Northern Nevada News

Schools may be closed for the holiday season, but law enforcement officers this week are learning tactics for dealing with a gunman in a school. Elko Special Response Team members are teaching their fellow officers how to handle an "active shooter." Each shift will be trained so all Elko city patrol officers and investigators are prepared for any number of potential of incidents. The course is a refresher for some of the officers and new training for others. The last time Elko police trained for active shooter was almost three years ago. The Columbine incident in 1999 in Littleton, Colo., was the nation’s deadliest school shooting with 14 students, including the gunmen, and one teacher killed and 23 others wounded. Elko Police Cpl. Ty Trouten said law enforcement changed its tactics after Columbine and continues to refine how it deals with active shooters. "Columbine was a perfect example," Trouten said. "In a hostage situation we set up a perimeter but with an active shooter incident most of it is over within minutes so you don’t have time to set up a perimeter." When officers respond to an "active shooter" call they have to find and stop the threat as quickly as possible, Trouten said. The tactics used in the course build upon the skills officers already use in their jobs, but there are certain techniques they have to practice, such as clearing a room quickly and safely.

Author and historian Richard Orsi will present a program on the Southern Pacific Railroad on Wednesday, January 10 in the Nevada State Railroad Museum. His illustrated talk, base on his new book, will start at 7PM. His presentation will examine the impact of the Southern Pacific Railroad in the development of Nevada, California, and the rest of the Far West and Southwest. The infamous "Octopus," which historians have traditionally denounced for corrupting governments, charging exorbitant freight and passenger rates, and generally working economic and social havoc in its territories, actually also worked to settle land with small farmers, modernize agriculture and ranching, develop and conserve water and forests, and preserve wilderness in national parks. Richard Orsi is a B.A. graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles. He has received an M.A. and the Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is an emeritus professor from California Historical Society. He currently is a member of the editorial board for the Nevada Historical Society Quarterly. He is the co-author of the Elusive Eden: A New History of California and editor of the acclaimed California Sesquicentennial Series, four volumes of essays by historians reinterpreting early California history. Most recently, Orsi authored a major book reinterpreting the influence of the Southern Pacific Railroad on the history of the West: Sunset Limited; The Southern Pacific Railroad and the Development of the West, 1850-1930. The Nevada State Railroad Museum is located on Route 395 at the south end of Carson City at the intersection of Fairview Avenue. A yellow train station and red water tank at the entrance to the museum grounds are landmarks. For more information, please contact John Frink at 775/687-6953.

Nevada State Museum Volunteer Woody Davis is blatantly honest about his reasons for becoming a tour guide and he puts the same questions to others: "Are you bored? Do you need a challenge? Then join our team and put your time and talents to good use!" Woody has been a long-time museum volunteer, those who work with him say he’s a real showman who is very dynamic and vocal and gives an exciting tour. He is just one of the many volunteers that make the State Museum special. For those who want to join Woody Davis and become a volunteer, the Nevada State Museum is offering a free, four day volunteer tour guide training program from 9AM until 3PM on January 9^th and 10^th, and January 16^th and 17^th. The training covers everything about Nevada from geology and mining to history and Native American cultures. Upon completion of the program and three practice sessions, volunteers will be equipped to give tours of the museum’s following permanent exhibits: Nevada’s Changing Earth, Nevada: A People and Place in Time, and Under One Sky: Nevada’s Native American Heritage. Guest speakers at the volunteer training session include Sherry Rupert, Executive Director for the Nevada Indian Commission, State Archives Manager Jeff Kintop, State Historic Preservation Officer Ron James, and D.D. Lapointe, Earth Science Education Coordinator for the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. Those interested in attending the free tour guide training or becoming a museum volunteer can call Deborah Stevenson at 775/687-4810, ext. 237 by January 5^th to make a reservation. No prior experience is necessary; the only requirements are enthusiasm and a desire to learn and share.

The American Red Cross, Winnemucca Service Center would like to remind the community of the following meetings and classes: On January 10^th, All youth aged 7 years through 8^th grade are invited to attend the American Red Cross, Jr. Youth meeting beginning at 3pm in the French Ford Middle School. All Red Cross Youth are invited to attend. On January 11^th, All High School age youth are invited to attend the American Red Cross Leadership Meeting at 1145AM in the Lowry High School in Mrs. Mercado’s room. All Red Cross Youth are invited to attend. There is no cost to be a Red Cross Youth.

The Humboldt County Board of Commissioners will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday at 10 AM in the Courthouse Meeting Room #201 at 50 West Fifth St. Items on the agenda include Annual Service Awards presentation to County Officials and Employees, Board of Commissioners Committee Assignments, and Commissioner Training related to the laptops and paperless budget and agenda program.

Your Winnemucca Weather today calls for sunny and cold with winds from the north at 10 to 15 mph and a high of 32.