Nevada Rural Counties RSVP program, based in Carson City, is collecting items for homeless veterans and veterans in need as part of the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The MLK Day of Service is not just a day off, but an opportunity to serve. Americans from all walks of life work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” Dr. King asked.

Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King holiday to serve their neighbors and communities.

Please join RSVP in providing homeless veterans and veterans in need with the following items:

Dry Shampoo
Blankets
Powder
Shoes/Socks
Disposable Razors
Non-alcoholic mouthwash
Deodorant
Denture Cream
Knit caps/caps
Nail clippers
Combs and brushes
Pre-paid phone cards
Sleeping bags
Lotion
Toothpaste
Books
Towels
Gift Cards
Tooth Brushes
Coats/Gloves
Body Wash
Tissue
Shaving Gel

Individually wrapped items:

- Bottles of water
Fresh fruit
Little Debbies
Peanut Butter Crackers
Juice boxes
Fruit Cups/Applesauce
Cookies
Cheese Crackers

Items can be dropped off at RSVP located at 2621 Northgate Lane, Suite 6.

Items will be distributed by RSVP’s Veterans VIP Program.

For more information, contact Linda Todoroff at 775 687 4680, Ext. 119, or at 775-315-1751.

RSVP’s mission is to help frail, homebound, and low-income seniors remain independent by providing high quality programs which allow them to stay in their own homes with dignity. Additionally, RSVP coordinates a volunteer network of seniors who use their skills and talents to provide support to community agencies and address community needs through service.

CARSON CITY — Jukebox International Film Festival has opened its doors for submissions for its third year. Known as “the festival that specializes in music-themed films,” JIFF is accepting new entries in the following categories: Narrative Features, Narrative Documentaries, Narrative Shorts, Documentary Shorts, and Music Videos.

In 2018, the festival, which is held in August, featured nearly 30-hours of programming from 14 countries over a 2-day schedule. This year, JIFF is expanding to a 3rd day, and they anticipate adding ten additional hours to their schedule.

Jukebox International Film Festival will be at the Carson City Convention Center August 20-22, 2018. For additional information, visit JIFF’s website at: www.jukeboxiff.org.

Or their film submissions page at: www.filmfreeway.com/jukeboxinternationalfilmfestival

You may also direct inquiries to Darla Bayer, JIFF’s Director, via text or voice call at (775) 830-7939.

Jukebox International Film Festival is operated by Wired Wednesday Digital Arts Association, and is presented in conjunction with Jazz and Beyond, who refers to JIFF as “beyond Jazz and Beyond,” as the film festival is held the week right after the end of their month-long music festival.

Sinda Slagle, the author of “London Spies” will speak at the Brewery Arts Cafe in Carson City on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, as part of the BAC's Book Masters meeting.

She will speak a little bit about her book and bring books for sale. We will have a question and answer session. Her books are available on Amazon including Audio Books, Sundowner in Reno, and Morleys Book Store in Carson City may have some copies left.

This event is free. It begins at 5:15 p.m. at the Brewery Arts Center Cafe, 449 West King Street in Carson City.

SJ Slagle is an award winning historical fiction novelist. Her book, "London Spies" received the B.R.A.G. Medallion for excellence in historical fiction. She is a celebrated mystery and suspense writer and author of the Sherlock and Me mystery

A teacher and nonfiction writer for part of her career, she taught in Florida, California and Nevada. She also writes western romances as Jeanne Harrell including these bestselling series: Rancher, the Westerners and These Nevada Boys with picturesque settings in the wild west of Nevada.

Henri Matisse is known for his fluid use of color. He was a printmaker and sculptor, but he's primarily known as a painter. Along with artists like Picasso, he helped to change the art world forever.

No matter what your current skill level, you can learn to adapt his style and apply it to your art and your chosen medium. At the same time you can learn more about Matisse himself.

All levels are welcome.

Wednesday Jan. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunch from 12:00 - 12:30 - Bring a sack lunch, or eat at one of the nearby local restaurants.

Cost is $50, to be paid to the instructor on the day of the workshop.

A basic supply kit can be purchased at the BAC’s Expresso Yourself Cafe, or you can bring your own supplies including materials from the list below.

Supply list:
Oil or Acrylic Paints - including red, blue, yellow, brown, black, and white.
Paint Brushes
Painting Knives
Palette or Palette Paper
Canvas or Canvas Board - your choice of size
Brush Cleaner and Jar

Easels, tables, and chairs will be provided

Join the Carson City Republican Party for our Lincoln Day Dinner and Fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019 at the Casino Fandango Grand Ballroom.

Social Hour begins at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Guest Speaker: Character Actress Kim Copel-Harris of "Western History ALIVE!" will portray infamous Virginia City prostitute Julia Bulette and delve into her character's exciting and scandalous life.

Tickets: First 50 tickets: $45, 51-100, $55, all others, $65. To buy your tickets, go to our website www.carsoncitygop.org.

At the end of the inauguration at the capitol building in Carson City on Monday, two mounted police horses took their well-earned break by sipping at the water trough located across from the festivities.

The horse trough watering fountain was refurbished in 2016 and has been used since during Nevada Day Parade celebrations. The history of the trough was written about a few years ago by retired Nevada State Archivist Guy Rocha. Here is Rocha's column:

With much fanfare Carson City dedicated the Hermon Lee Ensign National Humane Alliance fountain on Labor Day, 1909. The polished granite fountain, then-located at the intersection of Carson and King streets in front of the State Capitol, was manufactured in Derby, Maine, and donated by the New York City animal rights organization. It was moved to its current location — some fifty feet to the west — by 1936 when the portion of King Street between Carson and Curry streets was condemned for the construction of a new Supreme Court and Library building.

The five-ton, six-foot plus high fountain, which includes a light fixture at the top, is composed of a six-foot diameter bowl with three lion head spouts where "men, horses and dogs" could drink. There are small cups at the bottom for cats, dogs and other animals. A plaque notes that the fountain was donated by the Humane Alliance in 1909.

The story goes that each state received one fountain, making a total of forty-eight in 1912. People occasionally contact the Nevada State Library & Archives believing that the fountain in their city and the one in Carson City are the only two left in the country.

Wrong on all counts!

While no definitive list of fountains is known to exist, there appear to have been as many as one hundred and twenty-five distributed throughout the nation. Some still exist. Nevada's only fountain is found in the state capital.

Unfortunately, it has operated just sporadically over the years. The fountain last worked in the early 1990s thanks to a grant from Nevada's 125th Anniversary Commission and the efforts of Terry Sullivan, then director of the Nevada Department of General Services.

Notably, benefactor Hermon Lee Ensign died in New York City in 1899 before any fountains were manufactured. The self-made man who had acquired his fortune in journalism and advertising was devoted to the welfare of animals in a time when animal welfare was a growing concern in the country.

"To him, animals were not merely inferiors or slaves, they were companions and friends, devoting themselves to man and dependent on him for their lives and happiness," according to National Humane Alliance promotional literature.

The Humane Alliance under the direction of President Harrison Grey Fiske, a New York City journalist and theatrical manager, made Ensign's dream of addressing animal welfare a reality. Minnie Maddern Fiske, Harrison's wife, was not only one of the leading actresses in the day, but also a prominent humanitarian and animal welfare advocate in her own right. She took up the cause for abused dray horses, called for the humane confinement of cattle being transported by rail to market, lectured against fur-trapping, and opposed bullfighting.

The animal rights organization, spurred by the Fiskes, began donating fountains in 1906 — the first dedicated in Derby, Maine — through at least 1911. The Fiske Collection in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress contains several boxes of Mrs. Fiske's materials which relate to her work advocating the humane treatment of animals world-wide.

The Fiske collection came to my attention through the pet project of Norman and Virginia "Bird" White of Minden, Nevada. Norm contacted me in 1998 and wanted to know more about Carson City's fountain, noting that while attending high school in Clinton, Missouri, the town also had a fountain donated by the National Humane Alliance.
Norm and Bird spent the next ten years periodically travelling around the country in their classic 1955 Pontiac sedan and 1955 Pontiac Safari station wagon trying to find every National Humane Alliance fountain. Many were found in such places as Ottumwa, Iowa; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Auburn, New York; and Clarksville, Tennessee. Most had been moved at least once from their original locations, some were used as planters, and only a handful still operated.

Tragically, the Whites died in an automobile accident south of Minden on May 23, 2008. I paid tribute to Norm and Bird at the memorial ceremony at Douglas High School, and, now again, in dedicating this column in memory of all their good work for man and beast.

This easy hike occurs on the second Saturday of each month. Distances range between 2-4 miles and include minimal or no elevation.

Meet at the red barn at Silver Saddle Ranch off of Carson River Road. On Carson River Road turn by the Silver Saddle Ranch and proceed through the gate. Follow the dirt road straight and it will bare to the left heading east and then you will see the red buildings ahead where you park. Water and closed-toes shoes are REQUIRED. Hat and sunscreen recommended. Dogs are not allowed on this hike.

Easy 4-mile round-trip hike from Silver Saddle Ranch to Mexican Dam. This hike begins near the Silver Saddle Ranch house, follows a dirt road situated between the Carson River and the Mexican Ditch, and reaches its end point at the Mexican Dam. Owls, hawks, eagles, ducks, and muskrats are some of the animal residents spotted on previous hikes. Hikers will return to the parking area for a total of 4 miles, round trip.

In case of bad weather, we will cancel. Please check the www.musclepowered.org calendar or our Facebook page for last minute changes. Contact: Betts Markle at bettsm@gmail.com, if you have any questions.

On Monday at the Capitol grounds in Carson City, Nevada made several historic firsts for both our state and our country with the inaugurations of members of state government.

Aaron Ford became the first African American constitutional officer in Nevada’s history. Kate Marshall became the first Latina lieutenant governor in Nevada’s history. We also welcomed the first female majority state legislature in US history.

Our representatives are as follows:

Governor: Steve Sisolak

Constitutional Officers
— Lieutenant Governor Kate Marshall
— Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske
— Treasurer Zach Conine
— Controller Catherine Byrne
— Attorney General Aaron Ford

Legislative Leadership
— Senate Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson
— Senate Minority Leader James Settlemeyer
— Speaker or the Assembly Jason Frierson
— Assembly Minority Leader Jim Wheeler

Supreme Court
— Chief Justice Mark Gibbons
— Associate Chief Justice Kristina Pickering
— Associate Justice James W. Hardesty
— Associate Justice Ron Parraguirre
— Associate Justice Lidia S. Stiglich
— Associate Justice Elissa F. Cadish
— Associate Justice Abbi Silver

“The truth is people in the Silver State have always blazed new trails,” said Gov. Sisolak during his inaugural address. “Seeking potential where others saw a basin with rock mountain and tumbleweed. For more than 150 years Nevadans have been Masters of defying expectations. Dogged innovators. Restless entrepreneurs. Roll up our sleeves pioneers. We’ve never been daunted by hard work or hard times. Just look how we bounced back from the great recessions. Foreclosure rate topped the country for over 5 years, unemployment 14 percent. (Now it's) under 5 percent and we’ve added more jobs than we’ve lost in the recession. Thank you Governor Sandoval.”

Gov. Sisolak became choked up multiple times during his speech, talking about his daughters, his mother, a teacher he met at Costco buying breakfast bars to feed her students, and the tragedy of the Las Vegas shooting that took the lives of 58 concert attendees and injured nearly 900, among other topics.

Gov. Sisolak gave a moving speech about that night and about what it means to be a Nevadan:

“Across the field you could hear dozens of cell phones ringing from loved ones, hoping, praying, someone would answer.

"I remember most the woman who showed up at a first responders tent with a plate of cookies in hand, because that’s all she had to give, and she gave it. Thousands of Nevadans showed up at 6 a.m. at blood centers to give blood. When a kind soul informed them it would take eight hours to get to the front of the line, they said, ‘so what? We’ll wait.’

"We were broken on 1 October but I have never been more proud to be a Nevadan than I was that day.

"That’s what I mean when I say we are one Nevada. We heal from all walks of life but we come together over and over again to make one another better, and we have each other’s backs.

"That’s what Nevadans do. We show up for one another, we pitch in whenever and wherever we are needed.

Being Nevada Proud is more than resilience and ingenuity. It’s about our compassion and common decency.”

Carson City officials elected last year took their oaths of office on Monday.
Go here for the full story.

CARSON CITY— If the definition of America as “the land of opportunity” needed a singular story to illustrate it, John Mackay’s would be a likely choice and 19th Century Nevada the perfect backdrop.

Mackay’s rise from an impoverished Irish immigrant to Comstock Lode magnate lives on in myriad ways in the Silver State — from a School of Mines and iconic statue on the University of Nevada campus to a Virginia City mansion and more.

Author Gregory Crouch, a writer who specializes in adventurous and historic subjects, found both in his writing of the book, “The Bonanza King: John Mackay and the Battle Over the Greatest Riches in the American West.”

Crouch will share his findings as the keynote speaker at the Nevada State Museum’s January Frances Humphrey Lecture Series. This encore presentation (the first one sold out to museum members) is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25 in the museum’s South Gallery.

Admission is $8 for adults; free for museum members and children 17 and younger.

Crouch is also the author of books on aviation and mountaineering and has published stories in such publications as National Geographic, The Atlantic, Smithsonian, Time, American History, World War II, Outside, Popular Mechanics, Backpacker and many others.

In his Carson City presentation, Crouch will discuss how Mackay arrived penniless on the Comstock and worked his way up from nothing, battling the pernicious “Bank Ring” of California capitalists who’d monopolized the lode, and struck the legendary Big Bonanza, a stupendously valuable body of gold and silver ore buried 1,500 feet below the center of the town.

The extraordinary wealth Mackay extracted from the Comstock Lode drove wild stock market frenzies in San Francisco and launched his wife, whose beginnings were every bit as humble as his own, on a meteoric social career among the finest European aristocrats.

When John Mackay died in 1902 — with a personal fortune equivalent to about $50 billion modern dollars — front page obituaries all over Europe and the United States hailed him as one of the most admired Americans of the age.

Seating is limited and attendees are urged to reserve seats by going to http://nvculture.org/nevadastatemuseumcarsoncity/events/

The Nevada State Museum is located at 600 N. Carson St., Carson City.

UPDATE: 6:05PM: Traffic patterns are back to normal and the vehicles involved have been towed, according to a Carson City sheriff's deputy.
***
Carson City Fire Department, sheriff's deputies and the Nevada Highway Patrol were called Monday evening to a vehicle crash in the area of South Carson Street and Highway 50 near Spooner Junction.

The head-on crash was reported at around 5:30 p.m. Arriving emergency crews report occupants from both vehicles do not appear to be suffering from serious injuries.

Southbound lanes on South Carson Street have been diverted to allow for traffic to flow. Motorists can expect delays.

Now that the holiday season is over many people forget about the great need the homeless face everyday here in Carson City. With some of the coldest weather still ahead of us lets do what we can to help those suffering from homelessness. I'm collecting items for the Do Drop In Center and the homeless of Carson City.
Some of the items needed are:

Warm socks, Jackets, gloves, sleeping bags, blankets, hats, camping gear, tarps, and hygiene products. We are also collecting canned goods, nutritional snacks, hot chocolate, oatmeal, individual servings of juice as well as coffee, tea and soup that can be used at the center.

Volunteers and Money donations to keep the Do Drop In doors open are always needed!

Donations can be dropped off at
Grocery Outlet 1831 N Carson St
Rustically Divine 410 N Carson St

I will be collecting items through March. To help, donate, or with questions call Monica Marcinko 775-885-7639 or call the Do Drop In Center at 775-841-2580

Thank You Carson City.

Healthy Communities Coalition’s January breakfast meeting includes a discussion and request for input on the Coalition’s updated Comprehensive Community Prevention Plan.

The public meeting is on Thursday, Jan. 10, 9 a.m. at the Silver Springs Community Center, 2945 Fort Churchill Street in the Lahontan Room, on the left side of the building that also houses the Senior Center.

Cortney Bloomer, Food Security Manager for Healthy Communities, will lead a discussion and ask for input on the Coalition's efforts to update its Comprehensive Community Prevention Plan.

What Is the Coalition? Whether its organic school gardens, free dental clinics, tobacco and opioid use prevention, science and arts education, job skills training, or suicide prevention, Healthy Communities takes a multi-faceted approach to promoting opportunities for health and wellness with a prevention first approach.

Healthy Communities is composed of dozens of local, state, federal and tribal group partners; hundreds of community volunteers; a board of directors and staff, all working together on a common mission to strengthen communities in the Lyon and Storey regions by increasing access to 1)health care; 2) affordable, locally grown food; and 3) sustainable community development opportunities that serve the common good and build local assets and self-reliance.

Healthy Communities’ Feb. 14 meeting will include speakers from both Safe Embrace and JOIN, Inc.

Safe Embrace: One of the Coalition’s February guest speakers will be John Malcolm, Outreach and Prevention Education Specialist with Safe Embrace. The Coaching Boys into Men and Athletes as Leaders program facilitates the unique connections that community leaders have on youth by providing them the resources they need to promote respectful behavior among youth and help prevent relationship abuse, harassment, and sexual assault.

The curriculum consists of a series of trainings that illustrate ways to model respect and promote healthy relationships. These programs cover personal responsibility, insulting language, disrespectful behavior towards women and girls, digital disrespect, consent, bragging about sexual reputation, aggression, relationship abuse, communicating boundaries, promoting equality, rumor spreading, relationship abuse, and healthy relationships, self- image, supporting other students, and challenging harmful gender stereotypes.

JOIN, Inc: In addition, RJ Ramirez, JOIN, Inc’s Carson City Regional Manager, will describe some of the very helpful services for job seekers and employers that JOIN, Inc offers.

Hello Carson City, and welcome to Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. We're looking at mostly cloudy conditions today with a high temperature near 50 along with a chance of rain showers this evening into Wednesday. Here's what's happening around town today:

— Carson City Christmas tree curbside, drop-off recycling efforts begin. During the week of January 7-11, either leave your tree (6 ft. sections or smaller) curbside on your regular trash day or drop off at the following locations:
· Big Lots parking lot, corner of Clearview and South Carson Street

— Tuesday Morning Walk to Wetlands Multi-Use Path North hosted by Muscle Powered. 9 a.m. Join Muscle Powered for its first one hour walks of the new year to enjoy Nevada outdoors around Carson City! Meet in open dirt area near the Nevada Humane Society. Water and closed-toe shoes required. All walks are 1 to 2 miles with duration of 1 hour with usually negligible elevation gain, and frequently on paved or smooth paths. If it rains or snows, meet at the Multi-Purpose Athletic Center (MAC) at 1860 Russell Way. Contact Alyce Cloutier, klute89706@gmail.com or call 775-250-0282, if you have any questions.

— Jerky Junction Hiring Event. 9 a.m. Jerky Junction is hosting a hiring event at the Carson City office of Nevada JobConnect on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 from 09:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Nevada JobConnect is located at 1929 N. Carson St, Carson City. Available jobs are: Entry Level Food Processor (JO# 460396), Packaging Supervisor (JO# 460391), and Shipping & Receiving (JO# 460392). It is preferred that job seekers are referred to the job listing by a JobConnect representative before the hiring event. For more information, please visit the nearest Nevada JobConnect location for details.

— Tuesday Evening Hike at Sonoma Park hosted by Muscle Powered. 5:30 p.m. Join Muscle Powered for free hikes each week to enjoy Nevada outdoors! Meet at 1003 Sonoma Street, corner of Sonoma and Fremont in Carson City. We will walk on the sidewalks in the neighborhood near the park. BRING A FLASHLIGHT as it will be dark on these walks. Water and closed-toe shoes required.

— Sierra Nevada Forums to host "The Intercept of Behavioral Health and the Criminal Justice System." 5:30 p.m. Carson City has been at the forefront in developing innovative programs focused on diverting individuals with mental illness and substance use problems from the criminal justice system. Community leaders will discuss how these strategic interventions have assisted struggling individuals while also reducing costs to the community. Speakers include Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong, Judge John Tatro and Judge Tom Armstrong, Dr. Joe McEllistrem, Forensic Psychologist Jessica Flood, Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator. The event will be at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 511 West King St., Carson City.

— Empty Bowls/Open Studio. 6 p.m. Create an empty bowl to donate to charity, instruction will be offered to create and paint a bowl or create something on our own during open studio session. Open studio time is free of charge and open to the public. Ogres-Holm Pottery, 1215 S. Carson St.

— Carson City School Board starts off new year with elections, policy adoptions. 7 p.m. The first Carson City School District School Board Meeting of 2019 will be held Tuesday, Jan. 8 in the Sierra Room of the Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street, at 7 p.m. An Election of Officers of the Board of Trustees, including Board President, Vice President, and Clerk will be held to determine who will fill the roles for the new year.

ONGOING:

— RSVP program collects items for homeless vets and vets in need for 2019 MLK Day of Service. Nevada Rural Counties RSVP program, based in Carson City, is collecting items for homeless veterans and veterans in need as part of the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Items can be dropped off at RSVP located at 2621 Northgate Lane, Suite 6. Items will be distributed by RSVP’s Veterans VIP Program. For more information, contact Linda Todoroff at 775 687 4680, Ext. 119, or at 775-315-1751. Go here for a list of items being collected for the drive.

— WNC registration for Adult Literacy and Language Program begins. Improve your skills: Registration for Western Nevada College’s Adult Literacy and Language Program is Jan. 7-17, 2019. This free, grant-funded program strives to help adults gain critical skills and reach their goals. All registration sessions are in Bristlecone Building Room 340. Registration times are:
• Tuesday, Jan. 8 or Jan. 15 at 9 a.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 9 or Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 10 or Jan. 17 at 9 a.m.
For more information, contact the Adult Literacy and Language Office at 775-445-4452.

— Nevada Artists Association presents New Year's Show at BAC. 10 a.m. The Nevada Artists Association presents The New Year's Show. The featured artists wall at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City will also be presenting the works of Dick Carr and Reta Hanks. These shows are free and open to the public. The NAA Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located on the campus of the Brewery Arts Center at 449 W. King Street in Carson City. Be sure to visit us on Facebook and visit our website at www.NevadaArtists.org

— Statewide presentations on radon safety. January is National Radon Action Month, and University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Radon Education Program is offering free short-term radon test kits to Nevadans from Jan. 2 through Feb. 28. Radon test kits are available at Cooperative Extension offices and partnering locations, as well as at presentations, statewide. Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It comes from the ground and can accumulate in homes, raising the risk of lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates 21,000 Americans die each year from radon-caused lung cancer, killing more people than secondhand smoke, drunk driving and house fires.For more information, call the Radon Hotline at 1-888-RADON10 (1-888-723-6610) or visit the Nevada Radon Education Program website at www.RadonNV.com. Cooperative Extension, the EPA and the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health urge all Nevadans to test their homes for radon.

— Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space is currently seeking individuals and pairs interested in leading interpretive programs in one of our many parks and open spaces. Interested individuals and pairs are encouraged to apply. If interested, go here.

— The Capital City Arts Initiative presents its exhibition, Americana with Cadmium Orange, by artist Gig Depio at the CCAI Courthouse Gallery, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Depio is an artist and an advocate for public art in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was awarded the 2016 Fellowship Grant in Painting by the Nevada Arts Council (NAC). He has worked on various exhibitions and projects with the Nevada Museum of Art, Nevada Arts Council’s OXS Gallery, and UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum, among others. Depio graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. He lives in Las Vegas with his family. Carson City Courthouse Gallery, 885 E. Musser Street in Carson City.

This calendar is updated throughout the day as information becomes available.

Law enforcement agencies statewide will be Joining Forces and focusing on distracted drivers Jan. 8-22. The Nevada Highway Patrol will be working diligently to urge motorists to keep your eyes on the road and put away cell phones or other items that cause distractions.

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

The Nevada Highway Patrol is reminding drivers that taking your eyes off the road for even one second can change your life or someone else’s life forever. Anything that takes your undivided attention from the task of driving is a distraction. Put down the distractions and Drive Safe, Nevada.

For resources about distracted driving, please visit:
http://www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html

For more information on Joining Forces and other statewide traffic safety programs, please visit http://www.zerofatalitiesnv.com.

Youth Theatre Carson City has announced it is opening auditions for Disney’s "The Jungle Book, Jr." The show will run four performances, March 29-31, 2019 as part of its Springtime Double Feature in the newly renovated Bob Boldrick Theatre at the Carson City Community Center. The theatre group is looking for actors, singers, and dancers grades K-9, who will be cast to play a host of colorful Disney characters.

The jungle is jumpin’ with a jazzy beat in Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS. Banished by the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan, a human boy named Mowgli and his panther friend, Bagheera, are on the run in the deepest parts of the jungle. On their journey, the two meet a sinister snake named Kaa, a herd of elephants and a giant bear named Baloo, who teaches them the swingin’ musical rhythms of the jungle.

After surviving a dangerous encounter with a band of monkeys led by King Louie, Mowgli and Bagheera are forced to run for their lives. When Shere Khan returns, our heroes must rally their fellow animals into battle and restore peace throughout the jungle.

Internships are available for students grades 10-12, which will give older students a chance to experience theatre from the production side. Jungle Book Interns’ responsibilities will include attending and assisting with rehearsals, mentoring younger performers, assisting with publicity, serving in technical capacities during performances and more.

Auditions for Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 at the Carson City Community Center located at 851 E. William St. in Carson City. Auditions are open to all boys and girls grades K-9. Auditioners should prepare a one minute song and be prepared to learn a dance. Additional audition materials can be found on our website. For information, please contact Youth Theatre Carson City at 775.315.2501 or visit www.youththeatrecarsoncity.com.

About Youth Theatre Carson City
Youth Theatre Carson City is an accomplished youth theatre group in Carson City, Nevada. We provide a safe, inclusive environment for young people and their families to explore, create, learn and grow through quality theatrical experiences. We strive to be a model for excellence in theatre with an emphasis on quality theatre education and exceptional family entertainment.

A day after leaving office, former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval announced he will be joining MGM Resorts as the casino giant’s President of Global Gaming Development.

MGM Resorts announced that Sandoval, 55, will be leading the company’s “global expansion efforts,” including in Japan, and will focus on state policies on gambling and sports betting. It will mark his first foray in 20 years into the private sector after a succession of prestigious government posts.

Go here for the full story.

CARSON CITY — Four years ago Nevada entered into a compact to make a historic investment in education and, in return the state committed to holding itself accountable for results. An independent evaluation authorized by the 2017 Nevada Legislature recommended continued funding of all seven categorical education programs it reviewed, citing positive outcomes in each one.

“From the very beginning of each of these programs, we have honored our commitment in making these specific investments and holding ourselves accountable for results,” said Steve Canavero, Ph.D., Superintendent of Public Instruction. “The findings in this year’s evaluation make clear that when additional dollars support specific programs - students, families, and educators all benefit. We have work to do but the evaluation findings are another indicator that our education system is improving.”

The seven programs recommended for continued funding include:

• The Zoom Schools program serves English Learner schools. In 2017, the Clark County and Washoe County School districts each had 10 Zoom schools at or below the lowest quartile. In 2018, Clark reduced that number to three elementary and two middle schools while Washoe now has two elementary and one middle school. The Nevada Department of Education strategy is supporting districts in learning from the highest-performing Zoom schools.

• The Victory Schools program serves schools with the greatest poverty rates. The evaluation cited increases on the Smarter Balanced assessment in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. Victory Schools in Clark and Washoe are outperforming comparable groups with similar demographic profiles. Graduation rates at the three high schools receiving Victory funding have increased, highlighted by Valley High School in Las Vegas improving by nearly 15 percent in two years.

• The Read by Grade 3 program is meeting its initial goals. The program has demonstrated positive impacts on student achievement, specifically identifying struggling students, providing interventions, and improving student literacy.

• The Social Workers in Schools program aims to improve school safety and climate by placing social workers/mental health professionals in schools. The evaluation cited short term positive outcomes such as changing school climate and addressing immediate health and safety related behaviors. In turn, these short-term gains should have an impact on longer-term social-emotional and academic outcomes for students, teacher effectiveness and family engagement.

• The Nevada Ready 21 program aims to support emerging technology education. The recommendation is to support schools that are transitioning out of the Nevada Ready 21 program so they can continue this effort by seeking integration of other resources.

• The Great Teaching and Leading Fund provides professional development opportunities for educators. This program showed great improvement of implementation from last cycle and met program goals of building an educator pipeline.

• The Underperforming Schools Turnaround Program was recommended for continued funding because each school in this program will have its own plan for improvement that is aligned with school needs.

The evaluation was conducted by a partnership that included ACS Ventures, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment, and MYS Project Management. This group had done an initial analysis in 2017 that concluded more time was needed for programs to be in place to measure impacts on student outcomes. The current evaluation measured three years of implementation (2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019).

Diabetes can seem overwhelming, but with education and support from family, friends and others with diabetes, you can live a healthy life. The group will meet in Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center, 1470 Medical Pkwy, Suite 250 in Carson City, every 2nd Thursday of the month beginning Jan. 10 and running to April 11, from 5 to 6 p.m.

Schedule:
— January 10

Cost: FREE

Diabetes can seem overwhelming, but with education and support from family, friends and others with diabetes, you can live a healthy life. The group will meet at the Douglas County Senior Center (1329 Waterloo Lane) every 3rd Thursday of the month starting January 10 - April 18 from 10:30 - 11:30 AM.

Schedule:
— January 10