The gate on Ash Canyon Road, located at the trailhead to the Ash to Kings Trail in Ash Canyon, is now open, Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space announced Monday.

The Ash Canyon Road gate is open to all motorized vehicle traffic. The road has been closed as a part of an annual road closure to protect the road during heavy precipitation in the winter.

All road repairs have been completed, and the road is passable for both non-motorized and high-clearance four-wheel drive motorized travel. Users should exercise caution based on weather conditions when traveling the road.

For more information on Ash Canyon Road, contact the Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department at 775-887-2262.

Yoga is a calming way to center yourself and understand these moments that may be confusing. Amy and Cortney talk about the importance of staying active and how yoga exercise is a great way to maintain good health. You can sign up for classes by going to CarsonCityYoga.com. They can be reached at 775-841-7841.

This edition of It's Your City is sponsored by Garrett Lepire, real estate broker for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Drysdale Properties. He can be reached at Garrett@SellingCarsonCity.com or 775-720-4712.

It's Your City is a regular program produced by Darla Bayer and hosted by Cortney Bloomer. The program features news, events and happenings around Carson City. If your business would like to sponsor a program, contact Darla at DarlaEdits2@gmail.com or (775) 830-7939.

See the video of the interview here:

Nearly 70 Carson High School seniors were recognized Thursday night for collectively earning more than $1 million in scholarships (a number that will continue to rise). Their accomplishments were celebrated in a virtual awards ceremony, Thursday, May 14, which highlighted the academic success of the Class of 2020.

"Even though the conclusion of this unforgettable COVID-19 school year has not lived up to traditional expectations, these students have proved they are well prepared when they leave Carson High School,” CHS Principal Gavin Ward said. "These scholarship awards are a testament to that. We have students going on to military, technical schools, community colleges and major universities.”

We applaud all the local organizations and community support who’ve made a lot of these scholarships possible, he continued. The Class of 2020 has really embraced the opportunities available to them, and I couldn't be more proud. I am excited about their futures and what they will do after high school.

Ward also noted the total amount of scholarships will continue to rise as graduation draws closer. Many applications have been extended due to schools being physically closed. So the overall all total in scholarships may be significantly higher than what is represented as of May 14, 2020.

Carson High School’s Class of 2020 Scholars, listed below by last name (alphabetized) followed by their first name:

Amrhein, Nathaniel
Anderson, Seth
Avina, Gabriela
Aydelott, Kenneth
Belcastro, Zion
Bonomo, Giovani
Bouza, Lilian
Brugman, Kyra
Busch, Bryce
Chen, Kai
Chowanski, Lindsay
Clavel, Victor
Cortes Solis, Gary
Covington, Ava
Crossman, Gabriel
Davis, Cameron
Diez, Aubree
Duncan, Nanami
Espinoza, Sydney
Fernandez Lopez, Gabriela
Ferris, Karrina
Fontaine, Maxwell
Gantan, Matthew
Garcia Cruz, Eliseo
Hinton, Audrianna
Irvin-Redding, Liliann
Jeffries, Alana
Johnson, Cole
Kaiser, Hannah
Kennison, Stacy
Knox, Pru
Konrad, Luke
Kordonowy, Bella
Lopez, Daniel
Lozano, Jennifer
Maffei, Bradley
Martinez, Kiana
Martinez, Vanessa
Mata, Alondra
McCain, Kayleigh
McCoy, Emma
McMenamy, Anthony
Natividad, Angel
Navarro, Kyle
Padilla, Alan
Parker, Mya
Payan, Josey
Quilling, Camryn
Randall, Cierra
Remer, David
Rodriguez, Isela
Rosas, Coral
Schmidt, Stefanie
Scholfield, Easton
Singleton, Olivia
Smothers, Nathan
Stankute, Barbara
Steel, Brandon
Trejo, Rebecca
Valdenegro Cortez, Gloria
Van Sickle, Mason
Walt, Chloe
Walt, Kaden
Wells, Alexander
Wiggens, Bradley
Wilson, MacKenzie
Whitten, Hailey
Wright, Richard

The Carson City area, Nevada Chapter 7 of Disabled Veterans of America is honored to again coordinate the placing of U.S. flags at the graves of departed veterans this Friday, May 22, at Lone Mountain Cemetery.

Chapter 7 DAV is asking the community to join in the annual placing of flags of U.S. veterans buried at the cemetery. The event begins at 4 p.m. at Lone Mountain, 1044 Beverly Drive in Carson City.

Organizers advise volunteers to practice social distancing, and to wear a mask and gloves. Event coordinators will place flags on tables in bundles for volunteers to collect for placing. There are more than 1,700 flags to be placed.

"We believe we can be responsible and practice social distancing during this very important task to remember our fallen," said coordinator John Hefner Sr. Go here for more information.

Reader Ed Blohme of Carson City submitted a photo of these twin robin eggs discovered in a nest recently.

Since I started walking instead of running I'm enchanted by the simplest things. I guess trading "runner's high" for "walker's enchantment," is not such a bad trade.

Just yesterday I saw a pageant played out in the sky I had never seen before, and never would have seen had I been running. A bright north to south contrail lit up the heavens while a westerly wind wafted ice crystals across the sky to create a perfect feather, and I took it as a sign of impending good luck for Mother Earth and her inhabitants.

Oh, did I mention stuffing your pockets with dog bones will create opportunities to make friends with the likes of Blaze, Cooper and Zippy. After a while, they will spot you at a hundred yards, drop their tennis balls and come running. Petting somebody else's dog is pure profit. No, it's the walker's life for me.

Similarly, everything changed when the pandemic arrived; everything seems dearer. Mother Nature, in her daily appearance, arrests the mind's eye and energizes the soul. I start to see beauty in formerly commonplace things. Commonplace things, like rocks, have taken on a temporal aspect. I suppose when I start to see harmony in space and time I might be coming to the end of my visit on this lovely planet.

Then too, with the arrival of the pandemic, climate change drifted from my mind, and a curious thing happened. While everybody was home-bound, Mother Nature was on the mend. Oceans, rivers, the air itself, all were taking a step forward while we were taking a step back. She reminds us, even during a pandemic, that protecting our Mother must remain a priority.

As 2020 rolls along, the virus continues to dominate our attentions as our most immediate concern. Next comes the economy, which is joined at the hip to our well being. The good news is, once the pandemic has finally passed, we will be equipped, and of the right mind, to fully engage the crisis of climate. It looks like we might actually produce more electricity in this next year from renewable power than from coal, a thing not imaginable ten years ago.

I genuinely hope a grandchild will write the following letter 20 years from now.

"Dear Papa, we want to thank you and your generation for looking out for us and addressing the urgent issue of climate crisis, as you finally did on the heels of the pandemic of 2020. You turned a fire hose on our burning planet. Mother Nature had written a good script, a script that was working well until previous generations ripped it up. Then your generation came along with a new logo, 'Love Thy Mother!' We would take you out to lunch on Earth Day but you died ten years ago."

Yes, I will miss receiving that letter in 2040, as pushing up turnips will be my sole occupation. But I take comfort today in knowing that letter might be forthcoming.

In closing, I believe our logo bears repeating, "Love Thy Mother."

And this is where our short history of climate change 2020 comes to a close.

— For more than 30 years, in over 4,000 performances, columnist and Chautauquan McAvoy Layne has been dedicated to preserving the wit and wisdom of “The Wild Humorist of the Pacific Slope,” Mark Twain. As Layne puts it: “It’s like being a Monday through Friday preacher, whose sermon, though not reverently pious, is fervently American.”

A 39-year-old man was arrested for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer among multiple offenses after attempting to attack a deputy with a knife, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Team report.

Rigoberto Aguilar Vega of Carson City was arrested for suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon on an officer; three gross misdemeanor counts of possession of a dangerous weapon and four misdemeanors: open container, two parking offenses and driving left of center on a roadway.

According to the arrest report, a Carson City Sheriff's Office deputy who was in front of the sheriff's office administration building on Musser Street when he observed a vehicle driving rapidly westbound in the eastbound lane.

A man inside the vehicle began yelling at the officer through an open window, making threatening statements and yelling obscenities, the report states.

The suspect, Vega, then got out of the vehicle, where the deputy observed the man reaching for a knife clip in his pocket. The man walked toward the officer, and then drew the knife from his pocket and began yelling, moving closer to the officer. The suspect was within 3 to 4 feet of the deputy when the officer drew his firearm, telling the the man to drop the knife, the arrest report states.

The suspect threw the knife on a concrete block between him and the deputy and was kept at gunpoint, then he was instructed to the ground and was handcuffed. The man was not injured, but continued to taunt officers, daring them to shoot him, the arrest report states.

Officer searched the man's vehicle where they located several bottles of alcohol, a small amount of marijuana and several weapons. There was a golf club in the back seat, a 14-inch buck knife in the center console, and two long-double-sided daggers in the truck. There was also a pair of binoculars in the center console. Bail: $20,000.

In other arrests:
— A 30-year-old Carson City man was arrested Sunday for suspicion of a third DUI. Austin Bitisillie was taken into custody at 5:33 a.m. in the area of Curry and Rhodes streets. According to the arrest report, deputies responded after reports of a vehicle in the middle of the intersection with the driver asleep with beer in his hand.

Deputies arrived on scene, with one patrol unit directly in front of the car. Within moments, the driver took his foot off the brake causing the vehicle to roll forward. A deputy had to quickly reach inside and put the vehicle in park so that it wouldn't strike the patrol vehicle as it was starting to roll, the report states.

Deputies identified the driver from previous contacts. He showed signs of intoxicated. He was asked multiple times if he would perform field sobriety tests. The man refused and was arrested for suspicion of DUI. He would not submit to a preliminary breath test. At jail the suspect said he would be willing to submit to a test and agreed to a blood draw. He was booked for suspicion of a third DUI as well as parole and probation violation, both felonies. Bail: $20,000.

— A 34-year-old Carson City man was arrested May 15 for suspicion of multiple felony offenses, including three counts possession of stolen firearms and child endangerment.

Charles Garry Vance was taken into custody at 10:13 p.m. in the 2500 block of Mountain Street. He also was booked for suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance, possessing guns by a prohibited person, gross misdemeanor child endangerment and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the arrest report, CCSO deputies responded after reports of a man screaming about his guns. Two sergeants made contact with the man, who had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Upon further investigation, officers at the scene began to investigate a possible endangerment case involving a child. The suspect was detained.

The investigation led officers to a search where guns and ammunition were found including loose shotgun shells on the floor next a bed in the master bedroom, the report states. There was a large safe in the room with the door unlocked and slightly open. Inside the officer found seven rifles, three shotguns and four ammo cans with hundreds of rounds in them, the arrest report states. In one area of the house was a guest bedroom blocked by a baby gate.

Within plain view there was a .50 caliber black powder rifle, and in the living room there were multiple items of marijuana paraphernalia, including a clear glass bong, multiple glass marijuana containers and a prescription pill bottle for trazodone, the report states. There were three pocket knives on a table with several lighters.

In the back yard, a sergeant located a firearm on the ground in the weeds, a loaded pistol with multiple magazines. There was a live round in the chamber and the hammer was in the rear position, ready to fire. The firearm was easily accessible to a child at the home, the report states. Also collected was a compound bow by the front door, and a machete hanging by the front door of the residence.

A check on the guns was done, in which a shotgun and two rifles were reported stolen, the report states. Deputies also found drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance, which tested presumptive positive for opium, the report states.

The man was arrested on suspicion of the following: possession of a controlled substance, being in possession of guns by a prohibited person, three counts possession of stolen firearms, child endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail: $20,000.

— A 30-year-old transient, Bryce Weiss, was arrested May 15 in the area of Curry and Bath Street for suspicion of vehicle burglary, attempted vehicle burglary and gross misdemeanor possession of burglary tools.

According to the arrest report, a Carson City Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Team officer observed Weiss walk up to a vehicle, look inside a window, and opened the passenger door handle, reaching in and putting something into his pocket, then shutting the door.

The man was then observed going to another vehicle, where he attempted to open the door of the passenger side, but the vehicle was locked. The officer observed the man then pulling out a metal wire, and shoving it into the door frame, the report states.

At that time, the officer activated his emergency lights and pulled up to the man. the suspect was detained. He began yelling profanities at the officer, saying he was going to kill the officer and that he was a gang member, the arrest report states.

He was taken to jail, where he became aggressive with officers and was placed in a safety cell. No deputies were hurt during the altercation. Bail: $25,000.

All information for the crime log (unless otherwise noted) comes from the arrest reports supplied by the Carson City Sheriff's Office, and is considered by law to be public information. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The policy of Carson Now is to name anyone who is arrested for a felony offense.

Although Western Nevada College has delayed its commencement ceremony to honor its 2020 graduation class because of COVID-19, the college is proud to announce and congratulate its list of graduates.

Following spring semester 2020, 650 students have graduated with 692 degrees and certificates.
WNC’s Jump Start College included 94 graduates. These students earned their associate degrees prior to receiving their high school diplomas.

WNC President Dr. Vincent Solis saluted the 650 grads with a special message on Monday, which was originally supposed to be the day of the college’s commencement ceremony.

Listen to his message at https://youtu.be/nnZMmk3VzY8

WNC’s class of 2020 includes:

Carson City
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — BUSINESS — ACCOUNTING
Shiela Sue DeGrote

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Emilce Lianabel Ames, Stephanie Marie Herget, Samantha McGuire, Brandi Salisbury, Grant Alan Zampirro

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — CRIMINAL JUSTICE — LAW ENFORCEMENT
Diana Fabiola Alonso

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Alexandra Adrianna Hooper, Chelsi Rae McNeill

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — GENERAL BUSINESS
Neva D. Baylor, Celia Lugo

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — GRAPHIC DESIGN
Clair Mercedes Bridwell, Cody Shelton

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — NURSING
Brooke Belanger, Sarah Alyssa Brown, Alysia June Chadim, Cara Yvonne Dillon, Veronica Avina Elizondo, Holly Foster, Valerie Maziel Ganley, Nayeli Perez-Roque, Jacob Phillips, Jason T. Rhoden, Amanda Robinson, Jennifer Rojas, Bayley Root, Payten Rose, Darryl Thomas Rush, Britney Marie Shine, Alyssa Linn Yeager

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — COMPUTER INFORMATION
Tanner Andrew Laird, Martin Schrauth

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — GENERAL INDUSTRIAL
Christopher T. Perdue

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — MACHINE TOOL
Joshua Lee Ezekiel

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — MECHATRONICS
Christopher T. Perdue, William Joseph Toohey

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — WELDING
Sean Patrick McNamara

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Giselle Andrade, Traci Angel, Brandon Tyler Annabel, Jayson Christopher Artz, Kenneth Aydelott, Alyona Lena Baka, Jonathan Alexander Barahona, Mina Barnato, Russell Baron, Tyler Renee Bray, Laura Cynthia Breighner, Donelle Nicole Brierley, Maricsa Cabrera, Christine Michelle Cassinelli, Nicole Cheri Cisneros, Gabrielle Clark, Juan Pablo Covarrubias, Daniel Cruz Villanueva, Brittany A. Cuevas, Andrew Davalos, Gabriela Davalos, Trevor Dawley, Jeremy DeBoer, Natalie DeJeronimo Vargas, Cara Yvonne Dillon, Dillon Austin Dodge, Kaela June Domin, Karla Escobedo, SalvadormFernandez Hernandez, Donald Willis Fleming, Savahna Garcia, Luis M. Garcia Almaraz, Larry Manuel Garcia-Castillo, Caitlin George, Jose Felix Gonzalez, Magaly Hernandez, Calli Stephanie Hess, Sarah D. Higuera, Louise Lee Hogen, Nathanial Iannacchione, Celine Janaye Jackson, Caitlyn Jeffers, Candace Nichole Jones, Gabrielle Rose Kortemeier, Jennifer Campbell Lombardo, Citlalli Lopez, Jocelyn Manzano, Luis Martinez, Kathryn Victoria Maseda, Julieanna McManus, Chelsi Rae McNeill, Sydney Miller, Lesly Montes Castaneda, Cierra Mullen, Isabel Munoz, Jacob Norman Myers, Maryn Myler, Mathew A. Navarro, Abbygail Linda Northrop, Evelin Ortega Quintero, James Jeremiah Ortiz, Rebecca Ortiz, Jasmine Paluch, Jasmine Marcella Peralta, Abner Perez, Hollie Anne Pfarr, Citlaly Preciado, Derek Jordan Redlark, Bianca Lizeth Rodriguez, Natalie A. Rogers, Stephanie Rojas, Matthew Romero, Michael Anthony Rose, Joseph Vincent Russo, Sarai Eileen Salas, Johana Salgado, Jenifer Salguero, Blanca Carmen Sasso, Brandon Sevilla, Cody Shelton, Jaidyn Alexandria Shepard, Miriam Esmerelda Silis Gutierrez, Alexandra Michelle Sprock, Cheyenne Nicole Straw, Chloe Oceans Svensson, Skye Blue Swanson, Mariana Talamantes, April Rose Tedrowe, Karanpreet Singh Thind, Ashley Tibbets, Richard Scott Todt, Jesse Toral, Jacob Alan Truhill, Katherine Yahel Vallejos, Jerrad Lee VandeBrake, Claudia Joselin Vazquez, Jessica Rose Visnovits, Joseph Michael Wheat Jr., Ryan Joshua Wood

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
Viridiana Cacho-Alvarez, Bradley Benjamin Denney, Jonathan Garcia, Savana M. Lehane, Juan Flaviano Lopez, Marisol Servin Lopez, Phillip Lopez, Marie Frances McDonald, Randy Glenn Nelms, Adanary Ortega, Alexandria Rose, Cristina Saenz

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Giselle Andrade, Bayley W. Asby, Kimberly Elizabeth Bigler, Daniel Cruz Villanueva, Cheryl Renee Deeb, Donald Willis Fleming, Arianna J. Florence, Katrina Henley, Isabel Rose Hensley, Nina Hernandez, Lacey Leann Hix, Nubia Leon-Lozano, Tyler Lethcoe, Victoria Marie McKean, Sarah Ann Miller, Anthony Jess Nicholson, Rebecca Ortiz, Michael Joseph Pulsipher, Kelley Eileen Riippi, Caleb Matthew Schadeck, Miriam Esmerelda Silis Gutierrez, Sarah Strickland, Jordan Tinkler, Musibered Torres Perez

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Zaid Amjad Abdelhady, Omar Acebedo Vega, Annette-Karissa Kiara Avila, Jose A. Banuelos Ruiz, Liliana Guadalupe Barajas-Rodriguez, Mariah Brooks, Juan Carlos Carrillo, Kaela June Domin, Arietis Rhiannon Fisher-Burns, Chanel Frazier, Nala Garcia, Brisareli Guzman Jimon, Hunter Hewitt, Monte Howell, Haylee Anne Krupp, Nubia Leon-Lozano, Diana Lobato, Seth P. Marcyes, Karen Noemi Martinez Gutierrez, Kallie Elizabeth McDonald, Melissa Perez-Barrios, Michelle Perry, Fabian Rangel, Jennifer Sanchez, Cody Shelton, Jordan Ryan Smith, Katelyn Stefonowicz, Juan Alberto Urena, Xitlali Vega Alvarez, Edgar Axel Velez Velasco

BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE — CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Jodi Dawn Roan

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY — CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
John Bumgardner

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
Traci Angel, Nohely Montes, Abbygail Linda Northrop

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — BUSINESS
Silvia Magaly Flores Zarate, Nancy Paola Manriquez

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — BUSINESS — BOOKKEEPING
Neva D. Baylor, Silvia Magaly Flores Zarate, Linda Jones, Nancy Paola Manriquez

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Jesica Elena Aragon, Victoria Marie McKean, Joyce Kathryn Stroup

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — GENERAL INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
Joshua Lee Ezekiel

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — MACHINE TOOL TECHNOLOGY
Daniel Vasquez-Ontiveros

Dayton
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — BUSINESS — MANAGEMENT
Marcia Lynne Rogacs

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Dakota Monique Knight

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — NURSING
Samantha Joann Hoover, Ernest Osborn, Daisy Perez

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS
Julian Harger

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — COMPUTER INFORMATION
John L. Doiron

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — MECHATRONICS
Cliff A. Turnell

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Keerat Singh Bhullar, Christina Marie Cabral, Nicole M. Cook, Nathaniel Darden, Kaitlin Marie Duarte, Naima Raquel Duarte, Jason Duran, Briana Michaela Dutra, Alexandra Edmondson, Anthony Taylor Edwards, Victorian Storm Fonseca, Taylor Furr, Lourdes Alicia Guerrero, Jameson Lee Haigwood, Caleb Luke Holley, Adrienne Keith, Emily Lara, Nayelli Lara-Gutierrez, Linn Lawrence, Giselle Medina, Ashley Dawn Morrison, Emily Neal, Elora Neep, Nicholas Anthony Reul, Karina Rubio, Brittnie Nichole Sisson, Lucas R. Spencer, Adolfas Vytautas Stankus, Ian P. Strey, Nickalaus Taggart, Devin Carter Vaughan, Kayla Villegas, Mackenzie Lynn Wells

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
Diana R. York

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Victorian Storm Fonseca, Dakota Monique Knight, Brianna Rene Molnar

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Cassandra Raylene Dickenson, Juan Dominguez, Cesia Enriquez, Ryan Michael Johnson, Ian Joseph Kanter, Caitlynn Dawn Koback, Katherine Michelle Martin, Thomas Purvis, Savanah N. Smith, Clint Vega, Aryanna Danielle Virgen-Ortega, Roham Wahabzada

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Adrienne Keith

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION TECHNICIAN
Joshua Aaron Lee

Fallon
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — BUSINESS — ACCOUNTING
Holly Rose Meader

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Steven Allocco, Krysta Lynn Page

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — GRAPHIC DESIGN
Mark L. Weaselboy

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — NURSING
Jenny Anderson, Courtney Marie Clay, Caitlynn Dennis, Nzonge Ekane, Alyshia Fairbanks, Shannon Ashley Roop, Heide Tapia, Cecilia Valenzuela, Cammi Whitaker, Cierra Worring

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — COMPUTER INFORMATION
Carey Allen Hack, Mary Nash

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Desirae Lynn Blunt, Robert Kenneth Breault, Andrew Alan Carroll, Kate Liana Dunkin, Michaela Flick, Karley Frederick, Lewis M. Garcia, Amanda Fay Impastato, Sidney Dakoda Jaques, Madison Larum, Jason Michael Lassiter, Jessica Dynel McQueary, Rebekah Lee Orozco, Raven Michelle Pascale, Amber Louise Revels, Emily Carolynn Richards, Kristy Liza Rios, Dalynne Michelle Rueda, Hamilton Jacob Sommer, Ashley Jean Sorensen, Maximus Gallo Swan, Hailey Paige Thibault, Meagan Victoria Trinidad, Maria Kathryn Whitaker, Elizabeth Williams, Kynja Woods

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
Owen Scott Palmer

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Joseph David Floyd Hill, Lindsay S. Regan, Tanner Chad Stritenberger, Dylan Gene Wallace

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Benjamin David Andersen, Braden William Benecke, Courtney Lynn, Binand, Aspen Claire Easter, Jacob Evans, Conor L. Keitz, Shelby Lynn McCart, Savannah Lee Robinson

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — GRAPHIC DESIGN
Michaela Flick

Fernley
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — BUSINESS — MANAGEMENT
Albert David Torres

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — GENERAL BUSINESS
Albert David Torres

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — GRAPHIC DESIGN
Jolene Brown

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Celeste Lin Condie, Karlyn R. Hawley, Alexis Lenore Joyner, Emma Rose Parsons, Daria-Michaela Powell, Aaron J. Robins III, Gabriel Wilson

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Adrian Anthony Avila, Alyssa Michelle Bixby, Bridgette N. Carlson, Ethan Clark, Amanda Suzanne Hulsey, Dalton Shane Kinamon, Sabrina Louise McCallum, Kacie R. Meisner, Lia Ojendyk, Christina Perry, Bryanna Rae Timmsen, Sariah E. Warren

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — GRAPHIC DESIGN
Jolene Brown

Gardnerville
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Denise Davis, Amanda Killgore, Carson Taylor Osborn, Matthew Reiner

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Kaycee Battcher

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — GRAPHIC DESIGN
Tomi Lin Souder

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - NURSING
Chelsea Dawn Bartlett, Timothy Owens

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — MECHATRONICS
Charles Christopher Pitcock

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Hope Okiani Grace Adams, Alec Carl Baumer, Emily Benitez, Allyson Marie Bliss, Peyton Hyland Craig, Jordanna LaVonne Foster, Wendy Sue Frogget, Jonah Muir Hedlund, Laura Margarita Navarro Hernandez, Harmony Alisa Laney, Jamie Lynn Lindsey, Emilio Magana, Caitlin McLaughlin, Fallon T. Montanucci, Christina L. Morgan, Alondra Xitlally Munoz, Omar Nava Del Real, Mackenzie Drew Peters, Jessica Michelle Pomeroy, Kasey M. Reseck, Michael Rubio, Karla Cristina Sanchez Ramirez, Viviana A. Sarmiento, Annie Isabella Tewalt, Araceli Valadez Paz, Matilde Valenzuela, Katelyn Rose Wiggins

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
Jessica Lee Chavez, Luis Gustavo Hernandez-Flores

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Daniel Dangelo, Jonathon William Jacobson, Melissa Mathiowetz, Brandon M. Nelson, Carson Taylor Osborn, Ryan Lee Stanton, Michael Teeuwen

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Mary Lin Bates, Sarah Marie Carter, Jorge Luis Flores Gonzalez, Kaela Lee Granados, Jonah Muir Hedlund, Jonathon William Jacobson, William Paul James-Chappell, Gabriela McNamara, Treyton Paul Northup, Noah Poole, Olivia Alexis Ross-Dee, Andrew David Tuell

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
Kaycee Battcher

Genoa
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS
Cole Contreras

Hawthorne
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Emmalee Jessica Going, Hillary Pellett

Henderson
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Erin Broo, Symantha Cathren Lloyd

Incline Village
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Carissa Link

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — NURSING
Izamar Sanchez

Las Vegas
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Rhiannon Bree Dermarie Achong, Nova Marie Creacy, Kelsey Erin Dosch, Ashley Marie Howell, Criskier Cablay Ignacio, Jordyn Victoria Kenton, William Holladay Kenton, Nyla Lee, Alexzah J. Lopez, Victoria Abigail Newsom, Paige Saylor Peters, Nhora Shabnam Quassani, Hayli Noel Rhoton, Kyler Jordan Ryu, Coye Michael Shelton, Albert Hiram Vandivort IV

Minden
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Malia Iris-Rae Grizoffi

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — NURSING
Christine Ann Herman, Megan Elizabeth Kerrigan, Karina Leigh Peterson, Danielle L. Smith

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — WELDING
Cody Bohman

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Barbara Anne Dilley, Marissa Lorraine Flanders, Sharon Faye Fournier, Brianna Jo Fujii, Malia Iris-Rae Grizoffi, Haylee Jean Harjes, Dallyn Sarah Malarchuk, Veronica Sage Marquez, Natalie Newman, Corinne Noemi Novotny, Bryan Spencer Rice, Martina Alexis Schambra, Michael Alan Smith, Riana Testa, Hannah Wilson

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
Sarah Bautista, Kathryn Alexis Rios

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Tourya Bindahan, Christopher G. Manning, Whitney Lynn McGill, Davianna H. Morris

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Jessica J. Kneefel, Zachary W. Moehle

BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE — CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Anna Marie Graham

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
Malia Iris-Rae Grizoffi

Mound House
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Tania Arroyo, Adelina Dizon Deadmond, Luisa Fernanda Flores De Los Santos, Daniel Ledezma
ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Rebecca Jean Barnett, Adelina Dizon Deadmond
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Maria Daniela Juarez Razo

Nixon
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Chayslin Keeana-Marie Lee

Reno
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Ethan William Price

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Joseph Godoy-Newcomb

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — NURSING
Sonia Gaeta, Lauren Rose George, Shelby Jeanne Lee, Kailey Jeanne Woods

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — COMPUTER INFORMATION
Stefan Paul Davis

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Christopher Ballesteros, Callum Jack Bodington, Robert Cornwell, Elizabeth Renae Hermansen, Caitlin Marie Howard, Shanti Rose Johnson, Reese L. Renaud, Linda M. Woods

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
Donnell J. Dike-Anukam

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Annie Marie Jeanotte Aranda, Caleb Emerson Gault, John Kirkland, Silverio Mendoza Jr., Jennifer Jo Wolf

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Honor Lily Edmands, Nicholas Martin Kuntz, Max Madson, Alana Corinne Pankopf

BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE - CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Blake E. Shure, Brian Stretch

Silver City
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Timothy A. Quinlan

Silver Springs
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Leticia Navarro

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Richard Anthony Fratto III

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Sara Danielle Perez, Roberto Aurelio Rodriguez

Smith
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Megan Rae Feuerhelm

Sparks
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Sara Benay Daly

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — NURSING

Vanessa Elizabeth Arias-Martinez, Amberle Lundstrom, Angelica Patricia Munda, Austin Warner

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — COMPUTER INFORMATION
Gary Don Gamber

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Misty Dawne Ballew, Shelene Jeanette Bowling, Jaeden Isaiah Sant Singh

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
William Thomas Gilroy

Stagecoach
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — GENERAL INDUSTRIAL
James Garrison

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
Renee Lamendola

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
James Garrison

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Miguel Angel Pacheco

Stateline
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Thomas Purvance

Sun Valley
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — NURSING
Kattie Lopez

Virginia City
ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
Joseph Richard Cabral
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Allison Riley Hultberg

Washoe Valley
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — GENERAL BUSINESS
Mikki Deluz

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Meighan Herzberg

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS
Mikki Doty Deluz

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Eduardo Garcia

Wellington
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — WELDING
Paul Donald Costa

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
William Andrew Banner, Carlee Donaire, Melissa Alexis Lackore, Brian Jair Leon Loayza
ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Margaret J. Mortensen, Adam Fisk Temple

Yerington
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — BUSINESS — ACCOUNTING
Michele McClellan

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Brittney Marie Wilkison

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Brittany McDonald
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
Brittney Marie Wilkison

Zephyr Cove
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Fabiola Hernandez Juarez

Martinez, Calif.
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS — DEAF STUDIES

Michael Andrew Loreno
ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Michael Andrew Loreno

Norman, Okla.
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — GENERAL BUSINESS
Katherine Leigh Sisk

Pocatello, Idaho
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Kathryn Bradley

South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — DEAF STUDIES
Kailey McKenzie Killeen

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — NURSING
Julia Guier, Cristina Limpot Higgins, Arianna Johnson, Misty Lawrence, Keely Nolis, Aleksandra Shand, Sarah E. Smith

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — GENERAL INDUSTRIAL
Ryan James Hock

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE — TECHNOLOGY — WELDING
Kyle Ferguson

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Ryan James Hock

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Ryan James Hock

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Ryan James Hock

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT — AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE
Kailey McKenzie Killeen

Wamego, Kan.
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Ashley Paige Hill

Nevada lawmakers voted along party lines to approve transferring the entirety of the state’s ‘Rainy Day Fund’ reserve budgetary account to plug massive holes in the state’s budget.

Members of the Interim Finance Committee (a committee of lawmakers that oversees and approves state spending during the interim period between legislative sessions) voted to approve moving the reserve funds during its meeting on Monday morning — a process that began last week with the declaration of a “fiscal emergency” and estimation that the state was facing between a $741 million and $911 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year ending on June 30.

Susan Brown, the head of the Governor’s Finance Office, said the state was anticipating cash flow problems and could possibly run into difficulties making payments on important public programs including K-12 education, higher education and Medicaid without tapping into the reserve budget account or using federal CARES Act dollars to plug budget holes. But she said use of the reserve dollars plus future expected budget cuts meant the state was in a “pretty solid” position for the current fiscal year.

Democratic lawmakers, who compose 13 of the 20 members of the committee, voted to transfer the entirety of the budget reserves to the state’s general budget account, saying that any delay could cause uncertainty and compared it to transferring money from a bank savings to checking account.

“We, for the first time, put money in the Rainy Day Fund in 2017 for this exact purpose, and thank God that we did,” Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson said. “But we have this money in a rainy day fund. And I don’t think you stop paying your power bill because you don’t know what’s gonna happen next month.”

But Republican lawmakers on the committee balked and voted against the motion, saying they wanted more details on the state’s plan to balance the budget before approving a transfer of the entire Rainy Day Fund, raising concerns that it could affect the state’s credit rating and bonding capacity. Several lawmakers suggested either taking out a portion of the funds now and taking more out later, or using federal CARES Act funds to make those payments if necessary.

“I certainly don’t question the ultimate need for this money to be used this fiscal year to help us come up with a comprehensive solution to close our budget deficit,” Republican Sen. Ben Kieckhefer said. “But the argument that’s being made that we need to pay our bills doesn’t seem to carry water when we have cash in the Treasury to cover our bills.”

Because the Legislature is constitutionally limited to meeting once every two years, state lawmakers are required to approve budgets on a two-year cycle, which means expected revenues and spending were set back in June 2019.

But expected revenues have cratered amid the emergency shutdown orders issued by Gov. Steve Sisolak to slow the spread of COVID-19, which has led to massive holes in the current $4.5 billion budget that heavily depends on sales and gaming taxes. In early April, Sisolak’s budget office asked state agencies to prepare for potentially large budget cuts — up to $171 million for the 2020 fiscal year and $687 million over the two-year budget cycle.

Brown, the head of the governor’s budget office, said the office was finalizing a plan that included agency budget cuts, eliminating one-time spending allocations and other options, but did not delve into specifics.

“We are working through proposals that were put forth by agencies and we will be coming forward with a plan to IFC to capture those savings that have been identified by those agencies,” she said.

But Republican lawmakers said they wanted to know more details about plans to balance the budget, from potential employee furloughs to budget cuts, before spending all of the state’s reserve funds.

“I know everybody’s just going crazy,” Republican Assemblyman Jim Wheeler said. “This is a true emergency. But, you know, give us some idea, other than we are looking at things and I think they’re going to be okay for (Fiscal Year) 2020.”

Several lawmakers suggested that the state use its portion of the federal CARES Act funding ($1.25 billion for Nevada) to help make payments due at the end of the month. The U.S. Department of Treasury has released a guidance allowing states to use funds from the program to meet any “necessary expenditures” incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But committee chair and Democratic Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton said doing that would take COVID-19 response funds away from other assistance programs and ways the state could help people affected by the coronavirus, and that the state would ultimately still be on the hook to make up those payments to the school district and to balance its budget.

“If we do use those for our cash flow issues, then they’re not available to help the Nevadans who are truly in need right now,” she said. “So I believe we would be put in a tough position of making that choice, whereas we do have money in the savings account right now to help us get through and figure out how to get all these bills paid off.”

Members of the Interim Finance Committee will meet again on Thursday to discuss creating and naming members to a new subcommittee designed to oversee and advise the state’s use of federal COVID-19 relief funds and grants.

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

CARSON CITY — Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske encourages eligible Nevadans who are not currently registered to vote or who need to update their existing voter registration information to do so before the Thursday, May 21 online deadline in order to receive a mail-in ballot for the June 9, 2020 primary election.

Online voter registration, including an explanation of the eligibility requirements, can be found at www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov

For the 2020 primary election, active registered voters in all counties (plus inactive registered voters in Clark County) were automatically sent a mail-in ballot through the U.S. Postal Service.

“Nevadans who wish to register to vote or update their voter registration information and receive a mail-in ballot must complete their registration online by midnight on Thursday, May 21,” said Wayne Thorley, deputy secretary of state for elections. “If you have not received your mail-in ballot, please visit our website to confirm that your voter registration information is current. If it is current, please contact your county elections office to request a new ballot. If it isn’t current, update your voter registration online before the deadline to receive your mail-in ballot,” said Thorley.

Nevadans who register to vote or update their existing voter registration information after May 21 will only be allowed to cast a ballot by appearing at any designated polling location in their county and by presenting proper identification.

“Nevadans are being encouraged to vote by mail this primary election for the health and safety of voters and poll workers,” added Thorley. “The mail-in ballot is a safe, secure and valid process to ensure that your vote is counted.”

Nevada’s primary election has three options to cast a vote: mail-in, designated drop-off location or by personal appearance at limited polling locations in each county.

Voters appearing in person to cast their ballot will be given a paper ballot, except in Washoe County where voting machines will be used. Election officials are highly encouraging voters to mail in their primary election ballots.

Below are key dates leading up to the June 9, 2020 primary election:

May 21: Last day to register to vote or update existing registration online at www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov and be sent a ballot in the mail.

May 22 to June 4: Those registering to vote online or update existing registration online at www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov are eligible to vote in the 2020 primary election but must vote by personal appearance at a polling location.

May 23 to June 5: Early voting is available in all counties. For the health and safety of voters and election workers, all voters are encouraged to vote by mail rather than by personal appearance at an early voting polling location.

June 4: Last day to register to vote or update existing registration information online at www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov and be eligible to participate in the 2020 primary election. After this date, voter registration will only be available on June 5 and June 9 at any county polling location.

June 9: PRIMARY ELECTION DAY: Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by June 9, 2020. Ballots returned in person at a drop-off location must be received by 7:00 p.m. on June 9, 2020. Also, on this day, there will be limited voting by personal appearance available for those who are not able to vote a mail ballot.

For more information on the 2020 Nevada primary election, please visit www.MailItInNevada.com or follow the Nevada Secretary of State on Facebook or Twitter.

CARSON CITY — Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Monday that Caleb Cage is appointed to serve as the State of Nevada COVID-19 Response Director.

“Mr. Cage has proven invaluable to the State in its effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This new, expanded role will help propel the State of Nevada forward as we continue our gradual, phased-in reopening and fortify our response to this unprecedented public health crisis,” said Gov. Steve Sisolak. “Mr. Cage brings a wealth of experience that will ensure our federally supported, state managed and locally executed response plan is effective in the immediate and the long-term.”

Cage, the former head of the State Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and most recently the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Community Colleges at the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), will help direct and coordinate the statewide response to COVID-19 through the end of December from the Office of Governor Steve Sisolak.

Cage’s new position is funded by federal dollars at no cost to the state.

This position will coordinate resources and the work across multiple state, local and federal entities to respond to COVID-19, including the following:

— Federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS);

— State agencies, including the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) within the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Division of Emergency Management (DEM), and the Nevada State Public Health Lab (NSPHL); and

Local agencies, including local emergency management, public health authorities, and city and county officials.
The Director will be responsible for coordinating all of these efforts, including a strong emphasis on the following activities: testing effort and capacity; contact tracing; and coordination of resources to support the robust, ongoing and expanding work in these areas in localities and across the State.

Cage is a native Nevadan who has served in various capacities in public service for the last 18 years. Immediately following college, he was commissioned as an artillery officer in the United States Army, serving in Germany and Iraq over the next five years.

Upon returning to Nevada in 2007, Cage served in various capacities, including as a policy advisor in the Lieutenant Governor's Office as well as the Governor's Office, in addition to leading the Nevada Office of Veterans Services and the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. He lives in Reno with his wife and three children.

The Quad-County Emergency Operations Center in Carson City reported Monday, May 18, 2020 a third death due to COVID-19 in the Quad-County region. The individual was a male Carson City resident in his 80’s. It is unknown at this time if he had underlying conditions.

CCHHS is also reporting one new positive case and 10 additional recoveries of COVID-19 in the Quad-County region. This brings the total number of cases to 145, with 102 recoveries and three deaths, 40 cases remain active.
The new case is:

— A male Lyon County resident in his 70’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 case will be released.

Carson City
-71 Total
-19 Active
-49 Recovered
-3 Deaths

Douglas County
-25 Total
-3 Active
-22 Recovered

Lyon County
-48 Total
-18 Active
-30 Recovered

Storey County
-1 Total
-0 Active
-1 Recovery

TOTAL
-145 Total Cases
-40 Active
-102 Recovered
-3 Deaths
-2 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/)

Community-Based COVID-19 Testing for Those Without Symptoms

-1,798 Individuals Tested
-1,798 Results Received
-1 Positive Test Results
-1,797 Negative Test Results

The lab is experiencing a high volume of tests. Results from the asymptomatic community-based testing locations are taking longer than expected. CCHHS will contact those tested by phone when their results are available.
For those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have questions, call the Quad-County COVID-19 Hotline 7 days a week, 8 am to 5 pm. Spanish speakers are available. The phone number is (775) 283-4789.

Quad-County COVID-19 Response Transition
On Monday, May 18, 2020 the COVID-19 response for the Quad Counties transitioned back to CCHHS from the Quad-County Emergency Operations Center.

CCHHS will continue to work with the Quad-County Multiagency Coordination (MAC) Group which consists of the emergency managers from each of the four counties.

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

Christmas bells would normally be ringing when Carson City resident Chef Don Pepe holds his annual holiday fundraiser for Pets of the Homeless, a Carson City-based 501(c)3 national non-profit that raises money to provide food, veterinary care and other essentials for the pets of homeless persons.

But 2020 is different.

Needs this year seem to be greater with the COVID-19 economic shutdown affecting most states.

That's why Pepe has started his Pets of the Homeless fundraising campaign early in hopes of raising even more money this year to help care for the pets of homeless individuals in Carson City and nationwide.

The renowned chef, known as the "Paella King" for his mastery of the Spanish national dish, has spent each of the last six years fundraising for Pets of the Homeless after seeing the need for himself right here in Carson City.

"I would take walks at night and see the homeless people with their pets," he said. "I remember one time seeing a child asleep in the back of a car with her dog laying on top of her, acting as a blanket and keeping her warm."

Pepe said he then realized just how much pets meant to people with nothing else in life, but the one best friend they could count on.

And he knew he wanted to do something to help.

As it happened, Genevieve Frederick was running her national non-profit, Pets of the Homeless, out of Carson City.

Pepe approached Frederick about doing a fundraiser one day, and the rest is history.

Every year since, Chef Don Pepe has donated profits made from the sales of his pure and extra virgin Portuguese olive oils to Pets of the Homeless, now in its 12th year of helping homeless pets across the United States.

"Every day we see an increase in homeless callers asking for our help," Frederick said.

Many homeless people, she said, are faced with dilemmas when searching for shelter.

"When you have a pet, the choices get complicated," Frederick said. "A roof over your head at a shelter where pets are not allowed and relinquish the pet to an animal shelter, or sleep in your vehicle or on the street with your pet."

Now through Nov. 1, 2020, Chef Don Pepe is once again helping take care of the pets of homeless individuals here in Carson City and across the country.

Proceeds from the purchase of any of the chef's olive oils, aged Italian balsamic vinegar from Modena, Portuguese sardines and gourmet jams during the fundraising period will benefit Pets of the Homeless.

Chef Don Pepe's company, Carpa Nevada, LLC, is a retail supplier of the world's finest pure and extra virgin olive oils direct from Portugal, where premium olives are grown and harvested, and their exquisite oils are pressed and bottled the old-fashioned way using centuries-old techniques.

To participate, simply go to chefdonpepe.com and select the products of your choice. A portion from each sale goes directly to Pets of the Homeless.

Or, click on the link to chefdonpepe.com from petsofthehomeless.org, the Pets of the Homeless web site.

In fact, if your first purchase is made on or before Nov. 1, 2020, Chef Don Pepe will continue donating a portion of each subsequent purchase you make to Pets of the Homeless.

Free delivery is available throughout Carson City and the surrounding areas of the Carson Valley, Dayton, Washoe Valley, Reno and Sparks.

Frederick said every fundraiser for Pets of the Homeless is critical to meeting its needs.

"Since we do not receive government funding, we rely on public support to deliver services to pets that belong to the homeless, pet food and emergency veterinary care," she said.

The six-year relationship her non-profit has had with Chef Don Pepe has proven invaluable to the charity.

"Chef Don Pepe has generously donated hundreds of dollars from the sales of his famous and healthy olive oils," she said. "His compassion for the homeless and their pets is evident when he is seen cruising Carson City looking specifically for the homeless."

The chef's philanthropy isn't limited to just the fundraiser, Frederick said.

"He gives them food and sometimes shelter," she said. "Those with pets are closest to his heart and he always tells them to contact Pets of the Homeless if they need pet food or veterinary care. He is one of a kind."

Since it became a federally-registered national non-profit in 2008, Pets of the Homeless has established 208 donation sites across the United States, collecting more than 700 tons of pet food and paying for the veterinary care of nearly 22,000 pets.

More than $1.5 million has also been donated for veterinary care, food and crates for homeless pets.

According to petsofthehomeless.org, about one in 10 homeless persons has a pet. In some places, that rate climbs as high as one in four.

To help Pets of the Homeless achieve its goal of caring for homeless pets here in Carson City and nationwide, join in the online fundraiser now through Nov. 1, 2020.

Check out chefdonpepe.com to browse Carpa Nevada's selection of premium pure and extra virgin Portuguese olive oils, aged Italian balsamic vinegar from Modena and Portuguese sardines.

Go to petsofthehomeless.org or Facebook.com/officialpetsofthehomeless for more information on how you can help homeless pets right here in Carson City.

CARSON CITY — Carson High School Career and Technical Education, Future Health Professionals students, also known as HOSA, competed in the 2020 Virtual Nevada State Leadership Conference hosted April 15 through May 8. More than 1,000 students from across the state of Nevada competed in more than 40 medical competition events.

Students were only able to compete in one event (some events were individual, and some were team events) as well as take the Healthcare Issues Exam and be recognized for their service. All The Carson High School students listed below qualified for the 2020 Virtual International Leadership Conference set for June 22-27. They will compete against members from all over the nation and from countries such as Italy and Germany.

Additionally, more than 81 percent of the students who ranked in the top 25 percent in the Healthcare Issues Exam were from Carson High School. A total of 35 CHS HOSA students earned the recognition, which also qualified them to compete at nationals. There were only 43 HOSA students to qualify across the state of Nevada.

Individual Event Winners (listed alphabetically by last name):
— Nasser Abdelhady - 4th Dental Science
— Zaid Abdelhady - 5th Pharmacy Science
— Nick Batien - 1st Physical Therapy
— McKenna Budd - 2nd Clinical Nursing
— Gary Cortes-Solis - 1st Cultural Diversities & Disparities in Healthcare
— Cady Garrett - 2nd Job Seeking Skills
— Riley Gudmundson - 1st Medical Reading
— Maria Juarez-Razo - 3rd Nutrition
— Stacy Kennison - 2nd Nutrition
— Abby Lemburg - 3rd Job Seeking Skills
— McKenah Manzo - 5th Cultural Diversities & Disparities in Healthcare
— Chloe Marks - Barbara James Silver Service Award
— Mackenzie Meza - 3rd Veterinary Science
— Saeed Mobaligh - 2nd Healthy Lifestyle
— Laney Montgomery - 4th Sports Medicine
— Vanessa Poppenga - 2nd Extemporaneous Writing
— Brynn Prunty - 3rd Physical Therapy
— Fatima Ramirez - 5th Dental Terminology
— Kayleen Ramirez - 1st Nutrition
— Rachel Rundell - 5th Physical Therapy
— Jashmeen Thind - 2nd Pharmacy Science

Team Event Winners:
— Chloe Marks & Savanna Sharp - 3rd EMT
— Isabella Bertrand, Alyssa Birri, Caydee Farnworth, Ashley Fitzpatrick and Jacob Frazer - 1st MRC Partnership
— Angie Portillo and Daleah Warren - 2nd Health Career Display
— Deanina Dunn and Anabella Aguilar - 5th Health Education
— Jenna Corrigan, Ashtyn Plinske and Thaniqua Williard - 3rd Health Education
— Cristian Garcia Perez, Brian Guthrie, Anthony Kunter, Thomas Legott and Perry Yim - 5th Public Service Announcement

Healthcare Issues Exam winners (listed alphabetically by last name):
Zaid Abdelhady
Nicholas Batien
Alyssa Birri
Haley Busby
Jenna Corrigan
Gary Cortes Solis
Heidi DeLeon-Saenz
Deanina Dunn
Caydee Farnworth
Alixis Fausto Hernandez
Ashley Fitzpatrick
Madline Fontaine
Jacob Frazer
Kaylee Garcia
Lizbeth Gonzalez Castro
Brian Guthrie
Maria Juarez-Razo
Sydney Lloyd
Mckenah Manzo-Caskey
Chloe Marks
Mackenzie Meza-Moreno
Laney Montgomery
Janelly Ornellas
Ashtyn Plinske
Quinn Pulver
Lilliana Ralla-Lanyi
Kayleen Ramirez
Kelly Robles
Savanna Sharp
Jashmeen Thind
Cynthia Vega
Kyla Jae West
Sarah Wiggins
Thaniqua Williard
Perry Yim

About CTE
Career and Technical Education program encompasses a vast number of classes and programs that teach today's students the high demand skills needed to get a job. CTE better prepares students for post-secondary education and/or the world of work, whether they choose to enter the work place directly from high school, or select to pursue post-secondary education in a technical training program, apprenticeship, or a two, or four-year college. CTE prepares students for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies, and makes academic content accessible to students by providing it in a hands-on context.

UPDATE: Based on tips, the suspect has been identified and is in custody, a Carson City Sheriff's Office detective said. More updates as they become available.
***
Carson City Sheriff's Office investigators are asking for the public's help identifying a suspect who allegedly used stolen credit cards from a vehicle burglary to make purchases at local stores.

The vehicle burglary happened Wednesday, May 13 in the 1600 block of North Fall Street. The suspect used the victim's credit cards at various Carson City businesses that night, including a smoke shop where she used a card to purchase Steel Reserve malt liquor and a bottle of Captain Morgan's rum. She also made purchases at a fast food restaurant and at convenience stores.

Surveillance photos were taken at one of the stores, where she is seen leaving in a silver Toyota Sequoia. Scroll and click on each photo to enlarge.

Anyone with information or questions is encouraged to contact the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Dispatch can be reached at (775) 887-2677, Investigation Division, Detective Sam Hatley (775) 283-7852, Investigations Sgt. Daniel Gonzales at (775) 283-7850 or Secret Witness (775) 322-4900. Refer to Case No. 20-2566.

The Nevada Artists Association is excited to reopen Tuesday, May 19 with the Landscape Show. This show presents a collection of 88 photographs, paintings and drawings by Nevada Artist Association members.

In addition, the Featured Artist Show presents another 17 paintings by Jon Bunch, a lifetime Nevada resident who paints in all mediums and makes his own custom frames.

Go here to see video presentations of the show. The videos are produced by Scott McDaniel for the Nevada Artists Association.

Many of the artists who entered this show said, "I'm so happy to see the Gallery opening again." We are too. The arts play such an important part in so many people's lives and it's great to be able to share the talents of so many for the enjoyment of Carson City residents and tourists alike. Please stop by and visit the show.

We are located on the Brewery Arts Center Campus at 449 W. King Street and will be open Tuesday through Sunday with shortened hours from 12 to 4 p.m. until further notice. Our hosts will be wearing masks and we encourage visitors to also wear a mask.

We will be allowing no more than 10 visitors in the NAA Gallery at any one time and we will be following social distancing guidelines. Hand sanitizer is available for your use. Tuesday through Friday visitors will be able to watch hosting artist and award winning oil painter, Diana Uzzell at work on her latest painting.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will not open its campgrounds, group day use sites, and visitor centers in Nevada over the Memorial Day weekend. At this time, these same facilities are closed on the California portion of the Forest, but this could change based on state and county reopening plans.

“While we have traditionally opened many of our campgrounds by Memorial Day weekend, this year is different due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Forest Supervisor Bill Dunkelberger. “The Forest is aligning with each state’s reopening plans.”

Currently, all trailheads, trails, and general forest areas are open for public use, but Forest officials are encouraging people to limit their outings to day trips. “We all need to do our part to honor states’ “Stay at Home” directives, maximize social distancing, and recreate responsibly close to home. We look forward to welcoming the public to their National Forest to camp as soon as conditions allow,” add said Dunkelberger.

Visitors who decide to recreate on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest should come with all the essentials for a day trip, including food, emergency supplies, and resources to pack out trash. Please follow the latest health guidance, stay at least six feet from others, keep group size to nine people or fewer, and communicate clearly with other visitors to avoid close contact.

For information and updates on recreation closures and fire restrictions on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, please visit the following sites:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/htnf

https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtToiyabeNF/

https://twitter.com/HumboldtToiyabe

This is a year unprecedented for Carson City students. High school seniors, and our local high schools are getting creative with the ways they seek to honor their graduating students.

Carson High School announced they will host a drive-through graduation that the whole family can enjoy. To learn more about it, read that story here.

This week, Pioneer High School announced a 5-part plan for graduation of their seniors.

“First and foremost, congratulations to the Pioneer High School Class of 2020!” said Pioneer High School Principal Jason Zona in a letter to seniors and families. “This is a significant milestone and we are very proud to recognize this great accomplishment. Most impressive is your ability to show resilience through this pandemic and stay the course to complete your graduation requirements. Well done!”

“Pioneer High School has always kept a safe and secure environment as the number one priority for students,” the letter continues. “Along with hiring the most qualified, talented, and caring staff, we know this to be true by what students have reported to us," he said.

"PHS students have self-reported in state Social and Emotional Learning surveys that they feel safe and secure at a higher rate at Pioneer High School than other schools for several years in a row. During this unprecedented time in history it was important for us to review our student survey data along with the new guidelines for public safety outlined by the governor of Nevada, the CDC, and the Carson City School District," said Zona. "After much consideration of options for our graduation ceremony this year, it was decided that the safest and most responsible format for PHS students would be a five part graduation including a virtual presentation accessible online.”

The first of the five parts will be senior photo billboard displays, which will be shown at the Carson Community Center and Bodines Casino June 1 and 2. Drive by to see!

Part 2 is a Zoom session for staff and students, and the date and time will be released directly to graduating student emails.

Part 3 is the Graduation Item Distribution, including a PHS Senior t-shirt which is available online at the PHS Facebook page here and the senior gift, a senior graduation yard sign/photo, which is gifted by the staff of Pioneer.

Part 4 will be the Graduation Presentation Online. The online graduation presentation will be released through email, school websites, facebook, and to local media.

Graduation Presentation Outline:
- National Anthem: Sung by PHS Student, Kaya Burdett-Wannamaker
- Masters of Ceremony: Daniel Echebarria and Cary Jordan
- PHS Student Speeches: Sydney Miller (Valedictorian), Jazmin Estes, Tara Mahoney, and Charish Creon
- Guest Speakers: Jacky Rosen, Nevada Senator & Richard Stokes, CCSD Superintendent
- Student Recognition & Certification of Graduation: Jason Zona, PHS Principal
- Senior Slide Show and Music: (Online Link TBA) Rebecca Allen, Teacher

The 5th and final part is the 2020 Dedication Ceremony. A special gift from local members of the community and PHS Alumni to the Pioneer Class of 2020 will be presented and released in the media.

“Once we are able to have gatherings, we will hold this gift dedication ceremony on campus in person for graduating seniors and their families at a later date,” said Zona. “Thank you for your support and understanding. We look forward to a time where we can gather together in person to celebrate the accomplishments of our students. We are so proud of the PHS Class of 2020!”

While this is not the way any high school senior envisioned their final year, seniors can take heart knowing that their schools have not forgotten them.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has been an immense challenge, but we know that we can still honor our class of 2020 in a safe, dignified, and professional manner,” said Zona. “Please join us in the celebrations and recognition for PHS graduating seniors.”

Beginning Wednesday, the Carson City Green Dining District will feature a special program to help customers support local businesses while reducing their environmental footprint.

With the closure of nonessential business and other proactive COVID-19 measures, businesses have had to come up with creative ways to stay afloat. Many restaurants have shifted their focus from in-house dining services to offer more takeout options.

While these to-go programs allow customers to enjoy local foods from the comfort and safety of their own home, the packaging waste of these take away meals is starting to add up.

The restaurant members of the Carson City Green Dining District have a plan to offset their packaging waste: customers can skip the plastic eating utensils and opt to bring home reusable bamboo utensils instead.

The nonprofit greenUP!, organization behind the Green Dining District, explained:

“We wanted to find ways to give back to our hardworking Green Dining District members while also lessening our footprint on the environment,” said Donna Walden, Board President. “Remaining vigilant to waste reduction and sustainability will contribute to the long-term health of our community.”

120 reusable bamboo utensil kits, donated by the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, will be distributed to Green Dining restaurants by greenUP! These will be available to 120 customers who support the Green Dining restaurants.

All the customers have to do is visit a participating GDD restaurant, scan a QR code on their phone, and play a quick edu-game to learn about plastic pollution. The 5-question game will teach customers quick facts about plastic usage and production, which have reached a global all-time high.

When customers show their score to the GDD restaurant, they are eligible to receive a bamboo utensil kit with their purchase. The 4-piece kits include a bamboo spoon, fork, knife, and pair of chopsticks, all bundled in a convenient carrying case made from post-consumer recycled plastic materials, to be used again and again with favorite to-go meals.

Participating restaurants include: Cucina Lupo, Gather, Scoups Ice Cream and Soup Bar, So Juicy, Squeeze In, and The Union. For updates about the Reusable Utensil promo, please visit the greenUP! website at https://greenupnow.biz or follow greenUP! on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

GreenUP! is seeking more restaurants to join the program during 2020. Interested restaurants may contact info@greenupnow.biz or call Sierra at 775-343-8499 to engage.

GreenUP! is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides environmental education for businesses helping Nevada cut down on waste, reduce valuable resource consumption, and fight climate change in an environmentally safe and cost-effective manner.

This Friday, May 22 at 4 p.m. Casino Fandango’s award-winning Duke’s Steak House in Carson City will reopen to the public. As part of phase one reopening, the Nevada State Gaming Control Board is allowing restaurants inside casinos to open provided certain industry-specific criteria are met; Duke’s will be one of the first to reopen in Northern Nevada.

In adherence with policy, customers may not access the restaurant through the casino floor, instead, they must enter through the Grand Ballroom entrance on the southwest side of the building across from the parking garage.

After extensive training and preparation, management and staff at Duke’s will closely follow the Governor’s office health and safety recommendations. Prior to entry, the temperatures of both guests and Team Members will be taken with an infrared, no contact thermometer. If someone registers a temperature of 100 degrees or higher they will not be permitted inside the building. So patrons have peace of mind as to the health of Casino Fandango Team Members, each will have a daily health check, with masks and wristbands issued after each test.

To ensure social distancing guidelines are followed, marks on the floor will help customers maintain space between themselves and others, and dining area seating has been moved to accommodate six feet of separation. The bar will be open, but no sitting or standing will be allowed in the bar area. Also, disposable menus will be discarded after each use.

For many years, Duke's has been recognized as one of Northern Nevada's premier dining establishments and is consistently voted BEST Steak in Carson City. It has always been Duke’s priority to ensure guests have the best dining experience possible and that is still the number one goal. State directives do require that all customers must make advance reservations. Duke’s reservations can be made by calling (775) 886-1664. Hours of operation are 4pm-9pm, Wednesday-Sunday.

“We are very excited to welcome guests back to enjoy our great food and our extensive wine selection. Casino Fandango and Duke’s Steak House are part of the community and we understand that the safety of Nevadans comes first, this is why we are very proud to be one of the first to reopen and bring some joy to our residents,” said Court Cardinal, President and General Manager of Casino Fandango.

Due to social distancing guidelines, happy hour will be not available, and because the Casino Management System can not be activated during this phase, points and/or coupons cannot be redeemed at this time.