Community Meeting Opens Many Dialogues

The Community Chest of Storey County-sponsored dinner and meeting tonight in Lockwood brought forth several interesting development ideas, and a few updates of long-standing needs. About 60 interested citizens attended.

A litney of Lockwood-centered ideas was forthcoming. These are being organized into specific projects; ranging from planting more trees, a public Victory garden, community registry (phone book), a community web site, educational opportunities, recreational opportunities (with specific focus on the 13-20 age group) and many others. Followup is to be forthcoming from the Community Chest.

Staff at Hillside School reported that plans are underway to build an exercise walkway from the Senior/Community Center east around the school, then north across Peri Ranch Road, to the open area between the school and Rainbow Bend, following the property line west to the end of the property, and then south up the incline back to the Center. Enclosement of the area north of Peri Ranch Road is to include a fenced-in dog park. Specifics of the project are still in the design process but survey of the land was said to have already been done.

It was announced that one million dollars has been raised to build a multi-purpose center in Virginia City. This includes $200,000 appropriated as part of the Transportation and HUD Appropriations bill recently passed with the support of Senator Harry Reid. Groundbreaking is being scheduled. The meeting attendants were urged to take this success as model to improving the Lockwood community.

Some vocal attention was given geothermal and wind energy potentials but met with specific and non-specific skepticism. Further investigation into the potential lowering of community, and individual living, costs is being done by interested persons and companies. This is being spurred in light of recent geothermal funds allocated in the recent stimulis legislation going largely begging. Conversation has been opened with the Canyon General Improvement District toward that organization co-sponsoring such a project after the sewer plant effluent disposal pipeline is complete.

No mention was given to fast-tracking the opening of a restaurant-bar for the area now that none is open between Sparks and Patrick.

Pruitt Murder Arraignment Set

Ryan Bonnet will be arraigned on Open Murder and Assaulting a Police Officer charges February 19th in Storey County District Court for the death of Eileen Pruitt and resisting police arrest. Details of his Friday Preliminary Hearing in Justice of the Peace Annette Daniels' court are covered in F.T.Norton's bylined article in the Nevada Appeal today. Read it online here.

The hearing room was filled to overflow as the tedious detail of the unfortunate October 18th incident in Lockwood's Rainbow Bend development was reflected by witnesses. The hearing was conducted in a small room with bench seats for about 20; standing room had the total witnessing the hearing over 30. It was hot and uncomfortable for all attending, but determination kept the room near capacity as the long day unfolded. Members of the Pruitt family were in attendance.

Not mentioned in the F.T.Norton article was testimony that tied Bonnet statements on the fateful day to the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club (HA); esp. who, according to one witness, he said to be his "family,"and were "ready to take care of any problem."

River District Community Dinner and Planning Meeting

Community Chest, Inc. is facilitating a dinner and planning meeting for the River District of Storey County. This will afford Lockwood residents an opportunity to give input into a vision for this community and make plans toward creating a healthful environment here.

It will be at the Hillside Elementary School on Peri Ranch Road in Lockwood; Thursday, January 28th from 5 to 8 PM.

RSVP is requested at the school 324-0400.

Hope to see you there.

Pat Mylan Passes

Word has come that longtime Mustang Bar owner Pat Mylan has died. Arrangements for burial at the Veterans Cemetary in Fernley were being made for Firday, November 27th according to reports from a former resident of the mobile home park. As of this writing, no confirmation of this is available.

Pat owned and operated the Mustang Bar and adjacent Sage Mobile Home Park on the Washoe side in Mustang, located at 11950 Interstate 80 East, Route 1, for several decades. Following some troubles with Washoe County over the water system, he had sold the property to Q&D Construction, who closed the park and bar. He once said he moved to Mustang in the mid-1940s, when it was, "Just dust and sagebrush."

This comes after the recent passings of Jim and Joe Peri, also pioneers and longtime residents of the area. It has been learned that their property, with the exception of the actual Peri Ranch homestead, has been sold to interests owning the Old Bridge brothel property. The brothel has been closed for several months.

UPDATE: Eileen Pruitt Case

The Preliminary Hearing for Ryan Bonnett scheduled for tomorrow has been continued. A new date for that hearing will be scheduled next week and will appear in this blog. He is being held in the Storey County jail awaiting this hearing. He is being represented by the Public Defender.

Where's the money?

Tonight we are chasing down the Grants/Awards Summary for Storey County from the Recovery.gov website.

So far we see:
$350,714 going into Sub-award 2610-15-8615 - STOREY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, for salaries and suport;

AND

$1,361,000 to the Canyon General Improvement District with this quote:
"This federal grant provides funding to the State of Nevada to capitalize its revolving loan fund for financing the construction of wastewater treatment facilities, green infrastructure, program administration and clean water releated activities. The primary purposes of the agreement are to preserve jobs and promote economic recovery."
The Recipient:
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection,
David Emme.

AND NOTHING ELSE? Click the Recovery.com link and see if you find anything else to our local benefit. I didn't. Nevada is #32 of the 50 states listed. This funding above is out of $275 billion available for federal contracts, grants and loans; or about .6% (or 6 one thousandths) of the available money. Jobs created have become a topic of controversy on local television. For certain, there are obvious questions regarding the makeup of the crews working in LCC.

UPDATE: November 19th

Read Mr. Emme's email replay in Comments to this entry below. Calls following up have not as yet been returned.

Weekend Update

HUNTER TAKES BUCK, COPS ABOUND
A hunter shot a local 4-point buck somewhere between Peri Ranch Road and Canyon Way last weekend. Authorities were alerted by a citizen who heard the shot(s). Sheriffs from Washoe County were first to arrive, followed by Fish and Game wardens and Storey County Sheriff deputies. The hunter was detained on scene while the proper licenses and deer tag were checked. Then everybody went home.

NEW SEWER BACKS UP, HOUSE FLOODED
Workers on the new sewer system in LLC are rumored to have left open something that caused the plumbing in one LCC unit to back up and overflow into the house. The house was closed for a short time due to the unsanitary conditions. A Urban Disaster company was hired and cleaned up the mess. The smell has dissipated, after several days of putrid emission.
Several neighbors have remarked at the liability cost to the construction company. Meanwhile the work goes on to the detrement of car finishes and community quiet. It has been offered that it will be over by the New Year's Day 2010. Holding your breath? Me too. And not just for the smell.

PURPLE RIBBONS APPEAR
Someone has put up purple ribbons on local trees and other street furniture. Purple is a color of rememberance. Was this for Eileen Pruitt?
Inquiry thus far has yielded no clear message behind this gesture. Anybody know what this is about?

If you have more information about either of these incidents, please submit a Comment. This goes for any other event you may deem of interest to this community.