec. 16 – 18, when it sponsors the Wild West Shootout basketball tournament.
The annual foundation tournament will be held at Reno High School. More than $100,000 in scholarships for children needing the program's services has been given away over the past seven years, according to Patrick Ghezzi, director of the program and Nevada psychology professor.
An unemployed Carson City was arrested after allegedly locking his girlfriend up in his apartment while he used the woman's disability money to drink and gamble at a local bar.
Steve Rutherford, 57, was arrested Wednesday and faces felony fraud and gross misdemeanor false imprisonment charges. Bail has been set at $10,000.
This post is kind of late, considering the state Christmas tree was lit over a week ago. But, I have no excuses. I’m not too happy with the pictures because they came from my iPhone, but there was no way I was going to drag around the big camera while I also had both kids with me, so oh well. And actually, for a camera phone, in the dark, they’re not that terrible. Jens Peermann got some much better photos, so you can check those out too.
Silver Stage Task Force, Soul'd Out Ministries and the Lyon County Sheriff's Department will hold their annual "Stuff a Patrol Car" at Smith's Grocery on Highway 50 in Dayton from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 11.
Unwrapped, new gifts for children, tweens and teens will benefit all of our Lyon County families in need. Gifts will be distributed before Christmas at various locations.
Please help our elves — students from Stand Tall teams and Silver Stage High School "S" Club — help Santa provide a merrier holiday for our friends and neighbors.
By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Long-time Nevada tax expert Carole Vilardo said says she does not see how the state can move Nevada’s public employee retirement system to a defined contribution plan in the upcoming legislative session.
CARSON CITY – The Nevada Secretary of State’s office today ruled in favor of the Assembly Democratic Caucus regarding a complaint about its failure to report the receipt of funds from its members.
The caucus did not report more than $120,000 received from Assembly Democrats on its campaign contribution and expenditure reports filed this year.
By Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Chancellor Dan Klaich has announced the formation of a new lobbying team that will represent the Nevada System of Higher Education free of charge at the 2011 legislative session.
The team will be chaired by former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan and will include Alfredo Alonso, Michael Hillerby, Rose McKinney-James, Keith Lee, John Pappageorge and The Capitol Company.
By Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – State Treasurer Kate Marshall announced today that despite the current volatile treasury market, her office has successfully completed the sale of five series of general obligation bonds totaling $161.3 million at an average interest cost of 3.6 percent, one of the lowest interest rates the state has ever received.
By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Despite the need for drastic spending reductions to balance Nevada’s budget, the government program that provides health care to the poor continues to expand, consuming a growing share of the state’s scarce state revenues.
Some civic leaders tend to invest our city funds into one business proposal in the community then move to another and then another. This tax will become the next great example of that strategy.
Carson Now and Casino Fandango are sponsoring the Carson Now Holiday Lights Contest. We are looking for the best holiday light displays in Carson City, and giving you a chance to vote on your favorites. The contest is open to private homes in Carson City, and the winning entry will receive a $100 gift certificate for dinner at Ti Amo Italian Grille inside Casino Fandango.
So if you see any cool displays of Christmas lights in your neighborhood, send them in. You can see all the entires and rules here: http://carsonnow.org/holidaylights
The gamblers are gambling in the Nevada again, as statewide gaming win climbed 11.02 percent statewide in October over prior year.
The surge was led by the Las Vegas Strip, the state's biggest gaming center, which took in $2,021,082,843 in October, a 16.07 percent increase over October 2009.
Gaming revenues for the fiscal year that started in July are up 5.35 percent over prior year.
By Nevada News Bureau
Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., said today that the House has reinstated geothermal royalties to local counties in its funding bill.
Heller worked with House appropriators to ensure revenues will continue to be distributed to local governments.
Healthy Communities has scheduled their winter and spring line up of special speakers on the 2nd Thursday of each month during their public meetings.
Each meeting also includes resource sharing, updates and discussion on issues of regional importance such as health and wellness, substance abuse prevention and recovery, education, job training, etc.
Join Cowboy Bob every Wednesday @7pm for FREE Country Line Dancing Lessons. All skill levels and spectators welcome. Fun way to meet new people and get some exercise. Happy Hour from 5-6pm (Buy one, get one FREE). Complimentary Appetizers from Wally's Pizza and Alley's Diner!!. http://www.carsonlanes.com/Cocanutz_Lounge.html
About a month or so ago I received a call from Gary Cain of the Carson City Historical Society, asking if I might be interested in presenting "Christmas with Mark Twain" at the Bliss Mansion.
The Schmitt House presents "NEVADA HAZZURD" live. No cover charge. Music starts at 8:00PM. You can check them out at www.nevadahazzurd.com. They play Classic rock and Country music.
The Owners wife "Maggie" and his son "Dominic" will be celebrating their birthday this night.
We offer the cheepest drinks in town.
Rides home are provided for folks who have too much fun.
Come and check us out we are newly owned and remodeled. People who stop in say it "feels like we are at home here".
By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – The Nevada State Medical Association believes consumers should have access to clear and understandable information about the cost and coverage provided under health care insurance policies before they sign on the dotted line.
A Q&D Construction crews installs "cattle drive image panels" on the Fairview overpass above Highway 395 on Monday afternoon in Carson City. The work, which is part of the Carson City Freeway Landscape Project that includes landscape, art and history along the freeway corridor, will continue through the week. Go here to see more images. Photos by Cathleen Allison
Carson Lanes Presents.. Live Music with the "3N1 Band". This talented trio will be playing your favorite Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Country and 80's music. No Cover and Smoke FREE. Happy Hour from 5-6pm (buy one, get one FREE).
CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons today announced the retirement of Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Jerry Hafen. Hafen is a life-long resident of Clark County and was appointed to the top job at the agency in early 2008.
He will step down Dec. 31.
“Jerry Hafen has proven to be a respected leader in law enforcement in Nevada and I am proud of his accomplishments as DPS Director,” Gibbons said. “Jerry has proven time and again that the safety of the citizens of Nevada is his top priority.
CARSON CITY – The total number of active voters in Nevada increased by more than 30,000 following the Nov. 2 general election, the secretary of state’s office reports.
The increase is due largely to the thousands of registered voters designated as “inactive” who turned out to vote on Nov. 2, thereby changing their status to “active.”
There’s another new website to keep an eye on. The Carsonist is a site I found out about just the other night, when I met Jens Peermann who runs it. There’s a lot of interesting stuff there, mostly posts about events he goes to and galleries of his photography. He has a post up now about the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony that I went to the other night, with plenty of photos from the event.
Looks like there’s finally an opening date set for Roop Street. They’ve been rebuilding the stretch of Roop between Washington Street and the Lone Mountain Cemetery ever since the early summer. This has caused big headaches for traffic around town, since that is one of the major north-south routes through that part of town. Although, they wisely waited until the Stewart Street extension was done, so at least there was an easy detour to get around all the construction. But it will still be good to get all the cones and detour signs down and be able to sail through.
The generous deal that the Carson City Board of Supervisors made with the Southgate Center to bring in Big Lots, Big 5 and Olive Garden caused some waves among other businesses in town, who complained they didn't get the same terms for their redevelopment incentives.
The Roop Street widening project is continuing and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. The following impacts are expected this week:
· Roop Street is closed from William Street to Stewart Street through the completion of the project.
· Long Street will be closed from Stewart Street to Marian Street. Traffic will be detoured via Stewart Street, Corbett Street, and Molly Drive.
· Beverly Street will be closed to through traffic at Roop Street.
· Traffic crossing Roop Street may do so at Corbett Street.
A year-round supply of fresh leafy greens and other nutritious foods has been the wish of Penny Reynolds, culinary arts director for Carson High School. And now those hopes will soon come to be as The Greenhouse Project, a community-based greenhouse and garden, takes root in Carson City.
A ground-breaking ceremony held on Friday marks the beginning of a project that many believe will be a model for Carson City, the state of Nevada and the nation. Construction will begin next week.
Carson City officials will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, to reopen N. Roop Street following the completion of the reconstruction/widening project.
The ceremony will take place on N. Roop Street between William Street and Corbett Street. City officials will be joined by representatives of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce and representatives of the private sector firms which participated in the design and construction of the road. Following the ceremony, the traffic control barriers will be removed, and the road will be opened to public travel.
Carson High School officials and authorities continue to investigate rumors that surfaced among students earlier today of a planned shooting to take place on campus.
The Carson High School campus was on locked down shortly after noon today because the rumors had come from multiple students, authorities said. Released from school at the end of the day, students described the situation as confusing and frightening because they weren't told why they were forced into their classrooms with the doors locked.
Carson City authorities responded to the 1600 block of East Long Street Thursday night after a 911 call was made reporting that a woman had been shot in the head.
Authorities do not appear to be actively searching for a suspect, however a crime lab was called to the scene. An on-duty sergeant, when contacted early Friday morning, said the incident was being investigated as a suicide.
Well over a thousand people were in downtown Carson City tonight to ring in the Christmas season with the Silver and Snowflake Festival and Christmas tree lighting at the Nevada State Capitol grounds.
photo © 2010 
