After several seasons of low water, Lahontan Reservoir has exceeded more than 100,000 acre-feet of water and should be ideal for camping this weekend.
Memorial Day weekend will be highlighted by traditional services at Churchill County’s three cemeteries and at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley.
Military services are scheduled on Monday at the Churchill County Cemetery at 11 a.m.; the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Cemetery at noon; and The Gardens’ Veterans Cemetery at 1 p.m.
Military service organizations in Churchill County will participate in the local events.
Sailors from Naval Air Station Fallon have attended both local and Fernley ceremonies.
Prior to Monday, the service organizations will rely on volunteers to place flags on each veteran’s gravesite on Sunday at 8 a.m. and then pick up flags on Monday at 5 p.m.
The American Legion on 90 N. Ada St., will serve breakfast to volunteers after they place flags.
At the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Gov. Brian Sandoval and Kat Miller, director of the Nevada Department of Veteran Services, will be the speakers. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
As governor and the state’s commander-in-chief, Sandoval oversees the Nevada National Guard. A staunch supporter of the military, he traveled to Afghanistan twice to visit Nevada’s soldiers and airmen.
Also, some businesses will be closed on Monday: state, federal, county, and city offices will be closed in addition to Western Nevada College, Churchill County School District and most financial institutions. NAS Fallon will also be operating on a holiday schedule.
The late May weather is beginning to settle down for the weekend, and that’s good news for campers, outdoor enthusiasts and rodeo fans.
The National Weather Service is predicting highs in the mid to upper 70s and lows in the 40s.
Camping will be open at all state parts this weekend, said Jennifer Ramella, public information officer for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
She said prescribed areas for campfires have been established at the parks.
At Fort Churchill State Historical Park eight miles south of Silver Springs, fires are permitted only in designated fire rings, barbecues or approved portable stoves. Visitors should supply their own firewood. The park has 20 campsites.
Rye Patch State Recreation Area has 47 campsites, and fires are allowed only in designated grills and fireplaces.
The state junior and senior high school rodeo takes place this weekend at the fairgrounds with the finals beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday.