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Fair skies all week long with near record high temperatures. Look for today’s high of 61.
White Pine County Commissioners meet at 9 this morning in the County Library conference room, with public comment leading off the agenda. The headline item comes at 11:30, when engineers and designers unveil the long-delayed Phase Two redesign of the Courthouse Park duck pond, funded with SNPLMA dollars. Commissioners will review cost-cutting changes and decide whether to award the $1.4 million construction contract to Reck Brothers LLC, with the county’s share capped at $200,000. The project has been stalled since former contractor JCR went bankrupt, leaving bonding issues unresolved; Reck Brothers previously stepped in to finish other abandoned JCR projects.
The plan has stirred debate over the cost of caring for the park’s ducks during construction. As reported by the Bristlecone Tribune, Commissioners Hank Vogler and Paula Carson have questioned those expenses and suggested the ducks be removed.
Other agenda items include forming a Cherry Creek Citizens Advisory Board, revisiting the scope of the Fairgrounds Event Center project, and a request from the Treasurer to move the county’s primary checking account from Wells Fargo to Zions Bank. When asked why no local banks were considered, county treasurer Catherine Bakaric tells us The State has to qualify any bank that the county uses, and none of the local banks have been qualified.
Commissioners will also hear from Chief District Court Judge Steven Dobrescu, who reports the extended Grand Jury has issued indictments in every case forwarded by the Attorney General and is now entering its investigative phase. Because of juror turnover and the work ahead, the grand jury’s term has been extended through May 1.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m., with the duck pond presentation and contract vote slated for 11:30.
The weekend flap on Facebook over the headline story about the White Pine County Commission meeting on November 26th had people suggesting a forensic audit of the commission and the county. One commissioner thought that was a good idea as Commissioner Tim Pauley said, quoting, “I’m only one of the five commissioners, but from my standpoint, a forensic audit would be welcomed.” We’ll see if Mr Pauley makes good on that suggestion.
The Ely City Council meets Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Ely Volunteer Fire Hall on Mill Street.
A public hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. on a request from C&B Auto Parts to abandon about 1,875 square feet of city right-of-way along the north edge of High Street next to the business at 20 High Street.
Among the action items up for consideration: a water-use and deed agreement with White Pine County; waiving nearly 90 dollars in past-due utility penalties for a Cherry Creek property; allowing newly hired building official Chris Flannery to begin January 12 and covering his COBRA health insurance for February and March; reappointing Terrill Trask to the Tourism and Recreation Board and naming Anthony Ithurralde to the Historic Preservation Commission; joining the Butte Valley Exploration Project environmental review as a cooperating agency; approving a property swap with the county; and extending the Nevada Northern Railway Foundation’s development agreement to January 2027.
The council will also receive the city’s annual financial audit and hear updates from the White Pine Chamber of Commerce and the Porter Group on efforts to secure state and federal funding. The meeting is open to the public in person or online, with a final comment period at the end for any topic.
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled a range of calls on Saturday and Sunday. Deputies responded to multiple harassment reports, including threats over social media, at a sporting event, and through text messages; warnings and information on protection orders were given as needed. Two trespassing calls in the city resulted in one person being trespassed from a convenience store, while a second allegation of someone entering a home to install surveillance devices was found to be unfounded.
Deputies also took reports of property damage, including a fence struck by a vehicle and a vandalized basketball backboard at a county park, both still under investigation. Fraud involving remote access to a computer was reported, as well as a custody-exchange issue. Barking dog complaints came from both the city and county, with one owner receiving a warning. A wild mustang creating a traffic hazard, several highway accidents, a suspicious vehicle, and a reckless driver were referred to Nevada State Police or the BLM.
The most serious case was a domestic disturbance in the county, where 29-year-old Theresa C. Haskell of McGill was arrested for domestic battery, aiming a firearm at a person, and resisting a public officer. No new bookings were reported on December 7.
White Pine County is remembering longtime businessman and community leader Thomas Albert Bath, who passed away December 4 at the age of 81. A native of Ely and valedictorian of the White Pine High School Class of 1963, Bath earned a scholarship to the University of Southern California, returned home with a degree in accounting, and went on to lead the family’s Bath Lumber Company while helping launch and support other local businesses.
Bath and his wife Margaret, who died in 2016, were known as pillars of the community. He served on the Mt. Wheeler Power board, local water and debt management boards, and numerous civic and church organizations. Friends and family say his gift was listening—making everyone feel seen and heard.
One of his proudest achievements was championing the creation and later expansion of Great Basin College. He is survived by three sons, eight grandchildren, and his siblings Virginia, James, and Caroline.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, January 17 at 10 a.m. at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, with a luncheon to follow at the Elk’s Hall. The family asks that donations be made to the Committee Against Child Hunger in lieu of flowers.
A new study warns that the Harry Reid International Airport website is among the least secure of any major U.S. airport hub, putting traveler data at risk. Digital privacy firm VeePN gave the Las Vegas airport an F grade for security headers, dragging its overall score down to 57.5 out of 100 and placing it in a tie for 24th out of 31 large airports.
While the site earned an A for SSL encryption, the study found that weak security headers leave personal information—including credit card details and travel records—more vulnerable to hackers. Miami International ranked as the most secure airport website, scoring 97.5.
The Pahranagat Valley Panthers came to Ely yesterday and took home a win against the Bobcats 47-39, while the Ladycats held the line against the Lady Panthers 43-19.
The Ladycats host Lund on Thursday, while the Bobcats head to the West Wendover weekend tournament for games on Friday and Saturday against Battle Mountain, Wendover, and West Wendover.