Vol. 2, No. 4
.jpg)
Dec. 15, 2004
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . | |||||||
 |
CRIMINAL DEFENSE |
COPYWRITING
|
|
The Buzz Around The Silver State
As compiled by our correspondents
From The Capital (The Silver One)
PUC Sessions in Las Vegas/Reno
(Carson City) --- Several meetings of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) are scheduled between now and the end of the year. For complete information on all PUC activities, go to http://www.puc.state.nv.us.
December 15, Regular agenda. December 17, General consumer session in Las Vegas at the Senior Center beginning at 10:30 a.m. December 20, General consumer Session in Reno at the Reno Sparks Convention Center, beginning at 6:00 p.m. December 29, Regular agenda.
•••
Democracy Award Nominations Sought
(Carson City) --- The Jean Ford Democracy Awards will be given during the 2005 legislative session according to Secretary of State Dean Heller. Heller's call for nominations was made in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy. It is an award to recognize exemplary service by Nevada citizens who have played a key role in promoting participatory democracy in Nevada.
Jean Ford served in the Nevada Assembly from 1972-1976 and in the Senate from 1978-1982. Among her contributions was the creation of the Nevada Women's History Project. The Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy (ACPD) is chaired by David Byerman who said, "The spirit of Jean Ford shows in the actions of Nevadans every day." Byerman went on to say, "We're excited to recognize the remarkable individuals committed to participatory democracy throughout the state."
Submissions are due by January 21 of next year. For more information, go to http://www.acpd.org. The ACPD is made up of ten members selected by the Secretary of State following passage of legislation during the last legislative session. The group's purpose, according to Secretary of State Heller "is to assist me in identifying and proposing programs that promote citizen participation in governance.
The ACPD was established in 1997 under the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the 2003 legislature placed the group under the Secretary of State's office.
•••
Esmeralda County
Sheriff/DA Spat Continues
(Goldfield) --- The Sheriff of Esmeralda County filed a lawsuit to remove the Esmeralda County District Attorney, but that suit failed. District Judge Robert Lane dismissed the suit, but the feud and strong feelings remain in this dusty little mining town that refuses to die.
Sheriff Ken Elgan says the DA, Bill Schaeffer, has neglected his office, won't file criminal charges, lets offenders off the hook completely, or files reduced charges for egregious crimes. According to Schaeffer, he intends to stay on as DA, but is sure the tension between himself and Elgan will continue.
Schaeffer lives in Battle Mountain, the seat of Lander County, several hundred miles to the north, and commutes to Goldfield, Esmeralda County's seat. Elgan says Schaeffer doesn't show up for meetings of the County Commission, but Schaeffer says he's only missed a couple.
State law is such that some of the smaller counties are able to go outside their political jurisdictions to fill the office of District Attorney if no attorney in the county is willing to take the job. In Esmeralda County with a population of just over 1,000, the office has been filled in almost a revolving door fashion. Schaeffer said he has been in office almost two years and that is longer than two of the last three DAs in the county.
•••
Storey County
Wal-Mart Coming To Nevada's Smallest County
(Virginia City) --- County Commissioners in this smallest of all Nevada Counties have been fighting the prospects of a major Washoe County road project they say would impact the county financially, and do no good for the county in any other way. In the meantime, Wal-Mart, the largest shopping company in the world has announced plans to build a huge distribution site at the north end of the county.
"That's the kind of impact we're looking for," a county representative said, while wishing to remain anonymous. The plans call for the distribution center to handle goods for all the west coast outlets and to hire at least 500 full time employees. The industrial park is located about 15 miles east of Reno.
The warehouse is along the banks of the Truckee River which separates Storey County from Washoe County, and has direct access to Interstate 80 and the main east-west line of Union Pacific Railway. Reno-Tahoe International Airport is less than 20 miles away.
For many years, the economy of Storey County was based on summer tourism in Virginia City and the Mustang Ranch bordello 10 miles east of Reno. There are still licensed bordellos in the County, but their economic impact has been lessened considerably by large industrial areas in the north end of the county.
"Tourism will never be downplayed in Virginia City," the spokesman told The Nevada Observer, "it has been the backbone of our economy, and now we have major industrial plants cropping up to take the burden off our tourism. This is a good thing for Storey County."
There's no indication what kind of tax base the new warehouse may be subject to, but they will have several large industrial neighbors who moved to the area because of favorable taxes and licensing.
•••
Washoe County
Almost 2,000 Motorcycles Deliver The Goods
(Reno) --- If Grandma got run over December 11, it wasn't by a reindeer, it was probably by a toy laden Harley Davidson. Some 2,000 motorcycles, mostly Harleys, roared around and through Reno on Saturday, December 11, bringing toys for those who might need. "We don't count the toys," a leather clad goddess told us, "we weigh them." The weight runs in tons.
For 24 years, motorcycle clubs, individuals, even a few gangs, get together, forget any differences that might exist, and have the time of their lives. Meeting at the Alamo Truck Stop on the eastern edge of Sparks, riders travel on the Ring Road to the north end of Virginia Street, the main drag of the Biggest Little City. And with lights blazing, horns blasting, and Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County Sheriff Motorcycle Units leading the way, make their way five miles to the Elks Lodge to deliver the goods.
"In years past," a rider told us, "we have come through at about 25 MPH, but not this year. It looked like the cops were having as much fun as we were, and we had to go about 45 MPH just to keep up with them. It was wonderful."
Some laws are set aside when a group gathering like this is in parade mode. Things like helmet laws, and many of the riders went helmetless.
Besides thousands of toys, the group also raised funds for the needy. "We got about eight grand this year, I think." Troy Regas is boss of the Northern Nevada Confederation of Clubs, the sponsoring body.
Nevada Observer editor Johnny Gunn made the ride again this year and said, "watching all these grizzled up road warriors with tears in their eyes while clutching a giant Teddy Bear is worth more than any kind of money could buy."
Officials said about 1400 tickets for the ride were sold, but as in past years, there were riders with toys who weren't registered. They couldn't participate in the drawings afterward, or in the food that came along on time also, but they had toys, and some child somewhere is going to say, "Thanks."