A while back, while working at Great Basin Trading Co. on Maine Street, I was awaiting customers and sorting merchandise when a young boy walked in looking for that week's newspaper. As I helped him find his way to the newspaper rack, he anxiously searched through the different editions until he found the one he was looking for.

He rapidly opened the paper and found an article about himself.

I watched as his eyes widened with excitement. He was proud. He was eager. For a moment, that newspaper was more than just ink on paper. It was a reflection of his accomplishments and a reminder that his community saw him.

Standing there, watching that young boy experience the joy of seeing himself represented in his local newspaper, I realized something I will never forget.

What we do is not only a public service to this community, but a responsibility that strengthens the very foundation of a free society. It is a responsibility built upon informing, recognizing, and preserving the stories of the people who make history.

And I hope throughout my career, I can continue to honor that responsibility.

Of course, no success story is created alone. Behind every accomplishment is a community of people who offer guidance, encouragement, and support along the way.

So, to Leanna Lehman, Lori Kaiser, Kasey Lattin, Denice Pinder, Cheryl Venturacci, and Carol Lloyd, thank you.

Thank you for listening when I needed guidance, for offering wisdom instead of simply giving answers, and for reminding me that even the most difficult challenges become manageable when approached with patience and perspective.

Thank you for treating me not just as an intern, but as someone worthy of your trust. Every task you handed me, every conversation you took the time to have, and every piece of advice you shared became another lesson I will carry long after I leave this newsroom.

More than anything, thank you for showing me that character will always outlast talent, and that becoming a good journalist begins with becoming a good person.

And to Rachel Dahl, thank you for taking a chance on a young student who was searching for an opportunity and a new commitment.

Thank you for teaching me how to become a better writer, a better professional, and someone who approaches every responsibility with dignity and humility. Thank you for teaching me how to earn community trust, how to ask better questions, and how to understand the importance of relationships in this profession.

And, nonetheless, thank you for teaching me how to play the game.

Not the game of winning or losing, but the game of showing up, listening carefully, treating people fairly, and understanding that journalism is built on trust.

Rachel, your dedication to this community is something I hope to emulate throughout my career. You have shown me that a journalist's greatest accomplishment is not measured by the number of stories they write, but by the trust they earn from the people they serve.

To the business owners, Judge Stockard, Court Services, Mayor Tedford, the Fallon City Council, and every community leader who trusted me with your stories, thank you. Thank you for allowing me to share the information you believed your community deserved to know. Whether it was a new business opening its doors, a court proceeding, or a decision made at City Hall, you trusted me with the responsibility of keeping Fallon informed. That trust is something I will always value.

So as I pack my bags and reminisce about the amazing opportunities that I have been given,

The Fallon Post will always be right here keeping you posted… 

Riggin Stonebarger

Churchill County High School athletes have begun preparing for the 2026 fall sports season as football, volleyball, boys and girls soccer, girls golf, boys and girls tennis, cross country and cheer teams return to practice ahead of their season openers later this month.

Under Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association rules, athletes must complete the required number of preseason practices before they are eligible to compete. Football has additional preseason practice requirements before players may participate in games.

NIAA sanctions varsity lacrosse

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, boys and girls lacrosse will become an officially sanctioned varsity sport under the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. Schools that sponsor lacrosse teams will be eligible to compete for regional and state championships under NIAA rules.

Churchill County High School Athletic Director Brian Mello confirmed the Greenwave will not field boys or girls lacrosse teams during the spring 2027 season.

Oasis Academy has fielded boys and girls lacrosse teams in recent years, providing local student-athletes an opportunity to compete in the sport.

Fallon Junior Rodeo Scheduled for Labor Day Weekend
The Fallon Junior Rodeo is scheduled for Aug. 29 through Sept. 1 at the Rafter 3C Event Complex. The annual event brings youth contestants from Nevada and neighboring states to Fallon for four days of rodeo competition during Labor Day weekend. Events include rough stock competition and timed events such as barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, and pole bending. The rodeo is one of the region's premier youth rodeo events, drawing competitors from across the West.

Connors said Fallon's defense, which he believed was even stronger than its high-scoring offense last season, returns most of its starters. The Greenwave allowed seven points or fewer in seven games last year, including five shutouts. Defensive coordinator Trent DeBraga leads the unit.

“I trust him with my life,” Connors said. “His ability to understand the game and feel the flow of a game as a play caller is fun to watch.”

Special teams are led by Ryan McCormick, a Fallon graduate who joined the staff last season.

Fallon is scheduled to scrimmage at Carson Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. Connors said he will be focused on position battles and execution.

“They understand the standard we hold here,” he said. “You're going to fail more than you succeed in sports, and it's all about how fast you can get over that.”

Fallon enters the season as the defending state champion, but Connors said the team still carries an underdog mentality.

“An underdog is a hungry dog, and hungry dogs run faster,” he said. “We don't need any fuel to add to our competitive fire, but we appreciate anything that gets thrown our way that displays that we're not the favorite.”

Now in his third year, Connors said he's more comfortable with the program and the players.

“My first year obviously was my first year at this school too, so it was a lot of learning, getting to know the kids and the culture at Churchill County High School,” he said. “Now it's understanding how to coach each kid and what makes them tick. I'm really trying to tap into that and to try to get the most potential out of each individual player.”

Founded 76 years ago, the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association, known as PCCHA, hosts four events annually for professional, amateur, and youth riders. Fallon native Slim Trent, one of the association's founding members, helped establish the organization and competed with his horse, Sandhill Charlie, during the 1960s.

Competition opened Tuesday with a 3-year-old futurity practice, followed by a taco party catered by The Venue. The week also featured professional, amateur, beginner, junior horse, senior horse, and youth classes, along with the Cowan Ranch Saddle Series. Winners received buckles, and scholarships were awarded through fourth place. More than $40,000 in purses and prizes were awarded during the four-day event.

The July 28-Aug. 1 competition filled every permanent horse stall at Rafter 3C Arena and required three portable stall barns to accommodate additional horses.

Although the event differs from rodeo competition, it reflects the same Western heritage. In cutting, horse-and-rider teams separate a single cow from the herd before the horse demonstrates its ability to keep the animal away from the remaining cattle.

Visible assistance from the rider results in score deductions. Two judges evaluate each run. Every competitor begins with a base score of 70, with points added or subtracted in one-half-point increments. Most scores range from 65 to 74, although higher and lower scores are possible. During the allotted time, contestants typically work three cows.

Unlike modern educational models that often emphasize standardized testing and career preparation alone, Classical Christian education seeks to educate the whole person. Students are taught not only what to think but how to think. They learn to reason carefully, communicate clearly, and evaluate ideas through the lens of Scripture.

The foundation of this approach is the conviction that all truth is God's truth. Every subject is taught as part of God's orderly creation. Rather than viewing subjects as isolated disciplines, students discover how each area of study points to the Creator and fits into His larger story of redemption.

History provides an excellent example of this philosophy in action. At Veritas, students study the achievements and failures of civilizations through the moral framework of the Bible. They learn to appreciate the blessings of our nation's heritage while honestly examining the mistakes of the past. This balanced approach equips students to become informed citizens who can think critically without losing sight of biblical truth. As our recent celebration of America's 250th anniversary reminded us, patriotism and historical honesty are not opposing ideas but can coexist when viewed through the lens of God's providence.

Ultimately, the goal of Classical Christian education is not merely academic success, although excellence in learning is certainly valued. Its greater purpose is to cultivate students who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. It seeks to graduate young men and women who possess wisdom, virtue, and discernment - individuals prepared to serve Christ faithfully in their families, churches, professions, and communities.

At Veritas Preparatory School, education is about more than preparing students for college or a career. It is about preparing them for a lifetime of faithful service to God. By combining academic excellence, biblical truth, strong family partnerships, and a rich understanding of history and culture, Veritas strives to develop students who are equipped to think clearly, lead courageously, and live for the glory of God.

The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at The Pit at the district office, 690 S. Maine St.

Families can meet Superintendent Blake Cooper, ask questions, complete registrations, and learn about programs and services available to students.

District staff will be available to assist with kindergarten registration, prekindergarten applications, transportation registration, health services, English Language Learner (ELL) services, Indian Education (Title VI) services and Student Intervention Team (SIT) services.

Staff also will share information about new digital tools and other resources available for the upcoming school year.

The event is open to all Churchill County School District families preparing for the 2026-27 school year.

The special election was held July 21, 2026, in which Ward 1 candidate Lori Norcutt prevailed over opponents Ryan Swirczek and Daniel Doty. According to the canvass, Norcutt captured 56.33% of the vote with 129 votes, while Swirczek received 80 votes, or 34.93%, and Doty received 20 votes, or 8.73%.

As required by Nevada statute, the official canvass of the July 21, 2026, Churchill County special election was completed by the Churchill County Board of Commissioners within 10 working days following the election.

According to Churchill County Clerk/Treasurer Linda Rothery, only 229 of the 1,938 registered Ward 1 voters cast ballots, resulting in an 11.82% voter turnout. Of those, 137 ballots were cast by mail.

"The actual turnout percentages were right in line from the general election," Rothery said, noting she had compared the turnout before asking commissioners to approve the canvass. Upon approval, Rothery will transmit the certified election results to the Secretary of State as required.

With no public comment, commissioners unanimously approved the canvass.

The training brought together 12 meat processors from four states for hands-on instruction in developing HACCP plans, a nationally recognized food safety system used throughout the meat processing industry to identify and control potential hazards before products reach consumers.

According to Nebraska Extension, participants worked through team-based exercises while developing HACCP plans for mock products, giving processors practical experience they can apply in their own facilities. The course was led by Dr. Jordan Wicks, Nebraska Extension meat specialist, along with Dr. Gary Sullivan and Dr. Byron Chaves.

Momma's Meat Company provides custom meat processing for area ranchers, livestock producers and hunters. As the business continues to grow, Seay has emphasized professional training and food safety as part of her commitment to customers in Churchill County and the surrounding area.

Nebraska Extension said the training helps processors strengthen their operations while protecting the consumers who rely on their products.

Seay shared news of the certification on the Momma's Meat Company Facebook page after completing the course.

Aug. 18-Sept. 3, 2026

Board of County Commissioners

Meets the first Thursday and third Wednesday of each month

155 N. Taylor St.

Next meeting: Aug. 19 at 8:15 a.m.

CC Communications

Meets the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m.

155 N. Taylor St.

Next meeting: Sept. 3 at 11 a.m.

Churchill County School Board

Meets the first and third Tuesday of each month

690 S. Maine St.

Next meeting: Aug. 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Library Board of Trustees

Meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 3 p.m.

155 N. Taylor St.

Next meeting: Aug. 27 at 3 p.m.

Water Levels

As of Aug. 3, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.

Lahontan Reservoir — 143,800 af

Carson River below Lahontan — 841 cfs

Truckee Canal at Wadsworth — 115 cfs

Truckee Canal at Hazen — 89 cfs

Carson River at Fort Churchill — 0.50 cfs

Historical Reservoir Storage

2024 — 223,018 af

2023 — 287,433 af

2022 — 81,105 af

Michelle Leigh Thomas and Jason Lee Enox welcomed their daughter, Addelyn Rose Enox, on June 30, 2026, at Banner Churchill Community Hospital. She was born at 8:10 a.m., weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches long.

Movie Day

Coalition for Senior Citizens

The Fallon Theatre

Every third Friday at 1 p.m.

Artistic Foundations with Adrienne

Churchill Arts Council

Oats Park Art School

Every Tuesday in August from 9 to 10 a.m.

Folk Art with Mrs. Sorensen

Churchill Arts Council

Oats Park Art School

Aug. 10-14. Ages 7-9, 9 to 10 a.m.; ages 10-12, 11 a.m. to noon.

Vitalant Blood Drive

Banner Churchill Community Hospital

801 E. Williams Ave.

Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Beauty and the Beast Rough Stock Rodeo and Concert

De Golyer Bucking Horse and Bull Bash

Churchill County Fairgrounds

Aug. 15. Gates open at 3 p.m.; rodeo begins at 6 p.m.

Free Concert in the Park

Churchill Arts Council

Oats Park

Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Business Council Breakfast

CEDA

Stockman's Steakhouse

Aug. 26 at 7 a.m.

Fallon Cantaloupe Festival & Country Fair

Fallon Cantaloupe Festival & Country Fair

Rafter 3C Event Complex

Aug. 28-30.

Cantaloupe Canter 5K

Fallon Theatre

In front of the Churchill County Aquatic Center
333 Sheckler Rd.

Aug. 29. Check-in at 7 a.m.; race begins at 8 a.m.

Fallon Junior Rodeo

Fallon Junior Rodeo Association

Rafter 3C Event Complex

Aug. 29–Sept. 1. 2026

Labor Day Parade

Fallon Lions Club

Starts behind Churchill County High School

Sept. 7 at 10 a.m.

Of interest to me, among other stories, were the personal accounts of our local men at war. Weekly columns provided information as the papers received it—where our men in uniform were stationed, when they came home for a family visit, and where and how they were injured, if they were.

A series of letters sent home by Pfc. Kenneth Rost and published by the “Fallon Eagle” give us insight into one soldier’s life and the dangers he encountered.

The Jan. 17 “Fallon Standard” printed this news sent by Rost to his parents. “I know you will be worried but always remember I’m alright. God is with me. … Haven’t much time but thought I would write as it has been three weeks since I have. Of course, I couldn’t help it. We’ve been breaking and holding road blocks…. It’s so darn cold that I can hardly move my fingers.

I got your letter, Dad, in which you asked about Richard Nixon [a friend from Hawthorne]. He was killed in the trap at Kunuri [a battle which took place in what is now North Korea in November 1950]. He is dead for sure because I talked to some of the boys from C Battery and Dave Best said he was right next to him when he got it. … Tell his dad that I am sorry and that Dick was the best.”

The Feb. 10, 1951, edition of the “Eagle” printed updated news about Rost under the banner, “G.I. Returns to Outfit in Korea, Finds Himself Dead.” Rost, injured in battle in January, had been transferred to a South Korean hospital. When he returned to his company, he found that “he had been listed as dead on the company roster and presented quite a surprise to his buddies who had believed him lost.”

The March 21 “Eagle” carried the news that “Pfc. Kenneth Rost is again in the hospital in Pusan [now spelled Busan, a major port city in South Korea].” He received a slight shrapnel wound in his left arm March 8, but he expected to be back at the line again in a week or so. He reported that the weather was getting warmer and more comfortable, and he said that his mother “was getting popular with the boys in his outfit for the good things she sends over to her son.”

Some of our troops were lucky enough to earn furlough: “Pfc. Bill Hatton, U.S. Marines, came home after being through the rough campaign of the past few months. Young Hatton, in good health, will have a 30-day furlough” (“Eagle,” March 21).

Others wrote home expressing pride over their assignments: “Louis Freeman, metalsmith third class, USN, formerly of Fallon, is serving aboard the destroyer tender USS Prairie, which recently arrived in the Far East and is now flagship of the United Nations blockading and escort force” (“Eagle,” March 21).

“Lt. Col. William H. Stuart, Reno, is a student at the Air War College, Maxwell, Alabama.” The paper noted that Stuart’s parents were residents of Fallon (“Eagle,” Feb. 10).

The ultimate tragedy of war came home to Fallon three months into 1951. This brief notation appeared in the “Eagle,” accompanied by a photo of a handsome young man. “Javy Walker, 21, who was killed in Korea Jan. 14, was the only son of Mrs. Bertha Bowser of Fallon. He was a popular athlete of the Hawthorne High School” (“Eagle,” March 21).

The heart breaks, and the families of the men engaged in war must have read about Walker’s death with sorrow and terror.

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

If you love sci-fi packed with big ideas, quick-witted humor, and high-stakes survival, Andy Weir’s "Project Hail Mary" is an absolute treat. The story kicks off with a classic, heart-pounding premise: a man wakes up from a long coma inside a tiny spaceship with no idea who he is, where he is, or how he got there. To make matters worse, his two crewmates didn’t survive the journey. As his memories slowly drift back in hazy fragments, he remembers his name - Ryland Grace - and realizes the terrifying weight resting entirely on his shoulders. Back home, Earth is facing a total environmental collapse. A microscopic, space-faring organism is multiplying at an alarming rate and consuming the Sun’s energy. If someone does not figure out how to stop it, humanity is looking at an inevitable ice age and complete extinction within a few decades.

​Ryland, a former junior high school science teacher who was unexpectedly recruited for this wild mission, turns out to be Earth’s very last hope. He has been sent light-years away to the Tau Ceti star system, the only nearby star that somehow seems completely immune to this solar parasite. Working all by himself in the cold vacuum of space, Ryland has to use pure scientific reasoning, creative guesswork, and trial-and-error experimentation to figure out the mystery behind Tau Ceti’s resistance. The stakes could not possibly be higher, but what makes the story so much fun is Ryland’s unyielding optimism, nerdy enthusiasm, and relentless determination to solve one mind-bending problem after another.

​As he gradually pieces together his forgotten past and navigates the terrifying, unpredictable reality of deep space, he soon realizes that surviving this desperate solo suicide mission might require a whole lot more than just his own human ingenuity. Without giving away any of the unbelievable twists, thrilling discoveries, or incredible character dynamics that truly make this book so special, it is safe to say that his journey takes some deeply unexpected and heartwarming turns. Packed with authentic scientific problem-solving, genuine warmth, incredible heart, and constant suspense, "Project Hail Mary" is ultimately an inspiring celebration of human curiosity, resilience, friendship, and the extreme lengths we will go to save our planet. It is an unforgettable ride that keeps you completely hooked from the very first page all the way to the very last.

I know you'll enjoy this book, which is pictured here with Hayden's "Project Hail Mary" LEGO set, complete with a tiny Ryland Grace. Don't forget to check out my Instagram, @allison.the.reader, for more book-related fun.

Every good story eventually arrives at the place where the author must decide whether to write "The End." I've discovered that life rarely works that way. More often, one chapter closes while another quietly begins.

For nearly six years, you've welcomed me into your homes, onto your kitchen tables, and into your Sunday mornings. Together, we've wandered farmers markets, celebrated harvests, explored Nevada's food traditions, met remarkable people, and occasionally chased a recipe or two down an unexpected rabbit hole.

When I began writing this column, I thought I was writing about food. Food, it turns out, was simply the invitation. The real story was always about people. About community. About the extraordinary things that happen when ordinary people choose to show up for one another.

Over the years, those weekly conversations became something much larger than I ever imagined. Together, these pages grew into 260 columns, totaling more than 200,000 words (nearly 700 printed pages). They represent countless shared meals, early morning drives, community events, and conversations with people who generously trusted me with their stories.

But if I've learned anything over these past six years, it's that stories are never measured in words.

They're measured in connections. They're measured in the reader who stops you in the grocery store to say, "I tried that recipe." In the farmer who teaches you something you didn't know. In the business owner who shares the story behind a dream. In the neighbor who says, "That reminded me of my grandmother." Those moments have been the true gift of writing this column.

Fallon welcomed me long before I had earned the privilege of calling it home. Through these pages, you invited me to keep learning, to keep asking questions, and to keep discovering the remarkable people who quietly make this community stronger every day. For that, I will always be grateful.

Thank you to the editors of the Fallon Post for believing in this column and giving me the freedom to follow my curiosity. Thank you to everyone who answered my questions, shared a family recipe, opened a door, pulled up a chair, or simply kept reading. Most of all, thank you for allowing me to become part of your story.

This will be my final regular column for the Fallon Post. But I hope you'll forgive me if I resist writing "The End." Because it isn't.

Many of these stories are finding a new life in a memoir about community, belonging, and the people who have shaped my understanding of home. New stories are waiting to be told. New conversations are waiting to be had. And I suspect my curiosity will continue to lead me into kitchens, fields, main streets, and unexpected places for many years to come.

So rather than saying goodbye, I'll simply say this: Thank you for reading. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for allowing me to tell stories that mattered.

This is not the end of the book. It's simply the closing of a chapter.

With gratitude,

Kelli Mae Kelly

The case began on Nov. 20, 2024, when the Reno Police Department (RPD) and Churchill County Sheriff's Office received reports of a missing 40-year-old woman who was last seen alive between Nov. 8 and 9, 2024.

Following a joint investigation by the Churchill County Sheriff's Office and RPD, the body of Xiaoxia Zhang, known as Shawna Munoz to family and friends, was discovered on Nov. 21, 2024. Zhang was found buried beneath a trampoline in the backyard of the couple's Del Rio Drive home in Fallon.

Munoz was arrested in Fallon and taken into custody before being transferred to Washoe County. Investigators allege the killing occurred at the couple's Reno residence in the 6100 block of Pleasant Oak Trail. 

On Nov. 23, 2024, Munoz appeared with defense attorney Orrin Johnson in Reno Justice Court before Judge Ryan Sullivan, who set bail at $5 million, bondable only, over the defense's objection.

In March 2025, Munoz was released from custody after posting the $5 million bond and was placed on house arrest. The following month, the case was bound over to the Second Judicial District Court, where Munoz pleaded not guilty to the charge of Open Murder on May 3, 2025.

Nevada Justice Courts handle the early stages of felony cases, including arraignments, bail determinations, and preliminary hearings. Felony cases are then transferred to District Court, where pleas, trials, and sentencings take place.

Munoz remains out of custody and has appeared at all scheduled court hearings.

Brandon Alan Evers pleaded guilty to Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment of a Child, a Gross Misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

Evers completed a risk assessment that found him to be at low risk of reoffending.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Priscilla Baker said the case began when a 4-year-old child was found wandering into the street. Law enforcement officers returned the child home, where it took multiple knocks on the door and looking through a window before they were able to wake Evers. Baker said Evers believed the child's mother was still home. Officers found the residence in disarray, and Evers had a blood alcohol concentration of .197.

Churchill County Deputy Public Defender Kenneth Tedford III said his client has already begun addressing his alcoholism. Tedford said Evers has moved to Oregon, where he has begun treatment, completed a risk assessment, accepted responsibility for his actions, and is prepared to accept the consequences.

The defense asked the court to impose a $2,000 fine or grant probation.

Judge Stockard fined Evers $750, to be paid at $75 per month, and encouraged him to “Take advantage of this opportunity.”

Shane Michael Krogg appeared for sentencing on Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a Category E Felony punishable by 1-4 years in prison, to which he pleaded guilty on April 14.

Churchill County Public Defender Jacob Sommer asked the court to defer sentencing and admit Krogg to the Western Nevada Regional Drug Court Program, to which the state had no objection. Sommer said Krogg has worked diligently through the process, recognizes that he needs treatment, and wants it.

Krogg told Judge Stockard, “I'm ashamed. I messed up; I had almost twenty years clean.” He said his relapse began after neck surgery when he was prescribed pain medication. “I didn't say no. It spiraled from there.”

Judge Stockard suspended the sentence and granted Krogg probation with the condition that he enter and complete Drug Court. Stockard also ordered Krogg to obtain a substance abuse evaluation and follow all recommendations. As an additional condition, Krogg must first discuss any prescribed controlled substances with his probation officer and Drug Court before filling the prescription.

Patricia Pearl Coursey, in custody, pleaded guilty in two separate cases.

In the first case, Coursey pleaded guilty to two Category E Felony counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, one involving methamphetamine and the other heroin. Each count carries a potential penalty of 1 – 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. In the second case, she pleaded guilty to Failure to Appear After Admission of Bail or Release Without Bail, a Category D Felony, which is also punishable by 1 – 4 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Churchill County Alternate Public Defender Wright Noel addressed Coursey's custodial status, explaining that she failed to appear approximately four years ago because of financial hardship and now has the resources to travel from California. He asked that she be released on her own recognizance. Coursey told the court she has been employed for the past four years.

SDDA Priscilla Baker opposed release, noting that Coursey had to be extradited from California after failing to appear in 2022. Baker also cited the Court Services report, which indicated Coursey is not currently employed, uses methamphetamine daily, is not a Nevada resident, and has four felony and four misdemeanor arrests.

Judge Stockard denied the request for release on her own recognizance and set bail at $10,000 in the first case and $5,000 in the second. He ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigative Report and set sentencing for Sept. 29.

Rene Lucio Williams, in custody, pleaded guilty to Uttering Forged Instruments, a Category D Felony punishable by one to four years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000

SDDA Baker reminded Judge Stockard that Williams was placed on probation for up to 18 months in February for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Baker noted that Williams served 54 days in jail on a parole violation and was released on May 13. The Division of Parole and Probation attempted to schedule his intake several times, but on June 3 Williams reported he was in the hospital with food poisoning. When probation requested proof, Baker said Williams submitted a forged doctor's note, resulting in the current charge.

According to Baker, the court revoked Williams' probation on July 21. She argued that, based on his criminal history, “he didn't even last a day released before violating his terms and conditions. He refused to even participate with probation.” She then reviewed Williams' criminal history, which includes Domestic Battery, Failure to Appear, Battery Constituting Domestic Violence by Strangulation, Resisting a Public Officer, Criminal Contempt, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Residential Burglary, and other offenses.

In asking the court to impose a sentence of 19 – 48 months in prison, Baker said, “If you are granted the privilege of probation, you need to take it seriously. This defendant did not.”

APD Wright Noel noted that the probation violation had already been addressed the previous week, when Williams was sentenced to 19 – 48 months in prison. Noel argued that the matter before the court was the forgery conviction and asked that Williams receive a sentence of 19 – 36 months, to run concurrent with the previous sentence.

Williams agreed with his attorney. He told the court he understood what he did was illegal, although he did not realize at the time that it was a felony.

Judge Stockard sentenced Williams to 12 to 36 months in prison, to run concurrent with the previously imposed sentence. Williams was remanded back to the custody of the Churchill County Sheriff's Office.

Daniel Alexander Dinwiddie-Porter, in custody, appeared for sentencing on Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), to which he pleaded guilty on April 21.

At the defense's request, the sentencing hearing was continued to Sept. 22.

Clayton Shelby Reynolds's arraignment was continued to August 4.

Located beneath the intake tower, the aging gates regulate water flowing into the penstock—the large pipeline that carries water to the Lahontan Dam hydroelectric plant—making them a critical part of the district's hydroelectric infrastructure.

The agenda listed the project at $5,238,000. However, TCID General Manager Ben Shawcroft explained that staff evaluated several options, including replacing the gates or refurbishing them and completing the work either underwater or during the winter in mostly dry conditions. Refurbishing the existing gates during the winter was the preferred option because it reduced the contract cost to $4,475,000.

According to Hydro-Electric Facilities Manager Mark Solinski, funding is now in place, and the district is ready to move forward.

"We've been working on this for a long time," Solinski said. "We were awarded a WaterSMART grant to cover half the project costs, but the prices for the gates are far more expensive than what was budgeted for."

Shawcroft said the Bureau of Reclamation has also committed additional funding for the project, leaving TCID responsible for approximately $1.88 million, which the district has already set aside in designated funds.

JF Brennan Regional Dive Manager Merill Collins said divers completed an initial inspection of the tower and gates during the winter of 2025.

"Things looked sound a year and a half ago, but we will take another look," Collins said. He explained that divers will return before construction begins to verify measurements, inspect the concrete and complete final evaluations.

Collins said completing the work during the winter will reduce both dive time and project costs.

"The lower the water, the better," Collins said. "There is much less dive time, which helps with cost and time."

Solinski reminded directors that three of the six gates have already been refurbished. The remaining gates will be removed and transported to Nevada Sandblasting in Sparks for refurbishing before JF Brennan divers reinstall them.

Directors unanimously approved the $4,475,000 contract with JF Brennan. They also approved a $169,370 proposal from Lumos & Associates for design and construction administration services for the S-C5 check structure replacement project, as well as a contract with Far Western for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance work related to various projects at a cost not to exceed $62,802.

Born in Texas, Vargas moved to Fallon as a young child. She was raised in Fallon and has since raised her own family in the community. She purchased the potable water delivery business from a longtime friend whose health prompted him to sell. The former owner still occasionally helps with deliveries.

Lahontan Valley Water delivers potable water to customers outside Fallon who rely on storage tanks rather than private wells. Summer is the company's busiest season, with Vargas filling residential swimming pools in addition to making regular residential deliveries.

One of the company's biggest milestones came shortly after Vargas took ownership. She applied to become a potable water vendor at the annual Burning Man event and was accepted, becoming the first new vendor in seven years. She recently secured a contract for Burning Man 2026 and will spend about 10 days at this year's event delivering potable water to participants.

"I became the first new vendor in 7 years and I am very proud of that," Vargas said.

Vargas will be joined at Burning Man by the former owner of the business and her adult son. During the rest of the year, she typically operates the business alone, although her 14-year-old son, Jaxtin, often rides along to help.

Vargas has also found ways to give back to the community through her business.

Last month, Lahontan Valley Water gave away 5,000 gallons of water to fill one local family's swimming pool. For August, Vargas and her son decided to launch a back-to-school backpack giveaway.

The business initially planned to donate two backpacks filled with school supplies and asked community members to nominate families in need through the company's Facebook page. Support from friends and family quickly expanded the effort to eight backpacks.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, Aug. 7. Recipients will be selected Saturday, and the backpacks will be delivered to local families.

Vargas said anyone needing assistance is encouraged to submit a nomination, including nominating themselves. Community members who would like to donate additional backpacks with school supplies may contact Lahontan Valley Water through its Facebook page or by calling 775-461-6192.

"I have been feeling really blessed lately with a renewed contract for BM and with how extremely busy this summer has been for me," Vargas said. "My son thought giving away a couple backpacks with supplies, would be a cool thing to do."

“I have had so many students who say, ‘Oh, I’m not artistic,’ and then they create this incredible piece of art, and all of a sudden they’re surprised by it. They’re looking down at it, going, ‘I did this. I made this, and it’s beautiful.’”

That moment of discovery is one of the reasons Sorensen continues teaching at Oats Park Art School, where she will lead a four-day folk art workshop for children ages 7 to 12 beginning Aug. 10. Although she retired from the Churchill County School District, she said working with young artists is still something she enjoys.

“My sister told me that teaching was a calling because, you know, as a teacher it’s a hard job. It is. And there are times where you think I can’t do this anymore, right? But there is a reason why we were put on this earth, and I was put on this earth to teach kids.”

For this workshop, Sorensen chose folk art because she believes it gives children the freedom to create without worrying about perfection.

“So I fell in love with folk art. I’m kind of a folk artist because folk artists are not. They didn’t have formal training. Most of them were self-taught, and they didn’t come from a lot of money. A lot of them live in these little rural communities, and it’s not about perspective and realism. There are no rules. It’s okay if the dog is bigger than the house, or if you want to paint the tree purple. It’s just more of storytelling, and that’s what I like.”

Asked why folk art is a good place for children to begin, Sorensen said the style removes the pressure to make everything perfect.

“I think it’s very kid friendly. I mean, again, I’ll go back to I think it’s what you would call worry-free art. So they have the confidence to take a risk and know that it doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, it’s better if it’s not.”

The workshop also reflects Sorensen’s own childhood.

“I picked it because the Cantaloupe Festival is coming up, and I want to honor the farmer,” Sorensen said. “We’re deep rooted in agriculture here, so let’s tell a story about farm life in Fallon.”

Sorensen grew up in Tulare, California, where her father operated a dairy farm. The workshop’s farming theme reflects those memories and celebrates Fallon’s agricultural heritage. The sample she created features a classic red barn and Holstein cow, while students will create their own folk art inspired by farm life and their own imaginations.

The four-day workshop will be held Aug. 10, 11, 13 and 14 at Oats Park Art School. Sessions are scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. for children ages 7 to 9 and from 11 a.m. to noon for ages 10 to 12. The $50 registration fee includes all supplies, and students will display their artwork during a Young Artist Reception on the final day. Registration is available through the Churchill Arts Council.