Winnemucca, Nevada Your Source for Community News

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VOLUME 38, ISSUE 37

May 8 — 10, 2007

WEEKDAYEDITION

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3Announcements . . . . . . . . .Page 4A & E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6No. Nevada Events . . . . . . Page 7In Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Pages 25-27

Index —

NEVADA LEGISLATUREThe 74th session of theNevada Legislature entered its14th week on Monday. Acomplete schedule of thisweek’s hearings can be foundinside today’s Sun.

Page 14

COMMUNITY NEWSMore than 400 peopleattended the American RedCross’ Summer Safety Fairon April 21 at the Winnemucca ConventionCenter.

Pages 10-13

SPORTSLowry High School hosted a1A/2A/3A track & fieldmeet Saturday in Winnemucca, the final tuneup before regionals thisweekend.

Pages 17-22, 28

Shaping young lives

By Forrest NewtonThe Humboldt Sun

WINNEMUCCA — Teach-ers from around HumboldtCounty were honored April 26by the senior classes of McDer-mitt Combined School andLowry High School for theirinfluence in their lives.

Superintendent Del Jarmansaid he and McDermitt PrincipalJohn Moddrell met with seniorsin their respective schools andasked them to nominate up to sixteachers. These included twoteachers from their elementaryyears of K-4, two from the mid-dle school years of 5-8 and twofrom their high school years.

“If they nominated somebodythey had to write a paragraph,”Jarman said. “They actually hadto write a paragraph of why thisteacher was so special.”

A total of 205 seniors cameup with 156 nominations. Theseniors made their selections inDecember and the nominationswere sealed in envelopes. The

people that were actually pickedfrom all the nominations wereon more than one ballot, he said.

“It is a very special night, Ithink, for teachers,” Jarman said.“It kind of grows in stature as itsbeen done a couple of times.Because that’s from the kids andthat’s pretty daggone special.”— See TEACHERS, Page Two —

Students nominate teachers for their dedication

FORREST NEWTON • The Humboldt SunBack row, from left, Ron Beck, Joan Clemison, Jessie Westmoreland, Jeffrey Setzer, James Gilboy, Janet Kennedy,Michele Doyle and Michael Clark. Middle row, from left, Lynda Walton, Brant Corak, Jane Davidsaver, Ruth Alcorta,Amorita Maher, Lynn Ludlow, Brent Riemersma, Dolores Detweiler, Jeri Billingsley, Raquel Aberasturi and Nikki Ben-gochea. Teachers not available for photo, Lynn Cunningham and Diana Maxson. Front row, from left, Lowry Senior ClassSecretary/Treasurer Kelly Casale, senior class President Michael Forney, senior class Vice President Kelsey Mann, McDer-mitt Combined Schools student body President and student class Vice President Katie Hill and student body Vice Pres-ident Elisa Dave. For more photos from the event, see Page Nine.

By Jennifer LarsonThe Humboldt Sun

WINNEMUCCA — Hum-boldt County could be acceptingsolid waste from the San Fran-cisco Bay area hauled by rail to alandfill off Jungo Road.

The Regional Planning Com-mission approved an applicationfor a conditional-use permit sub-mitted by Jungo Land & Invest-ments, Inc. during their April 12meeting at the courthouse. Thepermit allows development of along-term solid waste disposalsite approximately 25 miles westof Winnemucca in the proximityof Desert Valley.

“I’m glad to have their busi-ness in Humboldt County,” saidplanning commissioner RichBrown.

The landfill will be prohibitedfrom receiving hazardous wasteand seeks only to dispose ofsolid waste from areas outsidethe county. The applicant is asubsidiary of Norcal Waste Sys-

tems, Inc. Vice President of Jungo Land

& Investments Don Gambelinsaid they would make the siteavailable to Humboldt Countywaste if that is the desire of the

governing board. He said med-ical waste would stay out of thesolid waste stream that comesinto landfills now. Gambelinnoted that because California ispretty restrictive, they have a

process for removing hazardoushousehold waste like spray paintcans at the front end. There is nosorting or processing at this end,he said. — See LANDFILL, Page Two —

Planning commission approves conditional-usepermit for proposed landfill on Jungo Road

JENNIFER LARSON • The Humboldt Sun The Humboldt County Regional Planning Commission approved an application for a con-ditional-use permit submitted by Jungo Land & Investments, Inc. during their April 12meeting. Pictured are George McGraft (left) and Don Gambelin, vice president of JungoLand. They attended the Landfill Committee meeting on April 23 to discuss developmentof a long-term solid waste disposal site approximately 25 miles west of Winnemucca.

By Forrest NewtonThe Humboldt Sun

WINNEMUCCA — JohnEugene Smith was bound over to6th Judicial District Court fromUnion Justice Court May 2 fortrafficking in a controlled sub-stance.

Judge Gene Wambolt saidthat there had been enough evi-dence presented during the pre-liminary hearing to believe thatthere had been a crime commit-ted and that Smith could havecommitted it.

Officers from the NevadaDepartment of Public SafetyInvestigation Division’s TridentTask Force testified that they hadset up drug buys in December2006 and February 2007, both ofwhich were consummated inWinnemucca.

Detective Andy Rasor said hewas the lead investigator of theoperation. The methampheta-mine that was transferred in thefirst instance measured out at 6.9grams gross weight and in thesecond instance measured at15.3 grams gross weight.

Smith was bound over on fourcounts, including the charges oftrafficking in a controlled sub-stance-level I, conspiracy to vio-late the Nevada Controlled Sub-stances Act, trafficking in a con-trolled substance-level 2 andanother count of conspiracy toviolate the Nevada ControlledSubstance Act.

Attorney Steve Evenson ofLovelock represented Smith atthe preliminary hearing andDeputy District AttorneyMichael Bongard representedthe state’s interests.

Local man bound overondrug charges

Clearing the air —

By Mara HegartyThe Humboldt Sun

WINNEMUCCA — TheNevada Clean Indoor Air Act,which banned smoking in certainareas, has been in effect for sixmonths now, and officials andbusinesses are weighing in withthe results in Humboldt County.

According to Nevada StateHealth Division Public Informa-tion Officer Martha Framsted,there have been violations inmore populated areas, but busi-nesses in Humboldt County haveso far been compliant with thesmoking ban.

“The majority of the com-plaints I am hearing are fromCarson City and Washoe andClark counties,” said Framsted.

Nevada State Health OfficerLinda Anderson agreed, addingthat she was “very surprised” atthe ease of the transition in ruralNevada.

The Nevada Clean Indoor AirAct, which took effect inDecember, prohibits smoking inpublic places, including grocerystores, restaurants and bars thatserve food; the ban has causedcombination restaurant-and-barestablishments either to bansmoking or to stop serving food.

— See BAN, Page Two —

Smoking banaffecting localbusinesses

Company muststill obtain severalmore permits forsolid-waste facility

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2 - The Humboldt Sun, May 8 - 10, 2007

Thursday $681.30 $13.37Friday $686.90 $13.42Monday $688.30 $13.49

GOLD SILVER

(Cont. from Page One)“They are making choices in

their business practice and goingone way or the other,” saidAnderson. “I hope it continues.”

The transition has not been asfluid with businesses in theWashoe County area, accordingto Washoe County Health OfficerBob Sack, who says a crackdownon noncompliant businessescould be in the works.

Compared with the singlecomplaint that has been filed inHumboldt County, Washoe offi-cials said they have receivedapproximately 200 complaintsconcerning violations in Renosince December. Clark Countyofficials have received 2,000complaints in the Las Vegas area.

Humboldt County DistrictAttorney Russell Smith said thatthere is one non-compliant busi-ness in Humboldt County. Thebusiness has received a verbalwarning from the state healthdepartment. Smith said they werestill in violation, so they aregoing to receive a written warn-

ing.After that, said Smith, the next

step is legal action.“It’s a crime, so we’d prose-

cute the business owner,” he said,adding that the case would thenbe turned over to the publichealth department.

Some establishments are com-plaining that the ban has led to adrop in business.

Berry-Hinckley, the parentcompany of Winner’s Cornerconvenience stores, reported adefinite decrease in slot machineusage at all of the 33 Winner’sCorner stores statewide since thesmoking ban went into effect.

According to Adam Carlson, amarketing manager and publicrelations representative forBerry-Hinckley, gaming withinthe stores is down 25 to 50 per-cent in the first quarter of 2007.

“We expected it to go downinitially and then climb back upslowly,” said Carlson of the gam-ing, and added that the smokingban “does have an impact.

“We have the same concerns

as all business owners,” he said.“That sales would suffer becausecustomers aren’t allowed tosmoke, which they’ve beenaccustomed to doing.”

Grocery chain store Raley’sSupermarket and Drug Centershas slot machines inside; thoughthe new smoking ban outlawssmoking in grocery stores,Raley’s representatives said theyhave not seen an impact.

“The Nevada Clean Air Acthas not had a significant impacton slot machine play in ourstores,” said Raley’s spokesper-son Amy Johnston.

Other, smaller local business-es have been affected in variousways.

The Player’s Bar is an exam-ple of an establishment that hashad to adjust because of thesmoking ban. The Player’s signused to read “Player’s Bar andGrill,” however, since the smok-ing ban, Player’s owners haveopted to stop preparing food toallow their customers to continueto smoke in the bar.

“It has definitely slowed day-time business, but it hasn’t affect-ed business at night or on theweekend,” said employee JenWright, adding that Player’s wasmainly a bar that had served foodon the side. Wright added thatbusiness would have been hurtmore if the owner had decided toban smoking to continue servingfood.

“For us it was the right deci-sion,” she said.

Other businesses opted to bansmoking and continue servingfood.

“If anything, business hasbeen better,” said Las Margaritasowner Jose Meza. “More couplescome and sit at the bar, and cus-tomers say it is nicer now.”

Meza said he has had only twocomplaints from smoking cus-tomers and that people have nowadjusted to the new rule.

“The customers who smokerespectfully smoke outside. It’scleaner,” he said, adding that thesmokeless environment is alsohealthier for employees.

(Cont. from Page One)The teachers had been notified

early enough for them to invitefriends and relatives to attend thebanquet to share in this specialoccasion.

Not all teachers decided to goto the podium and make a speechbut several did.

“It’s a wonderful thing thatstudents still remember me,” saidWinnemucca Grammar Schoolteacher Jane Davidsaver.

“I’m only as good as the mate-rial I’m given to teach,” saidLowry High School teacher JanetKennedy. “And the material thatI have been given to teach are theyouth of Winnemucca, Nevada.They are the most outstandingpeople I’ve ever met and beenprivileged to be around.”

“It means a lot coming fromthese students because they’rereally the ones that know whatgoes on in our classrooms,” saidMcDermitt Combined School

teacher Amorita Maher.“We want to make an impact.

We want to make a difference insomeone’s life,” said Jessie West-moreland, a former kindergartenteacher and now the NorthernNevada Regional ProfessionalDevelopment Program Coordina-tor.

One teacher even began to goto the podium but quickly turnedaway when her emotions over-came her.

Jarman said he had seen thisdone in three or four school dis-tricts during his career. It hadbeen a popular event in thoseareas, and he wanted to try ithere.

He remembered a teacher whowas ready to retire and decided tostay on another year because ofbeing one of the chosen ones.Another teacher he knew saidthis was why she kept on teach-ing even after 22 years.

He said he asked Job Opportu-

nities in Nevada Branch ManagerJackie Kearns to put together asubcommittee to come up withcriteria to be used to select thesenior’s choices. It took her aboutfive weeks to get everything setup, she said.

The committee eventuallydecided on the three criteria ofimpact, presence and disciplinebefore looking at the nomina-tions.

“If wasn’t knowledge. It was-n’t teaching methods,” Kearnssaid. “It was impact. I’m glad wedid that because when we gotinto the nominations that(impact) was hitting us all thetime.”

Presence meant not just stand-ing in front of the class but beingpresent to the class or student.

They also ended up with theword discipline, but had consid-ered organization.

“And we didn’t mean by dis-cipline that everybody sat there

with their hands folded, but thatthere was controlled chaos in theclassroom,” Kearns said.

After having decided on thecriteria, they dove into the nomi-nations.

The school district was not outany money for the event. TheMining Industry Foundation forLowry High School funded theevening to the tune of $3,500 andhas committed to funding futureannual banquets, as well.

School board President JerryPfarr handed out the awards andshook hands with the winners,congratulating them on behalf ofthe board of trustees.

After the ceremony he said hefelt it was important not only forthe teachers but for the students.

“It allows students to reflecton the teachers that have made abig impact on their lives,” hesaid. “It’s awesome that theteachers were able to be hon-ored.”

(Cont. from Page One)“Our plan is to haul waste in

from southern California,” Gam-belin said.

He said they foresee construc-tion commencing in approxi-mately three years, with opera-tions and receipt of trainloads tostart one to two years thereafter.

Gambelin added that scheduletakes into account the long leadtime necessary for railroad engi-neering and construction. UnionPacific Railroad has committedto providing rail service to theJungo landfill via the formerWestern Pacific Rail line runningfrom Gerlach.

“They’re excited about havingthat business,” Gambelin said,referring to Union Pacific.

He noted that Jungo Landintends to draw its workforcefrom Winnemucca and surround-ing areas. They anticipate need-ing 20 to 25 full-time employees.Gambelin said activity at thedevelopment will effectivelyoccur 24 hours a day, seven daysper week. However, he explainedthat activity levels will be thegreatest when trainloads arebeing offloaded. When the trainset arrives, they will be veryactive for about an eight- to 10-hour period.

Jungo Land expects to receiveone trainload a day, five days per

week, Gambelin said. No noiseor light from the landfill will beheard or seen from town.

Development of the disposalsite will occur incrementally. Headded the plan is to constructbetween 15 to 20 acres of lineddisposal cells once every twoyears over a 40- to 50-year peri-od until all the lining systems arein place. The landfill is expectedto operate for at least 100 years.

“I find it hard to believe it’sgoing to last,” said planningcommissioner Bob Edwards,referring to the disposal site’s lifeexpectancy.

Gambelin said they haveanother landfill in Lincoln Coun-ty accepting waste from the LosAngeles area.

The development will utilizelined disposal cells, leachateremoval structures, rainwatermanagement facilities, landfillgas collection and flaring equip-ment to protect natural resources.

Planning Department SeniorTechnician Sandy Hammargrenreviewed the staff report, notingthe office received a soils reportfrom a rangeland managementspecialist with the NaturalResources Conservation Service.The report states the soils in thearea were not ideal for this typeof facility.

She said they also received

comments from county RoadSuperintendent John Russumregarding help with maintainingthe road should the trafficincrease. Hammargren said acondition of the use permit isdust control.

Jungo Land plans on buildingmuch of their rail yard using non-railroad workers, Gambelin said.He noted that no federal land isinvolved as the disposal site andsupport facilities will occupy onesection privately owned by Neva-da Land Resource Company.

According to Gambelin, theycurrently have a purchase optionwith NLRC. Access to the dis-posal site will occur via a newprivate road that will be con-structed on railroad land and runalong the south side of the railline from the Jungo Road cross-ing to the development.

In addition to the rail yard andlandfill structures, he said theywill use temporary buildings foradministrative and equipmentmaintenance needs. A four-strandbarbed wire fence will be erectedalong the perimeter of the proper-ty. Water needed for constructionand operations will be providedby onsite wells pursuant to a per-mit from the state engineer.

Planning CommissionerCatherine Cole Ferandelli ques-tioned if it would be possible for

Jungo Land to share their recy-cling efficiencies with the com-munity in order to embark on thatlocally. Gambelin told them thepotential is there. If there is acontainer load of recyclables thatgets shipped back, he said it willbe easy to add into the streamthey already have markets devel-oped for.

The Regional Planning Com-mission’s approval is the firststep in the process. There are anumber of permits and approvalsthat Jungo Land must obtain andcomply with in order to developand operate the solid waste dis-posal site. They will also need toobtain other permits from thestate of Nevada and the federalgovernment.

Gambelin attended the Land-fill Committee meeting withGeorge McGraft to report onJungo Land’s future develop-ment.

Humboldt County Adminis-trator Bill Deist said that the ordi-nance needs to be modified inorder to establish a second wastedisposal site locally.

“The only approved landfill isthe regional one,” he said.

Landfill Committee ChairmanJoyce Sheen noted that theymake recommendations to thecounty commission and Win-nemucca City Council.

BAN

LANDFILL

TEACHERS

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