Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels: Impact, lessons alive today from Waterfall fire

T he 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.

Wooden Nickel: Carson City lost another retailer July 12 when Gottschalks in the Carson Mall closed.

After declaring bankruptcy in April, the Fresno-based retail chain was taken over by liquidators, who sold off the stores' inventory. Forty-five people lost jobs, according to the store manager.

Silver Nickel/Wooden Dollar: Our mixed bag designation goes out to the July 14 five-year anniversary of the Waterfall fire that devastated the western Carson City landscape.

More than 2,000 firefighters needed five days to contain the 8,799-acre fire. Eighteen homes were destroyed and 14 damaged. Three businesses, 31 outbuildings and 51 vehicles were lost or damaged. No lives were lost.

The latter represents one of the few positive aspects of the fire. Many homes have been rebuilt, but as the Nevada Appeal reported last week, some homes were not and some residents have moved out of the area. Five years later as we face another hot, dry summer, the Waterfall fire remains a reminder of the devastating impacts of wildland fires in the Sierra Nevada.

Silver Dollar: Ashton Lee Simola, welcome to the world. You had quite a ride on your first day.

In addition to a frantic rush through Carson City traffic with parents Heather and Rob, Ashton was at the center of a most uplifting experience - Heather gave birth in the B Elevator at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center. All's well that ends well - and that would be the 6-pound, 1-ounce healthy infant born July 13.

Silver Dollar: Nevada Department of Transportation officials say the project isn't delayed, but admitted earlier projections for an August opening of the new portion of the Carson City Bypass were perhaps a bit optimistic. NDOT now expects a mid- to late-September opening of the $45 million project that extends the bypass two miles south from Highway 50 East to Fairview Drive.

NDOT says workers remain within the number of working days allowed under the contract. A grand opening featuring a fun run and bike ride will mark the opening of the new bypass segment.