The HUB@Oddie located at 1835 Oddie Boulevard recently underwent a total transformation and is now the location of 59 apartments that include studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom living spaces. The HUB was originally a skilled nursing facility that was managed by Renown Health, yet it has been vacant for the past three years. Lara Properties took over the land and began the … [Read more...]
Victorian Square improvement projects to be finished next month
A few weeks ago, the City of Sparks announced that a few capital improvement projects are being done in Victorian Square to be completed before summer comes around. Among these are the Nugget Event Center Forecourt Project and Victorian Square Infrastructure Improvements. The Nugget Event Center Forecourt Project was approved at the December 12, 2022, in a unanimous vote by … [Read more...]
Elks Lodge names Casey Mentzer its 2022 Sparks Citizen of the Year
On February 10, the Sparks Elks Lodge 2397 named Casey Mentzer its 2022 Sparks Citizen of the Year. As the lead engineer at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF), Mentzer is passionate about his job. He was born and raised in Sparks and earned a B.S. degree with a focus in chemical engineering and then a Master’s in Public Administration from University of … [Read more...]
Drake Elementary School teacher wins prestigious Milken Educator Award
Last week, Florence Drake Elementary School teacher and soccer coach Jason Murray was given the Milken Educator Award along with a $25,000 cash prize to use however he wants. Murray teaches third and fourth grade at the Sparks elementary school and joined 2,900 other instructors across the nation who are equally dedicated to strengthening the educational system in America. The … [Read more...]
Council rejects settlement offer from former fire chief
In its regularly scheduled February 13 City Council meeting, Sparks councilmembers struck down a proposal by former fire chief Mark Lawson to give him $441,218.83 in settlement fees in which Lawson cited he was owed for allegedly terminating his contract without cause and breach of contract. Lawson demanded compensation for the loss of pay, benefits, legal fees, and … [Read more...]
City launches new interactive app for residents
The City of Sparks recently launched a new mobile app called My Sparks, which streamlines the process for residents to put in service requests (like alerting the city to potholes, graffiti, or abandoned cars), receive notifications, and easily access the most highly requested information. The My Sparks app is free and easy to download through the Apple Store or Google Play … [Read more...]
New free-standing ER opens in Spanish Springs
Last week, the City of Sparks celebrated the completion of the new Northern Nevada Medical Center ER located off Oppio Ranch Parkway and Pyramid Way. Sparks City councilmembers, Mayor Ed Lawson, the city attorney, and NNMC staff all took part in the ribbon-cutting before touring the brightly lit, brand new interior. NNMC’s new ER will be open 24/7 to accommodate a variety of … [Read more...]
RTC seeks input on Sparks transit route improvements
The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County has been busy in the last few weeks as it continues work on the Oddie Wells Project and working on improvements to its public transit system. The RTC is looking to redesign its transit routes to better serve its users, and is proposing to implement a few changes to the Sparks route system as soon as this coming May. The … [Read more...]