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Monsoonal moisture is back in play today with a pretty good chance of showers and maybe an afternoon or evening thunderstorm both today and tomorrow. A cooling trend ahead with today’s high around 88.
A reminder: the White Pine Bobcats Football team hosts American Leadership Academy tonight, but the game has been moved up. It’s now a 6pm start tonight. Get an early start.
Here’s your Friday morning Wildfire Update. 45 miles to the North of Ely, the community of Cherry Creek remains on level 1, Ready, of the three-step Ready Set Go evacuation protocol, as the 300-acre Kearny fire is burning just a couple of miles to the west of the community. The fire is now 30% contained and significant progress has been made on containment. Resources will continue working to hold the fire within its current footprint and secure the fire's edge, and anticipate minimal fire growth overnight.
Meanwhile, farther north, the Oxley fire near Wells has consumed over 11,384 acres but is now 32% contained. Drivers heading north on US-93 into Idaho should monitor NVRoads dot com for possible closures, and use caution, slow down and move over for emergency vehicles and personnel.
The Ely City Council selected Mayor Nathan Robertson and Councilwoman Michele Yeoman to serve on a joint Building Official Dispute Resolution Committee with White Pine County. The County appointed Commissioners Tim Pauley and Jose Noriega as their representatives. The County sought the committee over the City seeking a third-party Building Service company for large projects.
The council tabled awarding a construction bid for Phase Three of the Steptoe Valley Trap and Skeet Range Hunter Education Building after changes intended to reduce the project's cost may require further revisions.
A podcast of last night’s meeting is available through all podcast platforms by searching KELY 1230AM/98.5 FM News and Commentary.
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled a busy day of calls Wednesday, including threats, harassment, fires and accidents.
Deputies investigated several threat complaints, including threatening text messages and an allegation of violence at an event outside the county. That case remains active.
Deputies also responded to a report of dogs left unattended inside a vehicle at a local casino. The owner allegedly threw water on the person who confronted them and is expected to receive citations for leaving pets unattended in a vehicle and battery.
Search and Rescue assisted an injured hiker in a national park, who was transported for medical care.
Several fire reports across the county were referred to the Bureau of Land Management.
Deputies also investigated a hit-and-run at a local car wash, reckless driving, and juveniles riding with their bodies out of a vehicle. Warnings were issued.
Here’s an update on an AMBER Alert issued Wednesday in connection with a one-year-old child from Elko County has led authorities to locate the child and mother in Las Vegas.
The Elko County Sheriff’s Office says the child had reportedly been taken to Modesto, California, where allegations of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence were investigated.
Authorities say the mother’s boyfriend was accused of punching the child and locking the child in a closet for extended periods.
The mother failed to appear for a court hearing in Elko on Tuesday involving temporary guardianship and the child’s return to Nevada.
An AMBER Alert was issued Wednesday afternoon after investigators expressed concern the child was being concealed and could be taken to Mexico.
The sheriff’s office says the mother and child were later located in Las Vegas. Deputies are working with Las Vegas Metro and Nevada Child and Family Services to ensure the child’s safety.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Eureka County schools were placed on lockdown Tuesday after a reported threat that authorities now believe was a swatting call.
The Eureka County Sheriff’s Office says dispatch received a call from Eureka Elementary reporting a threat. Deputies arrived within minutes, and both Eureka Elementary and Eureka High School were placed on lockdown.
The sheriff’s office worked with Nevada State Police, the Nevada Division of Investigation and the White Pine County Sheriff’s Office to determine there was no actual threat to students or the community.
The schools were later cleared, but law enforcement remained in the area until students were released.
The investigation continues as authorities work to identify whoever made the swatting call. The sheriff’s office says those responsible will be prosecuted.
A new study ranks White Pine County among the loneliest counties in Nevada.
The study, based on CDC data, found 36-point-two percent of White Pine County adults say they feel lonely always, usually or sometimes.
That ties White Pine with Lyon County for sixth among Nevada’s ten ranked counties and independent cities.
Nye County had the highest rate in Nevada, at 39-point-two percent, while Elko County came in at 34 percent.
Statewide, 37-point-seven percent of Nevada adults reported feeling lonely, compared with 34-point-nine percent nationally. The study was carried out by CBD company Mood.com, which analysed CDC estimates covering 1,996 counties across 39 states.
The study suggests loneliness can vary significantly from one community to another, and researchers say regular social connections, such as clubs, walks or simply checking in with neighbors, can make a difference.
That’s your morning news from White Pine County and the state of Nevada