Despite Not Being a Candidate in Search, Jackie Bryant Gets Reno City Manager Position

After dismissing a $75,000 candidate search, which didn’t include interim city manager Jackie Bryant who didn’t apply, the City Council yesterday unanimously voted for her to be appointed as the new city manager.

During public comment, former mayoral and council candidate William Mantle called the process “problematic” and said her tenure would be tainted right out of the gate, through no fault of her own.

Mayor Hillary Schieve dismissed such concerns saying “we wanted an experienced leader with a passion for our local community. Someone who is approachable, trustworthy, and solution oriented, and that is Jackie Bryant.”

Bryant becomes the fourth city manager in 10 years, following the July resignation of Doug Thornley in the wake of a This is Reno investigation into improper travel reimbursements for several council members.

The city manager position is arguably the most powerful in the city, which also pays over $350,000 per year, with media reporting it will now increase to $369,000 for Bryant.

Sabra Newby resigned from the position during the pandemic, while prior to that, Andrew Clinger was terminated in 2016 amid sexual harassment complaints.

As time went by in the interim position, Bryant said she became more comfortable being at the top of the city’s administrative structure.

“As I step into this role, I am excited to build on our momentum and continue working together to serve the Biggest Little City and its vibrant, diverse communities,” Bryant said. “My priorities remain focused on revitalizing our downtown, enhancing public safety resources, maintaining the critical infrastructure that supports our growing community, and improving access to housing resources for all who call the Biggest Little City home.”

Bryant who has a background in law and experience in regulatory roles was previously a Deputy Chief of Staff for former Republican Governor and current UNR President Brian Sandoval.
Our Town Reno reporting, Dec. 12, 2024

Free Lunch Wednesday at the Newman Center: An Offer UNR Students Can't Refuse

With many students at UNR struggling with rising tuition and cost of living, food insecurity and an inability to eat healthy is unfortunately rampant.

Every Wednesday, Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church offers a free lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for all students at the University of Nevada, Reno, at the Newman Center, as part of efforts to help.

This particular event is organized primarily by the Knights of Columbus, a global Catholic fraternal service organization.

One of the event's dedicated volunteers, Rick Goebel, spends each Wednesday greeting students along Virginia Street, inviting them to stop by for a meal.

“Different groups make the lunch each week, but the Knights help with most of it," says Goebel. “Today, the volunteers are from Immaculate Conception Church, and each week, other groups within the diocese contribute food to help.”

A Reno native, Goebel attended Bishop Manogue High School and later graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno. As an alum who attended Our Lady of Wisdom Church during his college years, he felt a personal connection when he was asked to volunteer.

Seeing students gather each week brings Goebel a sense of purpose. “It’s motivational for me to see more and more people come, to witness the organic growth and the good things that are happening here. It’s rewarding to see it grow every week,” he says.

Leo Carew III, the state treasurer for the Knights of Columbus for Nevada, has been with the organization for eight years. Carew emphasizes the organization’s commitment to fostering a spirit of service among young people. “We are trying to give back to the students to let them know it is okay to serve, to say yes in volunteer work,” he says. By encouraging students to participate in these community lunches, Carew hopes to inspire them to embrace volunteerism and the positive impact it can have on others.

Apart from the free lunches each Wednesday, the Newman Center also offers free coffee Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., as well as a waffle bar each Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Reporting and photos by Matthew Means shared with Our Town Reno

Downtown Reno Community Fridge Gets Code Enforcement Visit

After a reported complaint and a visit from Reno Code Enforcement concerning a community fridge outside Lily Baran’s home at 638 Elko Avenue, all has been sorted for this valuable and healthily stocked resource to proceed.

“Take What You Need, Leave What You Can!” is its tagline also written out in Spanish.

Cassie Harris, the City of Reno Communications Manager, wrote back to Our Town Reno, saying she was able to track down an update indicating a previous complaint with “concerns including visible junk, trash, debris, outdoor storage, and a structure encroaching on required setbacks.”

Code Enforcement went to assess the situation on November 19th, before sending Baran a courtesy letter asking for corrections by December 4th.

“Upon reinspection by Code Enforcement, the identified issues were resolved, the property is in compliance, and the case is now closed,” the information relayed by Harris indicated.

The fridge has a sign which indicates “together we strengthen our community and redistribute existing resources by providing tools and frameworks to ensure people-supported, ongoing, equal access to healthy food.” It often has inside or next to it fresh produce either purchased or grown in local gardens, as well as canned goods, water, milk, eggs, bread, deli meats, cheese, healthy snacks, baby formula and pet food.

Any donations or any questions can be sent to the biggestlittlefreepantry Venmo.

Neighbors in need are often seen going to and from this outside location to get healthy food in a convenient, close to downtown, no questions asked, no interactions needed mode of operation. Baran and volunteers restock the fridge to benefit whoever is walking by.

Our Town Reno reporting, December 10, 2024

Echo Gill, Bringing Her Lived Experience to Shape Help for Locally Unhoused

Echo Gill, who’s spent most of her life in Reno, has gone from being unhoused living in a shelter, to now shaping policy with local leadership. 

She achieves this by serving as a member of what’s called the Lived Experience Advisory Board, which she’s been with since the day it was founded in July 2023, to “provide guidance on homeless services from those who have used them,” according to Washoe County.

Currently, they’re in the process of setting up their latest big project- a Workforce Initiative Project- in collaboration with Two Hearts Community Development and the University of Nevada, Reno. 

Before the project was conceived, Gill’s group reviewed the policies and procedures of the “Northern Nevada Continuum of Care,” which has as its mission “to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.”

After making some suggestions and giving advice, Gill said the county took action.

“The services aren’t really tied to each other,” Gill said when asked of the main challenges for the unhoused community. “It’s really difficult for people to find what services are out there because our county has a surplus of services. It’s just that the majority of them are unknown.”

Taking advantage of these services was key for Gill and her two kids to get rehoused when she was in the shelter, except it wasn’t as seamless as it could’ve been. 

“It took longer than it should have. We actually received our voucher after we had been in the shelter for six months, but Section 8 had to update all their computers, so it ended up taking about three months for that to happen, then about three more for us to find somebody that would accept the voucher.”

The Housing Choice Voucher program, formerly known as Section 8, “provides assistance to eligible low- and moderate- income families to rent housing in the private market.” Though Gill says those struggling with homelessness do know about these particular programs, it’s the other side of the equation, the landlords, which has been problematic.

“Right now on average, about 50 percent of the housing vouchers go unused, and it’s because they can’t find landlords that are willing to work with [them],” Gill said. 

This is despite the Nevada Housing Authority offering a landlord incentive program, which includes “rent payment stability, regular inspections to protect their property, direct payment into their bank accounts, and other protections beyond the day of move-out.”

Gill believes the landlords don’t want the formerly unhoused as tenants due to the stigmas and negative stereotypes associated with them, such as being destructive and underemployed. Contrary to this, Gill knows many unhoused who actually “have full time jobs”, and says that these stigmas are a dangerous common misunderstanding of their reality.

“There’s a lot of misconceptions about homelessness, especially right now… It takes one missed check and now you’re living in your car with your whole family. It’s not necessarily gambling or addiction issues anymore, it’s more of cost of living issues,” Gill said.  

“It’s the disconnect between the homeless people, the homeless services, and the landlords,” she said, that is causing real issues.

She wishes people understood more of the “why” in how it happens, especially with those chronically homeless. A lot of times Gill says there are mental health issues that go untreated, and if we were to come together as a community, then it would make a big difference. 

“Treating everybody like a human all the time,” Gill said, when asked how people could better support the unhoused. In her own experience, she carried the guilt of being unhoused while being a parent. This really got to her mentally, she says, and she avoided saying she was unhoused or at the shelter while looking for jobs and in casual conversations. 

“You don’t want them to know you live in a shelter because now they’re going to look at you different… it was like a dirty secret,” she said. 

Gill had moved from Reno to Arizona, and was renting a house with her kids and late husband there. When that lease expired and her landlord at the time didn’t want to renew, she desperately tried to remain housed, but despite working overtime, she couldn’t raise enough money to find a new place.

“I was working like 60 hours a week and it just didn't matter. I could not… could not make it work,” she said. 

Gill ended up coming back to Reno, where she spent a year at the RISE-run Our Place shelter. There she said they were “really great” and she ended up “lucky,” not having to struggle to find services because she had a really great caseworker. Besides the support from the voucher and caseworker, Gill shared it was relying on her personal community that got her through that trying time.

However, though it worked for Gill, the system can still be improved. Gill thinks there is a “secretiveness” in services available due to people competing for funding. She thinks we need to step away from that. 

“We need to start sharing with each other more and communicating more. And I think it would turn out to help the people that are experiencing homelessness a lot,” she said. 

Our Town Reporting by Daniel Mariani

Edema Patient Recounts Distressing Situation at Renown, Finds Solace at Saint Mary's

An angry local mother is looking into legal advice after her adult son felt concerned for his safety while getting treatment for his severely infected left leg (in pictures) at Renown on Sunday.

She also wants to create information available to the community on how to help those with substance use disorders deal with similar hospital situations.

Her son who is on Medicaid coverage is currently struggling with a fentanyl addiction and recurring edema.

After he was admitted at Renown on Saturday, he believes he was tested for drugs which showed recent use in his system.

He alleges he was then surrounded by five security officers on Sunday, while he was in bed in his hospital gown, asking to search his backpack and threatening to call police.

At that point, he says he felt extremely intimidated and worried about his welfare even though he was in a hospital receiving care.

Instead of being “treated like shit,” the mom says her son could have been given Suboxone and peer support services. 

Her son then decided to leave the hospital, but says he got no support to do so, and wasn’t even given a wheelchair or access to a phone so he could call his mother to pick him up.

A woman on the bottom floor voluntarily lent her cell phone so he could call his Mom.

She then took him to the Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center on West 6th Street, where his mom says he is being treated with much more “kindness.”

Her son had initially gone to Renown, which is close to where he lives, with edema complications in November. His situation recently worsened, after the wound vac with a pump to pull out the infection they had sent him home with accidentally came off, prompting his return visit. 

Before leaving Renown abruptly this weekend, he had been on an antibiotic drip, and had been told surgery might be needed.  

We contacted Renown, briefly describing the allegations, and asked if the hospital “would have a statement concerning this type of situation.”

Caroline Ackerman responded “In order to protect every individual's personal health information, we are not able to confirm or discuss any patient’s treatment without written authorization,” while also including a link to a rights of patient privacy page.  

Our Town Reno reporting, December 9, 2024

Lear Theater Loses its Repair Money Due to Lack of Bidder

The already left to rot Lear Theater has lost its remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds for its revitalization.

The Council had dedicated $1 million in ARPA funding last year for the iconic landmark nestled between West 1st Street and Riverside Drive, and patted themselves on the back for being saviors.

Over $170,000 did get spent from the Covid-era federal funds to prepare paperwork for the repairs and improvement but now a deadline has passed to find a bidder to actually do the work.

A City of Reno page dedicated to the Lear Theater is still full of promises for 2024: https://www.reno.gov/community/arts-culture/historic-preservation-copy

But at a City Council meeting Wednesday, the remaining Lear funds were divided up for other projects, from more downtown garbage cans to paying a payroll system consultant.

Just a few weeks ago, with no work started, some of its chain link fencing was stolen, costing the City thousands of dollars to just keep it fully fenced off.

The Lear Theater has seen many promises since the early 2000s with different projects going nowhere.

Activists have called for the 1939 building to be a center of local Black culture as it was designed by the iconic Black architect Paul Revere Williams.

Our Town Reno reporting, Dec. 5, 2024

Washoe County Looking Closely at "Online Chatter" Surrounding Libraries

The County’s Media and Communications Program Manager Candee Ramos writes the County is logging emails coming to elected Commissioners concerning the future of local libraries, “and will be ready with … data when next steps are taken by the policymakers.”

Ramos says her team is reviewing “existing online chatter surrounding the WC-1 failure.”

The measure to keep two cents of every $100 in assessed property value taxes going directly to the library was voted down in the 2024 election, leading to a petition and concerns of looming reduced library services.

“There does seem to be some indication that people were unaware that the tax was not a tax increase or the impact that losing the allocation would cause. Elsewhere, there is the political aspect of libraries since the introduction of Drag Queen Story Time with the sentiment the library essentially “got what they deserved.” Overall – there is sadness and concern for a potential loss of services and staff,” Ramos wrote in an email cced to County Commissioners and forwarded to Our Town Reno.

An attached document said “the pattern of engagement signifies a community with mixed feelings, with the majority expressing sadness over the situation.”

The measure to extend the previously existing additional funding system for libraries was defeated 51.49% to 48.51% at the ballot box.

The library has a base budget of $12 million and the additional $4.5 million it used to get through this ongoing tax will now be controlled by the Washoe County commission.

In a “negative sentiment and criticism” section at the top of the Washoe County document attached in the email it said “Some discussions showed negative sentiments, especially revolving around the perceived role of libraries in societal issues.”

Our Town Reno reporting, December 2, 2024

Washoe County To Skip PIT Count for Unsheltered Individuals in 2025

A man in late November on McCarran Blvd in northwest Reno sorts through his belongings.

In an email recently forwarded to County Commissioners, Dana Searcy, Division Director for Housing and Homeless Services, said there will be no Point in Time count in 2025 for the local unsheltered unhoused population.

She said this decision was made via a voting decision by the CoC, an acronym for the Continuum of Care program, designed to “promote community wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness.”

The next one will be in 2026. Searcy said HUD requires one only every two years.

Searcy had previously recommended this option saying “we now have the by name list which is more accurate in looking at real time counts,” explaining the next step would be a vote of the CoC Leadership Council.

Prior to the vote, Searcy had added: “This event takes hundreds of hours of prep from many staff. Those staff could be spending their time working to house people and respond to law enforcement activities as this count is not required.”

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development website indicates “the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January.” It adds, “HUD requires that CoCs conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night.”

Another part of the website indicates the count of sheltered homeless individuals is yearly, while unsheltered homeless individuals must be counted at least once every other year.

Assistant County Manager Kate Thomas had previously replied to the idea of skipping 2025, writing “I agree it would be a good move as we place more emphasis on the by name list and more appropriate data.”

The count has been celebrated when numbers have gone down, but dismissed when numbers have gone up.

After going up between 2022 and 2023, and again between 2023 and 2024, the Washoe County website indicated: “While there is a slight increase in the total number of people experiencing homelessness, the total number of people counted is very similar to last year …” and “Many communities around the country are seeing significant increases.”

The numbers have been going up despite the County’s Cares Campus, which opened in 2021, where the goal is to get the hundreds of people sleeping there to obtain stable housing.

Our Town Reno reporting, Dec. 1, 2024

RIP The Great Todd Felts

The great Todd Felts has tragically, abruptly passed away during the Thanksgiving break.

This is a photo of him after he was named the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Sierra Chapter.

He was beloved by his colleagues and students at the Reynolds School of Journalism, his wonderful husband Tony Avila, his mother Betty, who had just turned 80, and so many in our community including in local non profit circles.

Among many endeavors, he was a key fundraiser for Northern Nevada HOPES, specifically in spearheading the "Give OUT" campaign, which supports access to healthcare for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

In all his interactions, Todd always brought a powerful light, grace and boundless positive energy to every moment, every class, every meeting, every encounter.

UNR President Brian Sandoval today wrote: "From the moment Todd joined our faculty in 2008, our University knew it had added a faculty member who brought something more than two decades of experience as an award-winning public relations and communications professional. Todd’s infectious joy for the work that he did was immediately apparent. His love, care and compassion for everyone he knew was felt throughout our campus and in our community. He was, simply, a bundle of energy who could also be an incredibly thoughtful and steadying force for anyone he ever knew."

Rest in Peace Todd. May we honor your legacy by being positive and full of compassion and generosity in our own interactions going forward.

You are so missed.

Our Town Reno, November 2024

Former Lakemill Lodge Resident Reports Finally Saving Trapped Cats, Weeks After Evacuation

Above, how Jennifer found her former Lakemill unit earlier this week, and her cats including Kitty Baby, Mohawk, Sweet Girl and Booger.

Ten cats a former resident at the Lakemill Lodge was taking care of have finally been reported rescued, after she says they remained trapped inside Room 403, from the date of the forced evacuation in late October due to safety hazards inside, until earlier this week.

“It looked like a tornado slash hurricane just went through,” she said of the apartment at 200 Mill Street, which had also been left unlocked for a while, after she was finally able to regain access.

Jennifer had been living at the Lakemill Lodge, paying $200 a week, since December, when on October 30th she heard from a friend via Facebook there was a heavy police presence outside, with chaos and people on the streets with their belongings.

“We didn’t get any kind of notice,” she said. She was told to grab stuff for just a few days. 

“I wasn’t even given an option,” she says of taking the cats she was taking care of, including kittens just born, and two she had rescued, including one from a ceiling of the Lakemill.

“On the 30th when they came, the police were downstairs, I literally told the officers, ‘what are we doing with all the animals?’ And they didn’t say anything.”

She asked a Lakemill manager called Chuck to check in on her cats, their litter box and to give them food.

After going to another motel and getting her $100 deposit back from Lakemill, Jennifer went to live with a recently widowed dad in a place near Renown Hospital to help take care of his infant son.  

She wasn’t allowed back into her previous unit until this past week.

In previous reporting Our Town Reno was told all animals from inside the Lakemill had been accounted for and taken out, which Jennifer disputes.

“It would have been better with Animal Services. I don’t know how many times they were checked on,” she told Our Town Reno this week, sending along the photos.

She said she previously called Animal Services and the Nevada Humane Society but that no one helped her with her cats.  

The cats are now split between her and a friend who volunteers at the Nevada Humane Society.  

“This is very concerning if this is true,” Shyanne School the director of Washoe County Regional Animal Service wrote to Our Town Reno.  “As far as my team was concerned, we were advised by Rob Rice from Reno Code Enforcement as well as Junior Brar, property owner, as well as Chuck, property manager, that there were not any animals left behind.  The date of that phone conversation is in my email below, on November 6.  My team was not allowed to enter the rooms due to the exposure risk, nor would this be something that we would do without a specific plan and adequate staffing and PPE (personal protective equipment) to do so.  To my knowledge, we have not received any additional calls to respond to the Lakemill Lodge for animals, but I will double check our call history. “

The Lakemill Lodge’s business license has been suspended, with new requirements to reopen including having 24-hour security and new perimeter fencing.   

Some former tenants have taken up legal action against Lakemill ownership, and Jennifer is considering doing so as well.

She had previously moved from the fifth floor to the fourth floor of the Lakemill in September and at that time had put some of her paperwork, clothes and shoes in a storage section near the laundry room of the Lakemill.  Those belongings, she says, are now all gone.

“It’s been a life experience, but holy cow. It’s not an experience I want to go through again,” Jennifer says of her recent few weeks.

Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024

New Lawsuit in Hailey Nieto's Killing, As Sentencing Days Away

Hailey Nieto’s family has filed a lawsuit in the Nevada Second Judicial District Court alleging negligence by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Siegel Suites and Smart Communications, which runs communications between inmates and people outside the Parr jail.

The lawsuit alleges that Nieto’s convicted murderer, 40-year-old Todd Tonnochy, was communicating with the teenager in 2022 when he was in jail for other crimes, threatening her with sex trafficking and murder.

It states that “Smart Communications had a duty to monitor, flag, report and intercept all potentially dangerous communications made by inmates, including but not limited to threats made by inmates.”

Tonnochy was released from jail in January 2023.

The lawsuit says he then began to sex traffick Nieto, a mother of two, at a downtown Siegel Suites in Reno and killed her there on March 21, 2023. Her partially dismembered body was found in the Cold Springs area in a pile of trash.

Tonnochy was found guilty of second degree murder in August, while being acquitted of first degree murder, after the defense said the shooting was an accident. Tonnochy was also found guilty of destroying evidence, possession of a deadly weapon and intimidating.

Judge Scott Freeman is scheduled to sentence Tonnochy on Dec. 2.

In a GofundMe for Nieto’s girls, which has now reached over $60,000 in donations, April Nieto wrote on September 30th: “We were sad that he was found guilty of only 2nd degree murder but with laws here there was a lot of evidence that was left out that the jury did not see. The silver lining is the other charges as well including habitual criminal which in Nevada can land you 10 years to life just on that charge plus enhancements like Felon with a firearm and intimidating witnesses. The judge also made the call that when sentencing happens on December 2nd he will decide the fate not the jury so we are happy about that he is known to be a tough judge.”

Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024

Locally Unhoused, Her Murder Unsolved – The Life and Death of Amy Allen

Local recorded deaths of neighbors experiencing homelessness tragically keep going up.

In 2016, it was 19; 2017, 27; 2018, 37; 2019, 39; 2020, 49; 2021, 57; and 2022, 98. 

In 2023, 135 people experiencing homelessness died in Washoe County, according to official data, marking the eighth consecutive new high since these records were kept.

Of those 135 fatalities, nine were ruled as homicides, and another eight were listed as undetermined. 

Behind each number is the story of a person – somebody’s child, someone’s brother or sister, and someone’s friend. One such woman was Amy Elaine Allen. 

On July 20, 2023, at 5:23 p.m., Reno police responded to a 911 call of an apparent stabbing near the train tracks and East Commercial Row. Emergency personnel arrived on site, but Allen, 38, died at the scene. 

According to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office, Allen’s cause of death was listed as “sharp force injuries of the neck and chest.”

Amy Allen’s life was not just stolen from her, but on that evening she was also taken from her children, her mother and father, her siblings and her grandchild. No one has been arrested for her murder yet, and months later, her family is left still looking for answers. 

Allen’s older sister, Christy Sherrill Jasperson, a registered nurse currently living in Missouri, recalled her time with her younger sister when they were children. 

“I used to take care of her pretty much. [I’d] get her ready for school, like get her up in the morning, get her dressed … She didn't want nobody waking her up – but you know, she was my little baby doll,” Jasperson said. “So, I just kind of mothered her when she was younger. She was the youngest of eight at the time.”

Allen was born in Stockton, California, and grew up in Galt, California, before her family relocated to Galena, Kansas, when she was a child. Jasperson recalled how even from a young age Allen was exceptionally tenacious.

“She was super determined, like she wanted something, she was going to get it – even as a child,” Jasperson said. “I'm serious. You could not deter that child. Most children you could distract them or you could you know, ‘Hey, look at this.’ – No. If she wanted something, that was it. She was gonna go,” Jasperson remembered. 

Jasperson talked about how brave her sister was even from a young age. “When she was young her favorite show was Freddy Krueger … Nothing scared her – she didn't have nightmares, she wasn't one of those people.”

Allen’s mother, Joyce Sherrill, said when Allen turned 11 though, she began “acting out,”  and had difficulties with her mental health. She was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The road that followed was a challenging one, and Allen ended up in the foster care system and group homes. 

Both Sherrill and Jasperson said she would have periods of mania and was prescribed medications to manage her condition. 

“I feel like she self-medicated with the meth because the medications that she took for bipolar, the side effects were terrible,” Jasperson said.  “It numbs you… but you have to take them in order to, to lead a normal life.”

Jasperson recalls there were times in Allen’s life when she stayed on her medication though, and found success. 

One such time happened when she married her husband Doug Allen and lived in Granby, Missouri. During this time her sister’s husband, Doug helped make sure she took her medications and she became a stay at home mom for their two children. 

“She loved taking care of things, like she had her own chickens, and she liked the whole cycle of life when it came to that,” said Jasperson.  “She taught me about my chickens and brooding and all that stuff and she had a garden that she planted and she grew everything and loved it.” 

Unfortunately though this bright time passed. Jasperson said Allen’s mental health declined and she fell back into addiction, ultimately getting a divorce and losing custody of her children. Jasperson said that at this point she thinks her sister lost hope. 

Allen’s mother, Joyce Sherrill, said that during this time, Allen linked up with an ex-partner and travelled to California, and it was there that Allen began experiencing homelessness. According to her mother, the man who she trusted and went west with once beat her, knocking out her tooth. Allen was able to get away, and eventually found herself in Carson City and then later in Reno.

Despite living on the streets, Sherrill said her daughter would always call her on important days. 

“She would always call me on birthdays, [on] Mother's Day. There was not one day that she did not forget to call me. She'd borrow somebody's phone and call me,” said Sherrill. 

Both Jasperson and Sherrill said they would call and check up on Allen as often as they were able to, and multiple family members tried to bring her back to Missouri to get her clean and off the streets. But Allen was determined to stay in Reno.  

Jasperson recalled her sister’s bravery. “She was never scared ... She still slept on the street, even though somebody held her up at gunpoint.”

On July 18, 2023, police conducted a sweep of people living in tents along the train tracks near Record Street. Encampments were cleared in the midst of a heat wave. According to Sherrill this is also the day that Allen was robbed at gunpoint, and her possessions including her wallet and ID were stolen. 

Two days later she was stabbed to death.

“She was gone by the time EMS even got there – too much blood, but it's just hard to believe. Like who who does that? Amy had nothing. She had nothing. You know, she had nothing. She had no money because somebody already stole her wallet. She had no home. You know, she had a tent. That's what she had, she had a tent,” Jasperson said.

“Nobody was there to even help,” said Jasperson. “And Amy, knowing Amy…she's fearless. She would be okay with fighting somebody, like she had to, she was in group homes and stuff like that…So I know whoever was stabbing her. She was fighting,  but I can't even imagine…But you know, it was too late. I know as a nurse…” said Jasperson.

No arrests have been made in connection with Allen’s homicide. The question of why her killer has yet to be caught is a question being asked by those who were closest to Allen. In a correspondence, Allen’s longtime childhood friend, Tiffany Gustafson wrote, “What upsets me the most is no one has been convicted or even tried for her murder. If she wasn’t a homeless drug addict do you think her killer would be behind bars?” 

Jasperson and the family are still looking for answers and have been in contact with Reno PD’s Sean Peralta, who has been working on Allen’s case for months now.

Peralta says forensics results related to the Allen investigation only came back from the backed up Washoe County Crime Lab in January.

More recently, a source on background told an Our Town Reno reporter the DA decided not to prosecute in this case for now, citing insufficient evidence. The District Attorney’s office did not respond for comment. 

In the meantime, Allen’s family is waiting for justice for their daughter, sister, mother, and friend.

 “She loved God and she was a good person and she didn't deserve to die in such a way,” Gustafson said. “I truly believe if there is a heaven that she's in it because she was a very gentle person. She was very kind. She would have given you the shirt off her back. She just suffered so much [from] mental health.”

Reporting by Kat Fulwider shared with Our Town Reno

Captain Laura Baker, Leading an "All Risk" Department from Reno Fire Station 4

When I arrived at Reno Fire Station 4 on Ralston St., looking to spotlight one of their own, Captain Laura Baker wasn’t on duty. Still, her name was the first to be spoken unanimously and without hesitation by the crew that day. 

“You’ve got to come back for Captain Baker,” they said. “She’s the one you want, she's perfect for this.” 

They spoke of her qualities with pride: her dedication, leadership, and the way she cares for her team like family. When I returned to meet her, Captain Baker was slightly taken aback that her crew had recommended her with such high praise, a smile lighting up her face. 

Born in Caliente Nevada, and raised in Sun Valley, Baker’s journey to firefighting wasn’t a straight line. Growing up she dreamed of becoming a trauma surgeon, inspired by her maternal grandmother Jo, a county nurse who often brought young Laura along on home visits. 

“By the time I was 10, I’d already learned so much about patient care,” Baker said. 

Her grandmother's compassion and resilience left a deep impression on her, shaping the values she carries to this day. But when her grandmother passed away from cancer, life took a different path. 

In her early 20s, Baker began fighting wildfires with the Bureau of Land Management. In 1988, at just 21, Baker joined the Reno Fire Department, marking the beginning of a career now spanning more than 36 years. 

“I was tired of college,” she admitted. “My dad and uncle fought fire so once I started it was in my blood.” 

Captain Baker describes her days at the station as unpredictable and demanding, but she says she thrives on the variety. Firefighting isn’t always about being the hero or celebrating the good days. She speaks honestly about the hard realities of the job.

“We don’t just fight fires,” she said. “ We are an all risk department, medical calls, hazardous materials, water rescues – you name it, we do it. We see things nobody should have to see, but we talk things out good or bad. This job is tough, but we help each other a whole lot.” 

On top of the emotional toll of the job, there's the challenges of being away from loved ones. The long shifts, unpredictable hours, and the high stakes of firefighting can make it difficult to stay connected to family. Recognizing this Captain Baker invites her crew’s family to join in on firehouse dinners. Offering a chance to bond and recharge as they share meals, stories, and laughter as they become one big family. 

Calls can come in at any moment, day or night. During her last 48 hour shift Baker’s watch recorded only 45 minutes of sleep. On occasions when the calls slow down, the crew on duty will play some basketball. Watching Baker shoot hoops, it’s easy to see the echoes of her childhood when she spent days riding across fields with her pony, Millie, skiing, playing softball, and camping in Lincoln County. 

Over the years, Baker has created countless memories, from delivering a baby during a call to pinning her own son when he joined the Reno Fire Department as a paramedic firefighter. Through it all Baker has remained grounded in the values that brought her to firefighting in the first place: service, resilience, and family.

Some days, you might hear Baker called “Wolverine” a nod to her tough attitude, and her ability to stay on top of her crew, pushing them to be the best.

But don’t be fooled by that fierce nickname, as her nurturing side has also earned her the title of “Mama Bear” from her crew. Whether she’s mentoring new recruits, encouraging them to study for their exams, or simply making sure they’re well fed, she’s fiercely protective of her team.

“You have to be a caring individual to do this job,” she explained. “Physically, mentally, and emotionally strong or willing to get there and you need to know where to turn if things get tough.” 

Whether she’s responding to emergencies, mentoring her team, or shooting hoops in front of the fire house, Baker embodies the spirit of service. Her crew’s admiration for her speaks volumes, and it's clear that she’s making a lasting impact at Reno Fire Station 4.

Our Town Reno reporting by Genevy Machuca

Displeasure Escalates Over Uneven Access to Local Soccer Fields

While different plans for bigger scale, high-level team and tournament worthy soccer fields are hitting major road blocks in northern Nevada, annoyance is escalating concerning access to existing fields for different leagues and clubs, with a consensus it’s an uneven playing surface benefiting the politically connected and board members of the Reno Youth Sports Association (RYSA) who control city field permitting.

Challenges for delayed initiatives include a lack of private financing for the proposed Battle Born 5,000 seat capacity soccer complex in north Reno, neighborhood opposition for the suggested $40 million soccer stadium in South Valleys, and a lack of available funding to make quick progress on the Pembroke Flat Fields idea in southeast Reno.

Richard Jay, who sits on Reno’s Financial Advisory Board, is a past president of the Great Basin Youth Soccer League who has been advocating for the Pembroke Flat Fields.  That project recently got Council approval for $450,000 for final designs, but there is no consensus whatsoever on how to pay for construction now estimated at over $20 million. 

“Our current shortage is getting desperate,” Jay said while pleading in front of Council earlier this year for the Pembroke Flat Fields, saying it should have been done years ago, when fields were cheaper to build.

The worst though is for leagues and teams not connected to Jay, GBYSL and El Sol soccer which also has a presence on the RYSA board.  

Organizers of several different teams and leagues who aren’t getting the access they want are planning to meet soon to devise a strategy to confront a grandfathered in system they say perpetuates inequalities.

“While no noticeable reform has been made, Sparks and Washoe County parks leadership have acknowledged the problems and a need for change,” Marc Radow behind the Battle Born Parr Blvd project and an avid public speaker in front of multiple boards recently wrote concerning local access to soccer fields, seeing a possible light in this soccer tunnel.  

In a letter to the Reno City Council, Mayor Hillary Schieve, Reno Parks and Recreation, and Reno city management, he complained of the Reno Youth Sports Association (RYSA) not allocating the city’s component of fields equitably and inclusively.

He wrote the executive board of RYSA is comprised of “conflicted self-dealing members and alter ego private for profit businesses.”

Its vice chair is Randy Ritter, the president of both GBYSL and the soccer club Reno Apex, its Treasurer Vicki LaRovere is also with GBYSL, its executive chair is Brad Betker with Nevada Lightning Fastpitch Softball, its Commissioner at Large is Michelle Loux with Reno American Little League Baseball, its Secretary is Trish McFadden with Reno-Sparks Pop Warner, its Diamond Commissioner is Pedro Gutierrez with El Sol soccer, and its field maintenance person is Ian Anderson who runs the High Sierra Lacrosse League.  

The RYSA executive board reads as a who’s who of who gets easy access to fields locally.

While other sports have fewer local leagues, soccer has many, and also has teams which emphasize development rather than competition, further distancing them from desired field access, as leagues get priority.

Ritter, the GBYSL president who is currently listed as Club President on the Reno Apex website, plays a dual role with both a non profit organization and a for profit team which stands to benefit from his positioning.    

Base fees to begin playing for Apex start at $800 with many add ons included in the fine print, while salaries for some local academy coaches are said to run in the six figures, with added reimbursements for tournament travel and lodging.

A lease first signed in 2016 gives GBYSL full ongoing access to the Moana fields, also used by the private club APEX, both presided by Randy Ritter.

The City of Reno communications team told Our Town Reno to direct our queries about field access to GBYSL.

After we asked about the correlation between GBYSL and Apex, and possible favoritism in terms of field allocation, Rob Range, who is described on the Apex website as “Co-Director of Northern Nevada’s Olympic Development Program and … our current Vice President representing Northern Nevada with Nevada Youth Soccer Association,” wrote back a lengthy email to Our Town Reno.

His email address ends with gbysl.org and he cced other members of GBYSL and Ritter on his email.

“Reno APEX Soccer Club is a member club of Great Basin Youth Soccer League and as such gets access to GBYSL fields through our allocation process,” he wrote. “Reno APEX, a supporter and member in good standing with the league since 2006, currently represents over 21% of the teams in our competitive league (GBYSL Select) with 23 teams and 9% of our recreational league (GBYSL Recreational) with another 19 teams.  This is significantly more than any other Reno based club and more than all the other Reno based club’s combined.  As a comparison, the next largest supporter of GBYSL has 15 teams in our programs this season,” Range explained.

“All the fields that GBYSL has access to and obtains permits for from the City of Reno, City of Sparks and Washoe County are allocated to our member clubs and our independent teams for midweek practice space,” he continued. “That allocation process takes into account a number of factors to include but not limited to the number of teams in the league, requested venue, age of teams, geographic location of membership, historical usage, etc.  It is a process that ensures fair and equitable allocation of very limited field space and a process used by sports associations around the county, including Reno Youth Sports Association (RYSA) for soccer, baseball, football and lacrosse fields.  Every club and independent team in good standing with GBYSL is allocated adequate practice space and we are able to accommodate most venue requests from club administrators and team coaches.”

As per the Moana fields, which are also called the Richard L. Jay Fields, Range said these were maintained by GBYSL and used by Apex for midweek practices. He said it was unfortunate that the new pool at that location had reduced the soccer playing area by a third there, making it no longer suitable for games for players older than 10.  

“Additional fields are desperately needed in our community.  The Pembroke Project will alleviate some of the strain on our existing flat fields and we encourage everyone to fully support that project,” Range concluded.

Organizers of teams and leagues who spoke to Our Town Reno anonymously for fear of getting even less soccer field access sang a different tune, including that “it stinks of a monopoly.” 

One said he feared the Pembroke fields will be controlled by in his words “the clique already controlling public fields.”

Another explained how leagues and teams scramble between county fields, city fields and having to pay high schools for use of their own fields, with limited availability. Some of the more desirable school fields are governed by the city of Reno, putting them under the control of RYSA as well.

One league organizer recently contacted RYSA while looking for fields for a new season, but said they got no response whatsoever.  

They complain that many of the fields are reserved by RYSA linked teams, but when they drive by them these are often not in use.  

“I think the hornet's nest needs to be poked and disturbed, to make it fairer,” they concluded. 

Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024

Freedom to Read to Begin its Public Comment Efforts To Maintain Library Funding in Washoe County

Supporters of the Freedom to Read Nevada political action committee are preparing to go on a public comment mission to keep libraries funded at previous levels, starting with Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Their arguments include unclear wording on Washoe County Ballot Question 1 which ended up in a No vote (51.49%) and false flyers and intentionally misleading voter guides.

One of their advocates pointed Our Town Reno to the Washoe Republicans voter guide (included as screenshot) which stated “a “no” vote opposes the creation of a dedicated funding stream to the county library from your property taxes, which will cause your property taxes to be increased.”

The group Nevada Signal (also included as a screenshot) called it a “new tax.”

According to Ballotpedia “a "no" vote opposed adopting a property tax of $20 per $100,000 of assessed value for 30 years to fund the acquisition, improvement, and maintenance of library facilities in Washoe County.”

Library proponents have explained in a petition the vote was actually to continue automatically sending two cents of every $100 of assessed valuation to a library fund, which, approved in 1994, will now sunset in June. 

It was generating about $4.5 million yearly, funding two dozen extra staff positions, nearly all of the book budget, the technology budget, construction of new libraries and renovations of existing branches. 

Taxes aren’t being lowered for residents, and those funds will still be available via the county’s general fund, but they won’t be going to the library system directly anymore, meaning it’s up to the County Commissioners to decide how to spend the money, on libraries or elsewhere. 

Bradley Leavitt, who recently launched a petition to maintain the funding dedicated to libraries, said voters were confused and some now regret having voted no. 

Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024

Brar Motel Owners Under Renewed Scrutiny Over Wonder Lodge Conditions, While Former Lakemill Resident Angry Over Possible Looting

A room was condemned at the Wonder Lodge Motel yesterday on 430 Lake Street, after a 911 call reported a fight inside possibly involving a gun. 

Chris Johnson, a Reno police public information officer, told Our Town Reno that upon arrival Reno PD found up to 16 people in one room, and while no gun was found, two people were arrested for outstanding misdemeanor warrants.

Animal services were also called, as a cat had been in that room, while people who had been in the crowded unit were in the parking lot with some of their belongings.

“When we got down there, the condition of that room was atrocious,” Johnson said. “And so we called the health department as well as code enforcement to come check to make sure that that place was livable. And, they ended up condemning that one room, based on what they had found.”

A back view of the Lakemill Lodge today.

 The Wonder Lodge Motel is owned by Brar Hotels Incorporated, the same ownership as for the now suspended Lakemill Lodge at 200 Mill street, where safety hazards prompted a sudden evacuation late last month.

Calls and emails made by Our Town Reno to contacts associated with Brar have gone unanswered.  

One former resident at the Lakemill who has been trying to slowly get her belongings back is putting together a detailed itemized list of what was in her previous room.  She says she’s missing items, calling it a “treasure trove for looting.” 

She was able to go up to her room this week, but said her door was unlocked, and that her AC unit had been pushed down, knocking down plants and her tv.  When tenants were evacuated they were told to take belongings they would need for just a few days.

Some former tenants have been asked to sign paperwork to get their deposit back and be given access to their former units, but several have told Our Town Reno they are refusing to sign anything while considering legal action against Brar Hotels.  

Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024

Immigrants of Reno: An Amazing Mom from Balachaur in India

Growing up in Punjab, India, northern Nevada resident Ritu Khera hails from a small town named Balachaur. In 2000 she left the familiarity of her culture to seek a better life in the U.S.

My mother’s mother tongue is Punjabi, a language that originated in the Punjab region of Pakistan and northern India. She also speaks English, which she learned through her studies in India and years of living in the U.S.

My mother reflects on nostalgic memories of her native home: spending time with family, attending an all-girls school, and helping her parents. 

Being the eldest child of three, she had multiple responsibilities in the house. Culturally, her lifestyle has changed, but she continues to practice Indian traditions and cook Indian food.

“I had two brothers, and with cousins, we used to have a lot of fun together. Our lives were very peaceful,” Ritu said.

My mother embraces annual Indian traditions throughout the year such as Baisakhi, Diwali, Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Karva Chauth, Vrats, and more. Celebrating these festivals based on family, honoring gurus, and religious fasts, she keeps in touch with her roots.

During her teen years, my mother also practiced her Indian cooking skills, taught by my grandma. She has been making a variety of Indian meals for nearly 30 years now. At first, she was not given too many opportunities to cook but started to learn more later after marriage. “After marriage is when I started actual cooking,” Ritu said. “My husband taught me many things as his cooking style and taste is very different.”

My mother now explores Indian-style cooking beyond the simple meals she was introduced to. A favorite is stuffing okra with masala to make a dish named Bhindi.

When they first arrived in the U.S., my parents stayed in San Jose, California, before settling in Reno with new businesses. 

Balancing the care for her children and helping out with the family business when necessary, my mother’s everyday life became quite a hectic routine. 

“Everything was new here. I did feel a bit lonely at home at first, but after having kids, everything is good,” Ritu said.

While reminiscing about her childhood, what my mother misses most about Balachaur is her relatives and friends. Though everyone has ventured onto their own paths, she appreciates the moments they can reunite when she travels to India.

“This is something I am sure everyone misses from their home country,” Ritu said.

Regarding her present home in Reno, my mother recalls that it was the weather that stood out to her when she first arrived.

“I think it’s a very lovely place. Snow is something I never got to see in Punjab, so I do enjoy living here,” Ritu said.

Reporting and photos by Khushleen Khera shared with Our Town Reno

Tuesday Night is for the Big Hearts of Family Soup Mutual Aid

“We're all a lot closer to being out here on the streets than we are in that f***ing City Council building,” said Nicole, 31, pointing towards the local seat of political power this past Tuesday.

While many were watching election results come in last Tuesday, Nicole and other volunteers were distributing food and other essential items to a long line of Reno’s unhoused and neighbors in need. 

As winter swiftly approaches, with colder nights and stormy days, their volunteer group says it could use more assistance.

Nicole and another organizer, who went by an alias Oliver, described how the harsher weather increases the need for vital resources and help from more volunteers.

“We definitely could use more support in winter” Oliver said, and listed items such as hot soup, shelter items like tarps and tents, sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothing, and hand warmers as items that could be life-saving during this time of year. 

“If anybody’s willing to donate any of those things… obviously food is important, but right now keeping people alive [from cold] is the major stressor for us and the folks that come through the line,”  Nicole said. 

The “life-saving items” Oliver went on to say tend to also be the most expensive, and they frequently run out of hand-warmers as well as gloves and socks which can save people’s toes and fingers from frostbite. 

Family Soup Mutual Aid, which just celebrated their four year anniversary, has gone from four friends putting together hygiene packs in a bedroom, to having close to “50 volunteers serving 200 people” on the busiest days. 

Nicole and Oliver emphasized that anyone is welcome to come, and that you don’t even need to bring anything. “Even if you don't have anything to bring, just come out. Feeding people is enough, talking to people, and just treating everyone nicely as your neighbors is important,” said Oliver.

“Please come out,” Nicole added. “We’re all working class people… we all have that in common… that’s the most important thing is that we need to support each other.” 

A volunteer who wanted to go by “K” also spoke to their experience volunteering with the group, describing it as “really eye opening”. Though K felt they were making an impact, she recognized the people “need a lot more” than they are able to provide. Even though, her experience has still been “important”. 

“I think it's important for everyone to get to look each other in the eye. Sometimes I feel like the unhoused population never gets to be paid attention to. So just being able to engage in conversation and look at them like they're people is really important,” she said.

You can volunteer with Family Soup Mutual Aid every Tuesday evening at 5 p.m, at the Believe Plaza located on North Virginia Street, just south of The Row. If you can’t make it but are able to donate, they can be contacted via their Family Soup Mutual Aid social media about drop-off spots they have in the city. 

In times of stress, anger, and anxiety, volunteering can have a profound positive effect on your mental well-being. You also have the ability to create real change in your community, which is especially important when so many in Reno are in need as winter approaches. 

Our Town Reno reporting and photo by Dan Mariani

Jana, Facing Life on the Streets after Losing Her Apartment at Lakemill Lodge

Jana (in photo she shared with us) says she will have to sleep outside tonight and upcoming nights after the Lakemill Lodge where she used to stay was abruptly closed down last week due to safety hazards and she ran out of money.

She used to stay in room 421 and says she hasn’t “received any communications or information about what to do or where to go.”

She says she isn’t get paid until Tuesday night. She has been applying for new jobs but in her current condition she says it’s very difficult.

“How am I gonna get there you know and how am I gonna be able to dress appropriate for the position? If I can’t even access my stuff inside my unit at the Lake now, things are getting really frustrating right now,” she wrote to Our Town Reno.

Jana can be reached on 916-269-9304 but says her phone is only running on wifi. Her email is mscwjlb2018@gmail.com

After being put up for a few days at the Travelodge owned by the same people who own the Lakemill with her remaining rent, she then stayed a few nights at a local America’s Best. Most people staying at Lakemill were paying about $200 a week, much less than what most other motels cost.

She sent us a video of inside her Lakemill room from just a few weeks ago, cramped with possessions and full of scratchers for several of her beloved cats. The business license of the Lakemill has since been suspended, with no indication of when it might reopen.

“I went back to Lakemill to get an update when I was told that if I do not forfeit my tenancy and sign this paper that I would not be receiving my deposit or gain access to my unit,” she writes of trying to get her possessions back. Several former tenants are considering joining a lawsuit.

“I am at a serious loss for what to do. If anybody has ideas, please contact me back with resources or information available I would be truly, truly grateful,” she concluded.  

Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024

Did a local pastor violate IRS law with his pre-election voter guide?

As pointed out to us by a reader who included a YouTube link ( https://www.youtube.com/live/KhtxhlsNm8M?t=4771s) during a recent pre-election sermon at the Calvary Chapel Reno Sparks on Edison Way, Pastor Phil McKay said “We've prepared, our community impact team has prepared for you guys, a voter guide, that is going to hopefully help you to be educated on casting your vote so you know who you're voting for and what you're voting for. Amen.”

The Community Impact website, which has Mckay listed at the top of its about page and the same address as the church, has a 2024 Voter Guide with chosen candidates and answers on ballot questions, from Donald Trump for president to other Republican favored candidates and no on enshrining abortion rights in Nevada’s constitution. 

At the bottom of the Calvary Reno website it mentions Calvary Chapel of Reno Sparks is a 501(c)3 Religious Non-Profit Organization.

However, as 501(c)(3) organizations, churches as well as charities have been prohibited from supporting specific political candidates since the passage of the Johnson Amendment in 1954. 

The Internal Revenue Code provides that, by definition, 501(c)(3) organizations do not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”

Further, the IRS has indicated voter guides are allowed to be prepared or promoted by churches unless they contain a bias for or against one or more candidates, which in this case was clear.  

In recent election cycles, though, as churches have become more obvious about publicly backing candidates, the outlet ProPublica reported the IRS “has largely abdicated its enforcement responsibilities.” 

Our Town Reno reporting, November 2024