The Nevada Appeal's "Silver Dollar" and "Wooden Nickel" feature recognizes positive achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out others that missed the mark.
Silver Dollar: With bleak economic news a steady part of the daily headlines, a silver lining locally is the ambitious $87 million downtown Carson City economic development project.
About 120 people attended a special meeting of the Carson City Board of Supervisors on Thursday to hear details of the proposed public/private partnership that would include a Knowledge and Discovery Library, business incubator and Sierra Digital Media Lab. The opportunity to pursue the project developed through the Hop and Mae Adams Trust and a settlement that made available about eight acres of Carson Nugget property now used for parking.
A $46 million preliminary finance plan for the private portion of the project includes evening entertainment venues, office buildings, retail space and residential lofts. Consultants believe they have developers willing to invest that amount.
The mix of public funding options includes a 1⁄8-cent sales tax increase.
Silver Dollar: Despite the travel hazards, the season's first big winter storm - a record-setting snowfall in Carson - brought a needed boost of moisture to the region and a promising kickoff to the Sierra snowsports and holiday seasons.
Wooden Nickel: Nevada's casinos reported that the October gaming win dropped by 11.5 percent to just more than $800 million - the lowest monthly total since December 2003.
Silver Dollar: A silver dollar and a big red apple for the superintendent's desk in honor of the Carson City School Board's recent selection as the state's board of the year by the Nevada Association of School Districts.
• Editor's note: Do you have a suggestion for a Silver Dollar or Wooden Nickel award? Send your idea to editor@nevadaappeal.com.