Carson City Nevada News - Carson Now - Your one stop for Carson City news

WNC grad Krysta Palmer will attempt to qualify for Summer Olympics

Jeff Munson — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:57:35 +0000

Western Nevada College

Western Nevada College grad Krysta Palmer will attempt to qualify for the Summer Olympics for the second time this week during the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials in Knoxville, Tenn. The 2021 Olympic bronze medalist will compete in the 3-meter synchro springboard diving competition today, Monday, and the 3-meter springboard diving event Thursday and Saturday.

At the last Olympics, Palmer became the first American woman to claim a medal in a 3-meter event since Kelly McCormick in 1988 and the first female individual diving medalist since 2000. Best of luck, Krysta, in your bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

How to watch:

The 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials will air on NBC, with all NBC coverage also airing on Peacock. USA Network will also cover select events. Go here for the full broadcast schedule.

Urgent need for early education access in Nevada: State-funded program available

Jeff Munson — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:07:45 +0000

Press release

The 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, highlights significant challenges in child well-being across Nevada, emphasizing an urgent need for accessible early education. As Nevada works to improve its rankings in child well-being and education, families face critical barriers to accessing early learning opportunities.

Nevada is ranked 47th overall for child well-being, with specific rankings of 46th in education and 45th in family and community. The data reveals that 16% of Nevada’s children are living in poverty, and 67% of children ages 3 and 4, approximately 50,000 children, are not attending school. Additionally, 73% of Nevada’s fourth graders are not proficient in reading, and 79% of eighth graders are not proficient in math.

In response to these challenges, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services is funding Waterford Upstart, an at-home early learning program aimed at preparing 4-year-old children for kindergarten. Registration is happening now, and children will begin the program this fall. Eligibility for this program includes families who are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, reside in rural areas, or have foster children.

"It’s vital that families know about this resource," said Dr. Matt Hill, CEO at Waterford.org. "Our program is designed to provide quality early education right at home, removing barriers like cost and access to technology. Families who qualify can enroll their children now to ensure they are ready for kindergarten."

The program offers adaptive reading lessons for 15 minutes a day, with an additional 15 minutes for math and science lessons. This flexible, accessible format fits into family routines while providing essential early learning support.

Waterford.org’s program has shown significant positive impacts, particularly for multilingual learners. In a study involving 740 kindergarten students, those using Waterford outperformed their peers in all outcome measures. Notably, Dual Language Learners (DLL) demonstrated greater gains than both DLL students in the comparison group and native English-speaking groups.

"We need to act quickly to inform families about this opportunity," [Your Last Name] added. "This program can make a significant difference in a child’s educational journey, especially for those who might not have access to traditional preschool."

By partnering with the state, Head Start/Preschools, foster families, and other early education advocates, we aim to remove barriers to supporting a child's early education needs and providing them with the opportunity to succeed.

For more information about the at-home early learning program and to register, please contact Kim Fischer at 801-831-0828 or kimfischer@waterford.org.

Waterford.org is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing equitable access to proven early education programs for children and the adults who support them. Partnering with caring adults at school, home, and early childhood centers, Waterford.org offers tailored learning experiences that cater to the unique needs of every child, fostering confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging.

Through over 30 peer-reviewed studies and personalized family support, Waterford.org delivers explicit reading, math, and science instruction, designed for how children learn, to ensure they thrive in their educational journey. Waterford.org has been recognized by TED as an Audacious Project, showing its potential to bring about transformative change in education.

Mile High Jazz Band Association hosts membership party, annual meeting June 30

Jeff Munson — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:46:06 +0000

Event Date:

June 30, 2024 - 6:00pm

By Elinor Bugli

The Mile High Jazz Band Association's annual membership meeting and end-of-the-fiscal-year party will be on Sunday, June 30, at 6:00 p.m., at the Carson City Historical Society’s Carriage House, behind the Foreman-Roberts House Museum, 1207 N. Carson Street, Carson City.

All interested individuals - including Association members, band musicians, volunteers, and friends - are invited. The meeting will include a brief review the past year, a preview of the coming season, and election of members to the nine-member Board of Trustees. A brief board meeting will follow.

The event includes a pot-luck dinner. Main dish and beverages are provided. Attendees may bring an appetizer, side dish, salad, or dessert to share. As a bonus, guests will have a brief tour of the historic Foreman-Roberts House Museum. This Gothic Revival house was built in 1859 in Washoe City and moved to Carson City in 1873.

For reservations and information, call 775-883-4154 or email ehbugli@aol.com.

Forest Service, Nevada Division of Forestry create 'Arc Dome' crew to confront wildfire crisis

Jeff Munson — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:25:25 +0000

U.S. Forest Service

A new agreement between the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the Nevada Division of Forestry will enhance safe and effective wildfire response across Nevada. The centerpiece of this partnership is the creation of the joint Arc Dome Wildland Fire Module that is focused on planning, monitoring, and responding to wildfires. This initiative represents in shared resources to confront the wildfire crisis.

"Through partnerships with agencies such as the Nevada Division of Forestry, we can maximize the use of shared resources to effectively mitigate fire risk," said Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Supervisor Jon Stansfield. "Fire is a concern for our entire state, and this partnership is part of the long-term shared stewardship strategy to reduce the threat to our communities and natural resources."

Wildland fire modules are versatile, highly mobile, and logistically independent 10-person crews that not only respond to wildfires, but also harness technical and ecological expertise of the role of fire as a natural process, using it to mitigate wildfire risks. In other words, modules like Arc Dome can respond to wildfires in the backcountry for multiple days with minimal logistical support. When not actively fighting fires, they plan, implement, and monitor fuels reduction projects, such as prescribed burns, and support wildfire prevention education and outreach in local communities.

Arc Dome is the first federal-state wildland fire crew in Nevada’s history. “What makes them so unique and special is that we’re able to bring together skillsets that the USDA Forest Service typically uses and those that Nevada Division of Forestry is known for,” explained Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Fire Management Officer Gwen Sanchez. “Combining those skillsets creates a type of super crew, capable of operating across Nevada.”

The Forest Service has well-established history of cooperating with the Nevada Division of Forestry before, during, and after wildfires, with Arc Dome representing a natural evolution of this longstanding relationship. “Our wildfires know no boundaries and neither should our response,” expressed State Forester Firewarden Kacey KC. “We are united to do what’s best for Nevada and Nevadans.”

The Arc Dome Wildland Fire Module is based out of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Ely Ranger District in Ely, Nevada. Earlier this week, the module participated in a preparedness review to ensure they met national wildland fire standards for operations and performance. This module will not only be a statewide resource, but a national one as well.

Pine Nuts: Good samaritans, new tech assist in helping homeless

Jeff Munson — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 01:26:49 +0000

By McAvoy Layne

While staying at the enchanting Renaissance recently, I had a view of the Truckee River, and a half dozen homeless folks dwelling there on her silent shores. They pretty much kept to themselves until a gregarious gentleman came along with something to eat that he passed out to one after another until they were all up and around on the riverbank, bargaining and trading with what little they had to offer. This was quite possibly their main meal for the day, and they were exhibiting great gladness in celebrating it.

Most of us Americans have never experienced real hunger as opposed to just feeling hungry. The only time I ever experienced hunger was in Vietnam when a low hanging cloud cover kept us Marines from being resupplied. We went four days without eating before we came upon a field of onions, dug a few up, and ate them raw, without any condiments or complaints. Of course we had the breath of a buzzard for the next three months, but we didn’t care.

Back to our homeless folks on the Truckee, they seemed delighted with what little sustenance was bequeathed to them by the Good Samaritan gentleman, who looked to be homeless himself.

My first impulse was to go down there and invite the seven of them to dinner at the Renaissance, but I had to go downstairs and talk into a microphone for my own dinner. It did not go unappreciated by me that could I not talk for my supper, I might be out there on the riverbank, sharing a few KitKats with my new neighbors.

But help is on the way. I’ve been reading about Emergency Urban Sleeper Pods. They’re called, “Amazing Grace Spaces Pods,” and are 8 feet by 6 feet with a bed, light, toilet and USB socket. They even have a coded smart lock to protect the no longer homeless person on the inside.

Nobody would want to live in one of these pods for long, but it would give someone time to find a better life. My hat is off to Amazing Graces Spaces for caring, and expressing that care with Emergency Urban Sleeper Pods.

I had a dream last night that I was asleep in my pod there on the bank of the Truckee, when the river rose and floated me downstream into Pyramid Lake, where I bobbed around for an hour or so before some merciful Washoe folks banged on my door, and towed me back to land, where we dined on dried trout.

As a nation, we have got to deal with homelessness, this stain on our good name. There are more caring folks out there capable of building pods as a short-term stopgap measure toward a permanent solution to homelessness.

Meanwhile, Nevada Cares Campus is providing shelter to folks who are seeking more permanent housing opportunities. Bravo to them!

There are so many caring people on deck and ready. We need hammers and nails, and some charitable counseling. Go Reno!

— For more than 35 years, in more than 4,000 performances, columnist and Chautauquan McAvoy Layne has been dedicated to preserving the wit and wisdom of “The Wild Humorist of the Pacific Slope,” Mark Twain. As Layne puts it: “It’s like being a Monday through Friday preacher, whose sermon, though not reverently pious, is fervently American."

Go here for the spoken word version of this and other columns.

2024 Carson High Safe Grad thanks sponsors and volunteers

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 22:56:17 +0000

By Carson High Safe Grad Boosters

The Class of 2024 was celebrated two weeks ago with a free all-night party hosted by Carson High Safe Grad. This event is only made possible because of the generosity of volunteered time and donated resources made available by the following individuals and organizations (businesses marked by an asterisk).

We also maintain this list at www.carsonhighsafegrad.com/donate and would love to add you to it!

20/30 Club
Allison MacKenzie, LTD, Attorneys at Law*
Amy Perez
Anne-Marie Cuneo
Apex Systems INC dba SERVPRO*
Barbara Ford
Big 5*
Carol Doede
Carol Dunn
Carolyn and Eric Ingbar
Carson City Lions Club
Carson City Orthodontics*
Carson City Pediatric Dentistry*
Carson High Holiday Craft Fair*
Carson Ready-Mix INC dba Carson Masonry & Steel Supply
Caesars Entertainment*
CGI INC*
Charles M Kilpatrick*
Charyl Lacombe
Christina Rice
Christopher Merriner
Cinderlite Trucking Corp*
Clarence Ramsay
Costco*
Dan Davis
Deputy Palamar
Dutch Bros*
Eden Health Management*
Emily Kuhlman
Eva Bickmore
Fitness For 10*
Food Maxx*
Greater Nevada Credit Union*
Grocery Outlet*
Human Bean*
Janie Davis
Jeanette Glauner
Jen Parsons
Jenny Crane
JM Furniture INC*
Jonni Moon
John and Dyan Burroughs
John Preisach
JP Copoulos Architect*
Kaia Fit Sierra*
Kyra Hinton
Kendall Gilliam
Kevin Marcella
Kris Presswood
Laura Gardner
Laura Myler
Les Schwab*
Linda Capalbo
Linda Marantette
Kilpatrick Bullentini Law*
Marc Nelson, DMD PC*
Mary Eaton
Mary Piercynski
Maurices*
Meridian Insurance Services*
Michelle Pedersen
Miracle Nails*
Mountain Dental*
Nigel Harrison
Nolan Walther
Patti Smith
Pizza Factory*
Purple Avocado*
Rafael Perez
Raley's*
Rayleen Beeler
Remax*
Robert Beeler
Rosalyn Cornejo
Round Table*
Sara Romeo
Savemart (North)*
Sheila Story
Southwest Gas*
Stephanie Dement
Sue Moulden
Susan A Crowell
Tahoe Donner Golf Course*
Tanisha Chacon
Teah Olson
Teresa Chalmers
Theresa Domitrovich
Thomas and Lila Brown
Tim and Sandra Koch McFarren
Trader Joe's*
United Engine and Machine Co.*
UNR Nursing Students
US Chef's Store*
Western NV Supply Company*
Wendy Yang
Zachary Romeo

Northern Nevada backyards and gardens: Cottontails aren’t so cute after all

Jeff Munson — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 22:54:08 +0000

By JoAnne Skelly

Rabbits are overrunning our property. Initially, it was cute to see tiny bunnies. While cottontails only live 12 to 15 months, they can have two to six litters per year, each with five to six young. They only have a 28-to-29-day gestation period, and females breed again within hours of giving birth.

Rabbits concentrate in favorable areas (such as our yard) and can live their entire lives on 10 acres or less. They do not dig their own burrows; instead, they reuse the burrows of other animals or live in brush or rock piles. They eat flowers and vegetables in spring and summer and the bark off trees and shrubs in winter.

While they eat most veggies, they seem to avoid corn, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, and some peppers. Their winter gnawing/girdling on tree and shrub trunks is very destructive, especially when trunks are buried in snow.

Any method of management must include exclusion with woven wire fences with mesh smaller than 1½ inches and 30-36 inches high. The fencing has to be buried at the bottom six inches deep or bent at the bottom six inches out for the area to be protected. Tall tree guards made of hardware cloth cylinders will protect trunks in the winter. Exclusion also includes getting rid of brush and rock piles, weeds, and similar hiding places.

Because of quick breeding, lethal methods of control work for only a short period of time. Repellants, some of which are poisonous, have to be used at the first sign of damage and repeated often. Taste-based repellants work better than odor-based repellants. Most repellants can’t be used on any vegetative parts aimed for human consumption. Dried blood meal is sometimes used as a repellant, but it doesn’t weather well. Mothballs are not only ineffective, the naphthalene and its vapor are toxic to humans

There are no toxicants or fumigants registered for rabbit control. Poisoning is not recommended. Dogs, and sometimes cats, definitely can help drive them out or kill them. Motion activated scare devices are available but are not reliable. Supposedly strong-smelling plants such as lavender, rosemary, thyme and others may deter rabbit feeding. Natural enemies include hawks, owls, eagles, coyotes, bobcats, foxes and weasels. Live trapping is not recommended.

Gimmicks like pieces of hose to look like snakes, water-filled glass jars to frighten with reflections or inflatable owls are not effective. Rabbits are a protected species requiring a hunting license to shoot them during hunting season, if discharge of firearms is even allowed in your neighborhood.

For detailed information go here.

— JoAnne Skelly is Associate Professor & Extension Educator, Emerita, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at skellyj@unr.edu.

Carson City area photographers put 'ICM' to the test for June photo competition

Jeff Munson — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 20:54:58 +0000

Going with the theme Intentional Camera Movement, also known as "ICM" in photog nomenclature, local shooters put their camera lenses to the test, producing a number of award-winning pictures for this month's Carson City Photo Club competition.

Here are the June winners. There was a tie for second place. Scroll and double click on photos to enlarge.

First Place: "Nevada Rose” Shelly Benge
2nd Place: “Painted Purple” Laura Brower
2nd Place: “Shaken Not Stirred” Rob McArtor
3rd Place: “Blast Off!!” MaryLou Schindler
Winner's Choice: “Wildflower” Mikayla Jones

The Carson City Photo Club meets at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, except December, at the Carson City Sheriff's Office, 911 East Musser Street. Use west entrance.

The theme for the monthly photo contest in July is “Waterfalls.”

Become a member and submit your photo, Your photo must have been taken within the last year. All levels of photographers are welcome. See the photo club's Facebook page here and webpage here for more information.

Photo club contest winners and other submissions can be found at the Nevada State Museum, 600 N Carson St, Carson City.

Carson City Symphony’s Summer 'Rhythm & Strings' program begins Thursday

Jeff Munson — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 19:03:45 +0000

Event Date:

June 20, 2024 - 10:00am

By Elinor Bugli

Carson City Symphony Association’s “Strings in the Summer 2024 - Rhythm & Strings” is a weekly program for string-instrument players of all ages and levels. It meets on Thursdays, from June 20 to August 1 (except July 4), from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Tahoe Room at the Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Drive.

Symphony Education Director Micah Dunn will lead participants in a new activity each week. The program is designed to include younger students and violinists, violists, and cellists of any age who are able to play a one-octave D major scale and read notes within the staff. More experienced players are welcome to join.

Also this summer, Not Quite Ready for Carnegie Hall Players (NQR) for advanced beginner and intermediate strings will continue on Thursdays, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Joshua Tree Room at the Senior Center. This year-round, coached ensemble plays orchestra tunes arranged for violin, viola, cello, and bass.

Registration and tuition for both groups are free, donations welcome. A public concert will be held at the end of the session. For more information and to register, contact Micah Dunn, at 775-741-6544 or email micahdunn@gmail.com.

Carson City Symphony Association's educational programs are funded, in part, by grants from the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; and by private donations.

Assistant Carson City Sheriff Daniel Gonzales graduates FBI National Academy

Jeff Munson — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 18:10:32 +0000

Carson City Sheriff's Office

On June 6, 2020, Carson City Assistant Sheriff Daniel Gonzales graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. In a release provided by the FBI, 201 law enforcement officers graduated from the FBI National Academy.

The 290th session of the National Academy consisted of men and women from 46 states and the District of Columbia. The class included members of law enforcement agencies from 24 countries, five military organizations, and six federal civilian organizations.

Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 10 weeks of advanced communications, leadership, and fitness training. Participants must have proven records as professionals within their agencies to attend. On average, these offices have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions. FBI Director Christopher Wray delivered remarks at the ceremony and Class spokesperson Thomas Sloan, from Round Rock Police Department, Round Rock, Texas represented the graduating officers.

FBI Academy instructors, special agents, and other staff with advanced degrees provide the training; many instructors are recognized internationally in their fields. Since 1972, National Academy students have been able to earn undergraduate and graduate credits from the University of Virginia, which accredits all the National Academy courses offered. A total 55,186 graduates have completed the FBI National Academy since it began in 1935. The National Academy is held at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, the same facility where the FBI trains its new special agents and intelligence analysts.

Sheriff Furlong congratulated Assistant Sheriff Gonzales for his completion of the highly demanding curriculum. In keeping with the departments vision, mission, values, and goals, the Sheriff prides the organization for making training a priority. Ensuring that our law enforcement leadership in Carson City receives the highest levels of training available is a critical feature of our philosophy for engaging with the community and delivering professional services. Assistant Sheriff Daniel Gonzales joins the ranks of other current Carson City Sheriff's FBINA graduates including Undersheriff Jerome Tushbant, Assistant Sheriff Jim Primka, and Captain Clay Wall.