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Clouds and possbly a sprinkle or flurry today with snow showers overnight, look for the high only 49.
Following a Friday morning meeting regarding the possible closure of the White Pine Care Center, William Bee Ririe Hospital CEO Matt Walker said no decisions have been made and discussions are ongoing. Walker said the group plans to meet again next Thursday at seven a.m., when a clearer decision is expected.
Walker said hospital officials are meeting with the business owner, the property owner, and state representatives to gather more information. He identified the cost of the land and building lease as the primary obstacle, saying the landlord’s monthly rent is too high and is the main reason the current operator plans to leave.
Walker said the landlord has so far been unwilling to negotiate on rent or building repairs, making it difficult for the hospital to consider taking over operations. If that does not change, Walker said the hospital would likely have to explore building a new long-term care facility, which would result in a loss of services during the transition period.
Walker emphasized that no final determination has been made and that the hospital is awaiting additional information before moving forward.
The White Pine County Commission will meet Wednesday, at nine a.m. at the county library conference room in Ely. KELY will broadcast the meeting live beginning at 9am. The agenda includes a wide range of county operations, financial oversight, and board appointments, including appointing the daughter of Commissioner Tim Pauley, Brandi Sumrall to the Emergency Management Committee.
At the last meeting, Commissioner Pauley delayed reappointments to the Agriculture District 13 board. One of the people now seeking the nomination to that seat in addition to the incumbent, is the son-in-law of Commissioner Pauley, Caleb Sumrall. We reported two weeks ago that Commissioner Pauley delayed the reappointments for just this reason.
In addition to scheduled items, commissioners are expected to address concerns raised following a recent meeting about an audit-related correction. According to county officials familiar with the issue, the correction was not brought to the Finance Department’s attention until after Thursday’s meeting, despite information reportedly being available as early as February 3rd. Those officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the delay prevented finance staff from addressing the issue sooner and has raised questions about internal communication in this stressful time. The issue was raised after the Commission dismissed Finance Director Kathy Workman and Assistant Finance Director Courtney Thornal resigned.
The meeting also includes a public hearing on road certification, updates on fire district operations, discussion of natural resource contracts, and a proposed golf course well project.
Commissioners will also consider staffing and administrative actions tied to finance support, job postings, and stipends for additional duties.
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office reports a busy three-day period from February 5th through February 7th, with numerous calls for service and several arrests across the county.
Deputies investigated reports of suspicious activity, burglaries, fraud, and welfare checks within the city and surrounding areas. Several incidents, including attempted thefts, shots-fired reports, and suspicious persons, were resolved with no immediate threats found, while multiple investigations remain ongoing, including vehicle burglaries and a stolen handgun.
Arrests during the period included Anthony J. Martinez of Ely on a charge of open and gross lewdness, Ashly Endicott-Correia on an out-of-state warrant, Koston Burgett on a probation violation, and Christopher M. Davidson of Ely. Davidson was arrested after deputies responded to a report of a driver possibly under the influence and contemplating self-harm. He was transported for medical assistance and later booked on DUI and firearm-related charges.
Deputies also handled reports involving juveniles, animal and traffic hazards, protection order violations, and potential child abuse, with appropriate referrals made to state agencies.
The Bobcats Basketball team wrapped up their road trip to Las Vegas this weekend with a split, losing a tight one to Founders Christian 52-50 but winning against Awaken Christian 56-53.
And the Ladycats Basketball team is getting warmed up for post season with a 52-11 romp over Founders Christian.
White Pine High Boys dominated the wrestling mat Friday, capturing the 2026 NIAA 2A Southern Region wrestling championship at Tonopah High School in convincing fashion. The Bobcats piled up 283 points, nearly doubling second-place Founders, to secure the regional team title and underline their depth across the lineup.
White Pine crowned multiple regional champions, including Jacob Reynoso at 106 pounds, Cooper Reed at 126, Theron Hernandez at 138, Jacob Hall at 190, Maddox Sedlacek at 215, and Marshall Miller at heavyweight. Several other Bobcats added key podium finishes, helping White Pine run away with the team victory.
The regional win sends White Pine into the state tournament with strong momentum and championship expectations.
Meanwhile White Pine High’s girls wrestling team sets its sights on this weekend’s state meet in Winnemucca.
The Lady Bobcats finished fifth overall in a deep, 30-team field, scoring 92-and-a-half points and placing among many of the state’s largest programs. White Pine earned several key podium finishes, led by Brooklyn Reed’s third-place finish at 100 pounds, along with fourth-place efforts from Constance Gubler, Valivia Weiland, and strong third-place finishes by Juliana Hughes and Adelaide Costello.
With multiple wrestlers qualifying and momentum building, White Pine heads to Winnemucca confident and ready to compete for state medals this weekend.
A shocking political announcement Friday morning as Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei has announced he will retire after completing his current term. Amodei is the only Republican in Nevada’s congressional delegation and represents most of Northern Nevada, including White Pine County.
Governor Joe Lombardo praised Amodei’s service, calling him an unwavering advocate for northern Nevada. Lombardo said Amodei worked tirelessly to represent Nevadans’ interests at both the state and federal levels and thanked him for his partnership and years of public service.
The Congressman says politics and health had nothing to do with his decision to retire at the end of his term. In his first interview since the surprise announcement, the Nevada Republican told The Nevada Independent that after 15 years in Congress, the time simply felt right. Amodei said his re-election prospects were strong, he’s satisfied with the GOP agenda on the economy and border security, and concerns about Republicans losing the House in 2026 did not factor into his choice. He also dismissed health speculation, saying he is not undergoing treatment and that cancer he faced in 2021 was cured. Amodei plans to remain active in Congress through the end of his term, focusing on DHS funding and Nevada public lands issues.
Governor Joe Lombardo hosted a ceremonial bill signing Friday marking passage of the Nevada Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act. The new law strengthens protections for victims of stalking and domestic violence, increases penalties for crimes against children and seniors, cracks down on DUI offenders, and holds repeat and violent criminals more accountable. The legislation also makes retail theft of 750 dollars or more a felony and treats each child exploitation victim as a separate felony offense. Lombardo says the reforms put victims first and give law enforcement stronger tools to protect Nevada communities.
In a bizarre twist, a federal judge has ordered the release of a Las Vegas property manager connected to a suspected bio-lab investigation tied to the Chinese Communist Party. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna Youchah released 55-year-old Ori Solomon on a personal recognizance bond, requiring him to surrender his passport and remain in the continental U.S. Solomon is charged federally with unlawfully possessing firearms while in the country on a non-immigrant visa. Police and the FBI searched two homes January 31, finding what they described as a possible biological laboratory with vials of unknown liquids. Solomon is not facing federal charges related to the bio lab but does face a state hazardous waste charge.