Independence Day

Happy birthday, America! Today we celebrate our independence, and what better way than with a carnival. You might as well stay at Mills Park all day, the fireworks display starts when it gets dark. Tune into Magic 95.5FM and you’ll hear the choreographed music to go along with the oohs and aaahs. Where ever you choose to watch fireworks, please be safe. There are thousands of visitors in the Northern Nevada area this weekend, and law enforcement will be out in full force.

SATURDAY: Independence Day

• Free Swim for Active and Retired Military at the Carson Hot Springs (7am-10pm; outdoor pools only)
• Freedom 5K Fun Run/Walk and Concert in the Park with the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra at Heritage Park, Gardnerville (5K, $20 per person and family rates, free for active/retired military; register 7am-7:45am; Run/Walk begins 8am, Patriotic costumes encouraged; 8am Carson Valley Lions Club Pancake Breakfast $7; Free Kids Obstacle Course 8am; Free Concert begins 11:30am)

Over the next few days you will be inundated with options: where to go, what to see. Fourth of July weekend in Northern Nevada is a great time. Kick it off today with the Nevada State Train Museum; a parade of trains and unlimited ride passes. The carnival at Mills Park opens every day at noon and has rides, games, funnel cake and cotton candy; you’ll find a $5 off coupon at the RSVP booth. Head up to Kings Beach tonight and catch an early-bird fireworks display. Go here for a list all of your Independence Day options.

FRIDAY:

• Fourth of July Specials at Empire Ranch Golf Course ($34 includes 18 holes, cart, and lunch)
• Fourth of July Weekend Celebration at the Nevada State Railroad Museum (Parade of trains 9am-10am; Train Rides 10am-4pm; Unlimited Ride wristband $15, $5 kids)

Here is this July 4 holiday weekend fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and northern California. Pack a cooler, stay hydrated and don't forget your fishing license.

We have crossed into July, Carson City. I suspect that means higher temperatures, but it absolutely means Independence Day is moments away. Fireworks displays, picnics, and family fun are predicted for the weekend. In the meantime, enjoy the artist reception at Comma Coffee or live music at Living the Good Life. Check out the jazz jam at Sassafras or groove with Josh and Janera at the Firkin and Fox tonight.

WEDNESDAY:

• ’New Work’ by artist Pasha Rafat at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)
• Industrial Art at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
• CCAI Exhibit: BRIC Art 5 at the BRIC: 108 E Proctor Street (8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm)

Fourth of July celebrations abound in the Carson City area. Fireworks can be found in Carson City, Reno, Sparks, and at both north and south shore of Lake Tahoe. There are several daytime events going on as well, so grab the kids, friends, and family and have a great Independence Day weekend!

Friday, July 3:
July Third Fireworks and Beach Party at the North Tahoe Events Center on Kings Beach, North Lake Tahoe (4pm-10pm, free; vendors, contests, games, music and more; Fireworks 9:30pm; FRIDAY)

Saturday, July 4:

Carson City:

The public is invited to attend the presentation of a refurbished automobile to a student veteran at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, at Western Nevada College E.L. Cord Technology Center on the Carson City Campus. A refurbished 2006 GMC Envoy will be presented.

In association with the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides project, WNC’s Auto Body Technology department repaired its second vehicle for donation to a worthy individual. And for the second time, State Farm Insurance donated a vehicle to for WNC to restore. A college committee selected the recipient.

Where did June go? It’s already the 29th, and Independence Day festivities are coming up fast. Talking about time flying, it was 40 years ago that Steve Wozniak tested his first prototype of the Apple I computer. Personal computing has never been the same. It’s not National Apple Day (although those who stood in line for the first iPhone release eight years ago today might disagree), it’s National Camera Day. Find your favorite subject and snap away.

MONDAY:

• Industrial Art at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
• ’New Work’ by artist Pasha Rafat at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)

The nation’s biggest selling rock band will celebrate Independence Day one day earlier at Lake Tahoe.
Aerosmith will return July 3 to the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys, Director of Entertainment John Packer told Tahoe Onstage this morning.

Dec 8, 1932 - July 4, 2014 Evangeline Elisabeth Miller Tanner passed at her residence, beneath the blazing sky, on Independence Day, ...

Many across the country, including here in northern Nevada, are celebrating Independence Day. For those who wanted to have more of a vintage 4th of July celebration, hundreds came to the Comstock for the annual parade.

"It's an awesome small town parade," said Karen Woodmansee, parade organizer. "If you want to know what America was like, it's still up here in Virginia City."

The July 4 holiday weekend has arrived and there are plenty of activities going on today through the weekend around Carson City.

The Nevada Rural Counties RVSP carnival runs through the weekend at Mills Park. Tonight RSVP will host a spectacular fireworks celebration over Carson City to go along with its 22nd annual holiday carnival.

Hello fellow anglers, happy Independence Day to you all. There will be a lot of people out and about this weekend. If you are headed out to do some fishing this weekend, I have the place.  Number one on the list this week is Caples Lake. This is what they offer, bed and breakfast rooms, cabins on the lake, general store, 12-14 foot fishing boat, kayaks or canoe rentals.

Independence Day is upon us and many of you will take to the roads to visit our local lakes, rivers and parks. Should you find yourself celebrating the holiday with adult beverages, remember to designate a driver or take a taxi cab home.

If you are boating, stay sober while on the water. Operating a watercraft on a crowded lake takes skill and reflexes to avoid crashes or injury to swimmers. Enjoying this time with friends and family can be fun however they are expecting you, their Captain, to get them back to dry land safely.

Several northern Nevada law enforcement agencies will team up and “Joining Forces” this Independence Day as an additional security measure in providing for a safe holiday weekend.

On Friday afternoon and evening, police officers from the Reno and Sparks Police Departments, deputies from the Washoe, Lyon and Douglas County Sheriff’s Offices, and troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol will conduct a DUI road block on Highway 50 in Douglas County near Lake Tahoe. Motorists passing through the checkpoint will be briefly greeted by one of the law enforcement officers.

Many celebrations are scheduled statewide in the month of July. These Nevada 150 events help celebrate all things Nevada and bring awareness to the state’s 150th Anniversary of Statehood. The following events are held July 1 through July 12.

California has two Free Fishing Days in 2014 which are close to holidays. The first is Saturday, July 5, aligned with the Independence Day holiday weekend, and the second is Sept. 6, right around the time of Labor Day.

For the 22th year, the Nevada Rural Counties Retired Senior Volunteer Program, also known as RSVP, will sponsor the July 4th celebration at Mills Park, Carson City, July 3-6, 2014. The highlight of the event will include a spectacular Independence Day pyrotechnic display at dusk.

Local musicians and bands are encouraged to apply to play in one of four openings scheduled for Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6. All music genres are welcome but must be suitable for a family-friendly event and contain no offensive lyrics or stage show.

Celebrate July 4 with patriotic songs and fireworks. The Carson City Song Circle invites the public to its Independence Day song and barbecue celebration. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. at Rafter PM Ranch, 5000 Hells Bells Road, Carson City.

The potluck barbecue follows between 7:30 to 9 p.m. on the patio. At 9 p.m., the folding chairs will be moved a few steps to a field looking west toward the fireworks at Mills Park and Carson High. Organizers recommend bringing a folding chair as there will be a limited number of chairs available at the ranch.

Several northern Nevada law enforcement agencies will be teaming up and “Joining Forces” this Independence Day as an additional security measure in providing for a safe holiday weekend.

On Thursday afternoon and evening, police officers from the Reno and Sparks Police Departments, deputies from the Washoe and Lyon County Sheriff’s Offices, and troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol will be conducting the administrative road block on US Highway 50 in Douglas County.

Just in time for Independence Day, Reno-based non-profit Black Rock Solar has reached the milestone of building 3 megawatts of solar power capacity across the state of Nevada. That’s 3 megawatts of clean, renewable energy fostering freedom from fossil fuels and building a self-reliant nation independent of environmentally hazardous power-production methods.

To celebrate expanded operations approved by the Nevada Legislature for the state's museums, admission to the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City will be free on Saturday, July 6.

Other special pricing will be in effect during the four-day Independence Day weekend as history comes to life at the museum in Carson City, Thursday through Sunday, July 4-7.

Dick Campagni's Carson City Toyota-Scion and the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program have joined forces to bring Carson City and Northern Nevada Family Night at the Carnival on Wednesday, July 3, 5 to 10 p.m. at Mills Park. All Rides are only $1.

The Sierra Nevada Bass Club sponsored the Topaz Open over Father's Day Weekend (June 15-16) at Topaz Landing/Marina and Lodge/Casino. With four boats and 7 anglers making the trip and all but one managed to catch legal fish to bring to the scale during the two day event.

One of Nevada’s most significant historic treasures is now the nation’s newest historic landmark with action today from the United States Department of the Interior. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar listed the McKeen Motor Car at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City as a National Historic Landmark.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on Wednesday announced the designation of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad McKeen Motor Car #70 based in Carson City as one of 27 national historic landmarks.
Calling the McKeen Motor Car #70, Virginia & Truckee Railway Motor Car #22, "the best surviving example of the first commercially viable application of internal combustion power in a self-propelled railroad car" the designation possess exceptional value and quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States, Salazar said.

Great fishing is being reported throughout Nevada, Northern California, Lake Tahoe and Sierra this summer. Here is this week's fishing report, through July 17, for rivers, lakes and streams in the region.