The Record-Courier

Gov. Jim Gibbons said Tuesday there will be a special session of the Legislature before June 1 to change state law so Nevada will be eligible for up to $175 million for public schools. Nevada law prohibits any tie between student performance and teacher evaluations. That law must be repealed in order for the state to qualify for Race to the Top grant money from the federal government. "If there ... Full Story »

The man who passed the torch to former Superintendent Carol Lark three years ago was called back Tuesday night to help heal a bruised district. School board members voted unanimously to name Gardnerville resident John Soderman, who preceded Lark as the district's chief officer, the new interim superintendent. "Nine out of 10 people recommended the same person," said Jim Huge, the consultant who ... Full Story »

We're talking about giving this thing a week. The debate is, do we launch one of these every morning and keep people posted about the day's news with the understanding that some days just aren't going to be that interesting? Or do we save this for bigger events (snow storms, fires, other assorted breaking news? We like that people are popping in with their own questions, and sometimes answering ... Full Story »

Road controls beginning to recede There's not nearly as much yellow on the road controls map as there has been in the past. Chains or snow tires are being required on a stretch of Highway 395 between Johnson Lane and the junction with Highway 50 west. On Highway 50 over Spooner summit. Chains or four-wheel drive is being required on Highway 88 over Carson Pass. The commute is a little slick with ... Full Story »

Douglas County's ASPIRE students are quickly becoming known for their artistic prowess. Six months after creating a memorial mural in front of the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, the students were at it again on Thursday beautifying the interior walls of Tahoe Youth & Family Services Drop-In Center in the Gardnerville Ranchos. "We've wanted to do something for awhile - we just had some ... Full Story »

A firefighter suffered smoke inhalation while battling a house fire at 450 Foothill Road on Monday morning. The fire was reported at 8:30 a.m. after neighbors noticed smoke coming from the home. East Fork Fire investigator Terry Taylor estimated damage to the 1,687-square-foot home at $125,000 and its contents at $50,000. East Fork Fire Marshal Steve Eisele, who was incident commander on the ... Full Story »

Citing "dangerous precedence," Minden Town Board members denied a request last week to refund $42,530 in water connection permits for the Copper Peak project. Garry Leiss, one of the developers, said Copper Peak had been derailed by the economic downturn, but his partners planned to complete the 2-acre development on Highway 395 at the corner of Lucerne Street. "We started the project with every ... Full Story »

The new home for emergency operations in Minden will be open to the public Saturday. The East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts offices and Douglas County Emergency Operations Center will hold an open house and dedication 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at 1694 County Road. The former Department of Motor Vehicles office was renovated to include 6,400 square feet at a cost of $802,475, according to the ... Full Story »

Douglas County sheriff's deputies were busy Monday and Tuesday responding to traffic accidents and assisting motorists stranded in the snow. Sgt. Jim Halsey said from midnight Tuesday to early afternoon, deputies handled eight traffic accidents and 36 assists. Halsey said most of the assists were helping motorists who got stuck in their vehicles as they tried to cross a snow berm piled in the ... Full Story »

Officials of the Douglas County School District faced more than a snowstorm Monday morning. The district's decision to keep all Valley schools open, when neighboring school districts had decided the opposite, precipitated a storm of outcry and concern from parents and students alike. "Is education really put before the student's safety?" Douglas High senior Jeremy Tigh wrote in a letter to the ... Full Story »

Temperatures are expected to be warmer today than they were when the skies cleared early Tuesday morning and the temperatures plummeted below zero. A snowstorm dumped as much as a foot of snow in Carson Valley on Monday and sent temperatures plunging early Tuesday morning. Record-Courier Weather Watcher Stan Kapler recorded minus 11 degrees early Tuesday, the coldest temperature in the Valley ... Full Story »

Staff Reports Native Americans share music and stories of personal and ancestral significance, wisdom and humor during the StoryBox presentation, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, at the Stewart Indian School Administration Building No. 3, off Snyder Avenue in Carson City. The free storytelling event is sponsored by the Nevada Indian Commission-Stewart Indian School and the Nevada Arts Council. The public is ... Full Story »

by Sharlene Irete sirete@recordcourier.com The Holiday Ice Spectacular is continues in the Eldorado Casino Showroom in Reno through Dec. 29. The show features ice skaters from all over the United States performing to traditional Christmas music, rock 'n' roll, country and a revved-up version of "The Nutcracker." The Holiday Ice Spectacular is produced and directed by ... Full Story »

Passersby who've seen the black and yellow Cafe Girasole vehicle parked outside the former Bravo Cafe and Bakery, which closed earlier this year, probably can connect the dots. On Friday, Cafe Girasole owner Leslie Dupont confirmed that she is moving what she once called Minden's best-kept secret to a vacant storefront along Highway 395 in Gardnerville. "We've been looking for a larger location ... Full Story »

Main Street Gardnerville has issued a call to residents in Carson Valley to support Main Street by shopping for gifts at local businesses first. Main Street Gardnerville's small, independent businesses offer merchandise you can't find at national retailers, competitive prices, and great customer service - all within the charming historic atmosphere of Main Street Gardnerville. "Our historic ... Full Story »

by Sharlene Irete sirete@recordcourier.com The Holiday Ice Spectacular continues in the Eldorado Casino Showroom in Reno through Dec. 29. The show features ice skaters from all over the United States performing to traditional Christmas music, rock 'n' roll, country and a revved-up version of "The Nutcracker." The Holiday Ice Spectacular is produced and directed by Jeb ... Full Story »

A 40-year-old Reno man was jailed on charges of driving a stolen vehicle and being intoxicated after he was stopped on Highway 395 south of Gardnerville because the vehicle had no rear lights. Douglas County Undersheriff Paul Howell pulled over Guy Roy Lamerson on Dec. 2 near Ray May Way as the suspect was driving a Jeep Cherokee south. Howell said the vehicle passed him traveling 65-70 mph in a ... Full Story »

A 79-year-old Topaz Ranch Estates woman said she sent $300 to a Huntsville, Texas, address after she was told she had won a car in a drawing. The victim told deputies she received a telephone call Dec. 2 that she won the vehicle and needed to send $300 to an address in Huntsville. The woman said she bought a money order and sent the check by overnight mail. The next day, the woman said she ... Full Story »

A 39-year-old Gardnerville Ranchos tattoo artist was accepted Tuesday for a diversion program to keep drunk drivers out of prison despite the judge's misgivings that the suspect was committed to sobriety. District Judge Dave Gamble told David Lesman Sanchez it wouldn't take long before he could tell if Sanchez was sincere that he was finished with alcohol. "If you drink you are going to prison ... Full Story »

A 30-year-old Topaz Ranch Estates woman who said she drank two beers before an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony drunk driving and asked for a diversion program designed to keep her out of prison. District Judge Dave Gamble set sentencing Jan. 19 for Lisa Rose Marie Jones who was arrested Nov. 19 after she crashed her boyfriend's vehicle into a chainlink fence and ... Full Story »

LAS VEGAS - A judge has dismissed charges against Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and an aide who were accused of misappropriating funds from a college savings program. Clark County District Court Judge Valerie Adair said in a ruling delivered Monday that the four-count felony indictment alleges that the crimes occurred over five years but doesn't say which funds were used, which transactions ... Full Story »

This was well-received yesterday, so we'll just keep it up today. Check back throughout the day for updates on road conditions and weather forecasts, as well as what we're working on for Wednesday's newspaper and other breaking news. Click on the box below for updates: The RC (Running Commentary) for Tuesday, Dec. 8 Full Story »

All Douglas County schools are open with no delays, according to the school district Web site. The district is reminding parents that the roads are icy, and children should be careful at the bus stop. There are a number of spin-outs on Valley highways, including one on Highway 395 north of Muller Lane in the northbound lanes and another at Highway 50 and Spooner Summit that occurred at 6:52 a.m ... Full Story »

Chilly and icy out there It's "Day After Tomorrow" cold out there this morning. We've got 6 degrees up on the bench, and Minden's showing a reading of 3 degrees below zero. Road controls this morning look an awful like they did on Monday, with chains or snow tires required on highways 395, 50, 28, 207 and Kingsbury Grade, chains or four-wheel drive are required over Echo Summit and Carson Pass ... Full Story »

State officials briefed legislative leaders Monday on the budget outlook, as Gov. Jim Gibbons eyed the possibility of calling a special session to deal with a projected shortfall. Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said legislators were briefed by Gibbons' chief of staff, budget director and others. The governor was said to have prior commitments. Gibbons has scheduled a Tuesday news ... Full Story »