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Another new record high temperature yesterday at Yellend Field. The 83 degree reading broke the 1964 record of 81. There’s a slight chance of an afternoon or evening thunderstorm today with a high today of 83.
Nevada counties began mailing ballots Monday to more than two million active registered voters ahead of the November election.
The Secretary of State’s office says ballots will continue going out through Thursday. Early voting begins October 17th, with Election Day November 3rd.
Voters can return ballots by mail, at official drop boxes, or at polling locations during early voting and on Election Day.
White Pine county Clerk Nichole Stephey recommends use of the drop box at the rear of the Historic Courthouse 24 hours a day or just drop the ballot off at the Clerk’s Office during business hours.
Nevada’s governor’s race between Republican Governor Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford remains extremely close.
An Emerson College poll has Ford ahead by two points, but the margin of error is three-point-seven percent.
Polling analysts are split as well. Nate Silver’s model gives Lombardo a narrow point-four-point advantage, while another analysis has Ford slightly ahead.
Most national election forecasters rate the race a toss-up, with Election Day November third and early voting beginning October seventeenth.
The Ely City Council will tackle two significant issues Thursday : the city’s water rates and historic preservation.
The council will review a Rural Community Assistance Corporation study of Ely’s drinking-water rates and could direct staff to study the potential business impact of higher water, sewer and landfill rates, along with hydrant rental and “will serve” fees.
The council will also consider Resolution 2026-10, establishing historic districts along Aultman Street from First to Eleventh Street and along the Nevada Northern Railway, or East Eleventh Street.
Other agenda items include potential fee studies, NDOT signage at the city dog park, and updates on state and federal funding efforts.
Thursday’s meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the Ely Volunteer Fire Hall on Mill Street. KELY will have a podcast of the meeting available Thursday night or Friday morning on major podcast platforms by searching KELY 1230 98.5.
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office reports several arrests and investigations from Wednesday through Friday.
On Thursday, 35-year-old Zachary G. Smith of Ely was arrested following a crash involving a traffic control device. He faces charges of driving under the influence of a controlled or prohibited substance and failing to stop at the scene of an accident involving unattended property.
Also Thursday, 38-year-old Norma F. Finkenbinder of Lund was arrested on an Ely Justice Court warrant.
The Sheriff’s Office also investigated three sex-crime reports, which remain under investigation, along with threats at a school, suspected fraud, reckless driving and several welfare checks.
On Friday, deputies investigated reports of threats, harassment, trespassing and fraud. A brush fire in the county was referred to the BLM.
And 43-year-old Emily G. Edmonds of Ruth was arrested for trespassing at a local casino. Her bail was set at 355 dollars.
Elko County Fire crews and state and federal partners are responding to multiple fires sparked by lightning yesterday.
The Jones Fire in the Uhlig-Jones area is the largest, covering about 250 acres with zero containment and active fire behavior. The Dennis Flats Fire near Deeth is about three acres, while the Metropolis Fire is about two acres; forward progress has been stopped on both.
No fires were found near Raine Mine or South Fork.
Officials ask residents to report smoke or active fire, but not lightning strikes alone, to avoid diverting resources from active fires.
White Pine High School seniors and their parents are being reminded that financial aid applications can help make college more affordable.
The Nevada Promise Scholarship can provide tuition-free attendance at eligible Nevada colleges, including Great Basin College, after other financial aid is applied.
The Nevada Promise application deadline is October 31st, while the FAFSA deadline is April 1st.
Representatives from the Nevada Treasury and Great Basin College will be in White Pine High School at Senior Achievement and JAG classrooms Wednesday to walk students through the application process, eligibility and next steps.
Frank Zele, a longtime White Pine County resident, has died at the age of 86.
Zele attended McGill Grade School and White Pine High School before moving to California at age 17. He later settled in Las Vegas, where he worked in telecommunications and met his wife, Sue. They were married for 63 years and raised two children.
Frank was remembered as a happy-go-lucky man with a terrific personality who cherished his family and many friends.
He is survived by his wife Sue, two children, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and sisters Alice Hamilton and Jo Anne Ambrose of Ely.
At Frank’s request, no funeral services will be held.
A top leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is warning that the surge in online gambling and sports betting is encouraging greed, particularly among young people.
Speaking Saturday at the church’s general conference, D. Todd Christofferson said smartphone betting is taking time away from students’ studies and personal relationships. He called gambling morally wrong, arguing it promotes getting something for nothing.
Christofferson also classified online prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket, as gambling, putting the church at odds with the Trump administration, which argues those platforms should not be regulated as gambling.
The debate is especially significant in Utah, where a federal judge recently ruled the state can enforce its strict gambling laws against prediction markets.
That’s your morning news from White Pine County and the state of Nevada