Last Thursday, Doug ("Mack The Naw") Busey of Douglas County and I spent a very enjoyable day, fishing at Indian Creek Reservoir in Alpine County, Calif.

Indian Creek Reservoir (ICR) is a man-made reservoir located in the backcountry between Woodfords and Markleeville. ICR and its surrounding area is managed and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Carson City and Carson Valley area casinos saw a slight decline in gaming revenue for December, while South Shore Lake Tahoe casinos had an impressive month, leading the state during the Christmas holiday period, Nevada Gaming Control Board figures show.

Carson City and Carson Valley area casinos pulled in $7,862,056 from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31 a decrease of 4.47 percent from December 2011 when casinos gaming revenues took in $8,230,093. The area surveyed includes Carson City, Gardnerville, Minden and all other areas of Douglas County except Stateline at Lake Tahoe.

This is my annual reminder that if you like to fish in the State of Nevada, you might be interested in entering the 2013 Ormsby Sportsmen’s Association (OSA) fishing contest.

This annual contest is inexpensive, you can have fun fishing during the year and you might even win some nice cash, just before Christmas. If you’re interested, here is all kinds of information on that contest:

Ormsby Sportsmen’s Association
OSA is a local sportsmen’s organization for hunters and fishermen, with 220-plus paid-up members last year.

Getting to North Lake Tahoe’s snowy ski slopes just got a whole lot easier with the launch of the region's first area-wide free ski shuttle serving North Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Donner Summit.

The service runs between area lodging properties to 9 different ski resorts on weekends and holiday weeks now through March 31. It was formed through a collaboration of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association in partnership with the Truckee/North Tahoe Transportation Management Association and Placer County, the town of Truckee and several ski resorts.

Carson City Public Works reports this morning that because of holiday staffing issues and, most recently, frozen equipment issues, Waste Management is running behind in picking up Christmas trees.
They are playing catch up this week and next. If you are concerned that you have been missed, please call Waste Management directly at (775) 887-0402.

Christmas tree drop boxes will be at the following locations through Friday:
- JC Penney Parking Lot
- North Town Plaza/Near Bully's
- Carson City Landfill, 3600 Flint Dr
- Capital Sanitation, 5560 Sheep Dr

Seventy-two-year-old L. Brown of northern Nevada first learned he had prostate cancer back in 1995. “I tell people who are diagnosed, there is no need to panic, although I certainly did, at least 52 times or more,” he said laughing. “I’ve learned this is something you can control and live with because it is manageable. “

Barry Baker, 62, of Shawnee Mission, Kan., passed away unexpectedly of natural causes on Christmas Day at his home. Memorial service with Military Honors will be held on Sunday, Dec. 30th at 2 p.m....

Carson City is offering Christmas tree recycling in cooperation with Capital Sanitation/Waste Management Inc. As in previous years, trees can be placed curbside on regular collection days or taken to one of the drop-off locations listed below.

Trees will be chipped in the springtime and given to local residents to use for mulch in their yards. Last year, 36 tons of wood waste was redirected from the landfill.

More than 20 years ago Karen Lantz-Feith, who was living in New York at the time, received an ornamental building as a Christmas present from her sister.
While she appreciated the gift, she didn't consider the replica of New York City's Chocolate Shoppe to be anything more than a holiday ornament.

"For unto you is born this day a savior, who is Christ the Lord." Celebrate Christ's birth tonight in the warmth of candlelight and carols at First United Methodist Church, Carson City, corner of Musser and Division Streets. Services are at 4:30, 7pm, 9pm and 11pm. Childcare is provided at 4:30 and 7pm. And a very merry Christmas to you and yours.

In what has become a family tradition of many years, the entire Quilici family is planning to spend part of the Christmas holiday at their cabin, which is located at an elevation of 6,000 feet on a steep mountainside between the City of Portola and Davis Lake in Northern California.

What makes this location so special at this time of the year is that Plumas County does not plow the gravel road to the cabin when it snows.

When the countryside is covered with a layer of deep snow, we have to hike in on our snowshoes while towing a sled full of “goodies.”

If Mother Nature delivers temperatures and moisture levels correctly, there could very well be snow on the ground in Carson City on Christmas Day.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the region, including Carson City, where snow is expected to fly beginning Friday night and last through at least Sunday night.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Dec. 19.

Café at Adele’s in Carson City hosts a Rockin’ Apocalypse Party, Friday with live music by The Mighty Surf Lords.

“Someone posted a picture of a bunch of alpacas in a field with a message about celebrating the ‘Alpacalypse’ and I thought, ‘Well maybe we should,’” said Charlie Abowd, Café at Adele’s chef and co-owner. “There has been a lot of stress and heartbreak this year and it is healthy at times to come together with good music and community to celebrate our blessings rather than continuing the fear.”

The Rainbow Girls Annual Gift Wrap Fundraiser inside the Carson Mall, where Gottschalks used to be. Hours are: Mon-Fri 10-7; Sat 10-6; Sun 10-5 and Christmas Eve 10-1

String players of all ages and levels are invited to join the fifth annual Christmas Carol Playalong on Friday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m., inside the Carson Mall, 1227 S. Carson Street. The event is free and open to the public.

The Christmas Carol Playalong is hosted by Not Quite Ready for Carnegie Hall Players, the Carson City Symphony Association's string ensemble for adult beginning and returning musicians directed by Sue Jesch. It includes violin, viola, cello, bass, and harp players who meet Thursday mornings, September to June.

“It is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us-the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage-may-eventually be gathered together in heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss-except the inventor of the telephone.”
— Mark Twain, Hardford, Ct. Dec. 23, 1890

The Carson City School District was among 16 winners of federal grant money from the The U.S. Department of Education's 2012 Race to the Top-District competition.

The Carson City School District will receive a share of the $400 million grant, around and up to $10 million, to support locally developed plans to personalize and deepen student learning, directly improve student achievement and educator effectiveness, close achievement gaps, and prepare every student to succeed in college and their careers.

"This is wonderful news for Carson City's students, teachers and parents" said Nevada Sen. Harry Reid. "As someone whose life was transformed by teachers, I understand the importance of providing all Nevadans with the opportunity to receive a quality education. While I wish that other school districts in the state were also awarded this grant, I know these funds will help put Carson's students on a path towards success."

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Christmas tree permits are sold out but tree cutting permits remain available on BLM lands in the Pinenut Mountains between Carson City and Yerington, the Clan Alpine and Desatoya mountains east of Fallon, and the Excelsior Mountains southeast of Hawthorne.

Carson City's annual Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights has become so well received over the years that the 2012 festival will now run for two days. The enhanced event is tonight, Friday, Dec. 7, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ice skating continues until 10 p.m.

Tonight's night's festivities begin on the capitol grounds with the state tree, a bristlecone pine, and downtown Carson City being lit along with a procession including Santa, Mrs. Claus and the 300 voices of the Carson City 5th Grade Music Students Singing Ensemble.

Come witness the night of Christ’s birth. Feel the true message of Christmas through a Drive-Through, Living Nativity. Lit by 800 luminaria, ten scenes depict The Road to Bethlehem. Walkers enjoy the story from a special walking path. Nearly 200 people of all ages are involved in telling the story, along with donkeys, cows and sheep. In our world of uncertainty, this message of hope and abiding love is our gift to the community. The Living Nativity will be Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8 and 9, 6:30-8pm. No fees are charged, though canned food is collected for those in need.

The Carson City Historical Society’s Christmas party will be Sunday, December 16, 2012 at the Bliss Mansion from 2 – 4 pm. We are sure to have a festive holiday afternoon at the lovely Bliss Mansion with hors d’oeurves, wine, and two kinds of entertainment. Dr. Michael Fischer, well-known Chautauqua speaker, will treat us to his impersonation of Governor John Sparks. Afterwards, Consort Trio (a trio from the popular Consort Canzona including harpsichord, cello, and recorder) will perform. The trio will play music from AD 1400 – 1620. You won’t want to miss this delightful performance!

Carson City Library is an officially designated place in Carson City to drop-off holiday cheer, in the form of giving, to so many of our area residents in need of a little festive spirit and warmth.

Food for Thought in Carson City will hold its fifth Ladies' Night Out: An evening of Food, Wine and Shopping on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 4 to 8 p.m.
This night is designed for ladies wanting to take in a unique Christmas and holiday shopping experience, while at the same time helping feed local children in the community.