Category: random

The small desert island in Pyramid Lake, about 30 miles northeast of Reno, that serves as home to 10,000 American white pelicans is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a wildlife sanctuary. U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials joined leaders of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe for the centennial celebration at one of the country’s most important nesting spots for the birds just off the lake’s east shore.

President Woodrow Wilson designated Anaho Island a wildlife sanctuary in 1913 in recognition of its importance to pelicans and other birds, including California gulls, double-crested cormorants and great blue herons. Donna Withers, a refuge specialist with the wildlife service says it’s one of the largest nesting areas for the pelicans west of the Rocky Mountains.

Senator Harry Reid didn’t break any laws when he asked Las Vegas attorney Will Kemp to give to the Senate Majority PAC to help elect Democrats during the 2012 cycle. Furthermore, Kemp has been a donor to Friends for Harry Reid and to the Democratic Party of Nevada in the past.

According to opensecrets,org., in 2010, Kemp gave Reid $4,800; while his law partner J. Randal Jones gave Reid $11,700. Then during the 2012 cycle, Kemp and Jones gave $150,000 to the Senate Majority PAC and $28,500 to the Democratic Party of Nevada, with Kemp giving an extra $2,500 to Friends of Reid, for a total of $181,000.

However, ethical questions about whether Reid’s latest judicial nominee, Jennifer Dorsey, a partner in Jones, Kemp and Coulthard, remain.  Both the timing and the size of the donations are creating these questions.

Here’s the timeline:

— January 9th, 2012: Kemp donates $8,500 to the Democratic Party of Nevada.
— March 31st, 2012: Dorsey donates $2,500 to Friends for Harry Reid while expressing her interest in a federal judgeship. The same day, Kemp also contributes $2,500 to the Friends of Harry Reid.
— April 30th, 2012: Reid returns Dorsey’s money but keeps Kemp’s.
— May 1st, 2012: Kemp donates $100,000 to the Senate Majority PAC, and Jones donates $5,000 to the Democratic Party of Nevada.
— May 14th, 2012: Jones donates $50,000 to the Senate Majority PAC.
— June 12th, 2012: Reid recommends Dorsey to the White House.
— August 23rd, 2012: Jones donates $8,000 to the Democratic Party of Nevada.
— September 19th, 2012: Dorsey is nominated by the President.
— October 23rd, 2012: Jones makes a $10,000 contribution to the Democratic Party of Nevada.

Despite all of this, Reid says he believes Dorsey will be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

No matter what out spiritual beliefs, testing them against our experience only makes them deeper and more meaningful. Our lives, the earth we live on, the vast universe — should amaze us.

We’re fortunate to be here in this time and in this place. Let’s never lose our curiosity about why we are here and what being here means.

Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

From: Dan
Sent: Friday, May 03, 2013 5:28 PM
To: Aaron; Dan; Jim; John; Kelly; Landon; Matt; Mike; Monica; Neil; Phil; Ross; Scott; Steve; Tom; Tyson

Subject: Changes

FR: Dan
DT: May 3, 2013
CC: Jennifer

Congratulations to Steve and Neil! Steve has been appointed the new production director for Cumulus/Reno, and Neil will be taking over the production assistant/afternoon traffic reporter slot effective this Monday.

We are seeking a replacement for the overnight slot. It is part time/30 hours per week and involves assisting in the preparation of Reno’s Morning News. Tom has thrown his hat into the ring for consideration and will fill the slot on an interim basis. If anyone else is interested in this position please contact me. We are also seeking at least one new part time announcer as we determine the best way to restructure our lineup.

Dan
Program Director/Talk Host
News Talk 780 KKOH/Reno

—–

From: Kelly
Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2013 12:31 PM
To: Tom
Subject: FW: Changes

Tom, this is a great opportunity Dan is offering you, congrats!

Suggestions: Try to follow the system Neil created. I sat with him one morning and we built the morning show together. His stories flowed, in a logical order, and his system was efficient. It got the job done with few complaints, other than the usual about the writing.

THEN, address the writing… if you try to change too much all at once, you may crash and burn.

This is your chance to show everyone what you can do.

Good Luck!

Kelly
Social Media Mistress
(Unofficial Fire Starter & Cheerleader)

—–

From: Tom
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2013  1:14 AM
To: Kelly
Subject: FW: Changes

There is no opportunity here. I’ve been at this for years and this is all anyone is rewarded with — the possibility that to be hired to do a measly 30 hours and lose a lot of sleep.  Cheer lead away if you want to waste your time — but for me, (or anyone for that matter,) I’m jus’ a warm body behind a hot mic in a cold room and after a quarter of a century, I’m still jus’ a convenience for Dan.

— Darby

All this week I considered permanently deleting, “Tom Darby’s Notebook.” I came to this after being told I was “full of shit,” by several people.

I took their words to heart.

But now that the time is here to push that final button, I can’t do it. Instead I’ll do a little housekeeping, cleaning up double postings, removing unwanted pictures and maybe even work on some of my broken grammar.

Besides, what would I do for therapy — twittle my thumbs?

Colleen Rose Bruhy passed away the afternoon of April 28, 2013 after a two-year battle with leukemia. She was 79.

She was born January 6, 1934 in Dacono, Colorado to Walter Shaw and Nora Taylor Shaw. Her family which included older sister, Norma, lived in a cabin in the mountains of Yampa, Colorado where her father was a logger. Her family moved to Nebraska when she started school, with her mother as her teacher.

Colleen’s love of music came naturally.  As a teen she started playing the drums and saxophone for her family’s band, the Walt Shaw Orchestra. They played at dances throughout western Nebraska.  While in high school, she played in the marching band, the orchestra and was a drum major, graduating in 1952.

She met her husband, Don DeVol while in high school and they married in 1952, moving to El Centro, California soon after. Colleen went to work as a dental assistant in Brawley. She and Don moved to Santa Ana where they started a family with son, Doug and daughter Kathy.

In 1962 the family moved to Klamath where they owned and operated Panther Creek Lodge with Chuck and Aileen Hupp, surviving the 1964 Flood. They also owned and operated the Woodland Villa in Klamath.

Colleen worked at Daly’s Department Store on 3rd Street for 4 years and worked for several years at BG’s Boutique and Rags & Bags in Brookings. She sold Mary Kay Cosmetics for 30 years.

She married husband, Jim Bruhy in 1975. They loved traveling in their motor home and enjoyed many hobbies together such as square-dancing, play acting with Lighthouse Repertory Theatre, and barbershopping where Colleen led the ladies choral group, the Coastal Classics.

A talented singer, she was asked to sing for many dedications, weddings and special events.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Crescent City, Soroptomist International and a 50-year member of the Emblem Club.

Colleen is survived by her children, Doug DeVol of Henderson, NV and Kathy Cunningham and husband, Ken of Klamath, one grandson, Lance; her companion of 7 years, Bob Brissenden; her sister Norma Dilley of Denver, CO; step-children, Jodi Mason of Olalla, WA, JoAnn Petersen and husband, Richard of Battle Ground, WA, Dean Bruhy and wife, Gayla of Klamath and Scott Bruhy and wife, Kim of Springfield, OR; 16 step-grandchildren, 22 step-great-grandchildren and many good friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, James R. Bruhy, her parents, and her brother-in-law, Clarence Dilley.

From: Tom
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 10:44 PM
To: John
Cc: Dan
Subject: Questions about Reid and Judgeship

Dan — Noticed that this was on our KKOH website, but never made air. It was originally posted 6am Sunday to the web and never made our news file. I updated the story this evening to our website. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it in any of the newscast from Sunday morning until I aired it a 7pm Monday. I think this would have been a great rap, but I don’t know if it is NOW old news.

“She’s being backed by Senator Harry Reid for a federal judgeship. However two senior partners at the Las Vegas law firm attorney Jennifer Dorsey works for made $150,000 in contributions to a political action committee associated with the senator last year. Records show Will Kemp made a $100,000 contribution while J. Randall Jones made a $50,000 contribution. Dorsey’s nomination is still pending.”

—–

From: John
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 7:08 AM
To: Tom
Cc: Dan
Subject: Questions About Reid and Judgeship

Tom,

I must say that’s a startling statement as I just reviewed all the Monday newscasts & found the story in the Morning News at 6a & 8a. I ran it in my news at 10a & 11a, then Jim aired it in his 2pm newscast…?

John S.

—–

From: John
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 8:25 AM
To: Tom
Cc: Dan
Subject: Questions About Reid and Judgeship, again

Tom,

Just so you know, I had placed the story on the web site Monday morning under the headline “Is It Legal?”, & now, looking back thru the web site stories, I find neither mine nor yours for your Sunday, six a.m. posting. Have no idea what happened to them.

John

—–

From: Kelly
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 10:30 AM
To: Tom
Subject: RE: Questions About Reid and Judgeship

Tom… John says Reid WAS aired several times on Monday and WAS in the story file… did you miss it? Check with him. I wonder why it was written on Sunday tho and never aired? Horrifically slow weekend. Hmmm.

Kelly
Social Media Mistress
(Unofficial Fire Starter & Cheerleader)

—–

From: Dan
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 4:06 PM
To: Tom
Subject: RE: Questions About Reid and Judgeship

I don’t think it was in the file on Sunday. It wasn’t in Matt’s Sunday morning newscasts. I’m wondering if maybe Kelly put it on the web site…I don’t know. It doesn’t appear Matt had it, so it wasn’t on the air. Neil did place it in Monday’s story file at 12:25am. It was just a short reader and was slugged Reid contributions. Would have been nice to have it on the air Sunday…there wasn’t a lot of fresh news that made it on the air or on the web site during the day Sunday.

Dan
Program Director/Talk Host
News Talk 780 KKOH/Reno

—–

From: Tom
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 6:54 PM
To: John
Cc: Dan
Subject: RE: Questions About Reid and Judgeship

I looked in both Sunday’s or Monday’s news file and it isn’t there. I didn’t look in the Monday morning newscasts for this very reason. So what was it labeled?

—–

From: Tom
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 7:45 PM
To: Dan
Subject: RE: Questions About Reid and Judgeship

Okay, I’m gonna keep my mouth shut from now on, so no point in belaboring the issue. I don’t know what it is I’m supposed to be communicating here anymore. To tired to worry about it. My point is ‘big story’ — not in file, no rap, no FB — even if it was in a newscast at some point. Oh, well. Sorry to have wasted your time on this.

—–

From: Dan
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 6:09 AM
To: Tom
Subject: RE: Questions About Reid and Judgeship

I’m not sure what you’re upset about Tom, and I don’t think I deserve that kind of response. I don’t see anything in my email critical of you, but if you like, I will point out the story WAS in the story file, and it WAS on the air when John said it was. You were wrong when you suggested it wasn’t. And Facebook isn’t my primary concern, which is why everyone was told NOT to post news to Facebook until we get the on-air and the web site news squared away (which is proving to be quite a challenge). Here’s a tip: If you’re serious about possibly replacing Neil if he gets promoted, lose the attitude. I’m getting real tired of people with shitty attitudes. I’m busting my ass trying to get everybody on the same page and all I seem to get are rude responses from my employees. You all seem to think you’re are smarter than me. Walk a mile in my shoes pal.

Dan
Program Director/Talk Host
News Talk 780 KKOH/Reno

Senator Harry Reid has nominated Las Vegas attorney Jennifer Dorsey to become a federal judge, however two senior partners at the law firm where Dorsey works made large contributions to the political action committee ‘Majority PAC’ founded by Reid to electing Democratic Senate candidates.

Records show Will Kemp made a $100,000 contribution, while J. Randall Jones made a $50,000 contribution. Critics are now questioning whether Reid’s support was “bought” with the law partners’ donations.

In 2006, when the Jack Abramoff scandal broke, Reid took the lead in attacking Republicans for fostering a “culture of corruption.” But shortly after making these comments, it was found Reid took almost $68,000 from Abramoff’s firm, its PAC and its Indian casino clients.

Reid then tried to distance himself from Abramoff as MSNBC reported him stating, “…don’t lump me in with Jack Abramoff. This is a Republican scandal. Don’t try to give any of it to me.”

Meanwhile, Reid also intervened on government matters at least five times in ways helpful to Abramoff’s tribal clients, once opposing legislation on the Senate floor and four times sending letters pressing the Bush administration on tribal issues. Reid collected donations around the time of each action.

Twelve years later, a federal grand jury indicted a Nevada developer with ties to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on criminal charges related to campaign contributions.

The indictment accuses Harvey Whittemore of devising a scheme to solicit campaign contributions from family members and employees in 2007 and skirt federal election law limits by reimbursing them.

Federal Election Commission records show Whittemore, family members and employees of his former company, Wingfield Nevada Group Holding Co., contributing more than $100,000 in a single day to Reid in March 2007. Reid’s office claims that money has been given to charity.

As for Dorsey, she also donated $2,500 to Reid’s PAC in March 2012 after mentioning her interest in becoming a judge. That donation was also reportedly returned by Reid and his office took her name into consideration, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal:

“Reid declined comment on the firm’s contributions to the political action committee. His spokeswoman, Kristen Orthman, emphasized that Dorsey’s personal contribution to Reid’s campaign was returned as the senator weighed her possible nomination and wanted to avoid an appearance of conflict.”

A Nevada Sheriff’s and Chief’s Association official told lawmakers the chances of rear-end collisions would be “significantly less” with the passage of a bill to allow a motorcyclist to drive between lanes in traffic jams.  Bob Roshak of the association says he believes it would be safe as the bill is written.

The Nevada Senate transportation committee took up the measure on Friday that would allow the motorcyclist to drive up to 10 mph faster than slow-moving traffic, and up to a maximum of 30 mph. Lane splitting would only be allowed when there are at least two lanes going the same direction.

The Assembly passed the measure last week. Committee chair Democratic Senator Mark Manendo of Las Vegas said the bill will be brought for a vote before the next deadline.

Currently, the law only allows on-duty law enforcement staff to split lanes.

The oldest Nevada legislator paid lawmakers a visit to the Senate on Thursday, which passed a resolution commemorating him.  Wilbur Faiss is 101 years old and served two terms in the Senate from 1976 to 1984.

Faiss came to Nevada in 1944 and was a small business owner in what was then an unincorporated area of Clark County.  Faiss was also a volunteer firefighter and one of the first workers at the Nevada Test Site.

He said he’s especially proud to have voted for the federal Equal Rights Amendment in 1977.  Faiss helped the measure clear the senate, but it would die in the assembly, however he said it helped pave the way for many laws intended to prevent discrimination.

In addition to being a statesman, Faiss is known for having one of the longest marriages in America.  He and his wife, Theresa, were married for seventy-nine years, until she passed away in 2012 at 97.

Faiss said he hopes to pay the Nevada State Legislature another visit during the next session — he will be 103.