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Look for more sun than clouds this week. The high today should be around 45.
The White Pine County Commission is expected to take up several controversial procedural and personnel matters at its meeting Wednesday.
New Commission Chair Paula Carson plans to propose changes to public comment rules, limiting opening comments to agenda items only and moving general public comment to the end of the meeting, which could last up to four hours. The commission is also signaling a shift away from written comments, favoring in-person testimony and limiting the reading of submitted statements.
Commissioners will also consider formally reassigning duties previously handled by the former county manager. Backup materials warn that leaving those responsibilities undefined could expose the county to liability, delay projects, and strain relationships with other government agencies.
Tensions with the county’s finance office remain unresolved. The agenda includes a formal job performance evaluation of Finance Director Kathy Workman, with possible outcomes ranging from continued employment to termination.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the White Pine County Library Conference Room.
The Ely City Council received positive news during its meeting Thursday night regarding the city’s building department.
New building official Chris Flannery told council members that recent family health issues should be resolved in time for him to begin work on February 23. In the meantime, the council approved an agreement with SAFEbuilt, LLC to provide as-needed building inspection and plan review services.
Council members also approved a Class Two liquor license for Danny’s Place Discount Liquor, located at the Chevron station on East Aultman Street.
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office reports several arrests and investigations from Thursday, Friday, and Saturday’s blotters.
Deputies handled multiple juvenile cases at local schools involving vaping devices, alcohol possession, and batteries. All were referred to Juvenile Probation. Working with the Eastern Nevada Narcotics Task Force, deputies arrested 42-year-old Charles Ross of Ely on warrants for two counts of selling a controlled substance. His bail was set at one hundred thousand dollars. Twenty-four-year-old Dagan Hay of Ely was also arrested for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Both are innocent until convicted in a court of law.
Other calls included a hit-and-run, reports of shots fired that were unfounded, vandalism at a truck stop, and several accidents referred to Nevada State Police.
Deputies also responded to welfare checks and domestic disturbances, and investigated the death of an Ely man, Donal Hardcastle, which was ruled natural causes.
On Saturday Deputies responded to reports of a power outage, domestic disturbances, suspicious activity, and several traffic-related complaints. A missing juvenile was quickly located and reunited with a parent, and a reported intoxicated driver was transported to a healthcare facility for assistance.
Other calls included possible dog poisoning, a pellet gun incident that remains under investigation, and an unusual report involving a semi-truck transporting bees. The Sheriff’s Office reports no new bookings for the day.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is moving forward with his expected run for governor in 2026, while drawing criticism over some of his political alliances and policy positions, including posting photos of himself at a campaign event with Democratic Socialist antisemite Shaun Navarro - who shamefully celebrated the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Ford has recently appeared at events with progressive advocacy groups and figures, including reproductive rights organizations and members of left-leaning activist groups. Supporters say those appearances reflect his emphasis on issues like reproductive freedom and voting access, while critics argue some associations are outside the political mainstream.
Ford has also faced questions about his past work on national commissions focused on misinformation, as well as his opposition to voter ID requirements. His campaign has not responded to recent requests for comment.
The race for governor is expected to draw sharp contrasts as the 2026 election approaches.
Republican Congressman Mark Amodei is once again drawing a crowded field of challengers in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District. Amodei has won his last seven elections by an average margin of 22 points, and the district still leans heavily Republican, with GOP voters holding a 13-point registration advantage over Democrats.
This week, wealthy Tahoe investor Greg Kidd entered the race as a Democrat after losing to Amodei as an independent in 2024. He joins four other Democrats and two Republican primary challengers.
The winners of the June primaries will face off in November’s general election.
Tax season officially opens today, and for Nevadans, filing remains simpler than in most states. Because Nevada has no state income tax, residents only need to file a federal return.
The IRS begins accepting 2025 tax-year returns today, with most taxpayers facing an April 15 deadline. While some returns may already be prepared, they couldn’t be submitted until now.
This year also comes with uncertainty as Congress debates a sweeping proposal known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which could change federal tax policy. However, any changes are unlikely to affect returns filed this spring.
Tax experts say Nevadans should file under current rules, meet deadlines, and watch for potential changes in future years.
The Bobcats basketball team split their weekend home contests, winning Friday night against Lake Mead Christian Academy 53-50 but falling to Needles on Saturday afternoon 73-39. The Needles Mustangs are the top team in Division 2a.
The Ladycats also fell to Needles on Saturday 60-21. The Needles Lady Mustangs are 5th in Division 2a.
In wrestling Maddox Sedlacek brought home a great prize for White Pine County at the Walter Marrietta Vaquero Classic Tournament in Fernley over the weekend. Not only did he finish first in the 215 pound weight class but he also got the Outstanding Wrestler Award for the upper weight classes. The Bobcats team finished fourth out of the 31 teams participating. Jake Hall placed second at 190 pounds. Cainen Sedlacek finished fourth in the 175-pound division. Theron Hernandez earned third place at 138 pounds, while Landon Nielson took fourth at 132. Jacob Reynoso also placed fourth in the 106-pound weight class.
The Ladycats team finished fifth overall at the meet.
Individually, Connie Gubler placed fourth at 105 pounds. Livi Weiland earned a second-place finish at 135. Julianne Hughes took third at 140 pounds, and Addie Costello also placed third in the 145-pound division.
For the first time since the late 1960s, there will be no member of the Sellers family coaching football in Nevada.
After 16 seasons as head coach and more than two decades overall with the program, Luke Sellers has stepped down as Elko High School’s football coach. Sellers announced the decision Wednesday, citing family priorities, including his two youngest children being seniors at Elko.
Sellers finishes with a 106-and-56 record, leading the Indians to six state semifinal appearances. Elko went 9-and-2 this past season, falling to Moapa Valley in the semifinals.
Sellers plans to teach one more year at Elko, closing a chapter in one of Nevada’s most recognizable football families.