Local CEO Gets Yelp and Social Media Backlash after Calling Doordasher "Illegal"

Cheryl Vauk previously listed as the CEO of Reno-based Productive Solutions is facing major backlash on social media and Yelp after she was caught on video calling a door dasher “illegal” outside a McDonald’s while the two were waiting in their cars for orders.

The website for Vauk’s business indicates she’s had the City of Sparks among her clients. Its about page indicates that the Reno-based company “Productive Solutions was founded in 1994 and is an industry leader in providing custom applications and system integration services for streamlining workflow processes for HR Departments and ground transportation Customer departments.”

The Yelp for Productive Solutions now averages at one star for 285 reviews, with comments blasting her for racism, xenophobia and hatred.

Janet who posted the initial video several days ago on TikTok said she had been doordashing and parked in the mobile order curbside spot when Vauk berated her.

On video, she asks “say it again” to which Vauk walking towards her with a smirk responds “you’re a bitch” and then “are you illegal?”

In the video Janet then gets the license plate of the offending woman who was driving a white CX-90 Mazda.

Thatdaneshguy who has a huge following on TikTok made a video calling Vauk racist and locating her LinkedIn, which now appears to have been taken down. The company’s current LinkedIn with a Damonte Ranch address has Shawn Pearsall as CEO CTO. 1-800 numbers to the business went straight to busy signals.

“’Ive never ever experienced something like this personally until today and ooh how bad my blood is boiling,” Janet wrote on her initial video.

“So i am doordashing right and i pull in to the mcdonald's on S Virginia in Reno Nevada by the Meadowood Mall and I parked in the mobile order curbside pick up spots no one was parked near me i get off and grab my doordash order it took them about 10 minutes before i got it so once i get back outside and in my car (mind yall my windows were cracked) Well Cheryl/Sheryl parked next to me in a drive thru designated spot while she waited for her Drive Thru order and she decided to say "this is for mobile orders stupid b****" i responded "im sorry i just picked up a mobile order " she then proceeded to say no your not you're just lazy and a dumb c**t and asked me if i was an illegal I was flabbergasted so i pulled out my phone and started recording.”

Our Town Reno reporting, Feb. 18, 2025

Anna Costello, Reno High Math Teacher, is a Lifelong Runner who Earned her Six Star Medal

With the eight billion people in the world, roughly 1% has finished a marathon and less than 18,000 have earned the Abbott World Marathon Majors medal. Sparks native, Spanish Springs and Nevada alum, math teacher and cross country coach at Reno High Anna Costello, 32, has now accomplished that feat.  

The Abbott medal is awarded to those who have completed the world’s six major marathons: Boston, Tokyo, Berlin, London, Chicago and New York City.  

Late last year, she crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon which marked her completion of the six original world marathon majors. 

“Just running a marathon alone is so hard and you have to do six of them,” Costello said. “I think that putting in all that work over all those years, it is huge.” 

Costello was a D1 runner for Boise State from 2011 to 2014 and then moved to the University of Nevada, Reno for her last two qualifying years. However, she did not want her running career to stop there.

“It is an outlet, it is a lifestyle, I just love it,” Costello said. 

At first, her journey towards the Abbott medal was unintentional. She ran the Boston Marathon in 2019, her first world major, solely because her cousins pushed her to do so. In the same year, she then ran the Chicago Marathon.  

It was in the Windy City that Costello found out about the Abbott distinction after her previous teammate, who was also running the marathon, told her about it. She then set the goal of finishing all six. 

 “Once you get in it, you gotta do them all,” Costello said.  

After running her fourth in Tokyo in 2023, she posted on X: “Tokyo Marathon you were so good to me a new PR of 2:52:56!!!! Finished 1138 overall, 68th woman and 8th American woman. I have no words other than I am so happy to earn my 4th world major star.”

Training for these marathons has not not been easy but for Costello, the energy during the races make it all worth it.

“It is 75, 80% mental but it is empowering. It makes me feel strong mentally and physically,” Costello said. “The energy is almost electric, I don’t wear headphones. I just get carried by the people and the city. You get to go to these places and experience other people cheering you on. The atmosphere is incredible. I can’t explain it.”

After finishing her sixth marathon major, Costello did not even have a full three hours to fully celebrate. At 3 p.m. on race day, she says the Abbott World Marathon Majors organization announced that their ultimate goal is to add three more world majors.  It’s now already added the Sydney Marathon this year and is considering the Shanghai and Cape Town marathons for future addition.  

“I was so mad but so excited,” Costello said. 

As of now, she is still leaving her marathon plans up in the air while she focuses on her career goals like acquiring her National Board Certification for Teaching. 

The pride of her running success carries her.  

“On an emotional level, the majors meant more to me than I thought they would,” Costello said. 

Reporting by Mariel Day shared with Our Town Reno

County Commissioner Alexis Hill Used Old, Partial Numbers to Say Homelessness Down Before Legislative Committee

According to an email forwarded to us concerning a media query on a recent speech by commissioner Alexis Hill saying that “we have reduced homelessness on the streets by 40 percent”, Washoe County is indicating that ”The reduction from 2021 (780 unsheltered people) to 2022 (417 unsheltered people) was a 46% reduction in unsheltered homelessness over the timeframe between before the Cares Campus opened and the Point in Time Count directly following that.”

These numbers are for people found during the point in time count not inside shelter services but during different outreach on a day for homelessness to be quantified.  

Her comments came earlier this year before a legislative Senate Committee on Government Affairs.  It’s odd given that she points to numbers which are from three years ago. 

Washoe County decided not to do the full Point in Time Count in 2025, but in 2024 it counted 1,760 people, and 1,690 in 2023 which according to the latest numbers available is an increase and not at all a 40% decrease. The count was even lower in 2022 at 1605.

The count is divided between those receiving shelter services and those totally on the streets, but even that latter category went up from 2023 to 2024.  

Our Town Reno reporting, Feb. 12, 2025

Viral Cybertruck Crash Points Back to Reno

Coordinates listed for a Tesla cybertruck which crashed into a utility pole, while allegedly in self-drive mode earlier this month, point to Reno. Luckily no one was reported injured in the crash in this photo posted on X.

The coordinates listed as 39.623880,-119.882032 are on Stead Blvd right by Stead Elementary school, where arrows point back into a narrower lane before a crosswalk.

The news originated from this photo from a post on X by Jonathan Challinger, with Reno PD confirming to Fortune.com there was a crash involving a driver named Challinger in early February.

A nearby Chevron and Little Caesars can be seen on the photo as is the case on Stead Blvd.

Challinger wrote his cybertruck was in full self-driving system mode but that it failed to recognize the lane setup.

“It failed to merge out of a lane that was ending (there was no one on my left) and made no attempt to slow down or turn until it had already hit the curb,” the usually Florida-based software developer wrote on X.

He said he wasn’t looking at the road when it happened.

“Big fail on my part, obviously. Don't make the same mistake I did. Pay attention. It can happen,” he wrote.

He then tagged the Tesla AI account asking to send along data from the crash.

“I do have the dashcam footage. I want to get it out there as a PSA that it can happen … but I'm hesitant because I don't want the attention and I don't want to give the bears/haters any material.

Spread my message and help save others from the same fate or far worse,” he added.

In the past few days, there has been intense dissection on Reddit and X over what exactly may have happened and why the self-driving mode may have failed to work in this case, including from people blaming the street’s design.

It comes as Tesla is preparing to launch an autonomous driving robotaxi service later this year in Austin, Texas.

Our Town Reno reporting, Feb. 12, 2025

Stephen Kromer, Reno-Based Uprise Fiber and the Case of $9 Million of Missing State Funds

Stephen Kromer recently reportedly resigned from his position at his family’s powerful and wide reaching company Kromer Investments after his own Reno-based company Uprise Fiber was paid $9.1 million in upfront state funds in 2023 to initiate a rural broadband project in Lovelock which has seen almost no movement, despite also involving huge sums of promised grant money from the U.S Department of Agriculture.  

Kromer Investments is a property management company which gets many negative reviews from apartment complexes across Northern Nevada.   Its offices are listed at the same address as Uprise Fiber at 1150 Matley Lane.

Stephen Kromer’s LinkedIn still lists him though as Vice President of Kromer Investments.

As part of the missing funds related to the Lovelock high-speed internet project, a lawsuit accuses Uprise Fiber of non payment to CommNV, another suit by a construction materials company is against both CommNV and Uprise, while the state of Nevada has reportedly issued a Cease and Desist order to another company involved in the project Rocky Mountain Telecom.  

CommNV, which had an initial contractor’s license for the job, was created by the request of Uprise and shared staff, before experiencing a major fallout and communication breakdown with Uprise over this huge project.

Another contractor hired by Uprise NNE Construction says they were paid very little money even as they purchased several millions of dollars in materials and equipment to start work on the Pershing County project.  

As the project was going nowhere, bank records show millions of dollars from Kromer’s personal Uprise account were steadily being withdrawn.

Meanwhile, the Reno attorney previously representing Uprise Louis Bubala has filed a motion to withdraw from pending cases.  

Kromer has refused to speak to media.  There are reports that Kromer also stepped down from Uprise late last year, amid urgent calls from many parties for a criminal investigation. 

Our Town Reno reporting, Feb. 10, 2025

Local Northern Nevadan Goes Viral with Videos After Ordeals with Her Dogs, Including Getting Mauled

A reader has pointed out to us that a woman who has gone viral on TikTok after being bitten by her dog and deciding to possibly keep it is from Northern Nevada, with a recent post indicating she worked at the Sparks Water Bar.

Another recent TikTok, where shaynabcrimo has over 155k followers, shows her after undergoing forehead flap reconstruction surgery.

According to media reports and information from her TikTok and a GoFundMe, the 31-year-old Shayna Crimo was mauled by her adopted Catahoula leopard dog named King on January 18th. Coincidentally, this happened just days before her other dog, an almost 13-year-old pit bull named Krieo who had cancer, was scheduled to be put down.

After returning from a paint and sip class, Crimo says King bit onto her face and shook her, ripping off almost her entire nose and upper lip. She says he had never previously attacked her or anyone else.

After her first surgery, she went ahead and proceeded with Krieo’s euthanasia. She had pushed it back, fearing the crying could infect the wounds on her face.

Her GoFundMe with a 50k goal is titled “Surgery and Saying Goodbye” with a second surgery scheduled for or around February 10th.

There’s a photo with a tattoo on her body with the names King and Krieo in two attached hearts.

“Between the cost of the euthanasia, the multiple surgeries I will endure (I’ve only had the first so far), months of missing work, and let’s face it, I’ll need some serious therapy, I am feeling extremely helpless for myself. This will be a long long journey for myself and my loved ones. Anything will help and would be appreciated beyond measure. My heart needs the most healing of all. Prayers please,” Crimo writes.

Our Town Reno reporting, Feb. 7, 2025

Reno Protester Explains Motivation for Attending Anti Trump Rally in Carson City

Standing outside the Nevada State Capitol in Carson City yesterday, Laurie Martin (in the right in photo) adjusted her T-shirt, which read in bold letters: “Vote as if your granddaughter's rights depended on it.”

For this ten-year Reno resident who made the 40-minute drive to Nevada’s capital city, activism is not just confined to elections; it is an everyday responsibility.

“We vote every day with our feet, with our voice, with our money,” Martin, a retired schoolteacher, said.

Her concerns stretch further than a single issue. Education reform, environmental protections, and human rights are all causes she has supported in the past.

But yesterday, her frustration centered on what she sees as a dangerous delegation of power.

“The elected president has put the fate of our country into the hands of someone, Elon Musk, who does not have the support or the right to make the decisions he is making,” she said.

Martin’s activism is not just about demonstration; it is about principle. Holding a personal copy of the Constitution, she pleaded for national sanity. “May we support and uphold the Constitution,” she said.

During the protest, she kept repeating what her sign said.

Musk, the world's richest man, who has been named a “special government employee,”
is leading a White House situated team called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Despite its name DOGE is not an official cabinet agency but still operates with a stated purpose “to reduce wasteful and fraudulent federal spending, and eliminate excessive regulations.”

Reporting and photo by James Perez shared with Our Town Reno

Regional Fire Meeting is Preceded by Heat from those for and against Reconsolidation

Heated and publicly released opinions have preceded a contentious Feb. 6 meeting to discuss current and future regional fire efforts, amid escalating pro and con arguments to get fire services back together again, a dozen years after a nasty divorce.

The open meeting is scheduled to take place starting at 8 a.m. in the Washoe County Commission chambers, with utility companies, city government staff, infrastructure experts, and different fire officials expected to be present.  

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve has been pushing for reconsolidating.

“We must act now with a coordinated approach to prevent and respond to catastrophic fire events,” she wrote last month in an RGJ opinion piece.  

“Twelve years ago, a significant decision — sometimes referred to as the "fire divorce" — altered the regional approach to wildfire mitigation and response. It’s time to forge a united front with all regional partners,” she added, calling for collaboration including water availability during emergencies through partnerships with the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. 

A few days before, in an email leaked to media, the now retired fire chief for Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, Charles Moore, had written in a farewell salvo: “It is my belief that the City will use the LA Fires to drive discussions and over-emotionalize the tragedy there so it can drive conversations about creating a single fire agency. The analysis suggests a significant tax increase would be needed because the City of Reno wants to divest itself of its expensive fire department and open up more financial capacity with its budget. A strategy of “let’s regionalize and figure out the details later” is a recipe for failure.”

One commenter on our Facebook post related to Moore’s outgoing views, Trevor Alt, a former firefighter at the Reno Fire Department, didn’t mince words:  “Chuckie Moore has always been a boy trying to do a man’s job,” he wrote. “In a better world with less fools like him, TM would never have separated from Reno Fire… We’d all be better off if Chuckie never showed up near Reno.”

The comment said reconsolidation would save money and provide locals with better service.  

Sparks has been mostly on the sidelines of this back and forth, with Mayor Ed Lawson saying he doesn’t want his city to pay for any of the regionalization, but would be on board.  

Moore retired on January 24th, after serving for 12 years in the Truckee Meadows and 45 years in fire service.  

Under his watch, the paramedic program was expanded, a new wildland fuels division was created, and the personnel of TMFR doubled. 

Dale Way was named as the interim chief until a permanent chief can be named later this year.  

The divorce dates back to the early 2010s, after the Great Recession, when budgets dependent on property taxes crashed and the county refused to comply with a Reno demand to cover a $2.1 million deficit. 

There were then a series of lawsuits, countersuits and settlements, with acrimonious statements all along.

Our Town Reno reporting, February 5, 2025

Reno Planning Commissioner Seeks to Put Brakes on Approval of Data Centers

In addition to Meghan Ebert on City Council, Manny Becerra, on our Planning Commission, is emerging as a new persistent opponent to Reno’s business as usual.

Of late, Becerra, a former Tesla employee, founder of Bristlecone Labs, and a Planning Commissioner since July 2023, has been trying to put the brakes on data centers.

He recently wrote a letter asking the Reno City Council for a moratorium on data centers, saying it would not be “to hinder progress but to allow the City to take a proactive and thoughtful approach to understanding the impacts of this emerging land use.”

Becerra wrote he hopes a pause would ensure any future green lights align with Reno’s plan for the future balancing “sustainability, economic growth, workforce development, and quality of life for all residents.”

The proposed resolution will be discussed as Item 5 at Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting, and if passed, would go to the Reno City Council.

The City Council recently approved a data center in the North Valleys, despite opposition from the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, and ethical concerns over former city manager Doug Thornley’s involvement as a lawyer advancing the project just a few months after he stepped down from his powerful city position.

Another data center heading our way is on Keystone Ave in a busy commercial area, with environmental and energy sucking concerns over that project as well. 

Most data centers are typically situated in suburban areas with more available land and lower real estate costs.  Across the country, data centers in urban areas are driving up the price of land, taking up spots which could have other uses, such as affordable housing, and driving a surge in electricity demand, especially amid the rise of new AI tools.  

Our Town Reno reporting, Feb. 4, 2025

A Shopper's Search for Eggs in Reno, While Bakers and Restaurants Scramble

In Reno, finding a carton of eggs has become a challenge.

A trip to several local grocery stores paints a clear picture of the ongoing egg shortage: empty shelves, high prices, and frustration among shoppers. After visits to Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Save Mart it became obvious that for most, eggs are either unaffordable or unavailable. 

Surprisingly, higher end stores like Trader Joe’s and Sprouts had some of the lowest prices, selling a dozen eggs for $4.99. But Target, Trader Joe’s, and Sprouts had shelves that were completely wiped out. 

Meanwhile, Walmart, which is often known for budget friendly grocery prices, listed a dozen eggs for nearly $10. There were plenty of organic eggs still available at Walmart, but at a scary near $13 a dozen.

The shortage is largely due to an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, severely disrupting egg supplies across the country.

For more than two years, farmers have fought a battle with this fatal strain of bird flu. Since October, multiple large-scale outbreaks of the virus across multiple states have taken a toll on egg-laying hens, driving prices up, and leaving shelves of cheaper options empty. According to government data, the bird flu has affected at least 22.8 million birds in the last 30 days.

To put it in perspective, every wonder what $10 worth of groceries can get you in the U.S. right now? For many, a dozen eggs, just that, and nothing more. 

These prices aren’t just affecting your morning breakfast but businesses, especially local bakeries. At Mix Bakeshop on California Avenue, owner Kris Daters explains that eggs are essential in baking.

 “No matter the price, we have to buy them,” Daters explained.  

However, when asked if she plans to raise prices in response to the spike, Daters remains firm. 

“You can’t raise prices for something that is hopefully temporary. As a business owner, you just have to absorb it,” she said.

For some family owned bakeries absorbing the cost isn’t always an option. At El Pueblo Bakery, Alicia Rodriguez immediately responded with “yes” when asked if egg prices had impacted their business. 

“It's been hard,” Rodriguez admitted. 

To keep up with costs they’ve had to raise pastry prices slightly, by just a few cents.  “Not a lot because we want customers to keep coming in, but enough to get by hoping this is just temporary,” Rodriguez said.

Waffle House though announced this week it will be adding a $0.50 surcharge to all egg items on the menu sold at its more than 2,000 locations because of the soaring egg prices. Other chains and restaurants had already added slight increases to their menu prices due to egg prices.
With no clear end in sight for the egg shortage, businesses and consumers alike are forced to adjust. For now, whether it's paying $10 for only a dozen or finding empty shelves, Reno shoppers are left scrambling for eggs. 

Our Town Reno reporting by Genevy Machuca 

Tahoe Heartbeat Owner Now Apologizes After Severe Backlash to Facebook Comments

Local businesses are cutting ties with hat maker Tahoe Heartbeat, wheeling away their displays, and retailers have canceled contracts.

Their owner and founder Parker Alexander who made incendiary comments related to school children of undocumented immigrants on a Facebook post on one of South Tahoe Now’s stories has taken down his Instagram and the company’s social media.  He then sent an apology to the newspaper.  

Clients such as the South Tahoe Futbol Club and South Tahoe High Boosters clubs issued their own statements.

“It has been brought to our attention that one of our merchandise affiliates has made offensive statements. South Tahoe FC is actively investigating the situation and will take appropriate actions,” STFC wrote.

“As a community-focused club, STFC is committed to fostering inclusivity and respect through the game of soccer. We stand against any form of hate and will not align with companies that do not reflect our values.”

In the comments of some of the stories related to this, some said they would instead buy hats.  

In his comments part of what Alexander wrote included this, “Since when is it the school’s obligation to make “kids feel safe at school” when their parents are criminals?”

He then went on to write “these illegally bred children will grow up with the influence of their criminal parents. We have to cut the dragon’s head off at the head.”

He then sent an email to the South Tahoe Now newspaper yesterday backtracking by indicating he wanted to apologize for comments “regarding immigration. This is a situation that affects many individuals and families, and while it’s a divisive issue, I recognize how my words were poorly articulated and hurtful. To all who have been offended including those who commented, I am listening and understand your displeasure and deeply regret how my insensitive message came across. Sincerely, Parker Alexander”

Our Town Reno reporting, February 2025

Local Teachers Find Themselves Struggling with Pay, Lack of Respect and Lower Standard

As part of his budget plans for 2025 to 2027, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo recently announced that he wants to make teacher pay raises permanent, including for all charter school teachers.

That would be a welcome step for teachers who feel they don’t get paid enough for what they provide, especially amid the rise in living costs.

Teachers from the local Coral Academy interviewed in a student documentary by the Reynolds School of Journalism’s Vance Russell expressed concern at where the educator profession is going in Nevada with low pay, a lack of respect and standards going down.

Teachers rarely speak openly about their ordeals but the three agreed to do so.  

“I feel that we aren’t paid what we should be,” said Kelly Russell, a computer science teacher at the Coral Academy of Science charter school.

“I think a lot of us feel guilty about leaving, because we know there isn't anyone to take our place,” she added saying she heard they were short at least 250 teachers to start the school year within Washoe County.  

“It’s hard to find substitutes, which means a lot of us, even if we need the time off, we can't take it because there's no one to fill our our positions. Also, I think a lot of us feel that … some of the new teachers coming in, they are not as qualified as they need to be because of the desperation of finding new teachers. So that definitely has an impact on a lot of us,” she explained in the short documentary.

“Overall, pay for me is very low,” said Diane Swanson, a librarian and ELA teacher.  “My background was in the legal field, and I made more money as a secretary than I do … teaching…Teachers are overworked. We are exhausted.”  

She said respect for the profession has gone down, and that teachers are no longer supported by many parents.  

“If you're going to have low pay and lack of respect and you're getting bullied by parents, it makes it extremely difficult to stay within the education and teaching profession,” she said. 

Russell believes that with better pay the quality of teaching and education would go back up.  The average teacher pay in Nevada is about $60,000, or $10,000 lower than the rest of the country, while the Silver State’s education system consistently ranks near the bottom of state by state U.S. comparisons.

She feels discouraged when she hears of other teachers working two or three jobs to make ends meet.  “They're not giving their students the attention that they need or require, and it's a detriment to our students in our education system,” she said. “So Nevada really needs to step up and start  paying teachers appropriately, and I think if they did, it would be a lot better for everyone involved.” 

Swanson said teachers barely make more than a fast food worker in California, where that pay is now $20 per hour. “ I work evenings. I work weekends. I get up at 3:30, four in the morning. I grade papers. I'm putting together lesson plans,” she explained as to her heavy workload.  “I’m fielding emails to my students after work hours. Parents contact me all hours of the day, every day of the week with questions.”

She calls teaching a calling, but says society should be more helpful to help our next generation of workers.  

“I try very hard to be positive and upbeat for my students because I realize that they probably hear a lot of grumbling from their parents about how difficult it is and how hard it is to make ends meet, and then they go to school. And if the teachers are having the same kind of an attitude, I think that we are sending a message to our young people [that] … you're never going to be happy. And I don't want to be that teacher, but the exhaustion rate is making it hard. We're tired… We need some help,” she said in the documentary.

Michael Wallack, a math teacher struck a more optimistic tone in his interviews, about the benefits of teaching as a profession, with longer breaks, but agreed with the need for an across the board teacher pay increase.  

“First off, you'd see less people leaving the profession as they are…That would also give people in the colleges a chance to see what teaching can hold for them partly because it is a rewarding profession,” he said. 

Reporting by Vance Russell shared with Our Town Reno

Three Years After Body Found, The Murder of Anna Marie Scott Remains Unsolved

In recent months, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe has been making a renewed push for information into the murder of one of their members, Anna Marie Scott, which took place three years ago.

Scott’s body was found in the trunk of a burnt out car on southbound I-580 near the Galena Creek Bridge on Feb. 3, 2022. Officials later said Scott, a 23-year-old mother, had been previously shot to death.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office did not release her identity until four days later, even though by then many posts about her death had already been made on social media.  

It then took a full month before the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner released the information that she had been killed by a gunshot wound. 

One person publicly named as a person of interest sought for questioning, Jacori Shaw, also 23, was then shot dead by police in south Reno February 23rd, 2022, while police said they were trying to arrest him for unrelated weapons charges. 

In July of this year, while making a post, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe identified the car in which Scott was found as belonging to her, even though this had not been confirmed by law enforcement.

One flyer the tribe has circulated on social media indicates “someone out there knows something, and has chosen to remain silent.”

Then in all caps: “SPEAK UP! SPEAK OUT! SAY HER NAME! NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!”

A press release from two years ago from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office indicated: “Detectives’ primary goal is to solve Scott’s homicide, and to bring justice to Scott and her loved ones. As such, Homicide Detectives are continuing to seek information from anyone who may have knowledge of Scott’s movements and interactions in the days preceding February 3rd.

Detectives wish to remind the public that only information released by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is deemed to be credible.

Anyone with information relating to Scott’s murder is asked to please contact the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at (775) 328-3320 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900. Refer to case #WC22-563.

Secret Witness is also offering a reward in the amount of $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspect(s) wanted in connection with Anna Scott’s homicide.”

Our Town Reno reporting, February 3rd 2025

Freshman Legislator Erica Roth Prepares for New Session Feeling Responsibility

For Nevada lawmakers, it’s often about finding a balance between the micro and the macro, going through minutiae while still thinking of the big picture for the benefit of their constituents.

With just a few days to go before she is sworn in, Erica Roth, a newly elected Assembly member for District 24, encompassing much of central and eastern Reno, needs to assemble her bookshelf on her third floor office in Carson City, while strategizing the best way forward for half a dozen bills she is allowed to introduce as a freshman.   

“The beginning of the session is a lot of pomp and circumstance, but I'm looking forward to both the ceremonial part as well as being able to start working on policy,” she told Our Town Reno after a busy week before the 83rd session of the Nevada Legislature kicks off. 

As a newbie, Roth has gone through mandatory legislative training over the past two months, “everything from ethics training to how to operate the equipment … to pass laws for Nevada.” 

One of the bills she is working on is to keep the addresses of abortion providers hidden. 

“Abortion providers and those who work for establishments that provide abortions have been getting doxed,” she says.  “And so this would ensure that if you are a provider, you're able to petition the court to hide your address. There's already a list of people who can hide their addresses, that includes law enforcement officers, judges, certain lawyers, and this would include them on that list.”

Another one of her planned bills concerns expanding access to mental health services for justice involved individuals. 

“We have a pretty onerous process right now if you are arrested and in need of mental health services to be treated to competency,” she explained.  “And so this is going to provide additional care as well as streamline the process to limit the amount of time, in custody, when we need to get people into treatment programs.”

Roth is also working on a bill to strengthen protections for renters who are going through the eviction process and another to increase protections for people with disabilities in medical settings, specifically those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

“There's been a lot of issues with those who are deaf and hard of hearing, being able to access appropriate interpretation, while in hospital settings. And so this will ensure that those who are deaf and hard of hearing, seeking medical care in hospital settings will be required to have an in person interpreter. We've had some really terrible and heartbreaking stories of inappropriate treatment … because the communication is just not there. And so it will ensure that they're able to properly, communicate with their doctors and providers,” she said.

One bill which she says she is less of an expert for but feels is crucial right now, is to expand the time for any undocumented individual who is a victim of a crime to be able to get a police report.  

“If you are undocumented and a victim of crime, you are entitled to certain victim services and financial compensation,” she explained.  

“It's an issue right now because of the ICE raids, and those who are undocumented being scared of interactions with officials. And so it will expand that time that they can get that report to be able to seek the services.”

As a former Deputy General Counsel to former Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak and government affairs and appellate attorney she feels well prepared for the weeks ahead, while taking her new elected position with the utmost seriousness.    

“I feel so much weight and responsibility in this role,” she said. “It’s just so important for me to do a good job and to represent my constituents and push policy that's going to help my constituents. It’s a heavy burden which I'm happy to take on.”  

As lawmakers arrive, she says it’s time to find progressive allies, despite the overarching current political climate and the possibility of many vetoes from Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, as was the case last session. Despite Donald Trump taking Nevada in 2024, as he did other swing states, Democrats held on to their large majorities in the Silver State’s Senate and Assembly, losing just one seat.  

“My heart is broken over what we're seeing on the national level, but that's why the work that we're doing on the local level is so important,” Roth said. 

“The things that give me hope is that I feel, I'm so committed to bringing bills that I know are going to make a positive impact in my community and continue to speak out against the authoritarianism that we are seeing from the federal government and the president. And so, there are certainly days when it gets hard. 

But I have been in all honesty waking up everyday just ready for the fight because I think we have a real fight on our hands for the next four years. I feel confident that we're going to get through it,” the Democratic lawmaker said.    

Our Town Reno reporting, February 2025

What's That New Apartment Building in Downtown Reno? The Oslo

During a recent check, the Oslo apartments at 110 River Rock street, near Center Street and the Truckee River, were nearing completion, with workers putting the finishing touches outside and new residents completing their application process. 

Its website says the inside is inspired by Scandinavian design philosophy, “where minimalism becomes more, and every detail is intentional. Our unique Metro Studios and one-bedroom apartments blend smart design with atmospheric touches, from quality crafted cabinetry to soaring timber ceilings that bring a naturally warm aesthetic.”

Base prices for a 540 square feet “metro studio” start at $1550 without additional fees with 70 units listed as available, while one bedroom residences, listed at the same size, but with a different layout are priced starting at $1,785, with eight listed as available.

The highest priced unit is listed as starting at $2,080.  

Someone called Israel Geronimo recently wrote on Google Reviews: “Clarizze did an excellent job with helping me find an apartment with the Oslo. She made it super simple and easy for me to go through the process. The property is very new and modern. I am excited to be a new resident at the Oslo!” Apartments.com didn’t have any reviews available of the Oslo, the latest of high priced apartments looking for tenants in the downtown Reno area, as of this writing.

Our Town Reno reporting, February 2025

Controversial Reno Unhoused TikToker is In Jail Again

Zachariah Greenberg, a local who goes by Muah Mafia on TikTok and who live streams much of his life living unhoused, was listed as a Washoe County inmate this morning, charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

He has been getting in repeated fights in recent weeks, which he talks about at length on his TikTok. His most recent video from yesterday showed his face bloodied and cut up, walking around, saying a “bunch of cops” were following him.

He was previously booked on Christmas Day on an assault charge.

He often has TikToks where he answers questions from followers who call him UNC.

He initially became popular by making videos while sleeping in a tent promoting marijuana related products, showing his life walking around town, and going to Meadowood Mall interacting with shoppers and workers there.

In one TikTok he had said he was no longer allowed at the mall. He was previously banned from going to the downtown library, although Our Town Reno was not given the exact reason why.

Another social media account with the handle butt-erfly posted videos of their severely bruised face sent to us saying they recently approached Greenberg and that they wanted to talk to him “about talking to kids.” They allege “he lost it pretty much.” They then posted a video with his booking information.

In another recent video, which appears to be filmed in a hotel room, Greenberg is seen with two others, including another local TikToker who goes by 2stzy, asking for people to stay away from him, not take any pictures or not give him any fist bumps. The video indicates 2stzy will be acting as his security.

A local reader who alerted us to these new developments asks the community to keep their distance from Greenberg if they see him around town and not to interact with him.

Our Town Reno reporting, February 1st, 2025

Imbib Holds Farewell Event as it Says Its Model of Business "No Longer Viable"

Another local business in a countdown of its last hours of operation, Imbib, which many locals say had the best beer in town, is having a Dancing on the Runs Party on Saturday Feb. 1 from noon to six p.m. at its 785 E 2nd street location.

It has an elaborate description on its Instagram.

“This Saturday from Noon-6pm we celebrate Wet As Fuck February and dance on the ruins of IMBĪB. Put on your drinking and dancing shoes and join us if you are one of the 🤩REAL🍻 IMBĪB supporters. The party is at our Reno brewery. We will have some special beer on tap, but we will not be selling any crowlers or glassware that day. Bottles will still be 50% off, but the focus is on what we are pouring from the taps,” it wrote as an introduction to its farewell extravaganza.

IMBIB Custom Brews announced earlier this month it would be closing both its Reno and Sparks locations, which is on Scheels Drive, in February.

"We did what we set out to do," the company said in a statement. "We made world-class, award-winning beer. We pushed the boundaries of beer, and we nailed some traditional styles.” However, the post indicated “our model is no longer viable.”

It called on patrons to tip their beertenders, as they will be looking for other opportunities.

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

There Goes the Local Reno Wienerschnitzel

The local Wienerschnitzel, with its drive thru and outdoor sitting options, is open for its last day of operations on Mill Street today, forced to close down as RTC is expanding the road where it currently sits.

Founded in 1961 in Southern California, the chain is known for its hot dogs, chili dogs and chili cheese fries.

“Thank you to all our wonderful customers over the years. RTC has let us know that January 31 2025 will be our last day,” a sign on our local Wienerschnitzel read today. “We look forward to serving you in the future at a new location. Thank you again from our wiener fam.”

A restaurant next to it has signs that it’s already permanently closed. A Wienerschnitzel is slated to open in Minden but none is being reported as of now that we've seen for the Reno area.

Our Town Reno reporting, January 31, 2025

Kate Whitman, Making Art out of Glass and Trash She Found Camping After Being Evicted

When Kate Whitman was camping recently at Washoe Lake campgrounds, after being evicted this summer with her two kids from a home on 7th street, she noticed all the glass on the ground, and wondered what she could do with it.

“It just looks like people just throw their bottles when they're driving down the road. They just throw them into the desert,” she told Our Town Reno during a recent interview. 

Glass she says isn’t even legal in many state parks and she was worried her dogs would get injured.  

She got an old freezer bag, adding more glass and other items she found. She found an old Schlitz beer can. There were animal bones, including one from a baby horse. Before long, she had two full freezer bags of glass and other stuff. 

“I just started looking at it. It was kind of pretty in the light. It was shimmery. I started thinking that it would look really cool encased in resin,” she said.  “I figured, you know, a pyramid would be good because of the pyramids, how to symbolize society. So that's really just how it happened. I just really felt compelled to do it. I just felt like it's just something I needed to do.”

She’s now looking into grants to be able to finish the piece, which she says represents our impact on nature.  

She’s living in an apartment in Lemmon Valley now, after being over a dozen years at her old home on 7th street.  Those houses are being demolished as part of the ongoing UNR expansion project. 

“A lot of those houses were so cute, and they're just all gonna be demolished. And, people are running out of places to live. You know?” she said of a quickly changing Reno.  “ I've known people who've just gotten evicted because they can't afford to pay $300 more in rent every month.”

Whitman has a Facebook Page called Reno Garbage Art where she details her progress on different projects, including this latest one. 

“First part is done, except for sanding & polishing. 3 tiers left,” she wrote recently.  “Still trying to figure out funding so I can finish it. We will be going to Washoe Lake next week, weather permitting. I used most of the glass already.”

She also has an Instagram called love_life_glitter_art which she started a few years ago to honor a friend who passed away, when she found a new vocation as a self-made upcycler and artist.

For several now years, Whitman has been adding fabric to mirrored jewelry boxes and upcycling other items she finds, such as picture frames, dressers and wine box sets, adding splatter paint or other touches and trying to sell online and at vending events.  She had just started a store in the garage of her old house, but lost that when she was evicted.

She used to find items thrifting in person, but finds that too expensive now, so peruses through the Facebook marketplace instead.  

Whitman has been a vendor before at a Reno Punk Rock Flea Market and at the Generator, finding those types of community events fulfilling, with the possibility of making some money as well.  

She has been unable to work a regular job for years, with a degenerative disc disease and other debilitating health issues. She used to be a waitress, making good money, but due to her disability started dropping things.  

“When your spine is bad, it affects your limbs,” she explained during our interview.  “I can't really sit. I have bone spurs on my spine, so I can't do, like, delivery driving or sit for a long time. “

She’s had a tough life, living on her own since she was a young teenager and having survived periods of homelessness. 

She had her first surgery in her late 20s, which she says was botched and incomplete, before finally getting the help she needed at Spine Nevada, now Swift Institute.  She has an ablation every six months, and needs another spine surgery, she says.  

“It's hard being disabled and having, like, nothing to do all day,” she says of what pushes her to keep pursuing art projects.   

If you’d like to help Whitman she has an Amazon wish list to collaborate on her projects which can be found here:  https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/08SJZFi?ref_=wl_share and a PayPal: paypal.me/kwhitman76

Our Town Reno reporting, January 2025

Confusion Reigns over Future Federal Funding, While Washoe County and City of Reno Already Face Budget Holes

Confusion still reigns among local non profits and government entities over possible future federal funding cuts, with different statements being released, from the county to the White House, even as both Washoe County and Reno face huge budget holes, with projects already on the cutting block.

With Washoe County already stating it was facing a $27 million budget deficit, it now released a statement on how it might be impacted by a possible federal funding freeze, even as a memo from the Office of Management and Budget was released on the same day saying the controversial order was being rescinded.

What money they won’t be receiving anymore doesn’t seem as dire after some backtracking by the fast moving Trump administration.

“OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have questions about implementing the President’s Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel,” a memo released by the White House Office of Management and Budget indicates.

"Facing legal pressure from our clients and in the wake of a federal judge ruling in our case last evening, the Trump-Vance administration has abandoned OMB's ordered federal funding freeze," Democracy Forward, which led a legal challenge over the effort, said in its own statement today. "We are proud of our courageous clients -- who represent communities across the nation -- for going to court to stop the administration's unlawful actions."

The pause in funding was originally set to take effect last night, but on Tuesday afternoon the White House had already issued a fact sheet that said the pause didn’t apply across the board.

Meanwhile, the City of Reno has estimated its own budget shortfall next year at $25 million because of slow revenue growth and increasing personnel costs.

Future expenses are already being cut, whatever happens in Washington.

A publicly released email from January 24th from Youth Recreation Manager Corina Lindsay indicated that “due to budget revenues (tax revenue) coming in at a flat rate, we have been asked to save money by cutting travel and reducing food purchases. So, we are not going to be able to go to National League of Cities this year.” This was a planned trip for the Reno Youth City Council.

Our Town Reno reporting, January 29, 2025