Carson High junior wins state poetry recitation

A few hours at the Poetry Out Loud competition last weekend illustrated that, with high school students from across Nevada, reciting verses such as "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, "Oh Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman and "England in 1819" by Percy Bysshe Shelley, there is plenty of talent in the Silver State.

Judged on level of difficulty, presentation, accuracy, articulation, physical presence and evidence of understanding, 15 students each read two memorized poems, and three finalists were selected to recite one final poem.

Lainey Henderson, 17, a junior at Carson City High School; Talton Gay, 17, a junior at Independence High at the Nevada Youth Training Center in Elko; and Heather Gibeson, 16, a junior at Pahrump Valley High School, were the finalists.

But it was Henderson who took home the top prize, a $1,000 check and a chance to recite in the national competition in Washington, D.C. Second and third place winners received $500 checks.

Henderson, who read "Mrs. Krikorian" by Sharon Olds, and "It Was Not Death, For I Stood Up" by Emily Dickinson, performed a spirited version of "Since There is No Escape" by Sarah Teasdale for her final piece.

Before the students began, many organizers spoke about the importance of poetry.

"This competition emphasizes the necessity of poetry for instilling creativity and passion that will give rise to the true thinkers and problem solvers of our community and our world," said Paul Dugan, superintendent of the Washoe County School District.

Henderson, the second-place finisher at last year's competition, said she was driven to take the top prize this year.

"I just got on the computer, and I probably read every poem twice," she said. "I made lists, and I lost lists and made more lists, then I narrowed it down to 20 poems and Karen (Chandler, her performing arts teacher) helped me pick three."

Henderson, who also performs in a show choir and in stage productions, said she has a particular affinity with Sharon Old's poetry.

"I feel like I understand her so much," she said.

Construction tax process cancelled

The Carson City Parks and Recreation Department has cancelled this year's application process for Residential Construction Tax funds.

For further information, please call the Parks Administration Office 887-2262.

14-year-old girl dies in Tahoe ski accident

A service will be held at 6 p.m. today for Emily Clothier, a 14-year-old South Lake Tahoe girl who died last week after a ski accident at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

The service will be at Sierra Community Church, 1165 Sierra Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

Clothier apparently struck an object on March 20, most likely a tree, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office. She was airlifted to Barton Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 2:39 p.m., authorities said.

Lt. Les Lovell said the accident occurred somewhere near Stagecoach Lodge, where Clothier was practicing with the Heavenly Ski Foundation at Stagecoach Trail.

Around 1:30 p.m. Clothier veered off Stagecoach Trail and into a wooded area, where she suffered multiple head and abdominal injuries, according to a news release from Heavenly Mountain Resort.

She was found by her coach, who came down the run about a minute behind her, Lovell said.

Lovell said Clothier was wearing a helmet and was described as an excellent skier.

Trunk donated to state museum

The Nevada State Museum accept the donation of the historic Dressler family trunk Tuesday from the remaining members of the Dressler/Bergevin family.

The historic trunk was recently donated to the museum by Mrs. Luetta Dressler Bergevin.

It was brought from Germany around South America and over the Sierra Nevada to Carson Valley in 1866 by Augusta Wilhelmina Dietz. She had come to marry Augustus Frederick Dressler who had purchased a ranch on the West Fork of the Carson River.

The trunk dates from at least the early 1800s or possibly the late 1700s according to NSM exhibits staff Dave Shipman and appraiser Bud Klette.

Built of thick wood with dovetailed corners and iron straps, it is decorated with painted designs of possibly two family crests.

Carson woman wins poker tournament

Bully's Sports Bar Grill, known for hosting an array of poker events at its eight northern Nevada locations, sent 10 of its top competitors to World Poker Tour (WPT) tournaments this month, two if whom have fared well so far.

Edie Hood of Carson City, won the March 6 Bully's Poker Tournament, earning a $1,500 seat at the March 21 WPT event with a chance to compete in Tuesday's World Poker Challenge at Grand Sierra Resort.

"The field of players overall was very good," said Hood, a 15-year poker veteran and the first woman to win a Bully's poker tournament. "It was a challenge, but in the end, I had 'em so chipped out I just had to play."

"We love it when our players turn up the heat and show the competition what local competitors can bring to the table," said Paul Sonner, owner of Bully's Sports Bar Grill. "I'd like to think that through participation in our free weekly poker tournaments, Bully's customers hone their skills, preparing them to play at a table with the pros -- just like they're doing now."

The next round of No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments at all Bully's Sports Bar Grill locations begins April 8 and continues seven days per week for 10 weeks.

For more information, call 825-4333 or log on to www.BullysSportsBar.com

Books donated to Cultural Affairs

The Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs received two signed copies of the book "Legacy of Silver and Saddles," which chronicles the history of two historic saddle companies: G.S. Garcia Saddlery and J.M. Capriola Saddle Company.

One copy will be placed in the Nevada State Museum's Bretzlaff History Resource Center and the other in the Nevada State Library and Archives Nevada collection.

All four authors of "Legacy of Silver and Saddles," Paula Bear Wright, Dee Dee Garcia White, Linda Harris and Jan Pearce Petersen presented Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mike Fischer with the two copies of the book during the 2008 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko.

Copies of the book will be for sale at the Nevada State Museum store in Carson City and the Nevada Historical Society museum store in Reno.

The book chronicles the historic tale of saddle makers G.S. Garcia, J.M. Capriola and the Bear/Wright families.

Wine tasting, silent auction help band

A wine tasting and silent auction to benefit the Carson High School Band program will be from 6-9 p.m. April 26 at the Carson Airport Terminal, 2600 College Parkway.

Music will be provided by the Carson High School Jazz Band. Tickets are $20 at the door or are available from any band student. For information, call Kris Snow at 883-4071.

Sponsors include the following: Adele's, Grocery Outlet, Salon Chocolat, Aloha Discount Liquors, Hair Studio/Spear Me, Sierra Rose, Appliance Outlet, Hamer Family, Sierra Surgery, B'Sghetti's, Hollywood Beauty Center, Silpada--Sarina Gould, Bower Family, Madeleine's Cookies, Starbucks--North Carson Crossing, Carson City BBQ, Maui Wowi, Tahoe Ridge Winery, Cherokee Scents, Med Direct, Tastefully Simple--Janna Collins, Chili's, Mom Pop's Diner, Tastefully Simple-Lori Lowes, D'Vine Wine, Mustang Enterprises, Thorson Family, Due Sorella (Two Sisters), Partylite-Kris Snow, Washoe Wine, Ehni Enterprises, Pizza Factory, Weaver Family, Empire Ranch Golf, Platinum Salon/Day Spa, White Family, Grandma Hatties, Purple Avacado, Green Lizard Landscaping and Rent-a-Center.

Prison chaplain claims retaliation at core

Prison chaplain Jane Foraker-Thompson has been placed on leave with pay by Nevada prison administrators in what she describes as harassment and retaliation because of her defense of inmates' religious practices and beliefs.

State corrections chief Howard Skolnik confirmed that Foraker-Thompson is on administrative leave "pending completion of an investigation," adding that he couldn't provide more details because it's a pending personnel action.

Foraker-Thompson said she was working at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center last week when she was called into the warden's office and told she was being put on leave. She said administrators gave her no reason and wouldn't tell her how long she'd be on leave.

The chaplain said she believes one of the reasons is her critique of Nevada's prison system that she gave to state lawmakers last year. She added that critique figured in the formation of a panel now studying the state's criminal justice system.

Foraker-Thompson said another reason for the action against her may be her recent response to three lawsuits filed by prisoners against the prison system. In that response, she said she refused to deny any wrongdoing by Nevada State Prison administrators. The lawsuits allege a violation of the prisoners' rights to practice their religions.

"I told the truth," Foraker-Thompson said, adding, "Things have happened at NSP that need to be exposed to the light of day. It has become a hell hole for the prisoners, as well as some of the staff -- those with integrity and honor."

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