electrical

Have you ever wondered why there has been such a big push in the past decade or two toward so-called green energy?

I surmise that the reason has less to do with saving the environment, and more to do with saving the pockets of people who have tied up their fortunes in it.

Solar and wind power sources have been around for decades, but they’ve never really caught on. Kind of like electric cars. There have been fads and trends toward them, but none that have been proven to last the tests of time.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Sept. 7-13, 2015: Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, through Friday Sep. 11, Race Track Road will be closed between Bigelow Drive and Saddlehorn Road due to utility work. Saddlehorn Road will be open to local traffic only and there will be limited access during night hours. Detours will be signed.

On Wednesday, September 16, Al Sheehan, long-time Carson City resident and retired Pam Am supervisor and trainer with over 30 years of experience, will share his insights into the many unusual situations which he detailed in his book, The Autobiography of Alfred Sheehan.

Jaspreet Gill, a local college math instructor and longtime teacher, turned her passion for teaching into a profession, starting her new business, Carson City Tutor, last month.

Jaspreet holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. She has been helping K-12 and college level students for eight years in Carson City. While working for WNC’s Academic Skills Center and other tutoring agencies, she has prepared several students for math and science competency tests, including the Nevada Proficiency Exam.

NV Energy commercial customers interested in learning more about energy efficiency rebates to help increase their bottom line are invited to attend the NV Energy Sure Bet Summit. The free event takes place Wednesday, August 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at NV Energy, 6100 Neil Road in Reno. NV Energy encourages small to medium size business owners, as well as contractors to attend.

An underground cable that affected the electrical distribution system is what caused Thursday's power outage in Lyon County that affected 2,475 Dayton area customers, a NV Energy spokeswoman said.

"It was a bad underground cable which is what made it difficult to get to unlike an outage from a power line where it can be reached easily," said Faye Andersen, spokeswoman for NV Energy.

What a crazy week in the Sierras! Afternoon thunderstorms for the last several days, flooding, hail, and even snow in Yosemite are definitely unusual for this time of year. The storms are expected to subside this weekend, so keep your fingers crossed for some sunshine. Break a leg to the Proscenium Players as they open Murder in an English Manor at the Brewery Arts Center. Senior Follies debuts this year’s performance, Flashback, at the Community Center.

FRIDAY:

• Monthly ‘Breakfast with Supervisor Brad’ Bonokowski at the Cracker Box (7am-8am; open to Carson City residents, the coffee is on Brad)
• ’New Work’ by artist Pasha Rafat at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)
• NAA Exhibit by artist Nancy Clarke at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)

JOIN, Inc. has opened its new Carson City location at 716 N. Carson Street, Suite 108 where staff members are eager to serve residents seeking career training for in-demand occupations.

Denise Castle, Regional Branch Manager, is excited that JOIN is extending its outreach beyond Carson City to Dayton, Gardnerville, Incline Village, Minden, Silver Springs, South Lake Tahoe, Stateline, Virginia City, The Washoe Tribe, Wellington, Yerington and Zephyr Cove in order to enroll more individuals who have been without work and need re-employment skills through JOIN’s training programs.

UPDATE: Carson City Fire Department responded this morning to Startbucks at 1850 North Carson Street to a small electrical fire inside. Firefighters were called shortly before 8:30 a.m. When they made entry they discovered light smoke and a water leak, said Carson City Battalion Chief John Arneson. The building was evacuated and the fire was quickly extinguished.
The coffee shop is closed at this time.
The building department and health department have been notified and will respond.
***

Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2), along with 29 original cosponsors, took steps Wednesday to address the strategic and economic vulnerabilities presented by mineral production, including rare earth elements — an industry dominated by China and other foreign nations.

The introduction of H.R. 1937, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Act of 2015, is intended to address American dependence on foreign minerals and to enable the United States to more efficiently develop its own mineral supplies, upon which, according to a recent 60 Minutes report, “modern U.S. life depends.”

Nevada’s top community college and high school students in Career and Technical Education will compete Thursday at Western Nevada College in the welding and automotive mechanics divisions of the SkillsUSA state competition.

NV Energy offers several incentive programs for consumers to purchase energy-saving appliances and other electrical equipment, but a bill that encouraged the utility to ......

The University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Business announced this year’s winner of the Sontag Entrepreneurship Competition Monday, March 9. Nevada Dynamics, a hardware and software safety solution for unmanned autonomous systems, was the winner of the $50,000 award given each year to the student team who presents the best business plan.

“Sontag is one of the largest awards for a student business competition that exists at a single American university,” College of Business Dean Greg Mosier said.

Carson City Public Works Director Darren Schulz announced Wednesday that after reviewing proposals and finalist presentations, a city review and selection committee has selected Lumos & Associates to lead the Downtown Carson Street Urban Design Project.

The committee will enter into contract negotiations for a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors will then approve, disapprove or modify the contract. The contract is anticipated to begin February 5, 2015.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Dec. 15-21, 2014: There will be restricted lanes on E. Fifth Street between Country Village Drive and Parkland Avenue from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Two-way traffic will be maintained. Please use caution.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Dec. 1-7, 2014. There will be work primarily in the shoulder E. Fifth Street from Roop Street to Saliman Road from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday. Elaine Street will remain closed to through traffic from Monday through Sunday. Please follow marked detour.

A well-traveled, 72-year-old World War II veteran is set to make a triumphant return Tuesday at the annual Veterans Day parade in Reno. A remodeled 1942 Dodge WC-54 3/4-Ton Army Ambulance, owned by the Department of Veterans Affairs and refurbished by the Nevada Army Guard, is set to make its first public appearance in years at the parade that begins at 11 a.m. on Virginia Street.

The U.S. Forest Service, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and California Public Utilities Commission have released a final environmental document for the electrical line upgrade project proposed by California Pacific Electric Company, now known as Liberty Utilities, in the North Lake Tahoe area.

Douglas County authorities say three fires Sunday in the Gardnerville Ranchos area may have been deliberately set and are asking anyone for information to contact them.

East Fork Fire and Paramedic District were called to a vegetation fire Sunday, 1:39 a.m. in a vacant lot behind 1309 Langley Ave, Gardnerville. The fire ignited a NV Energy power pole and cut power to a 16 unit apartment building, said Douglas County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Pat Brooks.  

Here is the Carson City area road report for Aug. 11-17. The inside lanes of N. Carson Street between Musser Street and Spear Street will be closed in both directions Monday through Wednesday evenings from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for street work.

The Nevada Department of Transportation will be continuing road work on US 50 from Arrowhead Drive in Carson City to Baldwine Lane in Mound House. There will be single lane closures on weeknights from 1 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. in the westbound direction and from 7 p.m. to 11 a.m. in the eastbound direction.

What began as a battery investigation where a convenience store clerk was hit with a banana, ended with the arrest of a man after he crashed his vehicle into a natural gas line forcing the evacuation of a casino early Sunday morning, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Osvaldo Ruiz was arrested at 1:41 a.m. in the 2100 block of East Long Street after a vehicle and foot chase. He faces felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, reckless driving willful conduct and eluding with endangerment as well as misdemeanor charges of DUI, obstructing and hit and run.

Major paving work is scheduled to begin Sunday evening on Highway 50 in the Moundhouse area as part of a Nevada Department of Transportation project to enhance the highway.

The NV 150 Fair at the Fuji Park Fairgrounds is just three weeks away. Those who shop in that area will have noticed that Fuji Park is undergoing quite the change with additional parking, grading, electrical upgrades and more to get ready for Carson City’s first fair.

UPDATE: The evacuation at the Smith's grocery store has been lifted and customers are allowed to enter the store. Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi said the fire started in a small refrigerated display case at the front end of the store.
The electrical fire may have started in a illuminated area of the case, which caused some flames but not enough to where the sprinklers went off, said Giomi.

***

The Smith's grocery store in the 500 block of East William Street in Carson City was evacuated shortly after 2 this afternoon following a small fire inside the store.

UPDATE: Carson City Supervisors agreed Thursday to opt in on Nevada's medical marijuana law regarding establishments of dispensaries and facilities. The board voted 4 to 1 in favor of zoning changes that allow for medical marijuana establishments in zoned areas. Go here for the full story.

****
The second reading of a proposed zoning ordinance allowing for marijuana dispensaries and facilities for cultivation, production and testing will go before the Carson City Board of Supervisors on Thursday during an evening session.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of June 16-22, 2014. Vista Grande Boulevard will continue to be closed from Topsy Lane to Old Clear Creek Road with a signed detour. There will also be intermittent delays on Old Clear Creek Road near the intersection with Vista Grande Boulevard.

There will be a lane shift on Northridge Drive and the sidewalk will be closed on the north side of the street near the intersection with Roop Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

Here is the Carson City area road road report for the week of May 26 through June. 1, 2014. Ponderosa Drive has been permanently closed to public traffic south of E. Roland Street. Temporary access will be allowed for emergency vehicles and buses only.
 
The sidewalk on the south side of Robinson Street between Carson Street and Plaza Street will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, May 28, and Thursday, May 29.

A 40-year-old Reno man was arrested Tuesday by Douglas County authorities following an investigation that lasted several months into stolen solar energy equipment.

Geoffrey Earl Meudt, a former resident of Gardnerville, faces a felony charge of possession of stolen property, said Douglas County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Pat Brooks. From November 2013 to April 2014, there were five separate thefts in Douglas County of electrical producing solar panels and associated solar energy system components.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of May 19-25, 2014. Ponderosa Drive has been permanently closed to public traffic south of E. Roland Street. Temporary access will be allowed for emergency vehicles and buses only.
 
There will be a lane shift on Silver Sage Drive between Greenbriar Drive and Tuscarora Way from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Traffic control will be in effect.

A Carson City man was jailed Sunday on suspicion of felony domestic battery with strangulation. Michael Robson was arrested in the 1300 block of Ashby Court at 1:03 a.m.

According to the arrest report, Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to the area of Menlo and Lompa streets after dispatch received a call about a female screaming and children crying.