Humboldt County News
Thursday, November 23
Happy Thanksgiving Day - A Humboldt County News tradition of sorts is a short Thanksgiving Day newscast listing things to be thankful for in Humboldt County this year. The list is by no means complete; it's just my own reflections of some of the good things I have been aware of this year that have happened in our community. So here are my random thankfulnesses.
On the top of the good list would probably have to be the economy. Things are better - not perfect - but better. Gold prices have been up and stable for long enough that the gold mining companies' employees feel more secure in their jobs. The companies have increased their exploration again - which, in the long run, is very likely to extend mine life on current mines for years to come. There is even some great news regarding mines nearing the end of production with proposed Sustainable Development plans that would make it possible to use the infrastructure put in place by mining companies for other economic development efforts. Winnemucca's Resource Management Plan for public lands within the Winnemucca District is currently under development and will include provisions to allow mining companies to explore Sustainable Development alternatives and economic development opportunities with nearby communities rather than requiring them to tear down all infrastructure. (It will be the first Resource Management Plan in the state to contain Sustainable Development language)
Continuing economic progress is also visible this year at the Airport Industrial Park - CarWil's beautiful new office and huge welding and metal tooling building is doing a brisk business and owners are already looking at expanding. And, although there were apparently some who started worrying that Carry On Trailer Manufacturing would never get their manufacturing facility at the airport started, it has been started. The largest concrete pad for a building in Winnemucca is sitting at the Airport Industrial Park and being readied for the largest metal building in Winnemucca to be assembled upon it. 2007 will see the building's completion, workers hired, and manufacturing and shipping of cargo and utility trailers all over the western United States right from Winnemucca Nevada.
County and City officials are working with the Bureau of Land Management through the process of purchasing more land for the Airport Industrial Park to continue to be in position to take advantages of any opportunities that come for additional economic development and diversification. The land would make it possible for an industrial developer to put in a rail spur, as well as add to the land inventory at the industrial park. That purchase process is projected to be completed by summer of next year.
Nevada Geothermal Power's development of a geothermal power plant about 20 miles west of Winnemucca off Jungo Road made major progress this year. The results from production well testing brought new estimates that instead of the original 30 Megawatts of power, as much as 50 Megawatts of power production may be possible.
Winnemucca continues to have a more robust tourism economy, even in the less active winter months than other communities are showing on the I-80 corridor, due in large part to the many special events made possible by the Covered Events Center. But even that great facility wouldn't be the draw it is without the attitudes that make visitors here feel welcome and valued.
Progress continues at Great Basin College with a new 4-year degree opportunity, this time in social work. The State Director of the Division of Child and Family Services, Fernando Serrano (formerly of Winnemucca), noted in an interview with KWNA Radio this month that the need statewide for qualified social workers is critical and the job opportunities in that field are plentiful - and that degree is available right here. Great Basin College continues to hold strong in enrollment and gives local people, young and not so young, the opportunity for a higher education without having to leave home.
Something to be thankful for the past two years has been an abundance of water - while it's caused some flooding and a little inconvenience with the closure of the alternate truck route on Reinhart Road, it's also made it possible to water our lawns, trees, and gardens with no rationing, and it's helped local ranchers and farmers to grow the crops they need to keep their operations healthy.
While another 1.5 million acres burned in northern Nevada this summer, Humboldt County was not nearly as hard-hit as Elko County. So, while we feel for our neighbors to the northeast, we can be thankful that more of Humboldt County didn't burn. For the portions that did, Governor Kenny Guinn's successful request to have Humboldt and two other counties to be declared disaster areas, will bring in rehabilitation money along with low-interest loans for those whose ranching and farming operations were hard-hit.
Humboldt General Hospital's progress continues with several new pieces of equipment, and some of the latest technology in the form of a new CT Scan machine. The return and improvement of the Cardiac Rehab Program at the hospital will benefit those in the community who've had heart problems. The hospital's program to get automated defibrillators put throughout the community has been a great success and will continue into the next couple of years.
This summer's City street projects put about a million and a half dollars down on the roads so we can all drive on nice roads. It's something we almost don't even notice here because we're so used to having great streets, but if you visit some other communities around the state you come home with a whole new appreciation. A new water tank and water main loop project will increase water pressure for the north side residential areas - and all of the downtown area.
I'm thankful for all the years retiring Mayor Paul Vesco served in the community, and thankful that I see some younger community-minded people in the government and committee meetings I attend who are stepping up to fill the shoes of people like former Mayor Vesco in community service. Winnemucca's new mayor and city councilman both appear to be very excited about their new jobs and we're looking forward to working with them.
Winnemucca Rural Fire Department lost a veteran volunteer this year when Chief Neil Wright died, but those who knew him and worked with him are thankful for his many years of service, not just on the fire department but on the Local Emergency Planning Committee as well.
While it's not something I usually talk about on Humboldt County News, I'm thankful this Thanksgiving for being able to serve on the City Council for the past 10 years or so. I get to see a lot of people who work really hard to make their community better. I'm amazed at their patience! Sometimes it takes five or ten years to bring a project to completion, and there are people who are willing to put in sustained effort for all that time to make it happen.
While on that subject, I am so thankful that in our area, City and County governments (as well as many local agencies and organizations) work together instead of feuding over territory. It's a great blessing to the folks in our community and makes everybody's tax money go further because of the cooperative projects that are developed.
Great Basin Arts and Entertainment got an award from the Nevada Arts Council for excellence as a community arts organization - another example of the amazing volunteers in our community. They don't see obstacles, but opportunities and they don't believe anybody who says "it can't be done." They help make a name for our community as performers visit and do a show here for an appreciative and friendly audience. I think it reminds some of those performers exactly why they got into the entertainment business in the first place.
Humboldt County School District is under new leadership and the new superintendent and assistant superintendent are enjoying uncommon support and a high approval rating from community members and their employees. The collaborative and cooperative learning model the schools in the district are working into appears to give teachers more team support and more opportunity to learn from each other what is working best to help students.
The School District's Youth Risk Behavior Prevention Coordinator and Committee happily heard that, while Humboldt County's percentage of youth who use alcohol and drugs is still higher than the state average, it has gone down since the last survey filled out by teens. There's still a lot of work that needs to be done, but any positive movement is encouraging. The newly formed Drug Task Force has the potential to assist the school district, parents, and community members in helping our young people make the choice to safeguard their futures.
McDermitt Volunteer Fire Department got a grant for a hot new fire truck - a nice reward for their continuing hard work.
The Drug Court program has gotten a good foothold now and is helping those who want to take advantage of its resources to put their lives back together and start moving forward. There's even been a Teen Drug Court program started.
And I'm thankful for about 18 years at the best job I've ever had in my life - that of Humboldt County News Director, a job that will end within the next couple of weeks as KWNA Radio begins December and the new year with a new owner. I've met and interviewed amazing people from all over the nation, and amazing people right here in our home town. I've learned a little bit about thousands of different topics and it's given me a viewpoint I can't imagine that I could have received in any other way. Lots to be thankful for.