News about the city - from garage doors to Gottschalks

A Carson City garage door company was honored by Martin Door Manufacturing for sales excellence in 2004.

Carson Overhead Door was recognized by Martin Door earlier this year as one of the company's top-selling dealers for the past year. The company, managed by Todd Laffoon, was given Martin's bronze star for sales excellence.

Veteran law enforcement officer Kirt Warren has been named director of security for L. Lance Gilman companies. His responsibilities will include 24-hour security at the Wild Horse Saloon and the Wild Horse Resort and Spa.

Warren previously served for six years as a police officer for the Veterans Administration Sierra Nevada Health Care System. Warren has also served with the Department of Defense for 11 years and was a reserve officer for the Susanville Police Department. Warren has had extensive law enforcement education including being SWAT trained specializing in personal/compound security disciplines.

The Wild Horse Saloon and the Wild Horse Resort and Spa are located off of Interstate 80, 10 minutes east of Sparks.

Miles Brothers Construction, Inc. broke ground Thursday on the Toy Shed project in the Comstock Industrial Park in Mound House.

The Toy Shed offers storage units to accommodate most RVs and boats and a host of other vehicles and "toys." The project consists of 254 units, about 100 are already sold. The standard 600 square foot unit costs about $42,000. Ownership will be managed by a community association that collects a $300 annual fee.

The project caters to people who own property that they want to protect in a climate-controlled environment with security cameras, perimeter fencing and lighting.

Resorts West will award a new scholarship program that will provide up to four educational scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 a year for four years. Resorts West associates, children and grand children will be eligible and encouraged to participate.

Charity Thrift Store of Carson City donated $150 to Meals-on-Wheels in December and will donate $150 to the Carson City Animal Shelter this quarter, said owner Beverly Rolfe. Contact the 1800 Highway 50 East, suite 13 store at 885-0220.

All types of lighters have been grounded by the Transportation Security Administration starting this week. Lighters will not be allowed passed security in airports or onboard commercial aircraft in the U.S.

Reno/Tahoe International Airport installed a system called Checkpoint Mailers, which is a station set up for passengers to mail home items that cannot pass the checkpoint, rather than just throwing the items away.

Carson City eye surgeon Dr. Michael J. Fischer, president of the Nevada State Medical Association, was appointed to the American Medical Association's Council on Legislation.

The council helps the AMA's Washington, D.C. staff in formulating organized medicine's response to national legislative issues.

Fischer, an eye surgeon here since 1983, is the first Nevada physician to be appointed to this arm of the American Medical Association.

Gottschalks Inc. (NYSE: GOT) released revised financial results for fiscal year 2004 because of corrections in its accounting practices related to leasing transactions.

The effects of these corrections were a decrease in retained earnings of $1 million as of Feb. 1, 2002 and decreases in net earnings of half a million, or 4 cents per share, in fiscal years 2004 and 2003, and an increase in net loss of $.4 million, or 3 cents per share, in fiscal year 2002. The company will restate its financial statement for 2003 and 2002 because of corrections in its accounting practices.

Gottschalks is revising its guidance for diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2005 to 59 cents to 64 cents.

J4 Systems, a Sacramento computer networking and development company, announced its expansion into Reno, After serving the greater Sacramento region for more than 11 years, owners John and Jeanette Joseph are expanding the company's services into Nevada. J4 Systems experienced a 23 percent growth rate in 2003, a 27 percent growth rate in 2004, and anticipates similar growth this year.

"The expansion of J4 Systems into a new market is a true testament to its hard work and success," said Jon Witty, Northern California Area General Manager, Small and Mid-market Solutions and Partners for Microsoft Corp. "By bringing its computer networking and developing skills into Nevada, J4 Systems will have the opportunity to teach more customers about the value of technology. We congratulate J4 Systems on this move."

J4 Systems is holding a free, grand-opening Microsoft technology seminar at its Reno office on May 13. These informational seminars are free to the public and offer a forum for business decision makers to learn and ask questions about specific technologies. J4 Systems' engineers and Microsoft representatives will be present to discuss Network Security and Business Continuity. For more information call 916-784-8220.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.