After many years of planning and three years of construction, the city has a freeway

Driving on the Carson City freeway isn't bad, but running on it was even better.

Last Saturday about 1,000 people jogged, ran, skateboarded or biked the freeway from Highway 50 East up the northbound lanes and back around. I actually didn't run to the end. I ran the 5k, which means that I was one of the 250 people who got a T-shirt. We hit the half-way point and then came back down the southbound lanes.

While running, looking down at the city and around at the mountains I pondered many of life's great questions: Why am I here? Why do I have to run this far? How many people in Carson City own dogs, and did all of them show up today?

This led to the conclusion: It would be quicker if I just drove this thing.

On Thursday, I did, in the front seat of a shiny red and white 1955 Chevy.

Wayne and Debbie Walters, of Minden, aren't going to be using the freeway very much. From Douglas County, Carson Street will be faster. They just wanted to be there for the experience.

It was a quick one. The drive only took about 3.5 minutes, and I don't think Wayne Walters was even driving 65 mph - the speed limit on the freeway.

Like many area residents, the Walterses are looking forward to the end result. But we won't be seeing that - or running on it - for another four years.

Citizens for Affordable Homes, Inc. received $1.3 million from the Western Nevada Home Consortium for projects during the funding year of 2006-07.

The funding is broken down as follows: $28,900 for general operating fund;, $110,000 for construction of a fully accessible home for a person with a disability in Hawthorne; $150,000 for a pilot Homeowner Housing Rehabilitation Program; $95,000 to the organization's partner in multi-family development for the second phase of the senior apartments in Carson City.

Along with these funds, $900,000 was reallocated to Citizens for Affordable Homes for various projects.

The organization appointed Michael Jensen, a former director at ComputerCorps, to serve as the chief operating officer for the company.

In this newly established position, Jensen will oversee all human resources, the volunteer development, office management, loan processing, down payment assistance, credit counseling services and marketing.

Jensen, 41, joins the organization after spending the past year at ComputerCorps, where he held the position of director of volunteer development and AmeriCorps program director.

Since January 2005, he served as program director of the AmeriCorps' program No Computer Left Behind. While in this role, Jensen also served as the director of volunteer development where he was directly responsible for more than 100 continuous volunteers. Prior to that, Jensen spent several years in marketing in Nevada and Utah.

Lifestream Health Food Store, 101 Hot Springs Road, recently gave away three Juiceman Juicers to customers at its monthly Super Tuesday event on Feb. 7. The winners:

Mystie Morcado

Denise Alvarado

Anthony Whitehead

Bijoux Terner is now open at Silver Legacy Resort Casino.

Started by Salomon Terner in 1974 in Miami, Bijoux Terner now has more than 200 locations around the globe, primarily in airports, hotels, cruise ships, ports and casinos. Specializing in watches, fashion jewelry, handbags and accessory items that look upscale, all items in the stores are just $10.

Chase International, a luxury real estate company based in Lake Tahoe, recently opened an office in Truckee. Trinkie Watson, longtime principal of the Tahoe City office, is principal and broker. Jean Ludwick is manager of both the Tahoe City and Truckee offices. This is the seventh Chase International office to open. It is located at 1007 Bridge St. in the ground floor of the historic Truckee Hotel in downtown Truckee.

Gov. Kenny Guinn named Las Vegas resident Guy Wells to the Nevada State Contractors' Board. Wells, president and chief executive officer of Wells Cargo Inc. and Builders Association of Western Nevada member, replaces Brian Scroggins, who recently resigned from the board.

"Guy Wells brings a wealth of experience to the contractors' board, and I am confident he will prove to be a valuable asset to the Board and to citizens who come before the Board," Guinn said.

-- Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.