Nevada Briefly March 13

Pancake fundraiser for Virginia City athletes

The Virginia City Sheriff's office is hosting a pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. this morning.

A benefit softball game between the sheriff's office and the fire Department will begin at

9:30 a.m. with all proceeds going to benefit the Virginia City High School girls athletic program.

The girls will play a doubleheader against Chester starting at noon.

BAC offers screen writers workshop March 20

Dan Decker, author of the best-selling book "Anatomy of a Screenplay," is coming to Carson City next week to teach the "Science of Screenwriting."

The workshop is 1-5 p.m. Saturday, March 20 at the BAC Performance Hall at 511 West King St.

Decker will teach how to write your own screenplay, develop your movie ideas, learn the tricks of the trade, find out how to sell a script, and receive advice from an industry professional.

Decker has lectured on screenwriting and storytelling all over the country including the Smithsonian Institute, Nickelodeon TV, scores of films festivals and writing expos, and has been a consultant on scripts to the film offices of Illinois, Virginia, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah. His writing students have sold scripts and landed writing work at major studios and television networks. He has sold or optioned 15 of his own screenplays, none of which, ironically, has been produced. He also works in live theater and is the Artistic Director of the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company in Nevada. Decker now only works with private students online.

Tuition for the screenwriting workshop is $25 general admission, $15 for Northern Nevada Film Factory filmmaking and animator's club members. To register, go online to www.vendini.com/ticketsoftware.html?e=b749ed0d7fa05924a184abf385a4d89a&t=tix.

For more information, call 949-306-3465.

Join in a walk to raise funds and awareness

The walk to raise awareness about congenital diaphragmatic hernia and to raise funds for Breath of Hope, Inc., is 8:30 a.m.-noon, March 27 at Lampe Park in Gardnerville.

CDH is a condition in which the diaphragm does not close while a baby is developing in the womb.

Advanced registration is $20 and due Saturday or, on the day of the walk, registration is $25 at

8 a.m.

To register, cash or checks can be mailed to Shannon Minder, 106 Mill Creek Drive Coleville, CA 96107 or online at www.active.com.

Donations also can be made at Wells Fargo Acct. 5053066451.

More information, contact Shannon at 530-208-6421 or go to www.cdhwalkofhope.com and www.breathofhopeinc.com.

Open burning permits to be available

The Carson City Fire Depart-ment will allow open burning March 20 through the end of the month.

The purpose of the open burn period is to provide residents an opportunity to dispose of accumulated weeds and yard debris. To make this a safe endeavor for those involved, the Carson City Fire Department will require a burn permit with a valid permit number before burning will be allowed. Permit applications can be obtained starting Monday at the following locations when personnel are present and subject to emergency responses:

All Carson City Fire Stations:

• Station 1, 777 S. Stewart St., M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Station 2, 2400 College Parkway, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Station 3, 4649 Snyder Ave., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Permit applications become valid after obtaining a permit number at least one day prior to burn.

Nellis AFB getting new 99th Wing commander

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE (AP) - Nellis Air Force Base has a new commander.

Base officials said Col. Dave Belote turned over command of the 99th Air Base Wing to Col. Steve Garland on Friday during a change of command ceremony in the Thunderbird hangar.

Belote has served at Nellis since May 2008 and is retiring from active duty.

Garland was vice commander of the 505th Command and Control Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Garland has been in the Air Force since 1987.