Western Nevada College

Given two prior opportunities to sign with a Major League Baseball team, former Western Nevada College two-way player Conor Harber couldn't pass up a third.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Harber came to terms on Thursday, July 16, just a day before the deadline to sign amateur players from the MLB Draft in June.

"He was very deliberate," said WNC Baseball Coach D.J. Whittemore. "He's had opportunities to sign in the past and has shown a lot of maturity, paying his dues and working to perform well at the level he's at before jumping to the next level.

Learn about the universe, the origin and development of humans on Earth, and the possibility of life on other planets, in two Western Nevada College astronomy classes offered his fall. Planetary Astronomy and Introduction to Astrobiology will offer the opportunity to learn from a scientist with ties to space industry.

The vision for the Carson City School District states that “our community empowers tomorrow’s Innovators, Leaders and Thinkers.” The District’s use of the phrase “our community” is intentional, as we recognize that educating our children is a collaborative effort and that the prescribed core curriculum is only a part of what students need to know and be able to do. In Carson City, education truly is a collaborative endeavor.

The smell of hot pancakes and sausage was a delicious invitation to local families at the Elks Lodge in Carson City on Sunday morning. Breakfast was served up sizzling by the Western Nevada College Student Veterans Club, which hosted the event to raise money to send seven students to Orlando for the student Veterans of America Conference in January.

The Student Veterans Club aims to advance the quality of life and education for student veterans. The club gives back to the community by funding veterans' needs and participating in community events such as the suicide awareness walk.

More than 150 golfers are expected to compete in the 16th annual Western Nevada College Golf Classic to be held Friday, Sept. 18 at Silver Oak Course. Signups are now underway.

Proceeds from the annual tournament hosted by the Western Nevada College Foundation benefit College programs, help students achieve their academic goals and give back to the community as a skilled, educated workforce.

Northern Nevada’s new manufacturing growth requires employees with more skills in applied technologies. Western Nevada College offers a new credential this fall that will help area residents meet their job goals. Courses beginning Monday, August 31, can lead to a Manufacturing Technician 1 credential.

It's Your City with host Cortney Bloomer features Carson City Library Director Sena Loyd as this week's guest.

Among the topics featured this week, Bloomer and Loyd discuss Nevada's Working Capital program made possible through a Library Services Technology Act grant, in which the library is working with Western Nevada College and the Carson City School District to offer training and certification for manufacturing jobs.

Western Nevada College has received a grant to purchase Department of Labor approved equipment, course development, grant management staff assistance to students and program support for the College’s newly expanded Applied Industrial Technology program.

The governor, legislature, Board of Regents, and Nevada System of Higher Education deserve to be commended for working to improve education in Nevada during the 2015 legislative session.

However, for months we have looked on with concern about our state's economic future and that of our students. Simply, the recently revised funding formula, with a goal of rectifying inequities between the two universities, has created budgetary chaos for the state's four community colleges.

What better way is there to celebrate America’s birthday than to provide a life-changing gift to someone who has served our country in the U.S. Marines and Navy?

For the second time in seven months, Western Nevada College has worked with National Auto Body Council Executive Director Chuck Sulkala, State Farm Insurance Company, and the Recycled Rides project to donate a refurbished automobile to a deserving community member.

Happy birthday, America! Today we celebrate our independence, and what better way than with a carnival. You might as well stay at Mills Park all day, the fireworks display starts when it gets dark. Tune into Magic 95.5FM and you’ll hear the choreographed music to go along with the oohs and aaahs. Where ever you choose to watch fireworks, please be safe. There are thousands of visitors in the Northern Nevada area this weekend, and law enforcement will be out in full force.

SATURDAY: Independence Day

• Free Swim for Active and Retired Military at the Carson Hot Springs (7am-10pm; outdoor pools only)
• Freedom 5K Fun Run/Walk and Concert in the Park with the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra at Heritage Park, Gardnerville (5K, $20 per person and family rates, free for active/retired military; register 7am-7:45am; Run/Walk begins 8am, Patriotic costumes encouraged; 8am Carson Valley Lions Club Pancake Breakfast $7; Free Kids Obstacle Course 8am; Free Concert begins 11:30am)

Two Major League Baseball franchises, including the league's most decorated team, have recently armed themselves with past Western Nevada College pitchers.

The New York Yankees, winners of 27 World Series titles, signed former Wildcat pitcher Cody Hamlin to a free-agent contract on June 23. More recently, the Milwaukee Brewers signed former WNC relief pitcher Evan Parker, and have not yet come to terms with Conor Harber, who starred for the Wildcats on the mound and in the outfield during the 2013-14 seasons.

The public is invited to attend the presentation of a refurbished automobile to a student veteran at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, at Western Nevada College E.L. Cord Technology Center on the Carson City Campus. A refurbished 2006 GMC Envoy will be presented.

In association with the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides project, WNC’s Auto Body Technology department repaired its second vehicle for donation to a worthy individual. And for the second time, State Farm Insurance donated a vehicle to for WNC to restore. A college committee selected the recipient.

UPDATE 10:09PM: NV Energy continues to report 114 outages in the Carson City area, affecting 3,413 customers as of 10:07 p.m. Douglas County has 105 outages, with 3,961 without power.
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UPDATE 8:27PM: NV Energy reports 114 outages in the Carson City area has affected 3,413 customers as of 8:26 p.m. In Douglas County there are 93 outages with 3,880 customers without power.
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UPDATE 7:25PM: NV Energy reports 114 outages in the Carson City area has affected 3,413 customers as of 7:25 p.m. In Douglas County there are 93 outages with 6,998 customers without power.
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UPDATE 6:38PM: NV Energy says there are 3,407 customers in Carson City and 7,244 customers in Douglas County without power.

Bikes, and cars, and brews: oh my! Downtown Carson is awash in activity on Saturday. Battleborn Brews, Bikes, and Bubbly features the Extreme Motor Officer Training Challenge, vendors, a brewfest, moustache competition and more. The Karson Kruzers are hosting their annual car show at Fuji Park, but will be making their way downtown after it’s over, so there will be plenty of cool cars to admire. Mojo Green takes the stage at 7 p.m. and you can head into the Carson Cigar Company to enjoy Reno’s newest Pink Floyd Tribute Band, Scarlett Moon at 9 p.m.

SATURDAY:

• Karson Krusers’ Run Whatcha Brung Car Show at Fuji Park (registration 7am-9am; show and vendors until 6pm; parade to downtown 6pm)
• Youth Theatre Carson City Showstoppers Fundraising Yard Sale on Ophir Circle, off Richmond (8am-3pm; help send them to perform at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of June 22-28, 2015. Beginning Friday, the Battle Born 1864 “Brews, Bikes, and Bubbly” event, coupled with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office 12th Annual Extreme Motor Officer Training Challenge, will force temporary road closures.

Carson Street will be closed between Robinson Street and Musser Street from 9 a.m. on Friday, June 26, through midnight Saturday, June 27. In addition, the following streets will be closed during the same time period.

— Spear Street between Carson Street and Curry Street.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of June 15-21, 2015. The Nevada Department of Transportation will begin preparation work Monday for the construction of the next phase of the Carson City Freeway.

Cyclists with Journey of Hope, a Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity’s national philanthropy effort to serve people with disabilities, made a stop Friday in Carson City and Western Nevada College as part of its cross-country bicycle trek that began in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle, which will ultimately conclude later this summer in Washington, D.C.

I don’t mean to make this hard on you, but you have some decisions to make. All day, all night, all weekend long, there are numerous activities throughout our area. Take a good look at the list, grab your friends, family, and kids, and have a great weekend. The Experimental Aircraft Association is hosting the Ford Tri-Motor this weekend, and has Young Eagles flights for the kids: registration and orientation is at 8 a.m. Head over to Eagle Valley Golf for free family golf day.

Western Nevada College has named 322 students to the Dean’s List for the 2015 spring semester. To qualify for WNC’s Dean’s List, students must complete at least 12 units during the semester and accumulate a grade point average of 3.50 or higher. 

Students achieving the honor are:



The weather app on my phone says that it’s supposed to be a sunny weekend hitting a high around 91 degrees. That sounds like summer to me! Get out and enjoy our valley and the surrounding towns, there will be plenty of good times. Carson Valley Days has begun in our neighbor to the south, complete with carnival at Lampe Park. Tonight, welcome a new exhibit in the CCAI Gallery at the Courthouse: a reception for the artists of ‘Industrial Arts’ begins at 5 p.m. Meet the Journey of Hope bike riders at Western Nevada College; plenty of activities for everyone.

FRIDAY:

• Industrial Art at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
• Annual Rummage Sale for the Dayton Valley Historical Society at the Carson and Colorado Depot at the corner of Hwy 50 East and Main St., Dayton (8am-6pm)

Conor Harber is batting 1.000 for the Major League Baseball draft since entering Western Nevada College in 2013.
The University of Oregon right-hander was selected in the 16th round by the Milwaukee Brewers on the final day of the draft Wednesday, marking the third straight year that the former Wildcat pitcher and outfielder has been selected.

WNC freshman outfielder DJ Peters was selected for the second time in as many years. The Texas Rangers took Peters in the 36th round. Peters was also chosen a year ago in the 36th round by the Chicago Cubs.

Western Nevada College invites the community to participate in the second annual Journey of Hope Friendship Visit to WNC in Carson City on Friday. Presented by WNC and the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, the event is a stop on a cross-country cycling trip by The Ability Experience, which brings awareness and support to people with disabilities. Festivities run from 5 to 8 p.m.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of June 8-14. On Tuesday, June 9, and Wednesday, June 10, there will be intermittent lane closures with flaggers on the south side of Winne Lane near the intersection with Ormsby Boulevard due to the construction of shoulder improvements.

FISH, also known as Friends in Service Helping, would like to thank all the celebrity waiters and their guests who made the 2015 Have a Heart Celebration on May 16 a huge success. Community members raised over $30,000 for the human services organization. All of the donations will be used to fund FISH’s programs for the homeless and hungry, including a food bank, a family dining room, two homeless shelters, and a clinic.

First things first. Saturday afternoon could be expecting some wet weather, so be prepared. I can’t predict what events may be affected by it, or if the rain will even show up. No worries for you wine walkers, though, downtown will be hopping: rain, shine, or blizzard. Head over to Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery and wish them a happy fourth anniversary, Jeffery will be serving up one of his signature Sangrias. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church won best wine walk stop last month and will have live music. Don’t forget to spend some time inside Westside Pour House: ARTistically INKlined pop-up gallery returns and proves that tattoo artists are first, and foremost, artists.

SATURDAY:

• Street Vibrations Spring Rally: Downtown Reno
• Reno Tahoe International Film Festival – go to www.RTIFF.org for schedule and locations
• Sierra Lutheran High School's 13th Annual Golf Classic at the Silver Oaks Golf Course (7am Check-in, Shotgun start at 8am; $125 for a single player or $400 for a team of four)

Western Nevada College is making it easier to work toward a college degree and career skills. This summer, the college offers a variety of courses on campus and online, beginning Monday, June 8, through Saturday, Aug. 1.

A wide range of subjects will be available to students on the Carson City campus, including computer science, advanced mathematics, geology, biology, sign language, music, accounting, auto collision and composition, and more.

The Appropriations Act, which spells out how state General Fund money will be spent over the coming two years, includes a total of $4.95 million in cash added to help Western Nevada and Great Basin colleges make the t...

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of June 1-7, 2015. Roadway sealing will continue resulting in road closures in the following areas, at which time there will be traffic control in place:
— The area along Deer Run Road and Pinon Hills Drive, Monday, June 1 and the general vicinity of Washington Street to the north, Roop Street to the east, Seventh Street to the south, and Carson Street to the west; as well as along Morgan Mill Road, Sunday, June 7.

According to the draft budget bills handed to leaders of the money committees late Friday, the state’s proposed budget includes pay raises for state workers in both years of the biennium.The “pay bill,” which has no...