2-9 News - More discussion pending on the Care Center

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Clouds and possbly a sprinkle or flurry today with snow showers overnight, look for the high only 49.

Following a Friday morning meeting regarding the possible closure of the White Pine Care Center, William Bee Ririe Hospital CEO Matt Walker said no decisions have been made and discussions are ongoing. Walker said the group plans to meet again next Thursday at seven a.m., when a clearer decision is expected.

Walker said hospital officials are meeting with the business owner, the property owner, and state representatives to gather more information. He identified the cost of the land and building lease as the primary obstacle, saying the landlord’s monthly rent is too high and is the main reason the current operator plans to leave.

Walker said the landlord has so far been unwilling to negotiate on rent or building repairs, making it difficult for the hospital to consider taking over operations. If that does not change, Walker said the hospital would likely have to explore building a new long-term care facility, which would result in a loss of services during the transition period.

Walker emphasized that no final determination has been made and that the hospital is awaiting additional information before moving forward.

The White Pine County Commission will meet Wednesday, at nine a.m. at the county library conference room in Ely. KELY will broadcast the meeting live beginning at 9am.   The agenda includes a wide range of county operations, financial oversight, and board appointments, including appointing the daughter of Commissioner Tim Pauley, Brandi Sumrall to the Emergency Management Committee.

At the last meeting, Commissioner Pauley delayed reappointments to the Agriculture District 13 board.  One of the people now seeking the nomination to that seat in addition to the incumbent, is the son-in-law of Commissioner Pauley, Caleb Sumrall.  We reported two weeks ago that Commissioner Pauley delayed the reappointments for just this reason.  

In addition to scheduled items, commissioners are expected to address concerns raised following a recent meeting about an audit-related correction. According to county officials familiar with the issue, the correction was not brought to the Finance Department’s attention until after Thursday’s meeting, despite information reportedly being available as early as February 3rd. Those officials, speaking on condition of anonymity,  say the delay prevented finance staff from addressing the issue sooner and has raised questions about internal communication in this stressful time.  The issue was raised after the Commission dismissed Finance Director Kathy Workman and Assistant Finance Director Courtney Thornal resigned.  

The meeting also includes a public hearing on road certification, updates on fire district operations, discussion of natural resource contracts, and a proposed golf course well project. 

Commissioners will also consider staffing and administrative actions tied to finance support, job postings, and stipends for additional duties.

Find the Meeting agenda Here

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office reports a busy three-day period from February 5th through February 7th, with numerous calls for service and several arrests across the county.

Deputies investigated reports of suspicious activity, burglaries, fraud, and welfare checks within the city and surrounding areas. Several incidents, including attempted thefts, shots-fired reports, and suspicious persons, were resolved with no immediate threats found, while multiple investigations remain ongoing, including vehicle burglaries and a stolen handgun.

Arrests during the period included Anthony J. Martinez of Ely on a charge of open and gross lewdness, Ashly Endicott-Correia on an out-of-state warrant, Koston Burgett on a probation violation, and Christopher M. Davidson of Ely. Davidson was arrested after deputies responded to a report of a driver possibly under the influence and contemplating self-harm. He was transported for medical assistance and later booked on DUI and firearm-related charges.

Deputies also handled reports involving juveniles, animal and traffic hazards, protection order violations, and potential child abuse, with appropriate referrals made to state agencies.

The Bobcats Basketball team wrapped up their road trip to Las Vegas this weekend with a split, losing a tight one to Founders Christian 52-50 but winning against Awaken Christian 56-53.  

And the Ladycats Basketball team is getting warmed up for post season with a 52-11 romp over Founders Christian.  

White Pine High Boys dominated the wrestling mat Friday, capturing the 2026 NIAA 2A Southern Region wrestling championship at Tonopah High School in convincing fashion. The Bobcats piled up 283 points, nearly doubling second-place Founders, to secure the regional team title and underline their depth across the lineup.

White Pine crowned multiple regional champions, including Jacob Reynoso at 106 pounds, Cooper Reed at 126, Theron Hernandez at 138, Jacob Hall at 190, Maddox Sedlacek at 215, and Marshall Miller at heavyweight. Several other Bobcats added key podium finishes, helping White Pine run away with the team victory.

The regional win sends White Pine into the state tournament with strong momentum and championship expectations.

Meanwhile White Pine High’s girls wrestling team sets its sights on this weekend’s state meet in Winnemucca.

The Lady Bobcats finished fifth overall in a deep, 30-team field, scoring 92-and-a-half points and placing among many of the state’s largest programs. White Pine earned several key podium finishes, led by Brooklyn Reed’s third-place finish at 100 pounds, along with fourth-place efforts from Constance Gubler, Valivia Weiland, and strong third-place finishes by Juliana Hughes and Adelaide Costello.

With multiple wrestlers qualifying and momentum building, White Pine heads to Winnemucca confident and ready to compete for state medals this weekend.

A shocking political announcement Friday morning as Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei has announced he will retire after completing his current term. Amodei is the only Republican in Nevada’s congressional delegation and represents most of Northern Nevada, including White Pine County.

Governor Joe Lombardo praised Amodei’s service, calling him an unwavering advocate for northern Nevada. Lombardo said Amodei worked tirelessly to represent Nevadans’ interests at both the state and federal levels and thanked him for his partnership and years of public service.

The Congressman says politics and health had nothing to do with his decision to retire at the end of his term. In his first interview since the surprise announcement, the Nevada Republican told The Nevada Independent that after 15 years in Congress, the time simply felt right. Amodei said his re-election prospects were strong, he’s satisfied with the GOP agenda on the economy and border security, and concerns about Republicans losing the House in 2026 did not factor into his choice. He also dismissed health speculation, saying he is not undergoing treatment and that cancer he faced in 2021 was cured. Amodei plans to remain active in Congress through the end of his term, focusing on DHS funding and Nevada public lands issues.

Governor Joe Lombardo hosted a ceremonial bill signing Friday marking passage of the Nevada Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act. The new law strengthens protections for victims of stalking and domestic violence, increases penalties for crimes against children and seniors, cracks down on DUI offenders, and holds repeat and violent criminals more accountable. The legislation also makes retail theft of 750 dollars or more a felony and treats each child exploitation victim as a separate felony offense. Lombardo says the reforms put victims first and give law enforcement stronger tools to protect Nevada communities.

In a bizarre twist, a federal judge has ordered the release of a Las Vegas property manager connected to a suspected bio-lab investigation tied to the Chinese Communist Party. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna Youchah released 55-year-old Ori Solomon on a personal recognizance bond, requiring him to surrender his passport and remain in the continental U.S. Solomon is charged federally with unlawfully possessing firearms while in the country on a non-immigrant visa. Police and the FBI searched two homes January 31, finding what they described as a possible biological laboratory with vials of unknown liquids. Solomon is not facing federal charges related to the bio lab but does face a state hazardous waste charge.

2-6 News - More questions than answers following another Emergency County Commission Meeting

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Morning clouds will give way to sunny skies later today, look for a high today of 55 with a chance of rain and snow on Monday. 

The White Pine County Commission’s 40-minute emergency meeting yesterday seemed like everything was pre-determined, as the commissioners only voted and had no discussion on any item.  District Attorney Melissa Brown updated the record on what her department had done prior to the meeting, despite Commission Chair Paula Carson trying to shut her down.  

Commissioners hired former Humboldt County comptroller and treasurer Gina Rackley through her consulting firm to handle payroll, accounts payable, cash balancing, and other essential financial duties at a rate of $ 175 per hour.  But Rackley told the board this would just be a stop-gap measure and she couldn’t and wouldn’t do everything the former Finance Director would. That would include audit and budget work that are nearly due or past due.  

The commission appointed Deputy District Attorney Ross Smillie and Chief Deputy District Attorney Kinzie Hilton as authorized second signatories on county financial matters to ensure continuity and compliance with state law. Additional discussion includes notifying the State Department of Taxation of the county’s financial action plan.  Chair Carson said after reading the agenda item, the county was not declaring financial hardship, but pushed back on Deputy District Attorney Ross Smillie that the agenda item indicated that was an option and asked if she wanted to exclude that from the motion to approve.  Carson’s insistence that there were no issues and that the county had every intention of paying all bills despite no mechanism yet in place to pay future bills saw pushback from District Attorney Brown with, “Intentions don’t go into gas tanks.”  The Commission has yet to address publicly what lead to the actions that led to the January 28th decision to dismiss the Finance Director Kathy Workman, but a citizen, Kerri Pintar, indicates that she is beginning a push to recall the four commissioners.  Pintar’s comments were met by laughter from Commissioner Tim Pauley, who smirked or openly laughed at nearly every comment made during the meeting.

The Commission has another meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 9am in the Library Conference Room.  

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office reported multiple incidents and arrests on February fourth, including a series of vehicle burglaries in Ely and surrounding areas. Several residents reported cars being broken into overnight, with investigations ongoing.

Deputies also investigated a child abuse report involving a student at a local school, as well as a reported sex crime at a city workplace. Both cases remain under active investigation.

Traffic incidents included a crash involving an elk on a state highway, several city accidents, and reports of reckless driving referred to Nevada State Police. Deputies made multiple arrests, including Lacoby Zamora of Ely on a domestic battery charge and Jason Williams of Ruth on an Ely Justice Court warrant.

Governor Joe Lombardo has announced the approval of more than 64 million dollars to expand attainable housing across Nevada, with funding that could directly benefit White Pine County. As part of the Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act, the state approved 750-thousand dollars for the Rural Nevada Development Corporation to support homebuyer assistance in rural communities, including White Pine County.  RNDC CEO Mary Kerner tells us the grant is for middle-income purchasers.  

The funding is designed to help low- and moderate-income residents overcome barriers to homeownership through down payment and closing cost assistance. State officials say the overall investment will support hundreds of new homes statewide while expanding access to affordable housing in rural areas that often struggle to attract development.

The governor’s office says the funding reflects a continued push to address housing shortages and improve opportunities for working families across Nevada.

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office is joining law enforcement agencies statewide for Nevada’s Joining Forces Impaired Drivers and Riders Campaign, running from February sixth through February twenty-second. The effort increases high-visibility patrols aimed at removing impaired drivers from the road and educating the public about the dangers of driving under the influence.

Sheriff’s officials remind motorists that calling a sober friend or using a rideshare is far less costly than a DUI arrest, which can result in jail time, fines, and loss of a driver’s license. The campaign is funded by the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety as part of the state’s Zero Fatalities initiative.

In High School Sports, Boys' Wrestling will head to Tonopah for the Southern Regional tournament this weekend.  Basketball teams will finish its regular season this weekend in Vegas.  

A Las Vegas bettor has already won big before Super Bowl Sixty even kicks off. Todd Dewey at the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes this morning that by hedging early-season Seattle Seahawks futures with nearly two million dollars in wagers on the New England Patriots, the unidentified gambler has guaranteed a profit of at least three-point-four million dollars — and as much as four-point-nine million — no matter who wins Sunday’s game. Sportsbook executives say the bettor placed dozens of long-shot Seahawks bets before the season began, then locked in the payout this week. In short, one fan will be celebrating long before the confetti falls.

2-5 News - Another Emergency White Pine County Commission Meeting

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Showers in the forecast Monday and Tuesday, but until then, mostly fair skies, today’s high 60 degrees.  

The White Pine County Commission will hold an emergency meeting today at noon at the county library conference room in Ely. The meeting centers on maintaining county financial operations following the January 28th firing of the county’s finance director.  

Commissioners are expected to consider hiring former Humboldt County comptroller and treasurer Gina Rackley through her consulting firm to handle payroll, accounts payable, cash balancing, and other essential financial duties at a rate of $ 175 per hour.

The commission will also consider appointing Deputy District Attorney Ross Smillie and Chief Deputy District Attorney Kinzie Hilton as authorized second signatories on county financial matters to ensure continuity and compliance with state law. Additional discussion includes notifying the State Department of Taxation of the county’s financial action plan or declaring financial hardship.

KELY will broadcast the meeting live.

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a range of calls on February third, including motorist assists, investigations, and death reports. Deputies assisted a motorist stranded at a rest area after an interlock device disabled their vehicle, and another driver whose car was disabled on a city street.

Deputies investigated two deaths in the county. Sheri A. Lea of Ruth was found deceased at her residence, with the cause of death still under investigation. Michael R. Banks of Ely was also found dead in his home, with his death ruled due to natural causes.

Other calls included a reckless driver who left before deputies arrived, missing cats referred to Animal Control, and several reports—ranging from a suspicious vehicle to a protection order complaint and a reported sex crime—that were investigated and determined to be unfounded or not violations.

The Eastern Nevada Narcotics Task Force continued its round-up on February 4.

Authorities arrested 71-year-old Ronald T. Gallegos of McGill on two counts of selling a controlled substance. Gallegos is being held on 100-thousand dollars bail.

Also arrested was 35-year-old Tiana M. Wilson of Ely. She faces one count of aiding and abetting the offer, attempt, or commission of an unauthorized act involving a Schedule One or Two controlled substance. Her bail is set at 50-thousand dollars.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The William Bee Ririe Hospital Board of Trustees have scheduled a special meeting tomorrow morning at 7am in the Hospital Conference Room to discuss the scheduled closure of the White Pine Care Center, including the feasibility of taking over the current business, starting a new business in the same location, or other ideas.  Hospital CEO Matt Walker told us yesterday, Quoting, “...we are working very hard with every entity involved (and there are a lot) to see if we can do anything and what we can do. A large part of the problem is each variable has their own rules or demands. Each one is expecting us to meet what they want which make this so difficult to make happen, especially in a matter of 1-2 weeks.”

More information as it becomes available. 

A Nebraska man has been arrested on multiple drug charges following a crash with a semi-truck in Eureka County. The Eureka County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to a collision on Interstate 80 around 11-20 Friday night.

The driver, identified as Wayne Harms of Lincoln, Nebraska, was found to have a nationwide warrant issued by the U.S. Marshals Service and was on parole for a bank robbery conviction. Deputies also discovered controlled substances and related items.

Harms now faces multiple felony charges, including drug trafficking, possession with intent to sell, and being a fugitive from justice.

Polymarket has been temporarily blocked from offering sports prediction contracts in Nevada, including wagers tied to Sunday’s Super Bowl, after a Carson City judge granted a temporary restraining order requested by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The judge ruled that Polymarket is offering event-based contracts on sporting events without a Nevada sports betting license.

The control board has filed similar legal action against other prediction markets, arguing the platforms violate state gaming laws. The 14-day ban comes as regulators across the country move to curb unlicensed sports wagering ahead of major events like the Super Bowl.

LaMonte McLemore, a founding member of the Grammy-winning vocal group The 5th Dimension, has died at the age of 90. His representative says McLemore passed away Tuesday at his Las Vegas home, surrounded by family, following a stroke. His death was due to natural causes.

The 5th Dimension helped define pop and soul music in the late 1960s and ’70s, earning six Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year for “Up, Up and Away” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” McLemore was also a respected celebrity photographer, with his work appearing in magazines such as Jet.

2-4 News - White Pine County employees paid well under market rates

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Showers in the forecast Monday and Tuesday, but until then, mostly fair skies, today’s high 58 degrees.   

White Pine County employees are being paid well below market rates, according to a new compensation and classification study.

KELY Radio has obtained a copy of the report commissioned by the county.  The independent review found county wages average about seven percent below comparable public employers across Nevada, with some departments falling much further behind. Human Resources pay was more than 30 percent below market, while Emergency Management and Fire Protection were each nearly 20 percent under market rates.

The study reviewed pay for 154 employees across 89 job classifications and found no positions paid above market levels. Consultants say the gaps are contributing to recruitment and retention challenges.

To address the issue, the report recommends phased salary adjustments totaling about 922-thousand dollars, with no wage reductions proposed. The largest increases would go to positions currently well below market and those affected by wage compression.

At the January 14th County Commission meeting, Commissioners approved a 2% cost-of-living increase for elected officials on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Vogler and Pauley voting no.  Included in the Cost of Living increase was approval of the Legislative-approved 35% increase in pay for commissioners from $24,513.60 to $33,660.  But Commissioners opposed a similar increase for rank-and-file employees on a 4-1 vote with former Commissioner Janet Vancamp voting no.  

County leaders will now decide whether and when to implement the recommendations, weighing budget impacts alongside workforce stability.

We told you on Monday that the White Pine Care Center may be closing.   A notice posted at the facility over the weekend says the center is no longer accepting new patients and plans to close on March 30.

The notice, attributed to owner-licensee Jose Kutty Jose, cites financial difficulties and the lack of a lease agreement with the landlord as reasons for the closure.

Now the William Bee Ririe Hospital Board of Trustees has scheduled a special meeting on Friday morning at 7am in the Hospital Conference Room to discuss the closure, including the feasibility of taking over the current business, starting a new business in the same location, or other ideas.  

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled numerous calls on February second, ranging from traffic incidents to ongoing investigations. Deputies responded to a crash on a state highway caused by a driver swerving to avoid an animal, with the case referred to Nevada State Police. Two hit-and-run accidents were also reported in the city, one outside a local casino and another in a school parking lot.

Deputies are investigating several cases, including a family-related theft, damage to utility poles in an unincorporated area, and an embezzlement report involving a local business. Calls for suspicious vehicles and individuals were also handled, though no criminal activity was found.

Other incidents included a juvenile who left school without permission and was safely returned, a custody dispute referred to another agency, and a welfare check that led to the discovery of Chaunc L. Simms of Ely, whose death was ruled natural causes.

Former Nye County Republican Central Committee chairman Bill Carns was arrested Saturday, January thirty-first, facing five felony charges. Authorities say the charges include creating or distributing child pornography, using the internet to control explicit images of a minor, and multiple firearm violations, including possession of a sawed-off shotgun and an unserialized firearm.

Current Nye County GOP chairman Leo Blundo emphasized the party has no current association with Carns. Carns denies the allegations, saying he is unaware of the evidence and claims the accusations stem from a custody dispute. The Nye County Sheriff’s Office says the case remains under investigation and declined further comment.

Equine infectious anemia has been confirmed in a horse in Nye County. The Nevada Department of Agriculture has placed the affected facility under quarantine, along with other horses that may have been exposed. State Veterinarian Dr. Peter Rolfe says the department is working closely with local veterinarians to contain the situation and protect Nevada’s livestock. The disease spreads through blood contact between horses and cannot be passed through the air or casual contact. Officials say equine infectious anemia does not affect humans and poses no public health risk. Under state law, the exact location will not be released.

And not a very a-MOO-sing morning for Las Vegas motorists as crews are working to get an overturned semi tractor-trailer off a major freeway ramp this morning.

The truck, which was loaded with 28 cattle, nearly rolled off the side of the I-15 southbound ramp to US95/I-11 southbound around 12:30 a.m.

Nevada State Police said it is unknown how long the ramp will be closed. The truck’s driver was not injured. There is no word on the condition of the cattle.

2-2 News - Emergency County Commisison meeting today-UPDATED - Care Center Closing

KELY News sponsored by Sahara Motors.   Ready for all seasons? The Kawasaki RIDGE XR CREW Limited HVAC side-by-side keeps you cool in the summer, dry in the rain, and warm in the winter. Conquer any trail, creek, or blizzard—while staying comfortable the whole way.  Check one out today at Sahara Motors.

Look for skies to clear this afternoon with the high today of 55 degrees.  

White Pine County is facing significant financial uncertainty following the dismissal of the County Finance Director on Wednesday. 

The White Pine County Commission on Monday voted to advertise for a new Finance Director and Assistant Finance Director following Wednesday’s dismissal of Kathy Workman and the Friday resignation of Deputy Finance Director Courtney Thornal.  The Commission was rebuked by County Treasurer Catherine Bakaric, warning that if the commission did not take action to reverse their actions and rehire Workman and Thornal, she would proceed with actions of her own.  State Assemblyman Bert Gurr attended the meeting virtually and told me after the meeting that he was keeping an eye on the situation and ready to take any action he could in support of White Pine County residents. 

The White Pine Care Center may be closing. A notice posted at the facility over the weekend says the center is no longer accepting new patients and plans to close on March 30.

The notice, attributed to owner-licensee Jose Kutty Jose, cites financial difficulties and the lack of a lease agreement with the landlord as reasons for the closure.

Public records show the property owner, Adventist Holdings, LLC, owes more than forty-seven thousand dollars in property taxes to White Pine County. The facility has also faced regulatory issues in recent years, including nearly forty thousand dollars in Medicare fines in 2023. The most recent inspection report, from May of last year, documented significant deficiencies. (Click for link to report) 

The closure is not uncommon as the American Health Care Association reports that nursing homes have shut down at an alarming rate, driven by economic pressures and workforce shortages, with the recent federal mandate only threatening to exacerbate the situation. (Click for link to report) 

The 2024 Access to Care report notes that at least 774 facilities closed their doors between February 2020 and July 2024, displacing over 28,000 residents.

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office reports multiple calls for service in its January 29th blotter.

Deputies responded to a shoplifting report at a local business, but the suspect had left before officers arrived. An injured deer was also removed from a county roadway.

In the city, deputies investigated a dog bite involving a loose dog at a county park, and handled several juvenile complaints involving pocket bikes and a dirt bike. One juvenile was contacted and issued a warning.

Deputies also investigated reports of reckless driving on both city streets and a state highway, with one case referred to Nevada State Police and another resulting in a warning. Additional calls included a parking complaint, a suspicious person going door to door, and a report of a possibly intoxicated driver, though no issues were found.