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The question of whether the general public should wear masks when heading outside has lingered for weeks as health officials across the country have scrambled to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus — a pandemic that worsened through the month of March and with no end yet in sight.

Less than a month after the first instance of COVID-19 was announced, the state has surpassed 1,300 cases. Testing has ramped up including the addition of private labs like, Quest and LabCorp, on top of two state labs in Northern and Southern Nevada.

The Carson City Library is continuing to offer a busy spring with a selection of online events taking place in April in honor of National Poetry Month, Earth Day’s 50th anniversary, STEAM and more.

Now that the filing period for political candidates is over it is time for voters to consider the qualifications and politics of the filed candidates. What sort of person do you want representing you in the various seats that are up for election this cycle?

Earlier this month, the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation issued a press release with a jubilant headline: “Nevada’s Unemployment Rate Hits an All-Time Low.”

Editor's Note: The following Senator Square column was submitted before the Carson City School District's announcement regarding school activities. All school, district, and non-district sponsored athletics, extra-curricular activities, assemblies, concerts, practices, and events are suspended effective Monday, March 16, 2020 until further notice. Activities and events scheduled later in the school year, including graduation ceremonies will be evaluated closer to the date. Go here to read the notice.

The Carson City School District issued statements in English and Spanish Friday afternoon alerting the community to the suspension of all after-school activities, assemblies, concerts, practices, and general large-group gathering in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The statements are as follows:

On a recent holiday weekend, hundreds of visitors snapped selfies with a two-legged bear while sledding at Lake Tahoe. The “Take Care” bear mingled with families reminding them to throw away their broken sleds, rather than leaving them littered on the snow.

A planned NV Energy power outage is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. south of Sheldon Street, including Gold Hill, and south Virginia City in Storey County.

First Descents invites local young adults impacted by cancer or multiple sclerosis on a low-impact snowshoeing hike. The experience will empower participants to adventure outdoors beyond their diagnosis, reclaim their lives, connect with others doing the same and improve their long-term survivorship.

Carson City is at the center of a legal dispute following its refusal to allow hemp to be grown on property in the Buzzys Ranch area in East Carson City. Tahoe Hemp is suing for $15 million in damages citing the city broke its agreement with the Jarrard Family Trust, which gives rights to the family to use the property for agricultural purposes.

Writer, humorist and environmentalist Michael Branch will discuss his works this Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Nevada State Library and Archives in Carson City as part of its Brown Bag luncheon series. Branch is the author of several published books, one of which is the Pulitzer-Prize nominated John Muir’s Last Journey: South to the Amazon and East to Africa.

I write weekly articles and I rarely remember from week to week what I wrote. So, I reviewed this past year’s production for some of my favorites.

Hello fellow anglers! We are just a few days away from the Topaz opener on January 1, 2020 after its closure three months ago to this date.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife has planted 51,000 pounds of trout, which is approximately 17,800 individual trout.

As a note, the NDOW planted Eagle Lake, Triploid and the Tahoe strain as well. I would have to say, if you don't catch a fish on opening day. It might be time to look for a new sport. With all the trout in the lake with the additional poundage that has been added, fishing should be pretty good.

Nevada is one of 32 states to allow an individual to legally kill a bear. Nevada’s bear harvest is small in number when compared to other states like California with a limit of 1,700. The rancor over Nevada’s bear hunt is among the nation’s loudest and most bitter. It’s an ongoing fight replete with lawsuits, restraining orders and death threats. Perhaps more than any other issue, the brawling over Nevada’s bear hunt is a reflection of the changing nature of a state with one of the nation’s lowest percentages of rural residents and fastest growing urban populations.

A 40-year-old Carson City man was arrested at the hospital early Thursday morning for parole and probation violation and a Legal 2000 per the hospital.

A 60-year-old transient was arrested Tuesday, Dec. 24, in the 1600 block of Medical Parkway for alleged battery of a protected person, a felony, a Carson City sheriff's deputy report says.

Last Saturday I was part of the Rotary Club's Shopping Spree. This annual event pairs a Rotarian with a needy child in hopes of purchasing gifts for the child and members of his/her family.

The young man that I accompanied was a rather precocious and talkative eight-year old who was a bit jaded when it came to acknowledging the magic of Christmas. However, during the shopping part of the activity, my new young friend became very animated and hopeful as he talked about selecting gifts for his family and for himself.

The spirit of Christmas is in the air as we head into the final stretch of the work week. Thursday events around the capital city feature an afternoon hike hosted by Muscle Powered, a Carson City tradition with the return of Joyful Noise Holiday Community Show at the Brewery Arts Center and more.

The countdown to Christmas is on as we head into the first day of the work week. Events around the capital city Monday include a free yoga class offered through Partnership Carson City, the first day kickoff of a Holiday Gift Making Camp at the Brewery Arts Center, a Carson River Trails Project open house hosted by Parks, Recreation and Open Space, a Carson City Democratic luncheon featuring a Bernie Sanders campaign presentation, West Coast swing dancing at Carson Lanes and more.

With activities lining up around the capital city through the weekend, Thursday events around the region include a meeting of the Healthy Communities Coalition in Silver Springs, an afternoon hike hosted by Muscle Powered, and a Carson City CASA volunteer information hour and training seminar. Along the music front, CHS Band will host its winter concert at the Carson City Community Center and our own local country music star and Nashville recording artist Art Mulcahy will be at Jimmy G's. Read on for details.

Enjoying the mix of sunshine, clouds and the overall late fall conditions around the capital city? More of the same is expected Wednesday into Thursday, with another system due in time for the weekend. Activities around Carson City include an educational discussion on dementia presented by the Alzheimer's Association at the Carson City Library, a moonlight walk to C-Hill, a "Get Fit with Fight Camp" at Yaple's Ballroom, art showings, a Carson Valley Community Theatre audition call for two plays, classes and more.

Partly sunny skies and a daytime high in the mid-40s looks to be the order of the day around the capital city as we roll into Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. Happenings around town include a book presentation by urban fantasy author SM Reine at the Nevada State Library and Archives, a morning fitness walk and evening hike, dance classes, a meeting of the CCSD board, plus festive December music and more with Night Lights Holiday Jazz and Poetry at Carson City's Comma Coffee. Read on for more.

In December, Mondays don't really seem like Monday. At least for those of us caught up in the holiday spirit of giving and kindness. What a weekend of community fellowship this was among Carson City locals and we're just getting started, counting down the days until Christmas.

Hello fellow anglers, and a very "Merry Fishmas" to you all. Although we have a lull in the fishing due to Mother Nature, some anglers have been getting out to try the waters. As many of us look forward to opening day at Topaz Lake on Jan. 1, 2020, I must tell you of a big change this year.

The Nature Conservancy in Nevada, in partnership with the Nevada Division of Natural Heritage and the Desert Research Institute, recently completed the Nevada Wetland Rapid Assessment Method, a draft assessment protocal developed as a product of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant awarded to NDNH.

We invite you to register for “Holiday Craft Camp,” which will have your kids creating Holiday arts, perfect for gifting to friends and families. Camp is at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St.

With a weekend of Christmas holiday events across the Carson City region, it looks like Mother Nature will be active with valley rain beginning late Friday and feet of snow in the Sierra through Sunday.

The break in the stormy weather was a short one, with more precipitation later in the day Wednesday, forecasters say. Activities around Carson City on Dec. 4 include a "Red Kettle" job hiring event at the Carson City Salvation Army, a Fitness Lab grand opening on Minnesota Street, a "Get Fit with Fight Camp" at Yaple's Ballroom, art showings, library activities, classes and more.

Snow days, snow way. At least that's what the weather forecast calls for Tuesday. We'll see mostly cloudy skies before another chance of rain or snow arrives midweek and then a larger storm in time for the weekend. As the saying goes of Nevada weather: Wait a minute and it will change. It is also #GivingTuesday. If you have a favorite organization, it's a good time to send a few dollars their way. Around town there's art showings, a fitness walk, hike, dance classes and an old school film favorite at the Brewery Arts Center hosted by the Carson City Classic Cinema Club.