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A Wind advisory this afternoon until 7am Wednesday morning with wind gusts up to 35 mph. Cloudy with scattered snow showers, accumulations only up to a half inch, today’s high only 46.
The White Pine County Commission meets tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the county library conference room in Ely. KELY will carry the meeting live starting at 9. The agenda covers routine county operations, finances, and board appointments. Notably, commissioners are set to appoint Brandi Sumrall—Commissioner Tim Pauley's daughter—to the Local Emergency Planning Committee as an alternate voting member representing the hospital. This follows Pauley's delay of reappointments to the Agricultural District 13/Fair & Rodeo Board at the prior meeting. Among the candidates for one of those seats—alongside incumbent Rope Ashworth—is Pauley's son-in-law, Caleb Sumrall. We reported two weeks ago that the delay appeared tied to this family connection. Commissioners will also tackle fallout from a recent meeting where an audit-related correction surfaced. County officials, speaking anonymously, say the fix wasn't flagged to the Finance Department until after Thursday's session—even though details were reportedly available by February 3. The lag has sparked concerns about internal communication amid ongoing stress, coming on the heels of Finance Director Kathy Workman's dismissal and Assistant Finance Director Courtney Thornal's resignation. Other items include:
- A public hearing on road certification
- Updates on fire district operations
- Discussion of natural resource contracts
- A proposed well project for the golf course
The board will also weigh staffing needs, administrative moves, finance support roles, job postings, and stipends for extra duties.
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office has released its blotter for February 8th.
Deputies responded to a report of a death at a residence in McGill. The individual was identified as Guy Meyer Senior, and the death was determined to be from natural causes.
Several motorist assists were reported across the county, including a driver out of fuel and a disabled semi-truck on state highways. Those incidents were referred to the Nevada State Police. Another vehicle stuck on a dirt road in an unincorporated area was handled by a local towing service.
In the city, deputies investigated a vandalism report involving food thrown on a parked vehicle and assisted an intoxicated pedestrian found near a city street.
Additional calls included reports of a child walking along a state highway, found property along the roadway, and possible gunshots in a township area, with no problems located.
A reckless driver in the city was issued a warning.
Basketball heads into region quarterfinals with the Bobcats hosting Awaken Christian tonight, with the Ladycats hosting Lake Mead Christian Academy tonight at 5pm.
Congressman Mark Amodei announced nearly 35 million dollars in federal funding to expand the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system into Nevada.
The funding was included in the 2026 federal appropriations bill, signed into law in January, and directs the U.S. Geological Survey to begin expanding the system beyond the West Coast. Amodei says Nevada has lagged behind neighboring states in earthquake warning technology.
University of Nevada leaders and state seismologists praised the funding, saying it will support research, infrastructure, and emergency preparedness, giving Nevadans critical seconds of warning before strong shaking begins.
For the first time in 15 years, Nevada’s Second Congressional District is wide open after Congressman Mark Amodei announced he will retire at the end of his term.
The surprise decision has sparked interest in a district that has long been safely Republican. Political analysts say the open seat creates the likelihood of contested primaries for both parties, with no clear successor waiting in the wings.
Several Republicans are considering runs, though State Senator Ira Hansen has already ruled himself out. Other potential GOP candidates include Joey Gilbert, Sam Brown, Danny Tarkanian, Tony Grady, and Paul Enos.
Democrats see a long-shot opportunity to flip the seat, citing national trends in recent elections. At least eight Democrats have already declared, with more possibly entering the race.
Candidate filing runs March 2nd through the 13th.
Nevada’s legal cannabis industry saw a decline in sales last year, even as consumer demand remained steady. State data shows regulated cannabis sales totaled nearly 758 million dollars in 2025, down almost nine percent from the year before.
Policy experts say the drop reflects falling prices, not fewer buyers, as dispensaries lower costs to compete with a strong illegal market. Researchers also point to ongoing restrictions on cannabis use and delivery along the Las Vegas Strip as a factor.
Despite the slowdown, nearly 96 million dollars in cannabis revenue went to Nevada’s State Education Fund.