• Carson Now on Facebook
  • Follow Carson Now on Twitter
  • Follow Carson Now by RSS
  • Follow Carson Now by Email

Senator Square: Speech and Debate Tournament a success at Carson High School

CHS hosted the Northern Nevada Forensic League tournament last weekend.

According to CHS teacher and Speech and Debate Adviser Patrick Mobley, “We would like to thank all the judges and coaches who volunteered their time to help this tournament become a success.”

Mobley went on to say that “Carson had an excellent showing at its home tournament.”

First-time competitor David Mariscal Gonzalez placed seventh in a novice presentation on overpopulation, and Ryan Soulier advanced into the final round for his first time in novice informative speaking on the topic of video game evolution; he placed sixth in a field of 30.

Ivy Campbell took first place in novice extemporaneous and has moved up into senior division.

Emerson Spence and Kate Torres took fourth place in senior duo with their piece entitled, “The Sun and Her Stars.”

Novice duo teams Rosalind Macy and Lilly Langer-Edwards, Jocelyn Estrada and Mariah Hipp, Heidi Barney and Maddy Dunlap swept first, second, and third place with Sy’Johnica Moore placing fourth in novice dramatic interpretation with her piece, “The Hate U Give.”

First-time competitor Chris Nagel place second in novice dramatic interpretation with his piece “368 Friends,” and in senior dramatic interpretation, Kieran Dazzo and Marion Haffey took third place and first place performing “Backlash” and “Deenie.”

On the debate side, partners Ivy Campbell and Sophia Peterson, as well as Kieran Dazzo and Becca Trejo, advanced to semifinals claiming both third place awards. Becca Trejo took ninth place in speaker points with Sophia Peterson in second.

In big question debate, Mary Milburn took third place and second in speaker points. In the Lions Club speaking contest, Ivy Campbell placed first and will move on to the next level of competition, which will be held in Dayton at the end of next month.

The team prepares to wrap up league tournaments at Spanish Springs next month and then prepare for State in Las Vegas. Public speaking at any age is no easy endeavor, and the CHS Speech and Debate team continues to perform well in every tournament.

Remember, volunteers are always needed, so why not come on out and participate in these exciting events.

Winterfest 2019 happening all week long

CHS Winterfest began Feb. 1 at the all-school assembly with the theme “Winterflix,” a play on the popular Netflix streaming service. Tuesday, Feb. 5, is the first dress-up day along with daytime and night-time activities all week long.

The Feb. 5 dress up day is from the Netflix show “Stranger Things,” where students dress up in 80s black and red. The lunch time activity is teachers 80s trivia, and the night-time activity is movie night at CHS in Senator Square from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Students are asked to bring chairs and blankets.

Feb. 6 is Friends Dress Up as Twins Day, the lunch activity Kahoot trivia, and the night activity Central Perk at the Fox Brew Pub from 6-8 p.m. with coffee and hot chocolate served free.

Feb. 7 is The Office dress up along with the once per month Dress for Success office wear. The lunch activity is Waste Basket Basketball, and bowling at Carson Lanes from 6-8:30 p.m. along with the Crowning of the Royal Court at 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 is Riverdale Dress Up and Prep Out, wearing of the letterman’s jacket and school spirit clothing. The lunch activity is a pep rally, and the night activity is a home basketball game against Damonte Ranch with a Blue Out theme.

The junior varsity boys game is at 3:30 p.m., the varsity girls game at 5:15 p.m., and the varsity boys game is at 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 9 will be the Winterfest Dance from 7-10 p.m. in Senator Square. Do not get too excited, parents, because the dance is for students only.

Robotics team takes top honors

The CHS robotics team, Cyber Mafia, competed in the Northern Nevada First Tech Challenge League Championship Jan. 27. The team took first place and the top honor Inspire Award at the competition.

Additionally, the team was an Alliance Captain in the robot game tournament and made it to the semi-finals. On Feb. 9, the team will travel to Las Vegas for the Nevada First Tech Challenge Championship. Good luck to the team at the State competition.

Bowling team undefeated

CHS Bowling is the only undefeated team going into the finals next week. It was a close match against Wooster last Thursday with two players, Blake Perry and Michael Rhodes out with injuries.

Team Captains Connor Bell and Kayleigh McCain led the team to victory, while Kayleigh earned her highest game score this season with a 235.

Division boys bowler Derrick Johnson has a season high game score of 275 with a 728 series followed by Robbie Munoz with a season high 278 game and season series 723.

Division girls are lead by Lily Irvin with a season 266 game and a 639 series followed by Kayleigh McCain with a season high 235 game and season 538 series.

In the past 15 years, under the excellent leadership of head coaches Kevin Costa and Dave Lethcoe, CHS has only lost the championship once; it was last year, and they lost by only one point.

Hoping to regain that title, all 10 division teams including schools from Washoe, Douglas, and Carson will be at the Gold Dust West Bowling Center Feb. 9 for the second week of the playoffs. Come on out and support the CHS Senator’s bowling team.

Carson City Health and Human Services

The winners of the Carson City Health and Human Services art contest are in. CCHHS is remodeling its clinic, and the competition, with the theme “Carson City Winter,” awards the top three with prizes, and their work will be displayed in the new clinic.

Congratulations to the following winners: third place, winning a $15 Kohls gift card, is Christopher Curtis Nagel; second place, winning a $25 Kohls gift card, is Cadence Elizabeth Clark; and in first place, winning a $50 Kohls gift card, is Kasandra Medina-Torres.

The three winning pieces will be framed and eventually hang on the walls of the newly remodeled clinic. Congratulations to all of the winners.

Carson City School District Parent Survey

Parents and guardians of CCSD students, please take a survey in either English or Spanish by going to carsoncityschools.com/parents/survey. Feedback is valuable, and this 10 question survey in English or Spanish may be completed using a computer or mobile device.

As part of the CCSD Strategic Plan, goal three, engage parents and families, is seeking to empower and inspire families to positively impact their child's education in a welcoming, informative and collaborative school culture.

Part of that includes strategy 3.1.1, assess the effectiveness of shared responsibility for student success, using an annual survey. Please take the time to offer input. Feedback will play an important role in supporting student achievement and contributing to a child's school’s success.

Future Options Night

Attention parents and guardians of Honors and Advanced Placement students: There will be a CHS Options Night Feb. 4 from 6-7:30 p.m. beginning in Senator Square. The Honors and AP presentation will be held in the CHS Library followed by the Jump Start presentation at 7 p.m.

Preseason Swimming

Due to the Professional Development day on Feb. 4, we will start preseason on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Talent Show

To all students who have a cool talent that would make them winners of America's Got Talent, why not try out for the CHS Talent Show? Past winners appeared on American Idol.

Auditions are Feb. 6. Pick up an audition application from CHS teacher Angila Golik in room 249 or from the attendance office. The first 40 applications will be accepted, and that is it.

Save The Kids Assembly

Superintendent Richard Stokes has arranged an assembly for CHS ninth graders on Feb. 8 from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. in the Big Gym.

The assembly is called #SaveTheKids and will focus on internet safety, social media responsibility, anxiety and depression coping skills, and suicide awareness. Additional information may be found at savethekids.us.

Safe Grad

CHS’ Safe and Sober 5k Run/Walk is Feb. 9. Interested walkers and runners may find the application at carsonhighsafegrad.com.

The Safe Grad Committee is looking for sponsors and raffle prize donations too, so call Social Media Advertising Coordinator, Nubia Leon.

Athletes of the Week

CHS Athletic Department’s Jan. 22-26 Athletes of the Week are Bella Kordonoway for Girls Varsity Basketball and Parsa Hadjighasemi for Boys Varsity Basketball.

These athletes, and all students who participate in school functions through leadership, clubs, and sports deserve a high level of recognition and congratulations.

Student of the Week

Christina Van Geel is the CHS Student of the Week. Recently, Christina turned in a wallet she found with $212 in it to the attendance office.

Attendance office secretary Patty Bean, who nominated Christina as Student of the Week, said, “We did find the owner of the wallet who was very grateful as it was needed for her band trip.”

Christina Van Geel, who takes a full load of classes at CHS, is an amazing young lady who inspires others to hope and care about her fellow students. Honors geometry, biology, choir, French, English, transitions, “Reading a book can open up doors to a million different worlds.”

Senior Spotlight

The Senior Spotlight this week is Amberlee Rangel. Amberlee is an outstanding senior at CHS, maintaining excellent grades during her freshman, sophomore, junior and the first semester of her senior year. She has taken both Honors and Advanced Placement classes, while maintaining a 3.97 weighted GPA.

She has been involved in the CHS Photography Advanced Study Program and volunteers with Empire Elementary when they have school events.

Amberlee plans on attending Western Nevada College in the Fall, where she will study psychology and pursue a career teaching psychology at the college level.

With all of Amberlee’s skills, there is no doubt she will succeed in achieving her future goals. Congratulations to Amberlee Rangel on earning this week’s Senior in the Spotlight, no easy task amidst the over 500 seniors attending Carson High School.

Phil Brady is an English teacher at CHS.

Top Stories

... or see all stories

Hello fellow anglers. We have a few things coming up soon. As we all know, the California opening day fishing season will start on April 27. The lakes in Mono and Inyo counties will open for the year.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of an ongoing telephone scam. In this scam, the original callers are claiming to be a family member who was involved in an accident.

MINDEN — Douglas County is excited to announce that Brook Adie has accepted the position of Community Services Director. Adie served as the Assistant Community Services Director from 2021-2023, and has held the role of Interim Community Services Director since July 2023.

A suspect sought by the Carson City Sheriff's Office for a battery that happened earlier this month at a local bar is in California law enforcement custody.

Carson Montessori students watch the egg drop competition

All students at Carson Montessori gathered this week around the scissor lift eagerly anticipating the start of the Engineering EGGstravaganza. Each grade created eight carefully engineered contraptions to house and protect their prized egg for the school-wide egg drop.

On April 9, Sierra Nevada Forums, in partnership with the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters of Northern Nevada, will host “The truth about Carson City road funding: straight from the horse’s mouth.”

In July 2021, a dry lightning storm caused a number of fires throughout Carson City, the largest being the Prison Hill fire, burning roughly 175 acres in a matter of hours, and came dangerously close to homes.

Recently, a terrible incident in Eastern California left one man dead and another injured following a mountain lion attack. This has led to concern throughout mountain lion country on whether or not its safe to recreate. While mountain lion attacks are few and far between, there are a number of ways to stay safe and aware.

The Active 20-30 Club of Carson City No. 140 will host a Battle of the Bands competition on Saturday, April 20 at Fuji Park in Carson City.

Nevada Humane Society, Carson City Pet of the Week is Laffy Taffy, who is as sweet as candy and will keep you “Laffying” with his goofy antics.

GreenUP!, an environmental education non-profit working with local businesses, asks the community to support sustainable dining by bringing their appetites to Carson City Green Dining Restaurants while the banner flies now through Sunday, March 31.

Mark Twain Days Festival is back this year, May 10-12, with some big changes. Visit Carson City approached the Brewery Arts Center and asked them to partner for the planning of the second year of the festival, which is held in honor of Mark Twain, our region’s most famous writer.

These two photos by Nancy Sawyer, taken early Tuesday night over the Carson City sky, shows a magnificent array of rolling waves, like they were taken from pallette to canvas.

Spotted three birds, possibly turkey vultures or golden eagles, behind Buzzy's Ranch Road in Carson City early Wednesday. This is possibly part of a spring mating ritual. Bring your small pets inside.

Celebrating its Spring Fling Bunco fundraiser, Soroptimist International of Carson City will begin with a stuffed baked potato bar including bacon, butter, sour cream, broccoli and a side salad at 5:30pm. A no-host bar will be available. At 6:30pm the fun begins including prizes for top Bunco achievers.

United Federal Credit Union is expanding its footprint in Nevada. United opened a new branch in Minden on Monday, March 18, 2024. United has been operating in Nevada since 2009. The Minden branch is United’s ninth location in the state.

Looking for a place to take your little ones this week? Look no further! Here is a list of family-friendly (and fun!) activities and events happening this week around the capital city.

The Hangar Tavern is Carson City’s newest bar that offers casino gaming machines, which opened up shop about two months ago off Airport Road.

The airplane-themed business is split sectioned, with the tavern taking up space on one side, which includes several seating options and multiple flat screen televisions for watching sports, while gaming takes up the other half.

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation is granting local workforce boards $5 million to address barriers to employment.

The Carson City Symphony, conducted by Music Director David Bugli and Assistant Conductor Brian Fox, presents a concert, "We Got Rhythm," on Sunday, April 28, at 4 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E William Street in Carson City.

Carson Middle School English Teacher Rhonda Holloway, Seeliger Elementary Fourth Grade Teacher Toni Nielson and Mark Twain Fourth Grade Teachers Kylie Jensen and Alyson Haas were recent recipients of the “Apple Award” from the Delta Kappa Gamma NU Chapter in the total amount of $500. There were more than 14 total applicants. Delta Kappa Gamma is an educational organization of teachers who support other teachers.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office is investigating a battery which occurred at a Carson City bar on March 17, 2024. The Carson City Sheriff’s Office has obtained surveillance footage of the incident and is attempting to identify the suspect in the pictures above.

On Tuesday, March 26, at approximately 7 a.m., the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and East Fork Fire responded to the 900 block of Arrowhead Drive in the Gardnerville Ranchos for a report of an unconscious individual lying on the side of the road.

Another early spring storm system will move into the Carson City area and surrounding counties Wednesday bringing gusty winds, valley rain and mountain snow to the region, according to the National Weather Service.

A saturation event was organized last week by the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, Office of Traffic Safety, and Sheriff's Traffic Enforcement Team to improve traffic safety in the Mound House area.

Women's Drum Circles for all levels, or no experience, of drumming continue this Saturday, March 30, beginning at 10 a.m. at Dark Willow Emporium in Carson City. With fun, creativity and supportive community, the HealthRhythms protocol offers evidence-based improvement in well-being and empowerment.

According to Redfin, home prices in Nevada were up 9.7 percent year-over-year in February 2024. At the same time, the number of homes for sale in the state fell by 20.8 percent. While home prices are on the rise, the supply of homes for sale is not meeting demand, creating what is considered a “tight” housing market across the Silver State.

Each year, the Chamber’s Leadership Institute class embraces a class project to enhance the quality of life within our community. Some of the projects have supported the needs of our charitable nonprofits while others have benefitted the citizens-at-large through public enhancements within the cemetery, on public trails, senior center, library, children’s museum and more.

Shovels turned Monday in Carson City at a ceremony to launch the beginning of construction for a new $18.4 million fire station and emergency operations center.

Inde the Belgian Malinois dock diving dog of Carson City is ready to make a big splash again, this time in a national favorite pet competition.