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Steve Ranson

Stories by Steve

Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair begin next week

Tickets available for musical entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights

The days are ticking away for the first day of the annual Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair. The 2022 festival and fair kick off on Aug. 26 at the Churchill County Fairgrounds with the major musical acts performing at the Rafter 3C Arena.

Churchill County School Trustees tackle a number of issues

Board listens to information on instruction, staffing, safety

Trustees received a report on current staffing as well as other items at the Aug. 10 Churchill County School Board meeting.

Community reunion welcomes back CCHS grads this weekend

The eighth annual Community Wide Reunion for both former Churchill County High School graduates and friends of the Greenwave is this weekend beginning with a concert on Friday night and also with individual class gatherings or dinners.

Noem, Cruz energize the crowd at the annual Basque Fry

Republican speakers urge Nevadans to vote ‘red’ in the fall

Republican star power rocked the seventh annual Basque Fry on Saturday at the Corley Ranch south of Gardnerville with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem offering strong pitches to elect Republicans to the major statewide offices in the Silver State.

Churchill GOP backs Scharmann for county commission seat

The CCRCC will submit Scharmann’s name along with the other candidates to Gov. Steve Sisolak.

Sprint to the finish: District scrambles to hire personnel before school begins Monday

With the opening of Churchill County schools just days away, the school district has scrambled during the past two weeks to cover most vacancies for both teachers and support staff. Opening day for the school district’s primary and secondary schools is Monday. Both new and returning licensed staff reported to their respective schools earlier this week, but Churchill County, has faced the same dilemma as other school districts across the state to fill the openings.

Gun range planned for Nevada Guard in Hawthorne

A small-arms training range is expected to be built at the Hawthorne Army Depot by fiscal year 2025, Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen recently announced.

Hundreds attend annual community day

Local groups hand out school supplies to the area’s students

Churchill County residents lined up by the hundreds Saturday at the annual Fallon Community Day, a one-day event that primarily gave away free school supplies for children in attendance. Churchill County, the city of Fallon, the Churchill Community Coalition and New Frontier co-sponsored the annual event which was held for the first time at the new Rafter R3C arena. Not only did families receive school supplies, but they also mingled with the area’s first responders and had a chance to meet the various representatives of organizations that provided information.

Weather cools off for Churchill County

Highs dip into the 90s after a month of hitting the century mark

After another hot July, cooler weather is ringing in August with daytime highs in the lower to mid 90s and lows ranging in the 60s, reports the National Weather Service in Reno. Naval Air Station Fallon recorded 18 days of 100 degrees or higher for July, a slight increase from 2021 when 17 days reached the century mark. The weather service, however, has used readings from the University of Nevada Experimentation Station since 1903 which had 24 days reaching a minimum of 100 degrees.

Fallon man, woman agree to plea deal

Sentencing scheduled in Tenth District Court in early October

Two Fallon residents who were originally charged earlier this year with murder and three other counts pleaded guilty earlier this month in Tenth Judicial District Court to involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.

Small arms training range planned for Nevada Guard

Army approves plan to build new facility at Hawthorne by 2025

The Nevada National Guard is expected to have a small arms training range built at the Hawthorne Army Depot by fiscal year 2025, Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen recently announced. The Democratic senator, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. Army will implement plans this year to construct an approved range at the sprawling military installation 70 miles south of Fallon.

Royalty ready to promote Cantaloupe Festival

Area’s melons inspired the state’s oldest ag event

With a month remaining before the kickoff to this year’s Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair, Ben and Karen Bassham are more than ready to represent the annual event as this year’s king and queen.

Community reunion plans set for August

The eighth annual Community Wide Reunion in August may be one the largest gatherings of former Churchill County High School graduates and friends of the Greenwave. Sue McCormick, who had been a driving force behind the event since 2014, said almost 20 classes have signed up for the reunion, which is Aug. 19-21 at Oats Park.

Woody Williams: We forget no one

The months leading to the dedication of the Gold Star Families Memorial in Sparks passed quickly with June 29 heavily circled on many calendars. Several weeks prior to the dedication in 2019, Medal of Honor recipients Hershel “Woody” Williams and Donald “Doc” Ballard arrived at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport to finalize the dedication with members from the Nevada Gold Star Memorial Foundation and other volunteers.

After 44 years, Roger Diedrichsen retires as owner of Pizza Barn

Tucked into one corner of the Valley View Plaza for more than four decades, Roger Diedrichsen’s Pizza Barn has been the place to go in the Lahontan Valley for birthdays, sports wins and family fun.

Battle of the Badges: Law enforcement agencies engage in friendly blood drive

The newest round of Battle of the Badges is rapidly approaching with the winner to reclaim — or perhaps keep — bragging rights in a community blood drive. The annual Battle of the Badges encourages residents to donate blood and then designate the receiving agency, either the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office or the Fallon Police Department, last year’s champion. This year’s blood drive has been expanded to two days, July 20 and 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Church of Latter-day Saints, 450 N. Taylor St.

PHOTOS: Fallon July 4 parade results

Parade held in Fallon to celebrate July 4, 2022.

Tony Yarbrough, Nevada veterans’ advocate, dies at 73

For thousands of Nevada’s veterans, Anthony “Tony” Yarbrough has been synonymous with their causes for decades.

Lords accepts principal’s job in Battle Mountain

Winnemucca native leaves Fallon after spending 17 years with CCSD

After 17 years of living in Fallon and working with the Churchill County School District, Kevin Lords couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return home … sort of.

Sevon retires as court administrator

District Court Judge Thomas Stockard knew the day was inevitable when his court administrator would retire. Sue Sevon, who had been with the Churchill County courts for 30 years — most recently as the court administrator for 20 years — recently retired.

Carson City Guard unit deploying to Romania

The first deployment of a Nevada Army National Guard unit to Europe since early 2020 is involving about 40 soldiers from a Carson City-based police unit.

Getto wins commission race

Koenig, Titus lead their respective races for the state Legislature

Myles Getto, a newcomer to Churchill County politics, defeated Tom Riggins for the commission’s District 2 seat. The Fallon native received 1,592 votes (40.38%) to Riggins 1,322 (33.53%). Rounding out the four-candidate field were Kenneth Harmon with 715 votes and Tanya Freeman, 314. Since all the candidates were Republicans, no voting in the general election will occur.

R-C, Appeal sports editor Dave Price joins NIAA Hall of Fame

Dave Price represented the best of the best when pacing the sidelines while covering a high school game.

Virginia City’s Rollie Hess joins NIAA Hall of Fame

Rollie Hess is synonymous with Virginia City’s dominance of high school basketball in the 1960s.

Erquiaga named interim NSHE chancellor

Fallon native takes over on a temporary basis

A Fallon native has been approved as the acting chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education for 18 months while the Board of Regents search for a permanent chancellor. “Dale Erquiaga is a gifted innovator and strategist with over 35 years of successful experience in both the private and public sectors,” said Cathy McAdoo, Board of Regents chair. “I have full confidence in his abilities to be a true asset for NSHE and the many communities we serve.”

B-29 Superfortress flies over Nevada

Bombers made a big impact in last year of WWII

The B-29 Superfortress lends much of its early history to the Wendover Army Air Base on the Utah-Nevada border that trained crews to fly the military’s largest plane in the waning days of World War II. Wendover became an independent air base from Fort Douglas in March 1942 where the B-17 and B-24 bomber groups trained

Rafter 3C: A vision comes to fruition

Grand opening gushers in new era of events, tourism for Churchill County

A vision. A plan. And now a state-of-the art venue. Local government officials and guests attended the grand opening and ribbon cutting on June 1 for the Rafter 3C Arena, which is expected to provide a boon to the Churchill County economy.

Valedictorians said CCHS students endured challenges of pandemic, online learning

Speakers at Friday night’s Churchill County High School graduation told seniors to look forward to the next chapter in their lives after the Class of 2022 persevered during one of the bleakest times in U.S. history.

Nevada League of Cities: Americana is found here in Churchill County

What’s red, white and blue with an added color of green? Churchill County residents who support their country, the Navy … and we can’t forget the iconic Greenwave, a symbol of the wind-blown waves of alfalfa and other crops that cover the Lahontan Valley.

Capt. Tanner speaks at FPST’s Memorial Day ceremony

Area cemeteries also conduct observances for fallen veterans

Members of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe who are currently serving or have served in the nation’s military were honored on Memorial Day when Capt. Shane Tanner, commander of Naval Air Station Fallon, recognized their service and sacrifice.

Adult ed students balance life in their hands, including education

Graduates of the Churchill County School District’s Adult Education Diploma Program were told by several speakers at their May 26 ceremony not to stop believing in themselves both now and in the future.

Top Gun: Maverick shows off weapons school at Naval Air Station Fallon

Independent and unorthodox, a maverick tests his boundary to the extreme ends. Likewise, Tom Cruise’s character in the latest Top Gun movie not only pushes his boundaries to Mach 10 and beyond, but he also improvises the tasks at hand in being the best of the best with an escape scene at the end.

Veterans rank issues for Nevada Legislature

A veterans council organization has rated its most important issues for the Nevada Legislature to consider for the next session in Carson City that begins in early 2023.

Fallon celebrates Armed Forces Day

Annual event features guest speakers to a poker run

Fallon’s Essie Burriss is as red, blue and white as anyone in the Lahontan Valley.

Nevada vet services Director Kat Miller honored at retirement

Katherine “Kat” Miller officially retired April 30 after spending 10 years as the Nevada Department of Veterans Services director.

Museum director leaves Fallon for NYC

Teri Hedgpeth accepts position with Madison Square Garden Entertainment

After a year of tragedy and the coronavirus pandemic, Churchill County needed a director to move the museum forward.

The forgotten soldiers: Tribute honors Fort Churchill’s Civil War veterans

More than 160 years ago, the Nevada territory began attracting more settlers to a barren, yet pristine land. The California Gold Rush of 1849 beckoned thousands of opportunists to travel across the Great Basin to California looking for riches. Ten years later, the discovery of the Comstock Silver Lode enticed more people to come Virginia City’s Comstock with the dreams of striking it rich and building that mansion on the hill.

Churchill County’s rural way of life

Commissioners vote to update building codes

After listening to county residents voice their opposition for almost 90 minutes to a new coding chart affecting residential areas, the Churchill County commissioners unanimously voted April 20 to accept the new code structure that will streamline the current residential districts and a third code for intensive multi-family residential units.

Awards cap off Military Child Month

Community recognizes school district for Purple Star award

Although he had a tour in Fallon almost 20 years ago, the naval air station’s new commanding officer arrived at right time during the Month of the Military Child.

Fire department hosts street dance

The Churchill County Volunteer Fire Department, along with the federal fire department at Naval Air Station Fallon, is hosting a street fare on Carson Street, said firefighter Chris Henning.

Texas' Cruz stumps for Laxalt at area rallies

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz praised former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt’s campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Former Nevada Army Guard’s commander ends military career

Fallon native Michael Hanifan steps down after 36 years

After nearly four decades in the active-duty U.S. Army and Nevada Army Guard, Fallon native Brig. Gen. Michael Hanifan retired from military service at the end of February.

Rafter center hosts junior livestock show

4-H and FFA students show their animals at the long-running county event

One of the premier junior livestock shows in Nevada opens today and with the youth from the county’s 4-H groups and the FFA will present their animals at the fairground’s new Rafter 3C Center.

Gubernatorial candidates Heller, Nohra visit Fallon

Senate candidate Adam Laxalt comes to Fallon Thursday with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz

Gubernatorial candidates Dean Heller and Guy Nohra spoke to the Churchill County Republicans at their recent monthly luncheon, and Heller attended a greet-and-meet later that day hosted by local residents.

Civil War veterans interred in Carson City honored

The Nevada State Society Daughters of the American Revolution along with other service organizations gathered at Carson City’s Lone Mountain Cemetery to pay their respects.

DAR recognizes Reno couple with highest award

Medal of Honor awards were presented to Dawn and Jim Forbus at the Nevada state convention dinner in Carson City.

Wade Cushing says he will attend Texas A&M University to study chemical engineering

CCHS senior awarded $100K scholarship

A Churchill County High School student has been granted the opportunity to attend the engineering school his parents attended.

CARES program moves to Cottage Schools

Historic Churchill County campus serves students again

For generations Cottage Schools with its three buildings stood out among the other buildings in Churchill County that provided quaint classrooms for educating the community’s students.

Community recognizes April as Child Abuse Awareness Prevention Month

Both Churchill County and the City of Fallon have declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and used the opportunity on Friday at Millennium Park for speakers to say a few words about a problem that plagues every community and county in the United States.

Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day honors sacrifice, service

The annual Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day Ceremony bridged the strength of camaraderie and understanding across generations.