8/14 News - Ward Fire wrapping up

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46/100 of an inch of rain yesterday evening with a chance for more today.  Look for cloudy skies with Scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.  Look for today’s high around 77.

The Ward Fire response is winding down, with crews continuing to extinguish remaining hot spots.

Fire suppression repairs are beginning along the 443 Road and dozer lines, with crews removing berms and stabilizing disturbed areas to reduce erosion.

A Burned Area Emergency Response team is arriving to assess safety and natural resource concerns and identify areas needing additional stabilization.

The fire will transition today to the Ely Ranger District of the Forest Service. Officials are reminding the public that a forest closure remains in effect around the fire area.

The White Pine County Commission voted Wednesday to apply for a grant to improve the White Pine High School baseball field.  With many supporters and a few gripers complaining about taxes, the Commissioners nevertheless agreed to apply for a nearly $800 thousand grant from the William N. Pennington Foundation with a $200 thousand match that had already been budgeted.  

The Commission also approved a letter of opposition to the Greenlink North transmission line project that we posted to our Facebook page, and voted to approve a policy to auction surplus county property prior to considering it to be donated. 

If you missed our broadcast of the meeting, it’s available through all podcast platforms, search for KELY News on all major podcast platforms.  

The Ely City Council approved hiring CSG Consultants as a third-party building plan reviewer on an as-needed basis at their meeting last night. City building official Chris Flannery cited increased demand with upcoming projects including the new K-8 school.  The City shares building services with the County, so White Pine County would bear a portion of that cost.  The council discussed options for replacing the city treasurer if they resign to assure continuity of service.  The City also reviewed how Club Rio was complying with Ely City Council  a proposal regarding a city-owned communications tower, and several employee pay-increase requests.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo is ordering flags lowered to half-staff Friday in honor of fallen Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Austin Abdelnabi.

Abdelnabi was killed in the line of duty August fourth while responding to a report of a person with a firearm.

The governor says Abdelnabi made the ultimate sacrifice serving his country and community, and Nevada will never forget his courage.

The flag order applies to the Nevada State Capitol and all state public buildings and grounds from sunrise to sunset Friday, in conjunction with the officer’s funeral service.

Nevada lawmakers are once again approving millions of dollars to cover overtime costs at the state's prisons.

The Legislature's Interim Finance Committee approved another four-point-one million dollars for overtime at High Desert State Prison, Nevada's largest and highest-security prison.

The Nevada Department of Corrections spent 52 million dollars on overtime statewide in fiscal year 2026, with a budget shortfall of about 38 million dollars.

Prison officials blame chronic staffing shortages, inmate violence, overdoses and the need to transport inmates to outside medical facilities.

But state audits have also found problems with overtime oversight and payroll errors. A recent audit at High Desert found recurring timesheet errors and unclear rules.

Correctional officers' union leaders say chronic understaffing and burnout remain the bigger problems, and are calling for changes to improve recruitment and retention.

The latest funding request has lawmakers questioning how long the state can continue addressing prison staffing through overtime.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a 14-year-old Fernley boy reported missing after leaving his home early Sunday morning.

Brandon Carter Junior was last seen before midnight on August ninth. His parents say he left their home on Reese River Road sometime between three and eight Sunday morning, and they have been unable to locate him.

Brandon is described as white, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing blue shorts, a black shirt, and brown shoes.

His bright red bicycle is also missing.

Anyone with information about Brandon’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to dealing with wildfires in the Reno area heavy thunderstorms and a tornado warning added to law enforcement concerns.  US-95 near Hawthorne remains closed due to flash flooding washing mud over the road several feet deep.  NDOT and county officials are working to clear the highway.  

Thursday's severe weather brought a rare tornado warning to the Salt Lake City area. The National Weather Service warned of a tornado-capable storm in Tooele County, near Dugway and Skull Valley, with hail up to two inches. The warning later expired and was downgraded to a severe-wind threat. Heavy rain also caused flooding in parts of Salt Lake County.

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

8/11 News - Ward Fire 83% Contained

 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 cloudy skies with Scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon.  Look for today’s high around 89.

Great news from last night’s community meeting on the Ward Fire: now 8,683 acres and 83% contained.

Command of the Ward Fire will change hands this morning, as the California Complex Interagency Incident Management Team transitions control to the Eastern Nevada Interagency Management Team.

Lisa Kemper will take over as incident commander at six a-m today.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest has also reduced the Ward Fire closure area. And White Pine County officials have lifted the “Ready” evacuation status for zones one through four.

Mt. Wheeler Power says the South Steptoe power line remains on single-shot protection because of ongoing fire traffic and equipment.

Forest roads inside the fire perimeter remain closed, but main roads are open. Drivers are urged to watch for fire crews and equipment.

The White Pine County Commission will meet on Wednesday, August 12th, beginning at 9 a.m., in the White Pine County Library Conference Room in Ely.

Among the items on the agenda, commissioners will consider a new policy requiring surplus county equipment and vehicles to be offered at public auction before being donated or transferred. They'll also decide whether to apply for an $808,550 grant from the William N. Pennington Foundation to improve the White Pine High School baseball field, with a $200,000 county match already budgeted.

Other agenda items include approval of a liquor license for the McGill Swimming Pool Park Labor Day weekend event, adoption of the county's Continuity of Operations Plan, acceptance of grants for the library and sheriff's office, and comments on the proposed Greenlink North transmission line project. The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live here on KELY.

The Ely City Council will meet Thursday, August 13th at 5 p.m. at the Ely Volunteer Fire Hall.

Key agenda items include reports from city departments, a quarterly Georgetown Ranch report, and consideration of utility penalty waivers totaling more than 23-hundred dollars. The council will also consider hiring a third-party building plan reviewer, options for replacing the city treasurer if they resign, a proposal regarding a city-owned communications tower, and several employee pay-increase requests.

The Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association are demanding Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford remove a campaign ad they say falsely suggests their endorsement.

The groups say Ford’s ad recycles footage from his 2018 attorney general campaign, including officers wearing their logos and badges.

Retired officer Dave Kallas, featured in the ad, says he does not endorse Ford and now supports Governor Joe Lombardo.

The Lombardo campaign says the ad is misleading and accuses Ford of manufacturing law enforcement support.

Nevada reported 31 traffic deaths in July, according to new figures from the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety.

That’s slightly higher than the 30 deaths reported in July of last year.

So far this year, 199 people have died on Nevada roads — down about 13-and-a-half percent from the same period in 2025.

Deaths involving unrestrained motorists, bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians are all down.

In White Pine County, traffic deaths are also down this year.

State figures show one traffic fatality in the county so far in 2026, compared with two during the same period last year — a 50-percent decrease.

State officials caution the numbers are preliminary and could change as crash investigations are completed.

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

8-6 News - Heat advisory through Sunday

 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 mostly fair skies today, with today’s high around 98.

A Heat Advisory is in effect across much of northern and central Nevada through Sunday night.

The National Weather Service says valley temperatures will reach 100 to 105 degrees each afternoon, including in White Pine County, where Ely, McGill, Lund, and Ruth are included in the advisory.

Forecasters warn the prolonged heat could lead to heat-related illnesses. Residents are urged to drink plenty of water, stay in air-conditioned buildings when possible, avoid prolonged time in the sun, and check on elderly neighbors and relatives.

The Ward Fire burning in White Pine County has grown to 8,728 acres and is now 5 percent contained.

The U.S. Forest Service says firefighters made progress Wednesday by strengthening containment lines on the fire's southern edge and improving emergency water supplies south of Ely. About 500 personnel are assigned to the fire.

Today's efforts are focused on securing the fire perimeter, reinforcing containment lines, and mopping up hot spots. Evacuations remain at Level One – Ready, and a fire area closure remains in effect. Residents are urged to stay alert and avoid the closure area while firefighting operations continue.

White Pine County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a reported sex crime and the theft of an electric bike in Ely.

The bike was stolen from outside a local business, and deputies say surveillance video helped identify a suspect.

Other calls Tuesday included a domestic disturbance, social media harassment involving a child, vandalism at a county park, and a scam in which someone posing as a public official demanded bail money for a supposed family member. Deputies also responded to several juvenile complaints and two welfare checks, with both individuals found to be safe.

The New Pass Fire northwest of Austin is now 60 percent contained.

The lightning-caused fire has burned 35,634 acres. Fire officials say successful tactical burning operations have slowed fire growth, and crews are now mopping up and strengthening containment lines. Travelers should expect possible intermittent road closures north of Highway 50 as firefighting operations continue.

The Quail Springs Fire in Lincoln County is showing its first signs of containment. The lightning-caused fire is now estimated at 13,611 acres and 75 percent. And the nearby Mouse Meadow fire in Nye County is at 49,766 acres 

President Donald Trump campaigned in Las Vegas Wednesday, praising Nevada Republicans and promoting his administration's economic agenda ahead of the midterm elections.

Speaking at Red Rock Casino, Trump touted tariffs, tax cuts, and his "no tax on tips" policy, while Governor Joe Lombardo joined him on stage, praising the president's leadership and calling for lower taxes, stronger immigration enforcement, and voter ID requirements.

Trump also endorsed Republican candidates for Congress and other statewide offices, as Democrats criticized the event and argued Nevada families continue to face high living costs.

Nevada added more than 19,000 active registered voters in July, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

The statewide voter roll now stands at just over 2.1 million active voters, an increase of nearly one percent from June. Nonpartisan voters saw the largest gain, increasing by more than 16,800. Democrats added about 1,600 voters, while Republicans gained 250.

Nonpartisan voters remain the state's largest voting bloc, making up nearly 39 percent of all active registered voters.

Three Republican-commissioned polls show Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo with a lead over Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in the 2026 governor’s race. The surveys, conducted from late June through late July, show Lombardo ahead by margins of 7, 9, and 12 percentage points. Lombardo’s political group, Better Nevada PAC, says the results show a strong position heading into the general election. Democrats point to other recent polling, including a survey they commissioned, that found the race much closer. 

A Henderson doctor is facing federal health care fraud charges in what prosecutors call a $95 million Medicare scheme.

A federal grand jury indicted 74-year-old Dr. Stephen Dubin, accusing him of billing Medicare for medically unnecessary wound treatments on elderly patients, including some in hospice care. Prosecutors say Medicare paid more than $54 million on the false claims and allege Dubin received illegal kickbacks while using the profits to finance a lavish lifestyle, including multi-million-dollar yachts.

If convicted, Dubin faces up to 10 years in prison on each count. Federal officials say the case is the first brought in Nevada by the new West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force.

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

8-3 News - Updates on the Ward Fire

 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. 

We got up to 93 at Yellend Field yesterday.  Look for mostly fair skies today with areas of patchy smoke this afternoon.  Look for today’s high around 97.

The Ward Fire, 9 miles south of Ely, has grown to nearly 8700 acres with no containment.   Please avoid the area.  

The following areas have been identified as entering the Ready, Set, Go evacuation process.

Affected Areas Currently Include:

Zone 1: Cave Valley Rd, 308th South St, 282nd South St, 224th South St, 221st South St, Blue Diamond Estates Community

Zone 2: Ely KOA, Mosier View Drive & Pinion Pine Lane, S 33rd W St, S 20Th W St, W 14Th S St, Methodist Church

Zone 3: Cedar Park East & West, Ely Shoshone Tribe, Mineral Heights Subdivision (Iron Dr, Mineral Dr., Opal Dr., & Turquoise Dr.), Country Rd, 80Th W St, W Juniper Hills Dr., Loves Av, Bobcat Dr

Zone 4: Willow Creek Ranch, Willow Creek Estates, Ward Charcoal Ovens

West side of US6 from Cave Valley Rd to the Methodist church

All Properties SW of US6 Bypass to Comins Lake Rd/Cave Valley Rd

Comins Lake is closed until further notice, including to observers, as helicopters are using it for water to attempt to put out the fire. 

Avoid the area.  No drone flights in the area.  That will prevent helicopters from dropping water in the area!  Stay out of the way of the firefighting operations!

Mt. Wheeler Power advises that members South of the bypass, above the high school, and west of Mineral Heights may lose power due to wildfire activity.  This include KOA, Blue Diamond and the Buffalo Ranch. The line includes the east side of highway just before the KOA. 

These types of temporary power shutoffs are used to help protect firefighters, emergency personnel, and critical infrastructure during active wildfire response.  This is due to a de-energization of the South Steptoe Line requested by BLM.  Please make sure your phones and essential medical devices are charged, and have a plan in place in case an outage becomes necessary.

If you lose power, you are urged to call Mount Wheeler at 775-289-8981 immediately.  Don’t assume it will just come back.  

Fire departments from Southern Nevada are in White Pine County to help battle the Ward Fire southwest of Ely. The state requested mutual aid as the wildfire has grown to more than 5,700 acres with no containment. The strike team includes engines and command staff from Clark County, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson. Crews arrived Sunday night and began structure protection assignments. They're expected to remain in our area for up to two weeks.

A community meeting will be held today, Monday, August 3, from 6-730pm at the Bristlecone Convention Center in downtown Ely to provide the latest information on the Ward Fire. Fire managers and representatives from the Ward Fire Incident Management Team, along with cooperating local agencies, will provide an update on current fire activity, suppression efforts, and operational objectives. Community members will also have the opportunity to ask questions and receive information directly from incident personnel. A live stream option is available on the White Pine Main Street Facebook page or live on KELY.

And it's important to repeat: Unless you live in the affected area or have an essential reason to be there, Please Stay Away from the Ward Mountain Fire Area! 

The White Pine County Sheriff's Office stayed busy during the final days of July with fraud investigations, fires, and two arrests.

On Wednesday, deputies assisted the Eastern Nevada Narcotics Task Force in the arrest of 21-year-old Quincey J. Bennett Cruz of Whitney on charges including attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, escape, and resisting a public officer.

On Friday, 34-year-old Sarah Perez of Ely was arrested for domestic battery. Deputies are also investigating an attempted burglary in Ely and identified a juvenile responsible for a hit-and-run at a county park.

Other calls included brush fires, multiple fraud scams, reckless drivers, welfare checks, thefts, and trespassing complaints.

The New Pass Fire, burning about 30 miles northwest of Austin, has grown to more than 27,000 acres and remains 15 percent contained. About 230 firefighters are assigned to the lightning-caused blaze in Churchill and Lander counties. Crews continue building containment lines as hot, dry, and windy weather is expected to keep fire activity high.

The Quail Springs Fire in Lincoln County is showing its first signs of containment. The lightning-caused fire is now estimated at 12,990 acres and 7 percent contained after firefighters made significant progress Thursday. No evacuations have been ordered, and no structures are threatened, although smoke may affect the Rachel area.

A longtime Las Vegas radio station is preparing to sign off for good. News/Talk 840 KXNT will end broadcasting on September 1 after parent company Audacy said it could not find a financially and technically viable replacement for its transmitter site. Veteran host Alan Stock announced the decision Friday, saying it was not an easy one. Stock's local morning show will move to KDWN 101-point-5 FM, formerly a 50,000 blowtorch on 720 AM,  while KXNT's nearly 40-year run on the Las Vegas AM dial comes to an end.

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

7-31 News - Elko Domestic Dispute turns fatal

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. 

We got up to 93 at Yellend Field yesterday.  Look for mostly fair skies today with areas of patchy smoke this afternoon.  Look for today’s high around 97.

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for White Pine County from 11 this morning until 9 tonight and from 11am until 9pm on Saturday. Forecasters are expecting high temperatures between 97 and 102 degrees in areas including Ely, McGill, Lund, Ruth, and surrounding communities. Officials warn that the heat could cause illness and urge residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of direct sunlight, use air conditioning when possible, and check on neighbors and loved ones.

The Elko Police Department is investigating a homicide following a domestic violence incident Monday. Officers responding to a home on Opal Drive found Daisy Cortez with severe injuries. She was flown to a Utah hospital, where she later died. Santos Cortez-Molina, who was initially arrested on a charge of domestic battery causing substantial bodily harm, now faces a murder charge. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Elko Police Detectives.

The New Pass Fire, burning about 30 miles northwest of Austin, has grown to more than 27,000 acres and remains 15 percent contained. About 230 firefighters are assigned to the lightning-caused blaze in Churchill and Lander counties. Crews continue building containment lines as hot, dry, and windy weather is expected to keep fire activity high.

The Quail Springs Fire in Lincoln County is showing its first signs of containment. The lightning-caused fire is now estimated at 12,990 acres and 7 percent contained after firefighters made significant progress Thursday. No evacuations have been ordered, and no structures are threatened, although smoke may affect the Rachel area.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Las Vegas next Wednesday to promote the Republican-backed Working Families Tax Cuts. According to the White House, the president will highlight the elimination of federal taxes on tips, Social Security benefits, and overtime pay, saying the changes will help Americans keep more of their earnings. With Nevada's large hospitality workforce, the visit is expected to focus heavily on tax relief for service industry employees.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has named Sean FitzSimons as its interim executive director, effective August 1st. FitzSimons, a former athletic director at Lincoln County High School, currently serves as an assistant director for the NIAA, overseeing coaches education, compliance, and postseason events. He replaces Timothy Jackson, whose contract was not renewed. FitzSimons will lead the association while the NIAA conducts a search for a permanent executive director over the next several months.

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