2008 a year of transitions

Those folks who were looking for change at the beginning of 2008 got a bucketful during a year when gas prices shot up and then dropped like a rock and the stock market took a 5,000-point dive as the effects of home sales on Main Street hit Wall Street like a bomb.

A presidential campaign year, candidates or their surrogates came to Nevada early to beat the Jan. 19 caucuses. The king of surrogates, former President Clinton, came to Minden to stump for wife Hillary the weekend before Nevada's Democrats and Republicans picked their favorites.

Douglas County Democrats lined up behind Sen. Barack Obama, while Republicans favored Mitt Romney over Sen. John McCain in the caucuses. It was the means of selection that prompted the most outrage from voters, who felt the caucus excluded non-partisans and were not properly prepared.

Buoyed by the caucuses and additions to their ranks, Democrats signed up for every partisan seat in the county. They didn't win any of them, but that didn't dampen the celebration in November.

Carson Valley residents got their first look in January at a proposal to convert 1,200 acres of Park Cattle land north of Minden and Gardnerville into a housing project. After several hearings, county commissioners finally rejected the project 4-1 in December. It wasn't all bad news for Park Cattle, though. The company won a lawsuit against the owners of the Horizon Hotel and Casino.

It was a year of goodbyes that started with County Manager Dan Holler and wrapped up with dozens of long time county officials retiring from public life. Clerk-treasurer Barbara Griffin, Recorder Werner Christen, longtime rescuers Dave Drew and Bobby Wartgow, and educators Randy Green and Cris Etchegoyhen were among those who hung up their spurs.

One thing that didn't change much during 2008 was the housing market, unless it was to slow down even further. In spring, the U.S. Census Bureau released estimates that the county's population had leveled off. The slowdown hurt Valley businesses, some of which closed in the face of the recession.

Something else that didn't change in the Valley was the generosity shown by its residents, whether to the Gardnerville quadruplets, or the child of a murdered Army couple with roots here, or two educators injured in motor vehicle accidents. "We believe" became the watchwords for supporters of Joey Jacobsen.

Topping off the year was a present for Douglas businessman and former television actor Max Baer Jr., who after several tries finally got approval for his oil derrick sign on his 71st birthday, Dec. 4.