Northern Nevada News
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Sierra Pacific Power Closes Walk-in Service
Sierra Pacific Power will be discontinuing walk-in service at the company's Winnemucca office on West MacArthur Avenue, effective in February 2007, according to Gretchen Djukanovich, manager of customer contact for the utility. She said the company is consolidating resources in order to be more cost-efficient, and that additional telephone and Internet options for customers have reduced the need for walk-in service. Although walk-in service will no longer be available at the office, customers will still be able to start, stop, transfer service, make payment arrangements and discuss billing issues over the telephone by calling the local office number at (775) 623-3667 or toll free at 1 (800) 962-4182. They can also call either telephone number to report electrical outages. Field operations personnel will continue to be based at Sierra Pacific’s West MacArthur Avenue location to maintain equipment and respond to outages, as will utility designers who work with local builders to plan electrical installations for new construction. Payments can still be made by U.S. Mail; by automatic withdrawal from the customer's bank account; and locally at Albertsons, on Grass Valley Road, and Raley’s, on West Winnemucca Ave. In addition, customers can view and pay their bills online over the Internet or pay by check, credit card or ATM over the telephone, which includes a processing fee. More information about these options is available on the company's website,
www.sierrapacific.com. Walk-in service was discontinued two years ago in other rural communities in northern Nevada and northeastern California served by Sierra Pacific.
Arizona Resident Prosecuted for Wanton Waste
An out-of-state resident was found guilty of the crime of unlawful waste of game, often called "wanton waste" on Wednesday in Reno. Erik William Swanson of Phoenix, Ariz., was found guilty of wanton waste and will be sentenced in about thirty days in Reno Justice Court. Swanson faces up to six months in Washoe County Jail and a fine of up to $500 in addition to the loss of all hunting privileges in the state. "People who waste these animals are not sportsmen, they are criminals," said Rob Buonamici, chief game warden in Reno. "We are particularly disturbed when criminals masquerade as hunters and waste precious Nevada resources." The specifics of the incident started on August 27, 2005 when Swanson illegally shot a doe antelope while hunting in unit 014 in Northern Washoe County with a valid buck tag. Although he knew that he shot and killed the doe, Swanson decided to leave it to rot. Several hunters witnessed the shooting and informed game wardens that investigated the case, and a successful investigation and prosecution followed. The conviction by the Washoe County District Attorney’s office comes on the heels of a significant increase in wildlife crime across the state this year. The key to this case were three eyewitnesses who reported essential, timely information to game wardens. In fact, many wildlife crime are solved through the help, attention and dedication of honest hunters and sportsmen, according to Buonamici. Game wardens are asking hunters in the field to report any suspicious activity and wildlife crimes to Operation Game Thief (OGT) at (800) 992-3030.
Fontaine Named Executive Director
Nevada Department of Transportation Director Jeff Fontaine will become the executive director of The Nevada Association of Counties. Association president Norm Frey, of Churchill County, said Fontaine will start in January, along with Elko County Commissioner John Ellison, who takes over as head of NACO. The NACO board met Monday to select a replacement for Bob Hadfield, who retired as director several years ago, but was brought back as interim director this year. Fontaine, 51, was recommended for the position by the association's executive committee. Fontaine said he has been interested in county and local government for years from when he worked with county officials on water-quality issues at the health division. Fontaine said he leaves Gov.-elect Jim Gibbons with a solid staff at NDOT. Fontaine said he would stay until January to help Gibbons with the transition. He has been director of the Nevada Department of Transportation since April 2003.