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Virginia City hopes to lure Lake Tahoe skiers with winter trolley, Ponderosa mine tours

Virginia City is offering lift tickets of the public transit and tour variety with the launch of the Comstock Lift Ticket that takes visitors on a ride through the high desert historic mining town east of Lake Tahoe.

The ticket gives visitors a 2.5-mile trolley ride, including a 20-minute narrated tour through Virginia City, a tour of the Ponderosa Mine as well as specials on lodging at any number of hotels, motels, restaurants and merchants.

“Our Comstock Lift Ticket provides an alternative for skiers looking for additional activities or extending their stays,” said Deny Dotson, Virginia City's tourism director. “We are often asked if we’re open during winter and the answer is, of course. We’re not an amusement park, we’re the real deal.”

At 6,200 feet on Mount Davidson, historic Virginia City is 25 miles from Reno and 45 miles from Lake Tahoe. Like many cities in Nevada, Virginia City was a mining “boomtown” with more than $400 million in gold and silver mined. In today’s prices, that’s more than $20 billion, said Dotson.

The 19th century mining bonanza turned Virginia City into the most important industrial city between Denver and San Francisco, and it turned destitute prospectors from all over the world into millionaires. Mansions, hospitals, churches, opera houses and schools were built and imported furniture, fashions and entertainment from Europe and the Orient overflowed. The riches helped finance the Civil War and went on to build empires around the world, including San Francisco, a city built with Comstock silver.

The Comstock Lift Ticket costs $10 and is available at the Virginia City Visitors Center located at 86 South C Street. Storefront windows will show participating restaurants and shops.

Proof of purchase is required to receive a 20 percent discount at participating lodging establishments. Book reservations directly with participating hotel properties. Participating lodging properties include: Cobb Mansion Bed & Breakfast, Edith Palmer’s Country Inn, Gold Hill Hotel, Silverland Inn & Suites, Sugarloaf Mountain Motel, Virginia City Inn and Silver Queen Hotel.

For more information on Virginia City and to purchase the Comstock Lift Ticket go to www.visitvirginiacitynv.com or call the Virginia City Tourism Commission at (775) 847-7500.

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Organized by Carol Park, the Elks held an open to the public, two-day indoor garage sale at the lodge in March as a fundraiser for Holiday with a Hero. Lodge members donated all items sold and assisted at the event which received excellent support from the community.

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Members of the Rotary Club of Carson City will learn how its annual Educational Grant has helped local students at the club’s next meeting. Carson School District K-12 Curriculum & Assessment Coordinator Brittany Witter received the club’s Carson City School District’s Professional Development Center Grant last year with the goal of funding the “Literacy and Love of Reading through Social Studies” project.

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UPDATE 6 p.m.: Courtesy of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office: On May 3, 2024 at approximately 1430 hours, Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputies responded along with Central Lyon County, Carson City and Storey County Fire personnel to the area of 34 Newman Ln. for a report of motorhome on fire. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the fire had spread and multiple other abandoned vehicles caught fire as well. No one was hurt or injured during the incident. The incident is currently under investigation, which is being conducted by the Nevada State Fire Marshall’s Division.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Firefighters from Storey are also now responding.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: Multiple vehicles on the property are engulfed in flame.

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Around 2:15 p.m. a fire was reported at 34 Newman Lane in Mound House.

Firefighters from Carson City and Lyon County are enroute to the scene.

UPDATE 1:20 p.m.: According to Sheriff Ken Furlong, a student reported they saw a weapon. The incident was investigated and there was no weapon found. The lockdown has now been lifted and students are leaving the school.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Update 05-03-24 at 1:15 p.m.
One student has reported an alleged weapon sighting. It has not been corroborated, but school officials and the sheriff’s office are investigating out an abundance of caution.

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UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: The following update was provided by the district:

Carson High School was put on lockdown this afternoon around 12:15 p.m. No person was injured. There is an active situation being investigated in cooperation with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. We will provide more information as it becomes known. The school is secure. Do not go to the school. No entrances will be permitted at time. The district will provide updates every 30 minutes. Expect the next update at 1:15 p.m.

***

Carson High School is currently on a lockdown as of 12:40 p.m. Friday, but there has been no incident reported according to Sheriff Ken Furlong.

Two School Resource Officers are on scene investigating why the alarm went off.

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After months of thorough community engagement and meticulous deliberation, Douglas County has announced the completion of its new Strategic Plan. This document, which will guide the County's decisions and resource allocation for the next five years, is the result of extensive input from both internal and external stakeholders.

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Meet Nash, Nevada Humane Society, Carson City branch Pet of the Week Nash. He's a striking 2-year-old German Shepherd who entered our shelter a couple of weeks ago due to his previous owner's moving. With Nash's handsome appearance and endearing personality, this young man captures the hearts of all who meet him.

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Food Bank of Northern Nevada made a stop to the Carson City Senior Center on Wednesday morning, with another stop at the Dayton Senior Center from 11 to noon.

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Meet up with others from the community to hear and share stories and experiences

CONNECTIONS social gatherings bring locals together weekly for story sharing, conversation and inspiration.

Join us every Saturday for Café CONNECTIONS from 10 to 11:30 am OR from noon to 1:30 p.m. at La Capital Cafe, 1795 E College Pkwy, Carson City.