Sesquicentennial: Churchill County celebrates the state’s birthday

The Mayor’s NV 150 Commission’s year of planning local events to honor Nevada’s sesquicentennial culminates at the Churchill Count Museum this afternoon and Venturacci Park for evening activities.

Between 4-6 p.m. at the museum, the lowering of a time capsule with local memorabilia — publications, coins, medallions and photographs — will seal the area’s history for eternity … or until someone opens the time capsule in 100 or 150 years from now.

The committee will announce the winners of the Then and Now projects followed by a book signing and the serving of the official birthday cake at 5 p.m. to commemorate Nevada’s statehood.

Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes.

Frank Woodliff III, who has been working on both the time capsule and Then and Now projects, said submitted items for the time capsule have been selected by the Churchill County Museum Association. The capsule will be lowered into a vault this afternoon at the southeast corner of the museum.

Woodliff and Kimi Melendy, curriculum director for the Churchill County School District, said they received 28 entries for the Then and Now project, most of those coming from second and third grades. Woodliff said three other items came from the sixth grade at the middle school, first grade at Numa and the photo class at the high school.

The Then and Now projects, which show specific aspects of life decades ago compared to the 21st century, have been on display at the museum.

After cake cutting and book signings, the celebration shifts to Venturacci Park that evening for a square dance exhibit from the Oasis Squares followed by music and dancing.

A pre-concert dance from the Oasis Squares begins at 7 p.m. followed by the Fireman’s Dance from 7-9:30 p.m. The Carson River Band will play many rockin’ oldies.

Mayor Ken Tedford Jr., along with other Fallon notables, will cut the official birthday cake at 8:30 p.m.