9-23 News - White Pine Unemployment Rate Drops

 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. 

On this first day of Autumn, beautiful weather to get out and enjoy the colors.  Fair skies into the weekend, today’s high 77.

Nevada's unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent in August, down two-tenths of a percentage point from July, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

Here in White Pine County, the unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, down six-tenths from July and one-tenth of a point below August of last year.

White Pine County had a labor force of about 3,670 people, with 3,535 employed and 135 unemployed.

Statewide, Elko County had Nevada's lowest unemployment rate at 2.8 percent, while Mineral County had the highest at seven percent.

DETR also reports White Pine County employers averaged more than 4,200 workers during the first quarter, with average weekly wages reaching one-thousand-755 dollars.

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled a variety of calls Sunday and Monday, including accidents, welfare checks, disturbances and two arrests on local court warrants.

Sunday calls included a stolen license plate, a runaway juvenile who was located and reunited with a parent, several trespassing complaints, and a report of smoke near the Ward Mountain fire that was referred to the B-L-M.

There were also several deer-vehicle crashes and a rollover involving a side-by-side occupied by juveniles.

Monday, deputies investigated a dog bite, domestic dispute, fraud complaint and reckless driving in a school zone.

The Sheriff's Office also reported the death of an Ely man, Gerald Charles, from natural causes.

Damion Patterson and Ronald Taylor Junior were arrested on Ely Municipal and Justice Court warrants, respectively.  They are innocent until convicted in a court of law.  A sex-crime investigation also remains ongoing.

An early-morning vehicle pursuit in Elko County ended with the arrest of Sean Nordwig.

Sheriff's deputies responded Sunday to State Route 227 after a vehicle was found stopped in the southbound lane, facing the wrong direction.

Deputies say Nordwig appeared impaired, refused to get out and then sped away. Stop Sticks were used to disable the vehicle on Interstate 80 near mile marker 300.

Nordwig briefly barricaded himself inside the vehicle before surrendering peacefully. He faces charges including DUI, reckless driving, resisting an officer and possession of a Schedule One controlled substance.

An Elko woman is facing a battery charge after police say a dispute over belongings escalated into a stabbing Sunday evening.

Elko Police were called to Hot Springs Road around 6:46 p.m. and found a man who reported being stabbed. Officers located a woman matching the suspect’s description on West Main Street.

Police identified her as Shaina Woodford. Investigators say she stabbed the man with a knife during a physical altercation, then fled on foot.

Woodford was arrested on suspicion of battery with a deadly weapon and booked into the Elko County Jail. She is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Four Nevada high school football state championship games are moving to the Friday before Formula One weekend in Las Vegas.

The NIAA Board of Control unanimously approved moving the Open Division, 5A, 3A and 1A championships from Tuesday, November 24th, to Friday, November 20th, at Allegiant Stadium.

The NIAA says the Las Vegas Raiders notified them the stadium would not be available on the original date.

The 4A and 2A championships remain scheduled for Saturday, November 21st, at a Northern Nevada site to be determined.

An attorney for comedian Scott Thompson, better known as Carrot Top, is asking a Florida judge to restrict filings by singer Brian Evans, a former opening act for Thompson.

Attorney Ronnie Bitman says Evans has threatened to release private and salacious material involving Carrot Top, allegations Evans denies.

The request comes after Carrot Top was hospitalized following a reported suicide attempt at his Las Vegas home.

Evans, representing himself, says there’s no evidence of an emergency and denies extortion allegations.

That’s your morning news from White Pine County and the state of Nevada

9-22 News - Mixed bag in Department of Education reports

 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. 

Good rainfall overnight, 34/100 of an inch of precipitation.  Look for showers to continue with a chance for an afternoon thunderstorm today with a high around 69.

New school performance ratings from the Nevada Department of Education show mixed results for White Pine County schools.

One of the biggest improvements statewide came right here in White Pine County.

Lund Elementary was among just 11 Nevada schools to improve by at least two stars in the state's latest ratings for the 2025-26 school year, receiving a 5-star rating, the best rating in the county.  

The ratings consider factors including math and English proficiency, science, chronic absenteeism and other measures.

But the results weren't positive across the board.

McGill Elementary was rated a one-star school, with an index score of 15, placing it in the state's bottom five-percentile group.  White Pine High School, Learning Bridge Middle School, and Lund High School received four stars, with other schools in the county receiving two stars. 

The Nevada Independent has released an interactive database allowing families to track individual school ratings and academic trends.  Click to access.

New state education data shows some significant changes in reading proficiency at White Pine County schools.

Lund Elementary posted the biggest gain, with the percentage of students proficient in reading jumping from about 38 percent last year to more than 68 percent this year — a 30-point increase.

Baker Elementary also improved, gaining nearly 17 points to reach 50 percent proficiency.

David E. Norman Elementary increased nearly five points, while White Pine High School gained just over two points, reaching nearly 59 percent.

There were declines at McGill Elementary, down more than 13 points to 19 percent, and White Pine Middle School, which fell nearly four points to about 29 percent.

The Nevada Independent's ratings also include factors beyond test scores, including chronic absenteeism and, at the high school level, graduation and college-and-career readiness.

A complaint filed with the FBI is asking for an investigation of Democratic Second Congressional District candidate Teresa Benitez-Thompson over alleged conflicts of interest during her time in the Nevada Legislature.

According to the Nevada Republican Party, the complaint questions whether she properly disclosed her service on the Mater Academy of Northern Nevada board and paid employment with the University of Nevada while serving on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

The complaint also alleges she participated in discussions involving funding for those institutions. Benitez-Thompson’s campaign says the complaint is baseless and contains no evidence supporting the allegations.

White Pine County residents will have a chance to enjoy Nevada’s public lands for free this Saturday, as the state celebrates National Public Lands Day.

Nevada State Parks will waive entrance fees and offer free camping and boating at all 27 state parks on Saturday, September 26th — including Cave Lake State Park near Ely.

The state says visitors who already made camping or park-entry reservations will automatically receive refunds for applicable fees.

There is no special National Public Lands Day event currently listed for White Pine County, but Cave Lake offers fishing, boating, hiking and camping.

National Public Lands Day was established in 1994 and is held on the fourth Saturday of September to encourage people to enjoy and help care for public lands.

For those willing to travel, the Bureau of Land Management is holding National Public Lands Day projects elsewhere in Nevada, including a trail-maintenance and picnic event at the California Trail Interpretive Center in Elko.

That’s your morning news from White Pine County and the state of Nevada

Just a reminder

To those old-school intimidators who don't like our news reporting...

Listen to KELY anytime, anywhere

 Wyatt recommends the Simple Radio app by Streema.  He's had it on his phone for years.  It's available for both Android and Apple.  Download it, search for KELY, and BOOM, we're there!

Android Users Click Here

 

Apple Users Click Here 

 

Desktop Users Click Here 

 

You have NO EXCUSE not to listen! 

And for heaven's sake, get a radio like this one!  

Pay study the Commission wants buried...and the Treasurers comments the Commission wouldn't let her make...

Originally published in February 2026.

 The County Commission wants to bury this study that they commissioned.  We won't let them.  This is the story we reported on February 4th.  

----

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, or even acknowledge the study they themselves commissioned!

Decide for yourself - click here for the study!

And during closing public comment, the County Commission "accidentally"skipped White Pine Treasurer Catherine Backaric who was waiting to make Public Comment.  While we aired CBS News, I called Catherine and offered her the opportunity to make her comment over the air - and she agreed.  Listen below.  

And if you didn't hear our commentary on the Commission and this study, listen below!

If it hit the fan like it did in Western North Carolina, would you be prepared?

 After a week, people in Western North Carolina have no power, internet, or reliable cell service.  What's keep them informed?  Radio.

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2024/10/07/wnc-listeners-call-into-local-radio-station-seeking-solace-connection/75543836007/

Radio is a lifeline, but how can you be connected to the lifeline if you don't HAVE a radio?  Sadly, people think of radio as an antiquity, a relic of the past.  But when push comes to shove, radio will be here long after the other devices have failed.  

But how do you get a radio?  What little retail business we have in White Pine County doesn't even sell them.  Well, The Greek might, but the others?  Nope. 

Try this inexpensive radio.  Under $20, uses 2 AA batteries.   Add this to your next Amazon order. (I know you're shopping Amazon and not local.  It's no secret.) 

https://amzn.to/3Azpdg5

If nothing else, you might learn some truths that Facebook and TikTok won't tell you.  Because they don't give a damn about you.  You know that. 

OPINION: Local Radio Isn’t Dead—It’s More Vital Than Ever

By Wyatt Cox

In an age when people scroll endlessly through social media feeds, it’s surprising how many folks right here in Ely have never tuned in to their local radio stations. Many assume that if it doesn’t show up on Facebook, it’s not worth knowing.

That’s not just wrong—it’s dangerous.

Social media may be quick, but it’s shallow. It can’t match the depth, context, or local commitment that radio offers—especially when it comes to accurate news and timely information.

Better listening tips

 Originally published in 2025.  Facts remain relevant today. 

So.  I went out and drove our signal last night I had a clear and audible signal from Majors Place to Lages Junction.  The minor improvements in our audio processing have made a significant improvement in our signal.  

So, why are you not able to hear us better?  

1) Try turning your radio. Many radios have a ferrite antenna inside that runs the length of the radio. It is a very directional antenna.  Try rotating the radio to improve the signal.  No, I'm not going to move the 200 foot tower to help. 

2) Move the radio away from florescent or LED lighting, computers, or television sets.  The FCC knows these (mostly Chinese-made) devices interfere with AM (and in some cases FM) broadcast signals in violation of Part 15 of their rules and regulations and the FCC doesn't give a crap.  So listeners blame the stations instead of the FCC.  I'm used to it.  So, there you go.

3) Add a simple antenna.  Here are a couple of suggestions.

Unequal treatment for all?

Originally published in 2024.  You need to know how radio is treated differently from other media. 

Why are we treated differently than newspapers and social media?

 

Do you know that candidates for Federal office - President, Senate, and House - get the best advertising rate on radio and television stations that we give anyone? No newspaper or social media platform has their advertising rates dictated by federal law.

 Did you know that as a broadcast station licensed by the Federal Government, we cannot refuse to accept advertising for ANY candidate for Federal office? No newspaper or social media platform is required to accept advertising from anyone!

 Did you know that if a candidate for state or local office purchases advertising on a broadcast station, another candidate for the state office has to be granted equivalent time at the exact same rate. Again, No newspaper or social media platform is required to accept advertising from anyone nor have their rate dictated.

Did you know that broadcasters are required to identify who purchases advertising? No newspaper or social media platform is required to identify who bought advertising!

When you buy advertising on Social Media, the money goes out of your community and into a billionaire's pocket.

When you purchase advertising on KELY or KDSS, that money goes to keep these local resources on the air.  We aren't millionaires.  We're your neighbors. 

 

Think about it!