WINNEMUCCA - This Wednesday at noon, the lunch speaker at Winnemucca's Rotary Club will be U.S. Congressman Mark Amodei.
Sonoma Heights second graders took a field trip to Riverview Park recently to learn about the Humboldt River's watershed. Nevada Outdoor School's Amanda Smith, above, taught students a lesson about how water moves in a watershed and Stephen Thompson, right, talked about watersheds and habitats. Winnemucca Grammar School and Grass Valley Elementary second graders also took the field trip last week.JESSICA POWELL • The Humboldt Sun
WINNEMUCCA - The Bureau of Land Management Winnemucca District is seeking public input on its preliminary environmental assessment for the construction and utilization of a geothermal power plant and power lines as proposed by TGP Dixie Development Company, LLC.
The Second Annual Winnemucca Balloon Festival was held last weekend at the sports complex and hundreds of community members turned out to see the four free-flying balloons take off from the field and take rides on the one tethered balloon. Event organizer Jeremy Crosby said that Saturday attendance was between 300 and 350 and Sunday there were close to 200 people. Over 15 vendors were set up around the field selling coffee, snacks, souvenirs, and drinks. Crosby said that the event was such a success that next year he is expanding it to three days. Photos by Kyle Anderson, Special to the Sun
MICHAEL MICHAELSEN • Special to the SunNational Volunteer Week is celebrated in April, and this year it was April 21-27. Patricia Tindall, director of the Plesant Senior Center in Winnemucca, said the center celebrated National Volunteer week on Wednesday, April 24, by giving the center's many volunteers certificates and gifts. The center is a nonprofit organization, Tindall said, and for the most part runs on a small staff and volunteer energy. The senior center has 14 people that volunteer at the front desk, two volunteers that work on computers, a volunteer (Americorps member) who is the center's social worker, a bingo caller, and a volunteer board member who is serve-safe certified and works in the kitchen as a server, as well as a board member volunteer who does all the handyman work, and is trained as a bus driver. The craft room has 11 volunteers, and the choir (our community ambassadors) has 22 members now, Tindall said. "We also really wanted to appreciate all the seniors who help at the spur of the moment and help with fundraisers, decorations, clean up, set up of special events, etc., Tindall said. Lastly, the best thing is, being a volunteer really makes you feel better, Tindall said. "There is always someone who needs the smile you give or the helping hand. We couldnt run the programs we do without our volunteers, so we needed to recognize their input and contributions to the center." 
WINNEMUCCA - The Winnemucca Grammar School is selling a labor of love: a cookbook that includes recipes from past and present teachers, administrators, staff members and parents.
WINNEMUCCA - The Winnemucca City Council will meet on Tuesday, May 7, at 2 p.m. at City Hall, 90 West Fourth St.
WINNEMUCCA - Humboldt General Hospital (HGH) Board Chairman Moe Hanzlik, who has been associated with the ambulance crew for 25 years, announced a new program that will recognize citizen samaritans.
JOYCE SHEEN • The Humboldt SunYou may have thought the effort to build a community arts and performance building in Winnemucca was stalled permanently, but the project is showing definite signs of life again. Mayor Di An Putnam and the Winnemucca City Council have hired Don Smit of Project One to consult, along with architect Gordon Aloiau. This photo shows some of the approximately 25 people who came to a community scoping meeting held April 18. Those who attended were given the opportunity to fill out a survey of sorts to rate the relative importance of different aspects of such a center. A second scoping meeting is planned for Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Winnemucca Junior High School auditorium. Putnam said, "The information gathered from community members will help local officials determine how to proceed in their efforts to make such a center a reality for Winnemucca."
WINNEMUCCA - We are very proud to announce our April Students of the Month for all their achievements and hard work in and out of the classroom! Congratulations!
RENO - University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and Utah State University Cooperative Extension have teamed up to co-sponsor a workshop for growers and small food processors, "Farm Products to Food Products: Increased Sales and Season Extension through Value-Added Products."
LAS VEGAS - Open enrollment for a new Nevada charter school began May 1.
ELKO - Barrick Gold of North America, Inc. joined forces with the Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Program to provide STEM educators with professional development about the mining world that northern Nevada is immersed in.
WINNEMUCCA - In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.
WINNEMUCCA - The Country Rose floral shop is partnering with The Humboldt Sun for a contest designed to bring a smile to any mom - a "Draw Mom" contest for kids.