(Press Release) On Wednesday March 2, 2011, at approximately 12:00 p.m. Lander County Sheriff Ron Urger was notified that a man, later identified as Devin Westenskow, age 28, of Evanston, Wyoming, fell while exploring an abandoned mine shaft. The mine site closed since 1945, is located in the Jersey Valley at the far eastern part of Pershing County, Nevada.

This is one way to solve the texting-while-driving problem:

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

The Nevada Threat Analysis Center (NTAC) seeks information on unsolved Nevada rural county female homicides and missing person cases.

Here is the Carson City road construction report for Monday through March 13:

Clearview Drive is closed between Edmonds Drive and Line Drive for construction on the next phase of the Nevada Department of Transportation freeway project. Detours are marked. The road is expected to reopen by November of 2011.

Utility work will occur on Russell Way between Northridge Drive and Long Street on Monday, March 7. Two-way traffic will be maintained with flaggers.

Jay William Denny, 49, was arrested Thursday afternoon after a deputy reported seeing him attempting to enter a car that had been reported stolen.

The deputy responded to a report of a stolen car being located in the 2200 block of North Carson Street. The reporting party stated that an older white male with a beard had been in and out of the vehicle, so the deputy stayed back and watched the vehicle to see if the subject returned.

Carson City deputies didn't have to go far to find Emily Scott, 27, who they arrested Thursday for felony drug possession.

According to the arrest report, a hotel employee where Scott was living before she and her roommate were arrested last month for probation violations said he found tin foil with what looked like heroin in it. Later he found a wallet stuffed under a mattress that contained papers with Scott's name on them, plus balloons of what looked like heroin and assorted prescription drug pills.

Late lunch today, but one heck of a shot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAM20HMjZKo

There was a time when the only choice for golfers who couldn't afford to join a country club was to play a municipal course.

That time ended many years ago with the construction of many privately owned golf courses in and around Carson City. For a while, it seemed a new course was being built every year. We were suddenly flush with great courses, and something new to market our area to visitors.

CARSON CITY – The governor has proposed taking funds school districts are using for emergency repairs to help balance the state budget.
School districts have said this would leave them with little money to fix broken boilers and leaky roofs or perform other emergency repairs.
“We don’t have any money set aside right now to cover those expenses if the governor’s proposal moves forward,” said Craig Hulse from the Washoe County School District before a Senate committee reviewing the governor’s proposal.

Can't resist videos with cute babies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc

Carson City has just eliminated all the local architects and selected two out of state architects to be interviewed for the design of the new animal services facility. Where is the attention paid to the local design community by our own city government? Many of the local architects had specialized design consultants on their team that have years of animal services design experience. Why aren't the local businesses being given preferential treatment? Again, our own capital city spurns the locals.

Jason Scott Lantis, 28, was arrested Wednesday morning for felony domestic violence after an altercation with his ex-girlfriend.

According to the arrest report, the victim reported that Lantis had come to her residence and held her on the floor with one hand choking her by the neck and the other hand over her mouth and nose preventing her from breathing.

It's been a bad week for Sierra snowsports enthusiasts, as a professional skier from Vermont succumbed to injuries sustained during a freeskiing competition at Kirkwood, and a snowboarder died after hitting a tree at Northstar-at-Tahoe.

Ryan Hawks was competing in the Freeride World Tour event at Kirkwood ski area on Sunday when he attempted a backflip off a cliff. He was flown by helicopter to Renown Medical Center in Reno where he died Tuesday morning from his injuries.

The last of a storm system that brought snow to the Sierra and rain to Carson City caused some travel problems along Spooner Summit tonight.

Valley motorists were greeted with slushy dense snow about two miles up from Spooner Summit this evening. No major accidents have been reported but several cars were spotted off the side of the road either chaining up or waiting for conditions to improve. Chains or snowtires were required as of about 8:30 p.m. from 2 miles up Spooner Summit from the Carson side to the top of State Route 207 Kingsbury Grade to Highway 50 at Stateline.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A proposal from the state’s treasurer could use $20 million to create a small business loan program.
Treasurer Kate Marshall today testified before a Senate committee about the bill, which she said would help create jobs and revenue for the state.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Nevada state Sen. Joe Hardy today introduced a bill to require the transportation department to develop a privately-financed toll road as a bypass around Boulder City.

If you’re a fisherman or fisherwoman, it’s that time of the year to remind you to purchase your new 2011-2012 fishing license.

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Click here for this week's fishing report and here for the latest outdoor news.
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That new fishing license year began yesterday on March 1 and it will run through the last day in February, 2012.

Carson City resident Randall Milton Clark, 54, who was convicted of felony DUI in 2003, was arrested Tuesday afternoon for allegedly driving under the influence on a suspended driver's license.

According to the arrest report, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy spotted Clark's white Nissan turn off of Washington Street without using a turn signal, and saw the driver's side door fly open while making the turn.

CARSON CITY – Secretary of State Ross Miller made his pitch for campaign finance reform before an Assembly committee today, saying that while his two bills are extensive and complex at 155 pages combined, the many provisions are necessary because, “we are behind the curve.”
Miller, in testimony before the Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee, said Nevada should provide increased transparency to voters about the campaign contributions and expenses of the candidates for public office.

CARSON CITY – A Republican state senator has proposed his own idea for job creation: A break on the modified business tax for new employees hired by employers after July 1, 2011.
Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Gardnerville, said Senate Bill 199 would exempt new employees hired by Nevada businesses from the tax as an incentive to add workers to their payrolls. Co-sponsors include five other Republican lawmakers. The measure was introduced Monday.

Recent indicators show tourism at Lake Tahoe South Shore is improving, according to the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.

December occupancy was up three percent compared to last year (Smith Travel Research). The No. 1 ski destination in the U.S. (Rand McNally 2011; TripAdvisor 2010) has seen a rise of 1.7 percent through Reno-Tahoe International Airport since July; 14 percent more skiers and snowboarders on the slopes, increased bookings over holiday weekends, and advance reservations for summer.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Carrying a hatchet, axe, sword or knife onto the grounds of  a child care center, public school or higher education campus would become a misdemeanor under a new proposal.

A transient who was kicked out of a downtown casino ended up in jail after Carson City deputies allegedly found prescription pills and marijuana on his person.

Deputies arrested Thomas Alan Dias, 42, Monday night in the 400 block of North Carson Street for felony possession of a prescription medication without a prescription, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and a misdemeanor warrant for petit larceny.

It’s been said that a recession is a terrible thing to waste, and Northern Nevada businesses from Carson City to Las Vegas to Elko businesses aren’t wasting this one.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval said today he had productive meetings in Washington, DC, including talks with federal officials about clearing the way for permits to be approved so mining companies can expand and hire more workers.
Sandoval said there are several permits awaiting action that mining officials have told him could lead to the creation of 1,000 high-paying jobs in rural Nevada.
Creating jobs in Nevada is Sandoval’s top priority as governor. Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the nation and ranks first in home foreclosures as well.