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An outside investigator found no policy violations but room for improved communication after reviewing events surrounding a rural Nevada library’s draft diversity statement that drew the county sheriff’s ire and sparked protests and national media attention.

In our region, as well as in many areas across the country, there have been massive spikes in COVID-19 transmissions over the past few months. Even as restaurants and bars were reopened, daily positive cases were generally staying within single digits inside the Quad-County region.

However, between October and December, both test positivity rates as well as overall cases — and deaths — have seen a massive increase. Local health organizations are now not only fighting against the disease, but against misinformation campaigns as well.

According to an article originally published in the Washington Post, federal agents of the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) raided Lyon County based Polymer80, a company accused of illegally manufacturing and distributing firearms, failing to pay taxes, shipping guns across state lines, and failing to conduct background investigations.

According to a press release issued by District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine in June of 2020, a lawsuit was filed against Polymer80 for selling what are described as “ghost guns.”

Heading into the weekend, there’s a bevy of activities around the Carson City region. Several fundraisers, including the annual “Share Your Christmas” Food Drive will be available throughout the Carson City, Minden and Reno areas on Friday. You can visit the North Pole safely as part of a drive-thru Santa's Village experience at V&T Railway in Carson City, beginning Friday into the weekend. A living nativity scene will be featured at First United Methodist Church on Saturday and Sunday. Combined with train rides in Virginia City, the state capital will be buzzing with excitement. Read on for more information.

KTVN will host its annual Share Your Christmas Drive-By Food Drive this Friday, Dec. 11 with food drop-off locations in Carson City, Minden and Reno beginning at 6 a.m. and running until 6 p.m.

Two Carson City leaders have teamed up to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and provide information on how families can protect themselves and others during the holidays.

In addition to being available by phone and online, the Carson City Library and staff remain committed to delivering its services to the local community through a variety of avenues. While currently closed to the public, the library is completing upgrades and installations to enable vulnerable populations to continue to safely access library collections.

Carson City Elks Lodge No. 2177 held a raffle drawing recently for a wooden American Flag. Proceeds from the raffle benefitted Holiday With a Hero, which is a local program that buys gifts for children and delivered by our first responders.

The Carson City Sheriff's Office Reserve, which has hosted an annual Christmas Eve program for decades with pre-arranged visits by Santa and elves to local homes, has been canceled and replaced instead with a virtual message greeting for families. The reason for the change this year is due to COVID-19 concerns.

Do you know of a woman in our Carson City community who is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls and should be recognized for her efforts? Soroptimist International of Carson City is accepting sponsorship submissions for our 2021 “Women Helping Women” honorees.

GARDNERVILLE — RE/MAX Realty Affiliates of Gardnerville, Realtor Ginger Easley is working once again to raise funds for the Carson Valley Food Closet.

Easley has raised thousands of dollars for the food closet, along with hundreds of pounds of food through annual client gatherings and online fundraisers since 2016.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team may continue prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin. California State Parks, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts are scheduled to burn if conditions and weather allow. Smoke may be visible.

At the Carson Tahoe Cancer Center, an affiliate of Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah and accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, convenience is paramount. Even in the midst of a global pandemic the cancer center has made it a priority to improve their patients’ health, comfort, and well-being by utilizing new and effective technology.

UPDATED at 3:41PM: Arrests have been made in connection with the recent string of BB gun vandalism incidences in Carson City. Three suspects have admitted to the crimes and bb guns, pistols and rifles have been recovered, according to the Carson City Sheriff's Office.

A 28-year-old Carson City woman was arrested in the 2800 block of U.S. Highway 50 E. for suspicion of domestic battery after pushing her boyfriend after he allegedly crashed her car, something she said he did on purpose because she was going to break up with him, according to a sheriff's office booking report. The boyfriend was also arrested by the Nevada Highway Patrol for suspicion of DUI.

Crazy Cat Dog Grooming and Projections Photography are co-hosting a community meet and greet and Christmas photo session with our local Carson City Sheriff's Office Canine unit on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Citizens are welcome to come meet our officers and their canine partners.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Dec. 7-13, 2020. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

Kirkwood Mountain Resort kicked off a successful start to the 2020-21 ski and ride season Frday. With a winter operating plan focused on comprehensive safety protocols, Kirkwood opened with more than 180 acres of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain.

Many in Carson City do everything they can to help the less fortunate, and those opportunities never cease being opportunities. With this in mind, the holidays are here, the semester at Carson High School is almost over, Christmas vacation, also known as winter break, begins Dec. 19, and there is another opportunity to be generous for those who have plenty.

The Brewery Arts Center received special permission to screen “Once upon a Main Street”, the new Lifetime movie shot at the Brewery Arts Center along with several locations in Carson City and Carson Valley.

Alan Harney Glover
In Coelo quies est
(In Heaven there is rest)

Heading into the weekend, there’s a bevy of activities around the Carson City region. The annual Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights holiday celebration goes virtual on Friday. Santa Claus will arrive virtually at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada and in-person at Battle Born Harley Davidson on Saturday for pictures with families and kids of all ages. Combined with live music and dinner specials at Living the Good Life, the state capital has events lined up for the holidays! Read on for more information.

The school districts of Nevada have long-faced critically thin budgets, but the impact of the pandemic has further increased those stresses. Locally, three school districts received extra funds today to help ease that stress, courtesy of Carson City Toyota.

Fred Lokken, political science professor at Truckee Meadows Community College, will be the featured speaker at Monday's Democratic tele-luncheon. He will extend the post-election review of the local, state and national political scenes begun when he spoke at the November 16 tele-luncheon. As always, Prof. Lokken can be counted on to highlight key facts and in-depth analysis that can be found nowhere else.

MINDEN — After consultation with the Douglas County Officials, the Towns, public safety agencies, and Douglas County Emergency Management it was determined in-person public holiday events at the Towns of Gardnerville, Genoa, and Minden, as well as the 25th Annual Parade of Lights hosted by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce have been cancelled.

Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team members will continue prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin, weather and conditions permitting. California State Parks and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District are scheduled to burn hand piles on the east and west shores. Smoke may be visible.

As college students and family members head home for the holidays, an important item on their to-do list should be to immediately get a flu vaccine if they haven’t already done so. Current pandemic guidelines recommend limiting social contact beyond our own households, which creates even more responsibility for everyone to protect each other.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Nov. 30 through Dec. 6, 2020. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

Pastor Tim Plummer, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Missionary Area Director, has once again brought Christmas trees to Carson City to support FCA. Christmas is fast approaching, and most agree it is the best time of the year. The holidays can be a difficult time for many, but it does not have to be this way.

Food insecurity is a systemic problem magnified by the economic effects of COVID-19.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, about one in 10 Washoe County residents were unable to acquire enough food to "live an active, healthy life," according to Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. On top of that, nearly half of all Washoe County School District students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.