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Look for Sunny skies with a high of 66.
Another candidate files for the White Pine County Commission Seat one. Incumbent Commissioner Hank Vogler will now be challenged by Gina Cavanaugh and David Pratt, and now former commissioner Mike Coster.
In the race for Ely City Council, Janet Walker has filed for Seat 1 on the Council. So far no Ely City council races are contested.
Candidate filing for the upcoming election continues through Friday at 5 p.m.
As you heard on KELY yesterday’s County Commission meeting was packed with drama as the Commission voted to advise the state that they wouldn’t be able to meet their financial obligations because of a lack of staffing in the Finance Department. Commission chair Paula Carson.
As we reported previously, the Commission fired Finance Director Kathy Workman, and Deputy Finance Director Courtney Thornal says she resigned after what she claimed was bullying and intimidation by commissioners. A third individual in the finance department has now resigned, leaving one employee and a contractor to run the County’s finances.
The Commission also approved a contract with Basin Engineering to complete the bid process and conduct oversight on a well for the Golf Course. But when Golf Course advisory board member James Linney pointed out that Commissioner Hank Vogler had an undisclosed conflict in the matter since his daughter leased adjacent land on the Georgetown Ranch, Commissioner Vogler took exception.
Open meetings law requires disclosure of business relationships that could be interpreted as influencing a commissioner’s vote.
The White Pine County Commission will hold a special joint meeting Monday and Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the White Pine County Historic Courthouse in Ely.
The main focus of the meeting will be a fiscal year 2027 budget workshop. Commissioners will review funding requests for a wide range of county departments and services.
County leaders are expected to discuss priorities and provide direction to the interim finance director as the next county budget is developed.
The meeting is open to the public.
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a number of incidents Tuesday.
In Ely, deputies investigated a report of vandalism after a vehicle was keyed outside an apartment complex. A theft involving a stolen debit card and fraudulent charges is also under investigation, along with another report of items taken from a vehicle parked at a residence.
Deputies are also investigating a domestic battery reported at a county trailer park. In a separate domestic disturbance, deputies say the couple agreed to separate for the night.
A resident also reported harassing text messages from a former partner and was provided information on obtaining a protection order.
Other calls included a welfare check for a possibly suicidal individual, a wallet found at a convenience store, and a dog struck by a vehicle on a city street, which was removed from the roadway.
Reports of a reckless driver and a stranded motorist on a state highway were referred to Nevada State Police. Several investigations remain ongoing.
The Ely City Council meets tonight at 5 p.m. at the Ely Volunteer Fire Hall, with several items on the agenda.
Council members will consider approving up to $5,000 in redevelopment funds to purchase fencing and signage for a proposed dog park at Broadbent Park. The council will also vote on accepting a State of Nevada water grant for the Morley Water Upgrades Project.
In new business, the council may approve a contract with Porter Group for federal government affairs consulting services through March 2027 and consider a letter of support for the White Pine Chamber’s Travel Nevada Rural Marketing Grant application.
Council members will also vote on adding a sick leave donation policy to the City of Ely personnel manual.
In high school sports, the Golf Team is on its way to West Wendover for a tournament this morning, with the Softball team preparing for a weekend trip to St George for a tournament there.
Former Nye County Commissioner Leonardo Blundo has been indicted in connection with an alleged COVID-19 relief fraud scheme totaling more than half a million dollars.
Federal prosecutors say Blundo applied for pandemic relief funds for his Pahrump restaurant, Carmelo’s Bistro, between March 2020 and September 2021, allegedly inflating the business’s revenue and number of employees and submitting false documents.
The Justice Department says Blundo received two Paycheck Protection Program loans, two Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and a Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant.
He now faces five counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
The FBI says fraud will not be tolerated and that no one is above the law.
If convicted, Blundo could face up to 120 years in prison and fines totaling about 1.7 million dollars.