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USDA Rural Development Names Gardnerville's Jim Park Acting State Director In Nevada

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is pleased to announce Jim Park has been selected to serve as the Acting State Director in Nevada.

Park is filling the position after the departure of Philip Cowee. As an appointed official in the Trump Administration, Cowee resigned on January 20, 2021.

As Acting State Director, Park oversees the delivery in Nevada of more than 50 programs administered by the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business and Cooperative Service, and Rural Utilities Service. Under the umbrella of USDA Rural Development, these programs provide financial and technical assistance to support infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety, and health care facilities; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. Last year alone, these programs invested $151 million in rural Nevada communities.

To learn more about how these programs can assist your rural community, contact a staff member from this contact list on the agency website.

Prior to this appointment Park served as the Associate Enterprise Director for USDA Rural Development in Nevada, providing a wide variety of mission and administrative operations support for all Nevada offices, staff, and leadership.

A rural Nevada resident with more than three decades of service at both the local and federal government levels, Park has provided leadership and a “can do” attitude in helping grow rural Nevada. As a decade long Town Manager in Gardnerville, Nevada, he worked with local governments, USDA Rural Development, and community leaders during the Great Recession to successfully stand up Nevada’s only “Main Street USA” program- now the longest running Main Street program in Nevada.

Park holds a Master of Business Administration degree, is a Nevada Certified Public Official, a Certified Professional Contracts Manager, and a Lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager. He and his wife Pam have called rural Carson Valley home since 2000.

More information about USDA Rural Development Nevada available online at https://www.rd.usda.gov/nv

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What about peonies?” my friend Kristen asked me recently. She wanted to purchase some for her daughter’s new home. I love peonies, their look and fragrance. I tried to grow them years ago, but failed, probably because of their need for rich, fertile soil. They didn’t grow even with get six hours to eight hours of sun per day.

UPDATE 4:50PM: The fire at the landfill has been extinguished, according to Carson City Fire Department Battalion Chief Jon Pedrini.
The fire was around 100 foot by 40 foot and knocked down by firefighters and work crews at the scene. There were no threats to structures or wildland.

The Color of Neon, a Reno business specializing in developing artistic neon light displays, has come to Carson City community radio KNVC and created our logo in neon.

For more than 85 years, the Rotary Club of Carson City has made a difference in the community. Living by the motto of “Service over Self,” these philanthropic community volunteers have been helping others in a variety of ways, providing a meal for the homeless, tutoring children, maintaining parks, assisting the high school marching band and much more.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Sunday at around noon to a vehicle fire in the area of Dori Way and Lompa Lane.

Carson City Sheriff's Office Investigations have released a video of an attempted residential burglary that happened June 2. Detectives seek the identity of the suspects.

The Carson City Symphony's annual Pops Party concert is today, Sunday, June 9, 2024, 6 p.m. at the Governor's Mansion back lawn, 606 Mountain Street, Carson City. The grounds will be open to the public at 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Plumas Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Plumas Bancorp, announces a new addition to its team; Kara Harris joined the Reno branch as Plumas Bank’s Vice President and Business Development Officer. In this role, Harris is responsible for spearheading strategy to enhance business growth, foster client relationships, and expand Plumas Bank’s market presence in northern Nevada and the Sierra region.

Beautiful color over Carson City from a late spring sunset taken Wednesday, June 5.

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, Capitol City Gun Club in Carson City, NV will host a Sporting Clays Sub-Gauge Shoot from 9:00am to 4:30pm. On Sunday, June 16th, the Club will host a Father’s Day Fun Shoot with discounted target fees all day. The Club features Trap, Skeet, 5-Stand and Sporting Clays. Everyone is invited to come!

On Sunday June 9, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team will offer training to LRTC (Least Resistance Training Concepts) on basic Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) techniques. LRTC is north-western Nevada’s Technical Large Animal Rescue team.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of June 10-16, 2024. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the Third Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada ordered the June 2024 Primary Election for Fernley City Council Ward 5 and Stagecoach General Improvement District Trustees as void following a hearing on Friday afternoon to address errors on the Lyon County 2024 Primary Election ballots regarding the number of candidates to vote for in the two races.

UPDATE 2:50PM: A teen who crashed his mountain bike in Ash Canyon late Saturday morning was lifted out of the canyon by a Washoe County Sheriff's RAVEN helicopter and then transferred to a Care Flight air ambulance after being rescued by Carson City firefighters.

June events at Dayton State Park include a Butterfly Garden Activity and a birdwatching walk.

Hello fellow anglers. I wanted to thank all of the committee members, the volunteers and our great community that gave so much, to make the 31st annual Douglas County Kids Fishing Day a huge success last weekend.

Experience Carson City's only farmers market, open every Saturday — rain or shine — from June 8 to Sept. 28, 2024, at the Marv Teixeira Pavilion, Mills Park, Carson City.

A 67-year-old man was arrested Thursday for felony charges related to possession of child pornography, according to the Carson City Sheriff's Office.

In his paintings, Tom Gilbertson creates a visual imbalance between the central floral image and the industrial overlays. The Capital City Arts Initiative’s exhibition, "Recent Works", presents work by Gilbertson at the Courthouse Gallery. The exhibition began June 5 and runs through Sept. 26, 2024.

It’s time to get reading with the Carson City Library’s Summer Reading Challenge kicking off Saturday, June 8 from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Carson City Library, located at 900 N. Roop St. in Carson City.

The theme, “Travel Through Time,” encourages participants to embark on a literary adventure by logging reading hours and following along through different eras with a host of exciting events and activities scheduled. The challenge is open to all ages, from children to adults.

Have you ever wanted to learn the old art of blacksmithing? Early smiths made wagon parts, handmade tools, shaped ornamental pieces, horseshoes, hinges and just about anything to having to do with working metal into a desired shape or purpose.

The Carson City School District provided the following list of community activities for or in support of youth organizations throughout the summer.

Celebrate the Fourth of July at the Fourth Ward. Experience spectacular views of the official Virginia City fireworks show from our beautiful historic balcony and attic. This rare opportunity to sit on our balcony or look out our fourth-story windows will create memories for years to come. These areas are usually not open to the public.

For a smaller sized city, Carson City’s 18 playgrounds offers a lot of places to play for local children.

However, due to vandalism and damages, around 40 percent of these playgrounds are or were recently out of commission.

Supervisor Lisa Schuette will be hosting the monthly Coffee with Lisa on June 12 from 7 to 8:30 am at The Cracker Box, 402 E. Williams St.

All are invited to share ideas and discuss items of interest!

Ride with us back to those golden days of yesteryear when Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe stood for honesty, decency, and owned about 1/3 of the Lake Tahoe Basin (at least on their television program).

Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs, will open at 956 Topsy Lane in Carson City on June 12.

Travis Kelce will be returning for his sixth consecutive appearance at the American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe, and joining him for the first time is his brother, Jason Kelce.

A note to Swifties - Taylor is on tour during the week of the tournament, with tour dates in Zürich and Milan.

The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District tackled a brush fire Thursday and wants to remind the community burning recreational fires is now prohibited the summer:

We assisted North Tahoe Fire with extinguishing a 1/8 acre brush fire yesterday near Beaver Street, Kings Beach, CA.
Thank you C100 and B12 for your quick response and action.

Mrs. Carson City America, Kassandra Tapia, is set to grace the stage of the Mrs. Nevada America Pageant this Sunday, June 9th at 6:00PM, in Las Vegas, NV. She is proudly representing the Capital City, and she aims to not only showcase her poise and grace but also advocate for her platform, Cycle Breakers.