On March 29, an altercation with a man that began in Reno ended in a standoff and shootout near Greenbrae Drive and Rock Boulevard in Sparks resulted in three officers shot and the suspect dead. The incident has left the city rattled and damaged the homes of three residents. “We really don’t see these kinds of things happening in Sparks, this is a quiet, working-class … [Read more...]
Sparks names new city manager
On Monday, March 25, the Sparks City Council and Mayor Ed Lawson decided to hire Dion Louthan as the community’s next city manager. The city manager position had been open since September of last year when Louthan’s predecessor Neil Krutz was fired because of how he managed the termination of the city’s former fire chief Mark Lawson during his employment. Sparks Police … [Read more...]
Sparks elementary teacher wins Milken Educator Award
There’s something special about Sparks’ elementary schools, and this year is no exception. At Alice Maxwell Elementary School last Thursday morning, the room was packed with students, local dignitaries, teachers, media, and education officials gathered at an event unofficially known as the “Oscars of Teaching”. To celebrate what was in store, everyone from Sparks Mayor Ed … [Read more...]
Eddy House breaks ground on new living complex for at-risk youth
The Eddy House recently broke ground on the construction of a 36-unit apartment complex next to its existing shelter near Willow Street in Reno. The new Transitional Living Community is part of its $14 million campus expansion, funded in part through the Nevada Housing Division and Home Means Nevada Initiative (helping residents who have been affected by the lack of … [Read more...]
Contract awarded for new Victorian Square art piece
The Sparks Arts and Culture Advisory Committee recently chose sculptor Jim Gallucci to design and install a public art piece to be installed in Victorian Square this upcoming October. The project is part of the Together We See Sparks creative placemaking plan that was approved by the city council in May 2020. In June 2023, the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee voted on two … [Read more...]
Sparks Heritage Museum celebrates the City’s119th birthday on Friday
On March 15, 1905, the City of Sparks was created when then Governor John Sparks signed a bill to mark its existence. On March 15, 2024, the Sparks Museum will be celebrating the city’s 119th birthday at 5:30 p.m. with cake, the Mayor’s Exhibit, and the launch of the Sparks History Map. Inside the museum, the Mayor’s Exhibit pays homage to every mayor that has represented … [Read more...]
City receives 77 applications to paint Sparks’ signal boxes
In early December of last year, the City of Sparks released a Call for Artists to paint 10 signal boxes around Prater and Oddie Boulevard. The public art initiative was launched to help highlight local and regional artists and contribute to the overall beautification of the city. When the application period closed on February 12, 2024, the city received 77 … [Read more...]
KTMB announces monthly Saturday cleanups; first one will be March 2
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) is kicking off Saturday morning monthly cleanups in Washoe County, giving more opportunities for the community to get involved in preserving the Truckee River and recreational spaces that surround it. The first cleanup will be held on Saturday, March 2 at the Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then the second one … [Read more...]