Spring

Each spring, the Carson City Chamber Leadership Institute Class is fully immersed in their class project. This time last year, the Class of 2019 was as busy as bees preparing the land behind the Carson Tahoe Cancer Center to build the city’s first bee hotel hoping to attract bees to pollinate The Greenhouse Project plants.

The Carson City School District will transition all secondary students to a Pass/Fail grading system for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year. The decision comes as principals, instructional leaders, district-level administrators and members of the teachers’ union have discussed the extension of school closures following spring break.

The COVID-19 outbreak doesn't represent the first quarantine order implemented in Nevada to combat an infectious disease. Similar to COVID-19, the 1918 Influenza Epidemic spread around the world. The epidemic arrived in Nevada in the spring of 1918 and returned even deadlier in October and November that year before tapering off in the spring of 1919.

Just a few of the bicyclists taking advantage of the spring weather on the Ash Canyon to Kings Canyon trail in Carson City on Saturday, April 18, 2020.

My friend Julie from Incline laughingly asked me recently if she could come garden at my house since her property was buried in snow. While that’s not feasible, it got me thinking. Others may wish they too could garden during these “Stay at Home” times but not have space for an in-ground garden and need to garden indoors, on a patio or on a porch.

Editor’s Note: Bryant is a freshman Honors student at CHS, and the following is her response to the poem "A Builder or a Wrecker" by Charles Franklin Benvegar.

During this pandemic, I would love to think I am in fact a builder because I strive to see the best in this, because I have been helping those struggling immensely during these hard times, and because I am doing my best to help the medical professionals I know.

Last night, Carson High School turned on the lights on the football, soccer, track and baseball fields for 20 minutes from 8:20-8:40 p.m. (20:20 to 20:40) in support of their 2020 Graduating Class, Spring Sport Athletes, Coaches, Staff and those on the front lines fighting COVID-19.

#bethelight Carson High School.

Thanks to Angela Golik and Adam Hunsaker for capturing the moment.

Nevada State Parks and currently following the governor's directive to help stop the spread of COVID-19. They're asking the public to please, stay home, so we can all get through this together.

This week is designated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, honoring those in the field of emergency call-taking by recognizing them for their quick thinking actions as they navigate telephone lifeline responses between those needing help and those first fire and sheriff's office responders arriving on scene.

A gifted poet friend of mine, Jack Wright, penned a verse to welcome a flattening of the COVID-19 curve.

Cecilia Gonzalez made her first call to Nevada’s unemployment office last Friday at 7:59 a.m., hoping that she might snag an open line the minute the agency opened to resolve a sticking point in her claim about her work history and eligibility.


My gardening clothes stink and I’m a happy woman! I’ve been pruning a Rhus trilobata, commonly called skunkbush sumac. Its name tells the story. I should have left my malodorous garments outside rather than carrying that pungent scent into the house. Oh well, I don’t care. I’m happy because I’m pruning. It takes so little to put a smile on my face.

Editor’s Note: Richard Stokes is the Carson City School District Superintendent.
Dear Friends, I wanted to send my very best wishes to each of you for a peaceful and safe Spring Break. During the past three weeks, I have marveled at the professional services and selfless acts of kindness you have delivered during one of the most incredible events of my career.


I’ve been watching the apple buds, waiting to see swelling begin, waiting for color to start showing. Last week I was excited to finally see a bit of color. Then, snow and overnight lows in the low twenties hit, which is just like last year, when we had no apples. I hope the cold doesn’t kill the blossoms and my apple crop again this year.

A pair of storms are on tap for the Sierra and Carson City region this weekend that may result in travel disruptions in the mountains, aviation impacts and recreational hazards, according to the National Weather Service.

In response to Nevada Gov. Sisolak’s announcement this morning to extend the “Stay at Home” directive through April 30, the Carson City School District will continue with Remote Learning for teachers and students through the remainder of the month.

Former Gov. Brian Sandoval has resigned from his position as an executive with MGM Resorts and has applied for the soon-to-be vacant position of president of the University of Nevada, Reno.

It’s that time of year — water main flushing time! You might have noticed strange waterflow occurrences or discoloration, no need to worry, Carson City Public Works crews are conducting much needed maintenance on the main line pipes.

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.

The University of Nevada, Reno, in consultation with student leadership, will postpone its May commencement and has determined that Spring 2020 graduates will have the choice to celebrate their achievements coinciding with, but be separate from, either the December 2020 graduation ceremonies or Spring 2021 ceremonies.

Editor’s Note: Patt Quinn-Davis is adviser for the Carneta yearbook. She also teaches Honors American Literature and English IV. Before jumping into teaching, Quinn-Davis worked many years at The Nevada Appeal as city government reporter, columnist, and city editor. She was also editor of The Nevada Appeal and previously was editor of The Daily Democrat newspaper in Woodland, Calif.

It snowed six inches last night. This followed the four inches it snowed a day or so before. I’m grateful for the extra moisture for the trees, the lawn, all my plants and all the native trees. As I wrote a few weeks ago, I had been doing the water on and off, drag hoses, drain lines boogie for a number of weeks. This water-laden snow is a welcome, although temporary, reprieve.

On March 27, 2020, at approximately 5:54 AM, a Nevada Highway Patrol Sergeant had stopped to assist a motorist on US-93 and White Pine county mile marker 106, north of Ely, NV. During this contact, the motorist open fired on Sgt. Ben Jenkins, who was struck and killed.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m.:

On March 27, 2020, at approximately 5:54 AM, a Nevada Highway Patrol Sergeant had stopped to assist a motorist on US-93 and White Pine county mile marker 106, north of Ely, NV. During this contact, the motorist open fired on Sgt. Ben Jenkins, who was struck and killed. The motorist stole the Sergeant’s uniform and fled the scene in Sgt. Jenkins’ patrol vehicle. Following a search that lasted several hours, the suspect, John Dabritz, a 65-year-old White Pine resident, was located and taken into custody with the assistance of multiple agencies.

The University of Nevada, Reno announced Tuesday that it would not hold May in-person Spring commencement exercises, instead replacing them with "virtual" gatherings.

This past weekend, Gov. Sisolak and state authorities provided updates and clarifications regarding statewide school closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the top of the list most impacting students and families in Carson City were four points: 1) all testing has been waived, 2) schools will not reopen prior to April 16, 3) all school employees are deemed to be “essential” and 4) the Nevada Department of Education has approved the request for Emergency Program of Distance Education from the Carson City School District.

The Nevada Department of Transportation is alerting drivers and organizations to prepare for an upcoming change to exit numbers on Interstate 580 between the Reno spaghetti bowl and northern Carson City.

Greetings Students of Western Nevada College: I hope each of you are doing well. Needless to say, the last couple of days and weeks have brought great change. Because of the very unique challenges presented by the coronavirus, we have had to make radical changes and adjustments to how we do things in all aspects of our lives.

Each season brings its joys and its challenges. I’m excited after winter to see the delights of Spring with all the blooming forsythia, flowering plums, daffodils, and other plants displaying their colors. I generally forget the spring problems until suddenly I’m seeing ground squirrels, ants and weeds. All of a sudden, I feel as if I have to hurry to catch up with the pests.

There will be another round of spring storms for the Carson City and Lake Tahoe areas Monday through Thursday, bringing gusty winds, rain and snow showers along with a return to colder temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.