Graduation rate reaches high mark
The Washoe County School District achieved its highest high school graduation rate ever with 75 percent of students in the class of 2015 earning diplomas, district officials said. That rate is 2 percentage points better than the class of 2014. Sparks High School contributed significantly to the higher graduation rate, attracting specific attention from district officials for … [Read more...]
Darth invades Reno skies
John Byrne photos/Tribune THE GREAT RENO BALLOON RACE once again showed its ability to attract a crowd, despite gusty winds on Sunday and wasps on Friday. Event organizers say the largest crowd came on Saturday, when an estimated 60,000 spectators gathered at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. On Sunday, about half the hot-air balloons remain grounded because it was too … [Read more...]
Goodbye Recession, Hello Growth
Washoe County, Carson City and three neighboring counties combined will likely see an additional 42,395 residents for a total of more than 638,000 by 2019, a major study predicts. That’s a 7.1 percent increase since 2014. The Northern Nevada Regional Growth Forecast also predicts more than 52,000 new jobs over the five-year study period from 2015-2019 for a total of 400,870 … [Read more...]
Schedule announced for Nugget Rib Cook-Off
The 27th annual Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off will run Wednesday, Sept. 2, through Monday, Sept. 7, at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks. The barbecue, music and craft festival is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Admission, parking and entertainment are free. “The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off is the … [Read more...]
Big crowd cheers, applauds at funeral for slain sheriff’s deputy
By Scott Sonner and Michelle Rindels Associated Press More than 1,000 people stood up in the middle of a funeral to cheer, applaud and whistle for a slain Carson City sheriff’s deputy remembered as both a gentle, funny man and heroic warrior who sacrificed his life to save others. Deputy Carl Howell, 35, was killed in a gun battle during a domestic violence call in … [Read more...]
39 North Marketplace
John Byrne photos/Tribune The 39 North Marketplace offers a variety of activities for all ages every Thursday at Victorian Square. The marketplace, a new event this year, wraps up its summer season this week. Violet Ortega, 3, gets her face painted at the marketplace (top), while Nevada Humane Society volunteer Karen Inda works the Victorian Square booth for the society’s … [Read more...]
Sparks city officials considering changes to garbage collection
A major change in garbage service in Sparks is in the works. Residents will be able to put material for recycling into one large container, eliminating the need to sort it into separate crates, in what’s called single-stream recycling. But residents will no longer be allowed to place additional bags of trash outside for pickup each week. The change is part of a proposal … [Read more...]