Humboldt  County  News
Saturday, November 25, 2006

Local Workforce Housing Committee meets with
 new Nevada Rural Development Council Director

The group of community members that is working to bring affordable workforce housing to Winnemucca had the opportunity recently to meet with the new Director of the Nevada Rural Development Council.  The Executive Committee of the Nevada Rural Development Council recently hired Clint Koble, of Reno, as the new Program Director for the council.  The new director has rural roots - good news for northern Nevada's rural communities.  Koble said, "I have always liked rural communities, and after 30 years of working in the general management profession, it's nice to return to rural America."

Koble added, "I see a great challenge and opportunity in helping advance the quality of life in rural Nevada, and I look forward to traveling throughout Nevada.  I want to hear from as many rural Nevadans as possible."

The Nevada Rural Development Council has an Affordable Housing Committee, and their work may help support our local committee's efforts. City Councilman, Patty Herzog, who serves on the local Affordable / Workforce Housing Committee said she was encouraged about the possibilities for additional support for the committee's efforts after meeting Koble.  Koble noted that the Rural Development Council's Affordable Housing Committee is meeting on December 7th with a new Chairman to be announced and will review goals and objectives at that meeting.

New Nevada Rural Development Council Director says
renewable energy can be "An American Rural Renaissance"

Nevada Rural Development Council Director, Clint Koble recently attended the National Evergy Conference regarding Renewable Energy in St. Louis, and came away with some exciting thoughts about the future of rural Nevada.  Koble said, regarding attending the conference, "I thought I would come away with simply more information regarding alternative energy sources; instead, I came away with a whole new look on the future of rural America, and specifically, rural Nevada."

Koble said the subtitle of the conference was: "An American Rural Renaissance," and said, "That truly is what the future of renewable energy can bring to rural communities."  Koble said that currently, there is an over-whelming synergy from the Administration, Congress, States, USDA, DOE, National Energy Initiatives, large private businesses such as DuPont and John Deere, research and development, railroads, producers, cooperatives, farm organizations and many more entities that is sweeping the country, soon to make its impact in Rural America."

The Winnemucca area is well on its way to being impacted by renewable energy development.  More than one company is researching the mountains in Humboldt County for wind energy development, and Nevada Geothermal Development is moving steadily toward building a large power plant only about 20 miles from Winnemucca, still inside Humboldt County.

Koble proclaimed, "Renewable energy alternative are here to stay and they will be increasing their appearance in Nevada."  He added, "When you consider that Nevada has some of the greatest solar, wind, and geothermal potential in the country, you can only imagine the benefit for the State of Nevada to take a leading role in providing alternative fuel resources and providing for the energy security of our nation by reducing our dependence on foreign oil."

Do You Hear What I Hear?  Winnemucca Civic Chorus
 29th annual Christmas Concerts December 7-10

The Winnemucca Civic Chorus has selected the Musical Cantada "Do You Hear What I Hear" as the featured selection for their 29th annual Christmas Concert.

Chorus Director, Joan Munk, explained, "A cantada is a choral composition, either sacred and resembling a short oratorio or secular, as a lyric drama set to music but not to be acted."  Munk said she selected this work because it blends some of the old traditional songs that everyone loves with some great new works.  She noted, "Evern the traditional songs have been arranged very nicely so that when the chorus is singing about kings, the music is regal and stately, when the subject is the manger, the music paints a picture that is peaceful and serene."

What were the sounds of the first Christmas?  What are the sounds of Christmas today?  Do we hear what they heard that night long ago in Bethlehem?  Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph were listening and heard the news; angels, shepherds, then wise men heard the news of the birth of a Savior - and followed.

The music the Winnemucca Civic Chorus will be presenting next month at their Christmas Concerts December 7th through 10th is a 45-minute musical / cantata that blends fresh arrangements of carols and beautiful new songs with a compelling narrative and optional drama to create an exciting musical for Christmas.  In a departure from the Civic Chorus' normal concerts, a children's chorus of about a dozen excellent young singers will join them. 

After an intermission, the chorus will sing a medley of Christmas songs, both old and new.  Performances will be at:

The Martin Hotel - Thursday, December 7th at 7:30 p.m.
United Methodist Church - Friday, December 8th at 7:30 p.m.
Paradise Valley School - Sunday, December 10th at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets have a suggestion donation of $10 for adults.  Children of all ages may attend the concert free of charge.

Director, Joan Munk said the ticket prices are a change for the Civic Chorus, and explained, "We have long wanted to attract more families to our performances so we are asking that only the adults make a donation to help cover our costs.  All children may attend free of charge."  Munk concluded, "The suggested donation is $10, but as long as seats are available, no one will be turned away."

Tickets should be available at each of the concerts, but advance tickets are available at The Martin, Nature's Corner, and Curves.

Humboldt County Commissioners meet Monday

The Humboldt County Commissioners are meeting Monday at 10:00 a.m. Their agenda includes a request from the DA's office for a waiver to the attrition policy so they can fill a position when District Attorney - Elect, Russell Smith, assumes his position the first of January.  Smith currently serves as Chief Deputy District Attorney.  The Treasurer's Office will also be requesting a waiver of the attrition policy to they can fill the Administrative Specialist position in the Treasurer's Office.

Plannin matters on Monday's agenda include a variance application submitted on behalf of the Golconda Fire Protectin District Board to reduce the required front yard setback so they can build a storage building for the fire engines on Second Street in Golconda.  Commissioners will consider approval of a large parcel map application, seeking to divide property located a little over a half-mile north of Jungo Road.  The proposal is to divide the section into 15 lots.  Another large parcel map applicaiton is up for final approval - this one proposes to divide property located about 18 miles west of Winnemucca on Jungo Road into 15 lots.  Another final approval will be considered for a large parcel map on Idaho State Road about 4 miles south of Pronto - again the proposal is for 15 lots.   A large parcel map application for property a mile north of the Humboldt / Pershing County line seeks to create another 15-lots.  The last planning item is a request to set for a future public hearing a rezone application submitted by Paul Kraus, to change the Commercial district zone on property located on West Winemucca Boulevard to an M-1 industrial designation. 

Road matters include a public hearing an the request to bring Delaney Drive and McRae Roads into the County maintained system, as well as a general report of pending Road Department projects.

The Commissioners will review and consider approval of a lease between Nevada First Corporation Land and Cattle Corporation and Humboldt County for a TV translator and communication facility on Saipan Peak.  The Commissioners are set to renew a contract for their recording system through June 30th as their final agenda item. 

Commission meetings are held in the upstairs meeting room of the Humboldt County Courthouse - the public is welcome to attend any portion of the meeting.  Incidentally, the Commissioners have cancelled their Monday, December 4th meeting.  The only Commission meeting to be held in December will be held Monday December 18th.

McDermitt Homemakers Craft Fair next month

McDermitt Homemakers are busy at work putting the final preparations on their Craft Fair, planned for the second Saturday in December - December 9th.  The craft fair will be held at the McDermitt Community Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and they still have tables available for crafters who would like to sell their wares at the craft fair.  Tables can be rented for $7.  The contact numbers are 1-775-532-8565 or 1-775-532-8817 - a message machine is available at both numbers.

Winnemucca Face to Face

This weekend's Winnemucca Face to Face program is a bit of a departure from anything we've don't before.  But since my husband, Torrey, and I have sold KWNA Radio after almost 30 years, and since the new owners are supposed to take over on December 1st, we thought we might just interview each other for Winnemucca Face to Face this weekend.  It will be our good bye program and an opportunity for us to say how much we have enjoyed running this station and doing the Humboldt County news and Lowry Sports, and live broadcasts from the park on the Fourth of July and all the other things - all these years.

Though we're staying in Winnemucca, there's no question that life will be very different for both of us.  Join us for Winnemucca Face to Face this weekend and help us say "good bye" to KWNA radio.  Winnemucca Face to Face runs after the Saturday noon news block on KWNA AM (1400 on the AM dial) it is re-broadcast at 12:10 Sunday afternoon on KWNA FM (92.7 on the FM dial).