Residents in Washoe County will have their emergency fire calls answered in one of two ways after the fire services restructure between the County and the City of Reno becomes official on July 1.

A summary of the May 15, Washoe County Board of County

The Washoe County budget is one step closer to becoming final for the next fiscal year (FY 12/13) after a recommended final budget was presented to the Board of County Commissioners today during the scheduled Board meeting earlier today.

The Wilbur D. May Museum’s King Tut exhibit has been extended by a week and will now be open to the public throughout the Memorial Day Weekend, including Monday, May 28, 2012. The museum store will offer a special sale with 25 percent off all King Tut souvenirs during the final week.

Clouds permitting, Washoe County residents and visitors should get one of the better looks at the May 20 annular solar eclipse as it crosses the western sky beginning at 5:15 pm. Health officials remind everyone to be safe when watching the solar spectacle, and never look directly at the sun, either with the naked eye, through telescopes, or through binoculars, without the proper filters. Doing so could result in permanent and serious eye damage, including blindness.

Would you like to help the library offer the most popular books? Now there’s a way to do just that - through the Amazon Wish List!

The 13th annual observance of National Women’s Health Week kicks off on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012, and is celebrated through May 19. With the theme, "It’s Your Time," National Women’s Health Week 2012 encourages women to make their health a top priority, and take simple steps for longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Food Bank Partnership Helps Washoe County Social Services Cut Costs

The May Arboretum’s Annual Plant Sale a local gardener’s paradise. this year's sale will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, in the Wilbur D. May Arboretum at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Come early for best selection.

May County Update Available Online!

Not yet registered for the June 12 Primary Election? There's still time!

Come down and meet the candidates running in this year's election!

May Arboretum Society presents an enjoyable and informative Party in the Garden fundraiser on June 1

Do You Have Questions About Fire Service in the Verdi/Mogul Communities?

This month’s selection is Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah.

Vocal Motion Spring Show

The 911 Emergency Response Advisory Committee has been an advocate for region-wide coordination, standardization, and continuous improvement for 911 services. The Committee, formed under Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 244A.7645, and operating under various sections of Chapter 427, 244A, and Washoe County Code Chapter 65, is responsible for the recommendations to County Commissioners for approval of expenditures associated with the Enhanced 911 Fund.

The Summer Reading Program runs from May 1-August 1 at Washoe County libraries. Reading programs bolster skills and are free, convenient and fun. While kids think they are having a great time, educators know that informal reading increases children’s reading skills. Studies abound that show the direct relationship between reading and academic gains.

Washoe County is looking for volunteers to serve on one of 14 Citizen Advisory Boards (CABs) throughout the County. For electronic applications, visit our website at www.washoecounty.us/comdev/cab_apps.htm or call 328.2720 to receive an application by mail.

Open positions on Citizen Advisory Boards, Join Now!

"Archaeological Mysteries of the Near East" is a guided tour through the King Tut Exhibit at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Mmuseum volunteer James Bennett Marks will offer similar tours every other Saturday through the remainder of the King Tut exhibit.

Get Creative!

Biomass collection sites open for County residents beginning April 1st. Protect your home from fire danger!

Joint meeting between the City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County School District and Washoe County Commissioners, also sitting as the Board of Fire Commissioners for Truckee Meadows and Sierra Fire Protection Districts

Citing traffic congestion, parking issues and staff resource/enforcement capability as rationale, Washoe County Board of County Commissioners deny an agreement for an August car auction at Bartley Ranch

Portion of Regional Park's fire-damaged trail system re-opens!

View Food Inspection Scores Online!

KNPB Channel 5 and the Community Foundation of Western Nevada, along with other non-profit sponsors, present a series of free, in-depth workshops on estate planning and family financial planning. For more information please visit the library's website at www.washoecountylibrary.us

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will launch a new national education campaign next week that depicts the harsh reality of illness and damage real people suffer as a result of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. The ads show the toll smoking-related illnesses take on real people and their loved ones. Viewers in Reno, Sparks, Washoe County, and northern Nevada will see the ads from March 19 to June 4, 2012.

Learn More about the Truckee Meadows Fire Transition...

Come learn about the foster care and adoption program in Washoe County!

Help Keep Foster Kids in their School!

Help your community - join the Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps today!

Even as the Caughlin and Washoe Fires raged, emergency crews and local Burn Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) teams were at the scene, working to provide vital erosion control and protection of the community’s water resources. The flames have since been extinguished, but the combined agency efforts of recovery professionals still continue.

Even as the Caughlin and Washoe Fires raged, emergency crews and local Burn Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) teams were at the scene, working to provide vital erosion control and protection of the community’s water resources. The flames have since been extinguished, but the combined agency efforts of recovery professionals still continue.

Guided tours of King Tut Exhibit offered every Friday at 2pm. Discover more about the "Boy Pharaoh!"

Discussions on the Washoe County budget continued to take center stage during the County Board of Commissioners’ first meeting in February. Initial projections of sources and uses of funds that will be used to build the fiscal year 2012/13 budget were explained for policy discussion and direction. Finance Director, Sheri Mendez, presented several budget scenarios to the Commissioners that showed the proposed recommendations to close the projected deficit of $16.8 million.

Topics at the regular meeting of the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners included honoring Washoe County employees for their generous contributions to United Way, 149 jobs created in our community using American Resource and Recovery Act stimulus funds, and expanded programs for juvenile offenders and community members in need.

Washoe County will soon be able to register and make changes to their current voter registration online.

Nevada was one of two states awarded for the highly competitive Cyber Security Training program and Clark County and Washoe County/Carson City were the communities chosen to participate.

The May Arboretum Society's new website, mayarboretumsociety.org, has information on the Society, pictures of the May Arboretum and Botanical Garden, garden tips, and information about upcoming events and workshops.

“Wonderful Things” from the Pharaoh’s Tomb features over 100 hand-crafted replicas of the greatest treasure ever found to take you back to the majesty and wonder of Ancient Egypt

Meetings are open to the public. For more information please call (775) 328-2400. Agendas are located at http://www.washoecounty.us/health/agendas.html

Tentative schedule for Commission Meetings through 2012

Morning Update on the Caughlin Fire

Nevada Recycles Day: 2012 KTMB Recycling Guide Now Available

The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and Sierra Fire Protection District voted to administratively and operationally consolidate two fire agencies services under an Interlocal agreement to keep nine fire stations open, maximize resources and progress towards regionalization of fire services in our community.

The Sierra Fire Protection District Board announced that the staff negotiating team had reached a tentative labor agreement with the Sierra Firefighter’s Association Local 3895.

At their meeting today, the Washoe County Board of Commissioners provided for the reimbursement of approximately $43.3 million in overpaid property taxes to taxpayers in the Tahoe Basin.

Between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, County CIP projects will support or retain 403 jobs in our community. At the July 12, 2011 meeting of the Washoe County Commissioners the Capitol Improvement Project (CIP) Five Year Project plan was approved including $56.8 million in capital expenditures for this fiscal year (FY 2011-2012).

Washoe County Commissioners approved interim wage reductions or health benefit program cost sharing for all confidential and non-represented employees. The Board also proclaimed July 2011 as Recreation and Parks Month and accepted a donation to the Washoe County Volunteer Program.

The Sierra Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners and Sierra Fire Chief Michael Greene will break ground for a new fire station on the corner of Arrowcreek and Thomas Creek Parkways, Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 11 a.m. The station, to be known as Sierra Fire Station 36-Arrowcreek, will provide additional fire service to the residents in southwest Truckee Meadows.

At their meeting yesterday, Washoe County Commissioners accepted a $400,000 grant from the State of Nevada Housing Division to support a $1.7 million federal grant accepted by the Board on May 24th. These funds will be used to help at-risk families in the County’s Social Services program by providing affordable, stable housing and, as a result, reunite families.

Washoe County Commissioner and District Health Board Member Kitty Jung will ride her bike to work with members of the Truckee Meadows Alliance and Washoe Green Team in recognition of Bike to Work Week.

Next week the Washoe County Commissioners will meet to discuss and receive public comment regarding important pending fire service issues including the Regional SOC and the Arrowcreek Fire Station.

New Dragons and Dinos exhibit opens this Saturday, February 12 at the Wilbur D. May Museum

County officials continue to look for ways to restructure governments to be responsive to citizens’ needs with less resources.

Washoe County Commissioners unanimously selected Greg Brower to fill the District 3 State Senate vacancy left by retired Senator Bill Raggio.

On Wednesday, October 13, the Sierra Fire and Truckee Meadows Fire will host the third in a series of community meetings to solicit citizen input for the long ter staffing of the new Arrowcreek Fire Station.

Meet Face to Face with Washoe County District 1 Commissioner