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Jessica Garcia

Stories by Jessica

Nevada Attorney General’s Office strives to fight national human trafficking issue

The Nevada Attorney General’s Office is pushing to be at the forefront of a national effort to eliminate human trafficking in the Silver State.

Minden elementary kicks off program teaching students to ride bikes

MINDEN — Piñon Hills Elementary School Principal Jason Reid drew the curtain back Friday in the multi-purpose room and students marveled at 18 neon yellow Strider bikes lined up neatly on stage. They oohed and ahhed, wondering when they’d get their chance to learn how to ride them.

Carson City School District hears more feedback on Snyder Avenue

The Carson City School District’s first quarterly Professional Learning Community session for 2019-20 focused on feedback provided by the 1600 Snyder Ave., citizen committee.

Carson City schools’ committee blesses purchase of Snyder Avenue site

Carson City Superintendent Richard Stokes’ citizens committee that has been meeting in recent weeks stated as a whole Wednesday night that the school district’s board of trustees should purchase the property on 1600 Snyder Ave.

Carson City Historical Society celebrating 50th anniversary

History comes alive Saturday for the pinnacle of the Carson City Historical Society’s year-long 50th anniversary celebration.

Carson City schools’ committee tours Snyder Avenue property

The committee members providing input to Carson City School Superintendent Richard Stokes on 1600 Snyder Ave., as a prospective school site overall were encouraged after viewing the property’s condition.

Carson City School District receives $1.15M in funding, two new school resource officers

In support of the recommendations from the Federal Commission on School Safety’s final report, the Nevada Department of Education has awarded the Carson City School District $1.15 million in grant funding for school safety.

Carson City schools committee examines potential Snyder property uses

A citizens committee is considering potential uses of the 1600 Snyder Ave., property and providing input on the prospective investment for the Carson City School District.

Carson City nonprofit seeks to help prisoners re-enter society

A local nonprofit has a different solution to helping ex-felons get back on their feet as they re-enter society, according to its founder Kathryn McCool, but it needs some local support first to make it happen.

Carson City School District begins appraisal on former church property; citizens committee to meet Wednesday

Carson City School District Superintendent Richard Stokes says the appraisal has begun on 1600 Snyder Ave., and the school district has authorized the companies and individuals with whom it will be working with to begin the first-phase environmental analyses as part of the feasibility study on the property.

Closing Carson City schools’ digital gap opens opportunities for students

Changes in technology are improving learning outcomes for the Carson City School District, and administrators and teachers want to keep on capitalizing on its success for students, innovation and technology director Raymond Medeiros says.

Carson Animal Services Initiative gives $6K to Carson City Sheriff’s K-9 unit

The Carson Animal Services Initiative on Wednesday donated $6,000 to Carson City Sgt. Craig Lowe and the sheriff’s department’s K-9 unit to assist with essential safety and first aid items that always are in high demand on the officers’ wish list for their working animals.

Western Nevada College develops program to cut teacher shortage

Western Nevada College will be expanding its education program to address the state’s critical teaching shortage and high turnover rate.

Warm welcome at Mark Twain Elementary in Carson City

Mark Twain Elementary School students didn’t mind roaming about their new hallways Monday, waving at teachers as they peeked into classrooms and spotted them or figured out the answers to their burning questions.

Carson City School District seeks help to fill job vacancies, moves forward on Capital Christian

Carson City School District has had a greater turnover in classified staff this year with 74 employees retiring or resigning, Associate Superintendent Jose Delfin reported to the school board Tuesday.

New Carson High School Principal Gavin Ward wants students to see more options

Smith Valley native Gavin Ward developed an appreciation for trade skills as he watched his father and uncle run a plumbing business and his mother work as a school secretary. His father built three houses, and Ward would assist him each summer during middle and high school years, enjoying his free time playing basketball.

Carson City School District trains on emergency operations

Carson City School District staff and administrators gathered Thursday at Fuji Park for annual emergency preparedness training in collaboration with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office and the Carson City Fire Department.

Moon landing celebration continues at Nevada State Museum

Western Nevada College physics professor Thomas Herring wasn’t alive the last time someone stepped foot on the moon.

Carson City School Board action on former church property delayed

The Carson City School Board on Tuesday voted to proceed with the revised letter of intent for the former Capital Christian property at 1600 Snyder Ave., but it lacked a quorum for action. The letter has expired as of Thursday and the board must wait until the next board meeting in August to take further action.

Juice and salad bar ready to give Carson City a healthy shot

Douglas County couple Bryan Murphy and Kacie DeKruse didn’t expect to receive such a warm welcome to their Carson City-based juice and salad bar business, So Juicy, before opening July 8. They had about 900 followers on Facebook, and they’d received numerous requests online and in person about when they’d be ready for business at 208 N. Carson St. The community was eager to try the couple’s menu of mixed juices, assorted smoothies, wellness shots and salads with choices to include chicken, tofu and other healthy assortments.

Carson City school board considers changes to search, seizure policy

The Carson City School Board has proposed changes to its search and seizure policy and regulation as part of routine review, according to administrators. The discussion item at the July 9 board meeting was an opportunity to strengthen language and give guidance in areas where trustees felt the policy was vague in enforcing searches or providing consent and to determine what to do about a student if they’re found in possession of a dangerous item or under the influence of a controlled substance.

Carson City First Presbyterian Church building a labor of love

To its worshippers and to Carson City, First Presbyterian Church’s original building remains historically, culturally and theologically valuable, and retiring Pastor Bruce Kochsmeier said the structure has helped to shape the church into something stronger.

Carson City church’s longest tenured pastor retires; new pastor welcomed

First Presbyterian Church Pastor Bruce Kochsmeier can’t really imagine himself in the parish ministry any time in the future. He’s pretty certain God created him to “goof off” after 24 years serving his home church.

Stokes: Seller rejects Carson City School District’s initial offer on Capital Christian property

The Carson City School District’s original offer on the former Capital Christian property at 1600 Snyder Ave., was rejected by the seller and the letter of intent had expired on July 8, Superintendent Richard Stokes reported to the Board of Trustees at Tuesday’s meeting.

Carson City School District nears completion of 3 projects

Carson City School District recently completed or is nearing completion of construction on three school sites before the 2019-20 year begins. Recently, district staff have updated the city’s Board of Supervisors on where progress has been made during the summer months.

Carson City School Board retains Aramark for nutrition services

The Carson City School Board approved Aramark Education on June 25 as its food service management consultant as the district concluded the fourth of its five-year contract with the provider.

Carson City School Board approves Capital Christian letter of intent, deposit

The Carson City School Board has authorized district administrators to move ahead in signing a non-binding letter of intent in the potential purchase of the former Capital Christian Church at 1600 Snyder Ave.

Climate change talk held at Western Nevada College in Carson City

About 85 attended a panel Thursday night to learn about the “Threats and Opportunities of Climate Change in Western Nevada.”

Carson City School Board submits budget with $2.9 million deficit

The Carson City School Board has approved a resolution to submit its final budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year to the Nevada Legislature with few modifications from its document presented at its May 28 meeting.

Carson City school board considers purchase of former church property

The Carson City School District Board of Trustees will hold a discussion and potentially authorize Superintendent Richard Stokes to enter into a non-binding letter of intent to purchase the property and improvements of the former Capital Christian Church at 1600 Snyder Ave., and tender a $50,000 deposit from the district’s capital projects fund against a purchase price of $5.5 million.

Lyon County CASA volunteers big on love, short on supply

Standing in a courtroom is daunting for adults, let alone children, so to reassure Lyon County’s most vulnerable children when they go before a judge is a pretty hefty task, Gardnerville resident Stephani Halliday says.

Carson City group offers summer lunch program

Carson City nonprofit Food for Thought Inc., will continue to serve free lunches to children younger than 18 between 11 a.m. and noon daily onsite at the Bridge Church, 901 N. Stewart St.

Dayton student learns more than words from national spelling bee

Morgan Bumgardner, 13, learned to keep his cool this year on stage in front of a large audience, though it might have helped he wasn’t the last of his group to spell his word.

Carson High School graduates ‘one of those remarkable classes’

Carson High School graduate Jack Dudley is planning a quick departure from Nevada in two weeks to begin a summer session with Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, but said his experience as CHS student body president this past school year was a unique opportunity to serve his fellow students.

Carson Middle School’s Cook on teachers: ‘They truly care’

Teaching is like working two full-time jobs with all the time spent off the clock, retiring Carson Middle School English/language arts teacher Tedra Cook said, but it’s one of the most important things educators could be doing.

Work-based learning for students stressed by Nevada officials

Businesses that are willing to invest in opportunities for work-based learning for students remain in high demand and useful to a thriving local and global economy, according to local officials at Thursday’s Business of Education Luncheon held at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno. The event hosted by the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and the Washoe K-12 Education Foundation featured keynote speaker Gov. Steve Sisolak and a brief address from state Superintendent Jhone Ebert, addressing the theme “Hiring a Workforce.”

Carson City school board OKs 2019-20 district budget

The Carson City School Board approved its final budget for the 2019-20 school year Tuesday that ultimately leaves the school district with a total shortfall of $3.7 million, including a $1 million contingency.

Restoration of Stewart Indian Cemetery monument celebrated

Supporters of the efforts to revitalize the monument and flagpole at the Stewart Indian Cemetery in Carson City gathered Monday during an annual Memorial Day ceremony to celebrate the project’s completion.

Experts address mental health issues in Carson City

Nevada ranked 51st in providing access to mental health care services last year, according to Mental Health America’s 2018 “State of Mental Health” report, but Carson City is working to address the growing crisis.

Western Nevada College’s largest graduating class on ‘precipice of greatness’

Jordyn Hubbard of Minden has her mind set on becoming a prison psychologist, and her online classes through Western Nevada College’s Jump Start program are giving her an assist with that.

Carson City vet shares pet care after snake encounter

Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital has treated its first snakebite patient of the season, Dr. Katie Roberts said, but the outcome has been positive and Lone Mountain expects there to be more as the weather warms up.

Carson High senior named U.S. Presidential Scholar

Crystal Vargas has been in the middle of Advanced Placement testing this week at Carson High School, but to specialize in obstetrics or gynecology as a doctor, she’ll have more rigorous studying to come.

After 30 years with state, Sherry Rupert leaving Nevada

Outgoing Nevada Indian Commission executive director Sherry Rupert isn’t saying goodbye. There’s no word for it in her native Paiute.

Carson City’s Jim Powell reflects on 50 years in firefighting

The new headquarters for Carson City’s fire department was under construction in September 1993 when firefighters received the 911 call that the station was on fire, local resident Jim Powell recalls. “There is no such thing as a routine call in our business, but it’s not very often that firefighters are summoned to a fire station fire,” he said.

Carson City school students step into new shoes

Serenity Justesten and Ardyn McLaughlin, Empire Elementary School second graders, were all smiles at their new pairs of socks and shoes Wednesday, wriggling into them comfortably and getting help tying their laces.

Carson City School District facing staff cuts

The Carson City School Board reviewed its tentative budget for the 2019-20 school year Tuesday night working under constraints to reduce its deficit to $2.9 million while seeking to meet certain staffing deadlines in May.

Dayton schools lock-in caused by employee with pellet gun

Lyon County School District released a statement Wednesday after a precautionary lock-in was lifted at Dayton Elementary, Intermediate and High schools that the individual seen near the sites was a Lyon County employee with a pellet gun attempting to address an issue related to squirrels.

Carson City schools seek to lessen deficit

The Carson City School District is looking for ways to reduce a $5.7 million deficit for its projected fiscal year 2019 ending fund balance by $3 million, but everything hinges on outcomes from the Nevada Legislature in the remaining weeks of the session.

Carson City native launches dessert business

Carson City native Kathryn Rogers is using her passion to create desserts, including the launch of a Chakra Chocolate Truffle gift box set after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Rogers exceeded her funding goal and the campaign will enable her company in San Diego, Maya Moon, to package her products and cover her kitchen fees and the costs of her ingredients and begin shipping through an online store.

Carson architect designs healthier life – with help

Cindy McEwan, Carson City fitness trainer, knew she was starting to shape architect Darrin Berger’s dietary habits for the better when he called her from Costco one day, amazed by the calorie count of one of the wholesaler’s pizzas.