5-11 News - Case against County Commission Chair dismissed

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We got up to 80 yesterday at Yellend Field, look for even warmer today with a high of 86 expected and windy conditions on tap for Wednesday. 

The case against White Pine County Commission Chair Paula Carson was dismissed without prejudice on Friday by District Court Judge Nancy Allf, sitting in the 8th Judicial District Court in Clark County,  after judges in the 7th Judicial District Court recused themselves from the case.  In her ruling from the bench, Judge Allf said that there were improper things, but the items didn’t rise to the level of proof needed to remove Carson from the commission.  Allf stressed that if the Ethics Commission or the Attorney General's office issued a finding against the Commission, her finding might be different.  

The focus now turns to Carson City and the outcome of Ethics Commission and Open Meeting Law complaints.  

Fresh off Wednesday’s special meeting, the White Pine County Commission will tackle a wide range of issues during a joint meeting with the Fire and Road Commissions next Wednesday in Ely.

Commissioners are scheduled to review employee insurance renewals, consider grant funding for sheriff’s office portable radios and emergency social service programs, and discuss a long-term police protection agreement with the City of Ely.

The agenda also includes updates from county fire officials, possible approval to auction surplus emergency vehicles, and discussion of new ordinances related to large renewable energy and industrial development projects in White Pine County.

Other items include funding for senior nutrition services, a proposed golf course well project, and possible action on moving county commission meetings back to the Historic Courthouse.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. May 13th at the White Pine County Library Conference Room.  KELY will broadcast the meeting live. 

Here’s a quick look at the Sheriff’s office blotter report for Wednesday through Friday.

Two men, Shane and Aiden Throssel of Ely, were arrested on May 8th on outstanding court warrants. Bail is set at $2,000 each.

This week also saw active investigations into a home burglary where residents were battered, a sex crime, and a student assaulting a teacher. Deputies also responded to a hit-and-run in a city lot and a reckless driver near a school.

Other incidents include a fraud attempt involving a fake peace officer call, juveniles setting off fireworks at a park, and a concerning report of children left unattended in a vehicle that fled the scene.

The White Pine Bobcats saw their playoff run hit a pair of roadblocks Friday, falling to Needles 16 to 3 and later dropping an 11 to 8 decision to Lake Mead Christian Academy, eliminating the Bobcats from postseason play.

Against Needles, White Pine’s home winning streak in the series came to an end. Maddox Sedlacek provided the offensive highlight, going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run and two RBIs. The loss snapped the Bobcats’ three-game winning streak.

Later Friday, White Pine battled Lake Mead Christian Academy in another playoff matchup but came up short for the third time against the Eagles this season. Sedlacek again delivered with a homer and two RBIs, while Jacob Derbidge added two runs, two RBIs, and a double in the losing effort.

Needles beat Lake Mead to take the 2A Southern title,  15-5 but both teams advance to the Championships in Needles next weekend.  They will be joined by teams from Yerington and North Tahoe.  

The Ladycats faired better but still didn’t take the state 2A Southern crown, but they’re still alive in the postseason.

The pulled out a dramatic 12 to 11 win over Needles before the Mustangs answered back with two straight victories to end White Pine’s playoff run over the weekend.

In Friday’s opener, the Bobcats edged Needles by a single run for their second straight one-run playoff victory. Laila Trujillo starred both in the circle and at the plate, pitching six innings while also scoring twice. Camden Johnson and Emmy Costello each blasted home runs and drove in four runs as White Pine improved to 17 and 6.

But Saturday belonged to the Mustangs. After dispatching Lincoln County 11-1 in Friday’s consolation game, Needles rolled to an 11 to 1 win behind a dominant pitching performance from Audrina Bullchild, who struck out eight batters over seven innings. Peyton Jackson powered the offense with a home run and six RBIs.

Needles completed the turnaround later Saturday with a 15 to 5 victory, their third straight win overall. Camden Johnson homered and drove in three runs for White Pine in the loss, while Layla Ruesch added two hits.

The Ladycats stand at 17 and 8, while Needles improves to 16 and 14.  Both teams join Yerington and Battle Mountain in the 2A State Championships next weekend in Needles. 

Congratulations to Livi Weiland who finished third in the 100 yard Butterfly at the 3A Regionals and qualified for state.  Sadly, she just missed fourth place in the 50 yard freestyle by three-tenths of a second.  She’ll be heading to state next weekend in Las Vegas. 

White Pine High School turned in a strong showing at the 2A Southern Track and Field meet, with the Bobcats girls finishing second overall and several athletes bringing home event titles. Senior Keziah Nicholes led the way, winning the girls 300-meter hurdles and high jump, while also taking second in the 100 hurdles. Miley Oxborrow swept the throwing events for White Pine, capturing both the girls shot put and discus championships.

Paityn Lawrence added runner-up finishes in the girls 100-meter dash and long jump, and the White Pine girls 4-by-400 relay team finished second. Ava Ahlvers claimed the girls pole vault title and placed second in the high jump as the Bobcats piled up 188 team points.

On the boys side, White Pine’s Koen Shedd won the shot put and added points in discus, while Justin Celluar finished second in discus and third in shot put. Craig Reed earned second in the boys pole vault and fourth in the triple jump. The Bobcats boys finished fifth overall in the Southern standings, highlighted by strong efforts across the field events.

5-8 News - Commission Chair in Court today

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Look for sunny skies over the next seven days with a high of 78 heading to the upper 80’s by the weekend. 

Attention turns this morning to the 7th Judicial District Court, where an evidentiary hearing is scheduled at 9 a.m. in a lawsuit involving Paula Carson.

White Pine County Treasurer Catherine Bakaric and Recorder Christina Shady have filed suit against Carson, alleging malfeasance and repeated violations of Nevada’s Open Meeting Law.

The case centers on the January firing of the county’s finance director, which the plaintiffs claim was handled in a way that bypassed public meeting requirements.

The lawsuit also alleges unauthorized attempts to access county financial systems, approval of a consulting contract during emergency meetings, and withholding of a taxpayer-funded payroll study.

Carson remains commission chair as the case proceeds. Court documents and related materials are available online at KELY 1230 dot com

Read the court Documents here

Read about the hidden Payroll study here

Fresh off Wednesday’s special meeting, the White Pine County Commission will tackle a wide range of issues during a joint meeting with the Fire and Road Commissions next Wednesday in Ely.

Commissioners are scheduled to review employee insurance renewals, consider grant funding for sheriff’s office portable radios and emergency social service programs, and discuss a long-term police protection agreement with the City of Ely.

The agenda also includes updates from county fire officials, possible approval to auction surplus emergency vehicles, and discussion of new ordinances related to large renewable energy and industrial development projects in White Pine County.

Other items include funding for senior nutrition services, a proposed golf course well project, and possible action on moving county commission meetings back to the Historic Courthouse.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. May 13th at the White Pine County Library Conference Room.  KELY will broadcast the meeting live. 

The White Pine Bobcats are moving on in the playoffs after edging the Lincoln County Lynx 11 to 10 Thursday in a thriller.

Cooper Reed led the way for the Bobcats, going 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and striking out six batters over four innings on the mound. Maddox Sedlacek added two RBIs and pitched two solid innings, while Jacob Derbidge chipped in with two stolen bases and two runs scored.

White Pine racked up 14 hits in the win and has now beaten Lincoln County four straight times.

The Bobcats, now 13-and-7 on the season, face Needles this afternoon at 12:30 in the next round of 2A Southern playoff action at The Meadows in Las Vegas.

The White Pine Ladycats are advancing in the playoffs after holding off the Lincoln County Lady Lynx 5 to 4 Thursday.

Paige Hayward went the distance in the circle for White Pine, allowing four unearned runs on just four hits over seven innings.

At the plate, Camden Johnson powered the Ladycats with a two-run home run, while Layla Ruesch went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

The win improves White Pine to 16-and-6 on the season and marks the Bobcats’ sixth straight victory over Lincoln County.

White Pine returns to playoff action this afternoon, facing Needles at 12:30 at The Meadows in Las Vegas.

5-7 News - County Commission outsources Accounts Payable for now

 KELY News sponsored by Sahara Motors.   The Kawasaki KX450 is built out of the box with everything you need to dominate the track. Check it out today at Sahara Motors and let the Good Times Roll. 

Look for sunny skies over the next seven days with a high of 76 heading to near 90 by the weekend. 

The White Pine County Commission approved a temporary contract Wednesday with accounting firm Eide Bailly LLP to handle county accounts payable duties after officials were unable to hire a new accounts payable clerk.

The vote was unanimous, although some commissioners raised concerns about the cost.  Commissioner Tim Pauley in fact blamed the need for the contract on another elected official. 

 All but one member of the Finance department resigned following the commission’s firing of the former finance director.  

Commissioners also said they are awaiting completion of a background check for Reno Finance Director applicant Alicia Berkbigler after an earlier drug test was reportedly lost by a contractor. New Human Resources Director Michael Halsey has started work, while the search for an accounts payable clerk continues.

In other business, Golf Advisory Board member James Linney urged the commission to reconsider plans for a golf course director position and instead return to using a seasonal golf pro as an independent contractor.

Attention now turns to a court case involving the White Pine County Commission Chair.

An evidentiary hearing is scheduled in the 7th District Court, where County Treasurer Catherine Bakaric and Recorder Christina Shady have filed suit against Commission Chair Paula Carson.

The lawsuit alleges malfeasance and repeated violations of Nevada’s Open Meeting Law. Central to the case is the January firing of the county’s finance director, which plaintiffs claim was carried out to bypass public meeting requirements.

Additional allegations include unauthorized attempts to access county financial systems, approval of a consulting contract through emergency meetings, and withholding a taxpayer-funded payroll study.

Carson remains in her position as the case moves forward.

Read the Courty documents here.

Read about the supressed payroll study here

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled a variety of calls Monday across Ely and White Pine County, including two arrests.

Deputies arrested 68-year-old Carl Lutze of Ely on a trespassing charge at a city apartment complex. In a separate case, 37-year-old Michael Mike of Ely was taken into custody on an Ely Justice Court warrant for child abuse, with bail set at 50-thousand dollars.

Deputies also investigated a hit-and-run crash involving a parked vehicle, a theft of building materials from a residence, and a welfare check involving possible self-harm.

Other incidents included reports of a drone flying over a mining claim and a suspicious person allegedly tampering with a Nevada Department of Transportation camera. No problems were found.

And finally, deputies safely returned a wandering duck to the county duck pond.

Bobcats Baseball and Ladycats Softball teams are in Las Vegas at the Meadows today in the first round of the 2a Southern League Tournament, with both teams taking on Lincoln County.  

5-6 News - County Commission Special meeting today

KELY News sponsored by Sahara Motors.   The Kawasaki KX450 is built out of the box with everything you need to dominate the track. Check it out today at Sahara Motors and let the Good Times Roll. 

5/100 of an inch of precipitation fell when the rain finally got to Yellend Field last night between 8 and 9 last night.  Look for fair skies over the next seven days with today’s high 67.  

The White Pine County Commission meets in special session at 9:00 this morning, facing both a hollowed-out front office and a looming legal battle.

Commissioners will review efforts to fill four key roles: the Finance Director, Human Resources Director, Accounts Payable Clerk, and Golf Course Director. With the finance department currently reliant on interim support from a private consultant, the board is expected to approve a temporary contract with Eide Bailly LLP. That deal—capped at $18,000—would bill the county between $170 and $396 per hour just to keep up with accounts payable.

Today’s meeting is a prelude to Friday’s hearing in 7th District Court. Treasurer Catherine Bakaric and Recorder Christina Shady are suing Commission Chair Paula Carson. The lawsuit alleges Carson bypassed public meeting laws to fire the previous finance director,  concealed a payroll study that showed county employees were paid well below market rates,  and sought unauthorized access to county financial systems.

KELY will carry the meeting live from the Library Conference Room starting at 9:00 a.m. For a deep dive into the court documents and the controversial payroll study, click the blue-linked text. 

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled a busy day of calls in Ely on May 4th, including thefts, domestic disturbances, and ongoing investigations.

Deputies are investigating an attempted burglary at a local business and vandalism at a vacant apartment. A report of stolen documents from a motel room was also taken, while another theft involving fuel was resolved as a civil matter.

Multiple domestic disturbance calls were handled, including one involving an alleged battery. Other incidents were resolved on scene without further action.

Authorities also responded to a death at a residence, identifying the individual as Jeanine M. Locke of Ely. The death is believed to be from natural causes.

One arrest was made—41-year-old Ronald J. Taylor Jr., on an Ely Justice Court warrant, with bail set at $5,000.

White Pine High School swimmer Livi Weiland is making a strong showing at the 3A Southern Region swim meet.

After qualifying in six events, Weiland competed in prelims in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly—advancing to finals in both. She heads into Friday’s championship heats seeded third in each race.

Coaches say the 50 freestyle field is extremely tight, with the top eight swimmers separated by just fractions of a second.

In the 100 butterfly, Weiland overcame a delayed start but still delivered a strong performance to secure her spot.

The top four finishers in finals will advance to the state meet.

White Pine High School turned in a strong showing at the Class 2A East Region Boys Golf Championship Tuesday at Fallon Golf Course.

As a team, White Pine finished second overall with a score of 373, trailing only Oasis and securing a spot at the state tournament.

Individually, Travis Peterson led the way for White Pine, earning medalist runner-up honors with a 78—just one stroke off the top spot. Teammate Zayden McClintock also placed in the top five with a 91, helping anchor the team’s performance.

Additional contributions came from Hunter Baldwin, Ryker Gardner, Matt Ellis, and Circhton Swetich, rounding out a solid team effort against regional competition.

With the top teams and qualifying individuals advancing, White Pine will now look ahead to the state championship, carrying strong momentum after a second-place regional finish.

5-4 News - Commission to hire contractor to handle accounts payable

 KELY News sponsored by Sahara Motors.   The Kawasaki KX450 is built out of the box with everything you need to dominate the track. Check it out today at Sahara Motors and let the Good Times Roll. 

More clouds than sun today with scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms possible. Look for today’s high around 65. 

The White Pine County Commission will hold a special meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the County Library Conference Room in Ely, with a live broadcast on KELY.

Commissioners will receive updates on several key vacancies, including Human Resources Director, Finance Director, Accounts Payable Clerk, and Golf Course Director.

The board is also expected to consider a contract with Eide Bailly LLP to provide temporary financial support while the accounts payable position remains unfilled. The agreement would cover processing and related services at hourly rates ranging from 170 to 396 dollars, with a total cost capped at 18-thousand dollars unless further approved.

The item comes as the county continues operating with interim financial leadership of Gina Rackley, a contract employee through her Rackley Financial Services LLC and is also running for mayor of Winnemucca, NV.  

KELY will broadcast the meeting live.

Wednesday’s special meeting precedes a Friday court date for an evidentiary hearing in the 7th District Court against Commission Chair Paula Carson by County Treasurer Catherine Bakaric and Recorder Christina Shady.  Carson is accused of of malfeasance and repeated violations of Nevada’s Open Meeting Law.

At issue is the January firing of the county’s finance director, which plaintiffs claim was an effort to bypass public meeting requirements. The complaint also alleges Carson sought unauthorized access to financial systems, approved a costly consulting contract through emergency meetings, and withheld a taxpayer-funded payroll study—first reported by KELY in February. Read the report at this link.  

Carson remains in her position as commission chair as the case proceeds. Court documents are available at this link. 

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled a wide range of calls on Thursday and Friday, including an arrest, theft investigations, disturbances, and multiple assists to other agencies.

On Thursday, deputies arrested 34-year-old Sean C. Ganie of McGill on charges of luring a child using computer technology. Bail was set at 10-thousand dollars. Deputies also investigated a reported theft at a city residence, responded to several reckless driving complaints, and handled a disturbance involving loud music. Other calls included assisting an intoxicated pedestrian, helping a stranded motorist, and detaining two juveniles out past curfew.

On Friday, deputies located two missing juveniles who had left home overnight and returned them safely to a parent. Deputies also investigated a fraud case involving someone impersonating a peace officer, a report of suspicious drone activity in the county, and a domestic disturbance in a vehicle.

Additional calls included a rollover crash referred to Nevada State Police, a wanted subject who fled from deputies, and multiple parking and trespassing complaints in Ely.

The White Pine Bobcats baseball team delivered a pair of dominant wins over Lincoln County, rolling past the Lynx 18-to-2 and 10-to-nothing.

In the 18-2 win, Maddox Sedlacek struck out seven on the mound and went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with six RBI. Jacob Derbidge added three runs, helping power the offense.

In the 10-0 shutout, Jacob Hall struck out 13 over five innings while allowing just two hits. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate. Derbidge stayed hot with three more RBI.

White Pine continues to pile up big wins this season, improving to 12-and-7, while Lincoln County drops to 6-11-and-1.

The two teams meet up again on 1pm Thursday at the Meadows in Las Vegas in the first round of the 2A Southern Championships. 

The White Pine Ladycats softball team picked up a pair of tight wins over Lincoln County Friday, edging the Lynx 10-to-9 and 9-to-8.

In game one, Laila Trujillo struck out seven in a complete-game effort, while Layla Ruesch and Addie Costello each homered to lead the offense.

Game two saw Gracie Hall go a perfect 4-for-4 with three doubles and three RBI, as White Pine held off another late push from Lincoln County.

The Ladycats have now won six straight on the road, improving to 15-and-6 on the season, while the Lynx fall to 14-and-14 after three consecutive losses—all by a single run.

The Ladycats and the Lady Lynx go at it again in the first round of the 2A Southern Championships Thursday at 3:30pm at the Meadows in Las Vegas.  

In other sports, the Swim Team Swimming is on the way this morning to Regional Preliminaries at the Pavilion Center Pool in Las Vegas, and the Boys Golf Team will leave this evening for the 2A East Regional Tournament in Fallon.  Best of luck and prayers for all the Bobcats and Ladycats!