Cafferata guest speaker Saturday at Home Ranch

Staff Reports

Former Nevada state treasurer Patty Cafferata presents "Nevada's State Treasurers: Some Were Thieves" at a free event, 10 a.m. Saturday, at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

Cafferata's talk will explore the history of Nevada's 20 state treasurers. While most of the treasurers were honorable people, a few embezzled money from the treasury. The presentation will offer details on the crimes of such treasurers as Eben Rhoades, who stole most of the money from the state's general and permanent school funds in the 1860s. The presentation covers Nevada history from 1864 to the present.

Cafferata is an attorney who learned about Nevada's state treasurers when she held the office in the 1980s. She has served in the Nevada Assembly and as district attorney for Lincoln, Lander and Esmeralda counties. The author of five books on Nevada history, she currently writes a bimonthly column on Reno history for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Her presentation is provided by Nevada Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and NV Energy.

The park is located at 1450 Highway 88, one-half mile south of the Carson Valley Swim Center. The park provides chairs and shade shelters, but you're welcome to bring lawn chairs. Pets should be left at home.

Upcoming events:

Janet Bremer gives a Chautauqua presentation of Marie Louise Mackay, wife of Comstock Silver King John Mackay, on Aug. 14, Doris Dwyer gives a Chautauqua presentation of Donner Party survivor Margaret Breen on Sept. 25, and historic clothing exhibits on Oct. 29-31 and Nov. 6-7.

Information, Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park interpreter Mark Jensen, 783-9417 or parks.nv.gov/hr.htm. Discover Nevada State Parks at parks.nv.gov