Jan. 16
President Bill Clinton spoke to a packed house at the CVIC Hall on a snowy Sunday evening in Minden.
Jan. 20
A year and a day before the new president would take office, Douglas County Democrats chose Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. In a straw poll, Republicans preferred Mitt Romney over John McCain.
Jan. 23
Residents got a first-hand glimpse at a development proposal on 4,500 acres around Minden and Gardnerville on Park Cattle Ranch land.
Jan. 25
Karen Bodden waived sentencing Wednesday by the jury that convicted her of first-degree murder, opting instead for District Judge Dave Gamble to determine her punishment. Bodden, 45, had a right to be sentenced by the 10 women and two men who convicted her in less than three hours.
Jan. 27
A Carson City man faced sentencing in connection with a February 2007 vandalism spree that ended in the Gardnerville Ranchos. David Scott Killen, 23, admitted he shot out windows in cars and businesses in Douglas County and Carson City with a BB gun and a wrist rocket.
Feb. 3
January's storms have brought Carson River Basin snowpack to 107 percent of average, a significant increase over the 40- to 50-percent levels before this storm cycle started about three weeks ago.
Feb. 6
Colleagues and elected officials reacted with sadness to the news that Douglas County Manager Dan Holler was leaving the job he's held for nearly 12 years to become city administrator in Grass Valley.
Feb. 15
Twelve-year-old Mandy Grathwohl of Gardnerville didn't care that a "bevel" is a sloping surface or edge; she just wanted to spell the word right during Douglas County School District's sixth-grade spelling bee at Gardnerville Elementary School.
Feb. 20
For the past few weeks, Douglas County Comptroller Claudette Springmeyer used vacation and rearranged her schedule during the busy budget season so she could help in the search for slain Reno woman Brianna Denison. Springmeyer, related to the 19-year-old's family through marriage, became an unofficial spokeswoman for the army of volunteers who "set their lives aside" to join the search that ended Feb. 15 with the discovery of Denison's body in a south Reno field.
Feb. 22
Johnson Lane resident Benjamin Oxley, 36, was found dead of a gunshot wound Feb. 21 at his home.
Feb. 24
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered Douglas County to remove a note that Minden-Tahoe Airport has a weight ordinance. Airports Compliance Specialist Racior R. Cavole wrote Airport Manager Jim Braswell on Feb. 13 giving the county 10 days to remove a note about the weight ordinance that has been in the Airport Facility Directory for more than a dozen years.
March 5
A Fort Lewis, Wash., soldier who allegedly killed a Douglas High School graduate and his wife appeared in court. Former Gardnerville resident Timothy Miller, 27, and his wife, Randi Miller, 25, both Army medics, were killed March 1.
March 7
A Gardnerville woman was charged Monday with causing a head-on collision last summer in which four members of a Torrance, Calif., family were killed on their way to Lake Tahoe for vacation. Dawn Miley, 42, was charged with reckless endangerment causing death or substantial bodily harm.
March 9
With little fanfare and even less discussion, Douglas County commissioners unanimously voted down the proposed business license tax late Thursday.
March 14
A proposal that more than a half million acres of land in Western Nevada will be declared wilderness has residents organizing to head off the yet-to-be written Lyon and Mineral counties land bill.
March 16
At age 7, Nicole Van Geel of Carson City already knows that life can be challenging for children. Inspired by a newspaper article and a conversation with relatives about Locks of Love, an organization that provides human hair wigs to children, the Capital Christian School second grader decided to donate 10 inches of her chestnut brown hair. Her mother and grandmother followed her example and donated hair.
March 21
For the second year in a row, the U.S. Census has shown a decline in Douglas County's population. According to figures released on Thursday, the county lost 134 people between July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2006. That's less than the decrease between 2005 and 2006 when 189 people left the county according to the census bureau.
March 28
The economic recession that is closing business doors and drying up tax revenue in Douglas County will be over by the end of 2008, according to City National Bank Chief Investment Officer Richard Weiss.
March 30
With the exception of extra police patrols, things were quiet at Zephyr Cove Elementary School the day after a playground aide reported spotting a man in black with what looked like a gun in the rocks above the school.
April 2
Whether it was on horseback or in public life, Max Jones left a lasting mark in Carson Valley. A founding member of the Douglas County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a former East Fork Justice of the Peace, Jones died March 28, 2008, at age 91.
April 4
The 5-foot emu that's been roaming Minden's open fields this week was caught by employees of Bently Agrowdynamics around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. A Bodie Flats resident claimed ownership of the bird on Thursday.
April 13
A $40 million wire transfer on April 2 ended the battle between the owners of the Horizon Hotel and Casino and Park Cattle Co., according to a federal filing that came to light. In an April 8 Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Tropicana Entertainment reported entering a stipulation to settle a civil lawsuit being adjudicated in Douglas County District Court.
April 16
A fourfold increase in the number of complaints in 2007 has led the Nevada Department of Wildlife to establish a hotline Northern Nevadans may call to report bear problems. Last year, state personnel handled 1,531 bear complaints compared to 350 in 2006. Carson Valley was responsible for 27 percent of those calls, more than any other area.
April 20
A 40-year-old Genoa woman was ordered Thursday to serve two days in Douglas County Jail after she was convicted of abandoning a Great Dane mix on Pinenut Road, resulting in the dog's death when he was struck by a vehicle.
April 23
More than 60 employees of Douglas County and Douglas County School District are retiring this year, many in order to save money on health insurance. Because of a bill passed by the 2007 Legislature, Senate Bill 544, the subsidized state retirement healthcare program known as the Public Employment Benefits Program will no longer be available to nonstate public employees.
April 27
A 47-year-old Carson City motorist who critically injured a student in a crosswalk near Douglas High School a year ago received a six-month suspended sentence Friday. East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl took into consideration the fact that Jasna Slipcevic Richmond is in prison for the next year on an unrelated drug charge, and that she had medical issues which would cost taxpayers if she were incarcerated in Douglas County.
May 4
Douglas County's $121 million budget is balanced without use of reserves, but commissioners were told the effort cost a reduction or elimination of some popular county programs including Santa Calling, teen gym, summer recreation department trips, adult and youth sports, and reduction in hours of operation at the county libraries and Kahle Community Center.
May 7
On the first day of filing, races developed for all three of the Douglas County Board of Commissioner seats up for election.
May 9
Douglas High School math teacher Christine Ensign could not hold back tears when she was named Douglas County's Teacher of the Year at David Walley's Resort on Wednesday.
May 18
Three Democrats prompted an equal number of primaries in the race for Douglas County commission on the last day of filing for elected office.
May 23
Parents can blame the economy for a 25-cent increase in the cost of meals at Douglas County schools, according to district officials.
May 28
Elevated radon levels in classrooms at Zephyr Cove Elementary School prompted some parents to pull their children out of school.
June 1
Thousands of Carson Valley residents will find themselves living in a floodplain if new federal maps are implemented. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's map of areas in Douglas County north of Buckeye Creek has added several areas where previously the maps just stopped.
June 8
The wind whipped in wild circles as the sun of adolescence set on more than 400 Douglas High School seniors walking through the rites of graduation on the school's softball field on June 6.
June 11
Amid accusations that alternative fuel sources such as ethanol and biodiesel are responsible for high food prices, employees of Minden-based Bently Biofuels are sticking up for themselves and their industry. General Manager Carlo Luri says that alternative fuels are not only good for the environment but also for the economy.
June 13
When people talk about Marie Kizer, time seems to stand still. From her childhood at Lake Tahoe to her last days at the family home in Dresslerville, Kizer's legacy is one of family, faith and tribal tradition. The Washoe Tribe elder died May 1 at age 81.
June 15
The 98th Carson Valley Days Parade kicked off with Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini throwing hacky sacks from a Hummer, followed by the Douglas County Sheriff's Mounted Posse.
June 20
California's Perfect Cash greeted Nevada's Cash with a whinny as he trotted toward Woodfords Station early Thursday morning during the annual reride of the Pony Express.
June 25
Anyone who beamed down to Gardnerville would have been unaware they were in a valley thanks to the haze from more than 800 California fires that obscured the mountains on all sides.
June 29
Douglas County Public Library patrons will have fewer hours to browse for books. Library Director Linda Deacy said some patrons are angry about the changes "and have made really unpleasant comments to the staff."
July 4
Barbara Griffin, Douglas County's clerk-treasurer for 21 years, announced her resignation Thursday to a surprised audience at the county commission meeting, saying it was "one of the most difficult and painful decisions I have had to make during my tenure."
July 13
Two girls sleeping in the back of a mobile home at Holbrook Station Mobile Home Park along Highway 395 north of Topaz Lake were injured when a truck driver traveling south apparently fell asleep at the wheel and sent two trailers full of food careening through the park.
July 20
By the end of June, Douglas County had reached a grim milestone. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has been called out on 13 suicides, more than the total for last year and twice the number in 2005.
July 25
The Douglas County grand jury formed a school committee that looked into safety, nutrition guidelines, student and teacher evaluations and quality of education.
July 27
Veteran town board members in Minden and Gardnerville were booted from the November ballot Friday after the Nevada Supreme Court ruled they had exhausted their term limits and were ineligible to seek re-election.
July 30
The agency responsible for fighting fires and responding to medical calls in most of Douglas County is experiencing a changing of the guard. Two veteran East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts chiefs are retiring this summer thanks to an alteration in the state health insurance program for non-state government workers.
Aug. 1
In 26 years of running Douglas County Social Services, manager Karen Goode said she's never seen the demand that has been placed on the department in the past few months. Her clients include people who have never been out of work before, but find their resources in jeopardy because of rising gasoline prices and the decline in the economy, particularly the housing market.
Aug. 3
After a quarter century of being governed by the same five town board members, Minden is facing big changes in the next few years. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Friday that Ray Wilson and Bruce Jacobsen are ineligible to seek re-election in November. Two people will be appointed by the Douglas County commission to take their place for the next four years.
Aug. 8
Douglas County's 911/Technology Services Director Richard Mirgon will no longer work for the county.
Aug. 10
Executive Director Jenney Sartin's contract was terminated by the board of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Authority.
Aug. 13
County Recorder Werner Christen is retiring after having worked for the county since he graduated from Whittell High School in 1975.
Aug. 15
Republicans Greg Lynn and Mike Olson and incumbent Doug Johnson all face challengers in the November general election after they won their primary races.
Aug. 20
A Gardnerville man is in San Joaquin County, Calif., jail on $43,000 bail after he was found early Monday in a Manteca, Calif., motel with two teenage girls reported missing from Douglas County. Jeffrey Alan Palmer was arrested on child abduction charges and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Aug. 31
Public officials are hoping that a $418,000 settlement can help restore the East Walker River as a fishing destination. The number of anglers using the river decreased significantly after a truck rolled over and dumped 3,600 gallons of thick oil into the river in 2000.
Sept. 3
Firefighters are mourning the loss of three air tanker crew members who were killed in a crash Monday evening after taking off from their base in Stead.
Sept. 5
After six months serving as interim county manager, T. Michael Brown found himself in a room full of clapping and cheering people. Douglas County commissioners had just unanimously approved his appointment as permanent manager.
Sept. 7
Sgt. Micah Richmond, 27, a decorated U.S. Marine and trainer at the Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickel Meadow was killed when his vehicle left the road on Highway 395 sometime early Friday morning.
Sept. 10
A 72-year-old Gardnerville woman who underwent a colonoscopy on the advice of her gynecologist was awarded $1.6 million by a Douglas County District Court jury who agreed with her that the doctor was negligent after he perforated her colon during the procedure.
Sept. 17
A total number 699 part-time and full-time students had enrolled at Western Nevada College in Minden, up from 670 last year, according to Anne Hansen, the college's director of information and marketing.
Sept. 19
A Gardnerville woman accused of bilking nearly $4,000 in money and gifts by claiming to have cancer is set to appear Sept. 30 before District Judge Dave Gamble. Erika Williams, 33, waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday in East Fork Justice Court, and is to enter a plea to a felony charge of obtaining money under false pretenses.
Sept. 24
Old friends gathered with family members to dedicate a 7.4-acre Minden wetland and wildlife sanctuary in memory of Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Carson Valley native and Nevada's longest-serving legislator.
Sept. 26
Work began this week on a $400,000 project to create 71 paved parking spaces at the Minden Inn.
Sept. 28
Genoa became a sanctuary from the woes of the world on Saturday as thousands of people flooded into the historic mountain town to enjoy the 88th annual Candy Dance.
Oct. 1
An overwhelming negative reaction was the reason Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., voted against the $700 billion bailout aimed at bolstering the nation's imploding financial industry.
Oct. 3
Adventurer Steve Fossett's crash site was located by a hiker in the Sierra above Mammoth Lakes more than a year after he disappeared.
Oct. 5
Sixteen months after Douglas County's floodplain management was called into question by the federal government, county commissioners unanimously approved a new document ending months of debate.
Oct. 15
Freezing cold, wet and blustery weather has often been associated with victories by the McQueen Lancers. But the weather was no comfort for the 140-member McQueen marching band as they watched the Douglas Tigers snatch the sweepstakes victory at the Performance of Champions competition hosted by Galena High School.
Oct. 22
With less than two weeks until the Nov. 4 general election, Douglas County's early voters were on track to break another turnout record. A total of 2,034 voters cast ballots early on Saturday and Monday, breaking records for both days, according to Clerk-Treasurer Ted Thran.
Oct. 26
Chuck Heath Jr., the older brother of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, was at the Douglas County Republican headquarters in Gardnerville to help local organizers make campaign calls on behalf of his sister and presidential candidate John McCain.
Oct. 29
Four new residents of Gardnerville arrived when 24-year-old Darah Shatswell gave birth to quadruplets. According to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, the quads " identical twin girls Rory and Kaylee and fraternal twins Myleigh and Joseph Jr. " and their mother are all in good condition.
Nov. 5
A Douglas deputy braved fire and smoke to rescue a disoriented fire victim. Deputy Kevin Schaller was the first person to arrive at the scene of a 10:10 a.m. house fire at 1347 Riverview Drive.
Nov. 7
The big surprise coming out of the general election was the passage of the school bond designed to help maintain school district factilities over the next decade.
Nov. 9
After nearly five hours of debate and public comment, Douglas County commissioners voted 4-1 to deny a land use request from Park Cattle Co. to change more than 1,200 acres from agriculture to receiving area for 4,500 homes.
Nov. 12
A Gardnerville vandal and arsonist is out of custody after completing his sentence in Carson City for mail theft. David Scott Killen, 24, appeared in Douglas County District Court to set up a payment schedule for the nearly $27,000 he owes in restitution for shooting out windows during a vandalism spree that spanned from South Lake Tahoe to Carson City and ended in the Gardnerville Ranchos.
Nov. 14
Two adults and three juveniles were arrested late Tuesday after their van crashed into a tree near Westwood Park in Minden following a pursuit from north Douglas County where they were suspects in car burglaries.
Nov. 16
In a sternly worded letter, the Town of Minden is demanding the U.S. Postal Service explain why plans for a new post office were cancelled.
Nov. 19
Douglas Pop Warner President Jim Valentine was named the unsung hero of the year by the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce on Saturday night.
Nov. 21
Approval of a one-year contract on Wednesday sealed the hiring of Fernley resident and native Nevadan James Taylor as Indian Hills General Manager.
Nov. 23
Field trips, middle school sports and the gifted and talented program are three of 20 possible sacrificial lambs that might be offered up to the wolf that is the state budget shortfall. The projected best-case scenario for the Douglas County School District is a 7-percent cut for the 2009-2010 fiscal cycle, roughly $2.5 million out of a $35 million budget.
Nov. 26
Family and friends have rallied around an 11-year-old Minden boy who was critically injured Saturday while woodcutting with his father and a family friend. Joey Jacobsen, a Minden Elementary School fifth-grade student, was with his father Tim and Matt Bernard in Markleeville when a tree "suddenly took a wrong twist" and struck him in the head.
Nov. 28
On Wednesday morning, Coleville resident Maggie Feltgen drove 45 minutes with her 2-year-old daughter Evelyn and 2-year-old nephew TG Smith. Their destination was Baby Willows, a children's boutique in downtown Gardnerville. The 23-year-old mother, whose husband works at the Pickel Meadow Mountain Warfare Training Center near Bridgeport, said holiday shopping would be different this year because of the unpredictable economy.
Nov. 30
Gardnerville resident Cheryl Ann Duncan couldn't have been more thankful after husband, 65-year-old Lee Duncan, was found Thanksgiving morning in his overturned Jeep that lay 250 feet below the steep embankment on Spooner Summit he had rolled down two days earlier.
Dec. 3
Proposed cuts to Nevada's rural mental health clinics have prompted concerns in a county reported to have the highest suicide rate in the state. According to state budget documents, 11 out of 12 psychologist positions would be cut from the state budget to save about $1.25 million.
Dec. 5
A signed football and Austin Jon Park's Smith Valley Bulldogs jersey became the symbols for a vigil held by students in Smith on Wednesday night. Four of Austin's teammates hugged members of his family after talking about the 14-year-old student, who died at his home.
Dec. 7
"Beverly Hillbillies" star Max Baer Jr. celebrated his 71st birthday on a high note. After 18 months, Douglas County commissioners approved a sign with modifications to advertise the casino Baer fashioned after the popular television show of the 1960s.
Dec. 10
Myleigh and Rory Shatswell were the first of the Shatswell quadruplets, born Oct. 26 at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, to be released.
Dec. 12
Residential growth in Douglas County has literally ceased. Not one residential building permit was issued in November, and so far December is following suit, according to Douglas County Building Official David Lundergreen.
Dec. 14
Carson Valley's donations to the annual KTVN Channel 2 News' annual Share Your Holiday food drive broke a record on Friday. Organizers collected 58,652 pounds of food for the Carson Valley Community Food Closet and donations amounting to $31,436.
Dec. 17
A 33-year-old Gardnerville woman who faked cancer for sympathy and attention was sentenced Monday to four years in Nevada State Prison because she bilked thousands of dollars from friends who felt sorry for her.
Dec. 19
Santa's sleigh looked a lot like a Hummer on Wednesday as Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini and deputies loaded up the DARE vehicle with toys for children helped through Project Santa Claus.
Dec. 21
Every breakthrough " no matter how small " is met with claps and cheers as Joey Jacobsen's classmates in Claudia Bertolone-Smith's classroom await their friend's return.
Dec. 24
The National Weather Service is calling for storms to arrive in Northern Nevada today and Christmas.
Dec. 26
The number of fatal accidents in Douglas County went up in 2008, but the death toll went down. Seven people died in six accidents during the year, one fewer than in 2007, according to figures released by the Nevada Highway Patrol. There were only four fatal accidents in 2007, but one involved the death of four members of a family.
