From snow, to rain and floods, to more snow, Sparks has seen it all in recent weeks from Mother Nature, and that has kept the Red Cross busy. After Washoe County was declared in a state of emergency earlier this month, the Red Cross provided 289 overnight shelter stays, served 4220 meals and 19,405 snacks, distributed over 26,000 bottles of water, and given out 41 clean up … [Read more...]
Legalization of Marijuana Doesn’t Change DUI Law
Last November, Washoe County residents were asked to vote on the statewide Measure 2- allowing people 21 and older to manufacture, possess, transport, and consume marijuana. Passing in a 54.47 percent vote, it is now legal to possess up to an ounce of marijuana or up to an eighth of an ounce of cannabis concentrate. Now that the measure has passed, Nevada’s Department of … [Read more...]
As Area Dries Out, Another Round of Storms Loom
Sparks and much of Northern Nevada were hit with the storm of the decade last week after a series of storms caused the Truckee River to crest in some areas of town. Torrential rains and snow blanketed the Reno/Sparks area causing massive flooding throughout the streets and a fast-flowing river. People were encouraged to stay inside and off of bridges as the water levels rose at … [Read more...]
City of Sparks loses gaming-tax revenue thanks to county error
Because of a mistake by Washoe County officials, the city of Sparks has been shorted about $368,000 in tax revenue from casinos since 2009, or about $52,000 per year over a seven-year period, county officials have acknowledged. The error was disclosed last week when county commissioners reviewed a report on the matter from an independent auditing company that verified the … [Read more...]
Thumbs Up Thumbs Down
THUMBS DOWN to Washoe County officials for giving casinos a tax break going back to 2009. We always knew casinos had an edge over gamblers, but we didn’t know that advantage extended into the counting room at the county administration building. Last week, county officials acknowledged that they had been significantly under-collecting gaming taxes from casinos because of a … [Read more...]
Unsafe sleeping conditions cause four infant deaths
Four Washoe County infants died in a recent six-week span because of unsafe sleeping conditions, and officials are spreading the word that these deaths are preventable. The four deaths occurred between Oct. 23 and Dec. 8, 2015, according to a statement from the Washoe County Department of Social Services. Infants under one year of age account for the greatest number of child … [Read more...]
Program recycles Christmas trees into mulch, goat treats
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Washoe County, and Goat Grazers have teamed up this year to help residents of Washoe County recycle their Christmas trees. “This program offers a quick, easy and environmentally friendly solution to dispose of your holiday tree before it becomes a fire hazard,” said Charles Moore, chief of the Truckee … [Read more...]
Christmas package thief gets 6 months in jail
A “Grinch” who pleaded guilty to stealing two Christmas packages from the front porch of a Sparks home has been sentenced to six months in the Washoe County jail, the maximum time behind bars for a misdemeanor petty-larceny offense. Arthur Flintroy, 36, was sentenced last week in Sparks Municipal Court after city prosecutor Thomas Wilson argued for the maximum jail term … [Read more...]