'Extreme' home framing in Stagecoach

Mike Becker hasn't slept much in the last 72 hours, or maybe it's 96.

He doesn't know anymore.

"Well, there's just a lot to get done before ..." he paused and looked toward the gray Northern Nevada sky. "... Before sometime tonight - um, what day is it? Monday? Yeah, there's a lot to get done."

Becker, principal of Reno-based Becker General Contractors LLC, was clad in a black Carhart work jacket bearing his company's logo.

Beneath it, a blue shirt.

Yes, the blue shirt.

The one embossed with the outline of a home in yellow and the words "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in red and black.

It's Monday, day three of the show's production in Stagecoach.

The mission: To tear down the home of Steve and Mary Boettcher, who used to share a 700-square-foot single-wide trailer with 20-year-old daughter, Stephanie, and her 18-month-old son, Joshua.

The Boettchers also founded Soul'd Out Ministries, and used their 700-square-foot garage for youth group meetings and a rec hall for middle and high school age students.

Sunday, with the help of some biker friends of the family, both the home and garage were razed.

Monday was a different story.

By 11 a.m., a 2,000-plus-square-foot two-story structure was taking shape. Insiders call it by its working name "The House of Blues" - presumably, the end product will resemble the ubiquitous chain nightclub and concert halls bearing the same name.

And some associated with the building crews hinted a big-name performer may descend upon Stagecoach by week's end to break in the family's new rec center.

Little else was revealed on the Stagecoach "set" of the Boettcher home, but if the 150-plus workers framing "House of Blues" and pouring concrete on what will be by midnight tonight the 3,000-plus-square-foot residence occupying the northwest corner of the family's acre lot, the "dream" seemed to be at least one thing - big.

"Yeah, what can I say here, we're moving," said Lo Borrego, CEO of West Haven Development Group of Reno - the Boettcher home contractor. "We're about six hours behind already though. Things are coming together fast, but at 28-degrees, it's a little tough to get the concrete to cure.

"That's all right - we've got a lot of framers, a lot of workers ready to roll on this and we'll make up some time."

Shortly after noon, framer Becker said he and his crew would make up about three hours working well into the night with sufficient help from volunteers.

"You've probably heard it already and will hear it again this week," he said. "But what an effort. I've got guys here that are going to go straight through until 3 a.m.

"This show, it's one of those things it takes about three seconds to watch and then you're hooked. The mission today, and being able to help out, it's our way of giving back so-to-speak. We couldn't be happier; we couldn't ask for a more deserving family."

Standing at the ready Monday afternoon was Bill Peterson, of Reno-based Truckee Meadows Heating and Air.

His crews would be next into the home and were already staging to get their hands on the "House of Blues."Peterson, clad in a hard hat, that was resting upon his blue "Extreme Makeover" skull cap, face wrapped in a wind-proof Gator, was "ready to go."

Warming up with a couple burgers from Bully's Bar and Grill Monday afternoon was Mark Maskaly, of Reno-based Newcastle Masonry. Maskaly, who does custom work, would follow the drywall crew into the "House of Blues" sometime before this morning to do some "Irish-themed" concrete and stone work.

As workers continued pouring concrete, framing a pair of multi-level structures, drinking Rock Star energy drinks to stay awake and coordinating with subcontractors to ready crews for the next shift, volunteer Renée Cartinella of Sparks took a quick breather in a chair she had moved outside of the food tent.

"I watch this show every week," she said. "Yes! I can't believe I'm one of the ones wearing a blue shirt.

"But I'm just thankful they came to Northern Nevada. I'm thankful I have a chance to help this family. I'm thankful that the (nation) is going to see where we live and what we are capable of."

• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

You can help

• To contribute to the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" benefiting the Boettcher family, go to any Northern Nevada Wells Fargo and ask to donate to the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" account No. 3393936103. Checks should be made payable to West Haven Development Group, and all funds go directly toward the Boettcher home project. Any remaining funds will be used for the Boettcher family benefit after construction is complete.

• For information on volunteering during the "Extreme Build," now through Friday, contact Cynthia Osborn, West Haven Development, at 850-7999.

• For information on the "Extreme Build," log on to www.NevadaExtremeHome.com or call 850-7999. For details on West Haven Development Group, visit www.WestHavenDG.com.