Big weekend for Nevada sports - and more ahead

Sports couldn't be more fun in Northern Nevada this week. Nevada beats Fresno State (No. 16) in football in a great game (the play with 36 seconds left when Robert Hubbard ran the ball to the one yard line, instead of going for the touchdown, will always be remembered as the "touchdown they chose not to make," in order for Nevada to run out the clock for the "sure" win) ... now, a "bowl" game, and we're sure they're hoping for Hawaii after freezing to death in the stands.

Then, the basketball team beats UNLV ... hooray! All-American Nick Fazekas gets only 6 points (coming off a bad case of food poisoning), but the rest of the team comes through and shows the Rebels why Nevada's ranked No. 22. To top it off, Hug beats Cimmaron-Memorial in a close one to advance to the state football championship against the Las Vegas Wildcats at Mackay Stadium this Saturday at 12:30 p.m ... Go Hawks. Enjoy ...

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We heard that there's a "Chris Ault for Governor" movement happening now ... and that the person behind this says, "I have to take back all the bad things I said about him, and ask his forgiveness ... may he win at the bowl game, too." Amen ...

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A friend of ours just returned from Houma, La., after spending a month there (with 12-15 hour days) helping residents get dry housing set up to live in. He said every one of them was resilient and helping out after suffering the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While Katrina hit them with wind and rain, they didn't get the storm surge that affected other areas in the south ...

Rita, on the other hand, inundated them, and filled their homes with flood waters that contained sewage, bacteria and dead animals, making the homes impossible to live in, and all their possessions destroyed. Almost all the houses have had to be ripped down to the studs and rebuilt from the bottom up. In the meantime, portable housing (in this case, small trailers) have been brought in so that the people have some place to live while they rebuild.

Through it all, he says the people have kept their sense of humor, and have shown the will and desire to work hard to bring back the area, better than it was before. The hardships they have faced (losing everything, living with relatives in crowded conditions) and are facing, have not defeated them and he says it was a privilege to have been able to help out.

The worst part (on all levels) was the bureaucracy they have to go through to get even the minimum things done ... the delays were aggravating and helped the misery continue, rather than alleviating it In spite of everything, he sees great hope there, and feels that the people in the area are heroic. In that vein, keep giving to the charities that help them ... and send them your prayers and good thoughts ...

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One of the best things about the Christmas season in Carson City will be held for three days this year (Dec. 9, 10 and 11 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.) ... "A Living Nativity," put on by the First United Methodist Church of Carson City and is called "The Characters of Christmas." Harvey Lee tells us it has been expanded an extra day to accommodate the crowds ... you can drive though it (or walk) and enjoy the story of Christmas.

It is at the corner of Division and Musser streets, but begins at the corner of Fifth and Division ... just follow the candle-lit path and listen to the beautiful Christmas music. A lovely gift to the community ...

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With the bear sightings in Carson City, Sherry Hester tells us of the three guys from Montana, Idaho and Arkansas who went hunting ... "the first one went out and came back with a huge grizzly bear. The second man soon comes back with a big, black bear. Both times, the guy from Arkansas asks, "How'd you get that bear?"

And both times he receives the same answer, "I followed the tracks, went in the cave, and shot the bear." So the last guy goes out, but comes back all bloodied and cut up ... "What happened?" the other two guys shout. "I followed the tracks like you did, went in the cave ... and got hit by a train."

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Carolyn took a tour of the new shopping center at the junction of Mount Rose and Highway 395 last week ... it will be centered around a Dillard's department store, has a Gap, a Baby Gap, a multi-plex theater, and many other stores ... very impressive and quite the development ...

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The Carson City Recreation Department is holding tryouts for its annual talent show today at 4 p.m. at the Community Center theater. The show will be on the 9th ... for information, call 782-2105. It's always fun to watch because there are so many talented students in the area ...

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Stuart Posselt agrees with us on the post office entry/exit design ... but he says the worst was when he was under the entryway last winter and got a large glop of snow on his head ... he's just glad it wasn't ice ... we are too! Gee, Mr. P ... at least you can't be accused of being "hard headed" ... ouch ...

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Lots of things going on this Christmas ... the Capital City Community Band will have a concert on Sunday at 3 p.m.; the Carson High School Band will have a concert at 7 p.m. on Monday ... both will be at the Community Center. Also, the Genoa Christmas Faire will be held on the 10th and 11th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Genoa Town Hall ... "unique and old fashioned country gifts for the entire family ... "

And a cookie decorating class at Sugarplum Bakery & Treats in Genoa on Dec. 5 (783-8828 for info) ... and tasty, too ... then there's a free musical Christmas show, "Miracle at Midnight," at Saint Teresa's Church this Saturday at 11 a.m. put on by the children, with a light lunch to follow, and baked goodies for sale ... everyone's invited.

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For anyone wanting to increase their knowledge in the coming year ... may we suggest learning Chinese ... with one and a half billion people, the largest economy in the world, the fastest growing military, atomic energy and a space program, and the holder of the notes on our $8 trillion debt, you might want to know what's going on by speaking the language ... something to think about ...

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Happy Birthday today to Deb Greco ... you'll always be 39 to us ...

n Carolyn DeMar and Maizie Harris Jesse are longtime Carson City residents. Write to them at editor@nevadaappeal.com.