Churchill County year in review — part III

The Lahontan Valley News finishes its look at 2023 with a review of September-December from the pages of your community newspaper

SEPTEMBER

•The City of Fallon held an official ceremony for the completed Oats Park splash pad.

• Bonnie and Rodney Williams became the new owners of His Inspirations.

• T.J. Maxx, an off-price retailer, opened in Fallon. A grand opening was held at Stillwater Plaza.

• Routine testing conducted by the Nevada Department of Agriculture and the Churchill County Mosquito & Noxious Weed Abatement District found three positive mosquito pools in Churchill County for West Nile Virus.

• Communities across Northern Nevada marked the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attack. Capt. Shane Tanner, commander of Naval Air Station Fallon, spoke at the Fallon 9/11 remembrance ceremony.

• Churchill County School Superintendent Derild Parson took the first part of the Sept. 13 school board meeting to recognize bus driver Linda Diaz. He also released a more in-depth statement on a fatal motorcycle accident involving Diaz on the following day.

• Trustees reinstated a policy to add student representatives to the school board, and the Churchill County High School home construction program broke ground on its latest project.

• The Oasis Academy College Prep school broke ground for a new $8.5 million school off Venturacci Lane. The school is scheduled to open for the fall semester 2024.

OCTOBER

• Domestic Violence Intervention Fallon dyed the Maine Street fountain purple at the beginning of the month, and Mayor Ken Tedford issued a proclamation to signify the start of Domestic Violence Intervention Month.

• Ernest Heying, a prominent Fallon businessman and community leader who fought in three wars, died at Renown Medical Center on Oct 9.

• The annual Show n' Shine car show closed Maine Street for the day.

• The Cowboy Fast Draw Association’s annual signature event, the 16th annual The Fastest Gun Alive – World Championship of Cowboy Fast Draw — begins at the Rafter 3C Arena.

• The city of Fallon, Banner Churchill Hospital Auxiliary and the Oasis Academy student council gathered Oct. 23 to dye the Maine Street fountain for Red Ribbon Week.

• Mayor Ken Tedford, who played on state championship teams as a Greenwave student in the late 1960s and early 1970s, spoke at this year’s Greenwave Hall of Fame dinner.

• The U.S. Navy reports an F-16 from the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center at Naval Air Station Fallon was successfully rescued after departing a runway during a routine training mission in California.

• A small memorial was erected for two Fallon residents who died in a Monday morning crash at McLean and Casey roads have been released. They were Sheryl Evans, 73, and passenger Christopher Jenkins, 42.

• Student-led conferences, informational meetings, a career fair and dinner was held for Churchill County High School students and their parents and/or guardians on Oct. 17.

• The Nevada State Public Charter School Authority’s board conducted interviews with four people before making a recommendation. The board voted to submit three names, in order of preference — Melissa Mackedon, Dennis Holmes and Jessica Hoban — to Gov. Joe Lombardo. Later in the month, Mackedon was appointed.

• Fallon resident and LVN Editor Emeritus Steve Ranson was named the state’s Veteran of the Month.

• The new Oats Park pickleball courts are completed and ready for use.

• The Fallon City Council and staff attended the Oct. 25 opening ceremony with Mayor Ken Tedford cutting the red ribbon.

• Nevada Day and Spooktacular were held at the end of the month.

• Kenneth ‘Russ’ Jonte, Mitch Young, Randy Sharp and Jared Dooley were sworn to duty by as officers in the Fallon/Churchill Volunteer Fire Department.

NOVEMBER

• Performing Arts of Churchill County presents “Maine Street Gang: the Musical” at the Fallon Theatre.

• A number of Veterans Day activities are planned around the region which include parades, an observance and lunches and dinners for those who served in the military.

• During the past 25 years, Fallon has had four 1-star generals who have served in the National Guard: Michael Hanifan, Michael Peyerl, Todd Plimpton and Randall Sayre. They were featured in an article for LVN’s salutes to veterans.

• The Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe honored its veterans Friday during a one-hour ceremony at the tribal gym by recognizing the men and women who served in all branches of the armed forces.

• The Nevada Department of Agriculture has approximately $270,000 available for projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in the state through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

• Cmdr. Blaine S. Felloney of the Advanced Fighter Weapons School – Top Gun – spoke before the Navy League in Carson City to give attendees a look at the history and mission of the premier military aviation training school.

• With the assistance of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, all Churchill County School District schools hosted assemblies that encompassed a little about Native American history, traditions, heritage, and culture.

• Churchill County High School’s Marching Band ended its fall season.

• During his recent presentation at the Fallon Chamber of Commerce November luncheon, CCSD Superintendent Parsons explained that students often decide on a career path by seeing an example within their family or community.

• American Legion Post 16 volunteers prepared, packaged and delivered Thanksgiving meals to the area’s senior citizens.

DECEMBER

• Mahal Moon, Churchill County High School and University of Nevada, Reno graduate, has been appointed as the new curator of education at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City. In her new role, Moon will be involved with the museum’s community outreach through its educational and volunteer programming.

• The Fallon Police Department won this year’s annual Churchill County Holiday Food competition among the area’s first responders on Dec. 3 by receiving 6,506 pounds of goods. The Fallon Churchill Volunteer Fire Department finished more than a thousand pounds behind with 5,400 pounds for second place. The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office collected 5,060 pounds followed by Churchill County Search & Rescue with 4,360 pounds, Banner Churchill Emergency Medical Services with 1,600 pounds and Nevada State Police with 740 pounds.

• The annual Christmas tree lighting, downtown Christmas and ice skating are underway. Mayor Ken Tedford helped Mildred Ward turn on the Christmas lights on the city’s tree with the help of her sons, Steve and Ron.

• The Nevada Department on Career Development and Transitions has awarded Churchill County High School teacher Sara McGowan the first annual Leadership and Service award.

• Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Thursday at Naval Air Station Fallon will also be remembered at a number of locations with a small ceremony and the raising of a flag to remember the USS Nevada.

• The Churchill County School District is advising parents of a change within the transportation department. Due to a shortage in staffing, the district said it can’t meet its transportation needs.

• A 2009 Churchill County High School graduate and military veteran, Anthony Tisdale, was unanimously approved as Judge Pro Tem for the New River Township Justice Court in Churchill County.

• Thousands of people spent several hours Saturday morning at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley and other burial grounds including the Churchill County Cemetery at noon by placing wreaths on military veterans gravesites as part of a national program to honor and remember the men and women who served their country.

• Fallon’s American Legion Fred Anderson Post 16 and community volunteers delivered Christmas Day meals as part of the William S. Pennington’s Meals on Wheels program.

• The Henning family and Fallon Ford-Toyota staff brightened the end of the year for some local nonprofit and charity organizations during its annual Pay It Forward giveaway.

• Rotary Club of Fallon sorted various sundries and other items requested by the county’s senior citizens. For several weeks, Kent’s Supply accepted donations and then members arranged the donations into categories.

• Fireworks and then bull riding at the Rafter 3C Complex rang out 2023.