Northern Nevada Briefly 5/20

Credit union closes aging Carson branch

Greater Nevada Credit Union closed its 35-year-old branch at 911 E. Second St. in Carson City last Friday, as well as another aging branch in Sparks. The credit union announced that ATMs at both locations will remain open, and there are no plans to close the credit union's other two full-service branches in Carson City.

According to GNCU, the decision to close the branches was based on analysis of usage trends and the expense of operating older branches that would be expensive to modernize.

"Use of the Carson City branch at Second Street, which was built in 1973, has declined more than 40 percent over the past four years," Wally Murray, GNCU president and chief executive officer stated in a press release. "Our members have spoken through their continued migration to our newer nearby branches, and by taking greater advantage of the convenience of our electronic and online services.

"Though Greater Nevada remains financially sound, given the current economic climate we no longer desired to incur the expenses associated with operating branches that are not showing positive trends for the future."

Electrical fire breaks out at Cal Neva

CRYSTAL BAY " An electrical fire is under control at the Cal Neva Casino and Resort at North Tahoe's state line, said Bob Marcil, general manager of the resort.

No one was injured in the fire, Marcil said, which started and has been contained to a room on the second floor of the resort's tower.

"One of the bathroom fixtures shorted, which activated a the sprinklers and alarm system," Marcil said.

According to police scanner traffic, the fire was reported at about

4 p.m. Tuesday.

Representatives from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, North Tahoe Fire Protection District and Washoe County Sheriff's Office responded and began evacuating certain areas of the hotel. Electrical power also was turned off to the resort's tower.

Poll: Nearly half would oust Sen. Reid

LAS VEGAS " Nearly half the respondents in a Nevada newspaper poll said they would vote to replace Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid, while about one in three say they would re-elect him.

Along with the 45 percent who said they'd oust the four-term Democrat, 17 percent of the 625 voters contacted statewide for the Las Vegas Review-Journal poll said they would consider another candidate.

Thirty-five percent of the poll respondents said they would re-elect him.

The poll was conducted statewide last week by telephone by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. of Washington, D.C. It had a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The 69-year-old senator's campaign manager said Reid doesn't pay attention to polls.

"The primary number Senator Reid is worried about is Nevada's 10.4 percent unemployment rate, and that's why he's focused on fixing the economy and creating jobs in Nevada," Brandon Hall said.

Republican John Ensign, enjoys higher marks from voters, with 53 percent viewing him favorably.

Civil unions opposed by half in poll

LAS VEGAS " Half of all Nevadans in a newspaper poll say they oppose same- and opposite-sex domestic partnerships.

The survey conducted statewide for the Las Vegas Review-Journal did not gather opinions about gay marriage itself.

But of the 625 respondents, 38 percent said they favor state Senate legislation to recognize civil unions between unmarried homosexual and heterosexual couples.

Democrats backed the plan by a 46 percent to 36 percent margin. Independents supported it 47 percent to 42 percent.

But Republicans opposed the idea by a 71 percent to 23 percent margin, more than offsetting that support.

- Nevada Appeal staff and wire reports