Each year during the Memorial Day weekend, our departed veterans are honored with a flag placement at the Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City.

This year, Carson City's Chapter 7 of Disabled Veterans of America once again coordinated the placing of U.S. flags at the graves of departed veterans on Friday.

Flags were placed across the veterans' section of the cemetery, as well as on the graves of outlier service members who were buried outside the veterans area.

Service members from all of the wars were honored with a flag on their grave marker.

The community was invited to attend, with social distancing guidelines in place.

Flag pick-up will take place on Monday, May 4 at 4 p.m.

(Carson City, NV)- Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) is reporting an additional death due to COVID-19 in the Quad-County region, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths to four. The individual was a male Carson City resident in his 60’s. It is unknown at this time if he had underlying health conditions.

CCHHS is also reporting two new positive cases and six additional recoveries of COVID-19 in the Quad-County region. This brings the total number of cases to 161, with 120 recoveries and four deaths, 37 cases remain active.

The new cases are:

Carson City Health and Human Services is working to identify close risk contacts to prevent further spread of the disease. Due to medical privacy requirements and to protect their identity, no further information about the cases will be released.

Carson City
-83 Total
-27 Active
-52 Recovered
-4 Deaths

Douglas County
-26 Total
-2 Active
-24 Recovered

Lyon County
-51 Total
-8 Active
-43 Recovered

Storey County
-1 Total
-0 Active
-1 Recovery

TOTAL
-161 Total Cases
-37 Active
-120 Recovered
-4 Deaths
-5 Hospitalizations

Gender and age break down of the cases by county is available at https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/. Statewide numbers can be found at the Nevada Health Response website (nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/).

For those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have questions, call the Quad-County COVID-19 Hotline Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm. Spanish speakers are available. The phone number is (775) 283-4789.

Stay informed. For updates and more information on COVID-19 visit https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/.

Nevada Day announced that 2020’s Nevada Day is scheduled to go on as planned, something all Nevadans can cheer for.

Their announcement is as follows:

During these uncertain and challenging times the Nevada Day Committee hopes everyone remains safe and healthy.

Although we have seen way too many wonderful annual events being cancelled or postponed this year, we at Nevada Day are still moving forward planning this year’s Parade and related events.

We are hopeful that current restrictions will be lifted or at least relaxed enough to allow larger social gatherings.

As Parade Applications become available June 1, we must plan for the best, but unfortunately the worst as well. We will be accepting applications for parade entries and vendor booths to be reserved on a first come first served basis. if the event has to be cancelled we will be offering three options for our applicants: A full refund, fees applied to the 2021 parade, or donating all or a portion to our Nevada Day Inc., a non-profit 501c3.

This also applies to our many generous sponsors for which without them this treasured event would not be possible. Funding is always a challenge for us, as it is for most nonprofits, making it even more difficult to see their main, or only, fundraising events being canceled.

Besides some funding set aside but the City of Carson, most Nevada Day Inc. funds come from sponsorships, entry fees, vendors and merchandise.

Speaking of merchandise, unfortunately the Nevada Day Store inside the Visitor’s Center had to close. We are hoping to reopen again in June.

We will keep everyone updated as developments arise.

We will do our very best to preserve this historic 156 year old tradition, so please join us, we cannot do it without tremendous support from our Community, Neighbors and all fellow Nevadans. Thank you!

The 2020 Summer Concert Series at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys has been canceled in response to the public health emergency involving Covid-19, Another Planet Entertainment announced on May 22.

Many of the shows have been rescheduled or postponed, with targeted performance dates in the Summer of 2021 with exact dates to be announced at a later time.

Read the rest of the story here.

The Lyon County Sheriffs Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect in a potential hit and run.

Their release is as follows:

On May 22nd, 2020, at approximately 2300 hours, deputies responded to a report of an injured bicyclist who had been struck by either a motor vehicle or a second bicyclist near the intersection of Farm District Road and Country Ranch Road in Fernley, Nevada. The victim was located, but due to non-life threatening injuries sustained during the incident, was only able to provide limited information as to what had occurred. Attempts to locate and identify the other driver or bicyclist were unsuccessful.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information pertaining to this incident to please contact Deputy Santos in reference to case number 20LY02017. Deputy Santos can be reached through the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center at 775-577-5023.

Thank you for your continued support and assistance with this investigation.

Nevada’s casinos could welcome back customers as soon as June 4, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Friday afternoon.

The governor plans to hold a press conference Tuesday to discuss entering Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan. It’s the same day the Nevada Gaming Control Board will host a workshop with state and local health officials regarding COVID-19 response measures at resort-hotels.

The control board is requiring gaming properties to submit reopening plans seven days before opening their doors again, and their reopening is hinged on the continued downward trends in COVID-19 data.

Saturday marks two weeks since the state allowed restaurants, some retail businesses and hair and nail salons to reopen under Phase 1 with certain social-distancing restrictions. Casinos have been shut down since March 17.

“Without a thoughtful and measured reopening of Nevada’s gaming industry, all of the work that Nevadans have done to fight the spread of this viral pandemic will have been for naught,” a news release from the Governor’s Office on Friday stated. “The Gaming Control Board remains resolute in ensuring that gaming operations in this State do not compromise the health and safety of Nevadans.”

Sisolak also urged Nevadans to wear face masks and practice social distancing to remain safe over the Memorial Day weekend holiday.

A vehicle accident was reported at 2 p.m. Saturday at Carson and Tenth.

Injuries were reported after one vehicle rear-ended another.

First responders are en route to the scene.

Motorists should seek alternate routes if possible.

At 3:42 p.m. Saturday a traffic accident was reported with possible injuries at College Parkway at Northbound I-580.

Nevada Highway Patrol reported the accident to Carson City dispatch.

First responders are en route.

Motorists should avoid the area if possible.

(Carson City, NV)- Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) is reporting four new positive cases and two additional recoveries of COVID-19 in the Quad-County region. This brings the total number of cases to 165, with 122 recoveries and four deaths, 39 cases remain active.

The new cases are:

A male Lyon County resident in his 20’s

Carson City Health and Human Services is working to identify close risk contacts to prevent further spread of the disease. Due to medical privacy requirements and to protect their identity, no further information about the cases will be released.

Gender and age break down of the cases by county as well as the cases by zip code is available at https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/. Statewide numbers can be found at the Nevada Health Response website (nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/).

For those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have questions, call the Quad-County COVID-19 Hotline Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm. Spanish speakers are available. The phone number is (775) 283-4789.

Stay informed. For updates and more information on COVID-19 visit https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/.

Carson City Firefighters and Truckee Meadows Firefighters were called to a reported brush fire in the area or Franktown Road and Old 395.

Both agencies are en route as of 7.26 p.m.

Motorists should avoid the area if possible.

June 4th car show that was going to be at Max Casino has been cancelled but now has been moved to Hampton Inn and Suites on North Carson Street. The even is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Food truck will be available, discounted rooms for those who wish, 50/50 raffle, music. Open to all cars and trucks.

The Hampton Inn and Suites is located at 10 Hospitality Way in Carson City. Go here for room information.

Sierra Lutheran High School launched its Graduation Week celebration Saturday with members of the school’s faculty and administration delivering congratulatory signs to the Class of 2020.

To honor its 28 graduates, administrators and teachers surprised its Seniors Class early Saturday morning by personally delivering lawn signs to each student and taking pictures of them with their signs to kick-off Graduation Week, which will culminate with a drive-in graduation on May 30 in the SLHS parking lot.

“We think so much of the Class of 2020 and wanted to express that by taking time to personally congratulate them on their four years of hard work,” Executive Director Brian Underwood said. “We are so grateful to Stacy Trivitt at Allstate Insurance, Karl Moe and Two Stone Slab & Tile, Kyle Rush and Guild Mortgage, The Koerner Group with ReMax, Trish Ve of Optima Advertising, and Optimum Offset for sponsoring this generous recognition of the Class of 2020. Both our seniors and these supportive members of our community are to be commended for their enduring spirit during this difficult time.”

Sierra Lutheran will host a graduation ceremony next Saturday with the graduates and their families parked next to the stage with audio coming through an FM transmitter provided by Hilltop Community Church. The program will include traditional elements of student speakers, music, Scripture readings, and a keynote speech by Vice Principal Kitty Murphy. Graduates will process with social distancing to receive their diplomas and then proceed to individually marked areas for the turning of tassels and a cap toss, which will be captured by drone footage taken by Mountain Ascent Media.

“We are very grateful to our seniors, senior parents, Hilltop Community Church, and other community partners who are collaborating to make this ceremony a reality in a safe, yet memorable way,” Underwood said.

CARSON CITY — Independent contractors and gig workers eligible for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program can now begin filing weekly claims online, the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation announced Saturday.

The system began accepting PUA claims on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at www.employnv.gov. The first payments are expected to be made beginning Wednesday, May 27, 2020, according to a DETR news release.

Independent of the traditional Unemployment Insurance system, the PUA filing system is designed to provide streamlined filing for Nevada’s self-employed, 1099 contract workers, and gig workers, to connect with PUA benefits.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants can contact the call center for all PUA related questions at (800) 603-9681 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon.

PUA claimants must also be able and available for work as defined in state law, must have prior earnings in Nevada or a job offer to work in Nevada and must not be eligible for any UI benefits, including regular UI, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, and State Extended Benefits.

“We have been working tirelessly to provide this essential functionality of the PUA filing process. We know there is a great deal of interest and demand for weekly filing and expect our call center and claims portal to be very busy today,” said DETR director, Heather Korbulic. “Staff will continue to work including the upcoming holiday to ensure this functionality is available for Nevadans.”

Claimants can view the newly-updated PUA Claimant Guide for information on the weekly filing process and access other helpful resources on the agency’s website at detr.nv.gov/pua.

Western Nevada College’s 2020 Jump Start graduating class includes 94 students representing Carson, Churchill County, Dayton, Douglas, Fernley, Pioneer, Silver Stage, Smith and Virginia City high schools; Oasis Academy and Nevada Virtual Academy; and through homeschooling.

Each of the students graduated with one of three degrees: Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of General Studies.

These students earned their associate degrees prior to receiving their high school diplomas, spending their final two years of high school in WNC’s Jump Start program.

CARSON HIGH SCHOOL
Zaid Abdelhady, Bayley Asby, Kenneth Aydelott, Salvador Fernandez Hernandez, Arietis Fisher-Burns, Savahna Garcia, Maria Juarez Razo, Maryn Myler, Fabian Rangel, Jaidyn Shepard, Cheyenne Straw, April Tedrowe

CHURCHILL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Ashley Sorensen, Maria Whitaker

DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL
Keerat Bhullar, Naima Duarte, Alexandra Edmondson, Shanti Johnson, Ian Kanter, Caitlynn Koback, Emily Lara, Savanah Smith, Devin Vaughan, Aryanna Virgen-Ortega, Roham Wahabzada, Mackenzie Wells

DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL
Jorge Flores Gonzalez, Caitlin McLaughlin, Olivia Ross-Dee, Michael Rubio

FERNLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Adrian Avila, Alyssa Bixby, Ethan Clark, Celeste Condie, Karlyn Hawley, Alexis Joyner, Dalton Kinamon, Chayslin Lee, Kacie Meisner, Emma Parsons, Bryanna Timmsen, Sariah Warren

HOMESCHOOL
Briana Dutra, Honor Edmands, Elizabeth Hermansen, Kallie McDonald, Natalie Newman, Noah Poole, Thomas Purvance, Jaeden Sant Singh, Adolfas Stankus

NEVADA VIRTUAL ACADEMY
Rhiannon Bree Achong, Nova Creacy, Kelsey Dosch, Ashley Howell, Criskier Ignacio, Jordyn Kenton, William Kenton, Nyla Lee, Symantha Lloyd, Alexzah Lopez, Victoria Newsom, Paige Peters, Nhora Quassani, Hayli Rhoton, Kyler Ryu, Coye Shelton, Albert Vandivort

OASIS ACADEMY
Robert Breault, Kate Dunkin, Karley Frederick, Lewis Garcia, Sidney Jaques, Conor Keitz, Madison Larum, Raven Pascale, Emily Richards, Savannah Robinson, Hamilton Sommer, Tanner Stritenberger, Maximus Swan, Meagan Trinidad, Elizabeth Williams, Kynja Woods

PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL
Sydney Miller

SILVER STAGE HIGH SCHOOL
Katherine Martin, Miguel Pacheco, Sara Perez, Roberto Rodriguez

SMITH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Megan Feuerhelm, Melissa Lackore

VIRGINIA CITY HIGH SCHOOL
Callum Bodington, Timothy Quinlan, Reese Renaud

Patt Quinn-Davis, Carson High School Language Arts teacher and adviser of the school newspaper and Carneta yearbook, is retiring. For Quinn-Davis, the publications staff became a part of her family every year and even more so when students stayed with the program throughout their high school careers.

Before becoming a teacher, Quinn-Davis worked as a journalist in Woodland Hills, Calif., where she worked as an editor for the Daily Democrat. Later, she moved to Carson City where she eventually became City Editor for the Nevada Appeal. Afterwards, she left her position and did some freelance work for Nevada Magazine and the Reno Gazette-Journal. While working as a journalist, Quinn-Davis saw an opportunity to impact the community to a larger degree, so she decided to run for Mayor.

Though unsuccessful at her bid for Mayor, she then followed her heart’s desire to impact youth, acquired her secondary education teaching license, and began work at CHS. For twenty years, Quinn Davis taught several levels of English at Carson High and published the yearbook and newspaper, winning multiple awards for her publications. Though she has had thousands of students over the years, her 2020 Carneta staff gets to have the last word:

According to Executive Editor of the yearbook, senior Lindsay Chowanski, “There is no way possible for thanking QD for all she has done for me during my high school career, but thank you for pushing me and making me better at writing, design, photography, and a better leader; even though we fight over silly stuff, I am going to miss you so much, and thank you for making yearbook my favorite class.”

According to Julia Nolan, “Mrs. Quinn-Davis is one of the nicest teachers I know, always talking to everyone about everything; she has a way with people in which I will never understand, and she loves to teach, so it is sad to see her go because I know she spent hours on our book saying, ‘It is your book’, never taking any credit for all the work she puts in, and I have learned so much from her because she has always believed in me even when I thought no one did.”

According to Allison Gill, “I am so incredibly grateful I got to have QD as my teacher for at least one year; she was always there for me no matter what and made me feel like I was still worth having on her team. I will miss her so much next year, but I will continue to work as hard as I can to make the best book I can for her.”

According to Aspen Carrillo, “Thank you! I could not imagine what high school would be like without yearbook; yearbook helped me in many ways, and I do not think there are many teachers staying after school for over three hours just to let her yearbook staff work. The yearbook room was like a second home, and sometimes the yearbook was the only thing I had motivating me. It is amazing to have a teacher who spots what you are good at and encourages your talent. I am going to miss QD a great deal, so thank you so much for everything.”

Working with Quinn Davis has been an immense pleasure for all at CHS. Her presence will be missed at school every day, and the great work she did here ensures she will never be forgotten. Her graciousness about the people with whom she works, her delight in and acknowledgment of their successes, and her ability to make them the heroes is impressive. What she achieved at CHS made a visible impact, and that is not so easy to do these days. We honor Patt Quinn Davis for being a tireless professional, a helpful coworker, and a good friend.

Now go and relax, Patt Quinn Davis, but anyone who knows you can be certain this will only happen when you are enjoying your grandchildren, traveling the world, and progressing through your journey of yoga and meditation.

REMOTE LEARNING LIBRARY STYLE
Your Carson High School @SenatorsLibrary has become a Cyber-Library. Transitioning to remote learning has been an interesting endeavor for us all, one which brings many lessons, and will, I am sure, create a paradigm shift in the way we school library in the future. So much of our physical space is intertwined with the social emotional needs of staff and students. It is a place of respite and calm, a place to relax, socialize, take a time-out, create, learn, or even nap. It is also a hive of activity with classes rotating through to check out materials, engage in lessons, or see presentations.

The @SenatorsLibrary is a place to gather, and it is the daily personal connections we are missing most from our students who bring energy and focus to our days. Right now, providing the same supports and so much more, we work from home in new and creative ways. It is an amazing transition, and I am impressed with the work I am seeing District-wide from the CCSD Library Staff.

Check out these examples of Remote Learning — Library Style — happening across the District, information and media literacy instruction via remote learning. Want a sneak peek? Check out the lesson here: bit.ly/CHSMediaBias; Carson City Students Read Here, There, and Everywhere; celebrating our elementary school readers and their creative reading styles: bit.ly/CCSDReaders; Books We Love: Collaboration with the GATE teachers to highlight reading recommendations to our Carson families: bit.ly/CarsonBooksWeLove; Collaborating with the Carson City and Nevada State Libraries to provide digital resources to students: silverstarcoop.overdrive.com/nevadalib-carson; updating our library websites to provide literacy and digital information to students:carsoncityschools.com, Quick Links, Library; Supporting classroom teachers, staff, and students by joining digital classroom discussions and read alouds, curating digital resources for teachers, collecting literacy resources for reading, research, and remote learning, tech support, Chromebook support, processing books, annual reporting, sharing community resources, educational technology coaching and staff support, managing student hotspots for home internet, assisting with nutrition and social programs. Until we are able to connect with students in person, the CHS Cyber-Library is staying as busy as ever, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to continue to support our community virtually. We hope everyone is safe, healthy, and able to tune out, turn off, and get lost in a great book. Ananda Campbell may be reached by email acampbell@carson.k12.nv.us. — Contributed by Library Media Specialist, Ananda Campbell.

JOURNAL OF PLANETARY SCIENCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHS STUDENTS
CHS teacher James Bean’s students after participating with “RECON…a citizen science research project aimed at exploring the outer solar system,” and using a National Science Foundation grant, a Division of Astronomical Sciences, which allows high school students the opportunity to track Kuiper Belt Objects, Pluto, and Transneptunian objects, are going to be acknowledged in an upcoming publication of the Journal of Planetary Science for tracking two Transneptunian objects at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at the Western Nevada College campus.

CHS students, Ian Pettersen, Levi Hemingway, Leo Rodriguez, Levi Woods, Jada Blackeye, Mike Ramirez, and Max Fontaineare, collected data in order to feed it to planetary scientists who form solar system models. Bean’s students are from his physics and astronomy classes and also include Chandler Tiearney, Michelle Ramirez, Adela Pachacho, Damian Branco, Eli Thomas and Bernice H. Ramirez. Mr. Bean spends a multitude of his personal time outside of the classroom prepping for his classes and working alongside his students because of his interest in science and his love of teaching. Getting a hold of Mr. Bean is easy. Call 283-1714, or email him at jbean@carson.k12.nv.us.

ORDER A 2020 CARNETA YEARBOOK ONLINE
The 2020 Carneta is here, so please do not miss out on this unforgettable record of the most unforgettable senior year in history. CHS adviser Patt Quinn-Davis and CHS Administrators are working out details on the best way to get yearbooks delivered to students, but ordering one online is simple. Quinn-Davis, and co-adviser Alyssa Smith-Ackerley, made a very quick how-to video for ordering. Please go to the video here. Want to skip the video, no problem. Go straight to yearbookforever.com/.

SAFE GRAD SPONSORING DOWNTOWN STREET BANNER EVENT
Safe Grad is sponsoring the Downtown Street Banner event, and seniors should submit their photos. There is information on the Carson High website on where to send CHS Class of 2020 headshots in high resolution. Information may also be found on the CHS Class of 2020 Parents on Facebook page. Look for a photo of the CHS emblem at school. There are two groups: One for anyone, and one for CHS Class of 2020 Senior Parents. A post from the group on Facebook says, “Permission to install banners up and down Carson Street and Fairview has been granted.” There will be four pictures of the CHS Class of 2020 Seniors on each banner, two per side, and the cost is $28 each. Carson High Safe Grad has agreed to sponsor the project, but donations are needed and may be sent to Carson High Safe Grad Booster, PO Box 486, Carson City, NV 89702. To make a tax deductable donation online, go to carsonhighsafegrad@gmail.com, click the ‘Donate’ tab, and please reference “Downtown Banners” on your donation.” Approximately $13,000 needs to be raised in order to offer it to all graduating seniors. Please contact CHS Safe Grad Secretary Wendy Yang at 720-6160, or President Kyra Hinton at 434-760-0635. Safe Grad will have its final meeting next week to discuss Safe Grad night.

FORMER TEACHER’S PANDEMIC MASKS HOT COMMODITY
Cathy Barbie, former Carson City School District Eagle Valley Middle School teacher, and head of the Carson City Craft Fair, began making Covid-19 face masks when her son Josh called and told her his veterinary hospital could not get any masks until June or July. Barbie, a skilled crafter, went to work immediately. Barbie said, “OMG I could not believe the numbers for how many masks I have made so far; I started March 11, with the first shipment to my son Ryan, and I then began selling them at Grocery Outlet on April 11, and, to date, I have made over 900 masks.” Barbie has donated many of her hand-crafted masks, but she sells them as well and said, “Thanks to the generosity of my customers, we are paying off one of the three medical bills we have for my husband's hand injury.” Barbie is currently sewing masks for 8 to 15 hours per day. She has made masks for Carson City School District nurses, the Highway Patrol, and “The order I completed this week was for 100 masks for the Western Nevada College Child Care Center workers.” Barbie added, “Thanks to your first article, I had over 350 mask orders, which I am selling every Wednesday and Saturday at Grocery Outlet from 10:00 a.m. to Noon in front of the main entrance.” Barbie’s plan is to continue to sell the masks through the month of June at Grocery Outlet. Those interested may come directly to Grocery Outlet to purchase a mask, order a particular pattern by calling 775-882-8109, or email her directly at barbiecathy55@gmail.com. “I am working on a special issue mask with the Nevada Battle Born theme” Barbie added, “I put a metal strip in each so the customers can shape it around their noses, and I can also take orders and special requests for fabrics such as doctor, nurse, first responder, military, animal, sports, fishing, etc.”

STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Zueskyra Herrera, a sophomore, is the CHS Student of the Week. Gabriela McNamara, Zueskyra’s nominating teacher, said about her, “She works hard, is dedicated, and is a portrait of good behavior.” Employees within Carson City School District nominate CHS students for Student of the Week, and it is often the students’ teachers who do the nominating though anyone in the district may do so by sending an email to Senator Square columnist Phil Brady at pbrady@carson.k12.nv.us.

— Senator Square columnist Phil Brady is an English teacher at Carson High School in Carson City, Nev.

Virginia City held their Memorial Day Parade, Saturday afternoon. But they did so in a way that kept everyone safe, with state regulations in mind.
Go here for the full story and video.

Each decade, Nevada grows by about two basketball courts. It’s hard to quantify, state geologist Jim Faulds says, but the comparison is about right.

That’s because most of Nevada sits in the Basin and Range province, which is stretching. Things are moving in other ways too. Central Nevada is moving to the right relative to the Sierra Nevada by about a centimeter each year. The movement is constant, but it’s usually absorbed by faults.

Walking outside on a warm summer afternoon or hiking in the backcountry, it’s easy to forget the dynamism underneath the Earth’s surface — until these movements cause a major earthquake.

That’s what happened in the early morning of May 15. About 75 miles outside of Tonopah, a big quake occurred on a fault trending roughly east-west, Faulds said. The earthquake happened along what is known as the Walker Lane fault system, which runs through eastern California and Nevada. And it registered a magnitude 6.5, making it Nevada’s largest earthquake in 66 years.

The quake’s potential damage was blunted by the fact that its epicenter was outside of a town.

But it was still powerful enough that it caused damage on three highways, prompting Gov. Steve Sisolak to declare a state of emergency on Thursday. The state estimated that the earthquake caused at least $700,000 in damage to U.S. 95, U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 360 across three rural counties. The emergency declaration allows the state to unlock federal response funds.

The Nevada Independent talked to Faulds about the geology behind the tremor, how his team at the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology is responding and what it could mean for the future.

Geologically speaking, what happened?

The short answer is that the earthquake struck in a fault system known as the Walker Lane.

The Walker Lane area accommodates about 20 percent of the motion between the Pacific plate and the North American plate, Faulds says.

The more infamous San Andreas fault system accounts for about 80 percent of plate motion.

“So we expect earthquakes in this region,” said Faulds, who directs the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. “We know they’ve happened for millions of years.”

“It’s a good wake up call,” he adds. “We do live in a seismically active region.”

In fact, after California and Alaska, Nevada is one of the most seismically active states in the country, in part because of all of this movement across faults at varied angles and positions.

Wait, but what actually caused the earthquake?

The answer to that is the answer to why we don’t feel earthquakes all the time.

The movement in Western Nevada, about one centimeter per year, is constant, and yet we don’t feel quakes constantly, Faulds notes. That’s because faults accommodate the movement.

But the movement builds up over time, and eventually “they finally let loose.”

To explain what happens, Faulds uses an example of a book on a table.

Pretend you are pushing a book across the desk. A little force, and the book doesn’t move. A little more force and it still doesn’t move. A little more force, and suddenly the book moves.

“This build up of that motion — one centimeter per year, another centimeter the next year and so on,” Faulds says. “And then all of the sudden, then one of these faults let’s go.”

And the aftershocks?

Since the recent M6.5 earthquake (the official name is the Monte Cristo Range Earthquake), there have been reports of hundreds of aftershocks reported in the area around Tonopah and Mina, a small town north on U.S. 95.

The Reno Gazette Journal reported a quake with a magnitude 5.0 Wednesday morning that was felt as far as Carson City and Sonora, a town on the western side of the Sierra Mountains.

Faulds said that the main earthquake triggers a lot of activity on the same faults or nearby faults. Or in some cases the fault ruptures, but a patch of the fault gets stuck. As a result, that area then ruptures or breaks too, Faulds says.

Back to the book example, but now with multiple books on the desk.

“That book is going to move a little bit, and then the other end of the book might hit another book on your desk, and so on,” Faulds said. “And you’ll sort of have this chain reaction.

Once the books reach the end of the desk, they aren’t moving as much as the initial force.

“But they are still responding to that initial motion,” Faulds said.

What does the response to this type of earthquake look like?

A lot of on-the-ground observations. Yes, even during the pandemic.

A team from the bureau, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory and the California Geological Survey were mobilized to document damage to highways and surface ruptures caused by the quake. The team appoints a chief coordinator for the response.

The team has observed, by surveying the surface rupture, a maximum offset of about six to eight inches. That’s smaller than the several feet of offset caused by the magnitude 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake in California last year, but Faulds said the offset was still “very measurable.”

“Although they are finding new things every hour,” Faulds noted in an interview on Thursday.

In this case, the earthquake mainly struck in a remote area. It’s difficult to determine what the damage would have been had a similarly-sized quake ruptured underneath a town, but Faulds said “it probably would have caused some significant damages and probably some injuries.”

“It all depends on the nuances of that particular earthquake,” he said.

Acceleration rates, time of day, the number of old buildings in a locality.

But earthquakes, with even a smaller magnitude, can cause damage. Faulds pointed to the Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake in 2011, a magnitude 6.3 quake that killed 185 people and injured thousands more. It struck during lunch-hour with a high acceleration. In Nevada, the 2008 magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Wells, Nevada caused significant damage to the town.

“A 6.5 directly underneath a city is not a good thing,” Faulds said.

And Yucca?

Every time there is a significant earthquake in and around Nevada — or in the Walker Lane fault system — the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site invariably enters the conversation.

“Last week’s 6.5 magnitude earthquake less than 150 miles from Yucca Mountain only solidifies what my colleagues and I in the Nevada delegation have argued in our opposition against designating Yucca as the nation’s sole nuclear waste repository site,” Sen. Jacky Rosen wrote in a statement to E&E News, a publication that focuses on environmental policy coverage.

So from a geological perspective, what does this earthquake mean for the Yucca fight?

Faulds notes that Yucca Mountain is in the broader Walker Lane zone. But a lot depends on the specific faults that you have in the area around Yucca Mountain.

“How active are they and what magnitude earthquake are they likely to produce,” he said. “The faults around Yucca Mountain will rupture in earthquakes, inevitably. And there’s a number of young faults around Yucca Mountain just like in this area where the earthquake just occurred.”

“There’s lots of faults in that area that need to be reckoned with and understood,” he added.

— This story is used with permission of The Nevada Independent. Go here for updates to this and other stories.

After seasonal weather over the past few weeks brought periods of gusty wind, some valley showers and a few inches of snow to the Sierra, the Carson City region will be riding into a late spring heat wave this week, with daytime temperatures hot enough to force on those cooling fans and air conditioners.

Unusually warm temperatures are forecast for next Tuesday through Friday as summer-like high pressure builds over the region, according to the National Weather Service in Reno. Forecasters advise this first sweep of hot weather over the next few days could lead to heat health impacts for vulnerable populations and those outdoors in the sun for extended periods of time.

The weather service advises to prepare now to do outdoor activities next week in the morning and have a cool place to go during the afternoons.

High temperatures 20 degrees above normal could approach daily records. Peak heat is projected for Wednesday and Thursday. Valleys will reach well into the 90s with mountain communities well into the 80s. Friday could have similar heat; however, more clouds and thunderstorms could limit how hot it gets.

Thunderstorms will become more common starting Wednesday, especially over the high terrain. The weather service advises to be prepared for lightning, downpours, sudden temperature drops, hail, and strong outflow winds. Storms could impact outdoor recreation along with any outdoor pandemic response facilities.

For Carson City, Carson Valley and Dayton areas, daytime highs Monday will be in the low 80s, Tuesday, near 90; Wednesday and Thursday the low to mid-90s, with a chance for thunderstorms possible in the afternoons. Temperatures may come down some Friday.

Meanwhile, the Lake Tahoe Basin will see highs in the mid-70s Monday, and the low to mid 80s Tuesday through Thursday and a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday and Friday.

Take some time over the next few days to review heat and thunderstorm safety online from the National Weather Service. There's plenty of material out there and it has been a while since we have experienced either weather hazard in the region, the weather service says.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of May 25-31, 2020. For information on lane restrictions and street closures related to the South Carson Street Project, see CarsonProud.com.

Noteworthy, Carson City recognizes its Public Works employees as part of National Public Works week. See the locally produced video here.

Closures are expected at the following locations due to road, utility work:

— Fifth Street to Stewart Street: SNC will be performing concrete and electric work; one lane in each direction will be open, the cone zone will remain in place around-the-clock.

— Stewart Street will be closed to southbound traffic with detours at Little to Roop to Fairview, the closure will remain all week. Stewart Street will be open to northbound traffic only.

— Frontage Road is open to two-way traffic. Intermittent closures to Frontage Rd driveways. There will be no access from Sonoma.

— Fairview Drive: SNC will be performing waterline work; one lane in each direction will be open around – the – clock.

— Rhodes to Appion: SNC will be performing multi-use path work; one lane in each direction, the cone zone will remain in place around-the-clock. Construction is subject to weather conditions.

— Airport Road will be closed in both directions between Woodside Drive and Minonee Lane, Tuesday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. Residential access will be allowed. JAC service will continue, however detours will be in effect, including through the weekend.

— Curry Street may be closed periodically between William Street and John Street, Monday – Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

— John Street may be closed periodically between N. Carson Street and Curry Street, Monday – Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

— Menlo Drive will be closed at Airport Road, Tuesday – Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:30 p.m.

— Oregon Street will be closed on Saturday between Roop Street and Wright Way, all day.

Lane restrictions are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

— North Carson Street will have a single lane closure between Fleischmann Way and William Street, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Retail Court will have single lane closures east of College Parkway, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Roop Street will have single lane closures and lane shifts between Oregon Street and Little Lane, Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m., to 5 p.m.

— William Street will be reduced to a single lane eastbound between Roop Street and Saliman Road, Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

— William Street will have a single lane closure in the westbound direction between Carson Street and Plaza Street, Tuesday, 8 a.m. to noon.

Carson City Health and Human Services is reporting Sunday, May 24, 2020 that that there are four new positive cases and no additional recoveries of COVID-19 in the Quad-County region. This brings the total number of cases to 169, with 122 recoveries and four deaths, 43 cases remain active.

The new cases are:
— A male Lyon County resident in his 20’s

Carson City Health and Human Services is working to identify close risk contacts to prevent further spread of the disease. Due to medical privacy requirements and to protect their identity, no further information about the cases will be released.

Carson City
-86 Total
-28 Active
-54 Recovered
-4 Deaths

Douglas County
-27 Total
-3 Active
-24 Recovered

Lyon County
-55 Total
-12 Active
-43 Recovered

Storey County
-1 Total
-0 Active
-1 Recovery

TOTAL
-169 Total Cases
-43 Active
-122 Recovered
-4 Deaths
-5 Hospitalizations

Gender and age break down of the cases by county as well as the cases by ZIP code is available here.

Statewide numbers can be found at the Nevada Health Response website https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov

For those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have questions, call the Quad-County COVID-19 Hotline Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm. Spanish speakers are available.

The phone number is (775) 283-4789.

Stay informed. For updates and more information on COVID-19 visit https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/novel-coronavirus-2019/