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The Tahoe Fund announced today that 12 major Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts are offering two free Alpine or Nordic tickets for every purchase of a California or Nevada Lake Tahoe license plate between December 12 and April 15.

This weekend, beginner skiers and riders can take their first turns on the snow at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows for just $30 including a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment and lessons during the 12th Annual Learn to Ski and Board Weekend.

Mayor Bob Crowell helps Caroline & Clinton Clark, owners of Clark's Performance Center, cut the ribbon at their newly expanded facility at 4630 Hwy 50 East, Suite 12. Dennis DuPerault & Sleina Giesler hold the ribbon.

This is a final reminder to set aside the evening of this Saturday, Dec. 3 for the Ormsby Sportsmen’s Association (OSA) big, annual banquet at the Carson Nugget Convention Center.

With Wednesday being Nov. 30, and with all of the crazy “Black Friday” shopping madness now safely behind us, we can begin, once again, to think rationally about ideas for Christmas gifts for that special person(s) in our lives.
So, if you were not part of that frenzied mob scene on the day after Thanksgiving, or if you are still scratching your head about what to get for that person, here are some “Don Q” suggestions for Christmas gifts:
Any one or more of these could create a very enjoyable Christmas.

Here is this week's fishing report from Nov. 30 through Dec. 6, 2011. This report covers rivers, streams and lakes in Nevada, the Sierra, Northern California and Southern Oregon.

The Brewery Arts Center is pleased to announce that the Proscenium Players, Inc. theater company will perform during the 2011/2012 season at the BAC. They will kick off their season with the production of “A Tuna Christmas”.

The PPI was founded in 1965 and since then has continuously entertained Carson City residents with a variety of shows. Over the years, the shows have been varied: drama, musicals, comedy, classical, improvisational, old favorites and avant-garde. Now, after a two year hiatus, the performance troupe is returning to the BAC.

Deputies responded to several calls over Thanksgiving weekend.

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If you hunt and/or fish, you might want to set aside the evening of Saturday, December 03 for a “Ton of Fun” with a whole bunch of your counterparts.

That is the date of the Ormsby Sportsmen’s Association (OSA) of Carson City big, end-of-the-year, annual banquet.

Ormsby Sportsmen’s Association:
OSA is a local sportsmen’s club, which was founded way back in 1945; and with a 2011 paid-up membership of more than 220 members, it is one of the oldest and largest sportsmen’s group in the State of Nevada.

BISHOP AREA, CALIF:
The fishing season for the Bishop area is closed.
 
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
The fishing season for Bridgeport Reservoir is closed.

CARSON RIVER, CALIF:
East Carson River:
The fishing season for the East Carson River is closed upstream from Hangman’s Bridge.
West Carson River:
The fishing season for the West Carson River is closed.

CHETCO RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong is warning residents to protect their property this holiday season in light of a recent increase of reported thefts committed by drug users. According to Furlong, many of these thefts are being committed by the victims' family and friends, stealing to support their drug habits.

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The Carson City School Board gave tentative approval to a new vision statement for the district on Tuesday. The statement reads: “Our community empowers tomorrow's innovators, leaders and thinkers.” The statement is the product of the district's Vision and Strategic Planning Committee after gathering suggestions from community meetings over a period of months. Subcommittees will now investigate setting goals to match the vision statement and make improvements in four areas: Flexibility and choice in curriculum, parent engagement, community partnerships and student health.

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The Carson Senators will meet the Reed Raiders on Saturday in Mackay Stadium to decide the Northern 4A football champion. Even though Reed is the favorite, Carson has beaten them two years in a row. The game will be televised on KNPB at 12:15 p.m. Tickets for the game will be available at the gate, $7 for adults, $5 for students.

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Every years, retailers keep trying to push the Christmas shopping season earlier and earlier, and this year is no exception. Walmart will open at 10 p.m. tonight, pushing "Black Friday" into Thursday night. Kohl's and Target will open at midnight. Many Carson City merchants will also be offering Black Friday deals.

Help out the community by shopping local this year.

Unemployment figures released this morning show the state's overall unemployment rate held steady at 13.4 percent, still the highest in the nation and well above the 9 percent national average.

Carson City's jobless rate dropped to 12 percent in October, down from 12.4 percent the previous month. In October 2010, the unemployment was 13.1 percent.

Unemployment in the Las Vegas metro area dropped to 13.1 percent, down from 13.4 percent in September. The Reno metro area also saw a drop, from 12.6 to 12.1 percent.

Full press release below.

Lake Tahoe South is New Year’s celebration central with Snow Globe, a three-day outdoor music festival with over 40 world-class musicians on three main stages, firework shows, combined with a myriad of outdoor recreation, entertainment and nightlife, providing action-packed holiday season for kids of all ages.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is asking for public input on the proposed Fallen Leaf Lake Trail Access and Travel Management project. The project would improve the recreation experience for residents and visitors to the Fallen Leaf Lake area, while protecting the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the area.
The project area totals approximately 12,960 acres on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe and includes 41.8 miles of existing trails. The project boundary extends from Pope to Baldwin Beaches on the north end to the south and west ends of Fallen Leaf Lake.

Thanksgiving is a time when good nutritional habits are broken. Sweets and foods with high fat content and of course the fitness structure that flies out the window when your guests walk in. Everywhere you turn you are inundated with food ads. All your extra time is spent in the kitchen cooking or in the grocery store buying more food. Most people over-buy on Thanksgiving and over-eat.

It's a Holiday Treat for all - seasonal and holiday music in many styles! The Carson City Symphony presents the 28th annual Holiday Treat concert on Sunday, December 11, 2011, 4:00 p.m., at the Bob Boldrick Theater in the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William Street.

Update 11:53 a.m.: Congressmen Mark Amodei (NV-2) and Joe Heck (NV-3) released the following joint statement regarding the Caughlin Ranch fire:
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this disaster. We are in contact with the Governor’s office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D.C. to offer guidance and assistance in providing resources to address the emergency. We are coordinating efforts to ensure the Prepositioned Equipment Program (PEP) located in Las Vegas is prepared to deploy and assist with controlling the fire if needed. Anyone wishing to make financial contributions to help the victims of this disaster may do so through the Red Cross."

Update 10 a.m: The State of Nevada, Washoe County and the City of Reno have declared a state of emergency. More than 9,500 people have been evacuated, according to City of Reno spokesman Chris Good. The 400-plus-acre fire is still zero percent contained. As of now, Galena High School is the evacuation point. If that fills up, Damonte Ranch High School will be the next evacuation point. Go here for the latest from UNR's Nevada Sagebrush and here from MyNews4.com.

Update 8:15: Fire now officially named Caughlin Fire.

Update 7:11 a.m.: KRNV is on the air talking with Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez who is saying they have lost about 20 homes so far, and the strong winds are a big problem. He also said the winds are so strong that there is no way to get air attacks on this fire.

An Emergency 211 number is being set up to provide better information for Reno residents.

A wind-driven wildfire has burned more than 400 acres and has consumed at least six homes in the Caughlin Ranch area in southwest Reno this morning. The Pine Haven fire broke out around 12:30 this morning and thousands have been told to evacuate. Residents are being evacuated to Reno High School, the designated area for evacuations. Fire agencies from the Carson City and Carson Valley areas are responding as are from the Lake Tahoe area. Power is out to at least 1,000 homes in the area, according to NV Energy.
Flames are threatening homes near Manzanita Lane and Dant Boulevard, and police officers were going to residences to evacuate residents. An officer went to the house of a panicking Kathy Harrah. The officer told her to take a deep breath and said "you are fairly safe," as she and her two sons, John and Kody, grabbed items and put them into their truck. "I have been watching the fire all night. I didn't know it was going to get this bad," she told the Reno Gazette-Journal before ordering her son to rip a computer out of a wall. The area was thick with smoke that hung over over Manzanita. Flames in the canyon below Manzanita shot up dozens of feet in the air as they hit brush. Go here and here for story.

Videos of the fire

Map of fire area

Discount Tire opened up their first Carson City store this week on South Carson Street.

Manager Allen Ogas said this store is number 814 in the country, with locations in 27 states.

The new business specializes in tires and wheels.

"We strictly do wheels and tires, that's our expertise," Ogas said. "I think the things people will like the most is our customer service, our low prices and our tire selection. We can get almost any tire made."

As the holiday season begins, Karen and I are taking time to remember how much our community has come through — the challenges and sadness it has faced, and the grace and strength with which we've responded.

Karen and I enjoy Thanksgiving because it's a time to gather family and friends and take a moment to count our blessings. I invite everyone to look around, see where help is needed and take a moment, too.

The charred body of a convicted sex offender who was recently questioned about the fondling of a 6-year-old Carson City girl was found in a burning boat Friday night by Washoe Lake.

James Floyd Raines, 70, was questioned last week about fondling the girl at his Bel Aire Way home. He was a Tier 1 sex offender, having been convicted in 1989 of lewdness with a child in Henderson and served four years in prison. He allegedly told detectives last week that he was not going back to prison.

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The Nevada Tax Commission is scheduled to vote on a measure on Dec. 12 that would limit some of the tax deductions that mining companies take. During the last legislative session, lawmakers learned the mining companies were taking deductions for activities not related to mining in Nevada, such as executive pay. The Nevada Mining Association says the changing in deductions could cost mining companies and extra $48 million a year.

Nevada mining operations are taxed on net proceeds, which allows them to deduct expenses, whereas most other states tax gross income. A controversy erupted earlier this year when it was revealed that the state didn't have any qualified auditors to oversee what the mining companies were claiming for expenses.

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Silver State Charter School's plan to move into their new location on Mallory Way has been delayed until early next year. The school's principal Alan Staggs is frustrated with some of the "loopholes" because the building has to be retrofitted to bring it up to a higher standard because it will be used as a school and not an office. The Nevada Insurance Division vacated the building last year when workers were sickened by a chemical used to clean bird droppings. The Staggs said that problem has been fixed.

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Gov. Brian Sandoval led the celebration of a new Native American cultural exhibit at Reno-Tahoe Airport on Monday. The governor said he got the idea for the exhibit from visiting other airports where there were similar displays. The event coincides with his signing of a proclamation declaring November as Native American Heritage Month. See the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5prbco90554

Occupy Wall Street began their two-week march from Nov. 9-23 to Washington, D.C. to tell Congress' Deficit Super Committee that the Occupy movement is against any extension of the Bush tax cuts. An extension of those cuts, which are due to expire in 2012, as well as reducing the tax rate on the highest bracket from 35 percent to 28 percent is being suggested as part of possible negotiations in creating the deficit reduction package which has a deadline of Nov. 23.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is asking for public input on the proposed Fallen Leaf Lake Trail Access and Travel Management project. The project would improve the recreation experience for residents and visitors to the Fallen Leaf Lake area, while protecting the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the area.

The Pink Floyd tribute band returns to the Brewery Art Center’s Performance Hall December 3rd at 7:30 pm. The always popular show includes astonishing laser lights and special effects. The band recreates the ultimate concert extravaganza that made Pink Floyd famous. They don’t just pay tribute to Pink Floyd, they become Pink Floyd.

Carson City Live Chat Nov. 9Copyright 2011 -. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.-Carson City Live Chat Nov. 9November, 9 2011 8:12 am MS...

Carson City, NV - Occupy Carson City, an extension of the Occupy Wall St. movement, will hold their weekly peaceful assembly on Saturday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Legislature Sidewalks at 401 S. Carson Street in Downtown Carson City. Everyone is welcome to participate, and the group has been in close communication with law enforcement to avoid any problems.

Welcome readers! Now that the newspaper is forcing you to register and eventually pay to read the news, Carson Now will be expanding our coverage so that you don't miss what's going on in Carson City. Here is today's news summary:

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After losing money for the last three years, the Arlington Ice Rink in downtown Carson City is expected to pay for itself. Joel Dunn, operations manager for Carson City Parks and Recreation, told the Parks and Recreation Commission yesterday that the city's purchase of the rink equipment and rental skates will help close the $100,000 in red ink the operation has posted in previous years. He also expects to increase revenue by 29.2 percent by extending the season two weeks and adding new session packages.

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A contestant and former champion in the annual Single-Jack Rock Drilling World Championship that took place on Saturday is on the mend after a piece of metal cut an artery in his arm. Emmit Hoyl was pounding away when a piece of metal chipped off of his hammer and lodged in his arm, causing blood to spurt out. Hoyl kept hammering until another competitor - a doctor - stepped up to stop him before he lost too much blood.

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The number of children who qualify for Carson City School District's homeless program has more than doubled this year, to 359. With the weather turning colder, there is an immediate need for winter coats for these kids. People can donate coats at the Gleason Building, 604 W. Musser St., 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays until Dec. 12. Monetary donations are also accepted.

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The future isn't so bright for two surviving bear cubs whose mother was accidentally killed by a Douglas County Sheriff's deputy. The deputy had intended to shoot the bear with a rubber bullet to scare it away from a garbage-clutter garage in Stateline. Meanwhile, public anger has been expressed against the resident responsible for the garbage, who is now facing eviction. More details here.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will host the 23rd Annual Ski and Snowboard Swap at Mont Bleu Casino and Resort at South Shore Lake Tahoe Nov. 18-19. Proceeds will benefit the Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides skiing and snowboarding programs and events for regional youth and local middle school and high school students.

Nevada's inaugural bear hunt is one sow away from the end of the season after a fifth female was killed over the weekend, the Department of Wildlife said Monday.The 350-pound bear was killed Sunday...

Comstock Mobile Village hosting craft fairThe Comstock Mobile Village will host a craft, jewelry and rummage sale from 7:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Nov. 12. The sale will feature a variety of items for sal...

Nevada's inaugural bear hunt is one sow away from the end of the season after a fifth female was killed over the weekend, the Department of Wildlife said Monday.The 350-pound bear was killed Sunday...