by carsoncityjournal | May 17, 2020 | Uncategorized

Gov. Steve Sisolak
“We must achieve Phase I criteria before we tackle Phase 2.”

Gov. Steve Sisolak at a news conference Friday said it’s not clear whether the recent Stage 1 reopening of Nevada’s businesses will do enough good to get a jump on the second phase of re-opening the state.

Governor Sisolak said he’s encouraged that the trend of new infections is headed downward as it has for the past 20 days and that Nevada’s hospitals are doing fine.  No big explosions of cases.  Governor Sisolak said “While we’re hopeful looking at the trends, it’s too early to tell whether we’re on our way to a prolonged recovery.”

Hair and nail salons, as well as some dine-in restaurants, are also allowed to reopen but are directed to follow safety precautions.  Sisolak said that it’s too early to draw firm conclusions but time will bear out where we’re going and whether it’s in the right direction.

Anxious news reporters peppered the Governor with questions surrounding the eventual start up of Phase 2.  Sisolak said he needs to see at least a half-a-month of health care data before he can make any adjustments to the roll-out of Phase 2.  Sisolak reminded everyone, “It’s still about the data trends.”

Sisolak was asked about how to accommodate religious services;  he said “It’s hard to keep worshipers six feet apart and there is a raised risk to older church-goers.  He suggested drive-in church services for the time being.

Nor was there concrete guidance on when schools would be allowed to reopen, especially as evidence emerges of an illness among children called multisystem inflammatory syndrome that appears to have a connection to the coronavirus.

Sisolak was heartened to learn that Covid-19 testing is up and running – 17,000 tests performed just last week.  Sisolak acknowledged the nation’s basic failure to adequately test coast-to-coast but he’s hopeful the country will catch up in time for cooler weather which is expected to arrive in late September.  Sisolak said testing is reaching about 2,500 people a day but it could hit 4,000 if more people would come down and get tested.  The state is not knocking door-to-door.  People must go to the official testing stations.

The state averaged about 2,500 people tested per day in the last week, and he added that the state probably already has the capacity to test 4,000 people a day — if not now, then by next week. But he acknowledged the fear of people physically going to a testing site and actually getting 4,000 people a day to submit to the testing, “That’s a real chore.”

Sisolak added that all Nevadans should wear face masks when they’re out-and-about.  He says face masks slow the spread of the virus WAY DOWN – so WEAR YOUR FACE MASK!!  The Governor added, “Wear a face mask for someone you love, for someone you care about and the payoff will be that we’ll all be able to get into Phase 2 quicker.” 

Sisolak says Nevada is several weeks away from flirting with Phase 2.

The snake-curve exit at 580 and Fairview snags another motorist Saturday afternoon

by carsoncityjournal | May 17, 2020 | Uncategorized

Motorcycle rider exits northbound 580 at Fairview – loses control on exit curves and crashes his cycle and slides off the pavement.

Paramedics prepare the cycle rider for a quick trip to Renown in Reno

Victim was talking as rescuers loaded him aboard a Care Flight chopper bound for Reno.

Care Flight and patient headed for Renown in Reno.

Carson City Deputy Sheriff inspects the motorcycle before it’s hauled away.

The motorcyclist was northbound on I-580 when the rider decided to exit the highway at Fairview Drive. From reading the skid marks and disturbed dirt the motorcyclist fell victim to the same problem that auto drivers and motorcycle riders have faced in the past as they try to navigate this particular exit ramp. The ramp gives a straight-ahead exit but it quickly bends to the right which can demand a sharp maneuver to the right – and at 45 to 55 mph there is little room for error as a number of drivers and riders have experienced. After the first bend in the exit ramp it bends back to the north causing another quick maneuver which has caused vehicles to take out exit street lamps and road signs on the right side of the exit ramp.

To be continued as more information is released.

Fire alarm at Silver Oaks Apartments

by carsoncityjournal | May 16, 2020 | Uncategorized

Lots of smoke inside an apartment at 777 Silver Oaks Drive late Friday. Tenants from two apartments quickly evacuated.

Firefighters found the cause – likely a bad belt in the furnace.

Carson City Firefighters were code three (full lights and sirens) enroute late Friday night to a report of a fire in an upstairs apartment at 777 NE College Parkway. Upon arrival firefighters discovered that the lone male in the smoky apartment had already made it downstairs and another family across the balcony were already downstairs, on the grass, away from the building.

Firefighters raced upstairs with fire extinguishers in hand while other firefighters were beginning to lay hose and pump water from down below. But firefighters upstairs quickly surmised that the smoke was coming from hot dry belts in the furnace. The furnace, by then, was unplugged. Firefighters strongly urged that the apartment manager get a maintenance crew to replace or reset the belts as fast as possible. Until then, under orders by the Fire Department, don’t turn on the furnace until it’s fixed.

Senator Masto helping with unemployment problems facing unemployed Americans

by carsoncityjournal | May 16, 2020 | Uncategorized

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada Dear Fellow Nevadan, I’ve heard from many Nevadans who are self-employed—including gig economy workers, independent contractors, and people with part-time jobs—who have been financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, I voted for funding to provide workers like you with unemployment insurance during this difficult time. The CARES Act established a temporary program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) that temporarily expands unemployment insurance to cover individuals who are not traditionally covered, including the self-employed, gig workers, independent contractors, and workers with irregular work history. Just as importantly, it expands the circumstances under which you can apply for unemployment to cover many situations related to the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re one of these workers, I want you to know that the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) is starting to make this assistance available on Saturday, May 16. I want you to be aware of the support that may be available to you. To apply for these funds, you will need to fill out the online PUA application at www.employnv.gov. You may also call the Nevada PUA call center at 800-603-9681. You will want to have on hand documents that show your 2019 income, including things like tax returns, W-2 or 1099 forms, pay stubs, and bank statements. For additional information on the PUA program visit the DETR website here.

In addition to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the CARES Act provides funds to extend unemployment insurance for workers in more traditional industries who have lost work due to the coronavirus pandemic and whose unemployment benefits have expired or been exhausted. DETR has recently announced that an additional 13 weeks of this Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) is now available to Nevadans. If you are potentially eligible for PEUC, DETR will notify you by mail, and you will then need to log in to the unemployment insurance claim filing system and follow the steps outlined here. I know many of you—or your friends and family—have waited in long telephone queues or struggled to get the necessary guidance to access this critical lifeline. I understand how stressful and frustrating this time has been. I’m continuing to work with Governor Sisolak to ensure Nevada has the support it needs to get these funds to every qualified Nevadan who needs assistance. It will take time for DETR to process applications for these funds, which I understand adds to uncertainty for Nevadans and their families. To help those in Nevada affected by the pandemic cope with its impact, I’ve put together a COVID-19 Disaster Resource Guide with helpful information for anyone struggling to pay bills or get critical information about support available. Together, we’ve stayed home for Nevada. And together, we will get back on our feet and get Nevada safely back to work. I’m doing all I can in the Senate to make sure every Nevada family gets the hand up they need to recover. My office is regularly updating my COVID-19 Disaster Resource Guide and sharing new information on my website—so make sure to visit www.cortezmasto.senate.gov. If you have any questions or need help navigating a federal agency, you can also reach out to my office through my website or by calling one of my offices in Nevada or Washington, D.C. I am here to help. Sincerely, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada

Carson ridge Disc Golf Park closed on Mondays…

by carsoncityjournal | May 15, 2020 | Uncategorized

Carson City Public Works never ‘duck’ their responsibilities…

by carsoncityjournal | May 15, 2020 | Uncategorized

When Carson City Public Works employees come to work they know they have a full day ahead of them.  But on this day they found themselves facing a work order they couldn’t “duck” under.  It was a Carson City resident calling on them to rescue a long line of ducklings that got trapped down a street drain – and they couldn’t get out.  And the mama duck was pacing nervously back and forth above them just absolutely beside herself with stress.

Public Works workers called the Carson City Humane Society to the scene and sure enough there was a whole gaggle of goslings just under the iron street screen.   A brawny public works worker reached down and pulled up the screen, revealing the ducklings right below.

One by one the little ducklings were retrieved from what could have been their watery grave during a rain storm.  When the ducklings were released they ran after what was a very worried Mama Duck.  They all met up on the grass and quickly waddled off chasing after mom.

Public Works and Humane Society folks say if you hear a duck in distress near a storm drain just take a look down.  You just might be able to save it.

If you need help, just call the Nevada Humane Society in Carson City at (775) 887-2171.