4-7 News - County Commission meets Tomorrow

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Look for fair skies through Wednesday. Look for today’s high 70 degrees with a chance of showers Thursday heading into the weekend. 

Two major leadership roles and the future of the county golf course are on the line tomorrow. White Pine County Commissioners meet at 9:00 a.m. to interview finalists for the Human Resources and Finance Director positions. These hires come after a shakeup at the courthouse, following the recent firing of former Finance Director Kathy Workman and the resignation of the HR Director immediately prior to the firing.  Two others have resigned from the Finance Department in the wake of the firing.  

Also on the table: a plan to revive the commercial kitchen and bar at the county golf course. Commissioners will decide whether to start hunting for a new tenant to lease the space. Plus, a push from Commissioner Pat Robison to move future meetings back to the library to improve ADA accessibility. You can catch the whole meeting live right here on KELY."

White Pine County Sheriff’s deputies made one arrest and responded to a wide range of calls over the weekend.

On Sunday, 18-year-old Kodie A. Herring of Ely was arrested for domestic battery following a disturbance at a county residence. Bail was set at three thousand dollars. A separate report of a sex crime in the city remains under investigation.

Deputies also handled multiple reports of reckless driving on highways and city streets, with several cases referred to Nevada State Police. Welfare checks across the area found all individuals safe.

Other calls included a theft from a vehicle, a reported fight where those involved left before deputies arrived, harassment over social media, and juvenile-related incidents.

On April 4th, deputies determined bones found during excavation in downtown Ely were not a concern, and also investigated a reported online scam involving a dog ransom, which turned out to be fraudulent.

Additional calls included traffic hazards, minor accidents, alarms, and motorist assists.

4-6 News - County Commission to hire HR and Finance Director

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 fair skies through Wednesday. Look for today’s high 69 degrees with a chance of showers Thursday heading into the weekend. 

White Pine County Commissioners will tackle key hiring decisions and a potential new lease at the county golf course when they meet Wednesday, April 8th at 9 a.m. in the Historic Courthouse courtroom.  KELY will broadcast the meeting live. 

Leading the agenda, commissioners will interview candidates for two top administrative positions—Human Resources Director and Finance Director/Comptroller. Two candidates are scheduled for HR Director interviews late in the morning, followed by possible action to extend a job offer. Immediately after, the board will interview a candidate for Finance Director and could also move to authorize an employment offer, pending background checks and contract terms.

Sources tell KELY the HR Director resigned just prior to the Commission’s firing of Finance Director Kathy Workman over the planned method of Workman’s termination. 

Also drawing attention, the commission will consider whether to move forward with leasing out the commercial kitchen and bar facility at the White Pine County Golf Course. The item calls for approval to advertise the lease, a step toward reopening or repurposing the space.  The Commission will also consider the budget for the Golf Course.  

Earlier in the meeting, commissioners will hear updates from fire officials on district progress and consider approval of more than $54,000 in grant funding for juvenile services and emergency response equipment, including resources for hazardous materials and electric vehicle fires.

A public hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the fair market value of a county parcel, followed by additional discussion on property matters.

The agenda also includes an update from the Great Basin Children’s Advocacy Center, a possible proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and consideration of up to $100,000 in continued county support.

Commissioner Pat Robison also placed an item on the agenda to ask that the meetings be moved back to the Library Conference Room, citing accessibility concerns for people with disabilities. 

Additional items include resolutions on property transfers and several approvals involving county offices and interlocal agreements.

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a variety of calls on Thursday, including threats, domestic disturbances, and welfare checks.

Deputies investigated a report of threats from an out-of-state ex-partner, along with a harassment complaint involving repeated phone calls. Several domestic incidents were also reported in Ely, with deputies providing guidance on protection orders and separating those involved.

Welfare checks included concerns about individuals possibly considering self-harm. In each case, deputies made contact and reported the individuals were safe, providing resources where needed.

On the roads, deputies handled a two-vehicle crash in the city and a collision with a deer on a state highway, which was referred to Nevada State Police. Additional calls included stranded motorists, a public nuisance involving illegal burning, and a pedestrian welfare check along a county roadway.

4-3 News - Statewide Distracted Driving Campaign begins 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. 

Look for fair skies and a warming trend ahead. Look for today’s high 52 degrees warming to 63 tomorrow and by Monday we’ll be back to 70 degrees. 

Pay attention over the next couple of weeks as you drive. 

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office is joining law enforcement agencies statewide for a distracted driving enforcement campaign running April 3rd through April 20th.

The effort is part of Nevada’s “Joining Forces” initiative, aimed at increasing high-visibility patrols and educating drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.

Officials say distractions can include cell phones, passengers, eating, or anything that takes a driver’s attention off the road. Sending or reading a text for just five seconds at highway speeds is equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

The campaign is supported by the Nevada Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety and is part of the state’s Zero Fatalities goal.

Authorities are urging drivers to stay focused and remember: every decision behind the wheel can be life or death.

The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office reports a range of calls on April 1st, including one arrest in Ely.

Deputies responded to multiple crashes and reckless driver reports on state highways, with several cases referred to the Nevada State Police, including one triggered by cellphone crash detection.

In Ely, a welfare check involving possible self-harm ended with the individual found safe, and a school resource officer located a student who had left campus without permission.

Other incidents included trespassing, suspicious activity, and a vandalism case involving a rock thrown at a vehicle, which remains under investigation.

Deputies also arrested 31-year-old Jessie Berrocal of Ely for domestic battery following a disturbance. Bail was set at 3-thousand dollars.

4-2 News - Ely City Council has special meeting tonight

 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. 

A wind advisory has been posted until 8 o’clock tonight.  Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.  Rain and snow showers this morning will give way to mostly sunny skies, look for a high of 48.  

The Ely City Council will hold a special meeting tonight at 5 p.m. in the Volunteer Fire Hall to consider approval of a city gaming license for a William Hill Race and Sports Book kiosk at the Hotel Nevada.

The item was on last week’s agenda but was tabled to correct the hotel’s address. The kiosk has already received approval from the state Gaming Commission.

White Pine County Sheriff’s deputies handled a range of calls on March 31st across Ely and the county.

Crews responded to a reported explosion and fire at a substation. Deputies and local fire departments arrived on scene and the fire was quickly extinguished.

Several highway-related incidents—including a traffic hazard, crash, reckless driver, and a stranded motorist—were referred to Nevada State Police.

In Ely, deputies investigated reports of threats, harassment, drug paraphernalia, and disturbances. One person was trespassed from a county facility, and another was referred for medical assistance.

Other calls included a domestic disturbance, a report of missing property, and a lost firearm.

One arrest was made—24-year-old Jeremy Moreno of Ely was booked for possession of a controlled substance, with bail set at 15-thousand dollars. 

3-31 News - Morning Fire at Gonder Substation on US-93 snarls traffic

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. 

After yesterday’s 71-degree high, cooler weather is settling in. Expect cloudy skies today with a strong chance of showers and a possible afternoon thunderstorm. High temperatures will top out around 59 degrees.

Photo:  Kirstan Lee Van Horn on Facebook

A Fire at the Gonder Substation on US-93 between McGill and Ely just after 6am is now out, but for much of the morning commute had traffic on US-93 down to one lane.  

Mt Wheeler Power advises that the fire involves an NV Energy Transformer and that they anticipate no service outages related to the fire.  

Photo: Ginger May Jensen on Facebook

The Ely City Council will have a special meeting on Thursday at 5pm in the Volunteer Fire Hall to approve a City Gaming License for a William Hill Race and Sports Book kiosk in the Hotel Nevada.  The matter was on last weeks meeting agenda but had to be tabled to correct the Hotel’s address.  The kiosk has already been approved by the state Gaming commission.  

White Pine County Sheriff’s deputies handled a variety of calls across Ely and the county on Sunday.

In the city, officers responded to reports of suspicious activity, alarms, and two separate vehicle crashes, with no major issues reported. Several domestic disturbance calls were also investigated.

One incident led to the arrest of 28-year-old Rodney Lesher Junior of Ely on charges including domestic battery, battery on a protected person, and resisting and obstructing a public officer. His bail is set at 85-hundred dollars.

In a separate case, 43-year-old Deleah Kaamasee was arrested following a traffic stop for driving on a suspended license, with bail set at 740 dollars.

Deputies also handled a theft report, a barking dog complaint, and a welfare check on a juvenile, who was reported safe.