We are now about a month into the new venture of making the sports sectional, a regional look and I am very happy how his has gone and looked. In a couple months, I will have been in the same job for 32 years, and have built relationships across Nevada. I have taken those relationships and ran with it.

I feel and hope you do, that Northern Nevada is one big family. We are not in the Wells, Elko, Carlin market yet and I say yet. You never know. Ha.

But from the reaches of eastern Nevada, traveling on Interstate 80 to Battle Mountain, Winnemucca and Lovelock, with a detour to McDermitt on 95 and another detour on 95 to Fallon and Fernley — everyone knows everyone. I hope people want to see Silver Stage, Oasis Academy and Pyramid Lake stories. There will be Eureka stories as well and we ran Round Mountain/Tonopah football and volleyball stories.

I probably take sports more serious than other publications. There are publications that think they are an urban paper but are in reality a rural paper and put sports and the back burner and local sports suffer. You are not a college town. 

It’s my goal and hope, that you want to read about what is going on with other rural schools in the 1A, 2A and 3A. These are the schools at the core of Nevada. They built Nevada. Rivalries’ are taken to the next level. I always joke and say the 3A is the best A. Am I biased, probably. You can say that in Southern Nevada with Virgin Valley, Moapa Valley and Boulder City. Those rivals hate each other, love each other and need each other.

Any feedback is welcome. Myself, Robert and Peggy want to make this the best we can. I also have great contributors that have helped as well.

I usually find something or someone to yell at or call a moron but everyone is acting halfway like human beings.

We are a month into the school year — a month — where does the time go? Before you know it, it will be basketball and wrestling season.

There haven’t been many surprises in high school fall sports this fall. The teams that are good, are still good. The ones that are bad — well appear to getting worse.

What or whom am I suppose yell at? The Colin McNaught Cup (oh sorry Superintendent’s Cup) has started in Clark County. This award is for the 30 football teams playing as independents to avoid playing Bishop Gorman. I hope Colin, the speech and debate champion of all time, is on hand to give the championship trophy out.

OK!!! So, I yelled at someone. Colin makes it too easy.

Contact Tony Erquiagaat tony@rangemediaco.com

To qualify for the Dean’s List during the summer term, students are required to attain a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and complete six units of classes or more.

“Academic achievement requires commitment, discipline and perseverance, and our 2026 Summer Dean’s List students have demonstrated all three,” said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. “Earning a 3.50 GPA or higher while completing at least six credits during the summer is a significant accomplishment, and these 76 students should be proud of the excellence they have achieved. Their success reflects not only their dedication, but also the support of our faculty, staff, families and communities. We congratulate each of our Dean’s List honorees and look forward to seeing where their hard work takes them.”

Students achieving the academic honor are:

Dayton: Larisa Aguilar, Corey Andona, Kimberley Andona, Maria Barajas, Paula Hoffman-Claypool, Kaitlyn Kitchens, Richard Tidrick        

Fallon: Dakota Ballard, Kendalle Dummar, Bowie Jarschke, Savahanna Kelley, Brooklyn Layton, Marilyn Mauwee, Alondra Ramirez, Autum Sanchez, Ashli Sehorn, Kodus Wehe

Fernley: Kaline Dos Anjos, Evelyn Julicher, Phoenix Knight, Emalee Moccio, Tina Rodriguez, Jenna Sunell

Mound House: Zach Edmiston

Silver Spring: Joleen Talbott

Stagecoach: Zachary Affeldt, Brandi Ferguson 

The addition of fine arts reflects an important part of a classical Christian education: teaching children not only to recognize what is true and good, but also to appreciate and create what is beautiful. Through age-appropriate experiences in the arts, students have opportunities to develop creativity, strengthen new skills, and learn to use their God-given abilities with care and purpose.

Veritas Preparatory School students in fifth through eighth grades also have a new opportunity to develop their artistic talents with the addition of guitar instruction, taught by Mr. Ernst.

The new class expands the role of music in the Veritas curriculum and gives older students the opportunity to learn an instrument while developing an appreciation for music. Students will build foundational guitar skills as they learn the discipline, patience, and practice necessary to grow as musicians.

Music has long held an important place in classical Christian education. Through the study and performance of music, students encounter order, harmony, beauty, and creativity while developing skills that can last a lifetime. Learning an instrument also provides students with another avenue to use their individual gifts in service to others and for the glory of God.

Veritas is excited to add fine arts and guitar to its curriculum and to continue its tradition of an exceptional classical Christian education for all students.

Following graduation in May with both his high school diploma and an associate degree from Western Nevada College, Schoenmeier plans to attend the University of Nevada, Reno to complete his bachelor’s degree in computer science. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he hopes to join the Navy and pursue a career in cybersecurity.

During his time at Oasis, Schoenmeier has appreciated the support he has received from both teachers and classmates.

“The teachers have been great. They have been there to help if I needed it, and my classmates have been helpful,” he said.

One teacher who has made a particular impact is Mr. Evan Brandt, who taught him math and coached him in wrestling. Brandt’s math class was also his favorite class at Oasis.

“I like math, and Mr. Brandt is a really good teacher and made class enjoyable,” he said.

Schoenmeier has been successful in the classroom. He was named to the Western Nevada College Dean’s List for the Spring of 2026.

Outside the classroom, Schoenmeier has been involved in both football and lacrosse. One of his proudest athletic memories came during football, when the team won the 2025 state championship. Schoenmeier has been playing football since freshman year as a defensive lineman on JV and moving to center offensive lineman for the Varsity Churchill County High School Greenwave Football team. In his junior year he was named Honorary Offensive Lineman.

He also looks back fondly on traveling with FFA to the state convention and competing in the Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event since his eighth-grade year. The poultry team won third place in his sophomore year, and he won second place in poultry individual his junior year. The experience has been one of his favorite memories from his time at Oasis.

As he prepares to graduate and begin the next chapter of his life, Schoenmeier offers some simple advice to his fellow students.

“Don’t worry about what people think. Find your people and just have fun,” he closed.

First Graders Learn the Power of Kind Words

First‑grade students recently explored the importance of kindness and the impact our words and actions can have on others while reading “Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes.

Through the story, students learned that teasing and unkind words can hurt, while encouragement, acceptance, and kindness can help others feel valued and confident. The class discussed how everyone is unique and why it is important to treat others with respect, even when someone may be different from us.

To bring the lesson to life, students participated in an activity using a paper heart. The heart represented a person’s feelings. As students heard examples of mean words or hurtful actions, they were instructed to wrinkle the heart. Students then tried to smooth the heart back out after hearing kind words and positive actions.

The activity helped students see that, while kind words and apologies can help, the wrinkles do not completely disappear. The lesson gave students a visual reminder that hurtful words and actions can leave lasting marks, making it especially important to think before we speak or act.

The first graders walked away with an important message: Use honesty, empathy, and respect from the Herd Matrix to treat others with kindness and help keep each other’s hearts from getting wrinkled.

Fourth Graders Put Rounding Skills to the Test

Oasis Academy fourth graders recently took their math learning off the page and onto the number line as they practiced rounding numbers to the thousands place.

Working in small groups, students received a variety of numbers and were challenged to place each one correctly on a number line. Once they positioned their numbers, students determined which direction to round and identified the nearest thousand.

The activity gave students a chance to practice an important math skill while working together, discussing their thinking, and explaining their reasoning to classmates. By visualizing where numbers fall on a number line, students could see how rounding works rather than simply memorizing a rule.

Through the generosity of Logos students and their families, $450 was raised to help with medical expenses and other costs associated with this difficult season. The fundraiser also provided an opportunity for students to learn that serving others can take many forms, including helping people they may not know personally. 

Galatians 5:13 reminds us to “serve one another humbly in love.” PJammin Day allowed the students to put that message into action by showing compassion and generosity to a family in their own community.

Seniors Connect with Community at Senior Service Fair

By Salome Dawson, CCHS 12th‑grade Student

On Friday, September 4, Churchill County High School held its Senior Service Fair, welcoming nine guest speakers who introduced seniors to different ways they can volunteer with local organizations. After the presentations, students explored the booths, asked questions, and learned more about where they might want to complete their service. CCHS teacher Monica Fairbanks organizes the fair as part of the Senior Service Project, a required project for seniors in her class. “The Senior Service Fair brings local organizations to the high school to interact with our students, inform them of volunteering opportunities, and provide them with a chance to become involved in their local community,” Fairbanks said. For the Senior Service Project, students complete eight hours of volunteer service along with related research and narrative projects. Those eight hours also fulfill the volunteer requirement for the Nevada Promise Scholarship, allowing students to complete that requirement while gaining firsthand experience serving their community.

CCMS

Week three brought another busy week of learning, moving, and growing at Churchill County Middle School, with students engaged in a variety of lessons and activities across campus. LaResa Darrington’s students put their skills to the test while learning about liquid measurements. In PE, students learned the rules and skills of pickleball before putting what they learned into action on the court. In Justin Chambers’ health class, students focused on the importance of healthy habits and the choices that contribute to overall wellness. Other students spent time building their reading skills and diving into their books. From liquid measurements and pickleball to healthy habits and reading, students across CCMS continue to learn, grow, and show what they can do.

Picture below: Students play pickleball on the outdoor courts at Oats Park.

Numa

Students in Lisa Solinski’s class have spent the past several weeks working on a creative project that helped them share a little about themselves with their new classmates. Students created self‑portraits that included a “sunglass vision” of their summer, using the lenses of their sunglasses to visually represent their summer experiences. After putting the finishing touches on their portraits, students presented them to the class last week and shared what they chose to include. The project was a great way for students to get to know one another at the start of the school year and gave each student a chance to share a visual representation of themselves and their summer with the class.

E.C. Best

Jennifer Sanches and the Library Llamas are back in the swing of things for a new school year. During the first week, students were assigned Chromebooks so they would be ready to get to work. By the second week, it was time to start regular library activities. Second graders read “Goldilocks and the Three Librarians” by Jackie Mims Hopkins and learned about finding their “just right” books. Third graders read “The Library Dragon” by Carmen Agra Deedy and learned about the Library Dragon guarding the books. During Labor Day week, students read “This Very Tree” by Sean Rubin, bringing a message of hope into discussions about the 25th anniversary of September 11. With the library now fully in the swing of things, students and families can look forward to the Fall Book Fair October 5–9. The week will also include a family literacy night and chili cook‑off, so families can pull out their favorite chili recipes and compete to see whose chili is the best.

Photo below:The Library Llamas reading corner at E.C. Best Elementary features plush llamas and books for early‑year literacy activities.

Lahontan

Over the last two weeks, students in Stacey Manning’s first‑grade class have been exploring sound and light. Students learned that sound is made by vibrations and explored concepts such as volume and pitch. They made cup guitars using rubber bands and cups, used xylophones to observe vibrations, and worked with a tone generator. Students built their vocabulary with terms including sound source, sound receiver, volume, and pitch. The class also learned that light is a form of energy and explored different light sources, including the sun, fire, and electricity. Using flashlights, students experimented with opaque, translucent, and transparent objects and observed how light interacted with each one. They also investigated shadows using flashlights inside the classroom and sunlight outside. Their light vocabulary included light source, light detector, opaque, translucent, transparent, reflect, refract, and communication. Finally, students discovered how both light and sound can be used for communication in everyday life, including stoplights, fire alarms, fire engines, police cars, and televisions. Manning’s first graders had a fun two weeks exploring light and sound while putting the concepts they learned to the test.

Deputy Refuge Manager Bethany Chagnon and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer K. Kasper greeted attendees during the daylong activities. Kasper, a Federal Wildlife Officer, explained his duties and responsibilities to the refuge.

As part of the refuge’s restoration work, Chagnon is testing hardy, fast‑growing, wildlife‑friendly plants that may be suitable for replanting severely burned areas and reducing soil erosion after fires. She said the plants were originally started two years ago by Jaime Sammons’ Plant Science Class at Churchill County High School, a project now helping support the refuge’s restoration work.

The event also featured arts and crafts for children, live music by Steven Blais, fine art exhibits by local artists, and snacks and drinks.

Lennon Kretschmer

Pee Wee Reserve All‑Around Boy

Quade Kretschmer

Pee Wee Reserve All‑Around Girl

Kingsley Armstrong

6–9 All‑Around Boy

Bryton Barton

6–9 Reserve All‑Around Boy

Wyatt Barton

6–9 All‑Around Girl

Mylee Macedo

6–9 Reserve All‑Around Girl

Ackley Goings

10–13 All‑Around Boy

Hayes Allegre

10–13 Reserve All‑Around Boy

Damon Edgemon

10–13 All‑Around Girl

Addison Allegre

10–13 Reserve All‑Around Girl

Macie Collins

Senior All‑Around Boy

Clayton Hiibel

Senior Reserve All‑Around Boy

Logan Marshall

Senior All‑Around Girl

Kashlynn Hill

Senior Reserve All‑Around Girl

Shayla Roukey

• Civic Award: Holy Trinity Church
• Automobile: Weekend Only Car Club
• Business: Likety Split Car Wash
• Mounted Horse Group: Fallon Horsemen's Association
• Youth Group: FYFL Pop Warner Greenwave Cheer Squad
• Antique Farm Implement: Combine featuring candidate Amber Getto
• President's Award: Churchill County High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps
• Most Creative: Churchill County Transportation
• Best Use of Theme: Fallon Dental Studio

The winning entrants will be invited to receive their awards and have their photographs taken during the Fallon Lions Club's first meeting in October.

Educators Recognized as Grand Marshals

Four Churchill County School District educators served as grand marshals:

• Stacey Manning, Lahontan Elementary School
• Monica Fairbanks, Churchill County High School
• Keith Sluyter, Churchill County High School
• Jaime Sammons, Churchill County High School

Lyon County educator Octavia Merritt also joined them.

This year’s “America 250” living-history program features Glen Perazzo as John Flood, Connie Heath as Minnie Blair, Ernie Schank as Joseph Frey Jr., Connie Thomas as Georgie Sicking, and Pam Duarte as Margaret “Peg” Wheat.

General admission is $20 for nonmembers and $10 for museum members. Admission for seniors, military members, and children younger than 12 is $15 for nonmembers and $7.50 for members.

Tickets are available at the Churchill County Museum, 1050 S. Maine St. For information, call 775-423-3677.

After returning to Fallon in 1972, Mom continued her homemaking skills, as well as many side jobs to help supplement the family income. She worked for the Department of Agriculture, conducting surveys of ranches across Nevada. She sold Avon and worked in the offices of Fallon Gymnastics, Lynn Bishop Chiropractic, and CCHS High School. The family took on an early-morning paper route, which we all took part in, and Mom and Dad continued for many years after we had all left home. Jacquie was very active in the LDS Church, holding many callings. She was active in politics and many community organizations.

Mom and Dad loved to travel, go to the movies, and attend sporting events.

Jacquelyn is preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents, Roy and Hazel Williams; sister Anitta; and baby boy Michael. She is survived by her children, Royce Hettinger; Renee (Blake) Nitta of Hawaii; Travis Hettinger (Tina) of Fernley; Denise (Jeff) Flanery of Sparks; Chris (Page) of Arlington, Washington; and Andre (Rose) of Kent, Washington; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

We will miss our ROCK and will forever strive to follow her example of compassion and service.

Arrangements are under the direction of Smith Family Funeral Home. Saturday, September 26, at the LDS Church, 750 Richards Way, Fallon, Nevada: Viewing at 10 a.m., with a service to follow at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.

Fallon was incorporated as a city in December 1908, but not without great internal dissent. We were, like our state of Nevada, “Battle Born.”

The division was not red versus blue but rather “knockers” versus “boosters.” So, what was that all about? It was about taxes.

The “boosters”—those who favored incorporation—rallied in early 1905. A Feb. 25 Churchill Standard article noted that some enterprising citizens of Fallon had started “the wheels a-rolling” for municipal government. Local businessmen and professionals banded together to form the Commercial Club, whose members were dedicated to the tasks of recruiting new citizens and businesses to the community. They cheered the formation of a Fallon Brass Band and a Fallon Literary and Music Society, whose organizational meeting attracted 30 people—a feat that might be difficult to pull off today. The paper also reported in sweeping detail the balls, parades, masquerades, and card parties of an energetic town, claiming that “The people of Fallon are always up and hustling and are boosters at all times.”

The downside of all this growth and energy was the perceived unfairness of the distribution of Churchill County taxes. The Standard lamented in October 1907 that “The county board, which is likewise the town board, under existing conditions, is neglecting discipline in conduct of town affairs.”

In short, Fallon businesses clamored for more services, especially sewer and water. The campaign for incorporation was closely linked to the need for both. The Standard, always a booster, pleaded for incorporation, using the dramatic and overwrought style typical of the era: “The main consideration is health. …It is the greatest blessing know to humanity. Who can tell how deaths of those dear ones sleeping beneath the sod in the cemetery of the hill are directly attributable to the unhealthy conditions extant in Fallon? A sewer and water system will remedy this evil.”

But sewer and water would cost money, hence raise taxes. Those who opposed incorporation were labeled, at least by the newspapers, “knockers.” The Standard began using the phrase as early as 1906, remarking that it was important to keep newcomers away from knockers: “Some knock because they’re born that way; others because they don’t know they’re doing it.”

For a while, the knockers were winning the battle. A special election was held to endorse incorporation in May 1906, but solid opposition to it had grown, and the nays won. If anything, though, the disappointing election spurred on the boosters. The Standard called the county sanitation system “crude and unbusinesslike.” The County Commissioners conceded that the conditions were intolerable and suggested the use of disinfectants, further infuriating the business sector.

Fallon’s second newspaper, The Churchill Eagle, on Oct. 4, 1907, upheld the boosters and defended incorporation: “While the proposal of incorporating Fallon is being contested there is little doubt that the people of the town are very favorably inclined toward the scheme. The only opposition developed has as a basis the supposition that exorbitant taxes will be imposed.”

Meanwhile, the knockers went to court, challenging the constitutionality of Nevada’s General Incorporation Act, which had been drawn up by Churchill County Senator Robert Douglass to clarify the process of incorporation. After more bitter words had been exchanged and several petitions circulated, both pro and con, a final election on the issue was held on Sept. 29, 1908, and, this time, the boosters prevailed. On their election slate were Fallon’s first mayor, J.C. Jones, and councilmen I.H. Kent, C.W. Foote, and M.L. Wildes.

The newly elected City of Fallon officials went to work at once. Ordinance 1 set fees for business licenses. Ordinance 2 fixed the time for meetings of the city council on the first Tuesday of each month, and Ordinance 3 tackled, in part and at long last, the sanitation issue by requiring that urine and offal be contained in a box or other receptacle and made it unlawful for humans to eliminate waste on the streets of Fallon. Three steps forward.

Please send your stories and ideas for stories to mackedon@phonewave.net.

Lexie Malama-Gomes shot 123 both days for the Greenwave.

Truckee’s Allison Mortimeyer was the low medalist both days, shooting 72 at Dayton and 75 at Lowry. Caitlyn Nielson of Elko placed second with a score of 88 at both meets.

With just two players competing, the Greenwave didn’t post a team score. Truckee won both meets, with a team score of 380 in Dayton and 390 at Lowry.

This week the Northern 3A was scheduled to play on Monday in Spring Creek and Tuesday in Elko. Next week the teams will play Sept. 21 in Fallon and Sept. 22 in Fernley

Fallon’s Lexie Malama-Gomes lines up a short putt during the Sept. 9 Northern 3A meet in Winnemucca. Photo by Tony Erquiaga

“After the Fall” by Edward Ashton takes a delightfully weird look at life a century after alien “grays” step in to save the remnants of humanity from total collapse. Instead of treating survivors as equal partners, however, the aliens decide that humans make far better pets. Enter John, a compliant, genetically modified human who has spent his entire life following three basic rules: Stay quiet, stay obedient, and stay good. John is bonded to Martok, a tall, bumbling gray who is broke, wildly eccentric, and slightly erratic. Despite being John’s technical master, Martok treats him more like a trusted companion than a household animal, making John’s life surprisingly comfortable compared with the tragic fate of most surviving humans.

The real trouble begins when Martok’s get-rich-quick ambitions get out of hand. Hoping to turn an abandoned cabin in the deep woods into a lucrative resort for wealthy aliens, Martok takes out a massive loan and uses John’s ownership contract as collateral. John suddenly finds himself with 60 days to help his well-meaning but utterly incompetent owner turn a profit or risk being sold to far less friendly buyers. To make matters even more chaotic, their DIY retreat venture brings a fiery young human woman into their lives who was raised in the wild. She holds nothing but pure contempt for domesticated “pets” like John and challenges every belief he holds about his place in the universe.

As the deadline ticks down, John has to balance building a business with dodging dangerous local crime bosses and investigating mysterious, violent attacks in the nearby forest. Instead of creating a typical bleak dystopia, Ashton turns this wild setup into a hilarious, heartfelt buddy comedy packed with workplace satire and unexpected alliances. John has to rely on his wits, quiet resourcefulness, and deep patience to keep Martok’s schemes afloat and earn back his freedom. It is a lighthearted, fast-paced sci-fi adventure that manages to stay genuinely funny while asking big questions about friendship, loyalty, and what it really means to be human in a universe full of giant gray overlords.

I hope you enjoy this fun read, and don’t forget to check out my Instagram, @allison.the.reader, for more book recommendations and book talk!

In addition to our regular evening showtimes, don't forget to join us this Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. for our monthly Third Friday Matinee, featuring a special daytime screening of “Dave.” Proudly sponsored by The Coalition for Senior Citizens, everyone is welcome, but all moviegoers aged 60 and older receive a free small popcorn and small soda at the concession stand.

Then at 6 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, bring the whole family for the nostalgic, heartwarming coming‑of‑age favorite “Now and Then” (1995). Starring Christina Ricci, Demi Moore, Rosie O’Donnell, and Melanie Griffith, the film follows four childhood best friends who reunite as adults in their hometown and reminisce about the unforgettable summer of 1970 that shaped their lives forever. Featuring a fantastic classic soundtrack, it is a timeless celebration of friendship across the generations. Rated PG‑13, it runs 1 hour and 42 minutes.

Or, at 7 p.m. both nights, take your seat for the sharp and delightful political comedy “Dave” (1993). Kevin Kline stars as Dave Kovic, an affable temp agency owner who happens to be an exact look‑alike for the President of the United States. When a sudden crisis requires a secret double, Dave is thrust into the Oval Office and surprisingly begins using his position to make real, positive changes for the country. Also starring Sigourney Weaver, it’s a funny, feel‑good classic about doing the right thing. Rated PG‑13, it runs 1 hour and 50 minutes, and is generously sponsored by The City of Fallon.

And coming up next weekend, please plan to join us for our cruise down memory lane on Saturday, Sept. 26, for our 10th Annual Show‑N‑Shine. We’re shutting down Maine Street starting at 9 a.m. for a morning of beautiful classic cars, good food, music, and community fun. Free for the public to attend, it's the perfect family outing. Car owners can register a vehicle for $45 ($30 per additional entry), which includes a goody bag and raffle entry. Plus, this year marks the debut of our new “Best of Show” perpetual trophy, to be proudly displayed in the Fallon Theatre lobby. Special thanks to our generous sponsors, Cheek Construction and The Nugget, for making a decade of classic cars possible.

In October, step with us into the world of bugs with Flik and friends for a fully immersive, one‑weekend‑only 4D movie experience with “A Bug’s Life” on Oct. 2 and 3. This family‑friendly event features a fully decorated theater, themed treats, and sensory special effects, with interactive 4D screenings on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. (evening doors open at 5 p.m.). Tickets are already halfway sold out, and since these 4D events always sell out completely, reserve your seats now through the link on our website or Facebook page. Your $5 reservation fee goes directly toward restoring our historic front facade. Prefer the traditional movie? Standard screenings (no special effects or reservations required) run Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Extra special thanks go out to the Huck Salt family, who plan, prepare, sponsor, and host these epic 4D events for the community to enjoy. They put in a massive amount of time and effort into making these showings immersive and memorable, and we appreciate every bit of it.

In November, gear up for a night of pure laughter on Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. as clean, family‑friendly stand‑up comedy returns to the Fallon Theatre. We are thrilled to welcome Nashville‑based comedian Lee Hardin (DryBar Comedy, The Mike Huckabee Show) back to our stage for an evening of warm, relatable humor the whole family can enjoy. Grab your seats early and join us for a great night out right here in your favorite historic theater.

Want to support your favorite historic theater while scoring delicious perks every time you visit? Since most of our movies are completely free to attend, becoming a Sustaining Member is the ultimate win‑win. You can sign up with convenient recurring monthly payments or join for a full year to get one month free, unlocking comped concession treats every single time you come to a movie or event. Choose the Individual Membership ($20/month or $220/year) for a medium soda and medium popcorn per visit (an $11 value), the Couple’s Membership ($25/month or $275/year) for two medium sodas and a large popcorn per visit (a $16 value), or the Family Membership ($30/month or $330/year) for four medium sodas and a large popcorn per visit (a $22 value). If you join us for a movie more than once a month, your membership pays for itself.

We love being Fallon’s spot for movies, live show entertainment, and hometown fun. Looking to celebrate a birthday, host a private screening, or put your name on our iconic marquee? Reach out to us at 775‑423‑6210 or thefallontheatre@gmail.com to make it happen. See you at the movies.

Aubrie Elizabeth Steelmon appeared for arraignment. Judge Stockard noted Steelmon had missed two drug tests and asked what a test would show that day. Steelmon said she had taken prescribed medication but had not taken anything else. Stockard ordered her tested.

Court Services reported Steelmon tested positive for alcohol. Public Defender Jacob Sommer told the Court he believed his client was clear-minded and able to proceed with the arraignment.

Steelmon pleaded guilty to Burglary of a Building, a Category D felony punishable by 1-4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. The factual basis given was that Steelmon broke the window of a residence and attempted to enter.

She also pleaded guilty to Harassment, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The factual basis given was that Steelmon confronted an individual and made a verbal threat.

Judge Stockard ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for Nov. 10.

Stockard then addressed Steelmon's Court Services violations, including missed tests on Aug. 31 and Sept. 3, and the positive alcohol test that day. Steelmon said she missed testing Aug. 31 because she had been hit by a car while riding her bicycle the previous day. She said she missed the Sept. 3 test because she had again been hit by a car on Sept. 2.

Steelmon said she drank the previous day because she was in pain. She told the Court she was taking the case and Court Services seriously, “but I hurt.”

Sommer said the incidents involved a domestic situation and that someone Steelmon lives or had lived with was the person who struck her both times.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford asked the Court to revoke Steelmon's release on her own recognizance.

Sommer said there were extenuating circumstances that did not excuse Steelmon's violations but provided context. He said they were also trying to get Steelmon into Mental Health Court. Sommer said his client understood the seriousness of the situation and that the Court could jail her. The defense asked for “one last chance.”

Court Services Director Brenda Ingram reported Steelmon had also missed testing July 21, when Steelmon said she was “gone camping,” and Aug. 18, when she said she was ill. Ingram said Steelmon had also not consistently called in as required.

Stockard verified Steelmon had a working phone and warned that another missed check-in or test would result in a warrant and jail time.

Kevin Jay Chico, in custody, refused to appear for his arraignment, as he has done for several scheduled hearings.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Sanford requested the case be trailed to the end of the day's docket and that Judge Stockard order the Sheriff's Office to use the least amount of force necessary to bring Chico before the Court, either in person or via Zoom from the jail.

Chico, Public Defender Jacob Sommer, and Deputy Public Defender Kenneth Tedford later appeared via Zoom from the jail.

Stockard arraigned Chico on two counts: Battery by a Probationer, Parolee, or a Prisoner, a Category B felony punishable by 1-6 years in prison; and Battery Causing Substantial Bodily Harm, a Category C felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Chico refused to engage in the proceedings or enter pleas. Stockard entered not guilty pleas on his behalf and set trial for Oct. 7-9.

Christy Hinch failed to appear for a sentencing violation hearing. Her probation officer told the Court that Hinch’s spouse said she left their home following a discussion with her attorney a few days earlier, and he has not heard from her since.

Judge Stockard issued a $10,000 bondable warrant.

Georgina Lynn Brown failed to appear for her scheduled status hearing; the hearing was continued to Sept. 22.

April Ann Gilliland's arraignment was continued to Sept. 15.

Curtis opened the Churchill County Museum’s “Layers of Nevada” fall lecture series Sept. 8 with stories from “One of a Kind: The People and Places That Make Reno the Biggest Little City in the World,” his two-volume collection of personal essays and images.

The books bring together stories by prominent Nevadans, people known mainly within their own communities, and others whose names may be unfamiliar to most readers. Together, their memories offer a picture of Northern Nevada through its art, athletics, businesses, families, schools, and civic life.

Curtis said he did not want to write a conventional history in a single voice. Instead, he wanted people to tell the stories that mattered to them.

“I don’t consider myself the writer of these two,” Curtis said. “I consider myself the publisher of these two.”

Finding those stories meant looking beyond the people he already knew.

“You’ve got to get out of your own circle of family and friends,” Curtis said. “You’ve got to cast a wider net.”

Curtis credited his three co-publishers, contributors, and friends with introducing him to people throughout the region. Former Nevada Poet Laureate Gailmarie Pahmeier helped connect him with two Fallon contributors: writer Everett George and poet and tribal historian nila northSun.

The books took about 2½ years each to assemble. Some prospective contributors declined, some struggled to settle on a story, and others could not find the right image.

For Curtis, the image was essential.

“I’m not going to take a story that doesn’t have an interesting photograph,” he said.

That requirement nearly kept the late Tom Dolan out of the second volume. Curtis had a story but could not find an image with the candid quality he wanted. After nearly a year, a Dolan Auto Group marketing director produced a photograph of Dolan riding on a stagecoach at the rodeo and waving to the crowd.

Curtis also recalled visiting the late Rusty Crook, an athlete and founder of This Is It Day Camp. While looking around Crook’s crowded office, Curtis noticed an old military photograph pinned to a corkboard. The picture showed Crook doing a handstand on a Jeep while serving in the Army. It became the final photograph in the first volume.

Another contributor, Jennifer Capel, wanted to write about her father, a runner, coach, and attorney. A promising photograph was hanging in her mother’s home, but her mother was leaving on vacation. Capel proposed temporarily taking it so Curtis could photograph it and return it before her mother came home.

Curtis said the resulting image and story made it into the book.

Another story centers on Ashley Parisi of Truckee and a local tradition among graduating seniors. Parisi jumped from a rock into the frigid water of Lake Tahoe in February, and a family photograph captured the moment.

The collection also includes a contribution from “Pickles” creator Brian Crane, who once worked at Curtis’ advertising agency. Crane wrote about bringing his reluctant wife to Reno and joked that, years later, she would be equally reluctant to leave.

Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond contributed a memory from his school days. LeMond lived in Washoe Valley and rode his bicycle roughly 26 miles to Wooster High School. One day, he added a detour to the trip and arrived late to physical education class, where football coach Joe Sellers was waiting.

Curtis offered just enough of each anecdote to tempt the audience, frequently stopping before the ending and encouraging listeners to read the books.

The collection also includes a story by Suzy Darling, a former Radio City Rockette who worked at Curtis’ wife’s restaurant. When business was slow, Darling sometimes stepped onto California Avenue and performed Rockette-style kicks to attract customers. Curtis said the effort never brought in much business, but it made a memorable story.

Other contributors include former Nevada attorney general Frankie Sue Del Papa; former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Dave Wyman; professional golfer Patty Sheehan; Mark Twain impressionist McAvoy Layne; speed skier Franz Weber; and Warren Lerude, former publisher of the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Curtis said the best contributions were personal rather than career summaries. Weber, a six-time world champion speed skier, ultimately wrote about what he considered the greatest moment of his career — an encounter with race car driver Jackie Stewart that had nothing to do with skiing.

Curtis has published three books, but considers himself the author of only one: “Reno: A Fabled City Finds Its Soul.” That book explores Reno’s transformation around the founding of Artown in 1996 and the festival’s role in drawing people downtown and back to the Truckee River.

Curtis, who spent about 35 years as an advertising agency principal, creative director, and writer, was a founding member of Reno’s first arts commission and conceived and co-founded Artown.

He closed with a saying that captured the change he saw taking place in Reno during that period.

“Reno always knew it had water running through town,” Curtis said, “but it never knew it had a river.”

Coalition for Senior Citizens

The Fallon Theatre

The third Friday of each month at 1 p.m.

“The Layers of Nevada” Fall Lecture Series

Churchill County Museum

1050 S. Maine St.

Tuesdays, Sept. 22 and 29, at 6 p.m.

Open Mic Storytelling

Churchill Arts Council

The Barkley Theatre

Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.

Fall Into Aquasize

Churchill County Aquatic Center

333 Sheckler Road

Sept. 19 from 8:45 to 10 a.m.

Jim Regan Memorial Golf Tournament

Fallon Golf Course

2655 Country Club Drive

Sept. 19 at 9 a.m.

Agape Church School Car Show, Cornhole, and Craft Fair

Agape Church School

Rafter 3C Arena, 325 Sheckler Road

Sept. 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Crafternoon

Churchill County Library

553 S. Maine St.

Sept. 24 at 3:30 p.m.

Battle of the Badges

Top Gun Dragstrip

15550 Schurz Highway

Sept. 26 at noon

10th Annual Show-N-Shine

The Fallon Theatre

Historic Fallon Theatre

Sept. 26 at 9 a.m.

Adult Chautauqua Presentations: America 250

Churchill County Museum

Historic Fallon Theatre

Sept. 26 at 3 p.m.

Fall Festival

Lattin Farms

1955 McLean Road

Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Ales for Arts

Churchill Arts Council

Lariat Courtyard

Oct. 2 from 5 to 9 p.m.

A Guiding Light Fundraiser to End Family Violence

Domestic Violence Intervention Inc.

Fallon Eagles Hall

Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m.

Chair Edith Isidoro‑Mills opened the program, followed by an invocation from Pastor Dawn Blundell of Epworth United Methodist Church. Blundell reflected on the recent passing of several public figures, including writer Wendell Berry, and read from Berry’s poem “The Mad Farmer’s Liberation Front.” She encouraged attendees to consider themes of stewardship, humility, and perseverance as they work within their communities.

A land acknowledgment delivered by committee treasurer Ellen Johnson recognized the Northern Paiute, Western Shoshone, Southern Paiute, and Washoe peoples, whose ancestral lands encompass much of the Great Basin. Kimberly Johnson then performed the Shoshone Flag Song, a tribute to Native veterans and tribal communities. The Pledge of Allegiance followed, and Isidoro‑Mills introduced county chairs and committee officers from across the region.

The first speaker of the evening, Lynn Ballatore, chair of the Lyon County Democrats and candidate for Senate District 17, outlined priorities for the district, which spans 20,000 square miles across six counties. Ballatore discussed affordability, transportation, healthcare access, and communications infrastructure as ongoing concerns for rural residents.

“We’re losing our healthcare. We don’t have transportation,” she said. “There’s too much that’s going to make the next generation leave.”

Ballatore, who previously worked for the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said she hopes to direct more state resources toward rural counties. She also noted that counties often lack the staffing and funding needed to oversee large-scale development projects. Ballatore briefly referenced public concerns about data center development raised in recent community meetings, framing the issue as part of a broader need for rural counties to have adequate regulatory support.

She also discussed mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer contracts, citing cases in which residents lost the ability to pursue legal remedies. Ballatore said her 103‑year‑old aunt, a retired judge, has long raised concerns about arbitration provisions and their impact on consumers.

Dinner was served following Ballatore’s remarks.

A prerecorded message from Sen. Jacky Rosen was played after the meal. Rosen thanked attendees for their community involvement and discussed federal policy debates, healthcare access, and the importance of civic participation. The message was recorded earlier in the year, before the dinner was postponed in May.

The evening’s raffle and silent auction winners were then announced, with prizes including books, jewelry, local spirits, and art collections.

The program continued with presentations from Desert Research Institute researchers Dan Saftner and Erik Henzl, who were invited to provide context on questions raised in recent public meetings. Saftner, an assistant research scientist, spoke first, outlining current work related to groundwater behavior, water availability, and long‑term planning considerations in areas experiencing development pressure. Henzl, a senior research scientist, followed with information on electrical demand modeling and infrastructure impacts associated with large-scale data center proposals. Their remarks offered a broad overview of how major projects intersect with rural water supplies, electrical capacity, and regional planning.

Renamed several years ago to honor former Gov. Grant Sawyer and former Sen. Richard Bryan, the Sawyer–Bryan Dinner remains one of Churchill County’s longstanding political traditions. This year’s event combined ceremonial elements, policy discussions, and community recognition, offering attendees an opportunity to reflect on local issues and regional priorities.

All proceeds from the bingo night will benefit Derrick Chiaratti and his daughter following an accident.

Donations may be dropped off at the library from 9 a.m. to noon Friday or Saturday.

For more information, contact Connie Stinson at 775-481-8085.