14 | Friday, April 28, 2017 | Lahontan Valley News
QUESTIONS
From page 1
With the highest snowpack since
records have been kept in the Sierra
Nevada mountain range for this areas
watershed, officials said historically the
major runoff is about May 10-June 10
but they advised, though, preparation
and awareness should not falter.
Lawry and the Sheriff Ben Trotter
also stressed public safety, keeping away
from the river and canals, off private
property and away from the mitigation
construction areas. Trotter added its
illegal to be in the canals; he also said
almost every year (even in normal con-
ditions) someone dies, and strongly ad-
vised against floating the river this year.
The incident commander couldnt
stress enough the need to have at-risk
property owners use sandbags and use
them properly. Assistance is available
for the elderly, disabled and anyone
else who needs it. Call 775-423-4177 to
coordinate sandbag delivery and setup.
Online, FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency) has instructions
for sandbagging methods as well as oth-
er preparation measures.
One resident reinforced the need to
secure items that could float including
very large objects, propane tanks and
woodpiles.
County Emergency Manager Mike
Heidemann emphasized now is the time
and not to wait any longer to find out if
flood insurance is wise and obtain cover-
age if needed. He added the national av-
erage is $40,000 in coverage, which can
be an affordable amount for the year.
Use this shortened link to check prop-
erty flood zoning by entering the proper-
ty address: http://arcg.is/2pmimj5.
The Lahontan Valley News
office will be
CLOSED
Wednesday, May 3
from 8:00 am until 10:30 am
so we may celebrate
local businesses who
have won
BEST OF FALLON 2017
with a
Breakfast Award Ceremony!
Our office will
re-open at 10:30 am.
It was also advised that at-risk resi-
dents with a septic tank pump it halfway
due to potential flooding issues and
to do follow-up pumps and leach line
maintenance based on the households
number of people and usage. It was
additionally noted to check crawl spaces
now and then and leave open or use fans
if necessary to avoid dangerous mold.
Rusty Jardine, TCID manager, said
the main strategy right now is to pump
out 3,000 cubic square feet per second
from the Lahontan Reservoir the entire
month of May. He and others reviewed
how they started preparing as early as
possible and are putting water every-
where they can as well as monitoring all
the important points and detailing deep
action plans.
Commissioner Pete Olsen sang the
unsung heroes praises including the
Bureau of Reclamation, NDOT and the
crews and agencies for all working so
well together. He added money isnt an
issue; safety is the priority and the coun-
ty will seek reimbursement wherever
possible.
It was reiterated the area is receiving
250 percent above a normal water year
and whats coming is an absolute mon-
ster, Jardine said.
Lawry said if everything works per-
fectly with no weather events and no
breakage, things will be fine but cau-
tioned it can go to hell on us real quick.
He said the goal, of course, is to keep
everybody dry but some will probably
get wet unfortunately.
Olsen added officials and the commu-
nity would be able to receive notice days
in advance.
*Large animals if needing to be evacu-
ated will first go to the Churchill County
Fairgrounds.
CCSD
From page 2
definitely achievable for the district.
Trustee Clay Hendrix voted for the
motion but said he would have preferred
more information before proceeding.
Trustee Kathryn Whitaker said she
would have preferred more facts over
emotion as well as innovation such as
offering alternating AP math and science
courses yearly.
Transportation Director Steve Russell
presented expanding bus service for 7th-
and 8th-graders next school year, which
was approved. The busing schedules
would be adjusted to allow these students
within walking distance to a school
to ride buses directly to the middle school
instead of walking to the nearest school
to board a transfer bus. There will be no
additional cost since bus operations are
already in place. Sheldon and Russell
noted the policy already is to never deny
a student needing transportation, but
this will aid school attendance as well as
more easily facilitate the trip home.
Special Services Director Derild Par-
sons reported nearly 500 students are en-
rolled in the Special Education program
including speech and language services.
He also said there are severe units and a
resource center in each elementary school
including the preschool, except E.C. Best
presently. He added students Individ-
ual Development Plans determine their
classroom placement and assistance.
Parsons said the caseload in all schools
has been good and with enough support,
and added he thinks the program is in
really good shape with services for next
school year. The director estimated the
special education population to be about
13-14 percent, and Sheldon said 13 per-
cent is the state-funding cap, which is un-
der review in the legislative session now.
If they qualify they receive services,
but we only get paid to that cap, she said,
adding congratulations to Parsons for his
first year in the position and providing
outstanding service.
The board approved the five-year
capital improvement plan presented by
outgoing Director of Maintenance Brian
Byrd. Byrd introduced the new director
who has been with the district for a year
Please join us to hear Dr. Matthew S. Stanford speak
on May 7, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. at
Christian Life Center, 1435 Kaiser Street, Fallon, NV 775-423-6900.
Dr. Stanford is passionate about equipping the church to help
interact with the mental health care system.
and will move forward working on build-
ing and department enhancements and
general maintenance. The board recog-
nized Byrd for his five years of stellar ser-
vice including staffing and organization.
Byrd said the last couple weeks have been
bittersweet with the mix of opportunity
and leaving behind colleagues he said
he has made relationships that will last a
lifetime though.
If its good for kids and its good for the
community, we were going to find a way
to make it happen, he said of his time
working with the board and commended
the maintenance, grounds and custodial
departments. But to have your support
and Dr. Sheldons support has been a tru-
ly great experience.
Trustee Tricia Strasdin emphasized to
him that she has thought, were kill-
ing it! as she and other trustees have
travelled to other district sites. Sheldon
recalled Byrd being willing to be called
out at 2 a.m. for freezing pipes as well as
wading in water on the football field one
time. Hendrix added smiling that Byrd
has been Johnny on the Spot, and said
he was sad to see the director go but is al-
ways happy to see good employees spread
their wings.
Public comments expressed disappoint-
ment that bullying was not on the agen-
da. A few community members shared
their concerns for students and touched
on the districts related policy as well as
school response.
Sheldon told the LVN the board would
be looking further into claims made and
reviewing the middle school discipline.
She also had vice principal Robert Wick-
ware review January-March incidents
to share with her. She reported there
were 20 incidents deemed a fight (from
pushing or shoving to name-calling) that
were dealt with and 34 students involved
out of 685 students, thats about 5 per-
cent of the middle school population.
Thats a pretty low ratio, she said,
adding they dont want to disregard
concerns but are also trying to keep
perspective.
Sheldon said the topic will be on the
next board meetings agenda.
The next meeting will be May 10 at 6
p.m. in the Old High School auditorium
(The Pit).
Dr. Matthew S. Stanford, Ph.D.
is a member of Southern Baptist
Conventions Mental Health Advisory
Group and the American Bible
Societys Trauma Healing Institute
Advisory Council. Dr. Stanford is
dedicated to transforming lives and
restoring hope through education,
training, research and supportive
services. His goal is to equip the
church by training ministers and lay
ministers on how to recognize mental
health problems, and establish
supportive environments for those
affected by mental conditions.
Over 450 million people in the
world struggle with mental health
problems. Dr. Stanford has been
providing workshops to communities
of faith to end stigmas and bring
awareness to mental health problems
for the past ten years.